Cleaning system for hydromassage baths

• US 6,199,224 B1
• Filed: 07/02/1999
• Issued: 03/13/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Vico Products Manufacturing Co., Inc. (Pentair Plc (Ireland))
• Original Assignee: Vico Products Manufacturing Co., Inc. (Pentair Plc (Ireland))
• Inventors: Versland, Anders
• Primary Examiner(s): Fetsuga, Robert M.
• Application Number:
  US09/345,005
• Time in Patent Office: 620 Days
• Field of Search: 454/11, 454/14, 466/2
• US Class Current: 4/541.4
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2033/0012 by rinsing
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2033/0016 using cleansing products
• 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 33/6063 Specifically adapted for fitting in bathtub walls
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 33/6073 Intake mouths for recirculation of fluid in whirlpool baths

Abstract

A cleaning system for hydromassage baths of the type that includes a tub having nozzles that introduce a water/air mixture into the tub with a suction opening through which water in the tub is removed for pressurization through a pump and reintroduction into the tub via the nozzles. The system includes water supply piping extending from the pump outlet to the nozzles on each side of the tub to define at least two water circuit portions. In a similar manner, air supply piping that connects to the various nozzles. During a cleaning mode, the water circuit portions are connected to a respective air circuit portion and the air circuit portions are connected to the inlet of the pump to create multiple water/air flow loop through which water and a cleaning agent are passed to effect the desired cleaning.

Claims

1. A hydromassage tub system having a hydromassage mode and a cleaning mode of the type having a tub with a plurality of nozzles therein for introducing water jets into the interior of the tub and a pump for supplying pressurized water to the nozzles, comprising:

a water circuit connected to the nozzles for supplying water under pressure thereto;

a pump connected to said water circuit for supplying pressurized water thereto, said pump having an inlet for receiving water to be pressurized for supply to said water circuit;

an air circuit in flow communication with said nozzles for distributing air thereto in the hydromassage mode;

first valve means for selectively connecting the pump inlet to a suction inlet in the tub for accepting water from the interior of the tub in the hydromassage mode and for selectively connecting said pump inlet to said air circuit for accepting water therefrom in the cleaning mode; and

a second valve for selectively connecting the water circuit to the air circuit in the cleaning mode at a position in the water circuit to define a first water circuit portion having at least one nozzle therein and a second water circuit portion having at least one nozzle therein and to define a first air circuit portion and a second air circuit portion, said first water circuit portion and said second water circuit portion not in flow communication through said second valve when in the cleaning mode and defining, when in the cleaning mode, a first flow circuit portion in which water flows in said first water circuit portion and through said first portion of said air circuit and through said first valve means to the said pump inlet and a second flow circuit portion in which water flows in said second water circuit portion through said second portion of said air circuit and through said first valve means to said pump inlet.

2. The hydromassage tub system of claim 1, wherein said second valve, when connecting said water circuit to said air circuit in the cleaning mode, defines the first air circuit portion connected from said second valve to said first valve means and defines the second air circuit portion from said second valve to said first valve means, said first and second air circuit portions extending in parallel flow communication from said second valve to said first valve means.

3. The hydromassage tub system of claim 2, wherein said tub has a first lateral side and a second lateral side, said first water circuit portion and said first air circuit portion located on one side of said tub and said second water circuit portion and said second air circuit portion located on the other side of said tub, said second valve, when in the cleaning mode, connecting the water circuit portion on one side of said tub to said first air circuit portion on the one side of said tube and connecting the second water circuit portion on the other side of said tub to the second air circuit portion on that other side of said tub.

4. The hydromassage tub system of claim 2, wherein said second valve, when in the cleaning mode, interrupts said water circuit to define said first and second water circuit portions and interrupts said air circuit to define said first and second air circuit portions.

5. The hydromassage tub system of claim 4, wherein said second valve comprises a valve body having first and second through flow passages for providing, respectively, flow communication for the water circuit and the air circuit in the hydromassage mode therethrough and first and second shunt flow passages for providing, respectively, flow communication between the first water circuit portion and a one of the air circuit portions and between the second water circuit portion and the other of the air circuit portions during the cleaning mode.

6. The hydromassage tub system of claim 1, wherein said first valve means comprises a three-port two-position valve for selectively connecting the suction inlet to the inlet of said pump in one position and for selectively connecting the air circuit to the inlet of said pump in the second position.

7. A hydromassage tub system having a hydromassage mode and a cleaning mode of the type having a tub with a plurality of nozzles therein for introducing water jets into the interior of the tub, comprising:

a first group of at least one nozzle and a second group of at least one nozzle for introducing water into the interior of the tub;

a water circuit in flow communication with said nozzles for supplying water under pressure thereto;

an air circuit in flow communication with said nozzles for distributing air thereto in the hydromassage mode;

a pump having at least one outlet connected to said water circuit for supplying pressurized water thereto, said pump having an inlet for receiving water to be pressurized for supply to said water circuit;

first valve means for selectively connecting said pump inlet to a suction inlet in the tub for accepting water from the interior of the tub in the hydromassage mode and for selectively connecting said pump inlet to said air circuit for accepting water therefrom in the cleaning mode; and

second valve connected to said water circuit and said air circuit at a position intermediate said first and said second groups of nozzles to define first and second water circuit sub-portions and define first and second air circuit sub-portions, said first air circuit sub-portion extending between said second valve and said first valve means and said second air circuit sub-portion extending between said second valve and said first valve means, said first and second water circuit sub-portions not in flow communication through said second valve when in said cleaning mode, said second valve, when in the cleaning mode, connecting said first water circuit sub-portion to one of said first or second air circuit sub-portions through said second valve and connecting said second water circuit sub-portion to the other of said first or second air circuit sub-portions through said second valve to define a first cleaning path in which water flows from said pump through said first water circuit sub-portion and said second valve through said one of said first or second air circuit sub-portions and through said first valve means to said pump inlet and a second cleaning path in which water flows from said pump through said second water circuit sub-portion through said second valve through the other of said first or second air circuit sub-portions and through said first valve means to said pump inlet.

8. The hydromassage tub system of claim 7, wherein said second valve, when in the cleaning mode, interrupts flow communication in said water circuit thereat to define said first water circuit sub-portion and said second water circuit sub-portion and interrupts flow communication in said air circuit thereat to define said first air circuit sub-portion and said second air circuit sub-portion.

9. The hydromassage tub system of claim 8, wherein said second valve comprises a valve body having first and second through flow passages for providing, in the hyrdomassage mode, flow communication for the water circuit and the air circuit therethrough and having first and second shunt flow passages for providing, in the cleaning mode, flow communication between the first water circuit sub-portion and the first air circuit sub-portion and flow communication between the second water circuit sub-portion and the second air circuit sub-portions.

10. The hydromassage tub system of claim 7, wherein said tub has a first side and a second side, said first water circuit sub-portion and said first air circuit sub-portion located on one side of said tub and said second water circuit sub-portion and said second air circuit sub-portion located on the second side of said tub, said second valve, when in the cleaning mode, connecting the water circuit sub-portion on said first side of said tub to the air circuit sub-portion on said first side of said tub and connecting the water circuit sub-portion on the second side of said tub to the air circuit sub-portion on said second side of said tub.

11. The hydromassage tub system of claim 7, wherein said first valve means comprises a three-port two-position valve for selectively connecting the suction inlet to the inlet of said pump in one position and for selectively connecting the air circuit to the inlet of said pump in the second position.