FR2734154A1 - METHOD OF SUPPLYING WATER OF A HYDROMASSAGE TABLE, AND HYDROMASSAGE TABLE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF SUCH A PROCESS - Google Patents

Abstract

The subject of the invention is a method for supplying water to a hydromassage table. This method consists, after a first initial step consisting in heating water from the network in a first tank (10), in transferring (34) this water into a second tank (6) of the same capacity and in maintaining the temperature transferred water, then filling the first tank (10) with water and heating this water for the next transfer, while the water contained in the second tank (6) circulates using a pump (8), during the massage session, in a closed circuit comprising the projection nozzles (4) and the table top (2), as well as the second tank (6) and the pump (8), then to stop circulating water and emptying (52) the second tank (6), prior to the transfer of the heated water contained in the first tank (10) into the second tank (6) for the next massage session.

Description

The invention is in the field of hydrotherapy, and its purpose is a

  method of supplying water to a hydromassage table, and a

  hydromassage table for the implementation of such a method.

  Tables are known for practicing on a patient massage by projection of water, preferably hot. In particular, reference may be made to publications EP 0291669 (GRUMBACH), WO 8902262 (BALIK), FR 2673837 (HEBRAOUI) and FR 9214212 (MARIELLE). In their generality, these tables include a tray for receiving the patient and water spray nozzles, the latter can be fed directly from the distribution network, or even more advantageously through a closed circuit comprising a tank, a pump , nozzles and the tray, the latter being arranged to collect and drive

the water projected towards the tank.

  The general object of the invention is to provide provisions for supplying water to a hydromassage table, which not only allow to limit the operating costs to the strict minimum, but also allow a use both sporadic and continuous, without

  however, to induce unnecessary operating costs.

  The applicant's inventive step consisted in sensing the opportunities offered by a method of supplying water to a hydromassage table, which implements a combination of means for: 1.- firstly, connecting the table of hydromassage at the only arrival of cold water from the distribution network, and heat the admitted cold water, in order to allow the installation of the table on a relatively arbitrary site, and in order to leave available the volume of hot water of the network of distribution for other uses, which may be the case for a professional in particular, 2.- secondly, to heat and consume the volume of water necessary and sufficient for a massage session, in order to limit the operating costs of the table at what is necessary for each of the massage sessions, both for the volume of water aue for the energy needed for its heating and its maintenance temperature, and thus to allow a user it is discontinuous of the table without inducing extra cost of operation by heating and maintaining at temperature a quantity of water not adapted to a unit massage session, 3.- thirdly, dissociate in time the heating of the said volume of water of its own use, so as to be able to use the hydromassage table in continuity despite the time required for heating the water

prior to its use.

  In other words and according to the invention, a method of supplying water to a hydromassage table provided with a tray for receiving the patient and at least one water spray nozzle, is mainly characterized in that, after an initial initial step of filling the distribution network with a first reservoir of a certain capacity provided with heating means that is thermostatically controlled at a set temperature and heating the introduced water, it consists of to repeat for successive massage sessions a respective cycle comprising the successive steps of: transferring substantially all of the water initially contained in the first reservoir, which has reached its target temperature, in a second reservoir of capacity substantially equivalent to the first, said second tank being provided with heating means thermostatically controlled at a second setpoint temperature, the two said temperatures of con sign may be the same, and at the same time refill the first tank with water from the system, and then, by means of a pump, circulate the water of the second tank in a closed circuit comprising the spray nozzle , the tray, the second tank and the said pump, and simultaneously, - heat the water introduced into the first tank, - after the massage session is over, stop the circulation of water inside the circuit and drain in the sewer the second tank; The result of these provisions: - that the user can install his hydromassage table from the only inlet of cold water network - that the operating costs of the table for each massage sessions can be restricted to this is strictly necessary for a single massage session, - a sufficient and adapted amount of heated water is available after a massage session for the next session. Preferably, before the step of draining from the sewer of the second tank, the step of introducing a disinfecting agent into the second tank is interposed while maintaining for a certain time the

  circulation of water in the closed circuit.

  A hydromassage table for implementing the method of the invention, of the kind of tables equipped with a closed water circulation circuit comprising a said second tank, a pump, the water spray nozzle and the plateau, is remarkable in that it is equipped: a.- a said first tank, said water heater, reliable to the distribution network and provided with heating means and a first thermostat, b.- means transfer of the water contained in the water heater to the second tank, and control means for their implementation, comprising the first thermostat and a first push button actuated by the user, and preferably control means of the emptying of the second tank, c.- heating means and a second thermostat equipping the second tank, said heating means being advantageously constituted by a heating tunnel and its resistance, placed in the second tank in the vicinity of his water discharge port to the closed circuit, d.- control means of the implementation of the pump preferably comprising, on the one hand, for its start, a second push button actuated by the user in view of a control indicator of the filling level of the second tank, and secondly, for its stop, a third push button actuated by the user, and e.- control means of the implementation of the emptying of the second tank, comprising for example the said

third push button.

According to a preferred form of

  realization of the hydromassage table of the invention, that

  it further comprises a reserve of disinfecting agent and means for introducing a desired quantity of said agent into the second reservoir, the control of the implementation of said means being for example placed under the control of a fourth pushbutton, keeping the pump running after introduction of the disinfecting agent into the second tank being incidentally timed so as to perform the disinfection of the circuit for a desired duration and to authorize, if not to control, the emptying the second tank, that after the said delay; according to an alternative form of embodiment, and preferred because of its simplicity and the possibility of judgment offered to the practitioner, the disinfection time of the closed circuit, dependent on the maintenance of the pump,

  is left to the discretion of the practitioner.

  It will be understood that, in an equivalent manner, the disinfecting agent can be introduced into a

  any point of said closed circuit.

According to a more specific form of

  realization of a hydromassage table of the invention, that

  being the kind of table comprising a thermostatic valve for adjusting the temperature of the water sprayed by the nozzle at least, the hydromassage table of the invention is characterized in that it further comprises admission means of cold water in said closed circuit, preferably opening at the thermostatic valve which makes it possible to adjust the quantity of cold water admitted, and means for discharging an equivalent quantity of water admitted, preferably consisting of an arrangement of the type "too much

full "of the second tank.

  According to another more specific embodiment of the invention, the hydromassage table of the invention is characterized in that it further comprises hot water intake means from said distribution network to the the interior of the circuit, excluding the pump and the second reservoir, and means for diverting the hot water admitted to means of evacuation out of the table subsequent to the projection of water on the patient, such that a manual massage can be operated on the patient with coatings, particularly greasy, without inducing pollution of said closed circuit, and keeping a projection of clean water. It will be understood that the quantity of hot water admitted from the network can be advantageously adjusted by means of a thermostatic valve, and that, although this is not desired, this additional hot water can be introduced into the closed circuit, the means of diversion is not implemented, the additional volume of water supplied can be discharged out of the

  table, thanks to the "overflow" of the second tank.

  Preferably, the implementation of the pump is placed under the control of the thermostat of the water heater, the thermostatic valve and the thermostat of the second tank, so that the massage can be operated safely, the projection of water on the patient being interrupted in the case of an unexpected rise in water temperature above the respective setpoint temperatures. According to another aspect of the invention, the means for introducing a desired quantity of disinfecting agent into the second reservoir comprise: said disinfectant reserve, a metering device of equivalent capacity to the said desired quantity, the dispenser having an open-air opening located above the maximum level of product that can be contained in the disinfectant stock, - a first valve interposed between the reserve and the dispenser, of which the opening permits a flow of the disinfecting agent inside the metering unit to reach the level of product contained in the reserve, in the manner of "communicating vessels", and - a second valve interposed between the metering device and the second tank whose opening allows the complete emptying of the doser in the second tank, said opening being maintained by timing and being controlled by the said fourth push button, the opening of the one each valve excluding the opening of the other valve to prohibit direct communication between the pool of disinfectant with the second tank; advantageously, when the second valve is closed, the opening of the first valve is completed in order to fill the disinfectant dispenser with a view to disinfecting the

  closed circuit after the next massage session.

  In a judicious manner, the first and second valves consist of a single valve with three exclusive positions, a first position in which the supply of disinfecting agent is connected to the metering device (first valve), a second position, intermediate, in which no communication between the disinfectant stock, the doser, and the closed circuit is allowed, and a third position in which the dispenser is connected to the closed circuit

(second valve).

  It will be noted that the means for introducing a desired quantity of disinfecting agent into the second reservoir can be applied to a water reservoir of a water-closet, of the type of reservoir usually equipped with a water introduction valve whose implementation is placed under the control of a float device, the opening and closing of said descaler agent introduction valve and / or disinfectant in the toilet tank being placed

  dependent on the position of said float.

  The present invention will be better understood, and details thereof will appear, at the

  description that will be made of a preferred form of

  embodiment, in connection with the figures of the attached plates, in which: Fig.1 is a schematic elevation of principle illustrating the various organs which is provided with a hydromassage table according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, and its mode of operation, fig.2 and 3 are successive diagrams illustrating preferred disinfection means

  of the same table, and their mode of operation.

  FIGS. 4 to 7 are successive diagrams illustrating the method of supplying water to a

  hydromassage table of the invention.

  In the fig.l, a hydromassage table comprises: - connection means to the cold water inlet of the distribution network (arrows 3 and 5), - a water heater, comprising a reservoir 10 and means heater 12, equipped with a thermostat 14, - a tray 2 for receiving the patient, - a set of nozzles 4 of water spray (arrow 1) on the patient, - a closed circuit of water circulation, successively comprising a water tank 6, equipped with a thermostat 18 and a heating tunnel 16, in the vicinity of the discharge of water 20 to the circuit, in order to maintain the water contained therein at a set temperature, a pump 8, the jet nozzles 4, and the plate 2, - a thermostatic valve 22 to which is connected one (arrow 5) of said cold water inlets, and an arrival of hot water (arrow 7) of the distribution network, - means for introducing (24,26,28,30) a disinfecting agent into the reservoir 6, and

- a control panel 32.

  To use the table, the patient lies on the plate 2. In view of a light 38 indicating that the desired temperature is reached in the water heater, the practitioner controls, with a first push button 36, the setting transfer means, valve 34 for example, water contained in the water heater 10 which has been previously heated during the previous massage session in particular, to the reservoir 6. The transfer being carried out, a witness 40 informs the practitioner can turn on the pump 8 by means of a push button 42 of the control panel 32. A control 44 controlled by the thermostat 18, informs the practitioner of the maintenance at a desired temperature of the water contained in the tank 6

  thanks to the heating tunnel 16 which it is provided.

  When the session is over, the patient leaves the tray 2, and the practitioner actuates a push button 46 for controlling the opening of a valve 30 to introduce a disinfectant into the tank 6, the pump is still running, so to disinfect the entire closed circuit. Then, the practitioner controls, by means of a pushbutton 48, the stopping of the pump 8 and the means 52 for emptying the reservoir 6, to put it in the sewer 50

  water contained in the closed circuit.

  A new massage session can be carried out immediately after the first, thanks to the fact that the water heater (10) has filled up again during the transfer of the water that it contained in the tank (6), and that the newly admitted water had time to be heated

  during the previous massage session.

  The cold water inlet (arrow 5) at the thermostatic valve 22 is intended to lower the temperature of the water sprayed on the patient. An "overflow" arrangement (arrow 9) of the tank 6 allows

  to evacuate the additional water admitted into the closed circuit.

  The hot water inlet (arrow 7) is particularly intended to allow a manual massage. Bypass means 54 are arranged immediately downstream of the plate 2, because it is desirable that the projected water does not circulate in the closed circuit because of the use of fat by the practitioner who performs the manual massage on the patient . These bypass means can be advantageously automatically operated by a protective screen against water splashes which are commonly equipped with the hydromassage tables, during the retraction of the screen by the practitioner wishing to access the

  tray 2 to operate the manual massage.

  It will be noted the presence of an on / off switch 56 of the various electrical components of the table, and in particular of the pump 8, whose control is placed under the control of the thermostats 14 and 18, and the thermostat of the thermostatic valve 22, such that the projection of water on the patient is interrupted

  in the event of an unexpected rise in the temperature of the water.

  In FIGS. 2 and 3, the means for introducing a desired quantity of disinfecting agent into the reservoir 6 comprise a reserve 24 of disinfecting agent, a doser 26 with a capacity equivalent to the said desired quantity, the metering device having an opening 60 in the open air located above the maximum level of product that can be contained in the reserve 24 disinfectant, and a valve 62 whose operation is placed under the

  dependence of delay means 64.

  In FIG. 2, the valve 62 is in the idle state, and the disinfecting agent can flow into the metering device 26 until it reaches the level corresponding to

  level of disinfectant contained in the reserve 24.

  In FIG. 3, the push button 46 is actuated by the practitioner to control the disinfection of the closed circuit, and the operation of the valve 62 is performed to connect the doser 26 to a conduit 66 for discharging the disinfecting agent. to the reservoir 6. The valve 62 remains in this position for a desired duration thanks to the delay means 62, then is spontaneously placed in the rest position, by means of return means 68 in particular,

as shown in fig.2.

  In FIGS. 4 to 7, the method of the invention consists, in its generality: to fill, in an initial step, the water heater 10 and to heat the admitted water therein (FIG. transferring into the second reservoir 6 the water initially contained in the water heater, and simultaneously to refill the cold water water heater 10 of the network (fig.5), - to circulate the water of the second reservoir 6 in the closed circuit comprising the pump 8, the nozzles 4, the table 2 and the tank 6, while the water contained in the water heater 10 is heated (fig.6), and - when the massage session is completed, stop the flow of water in the closed circuit 2,4,6,8, and drain the sewer 50 the second tank 6 (fig.7). It will be understood by simultaneous operations that they, at least overlap in time, to allow continuous use of the hydromassage table, a quantity of water being heated for a massage session. next while the same amount of water, heated during a previous massage session, is used; in other words it will be understood that the said simultaneous operations must be performed during the same massage session, and that the simultaneity is to be taken in the strict sense only because of its advantages to simple consectivity. a preferred embodiment of the invention has been described and shown, it should be understood that the scope of the invention is not limited to this form, but extends to any table

  hydromassage equipped with means for carrying out the process whose characteristics are set out above.

Claims (2)

  1. A method of supplying water to a hydromassage table provided with a tray (2) for receiving the patient and at least one water jet nozzle (4) (1), characterized in that after an initial first step of filling the distribution network with water a first tank (10) of a certain capacity provided with heating means (12) thermostatted (14) to a set temperature, and therein heating the introduced water, it consists in repeating for successive massage sessions a respective cycle comprising the steps of: transferring (34) almost all of the water initially contained in the first reservoir (10); having reached its target temperature, in a second tank (6) of substantially equivalent capacity to the first (10), said second tank (6) being provided with heating means (16) thermostatic (18) at a second temperature of set, and simultaneously - refill water the first reservoir (10), and then, by means of a pump (8), circulating the water of the second reservoir (6) in a closed circuit comprising the projection nozzle (4), the tray (2), the second tank (6) and said pump (8), and simultaneously - heat the water introduced into the first tank (10), - after the massage session is over, stop the circulation of water inside the circuit and drain (52) to the sewer (50) the second tank (6); 2. A process according to claim 1, characterized in that before the step of draining the sewer (50) of the second reservoir (6) is inserted the step of introducing a disinfectant into the second reservoir ( 6) while maintaining for a certain time the circulation of water in the circuit; 3. A hydromassage table for implementing a method according to claim 1, said table being of the type of those equipped with a closed water circulation circuit comprising a said second reservoir (6), a pump (8), the water spray nozzle (4) and the plate (2), characterized in that it is equipped with: a.- a said first tank (10), said water heater, connectable to the distribution network (3) and provided with heating means (12) and a first thermostat (14), b.- means for transferring (34) the water contained in the water heater (10) to the second tank (6), and control means for their implementation, comprising the first thermostat (14) and a first push button (36) operable by the user, c.- heating means (16) and a second thermostat (18) equipping the second reservoir (6), d.- control means (42,48) of the implementation of the pump (8) and e.- control means (48). ) of the implementation of the emptying the second reservoir (6); 4. A hydromassage table according to claim 3, for carrying out a process according to claim 2, characterized in that it further comprises a reserve (24) of disinfecting agent and means (26). 28,30,60,62, 64,68) for introducing a desired amount of said agent into the second reservoir (6); 5. A hydromassage table according to claim 3, of the table type comprising a thermostatic valve (22) for adjusting the temperature of the water sprayed by the nozzle (4) at least, characterized in that it comprises in in addition to means (5) for admitting cold water into said closed circuit (2,4,6,8) and means (9) for discharging an equivalent quantity of water admitted; 6. A hydromassage table according to claim 3, characterized in that it further comprises means (7) for admission of hot water from said distribution network inside the circuit (2, 4), excluding the pump (8) and the second tank (6), and bypass means (54) of the hot water admitted to the evacuation means (50) out of the table subsequently to spraying water on the patient, so that manual massage can be operated on the patient with coating products, without inducing pollution of said closed circuit (2,4, 6,8); 7.- Hydromassage table according to claim 5, characterized in that the implementation of the pump (8) is placed under the control of the thermostat (14) of the water heater (10), the thermostatic valve (22). ) and the thermostat (18) of the second tank (6), so that the massage is interrupted in the event of an unexpected rise in the water temperature above the respective setpoint temperatures; 8. A hydromassage table according to claim 4, characterized in that the means for introducing a desired quantity of disinfecting agent into the second reservoir (6) comprise: said reserve (24); ) disinfecting agent, a metering device (26) having a capacity equivalent to said desired quantity, the metering device (26) having an open-air opening located above the maximum level of product that can be contained in the reserve (24) disinfecting agent, - a first valve (28) interposed between the reserve (24) and the metering device (26), the opening of which permits a flow of the disinfecting agent inside the metering device (26) to reach the level of product contained in the reserve (24), and - a second valve (30) interposed between the metering device (26) and the second reservoir (6), the opening of which permits the emptying of the metering device (26). ) in the reservoir (6), the opening of any of the valves excluding the opening of the other valve (28, 30) to prohibit direct communication between the reserve (24) and the second reservoir (6);  9.- hydromassage table according to claim 8, characterized in that the first (28) and the second (30) valve are constituted by a single valve (62) with three exclusive positions, a first position in which the supply of disinfectant (14) is connected to the doser (26), a second position in which no communication between the reserve (14), the doser (26) and the closed circuit (2,4,6, 8) is allowed, and a third position in which the metering device (26) is connected to the closed circuit (2,4,6,8).