Method and apparatus for cleaning a pipe system provided for the operation of baths

• US 4,954,179 A
• Filed: 04/05/1989
• Issued: 09/04/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/1986
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Thomas K. Franninge
• Original Assignee: Thomas K. Franninge
• Inventors: Franninge, Thomas K.
• Primary Examiner(s): PAL, ASOKKUMAR
• Application Number:
  US07/333,586
• Time in Patent Office: 517 Days
• Field of Search: 134/22.12, 134/22.1, 134/25.1, 134/25.4, 134/22.18, 4/507, 4/541, 4/622, 4/623, 15/104.05, 15/104.06, 15/104.31
• US Class Current: 134/22.12
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2033/0012 by rinsing
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2033/0016 using cleansing products
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2033/0054 with liquid level detectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 33/0087 Therapeutic baths with agitated or circulated water
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 33/02 Bathing devices for use with gas-containing liquid, or liquid in which gas is led or generated, e.g. carbon dioxide baths A61H33/6026 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 33/60 Components specifically designed for the therapeutic baths of groups A61H33/00 plumbing E03C1/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 33/601 Inlet to the bath
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 33/6068 Outlet from the bath
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/304 using fluid under pressure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 4/09 Methods
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7303 Control of both inflow and outflow of tank
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7306 Electrical characteristic sensing

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method of cleaning a pipe system (3) in baths, preferably bath tubs, through which pipe system water and/or air is led into the bathwater (6) of the bath (1) to produce water currents and/or water/air currents (4) and/or air bubbles (5) therein. For effective cleaning, the pipe system (3) is flushed with pure water (31) after a bath has been taken before impurities in said pipe system have/had time to dry. A suitable apparatus for carrying out said method comprises a sensor (49) which is adapted to sense when bathing in the bath (1) has been concluded and to deliver when the bathing has been concluded a signal to a time lag relay (34) which is adapted to open a valve (33) for supply of flushing water (31) to a flushing device (30) for flushing of the pipe system (3) a certain time after the time lag relay (34) has received said signal from the sensor (49).

Claims

1. A method of cleaning a pipe system for a bathtub comprising flushing the pipes in the pipe system with water from a water source after a bath has been taken, wherein the flushing water is taken from a water source which is the same water source which supplies the bathtub with bath water, thereby using the water pressure of the source, and wherein flushing water is delivered to the conduits by flushing jets from a plurality of successive sections within the conduits and directed substantially in a transverse direction towards the inner surfaces of said conduits at a pressure so as to hit the inner surfaces of the conduits with sufficient force to dislodge impurities situated on the inner surface of the conduits before said impurities have dried on the inner surface of said conduits.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the flushing jets are delivered against the inner surfaces of the conduits after said conduits have been emptied of water.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein disinfectant is supplied under pressure to the flushing water.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising discharging the flushing water through a drain in the bathtub.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the flushing water is passed from the pipes to the drain in the bathtub without passing through the bathtub.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the flushing water is passed from the pipes into the bathtub through nozzles in the pipe system and discharged from the bath through a drain therein.

7. An apparatus for cleaning a pipe system for baths having a plurality of conduits comprising a flushing device for receiving flushing water and flushing the pipe system before impurities in the pipe system have time to dry therein and further comprising at least one conduit extending within said plurality of conduits of said pipe system and said conduit having holes disposed in successive sections for delivering flushing jets of water in transverse direction in relation to said conduits of the pipe system onto the inner surface of said conduits of the pipe system.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said at least conduit comprises a flexible hose which is bent in conformity with the curve portions of the conduits of the pipe system.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said at least one conduit extends in a withdrawable manner through said conduits of the pipe system and is fixed at the entrance thereof by a coupling.

10. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising a distributing valve having motor-driven distributing means in the form of a rotatably mounted valve disk provided with a peripherally extending flushing water passage which communicates with a supply system for supplying flushing water, said flushing water passage being rotatable by said distributing means so as to communicate with each conduit or group of conduits in the pipe system.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said at least one conduit comprises a flexible hose which is bent in conformity with the curved portions of the conduits of the pipe system.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said at least one conduit extends in a withdrawable manner through said conduits of the pipe system and is fixed at the entrance thereof by a coupling.

13. An apparatus for cleaning a pipe system for baths having a plurality of conduits comprising a flushing device for receiving flushing water and flushing the pipe system before impurities in the pipe system have time to dry therein, and further comprising a distributing valve having motor-driven distributing means in the form of a rotatably mounted valve disk provided with a peripherally extending flushing water passage which communicates with a supply system for supplying flushing water, said flushing water passage being rotatable by said distributing means so as to communicate with each conduit or group of conduits in the pipe system.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising a squeegee pump for dispensing disinfectant from a disinfectant container to the distributing valve.