CA2006911A1 - Blow-off nozzle structure capable of automatically varying blow-off volume of water - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT

A blow-off nozzle structure capable of automatically varying the blow-off volume of water comprises a tubular nozzle casing defining a blow-off flow forming passage therein, the passage forming a blow-off opening at a front end thereof and a hot water inlet opening at a rear end thereof, a valve seat formed in the midst of the blow-off flow forming passage, a valve element capable of being extended to or retracted from said valve seat so as to adjust the degree of opening of said valve seat an air mixing portion defined in the blow off flow forming passage and disposed at a position in front of the valve seat, the air mixing portion communicated with an air intake portion which has one end opened to atmosphere, and an automatic valve-element reciprocating means capable of moving said valve element toward or away from said valve seat. Due to such construction, air-mixed water containing a sufficient amount of air can be blown off from the blow-off opening of the tubular nozzle casing and the volume of the blow-off air-mixed water can be finely and continuouly regulated by the control unit corresponding to the degree of opening of said valve seat. The blow-off nozzle structure is especially applicable to a whirlpool bath which gives a remarkable massaging effect to a bather.

Description

2 0 0~ L3~
( ~) A BLOW-OFF NOZZLE STRUCTURE CAPABLE OF AUTOMATICALLY Y~RYING THE
BLOW-OF~ YOLUME OF WATBR

', ' TeCHHICAL ~IE~D
., The present invention relates to a blow-off nczzle structure applicable to various kinds of vessels containing water including a whirlpool bath , and More particularly to such blow-off nozzles which can automatically vary the blow-off volume of water continuously.

B~CKGROUD 0~ INVENTION

Conventionally various improve~ents have been ~ade on the bathtub and one of such i~provement is found in a whirlpool bathtub disclosed in U.S.P 4,797.598. In this patent specification, a bathtub equipped with an i~proved hydro~assage syste~ is disclosed.
The bathtub is substantially characterized by a plurality of nozzles attached on the walls of the bathtub, wherein each nozzle co~prises a plug which is nor~ally closed so as to separate in a sealed ~anner the deliver~ and the supply lines fro~ the container psrt of the bathtub. With the plug, there is also associated a ~anually actuat~d conduit for partializing the flo~. Provision is a~so ~ade for sensors sensitive to the level of the water in the bathtub and to the pressure of the water in the delivery line, for controlling the auto~stic '' '' '' r-~
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discharge of the hydromassage syste~, the operation of the tap and the circulating pu~p.
The above blow-off nozzle, however, sufférs fro~ following drawbacks. Namely, although it can auto~atially shut or open the nozzle with the actuation of the solenoid-valve. it is i~possible for the nozzle to automatically regulate the blow off volu~e of water finely and continuouly. ~lthough in U.S.P ~.797. 958. as means for regulating the flow volume of the water, a conduit is ad;ustably Mounted on the front portion of the nozzle. such adjustment must be effect~d manually resulting in an extre~ely cu~bersome operation.
Furthermore, although within the nozzle. the flow of water is throttoled to produce a Venturi effect and air is incorporated into the flow of water, no vortex is formed in hot water prior to the air ~ixing operation, the air mixing effeciency is less than optimal, thereby the massagin~ effect is also less than optimal.
Accordingly, it is an obiect of the present invention to provide a blow-o~f nozzle structure capable of automatically varyin~ the blow-off volume of water which can overcome above drawbacks of conventional nozzle structure.
It is also an object of the present invention to provide a blow-off nozzle structure which can increase the amount of air mixed into the blown-off water so that the massaging effect is hiehly i~proved.

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SUMMARY OP INV~NTION

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In summary, the present inven.tion discloses a blow-off nozzle structure capable of automatically varying the blow-off volu~e of water comprising a) a tubular nozzle casing defining a blow-off flow fGr~ng passage therein, the passage for~ing a blow-off opening at a front end thereof and a hot water inlet opening at a rear end thereof, b) a valve seat formed in the ~idst of the blow-off flow for~ing passage, c3 a valve element capable of being extended or retracted fro~ said valve seat so as to adjust the degree of opening of said valve seat, d) an air ~ixin~ portion defined in the blow-off flow forming passage and disposed at a position in front of said valve seat, the air ~ixing portion communicated with an air intake portion which has one end opened to at~osphere. and e) an a~tomatic valve-element reciprocating means capable of moving said valve element toward or away from the valve seat, whereby air-mixed water is blown off frow the blow-off opening of the tubular nozzle casin~ and the volu~e of the blow-off air-mixed water is regulated by the de8ree of opening of the valve seat.

BRI~F DESCRIPTION OP THE DRAWINGS

Fig.1 is a perspective view of a whirlpool bath provided with a blow-off nozzle structure of the pr~sent invention;
Fig.2 is a plan view of the whirlpool ~ath.
Fig.3 is a conceptive explanatory view of the construction of the whirlpool bath;

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, .. - 3 -Fig.4 is an explanatory view of an air intake piping;
Fig.5 is an enlarged sectional view of the blow-off nozzle;
- Fig.6 is a side elevational view of the blow-off nozzle:
; ~ig.7 is a cross-sectional view taken on line I - I of ~ig.5;
Pig.8 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a nozzle valve actuating motor;
Fig.8a is an enplanatory view showing the manner of mixing air into the hot water by a conventional blow-off nozzle.
Fig.8b is an enplanatory view showing the manner of ~ixing air into the hot water by the blow-off nozzle of the present invention.
Fig.8c is an enlarged longitudinal cross sectional view of a hot water suction port fitting of the whirlpool bath.
~ ig.8d is an enlarged explanatory view showing the essential part of the hot water suction port fitting.
Fig.8e is an enlarged front view of the decorative cover of the hot water suction port fitting.
Fig.9 is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional view of an air intake portion provided with an operating panel on the top thereof.
Fig.9a is an enlarged cross-vertical sectional view of an air intake port provided with an operating panel on tbe top thereof taken - along the line ~ - ~ of ~ig.9.
Fig.gb is a plan view of the air intake port ~here the operatin8 panel is mounted.
Fig.lO is a front cross-sectional elevational view of a functional - unit in which a circulating pu~p is installed.

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Fig.ll is a cross-sectional plan view of a functional unit taken along the line m - m of Fig.10.
~ ig.12 is a cross-sectional plan view of a functional unit taken along the line rv - rv of Fig.10.
Fig.13 is a partially-cut-away elevational view of the circulatin~
pump provided with a pump-operating ~otor.
Fig.13a is a schematic view of a filter used for cleaning hot water and filter element periodically.
Fig.14 is a plan view of a remote controller;
Fig.15 is a side view of the re~ote controller:
Pig.lSa is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the re~ote controller.
Fig.15b is a partially cut-away plan view of tbe remote controller showing the inner construction thereof.
~ ig.lSc is a transverse cross-sectional side view of the above re~ote controller.
Pig.15d is a rear-side view of the above re~ote controller showing the batter storage portion.
Fig.lSe is a partially-cut-away plan view of a ~odification of the re~ote controller.
~ie.15f is a cross-sectional plan view of the above re~ote ; controller showing the inner construction thereof.
~ ig.15g is a longitudinal cross-sectional side view of the ~bove re~ote controller taken alon~ the line ~J - V of Pig.15f.
Fi~.15h is a blow ~ode pattern showing the ~ild blow operation.

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~ : - 5 -2 0 0~ Li Fig.lSi is a blow mode pattern showing the spot blow operation.
Fig.15j is a blow mode pattern showing the pulse blow operation.
Fig.15k is a blow mode pattern showing the cycie blow operation.
Fig.151 is a blow ~ode pattern showing the wave blow operation.
Fig.15m is a blow mode pattern showing the random blow operation.
~ igs.16a and 16b are explanatory views of blow-off volume blow-off pressure characteristics:
Figs.17a and 17b are explanatory views o~ blow-off nozzle characteristics:
~ ig.18 is an operation timing chart of each blow-off nozzle and the circulating pu~p in a ~ild blow ~ode;
, Fig.19 is an operation timing chart of each blow-off nozzle and the circulating pump in a child safety blow ~ode;
Fig~2n is an operation timing chart of each blow-off nozzle and the circulating pump in a spot blow mode;
Pig.21 is an operation timing chart of each blow-off nozzle and the circulating pu~p in a pulse blow mode;
Fig. æ is an operation timing chart of each blow-off nozzle and the circulating pump in a wave blow pattern A:
Pig.23 is an operation timing chart of each blow-off nozzle and the circulatin~ pump in a wave blow pattern B:
Fig.24 is an operation timing chart of each blow-off nozzle and the circulating pump in a wave blow pattern C;
Fig.25 is an operation timing chart of each blow-of~ nozzle and tbe circulating pUMp in cycle blow p~tterns A and B:

2 0 0 ~31 1 Pig.26 is an operation timing chart of each blow-off noz21e and the circulating pump in a cycle blow pattern C;
Figs.27 to 32 are operational flow charts of the whirlpool batb;
' Pig.33 is an explanatory view of reference positions for water level detection;
~ ig.34 is an explanatory view of a level detecting ~ethod:
Fig.35 is an explanatory view of a water te~perature detecting method; and Fig.36 is an explanatory view of a hot wter blow-off position changing operation.

DET~ILED DESCRIPTION 0~ THE PRE~RR~D EMBODIMENTS

, A whirlpool bath in which a plurallty of blow-off nozzles of the '~! prensent invention are incorporated will be described in detail below according to the following ite~s with reference to the accowpanying drawings.

( I ~ Description of the Whole of the Whirlpool Bath .~!
( ~ ) Description of the Construction of Various Portions ~, .
( ~ - 1 ) Desçription of the Construction o~ Btow-off Nozzles ... .
( ~ - 2 ) Description of the Construction of Hot Water Suction Port ; ( n - 3 ) Description of the Construction o~ ~ir Intake Portion ( ~ - 4 ) Description of Functional Unit ,, .~ .

( ~ - 5 ) Description of Circulatin~ Pump ~ 6 ~ Description of Filter ( ~ - 7 ) Description of Controller ) Description of Operating Panel ( n --9 ) Description of Remote Controller ( m ~ Description of Blow-off Modes ( m - 1 ) Mild Blow [ m - 2 ) Spot 810w ( m - 3 ) Pulse Blow ( m - 4 ) Wave ~low t m - 5 ) Cycle Blow ( m --6 ) Program Blow ( N ) ~escription of the Operation of the Whirlpool Bath ~J ~ l ) Description of Operation Procedure based on Flow charts (rV - 2 ) Description of Conditions for Starting Blow Operation ~rv - 3 ) Description of State Transition of Blow-off Modes (rV - 4 ) Description of State Transi~ion of Hot Water Blow-off Positions ~rv - 5 ) Description of State Transition of Streneth Level in Blow Operation J~-6 ) Description of Priority Main Operations ~rJ - ~ ) Control TiminK between Openine/~losing of Blow-off Yoluue ~djusting Yalves and ~hange of the Nurber of Revolutions of Circulsting .~ ,, ,~:

.; 2 0 0~9 1 1 Pump [ I ) Description of the Whole of the Whirlpool Bath First, the construction of the whole of the whirlpool bath according to the invention will be described below.
In Fi~s.1 and 2, the reference mark A denotes the whirlpool bath according to the present invention. The whirlpool bath~A has a total of six leg-, back- and belly-side blow-off nozzles 2,2; 3.3; 4,4 for~ed in the front wall, rear wall, and ri~ht and left side walls, respectively, of a bathtub body 1 formed in the shape of a box whose upper surface is open.
The bathtub body 1 has a marginal flange-like portion la. and an air intake portion 5 is for~ed in the ~arginal flange-l~ke portion la.
Further, a pair of vertically long recesses lb, lb which are generally V-shaped in cross section are formed in approxi~ately central portions of the ri~ht and left side walls, and the belly-side blow-off nozzles 4.~ are mounted in inclined surfaces 1 b. 1 b of the recesses lb. lb which surfaces face the rear wall (back side), the nozzles 4, 4 being ~ounted toward the central part of the rear wall.
The belly-side blow-off nozzles 4, 4 are provided in positions "
'''~! ~ . higher than the leg- and back-side blow-off nozzles 2.2. 3.3 so that hot wat~r can surely be applied to the belly, the breast and othsr portions . of the human body.
Outside of the whirlpool bath A i9 disposed a functional unit 9.

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,.. ,',;~`1 _ 9_ 200~ff'~1i Wffithin the functional unit 9, as shown in 1~ig.10 to f~ig.12, there are provided a hot water circulating purrfp P~ a filter 43 for filtering the hot water which is circulated by the pUf~p P. a purffflp drivin~ rnotor M
for driving the pump P, and a controller C for controlling the operation of the pump driving motor M 8S well as the operations of later-described nozzle valve actuating motors M1, bubble volume adjusting valve actuating motors M2 and a fmotor-driven three-way f~alve 45f~
The functional unit 9 and the inside construction thereof are described in detail lfater in conjunction with Fig.10 to f~i8.12.
Between the circulating pump P and the whirlpool bath fq~ there is disposed a hot water circulation path D as shown in Fig.1 and ff~ig.3.
The hot water circulation path D is composedf of a hot water suction pipe 10 for sucking hot water from the whirlpool bath A into the circulating pump P and a hot water forced-feed pipe 11 for feeding hot water from the circulating pump P to the inside of the L~-fathtub body 1.

As shown in Fig.3, one end of the hot water suction pipe 10 is connected to a suction port lm which is open in a lower psrt o~ the bathtub body 1. and the other end thereof is connected tc a suction port of the circulatinf~ puf,fap P for the suction of hot water into the circulatin~ pump P. On the other hand. the hot water forcedf-feed pipe }1 is connected at one end thereof to B discharf~e port of the circulating p~mp P and it has opposite end portions connected to the blow-off nozzles 2,3.4.
The suction port 1~ is provided in a position lower than the leg-and back-side blow-off nozzles 2,3.
The suction port lm is explained in detail later in view of Fig.8c and Fig.~d.
Between the circulating pump driving motor M and the controller C, there is disposed an inver~er ~, as shown in ~ig.3. The number of revolutions of the circulating pump P is controlled by varying the output frequency of the inverter E, whereby the change of the nu~ber of revolutions of the pump P which corresponds to the change of blow-off volume and pressure of hot water can be done s~oothly and with certainty.
As shown in ~ig. 3, moreover, a pressure sensor 48 for detecting the flow pressure of hot water being fed under pressure through the hot water forced-feed pipe 11 is mounted halfway of the pipe 11. The result of detection from the pressure sensor 48 is fed to the controller C, which in turn controls the volu~e of pressure of hot water to be blown off from the nozzles 2,3.4 by chan~ing the number of revolution of the pump driving ~otor M and the degree of opening or that of closing of each of those nozzles 2,3,4.
The pressure sensor 48 also serves as a level sensor for detecting the level of hot water in the bathtub body 1 when the circulatin~ pu~p P
is not operated. Namely, the whirlpool bath A being considered above is constructed such that, whén the hot hater level is found to be ~elo~ a predet0r~ined certain level by the use of the pressure sensor 48 which works as a level sensor, blow operation, freeze proofing operation, filter washing operation and auto~atic filt~r washin~ operation which . . , , ... " . ..

Z 0 0~9 l i are started by the controller C as described later are not yet started.

~ hot water te~perature sensor T for detecting the te~perature of hot water being fed under pressure through the hot water forced-feed pipe 11 is mounted in a halfway position of the pipe 11, as shown in Fig.3. She result of detection from the temperature sensor T is fed to the controller C, which in turn controls the pump driving ~otor ~ and the blow-off nozzles 2,3,4.
When the hot water temperature is found to be lower than a predetermined certain temperature by the use of the hot water temperature sensor T, the later-described blow operation, freeze proofing operation, filter washin~ operation and auto~atic filter washing operation which are started by the controller C are not started.
In other words, so long as the water level and temperature of hot water are lower than the respective predeter~ined certain levels, the later-described blow operation, freeze proofing operation, filter washing operation and automatic filter washing operation by the controller C are not started .
~ s shown in Pigs.l, 4, 9, 9a and 9b, a plurality of air intake pipes 12 are disposed between the air intake portion 5 and the blow-off noz71es 2,3,4. Pro~ halfway portions of the air intake pipes 12, there are formed air suction pipes 12a,12~,12c toward the blow-off nozzles 2.

3,4. The ends of the air s~ction pipes 12a,12b,12c are connected to the nozzles 2,3,4 respectively `, ZOO~

The air which has been taken in fro~ the air intake portion 5 is introduced into the blow-off nozzles 2,3,4 through the air suction pipes 1~a,12b,12c of the air intake pipe 12 by utilizing a negatiYe pressure generated at the time of blow-off of hot water fro~ the no~zles 2,3,4 whereby air-mixed bubbling hot water can be blown off into the bathtub body 1 from those nozzles 2,3,4.
In the vicinity of the bathtub body 1, there is disposed an operating panel 6, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3 so that the operation of the whirlpool bath A can be done by the operating panel 6. This operating panel 6 will be described later.
As shown in ~ig.3b, numeral 30b denotes an infrared ray sensor provided on the operating panel 6. The infrared ray sensor 30b is for sensing infrared ray emitted from a later-describ~d remote controller ''' 30. , - In the above construction, the gist of the present invention resides in that the degree of opening and that of closing of each of the leg-, back- and belly-side blow-off nozzles 2,3,4 whose blow-off volumes can be varied automatically can be controlled through the controller C to obtain various blow-off modes (mild blow, spot blo~, pulse blow, wave blow, cycle blow, and progra~ blow) as will be described in detail later in order to fully satisfy Yarious likings of bathin~ persons In this embodi~ent, however, for obtainin~ various blow-off ~odes, not only the degree of opening and that of closing of blow-off nozzles 2,3,4 but also the number of revolutions of the circulatine pu~p P are . - 1 3 -varied.
Further~ore, in this e~bodiment, the blow strength can be varied by controlling the number of revolutions of the circulating pump P, and further in that various blow-off positions can be selected so that hot water jets of a desired strength can be applied to desired portions of the bathing personls body to obtain a sufficient massa~in~ effect induced by the hot water jets.
Particularly. in this embodiment, the number of revolutions of the circulating pump P is controlled by the inverter E so that the change of blow-off volume and pressure as well as that of the blow strength in various blow-off modes can be done smoothly.

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(~ ) Description of the Construction of Various Portions (~ -1 ) Description of the Construction of Blow-off Nozzles The leg-, back- and ~elly-side blow-off nozzles 2,3,4 are auto~atic blow-off volume chan8eable nozzles of the sa~e construction in which the blow-off volu~e and pressure of hot water can he chan~ed automatically.
The structure of a leg-side blow-off nozzle 2 will ~e described : below with reference to Pigs. 5 to 8.
The leg-side blow-off nozzle 2 is constructed as follows.
~ cylindrical nozzle casing 20 is connected to a leg-slde blow-off -. -- . .

.~ 2 0 0~9 nozzle connection port lg of the bathtub body 1 in a cantllevered for~
outside the bathtub body 1 as shown in ~ig.5.
The interior of the nozzle casing 20 is composéd of a hot-water-jet forming portion ( or a turbulent-hot-water-flow forming portion) 50 for forming the hot-water supplied into the nozzle casing 20 fro~ the hot water forced-feed pipe 11 into a hot-water-jet or a turbulent-hot-water-flow; an air mixing portion 70 communicating with the air intake portion 5 through the air intake pipe 12 and functioning to ~ix air into the hot-water jet fed from the hot-water-jet forming portion 5Q: and a throat portion 59 which decides the blow-off direction of air-~ixed bubbling hot water blown off from the throat portion 59 toward the interior of the bathtu~ body 1.
~: ~s shown in Fig. 5. the front end of the nozzle cssing 20 is connected in a waterti~ht ~anner to the le~-side blow-off noz2le connection port lg which is circular and is open in a lower part of the front wall of the bathtub body 1, while the rear end thereof is extended backwards substantially borizontally.
Nu~eral lh denotes a ring-shaped packing having the outer circumferential portion thereof snu~ly and water-tightly fitted in the connection port lg along the peripheral edge of the sa~e port lg:
numeral li denotes a nozzle mounting sleeve which ha$ an enlarged-flange ~ortion li at one end ther~of and an outer ~ale threaded portion lk on the other end thereof. The enlsrged-flan~e portion li is abutted to the front end surface of the ring-shaped packin~ lh ~hile the outer ~ale threaded portion lk is ~eshed to an inner threaded portion 1P so as to . . ~
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fixedly mount the nozzle 2 on the side wall of the bathtub body 1.
Numeral 20c in Fig.6 and Fig.7 denotes a forced-feed pipe connecting portion to which the hot water forced-feed pipe 11 is connected replaceably. The arrow n indica~es a hot water inflow direction.
Numeral 26 denotes a decorative cover having a front end portion 26b whieh covers both the front end of the nozzle casin~ 20 and the enlarged-flange portion li of the nozzle mounting sleeve li.
And a later-described throat fixing member 25 is ~ixed by the rear end of the decorative cover 26. On the outer peripheral surface of the decorative cover 26 which is cylindrical as a whole, there is for~ed an outer threaded portion 26a. which is threadedly engaged disengageably with an internal threaded portion 20i for~ed on the inner peripheral surface of the front end portion of the no2zle casing 20.
The throat portion 59 is composed of a throat 24. a throat fixin~
member 25 which supports the throat 24 in a tiltable ~anner, and a front portion of a valve seat for~ing cylindrical body 21. Nu~eral 24a denotes a throat base havin~ a spherical outer peripheral surface;
numerals 25a and 21c denote throat supporting surfaces for~ed on the inner periphery of the throat fixing ~ember 25 and that of the valve seat froming cylindrical body 21, respectively, to support the throat base 24a slidably: and numeral 24b denotes a throat tip which is cylindrical and whose outside dia~eter is s~aller than that of the throat hase 24a.
The ti1ting ang~e o~ the throat tip 29b is ~anually adju~ bble ~n the vertical and horizontal directions about the base 24a.

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, 2 0 0 ~ 9 1 i Besides, the throat 2~ can be stopped at any desired tilted angle by a predetermined certain sliding resistance exerted fro~ the the throat supporting sur~aces 25a, 21c on the base 24a of the throat 24.
: The reference mark S denotes a space for throat tilting for~ed between the outer peripheral surface of the throat tip 24b and the inner peripheral surface of the decorative cover 26.
The throat fixing member 25 is fitted in the front portion of the nozzle casine 20 through a positioning groove for~ed in the inner peripheral sur~ace of the casing front portion, and its front face 25b is fixed to the rear end of the decorative cover ~6 by ~ans of a fixing ring 28.
Further, its throat supporting surface 25a formed on the inner periphery supports the outer peripheral surface of the front portion of the throat base 24a slidably.
The valve seat forming cylindrical body 21 is inserted into the central portion of the n~zzle casin~ 20 re~ovably fro~ the front-end openine lg of the nozzle casing 20 so that its rear end face is posltioned in the vicin~ty of the forced-feed pipe connect~ng portion 20c, and a convex stepped portion 21b formed on the outer peripher~l surface of tbe front portion of the cylindrical body 21 is engaged with a concave stepped portion 20i formed in the inner perlpheral surface of . the nozzle casing 20 to prevent a backward slide of the cylindrical ~` . hody 21.
The throat base 24a is fitted ~n the front portion of the valve seat formine cylindrical body 21 in contact with the throat s~pporting ,:

2 0 0~9 1 1 surface 21c for~ed on the inner peripheral surface of the said front portion. In this state, a forward slide of the valve seat for~ing cylindrical body 21 is prevented by the throat base 24a whosa forward slide is prevented by the throat fixing member 25.
The hot-water jet forming portion 50 is composed of a valve seat 21a which defines interiorly a hot-water jet forming path 27: a blow-oif volu~e adjusting valve element 22 which comes into contact and moves out of contact with the valve seat 21a to adjust the degree of opening and that of closin~ of the hot water jet forming path 27 (that is, adjust the btow-off volume and pressure of blown-off hot water); a nozzle valve actuating motor M1 for actuating the blow-off volume adjusting valve element 22; and a rear wall forming plate 29.
In Figs. 6 and 7, the numeral 21d denotes an air inflow path for~ed annularly along the outer peripheral surface of the valve seat foruing cylindrical body 21: and numerals 21e. 21f represent air inlet openings formed on the side of an air intake pipe connecting portion 20b and on the side opposite to the connecting portion 20b. respectively, in the air inflow path 21d. The interior of the valve seat forring cylindrical body 21 and the air intake pipe connecting portion 20b are communicated with each other througb the air inlet openings 21e. 21f to form the air mixin~ portion 70 within the cylindrical body 21. The reference mark m indicates an air inflow direction.
~ ccording to the construction of the nozzle valve actuating ~otor Ml shown in Fi~.5 and ~ig.8, a cylindrical ~otor casing 23 is attached to the rear wall forming plate 29 re~ovably: a cylindrical ~oil 23a i5 '', ' .
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mounted within the motor casing 23 coaxially with the nozzle casing 20;
a cylindrical magnet 23b is disposed inside the coil 23a, which ~agnet can be rotated forward and reverse by energizing the coil 23a: a cylindrical rotor nut 23c is mounted in tke interior of the ma~net 23b concentric~lly and integrally, which rotor nut 23c is iournalled rotatably in bearings 23e; and a valYe-element supporting rod ~3d with the blow-off volume adjusting valve element 22 mounted on the front end thereof is extended through the rotor nut 23c so as to be slidable forward and backward axially.
Further, a spiral rotor nut-side ~all groove 23k is for~ed in the inner peripheral surface of the rotor nut 23c, while in the outer peripheral surface of the valve-element supporting rod 23d. there is for~ed a spiral rod-side ball groove 23m in the sa~e direction as the rotor nut-side ball groove 23k, and a plurality of balls 23n are interposed for rolling between the opposed rotor nut-side ball groove 23k and rod-side ball groove 23~. Nu~eral 23~ denotes a rotation preventing ~emher for preventin~ the valve supporting rod 23d fro~
rotatine toghther with the rotor nut 23c, thus converting the rotatin8 movement of the rotor nut 23c to the reciprocating ~inear movement o~
the valve-element supporting rod 23d.
On the rear end of the valve-element supporting rod 23d. there is ¦ mounted a valve operation checkin~ sensor 23~ for detecting the nor~al ~ operatio~ of the rozzle valve actuating ~otor ~l. Na~ely, if the sensor i 23f generates an output sienal~ this implies that, with the sctivstion of ~he ~otor M1, the valve-ele~ent supporting rod 23d and the valve .
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ele~ent 22 are retracted fro~ the reference position ( full valve-closed position ) so as to open the the hot water jet forming path 27.
In other words, during the blow operation, if the valve operation checking sensor 23f generates no output signal, it i~plies that the nozzle valve actuating motor M1 is in trouble.
The sensor 23f is co~posed of a position detecting ~all elelment 23i and a position detecting magnet 23i attached to the valve supporting rod 23d in a rear end position opposed to the Hall ele~ent 23i.
The deeree of opening of the hot water jet for~ing path 27 corresponds to the movement of the valve-element supporting rod 23d.
which, in turn is proportional to the number of pulses (rotational angle) fro~ the reference position ( full valve-closed position of the nozzle valve actuating motor M1). Accordingly. such degree of opening of the hot water 3et forming path 27 is accurately and finely adjusted by controllin~ the nozzle valve actuating motor M1 by the controller C.

~s shown in ~ig.5, an electrical connection for the nozzle valve actuating motor M1 substantially co~prises an edge connector 23P and 23q. a flexible flat cable 23r and a sheath protected cable 235.
The ed~e connector 23p is made of a socket 23t which is connected to the flexible flat cable 23r and ~ plug 23u which is one end ¢remova~ly inserted into the socket 23t and the other end connecte~ to the coil 23a of the nozzle va~Ye actuating motor Ml.
;In the nozzle valve actuating motor ~l of the above construction, the rotor nut 23c is rotated together with the ~agnet 23b by ener8izing 2 0 0~3~

the coil 23a, and the valve supporting rod 23d is ~oved forward or backward interlockedly with the rotation of the rotor nut 23c, whereby the blow-off volume adjusting valve element 22 mounted on the front end of the valve supporting rod 23d is moved into contact with or away fro~
the valYe seat 21a to adjust the blow-off volume and pressure of hot water into the bathtub body 1.
As to the degree of openin~ or that of closing of the blow-off volu~e adiusting valve element 22, the result of detection of the reference position performed by the valve operation checking sensor 23f is fed to the controller C, which, in turn, controls the energization of the coil 23a to open or close the valve element 22 to an appropriate degree, so that there can be effected a fine adjustment of the volu~e and pressure of the hot water to be blown off into the bathtub body 1.
~ he nozzle valve actuating motor Ml is not specially limited if only it can move the blow-off voluMe adjusting valve element 22 steplessly at a very small distance to make a fine adjustment of the volume and pressure of hot water to be ~lown off. There may be used a piezoelectric actuator. Nu~eral 40 denotes a bellows-like water-proof cover formed integrally with the blow-off volu~e adjusting valvs elè~ent 22.
The rear wall of the nozzle casing 20 is enlarged so as to for~ a motor portion 20p which, along with a cover lid 2~r, defines a motor portion storing space 20q in which a ~otor portion of the nozzle valve actuatin~ ~otor Ml is installed.
Numeral 29a and 29b denotes packings provided on the ' ~, , : ., - . . ~

2 0 0~3 circumferential surface of the rear wall forming plate 29, while nu~eral 29c denotes a packing provided on the circumferential surface of the valve seat forming cylindrical body 21.
Numeral 23v is a water leakage sensor which is ~ounted on a printed circuit 23w. Upon detecting the presence of water in the motor portion storin~ space 20q, the controller C stops the activation of the valve-element actuating motor M1.
Due to such construction, the accident that the electricity leaks to the bather from the nozzle valve actuatin~ motor M1 to the hot water filled in the interior of the bathtub body l can be prevented.
Furthermore, as shown in Fi~.5, the outside dia~eter of the ~otor casing 23 is made smaller than the inside diameter of a rear-end openin~ 20k of the nozzle casin~ 20.
Due to such construction, the nozzle valve actuating motor M1 can be inserted into the nozzle casing 20 removably from the front-end opening of the latter. Namely, the leg-side blow-off nozzle ~ can be disassembled from the interior of the bathtub body l.
In disassembling operation, the decorative cover 26 is first removed and a nozzle mounting sleeve li is removed. Subse~uently. the fixin~ rine ~8, the throat fixing member 25, the throat 24 and the valve seat forming cylindrical bod~ 2l are removed. ~inally, the nozzle valve actuating motor M1 is removed together with the rear wall 2~ while assuring the electrical connection due to the elon~ated flexible flat cable 23r, thus facilitating the ~aintenance of the nozz}e valve actuatin~ ~otor ~l.

', ' .

. , ~ . , ~ . . . .

. 2 0 0~i~31 i Also, the back-and belly-side blow-off nozzles 3, 4 are of the sa~e construction as that of the blow-off nozzle 2 described above to permit . . , /

, , /

-. , ` - . ' ' . . ' i . , ` . ; ' adjustment of the volume and pressùre of hot water to be bl~wn off.
Adjust~ent of the blow-off nozzles 2,3.4 can be perfor~ed by the operating panel 6 or the wireless re~ote controller 30 as ~ill be described later.
There are two kinds of using patterns of the six leg-, back and belly-side blow-off nozzles 2, 3, 4 described above. According to one pattern, hot water is blown off from all of the six nozzl~s 2,3.4 at a time, while accordine to the other pattern, one or two kinds of nozzles are selected and used, as will be later explained with reference to Figs.36. Each use pattern can be selected by a blow-off nozzle use pattern change-over switch on the operating panel 6 or of the w~reless remote controller 30.
The following description is now provided about initializing (adjusting) the nozzle valve actuating motor Ml in the blow-off nozzles 2,3,4.
When the power is turned ON (when the plug is inserted):
0 The nozzle va~ve actuating ~otor nl is driven in a closin~
direction of the blow-off volume adiusting valve element 22 ~or O.S
second at a normal voltage (e.~. 12V). 50 pps.
~ The nozzle valve actuating motor M1 is driven in a closing direction of the blow-off volu~e adjusting ~alve ele~ent 22 for 1.5 second at a low voltage (e g 4V), 200 pps.
Then, in a co~pletely closed position, the ~otor ~1 is allowed to step out for a cert~in time (e.g. 2 seconds) to ~ake initialization.
Ç~ The nozzle valve actuating motor ~1 is driven at a nor~al voltage 2 0 0~

(e.~. 12'~), 200 pps, to retreat the blow-off volu~e adjusting valve element 22 by 6 mm from the initialized, completely closed position.
Initialization (adiustment) can be done by operating the nozzle valve actuating motor Ml like the above ~9 to ~. The numerical values mentioned above are examples and constitute no li~itation.
By such initialization (adiustment) of the nozzle ~alve actuating motor M1, there are obtained the following effects.
a) By the above operation ~9, it is possible to remove oil sticking to the sealing portion and ensure a subsequent smooth operation of the motor ~1.
b) By the above operation ~, the blow-off volume adjusting valve element 22 can ~e brought into abut~ent with the valve seat 21a at a re~atively low urgin~ force, so it is possible to prevent damage, etc.
of the valve element 22 and the valve seat 21a.
c~ By the above operation ~, the btow-off volum~e adiusting valve element 22 is retreated and opened 6 ~m fro~ the co~plete}y closed positlon, thereby permitting smooth feed and drain of hot water.
Further, at the time of start of a later-described blow operation, the above operations ~ and ~3 of the nozzle valve actuatin~ motor Ml are perfor~ed, whereby the mild blow as an initializing blow can be effected smoothly.
- In Fi~.8a, the ~anner of mixing air into the hot-water flow with a conventional blow-off nozzle 1000 is shown. As can be readily understood fro~ the drawing, the air passes through the blow-off nozzle 1000 along the upper inner sur~ace of there~f so that the hot water biown off from '.
.. ..

.

ZOO~i<~l~

the blow-off nozzle 1000 contains a s~all a~ount of ~ir therein resultin~ in the poor ~assaging effect.
According to the blow-off nozzle 2 of the pres~nt invention, due to the provision of the hot-water jet path 27 and the reciprocat;ng valve element 22, a Yigorous hot-water iet flow or the turbulent hot-water flow is produced and the air from the air intake portion 5 is sufficiently mixed to the hot-water jet flow whereby the hot water flow blown off from the blow-off nozzle 2 contains a large a~ount of air therein resulting in the extremely effective massaging e~fect including sti~ulating effect and relaxing effect.

( ~ - 2 ) Description of the ~onstruction of Hot Water Suction Port The construction of a suction port fitting 3~0 which is attached to the suction port 1~ is described hereinafter.
~ s shown in Pi~s. 8c, 8d and 8e, the front end of a cylidrical sleeve 351 is connected in a watertight ~anner to the suction port 1a of the bathtub body 1 which is circular and is open in a low~r part of the side wall of the bathtub body 1. while the rear end thereof is extended backwards su~stantially horizontally.
Numeral 352 indicates a ring-shaped packing having the outer circuMferential portion thereof snugly and water-tightly fitted in the suction port lm along the peripheral ed8e of the sa~e port 1~. Hu~eral 353 indicates a sleeve ~ounting collar which has an en3arged flange portion 35~ at one end thereof and an outer ~ale threaded portion 355 on :

.. . ... . ~ . ;

2 0 0~

the other end thereof. The enlarged-flange portion 354 is abutted to the front end surface of the ring-shaped packing 352 whlle the outer male threaded portion 355 is meshed to an inner threaded portion 356 of the cylindrical sleeve 35l so as to fixedly ~ount the suction port fitting 350 to the side wall of th~ bathtub body l in a cantilever manner.
Numeral 357 indicates a suction-pipe connecting portion of the cylindrical sleeve 351 to which one end of the hot watei suction pipe 10 is connected.
Ir. the cylindrical sleeve 351, an annular filter element 358 is provided so as to prevent dust such as human hair from entering into the circulatin~ pump P whereby the occurrence of trouble on the circulating pump P can ~e effectively prevented.
~ he filter element 358 is fixedly and stably attached to the inside of the cylidrical sleeve 351 ~y means of a filter supp~rt 359 which has a proximal end fixedly mounted on the inner wall of the cylindrical sleeve 351.
For enabling a quick and firm mounting and replacement of the filter element 358 to the filter support 359. a threaded ~haft 360 is threaded into a female threaded hole 3~1 for~ed in the filter support 359 and an annnular protrusion 362 and an anno}ar groove 363 are for~ed on the outer surface thereof and at the midst portion thereof while an annular groore 364 is formed in the inner surface of the filter support 359 at a position correspondent to the groove 363 and an 0-ring ~65 is acco~Modated in a space defined ~y two ~rooves 363 and 3fi4.

';' .

.
_~ --2 7--Furthermore, the suction port fitting 350 is also provided with a decorative cover 366 and such cover 366 has the central portion thereof connected to the head surface of the threaded shaft 360.
As shown in Pig.8e, such decorative cover 366 is provided with a plurality of arcuate openings 367 for preventing the dust of considerable size from entering into the hot water circult~tion path D.

Numeral 368 indicates a pair of auxiliary suction-pipe connectlng portions of the cylindrical sleeve 351 which are usually closed by plugs or lids and opened in case the hot water suction pipe 10 ~ust be led to the hot water suction port lm fro~ dlfferent direction.
,: .
( ~ - 3 ) Description of the Construction of ~ir Intake Portion ~ he c~nstruction of the air intake portion 5 will ~e described below.
~ s shown in ~igs. 9, 9a and 9b, the air intake portion 5 is ~ounted on the ~arginal flange-like portion la of the bathtub body 1.
The intake portion 5 is co~osed of a rectangular box-shaped air intake body 92 having an open top and containin~ a plurality of silencers 92a.92b in two rows: a cover 82 having an air intake port 82a for~ed outside and covering the top opening of the air inta~e bcdy 92; a pluralitY of air intake pipe connecting portions 83a, 83b, 83c having upper ends thereof connected to the silencers 92b and lower ends connected to the air suction pipes 12a. 12b, 12c: and a pluralitg of air ; t :, ( , . ~ . ,, 2 0 0~

volume adj~lsting valves 87a, 87b, 87c disposed in eommunication paths which bridge between the silencers 92b and the air intake pipe connecting portions 83~. 83b, 83c to open and close the above communication paths.
Due to such construction, a finely regulated amount of air can be ~ed to the blow-of~ noz21es 2,3,4 throu~h the air suction pipes 12a?12b and 12c.
Each air volume adjustin~ valve 87a, 87b. 87c ~s composed of a cylindrical v~lve body 88 having an upper edge which defines an opening 88a; an air volume adjusting valve actuating motor M2 ~ounted to the bottom of the cylindrica] valve body 88; a valve ele~ent supporting rod 89 connected to the motor ~2; and a valve ele~ent 90 mounted to the front end of the rod 89 and capa~le of ~oving into and out of contact with a valve seat ~8b formed at the upper edge of the valve body 88.
Nu~eral 88d denotes a com~unication opening formed in the peripheral wall of the valve body 88.
The air volu~e adjusting valve actuatin~ ~otor ~2 is of a linear stepping ~otor structure which is the same as the structure of the nozzle valve actuatin~ ~otor ~1, and it ~can be controlled by the controller C as will be described later.
~ n this embodiment. however. there is not perfor~ed an ad;ust~ent of ~he air volu~e through the valve ele~ent 90 by driving the ~otor ~2 durin~ the blow operation. but there is perfor~ed the blo~ vperation in a preset air volu~e.
Numerals ~3a,93b denote a pair of upper and lower silencer-supporting plates disposed horizontally in two rows within the air intake body 9~ to support the silencers g2a,92b. A plurality of communication holes 94a,94b which are formed in silencers ~2a,92b of the upper row are respectively aligned with a plurality of co~unication holes 9~a,94b which are formed in silencers 92a,92b of the lower row.
The refere~ce mark r indicates an air inflow direction.
Furthermore, as can be understood from Figs. 9, 9a and 9b, the operationg panel 6 is incorporated into the cover 82 and when an panel cover 6a is opened, a panel switching surface 6~ is readily accessible thus facilitating the blow off operation together with a re~ote controller 30 which will be described later in details.

( n --4 ~ Description of Functional Unit The construction of the functional unit 9 is hereinafter explained in view of Fig.10, Fig.11 and Fig.12.
The functional unit 9 includes a rectan~ular ~ox-shaped casing 60 which is made of an upper plate 60a. a bottom fra~e 60b, a pair of side plates 60c.60d, a front plate 60e and a rear plate 60f.
In the inner space defined within the functional unit 9. a virtually horizontal shelf 61 made of three frame ~embers 61a,61b and 61c is bridged ~etween the side plates 60c,6~d defining an upper storing space 62 and a lower storing space 63.
In the upper space 62, a pluraiity of electric devices are disposed while, in the lower space 63, a plurality of s~bstantially non-electric ., ,, --3 O~

- ~ ~ r - - . . ~~ - ~ ~

,., ZOO~

devices are disposed.
Namely, a leakege breaker 64 and an insulating transformer 65 are mounted on the frame member 61a. a power source transformer 66 and a noise filter 67 are mounted on the frame ~e~ber 61b and the control unit C and an inverter E are mounted on the frame member 61c.
On the bottom frame 60b, the circulatin~ pump P privided with a cold-proofin~ heater and the filter 43 for cleaning hot water are mounted on the bottom frame ~Ob.
Due to such construction, the electrical insulation between the electric devices and non-electric devices are reliably achieved whereby theleakege of electricity from electric devices to the hot water in the bathtub body 1 by way of non-electric de~ices can be co~peletely prevented assuring the complete safety of the bather.
Referring to the other construction in the functional unit 9, a plurality of rubber connections 68 are provided at junctions of various pipin~s in the funtional unit 9.
Por providing a ventulation of the functional unit 9, a gallery 69 are provided on both side plates 60c,~0d of the casing 60.

( ~ - 5 ) Description of Circulating Pu~p The construction of the circulating pu~p P will be descri~ed below.

The circulating pump P has such a construction as sho~n in ~i8.13.
~n upper impeller cha~er 33 and a lower i~peller chamber 34 are ; . ,, ~ _ - 3 1 -2 0 0~

com~unicated with each other through a communication path 32d in a pump casing 32. The lower impeller chamber 3~ is in co~uni~ation with the hot water suction pipe 10 through a hot water suction path 32a for~ed on one side of the lower portion of the pump casing 32, also with the hot water forced-feed pipe 11 through a hot water forced-feed path 32b formed on the other side of the lower portion of the pump casing 32, and further with one end of an incoming pipe 41 of the filter 43, which will be described later, through a filterin~ forc~d-feed path 32c formed on one side of the upper impeller chamber 33. Numeral 32e denotes a suction port: numeral 32f a lower discharge port; numeral 32g an upper discharge port; z1 indicates a circulation flow direction; and z2 indicates a filtration flow direction.
An impeller shaft 35 extends vertically through the centers of the upper and lower i~peller chambers 33, 34, and upper and lower hpellers 33a, 34a are mounted on the impe11er shaft 35 coaxially within the upper and lower impeller chambers 33, 34. respectively. rhe i~peller shaft 3S being interlocked with a drive shaft 39 of the pump drivin~ motor M
which is mounted on the pump casing 32 integrally in 8 watertight m~nner. Numeral 36 denotes a sealine ~ember which ensures waterti~htn~ss of the i~terior of the pump casing 32.
~ o the upper impeller chamber 33 of the circul~ting pump P is connected filter 43 throu~h the inco~ing pipe 41 and a return pipe 42.
as shown in Fig.13a. A portion of the hot water which has been sucked into the lower impeller cham~er 34 is fe~ to the ~ilter 43 throu~h the inco~ing pipe ~1 connected to the upper discharge ~ort 32e of the upper - _ - 3 2 -~ ~- -,.

2 0 0~

impeller chamber 33, then the hot water filtered by the filter 43 ~s fed to the hot water forced-feed pipe ll through the return pipe 42 and joined to the hot water being fed forcibly into ~he pipe 11 fro~ the lower discharge port 32f of the lower impeller cha~ber 34.
Under the above construction, upon rotation of the upper i~peller 33a, the hot water in the bathtub body l is sucked into the hot water suction path 32a of the lower impeller chamber 34 through the suction port 32e from the hot water suction pipe 10, then fed ~orcibly fro~ the lower impeller chamber 34 to the lower discharge port 33a through the hot water forced-feed path 32b and further into the bathtub body 1 through the hot water forced-feed pipe 11.
In this case, a portion of hot water which entered the lower impeller chamber 34 passes throu~h the communication path 32d and enters the upper impeller chamber 33, then passes through the filtering forced-feed path 32c, further through the incoming pipe 41 fro~ the upper discharge port 33a, and is fed to the filter 43. The hot water threr~y filtered is fed into the hot water forced-feed pipe 11 through the return pipe 42.
Thus, the hot water which is circulated tbrough the hot water circulation path by ~eans of the circulating pu~p P having upper and lower impellers 33a, 34a is partially filtered by the filter 43.
On the outer periphery of the circulating pu~p P there is provided .~
a heater H1 for a freeze proofing pu~p. The heater H1 is controlled ~y the controller ~ in accordance with the result of detection of the te~perature of the hot water in the hot water forced-feed pipe 1l ~ .

; ~ . ~ ' ,, ; ' ~
,_ '- ,., :
,'' '~; ` ` , ' ,:

200~

obtained by th hot water temperature sensor T, whereby the freezing of the hot water in the circulating pump P can be prevented.
The pump driving motor M is a three-phase induction type provided with a fan for coolin~ the motor M. Numeral 39a denotes a rotor mounted to the outer peripheral surface of the drive shaft 39 of the pump drivin~ motor M; numeral 39b denotes a fixed ~agnetic pole attached to the inner peripheral surface of a motor casing 38 in an inside-outside opposed state with respect to the rotor 39a; and nu~eral 39c denotes a coolin~ fan.
The inverter E, which is disposed between the pu~p driving ~otor M
and an output interface 5~, per~or~s a conversion processing for the input frequency fed from a commerc;al AC supply. in ~ccordance with a progr~m stored in a ~emory 53 of the controller C as will be~ described later. More specifically, the inverter ~ converts the power fro~ an AC
lOOY power supply into a three-phase 200V power and outputs the latter.

Then, the number of revolutions of the pu~p driving motor n is controlled in proportion to the output frequency which h~s gone through the conversion processin~ in the inverter E to thereby control the number of revolutions of the circulating pump P, thereby per~ittin~ the volume and pressure of the hot water fro~ the blow-off nozzles 2. 3, 4 to be changed in accordance with the afore~entioned progra~.
Tn this way the numher of revolutions of the circulatinK pu~p P can be controlled smoothly and certainly by the inve~ter ~. ~s a result, the followin~ effects are obtained - , ., , - ~ ` ' :~ ' ` ' .

~ 200~

~ 8y suitably combining the change in the num~er of revolutions of the circulating pu~p P made by the inverter E with the opening and closing operations of the blow-off no~zles 2, 3. 4 it is made pos~ible to change the blow-off mode variously according to likings of bathin~
persons and thus it is possible to satisfy various likings of bathing persons.
~ The blow stren~th can be ehanged in several steps or steplessly according to likings of bathing persons by changing the number of revolutions of the circulating pump P with the inverter E, so it is possible to give a feeling of ample satisfaction to bathing persons.
~ Since the change in the number ot revolutions of the circulating pump P can be done s~oothly by the inverter e together with the opening or closing operation of the blow-off nozzles 2. 3, 4, it is possible to effect the change from one blow-off mode to another an~ further the change of the blow stren~th in various blow-off ~odes s~oothly and slowly without giving any uncomfortahle feeling to the person taking a bath.
~ 3 Since the circulatine pump P can be given a slow leading-edge rotation by the inverter E, it is possible to preYent the occurrence of an accident such as fallin~-down of the bathing person, particularly a child or an old person due to sudden blow-off of hot water, Since the circulating pump P can be given a slow leading-ed~e rot~tion by the inverter E, it is possible to prevent the inconvenience that the pump P ~a~es in air and races, so a smooth blow-off of hot air oan ~e ensured by the pu~p P.

~_ - 3 5 -r . . . , ", ~
` ' ' , ~-' ,', ' 2 0 0~

~ Since the circulating pump P can be given a slow leading edge rotation by the inYerter ~, it is possible to reduce the discharge sound of air in pipes and so the reduction of noise can be attained.
Ç~ When the change of blow strength or the change of blow-off mode is performed by chan~ing the blow-off volume and pressure as in this embodiment, wasteful electric power can be saved and so power savin~ can be attained.
~ Since the circulatin~ pump P can be reverse-rotat~ by the inverter E. it is po~sible to remove forei~n matters such as dust from pipes.
I

--6 ) ~escription of Filter The construction of the filter will be described below.
As shown in Fig.13a, the filter 43 is composed of a filter body 43a, an ~cylic mesh ~3b stretched in the lower portion of the filter body 43a, a filter medium 43c provided on the mesh 43b, and a baffle 43d attached to the inner surface of the upper wall of the filter body 43a.

One end of the incoming pipe 41 is connected to the upper end of the filter body 93a, while one end of the return pipe 42 is connetted to the lower end of the filter body 43a, and hot water is allowed to pass fro~ above the filter body 43a downwards through the filter ~edium 43c, wherehy the hot water can be filtered.
A fi~ter heater H2 for freeze proofln~ is ~ounted to the outer peripherg of the filter 43 and it is controlled ~y the controller C

3 ~ -ZOO~

accordin~ to the result of detection of the temperature of the hot water in the hot water forced-feed pipe 11 made by the hot w~ter te~perature sensor r, whereby the freezing of the hot water in the filter ~3 can be prevented, Further, halfway of the incomin~ pipe 41, there is provided tbe motor-driven three-way valve 45. and a drain pipe 46 is connected to one end of the thre~-way valve ~5, so that the inco~ing pipe 41 and the drain pipe ~6 can be brought into communication with each other through the three-way valve 45.
By changing over the motor-driven three-way valve 4~ to make communic~tion between the incoming pipe 41 and the drain pipe 46 and rotatin~ the upper and tower impelters 33a, 34a of the circulatin~ pu~p P, a portion of hot water is passed through the return pipe 4~ and then passed from the lower portion of the filter body 43a upwards throu~h the filter ~ediu~ 43c, thereby permitting washing of the filter ~ediuw 43c.
~ he cbange-over operation of the motor-driven three-way valve 45 can be done by the remote controller 30 which will be described later, - 7 ) Description of Controller ~he constr~ct}on of the controller C will be descri~ed below, ~ s shown in ~i~.3, the controller C is composed of a ~icroprocessor MPU, input/output interfaces ~11 5~, a ~emory 53 co~prising RO~ and R~M, and a ti~er 54, - ~ . ~ . .
. .,^ . ~ . , , :
-2 0 0~ L~

ln the above construction, to the input interface 51. there areconnected the valve operation checkin~ sensor 23f for detectin~ the degree of opening and that of closing of the blow-off volu~e adjusting valve 22; a valve opening checking sensor 91 for checking the opening of the air volume adjusting valve 87a,87b.87c: the pressure sensor 48 for detecting the water pressure ;n the hot water forced-feed pipe 11: the hot water temperature sensor T for detecting the temperature of hot water in the bathtub body 1; the operating panel 6; and the infrared ray sensor 30b for sensin~ a drive signal using infrared ray provided from the remote controller 30.
On the other hand, to the output interface 52, there are connected later-described clock display portion 115 and hot water temperature indicatin~ portion 116 on the operating panel 6. the pump driving ~otor M, the noz~le valve actuating motor M1, the air volu~e adjusting valve actuatin~ motor M2, the pump heater H1, the filter heater H2 and the motor-driven three-way valve ~5. The pump driving ~otor n is connected to the output interface 52 through the inverter ~.
~ n the memory 53, there is stored a drive sequence progra~ for operating drive portions sucb as the motors M, M1, M2 and the motor-driven three-way valve 45 in accordance with output signals from the above sensors and drive si~nals from the operating panel 6 or from the remote controller 30.

_ ~ - 3 8 -. ; . . . , ~ , - ~ - .

(~ -8 ) Description of Operating Panel The following description is nsw provided witb reference to Pig~9, Fig.9a and ~ig.9b about the operating panel 6 which is for manually transmitting driving outputs to the controller C.
The operatin~ panel 6 is, as previously described. incorporated in the cover Sa of the air intake portion S.
As readily understood from ~ig. 9b, the operating panel 6 is provided with an operations switch 100, blow operation switches such as a mild blow switch 101, a finger-pressure blow switch 102. a p~lse blow switch 103. a wa~e blow switch 104, a cycle blow switch 105 and a program blow switch 106, hot water blow strong- and weak-side switches 107, 108. blow-off nozzle use pattern change-over switches such as a back-side blow-off noz21e use pattern switch 111, a leg-side blow-off nozzle use pattern switch 112 and a belly-side blow-off nozzle use pattern switch 113, a timer switch 114, the clock display portion 115 which also serves as a timer display portion. the hot water te~perature indicating portion 11~, a filter washin~ switch 117, a time setting switch 118 for making correction of the ti~e displayed on the clock display portion 11~, an hour settin~ switch 119, and a minute setting switch 120.
The later-described blow operation can be s~arted by turning ON the operation switch 100.
Numeral lOOa denotes a pilot lamp which goes on upon turning ON of the operation switch 100; nu~erals lOla7 102a, 1~3a, 104a, l~Sa and 106a _ - 3 9 -~O~

denote blow operation switch indication lamps; nu~erals lO9a. lO9b.
109c, lO9d and lO9e denote strength level indication lamps; nu~erals 111a, 112a and 113a denote leg-, back- and belly-side indication la~ps.
respectively; nuMerals 1~1. 122 and 123 denote lamps whlch indicate selection patterns A, B and C in later-described pulse blow. wave blow.
cycle blow and program blow; numeral 117a denotes a filter washing indication lamp; and numeral 117b denotes a filter operation indication lamp. f The operating panel 6 is further provided with the in~rared raY
sensor 30b at one side end portion thereof as shohm in Fig.9b.
When any of switches provided on the remote controller 30 which will be described later is operated, an infrared ray of a predeter~ined wave lengtb corresponding to the operated switch is emitted from an infrared ray radiating portion 30a provided in the remote controller 30 in accordance with a preset multi-fre~ency tone modulation syste~
(MFTM). The infrared ray thus e~itted is detected by the infrared ray s~nsor 30b and the detected signal is ~ed to the input interface 50 of the control unit C, whereby a desired drive unit is operated in accordance with a drive program read out ~rom the ~e~ory 52.
To the upper surface of the operating panel 6, a~ describe before, is attached the cover 125 which can be opened and closed and which covers the other switches and indication la~ps than the ti~er switch 114. clock display portion 115, hot water temperature indicatind portion 116, ~ilter operation indicating lamp 117b and infrared ray sensor 30~.

- 4 ~ -. ~ . ; `,:

2 0 0 & ~

Further, the infrared ray sensor 30b may be disposed at a place where it is easy for the sensor to sense infrared r~y other than on the operating panel 6.

9 ~ Description of Remote Controller The following description is now provided about the re~ote controller 3~ which is for manually transmitting drivin~ outputs to the controller C in a bathing state separately from the operating pannel 6.

~ s shown in ~ig.14 and Fig.15a to Fig.15d, the r~ote controller 30 is constructe~ as follows. A partition wall 235 is provided within a vertically long, rectangular box-like case 231 to define in an isolated ~anner a substrate receivin~ chamber 336 for receiving therein a substrate 241 as a printed circuit board and a battery re~eivine cha~ber 237 for receiv;ng therein a battery B in an ener~ized state, In the upper end portion within the substrate receiving chamber 236 there is provided an infraréd ray e~ittin~ portion 245 which is connected with the substrate 241, and in the upper portion of the interior of the substrate receiving cha~ber 236, there is provided a hlow state display portion 233 in connection with the substrate 241.
Purther, various operating switches 234 of a ~emhrane switch t~pe are stuck on the lower-half surface portion of the case 231 so thst they are in connection with the substrate 241. The whole of the re~ote controller 30 is water-ti~ht.

_ - 4 1 -~': "' ' `'- -2 Q O~

The case 231 is formed using an acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) resin to ensure rigidity, strength, impact resistance and water-tightness. Numeral 233a denotes a viewing window plate made of an acrylic resin which is transparent so that the ~low state display portion 233 can be seen from the exterior.
Since the operating switches 234 are me~brane switches, the remote controller 30 can be made thin. light in weight and compsct, the switches can be arranged freely, and sealine is eosured. Those switches are each connected to the substrate 241 through a flexible cable 234 as shown in ~ig.15a.
In connection with the operating switches 234, numeral 260 denotes an operation switch; numeral 261 denotes a ~ild blow switch; numeral ~62 denotes a fin~er-pressure blow switch; numeral 263 denotes a pulse blow switch; numeral 265 denotes a wave blow switch: nu~eral 266 denotes a cycle blow switch; numeral 267 denotes a program blow switch; nu~erals 268 and 269 denote hot water ~low strong- and weak-side switches, respectively; and numerals 274. 275 and 276 denote leg-, back- and belly-side blow-off noz21e use pattern switches, respectivelg.
In the blow state display portion 233. numeral 431 denotes a blow-off mode character indicatin~ portion; numeral 432 denotes a wave blow indicating portton; numeral 432 denotes a wave ~low indicating portion, numeral 433 denotes a blow-off position indicating portion; and nu~eral 434 denotes a strength levet indicating portion. The indicating portions 431. 432, 433 and 434 each operate using liquid crystal.
concrete structure of t~e blow state display po~tion 233 and that - 4 ~ -, , ' ' ' ~, 2 0 ~3~9~Li of the operating switches 234 are the sa~e as in the remote controller described in the fore~oing Japanese Patent Application No.73367/89.
The partition wall 235 is provided in an approximately one-third position from the lower end in the~ case 231 to form the substrate receivin~ chamber 236 aod the battery receivine chamber 237 on the upper and lower sides, respectively, within the case 231. The chambers 236 and 237 are isolated from each other while ensuring water-tightness by means of a packing 259 provided along the side edges of the partition wall 235.
The substrate receiving chamber 236 and the battery receiving chamber 237 can be isolated from each other while ensuring water-tightness by bondin~ the side edges of the partition wall 235 to the inner surface of the case 231 positively using an adhesive.
The entire interior o~ the substrate receiving chamber 23~ may be subiected to potting, that is, filled with a thermosetting resin, to impart impact and vibration resistance thereto and exclude the c~ause of moisture and corrosion.
By pottin~ using an expandable polyurethane resin it is possible to protect the interior of the remote controller 30 and reduce the weight thereof, and it is also possible to float the remote controller 30 on the hot water surface, Purther, by partially supporting the substrate 241 with an expanded polyurethane resin it is possible to protect the substrste 241 without the provision of any special substrate supporting ~ember In this way, even in the event the remote controller 30 should be 2 0 ~9 1 i dropped into the bath at the time of battery change, it is possible to prevent the hot water which has entered the battery receiving cham~er 237 from entering the substrate receiving chambér 236. Also in the event of leakage of the battery fluid, it is possible to prevent the liquid from enterine the substrate receiving chamber 236.
Within the substrate receiving chamber 236 the substrate 241 connected to the blow state display portion 233 and the operating switches 23~ is supported in a suspended state by ~eans of first and second projecting support pieces 238. 239 which are projecting from a -central part of a surface wall 231a of the case 231 toward a rear wall 231b thereof and a third projecting support piece 240 projectin~ fro~ an upper part of the rear wall 231b toward the surface wall 23la. Between the projectin~ support pieces 238, 240 and the substrate 241 there are disposed first and second packings 242, 243 as shock absorbing ~e~bers.
The packings may be substituted by rubber springs, etc. Nu~eral 238' denotes a fixing bolt.
Purther, an infrared raY e~itting portion 245 for e~itting infrared ray toward the infrared ray sensin~ portion 209 on the operating panel 206 is provided in the inner upper portion of the substrate recelvlng cha~her 23~
; The infrared ray emitting portion 245 co~prises a case 245d ~or~ed of an acrylic which per~its infrared ray to pass thersthrou~h and a total of three light emittin8 diodes 245a, ~45b, 245c as infrared ray -e~itters provided in central and left and right positions within the case 2~5d. The central light emitting diode 45a can e~it infrared ray , ` ZOO~

forwards, while the left and right light emitting diodes 245b. 2~c can emit infrared ray downward left- and rightwards, respectively.
Further, from the infrared ray emitting portion 245 there are emitted predeter~ined code signals corresponding to the operating switches 234 on the basis of a preset serial code emittin~ signal.
The infrared ray thus emitted is detected by the infrared ray sensin~ portion 2~9, then the detected signal is fed to the input interface, a, of the controller C, and a desired ~rivig unit is operated in accordance with a driving program read out from the memory, m Within the battery receiving chamber 237, there can be received a battery B which serves as a power source, and a lid 247 for opening and closing is mounted to a b~ttery opening 246 for~ed in the underside of the case 231. By opening and closing the lid 247, the battery B can be loaded and unloaded with respect to the battery receiving cha~ber 237.
The lid 247 is composed of a connection plate 247a of a large width capab~e of closin~ the battery openin~ 246 and a ~ittinK pro3sction 247b projecting from the inner surface of the connection plate 247a and which is to be fitted in the battery opening 246.
The connection plate 247a is mounted re~ovably wi~h s~all bolts 249 to lhe underside of a lid receptacle 248 which defines the battery opening 246. Nu~eral 250 denotes a nut provided in the lid recept3cle 2~8.
The fittin~ proJection ~47b ~s fitted in the ~ttery open~n~ so that a peripheral surface 247c thereof coves into contact ~tb the '. , , ., .
4 ~ :

2 0 0~31 i inner peripheral surface of tne lid receptacle 248. An 0-ring ~ounting groove 2~7d is formed centrally in the peripheral surface 247c, and an 0-ring 251 is mounted therein. Purther, a current conducting plate i~52 which turns conductive upon contact with the end ~ace of the battery B
is attached to the end face of the fitting projection 247b.
Under the above construction, by inserting the fittin~ projection 247b of the lid 247 into the lid receptacle 24~ and mounting the connection plate 247a to the lid r~ceptacle 24~, the current conducting plate 252 attached to the end face of the fitting projection 247b comes into contact with the end face of the battery ~ and can be turned conductive thereby.
.':" .
In this case, waterproofness of the interior of the battery receivin~ chamber 237 can be ensured by the 0-rin~ mounted to the peripheral sur~ace of the fitting projection 247b.
Further, the upper and lower portions of the re~ote controller 30 constructed as above are provided with upjper and lower protectors 253, 254, respectively, as shown in Figs.4 to 7 to prevent the rc~ote controller 30 itself, the bathtub body 1, the bathroo~ tile, etc. fro~
~eine damaged by dro~ shock.
More specifically, the upper protector 253 is for~ed in the shape of a cap capable of bein~ fitted on the upper portion of the re~ote controller 30 to cover the upper portion and it is provided with infrared ray passin~ openings 255, 256 and 257 in positions corresponding to the central portion snd right and left infrared ray emitting windows. Numeral 253a denotes a wall surface a~utting :, ,', .....
,. i, ., , , .",~ .
~ w~ - 4 6 -, . ZOQ~91 portion.
The lower protector 254 is formed in the shape of a cap capable of being fitted on the lower portion of the remote controller 30 to cover the lower portion. Nuweral 254a denotes a wall surface abutting portion.
~ s the material of the protectors 253 and 254 there is used one having a shock absorbing function. Por example, there ~ay be used an elastic rubber such as nitrile butadiene rubber ~N~R~, an expanded polyurethane or an ethylene-propylene tri~er (~PDM). Where a ~aterial of a s~all specific gravity such as an expanded polyurethane is used, it is possible to float the remote controller 30 on the hot water surface by adjusting the specific gravity of the sa~e controller.
Thus, ~y ~ountin~ the upper and lower protectors 253, 254 to the remote controller 30, even in the event of erroneous drop of the re~ote controller 30 onto the bathtub body 1, the bathroom tile, etc.
In this embodiment, moreover, as shown in ~igs.8 to 9, a wagn~t 28Oa means is provided on the back of the re~ote controller 30, whlle a magnetic material 280' is provided on a side wall of the bathtub body 1 or the bathroom side w311 W, SO that the re~ote controller can be attached removably to the bAthroo~ side wall W by virtue of ~agnetisw.

, . . .The maeent 280, whiçh is in the form of a thin rectangular plate, is provided throu~hout the entire sur~ace of the back of the re~ote controller 30 except the upper and lower portions of the controller , ~ covered with the upper and lower protectors 253, 25~. Thus it is ;: .
. s~

- 4 7 ~ ~

2 0 0~i~3~Li provided to eniarge the area of contact thereo~ with the ~agnetic material 280' provided on the bathroom side wall W fo~ example.
The magnetic force of the magnet 280 can be set to a suitable magnitude so that the remote controller 3~ can be mounted positively and detached easily.
On the other hand. on the side wall of the bathtub body 1 or the bathroom side wall W there is provided the magnetic material 280' which is in a thin plate, AS shown in Ftg.15c. The magnetic material 280' is provided eiher partially plurally ~n the bathroom side wall W or formed widely to cover a wide area.
The bathtub body 1 may ~e formed using the magnetic material 280' to increase the degree of freedom for the mountin~ and stor~ge vf the remote controller 30.
Thus, by increasing the de~ree of freedo~ for the mountin~ and storage of the remote controller 30, thè user can attach the rèmote controller to a place permitting easy mounting and re~oval and so it is made possihle to use the remote controller in a ~ore easily ~anner.
~ ontrary to the above, the magnetic material 280' ~ay bs provided on the remote controller 30, while the ~agnet 280 may be provided on the bathroom side wall W.
In this embodiment. moreover, since the upper ~nd lower protectors 253. 254 are mounted to the re~ote controller 30, the ~agnet 280 or the m~gnetic materia~ ~80' as a mounting means may ~e provided on thoss r protectors.
; The ~ounting ~eans is no~ ited to the ~gnet ~80 ha~ng ~agnstic ;, '' .
,~

,, ;. -: , _ - - 4 8 -2 0 0~3~ i force. There may be used any mounting ~eans if only it can attach the remote controller 30 to the bathroom side wall h or any other suitable place detachably, for example, a mounting means using adhesive fvrce such as a face fastener or the like.
~ n Fi~s~15e, 15f and 15~. a modification of the above-mentioned remote controller 30 ls shown.
~ he modification is substantially characterized in that the size o~
area of a blow state display portion 533 is consi~érably enlarged compared to the blow state display portion 233 shown in Fig. 14 so that a bather can enjoy more easily the blow states such as shown in Pig.
15h to Fig. lSm.
In Fig.15h, a blow state of the ~ild blow is shown, wherein the blow of relatively sufficient volume and low pressure is expressed visually.
In Fig.lSi, a blow state of the spot blow is shown. wherein the blow of relatively small volu~e and high pressure is expressed visually.
In Fi8.1Sj, a blow s ~ te of the pulse blow is shown, wherein the blow operation in which the blow of a desired biow wode, e.g. the spot blow is operated periodically is expressed visually, ~n F~g.15k, a blow state of the cycle blow is shown, wherein the blow in which the blow positions of the blow-o~f nozzles are changed st a certain cycle by opening or closin~ each blow-off no~zle at the ~- ¦ certain cycle in esch blow-off ~ode is expressed ~isually.
In ~i~.151, a ~ow state of the waYe blow is shown, wherein the .: ~
' '' t ~ ~ 4 9 blow in which the a~ount of blown off is changed per~odically by changing the number of revolutions of the circulating pu~p P is expressed visually.
In ~i~,15m, a blow state of the random blow is shown, wherein the blow operation in which the blow mode is randomly shifted from one blow mode to the other ~iving a bather always fresh feeling during bathing is e~pressed visually.
These blow modes are further explained in detai1 hereinafter in view of the description of blow-off modes below.
Furthermore, the modification ;s also characterized by the reinforcement of water proofin~ so as to assure the use of the re~ote controller in the bathtub body 1.

(m ) Description of Blow-off Modes The blow-off modes ~mild blow, spot blow, pulse blow, wave blow.
cycle blow, and proKram blow~ obtained by this embodiment will be described below with reference to ~ie~.16 to 26.

( m -1 ) Mild Blow .
The mild blow mode is a blow-off mode in which the blow-off ~olu~e of hot water ~ro~ the blow-off nozzles 202,203.2~4 is lar~e and the blow-off pressure thereof is low. Accor~in~ to this blow ~ode, the whole of the bather's hody is wrapped in hot water mi~dly and softly to , .
.,; , ".~ -- . - 5 ~ -2 0 0~i~3i i ~ive the feeling of massage to the bather.
More specifically, in the mold blow mode, the blow-off volu~e adjusting valves 222 in the blow-off nozzles 202,203,204 are opened al~ost fully, the number of revolutions of the circulating pu~p P is changed within a predetermined certain ran~e te.g. 17Q0-3000 r.p.~.), and the discharge pressure of th~ pump P is set to several sta~es (e.g.
five stages) of stren~th levels within a preset low pressure range (~.g.
0.2-0.~ kg/ cm2) thereby permitting a lar~e amount of` hot water (e.g, 40-80 Q /min) to be blown off from the nozzles 202.203,204.
Fig.16 shows blow-off volume - blow-off pressure characteristic curves P1,F2,F3 which vary as the number of revolutions of the circulating pump P chan~es, ~l,N~ N3 and ~4 represent revolution ; performance ourves of the circulatin~ pump P, provided these perfor~ance curves are in the relation of ~1 ~ N2 ~ N3 ~ N4 in teros of the nu~ber of revolutions.
`' In Pig,16a, the point b on the blow-off volume - blow-off pressure characteristic curve F1 indicates the state of mold blow, assuming that the number of revolutions of the circulating pump P is near its waxi~u~
~1 (e.g. 3000 r.p.~.). Y1 represents a ~ild blow zone, while the points bl and b2 indicate mi1d blow states set in the mild blow zone Yl.
In Fig,17, there are shown blow-off nozzle characteristic curves .. i , ; , R1, R2, and R3 obtained when the blow-off volu~e adjusting val~es æ ar~
; fully open, half open and quarter open. In the sa~e figure. u1,u2 aod , u3 represent blow-off pressure lines, prov~ded these press~re lines sre ,; in the relation of ul > u2 ~ u3 in ter~s of ~a~nitude, , ~; ~
.,i~ ,, . ,.~.~
~ - 5 1 -,:

2 0(~i9 The point b in Fig.16a can be indicated as point b' on the blow-off nozzle characteristic curve R1 shown in ~ig.17a.
In Fig.17a, Y'l represents a mild blow z~ne in the blow-off characteristics, while the points b'l and b'2 represent mild blow st~tes set in the mild blow zone Y'1.
The above mild blow operation is performed by turning ON the mild blow switch 261 of the remote controller 30.
The chan~e-over of switches at the time of changing the strength level in the mild blow mode or chan~in~ the ~low-o~f nozzle use pattern is performed in a short time (e.g. about 1 sec).
~ ig.18 is a timing chart relatin~ to the opening/closing operation , of the blow-off volume adjusting valves 22 in the leg-, back- and belly-side blow-off nozzles 2.3,4 and the operation of the circulating pump P.

For a certain time tz (e.~, 1 sec) after tbe lapse of a certain time tl (e.g. O sec) from the time to when the mild blow switch was operated, the blow-off volume adiusting valves 22 in the leg-, back-ana betly-side blow-off nozzles 2,3,4 are each operated from a mediu~-open position d, ~the open position before the blow-off ~ode change) to a preset open position dz (e.8. a valve-open position 6 mm retreated from a fully closed position) at a high speed (preferably the ~aximum speed).
From ju~t before the lapse of end ti~e t', of the preset valve openin~ operation of each blow-off vo1ume ad3usting v~lve 22, the number of revolutions V1 (e.g. 28~0 r,p.m.) before the blow-off ~ode change of :

., ~ - ~ 2 -L ~ ' ' , ~ ' , 2~)0~

the circulating pump P is decreased gradually so that a certain number of revolutions Vz (e.g. 2400 r.p.m.) is reached within a certain ti~e t'z (e.g. 3 sec).
In this e~bodiment, moreover, upon start of operation (upon turning ON of the operation switch 260 or 100) the blow operation is started.
In the blow operation, the blow-off mode is set to the mild blow mode and the strength level is initialized to "Medium~, taking into account the safety during bathine of a child or an old person, (this blow operation will hereinafter be referred to as the ~child safety blow~).
In this embodiment, moreover, as shown in the ti~ine chart of ~ig.
19, only the ~low-off volume adjusting valves 22 in the-back-side blow-off nozzles 3 are once operated up to a fully closed position at the time of operation start to prevent cold water re~ainin~ in pipes after the previous use from blowing off from the back-sid~ nozzles 3 which would ca~se uncomfortable feeling of the user or ~ight endan8er the user.
More sp~cifically, in Fig.19, ~or a certain ti~e t~ (e.g. 1 sec) after the lapse of a certain time t~ (e.g. O sec) froa the ti~e to when the mild blow switch was operated, the blow-off vo1u~e ad3usting valves ; 22 in the back-side nozzles 3 are each operated frov a ~ediu~ position (the valve-open position before the blow-off mode change) to a fully closed position at a high speed ~preferably the ~aximum speed), and for a certain ti~e t~ (e.g. 1 sec) after this closed state is ~ain hined for a certain ti~e t~ (e.g. 2 sec), the ~loff-off volu~e ad3usting valves 22 are each operated up to a pteset open po~ition dz (e.~. a valve-open ~ ` .
,' .`~ . ., ~ 5 3 - ~

2 0 0~9i position 6 mm retreated from a fully closed position) at a high speed (preferably the maximu~ speed~.
As to the blow-off volume adjusting valves 22 in the leg- and belly-side blow-off nozzles 2, 4. for a certain ti~e tl (e.g. 1 sec) after the lapse of a certain time t~ (e.e. 1 sec) from the time to when the mild blow switch was operated, those valves are each operated fro~ a medium-open position dl (the open position before the blow-off mode change) to an almost fully open position d~ (e.~. a vaive-open position retreated fimm from a fully closed position) at a high speed (preferably the maximum speed).
The circulating pump P is operated just after the lapse of end ti~e , . . .
t', of the closine or preset openin~ operation o~ each blow-off volu~e adjustin~ valve 22. and the number of revolutions thereof is increased gradually so that a certain nu~ber of revolutions Vz (e.g. 2800 r.p.m.) is reached within a certain time t'z (e.g. 10 sec).
The control ti~ing for both the openin~ or closing operation of the blow-off volume adjusting valve 22 in each of the blow-off nozzles 2, 3, 4 and the chan~e of the number of revo]utions of the circulatin~
pu~p P is determined while considerin~ that the user will not have unco~fortable feelin~ and that a sudden increase in dischar~e pressure of the circulating pump P should be prevented. This point will be expla~ned later in t~v - 7 3 .
'' (m - ~ ) Spot 810w ; ~
.,~' . .
,, ~
:

- 5 4 -ZOO~

The spot blow mode is a blow mode in which the blow-off volu~e of hot water fro~ the blow-off noz~les ~, 3, 4 is small and the blow-off pressure thereof is high and in which a hot water jet is applied vigorously to a part of the user's body, whereby the user is given a feelinr, of massage involving a fin~er-pressure ~eeling.
~ ore specifically, in the spot blow mode, the blow-off volume adjusting valve element ~2 in each of the blow-off nozzles 2. 3, 4 is sli~htly opened, the number of revolutions of the circulating pump P is chan~ed within a certain range (e.g. 2000 to 3000 r.p,~.), and the dischar~e pressure of the pump P can be set to several stages (e.g. five stages) of strength levels within a preset high pressure range ~e.g. 0.
5 to 1.0 kg~cm7 .
The point e on the blow-off volume - blow-off pressure characteristic curve P3 in Ple.l6a indicates the state of spotblow at a mini~u~ blow-off volume (e.g. 3~ ~ /min) of hot water.
In Fig.16a, ~oreover, Y2 represents a spot blow zone ~n the blow-off volume - blow-off pressure characteristics, and the points el and e2 each indicate the state of spotblow set within the spotblow zone Y2.
The point e in ~ig.16a can be expressed as point e' on the blow-off nozzle characteristic curve R3 shown in ~i~.17a.
; In Fig.17a, Y'2 represents a spotblow zone in the blow-off nozzl~
! characteristics, and the points e'1 and e'2 each indicate the state of , ~
;; ' spotblow set within th~ spotbl w zone Y'2.
The ab~ve finger-pressure b~ow operation is perfor~ed by turning ON
the spot ~low switch 62 of the remote controller 3~.

~: , ~ .

:~ - 5 5 ~

.

2 0 (~ 3L~

Fig.20 is a timin~ chart relating to the opening/closing operation of the blow-off volume adjusting valve ele~ents 22 in the leg-, back-and belly-sids blow-off nozzles 2. 3, 4 and t~e operation of the circulating pump P.
More specifically, in Pi~.20, for a certain time tz (e.g. 1 sec) after the lapse of a certain time t, (e.~. 0 sec) from the time to when the finger-pressure blow switch was operated. each blow-off volume ad;ustin~ valve element 22 is operated from the open position dl before the blow-off mode change (e.g. a valve-open position retreated 6~m from a fully closed position) to a preset open position dz (e.g. a valve-open position 1.S mm retreated fro~ the fully clossd position) at a hi~h speed ~p~eferably the maxi~um speed).
Then, from just after the lapse of end time t', of the preset openine operation of each blow-off volu~e adjusting valve element 22.
the circulating pump P gradually increases its number of revolutions V, before the blow-off ~ode chan~e ( e.g. 2400 r.p.~.) so that a certain nu~ber of revolutions V2 ( e.~. 2800 r.p.m.) is reached within a certain time t'z (e.g. 3 sec).

~m - 3 ~ Pul~e Rlow The pulse blow ~ode is a blow mode in which the blow-off of hot water and stop thereof are perfor~ed in an alternate ~anner by opening and closin~ the individual blow-off nozzles 2. 3, 4 pe~iodically to alternate the hlow-off o~ a ho~ water j~t and stop thereof pulsewise.-' ' '', ..

thereby ~iving a sharp stimulation to the user.
According to the pulse blow ~ode, in the foregoing spot blow operation the blow-off volume adiusting valve eleMents æ in the blow-off nozzles 2, 3, 4 are each ~oved at a high speed (preferably the maximum speed) to a preset open position and a fully closed position a~ternately in ~ short time (e.g. 1 sec) at every lapse of a certain time, wh~reby tbere can be alternately created a state in which hot water is blown off and a state in which hot water is not blown off. ln some cases the hot water blown off contains bubbles, while in the other it doè~ not.
The change of the strength level of such pulse blow can be done by settine the blow-off volu~e of hot water in several stages (e.g five ; stages) within a certain range (e.e. 30 to 50 ~ /~in) which can be effected by changin~ the number of revolutions of the circulating pu~p P.
The above pulse blow operation is performed by turning ON the pulse blow switch 263 of the re~ote controller 30.
Fig.21 is a ti~ing chart relating to the opening and closing operation of the blow-off volu~e adiusting valve ele~ent 2~ in the le~-, back- and belly-side blow-off noz21es 2, 3, 4 and the operation of the circulatin~ pump P.
More speci~ically, in ~ig.21, after the lapse of a eerbin ti~e t, (e.g. O sec) ~ro~ the ti~e to when the pulse blow switch was operated, each ~low-off volu~e adjusting valve e~e~ent 22 is operat~d fro~ its open position d~ before the blow-off ~ode change (e.g. a Yalve-open .: ' , ' 2 0 0~i9~L1 position 6 mm retreated from a fully closed position to a preset open position dz (e.g a valve-open position 2 mm retreated from the fully closed position) at a high speed (preferably the maximum speed) for a certain time tz te.g. 1 sec). After this open condition is ~aintained for a certain time t3 (e.g. 1 sec), the valve element 2~ is closed up to the fully closed position at a hi~h speed (preferably the maximum speed) ~or a certain time t~ ~e.g. l sec), then after this fully closed condition is maintained for a certain time t~ (e.g. l sec)? the valve is opened up to the fore~oine preset open position dz at a high speed (preferably the maximum speed) for a certain ti~e t~ (e.g. l sec).
Further, after this open condltion is held for a certain time t7 ~e.~. 1 sec), the valve is closed. ~hese val~e opening and closing operations are repeated periodically.
~ fter the lapse of a certain time t'l (e.~. 1 sec) fro~ the time to when the pulse blow switch was operated, the num~er of revolutions ~l before the blow-off mode change (e.~ 00 r.p.m.) is increased gradually so as to reach certain revolutions Y2 (e.~. 2800 r.p.m.) within a certa;n time t'z (e.g. 3 sec).
By changin~ the certain time t3 for ~aintaining the preset ~alve-open condition there can be set different pulse ~low patterns. In this embodiment, there are set three ~inds of pu~se blow patterns A, ~ and with the certain ti~e t3 set to one, two and three seconds, respeotively, so that there can he setected a hot water jet stirula~ion time ~or the user accordine to a liking of the user.

'.' .
.
5 ~

ZOO~i~9~

~m--il ) w~v~ B]ow The wave blow mode is a blow mode in which the nur~ber of revolutions of the circul~tinP, pump P is changed periodically to change the blow-orf volum~P And pressllre of hot water periodically. By changine the blow-~rf volume ~nd pressure with a slow period there is formed a v~ried fl~w to apply ~ hot water jet havin~ the i~age of waYe which appro;~ch~ ~n~ 1e~V~PS r~peatedly to the user.
ln l~P wave blow mode~. the blcw-off volunle ~diustin~ valv~ elements 22 in thP blow-off no~zles 2, 3, ~ are fully opened or medium-opened and the clrculating pump P is turn~Pd on and off, or the number of revolution~ )f the pump P i~ changed periodically within a certain ran~e (e~ e. 16~ o .~000 r. p. m. ) .
The ch~nge <~f the wave bJow strength level can be done by setting the range o~ the nu~ber of revolut;ons of the circulating pu~p P which i~ tc he chan3~ed periodica~lY, in seve~l sta~es (e.g. five stag~s) within the ran~,e of the fore~o;nr, number of revolutions.
The d~. dz ~nd d~ shown in Fi~.16b represent blow-off volume blow-off pre.sure charactPristic curve3 in the wAve blow ~ode .
The blow-off volume and pressure of hot water vary along the curves d~, dz and d~
The d'" d'y and d' 3 shown in ~ig.17b represent blow-of~ nozzle characteristic curves. In the wav~ b~ ode, the a~ount of bubbles c~n he v~ri~d ~reatly.
The wave blow operation described above is started by turning ON

the wave ~low switch 265 of the remote controller 30.
The hot water blow-off nozzle use pattern in the wave blow ~ode is the same as in the foregoing mild blow mode.
Fi~,.22 is a timing chart relating to the opening and closing operation of the blow-off volume adjustin~ valve elements 22 in the leg-. back- and bell~-side blow-off nozzles 2, 3 and 4 and the opëration of the circulating pump P.
~orP spe~.irically. in Fig.22, after the lapse of ~ certain time t, (e e. l ~c) from the time to when the wave b]ow switch ~as operated.
eAch blow-~fr volume adiustin~ valve element 22 is operated at a high speed (pref~rably the ma~imu~ spePd) ~or a certain tims t2 (e.g. 1 sec) from thP op~n position d, before the ~lcw-off mode chan~e (e.~. a valve-open pos;~ion re~reAted 6 mm from a fully c]osed position) up to a preset valve-open position dz (e.~. a valve-open position 4 mm retreatPd from a flllly closed position).

. .._ .
,, ~ ,, <
. .
~ 6 U ~

2 0 0~i~31 1 Then. from just after the l~pse of end time t3 of the preset opening operation of each blow-off volume adjusting valve 22. the circulating pump P gradually increases its number of revolutions V, before the blow-off mode change (e.g. ~00 r.p.~.) so that a certain l~r~e nllmber of revolutions Vz (e.g. 3000 r.p.~.) is reached within a certa;n time t~ (e.e. ~ sec) Thereafter, the nu~ber of revolutions thereof i~ eradllallY decreased to a smaller number o~ revolutions ~ (e.
g. l~nO r.p.~.) within a certain time t5 (e.g. 4 sec), then it is a~ain incre~ d ~r~dua11y up to the ahove large number of revolutions Vz within a certain time t~ te.~. 4 sec). In this way the nu~ber of revolutions of the circulating pump P is varied periodically.
By changing the way of periodic chan~e in the nu~ber of revolutions of the circulating pump P it is possible to set different ~ave blow patterns. In this embodiment, the wave blow pattern described above is desi~nated a wave blow pattern ~, and wave blow patterns which will be explained below are desi~nated wave blow patterns B and C. Thus, there are set three kinds of p~tterns According to the wave blow pattern 8, as shown in the timing chart of Pig.23, fro~ iust after the lapse of end ti~e t3 of the preset opening op~ration of each blow-off volume adjustin~ valve æ, the number of reYolutions Y, before the blo~-o~f ~ode change (e.g. 2400 r.p.e.) ~s increased ~radually up to a large number of revolutions Y~ (e.g. 3 r.p.~.) within a cert~in time t4 ~e.g. 4 sec), which large nucber of revolutions Vz is ~aintained ~or a certain ti~e t5 (e,~. 2 sec)~
thereafter the nu~ber of revolutions is gradually decreased to a

6 1 -2 0 0~

smaller number of revolutions V~ ~e.g, 1800 r,p.m.) within a certain time t6 (e.g. ~ sec), which smaller number of revolutions V3 iS
maintained for a certain time t7 (e.g. 2 sec). thereafter the number of revolutions is gradually increased up to the aforesaid large number of revolution~ Vz within a certain time t~ ~e.g. ~ sec). In this way the number of revolutions is varied periodically.
According to the wave blow pattern C, as shown in the timing chart of ~ie,2~. from jlla~ after the lapse of end time t, of the preset openin~ operAtion of each blow-off volume adjusting valve 22, the number of revolutions Vl before the blow-off mode chan~e (e.g. ~400 r.p.m.~ is increased gradually so as to describe a downwardly convex curve up to a certain lar~e number of revolut;ons Vz (e.g. 3000 r.p.m.) within a certain time t1 (e.~. 3 sec), thereaft,er the num~er of revolutions is gradually decreased so as to describe a downwardly con~ex curve to a sm~ller number of revolutions Y3 (e.g. 1~00 r.p.m.) within a certain time tS (e.~. 3 S'C), and thereafter the nu~ber of revolutions is ~radually increased so as to describe a downwardly convex curve up to the aforesaid lar~e numher of revolutions ~ within a certain ti~e t~
(e.r,. 3 sec). In this way the number of revolutions is varied periodic~
In thi~ embodiment, since the number of revolutions of the circulating pump P is controlled by the inverter ~, a periodic change in the nl1mber of revolutions of the circulating pump P is performed smoothly and positively, whereby there can be generated the wave b~ows A, B and ~ each having a pulsatory power in a faint hot water 3et.

, ,-:

,' . ,c~ ,", "", ,," ~ , " ~ "

Z00~'3~1 Particularly, in the wave blow pattern C, the number of re~olutions of the circulatin~ pump P varies while describing a generally catenary curve, and the rate of increase and that of decrease in the num'ber of revolutions are lar~e in a hieh revolution re~ion, while those in a low revolution re~ion are small. Therefore, it is possible to obtain a blow-off mode having clear distinction and a finger-pressure effect for the user, in which a stronP' blow change occurs in a relatively short time, while a weak blow chan~e occurs over a relatively long time.

( m -5 1 Cycle ~low In the cycle blow mode, the hot water blow-off position is changed automatica]ly and periodically, thereby permitting the user to enjoy the change in the hot water blow-off position.
More specifically, in the cycle blow mode, the blow-off volume adjustinS~ valves 22 are opened to blow off hot water for a certdin time in the order of, for example, back-side blow-off nozzles 3,3 ~belly-side blow-off no7zles 4,4-~1eg-side blow-off noxzles 2,2. In this case, as lhe blow-off mode of hot water fro~ the blow-off nozzles 2, ~, 4 there can be useA the mild blow, spotblow and wave blow modes, and further there ean be adopted a blow off mode in which the ~ild blow and the spotblow are chan~ed PeriodicalIy.
In this embodiment there are set three kinds of cycle blow patterns ~, P, and Cs which will be explained below with reference to the tim;ng charts shown in l~i~.25 and 2~

. .
~. ,, . .~ . , J; ~ r~ ~r.~ ,,,",,~,~,",~

2 0 0~

~ he cycle blo~ ~ is performed in the spotblow mode. ~s shown in the timing chart of Fig.251 after the lapse of a certain time t~ (e.g. 0 sec) from the time to when the cycle blow switch was operated, only the blow-off volu~e adjusting Yalves æ in the back-side blow-off nozzles 3 are each operated from the open position dl before the blow-off mode chanp7e (el.g. a valve-open position 6 mm retreated from-a fully closed position) up to a preset oFen position dz (e.g. a valve-open position 1.
5 mm retre~Led from the f~llly closed position3 at a high speed ~preferAhly the maximum speed) for a certain time tz (e.g. 1 sec), while thP blow-off volume ad3usting valves 22 in the leg- and belly-side blow-o~f nozzles 2, 4 are each operated ~p to a fully closed position at a hi~h s~PPd (preferably the max;mum speed) for a certain time tz (e.g. 1 ~ec).
In thi~ state, hot water is blown off in the spotblow mode from only the back-side b]ow-off noz7,1Ps 3, 3.
nfter the blow-off volume adjustin~ valves 22 in the back-side blow-o~f noz21es 3 are each held in the open position dz for a certain time t3 (e.~. ~ sec~, they are each operated ~p to the fully closed position at a hip,h speed (preferably the maximum speed) for a certain time t1 (e.~. I sec).
~ h~n, after the lap~e of ~ certain time tS (e.g. 0 sec), the blow-off volume adiusting valvès 2~ in the helly-side blow-off nozzles 4 which are closed are each operated up to the preset open po~ition at a high speed (preferably the ~aximu~ speed) for a certain time th (e.g. ~
see), then a~ter held in the preset open position dz for a certain ti~e ..
.
,.

2 0 0~

t7 (e.p,. 2 sec), the Yalves ~2 are each operated up to the fully closed position at a high speed (preferably the maximum speed) for a certain time t~.
In this state, hot water is blown off in the spot blow mode fro~
only ~he b~lly-side blow-off noz~les 4, 4.
Then, after the lapse of a certain time t9 (e.g. O sec), the blow-off volume ~d3usting val~es 22 in the leg-side blow-off noz~les 2 which are closed are each operated up to the preset open position dz at a hi~h -~peed (~referab]y the maximum speed) for a certain ti~e tlO te.g~
1 sec), then after held in the preset open position dz for a certain time t" (e.~. 2 sec), the valves 22 are each operated up to the fully closed position at a hi~h speed (preferably the maximu~ speed) for a certain time t~z (e.~. l sec).
In this state, hot water is blown off in the finger-pressure blow mode from only the le~-side blow-off no7zle~ 2, 2.
Then, after the lapse of a certain time t,3 (e.g. O sec), the blow-off noz7,1e adjustin~ valve~ 22 in the back-~ide blow-off nozzles 3 which are closPd are each operated up to the preset open position d~ at a hieh ~eed (preferab1y the ~aximum speed) for a certain time t,~ (e.g.
1 sec), then after held in the preset open position dz for a certain time t~ (e.~ 2 sec), the valves 22 are each operated up to the fully closed position at a high ~peed (preferably the ~xi~um speed) for certain time t,~ ~e.~. 1 sec).
In the circulating pu~p P, after the lapse of a certain time t'I
~e.g. O sec) fro~ the time to when the cycle ~low switch was operated, , .
, . .
- 6 ~ - ~

2 0 0~

the numher of revolutions V, before the blow-off mode change (e.g. 2800 r.p.m.) is decreased gradually to a certain number of revolutions Yz (e.g. 2500 r.p.m.) within a certain time t'2 (e.g. 1 sec~. This number of re~olutions Vz is maintained during the blow operation.
The cycle blow B is performed in the spotblow ~ode. ~ccordin~ to ~he cycle hlow p~ttern B, in the timing chart of the cycle blow pattern ~ described above the certain time t3, t7, t" for maintainin~ the preset ~en ~osition d~ of the blow-off volume adjustlng valves in the blow-off no~les 2, 3, ~ is different (e.g. ~ sec). ~his is the only d i f f erence.
Thus, in the cycle blow patterns ~ and R, the blow-off volume adjustin~ valves 22 in the ~low-off no2~1es 2. 3, 4 are opened and closed at a certain period in the order of back -~belly -~leg ~back and the number ~f revolutions of the circulating pump P is kept constant, so that the fin~er-pressure effect can be provided throughout the user'~ hody while the spot blow position is changed.
The cycle blow pattern C is performed in the wave blow ~ode. As shown in ~he timin~ chart of Fig.26, there is used a preset open position dz which (e.e. ~ mm) is larger than that in the cycle operations ~ and B, and the certain ti~e t~. t~, tlt for ~aintaining the preset open position dz are different (e.e. 8 sec~ from that in the cysle blow patterns ~ and B.
~ urther, the nu~ber of revolutions of the circulatin~ pu~p P is changed Periodically.
More specifically, in the circulating pu~p P, after the lapse of a .
,, .~

2 0 0~i9 1 i certain time t', (e.p,. 0 sec) from the time to when the oycle blow switch w~s operated. the number of revolutions V~ before the blow-off mode change (e.g. 2~00 r.p.m.) is decreased gra~ually to a certain small number of revolutions V~ (e.g. 1600 r.p.~.) within a certain ti~e t'z (~.~. I sec), then the number of revolutions is ~radually increased to a certain large number of revolutions Vz within a certain time t'3 (e.~. ~ sec), and thereafter the number of revolutions is ~radually d~cn~ased to ~h~ certain small nu~ber of revoluti~ns V~ within a certain time t'~ (e.g. ~ sec).
After such certain small number of revolutions V3 is maintained for a c~tain time t~1 (e.g. 1 sec), the change of the number of revol~tions (V3 -~Yz-~V3) described above is repeated.
Such changin~ of the number of revolutions (V~ ~ V2 ~V 3 ) i S
perrormed only durin~ the blow -~off of hot water fro~ the blow-~o f f no2zles 2! 3, 4, and timing is taken to maintain the certain s~all number of revolutions V~ durin~ openin~ or closin~ operation of the blow-off volum~ adjusting valves 22 in the blow-off nozzles 2. 3, 4 and prevent an abrupt chan~e in the blow stren~tbJ thersby pre~entin~ the user from feeling unco~fortableness.
This, top,ether with the chan~e in the btow-off position of hot water, permits the user to ~njoy a hot water jet havin~ the ;~age o~
waves peculiar to the wave blo~.
lthough in this e~bodiment the change of the hot water blo~-off position in the cycle blow patterns A, B and C is perfor~ed in the order of ~ack -~bell~ - ~leg ~bac~, no special limitaion is placed in this ~........ .
... ..

l~ - 6 7 ,-, 2 0 0~

order. There may be adopted another order (e.g. back ~leg ~belly back~. It is also possible to change the hot water blow-off position irregularly.

~m - 6 ) Program Blow The prop,ram blow mode is a blow mode in which the change of blow is diversifiPd by suitably combining or changing with time the selection of btow-of~ mode, that of blow-off strength and that of blow-off position in accordance with a preset progra~. This blow mode permits the user to enjoy a combined blow-off mode order having unexpectedness which is not a rorcing syste~ of a fixed form.
~ n this embodiment, moreover, a plurality of different contents of programs are provided in consideration of the age and sex distinction of users. Selection can be made from among program blow A which is a standard blow operation having the most general ~enu, progra~ blow B
which is a hard blow operation having the strongest ~enu, and progra~
blow C whish is the lightest blow operation having mildness.
The proeram blow patterns A, B and C are as shown in the progra~
blow speeification of ~ahle 1.

,~ , - 6 ~ - -200~
_ n n n ~r û n n n ~ n n-- n ~ :'~ c c f~ ~ , _ _ ~o In ,~ _ _ u ~ _ ~
_ ~ :~ U ~ ~ ~I
3~
~ _ ,1 ~
~ ~ u ~ ~ al ~ ~ u u al O 3 3 3 ~ ,~ 3 3 m 3 3 3 ,~
.~:1 ~ ~ _ ,~ ~ _ ~ .a o ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~ u~ ~ ~ ~ u ~ ~ u _ ~ ~ ~ .a ~ .a ~ ~ ~1 .a ~ C4 ~ _ _ 3 ~\ _ ~ P. U

O V 1 ~
L ~ ~
e ~ / e ~ c ~ c 4J e U e ~u e u 3 o~ o D U 3 ~ o . o ~ o ~ ~ ~ m OD m u) ~ o~ ~ u ~ . . .

.,~ ~: < a ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
e ~ ~1 3 ~J V e c t~ O ~ U 0~ 1 O 1~
U
~ ~ U~ V ~ ~ ~ >~
V
O ~ O :1 P. ~ :~ P- ~
m ~ ~ ~ 3 ~
3 3 ~ ~
, - O ~ C ~ O ~ ~ O _ . . ~ ' I ~ - I
~; m V 13 ~ - ~ u~
'' ~. ~
K 'O O ~ m al ~ ~q . ~
ll ~ ~e 13 ~q ~ v `: o ~3 3 ~

.
~; - 6~ -,, ' r ~: ~ r ~ - ~

2 0 0~i~tl i In T~ble 1. the rank~ and 3 represent three sta~es of appearance probabilities of blow-off modes in three divided groups of the foregoing plural blow-off modes. The appearance probability of the blow-off modes belon~in~ to rank 1 is 50%, that of the blow-off m~des belongin~ to rank 2 is 30%, and that beIongin~ to rank 3 is 20X.
~ he blow strength level is set in five stages, which are weak 1, medium weak 2, medium 3, medium stron~ 4 and stron~ 5.
~ n the pro~,ra~ blow A , the btow strength level is set to 2-4 in order to p~rform a standard blow operation; in th~ pro~ram blow B. the blow strength leveI is set to 3-5 in order to perform a hard blow operation; and in the program blow C, the blow strength level is set to 1-3 in order to perform a light blow operation.
~ s to the hot water blow-off positions (portions), there are the ca~e where hot water is blown off from the three portions of the leg-, back- and belly-side blow-off nozzles 2. 3, 4 at a time, the case where hot water i;. blown off from any two of those portions, and the case where hot water is blown off from any one of those portions. Such simult~neous three-portion blow-off is indicated AS (leg-back-belly);
such simultaneous two-portion blow-off is indicated as (leg-bac~) (back-helly) (le~-heIly); and ~uch one portion blow-off is indicated as (leg) (back) (bel]y).
The blow-off modes, blow stren~th levels, and hot water ~low-off positions, ~re each changed over from one to another after the lapse of a certain time (e.~. 30 sec) to give the pleasure of chan~e to the user conLinuous~y, ~herehy preventin~ the user from hecom~ng weary.

' , ~ - 7 0 -200~

~ s to the blow-off modes, consideration is made to prevent continuolls a~pearance of the same ~ode, thereby ensuring the pleasure of change given to the user.
In each of the pro~ram blow patterns ~, B and G it is possible to ~et ~he h]ow time constant. In thls embodiment, the program blows A, B
~nd C ~re set to 4, 5 and 3 minutes, respectively.
If several kinds of men~s are set for each of tbe program blows A, B and C and any one program blow is selected, the selection of ~enus can b~ made irreglllarly from the selected program blow.
Thus, in the program blows A, B and C, the change of bl w-off ~ode.
blow streng~h and blow-off portion is done irre~ularly in consideration of ~e and sex distinction, so the user can fully enjoy the ; unexpectedness of the contents of the change and that of the order of the chan~e and is thereby prevented from becoming weary while taking a bath.

(rV~ Description of the Operation of the Whirlpool Bath (rJ - ~ ) Description of Operation Procedure based on ~lowcharts The operation of the whirlpool bath ~ described above will be explained below with reference to the flowcharts of Pi8s.27 ~o 32.
~ Irst reference is here made to the ~ain rountine shown in ~ig.27.
. .
The plug of the controller C, etc. is inserted into the power . ,, .
~ - 7 I -..

source for the supply of elelctric power tbereto.
The no~le valve actuating motors Ml in all of the leg-. back- and belly-side blow-off nozzles 2, 3, 4 are initialized-~210).
Subsequently, the whirlpool ~ath A turns OFF (215). In this OFF
condition, the various ~,ctuators for the circulatin~ pump P connected to the whirlpool bath ~ and the blow-off nozzles 2, 3, ~ are turned OFF.
At this time, in the nozzles 2, 3, 4. the nozzle valve actuating motor~ Ml are in an initiali%ed condition, that is, the valves are in an open condition retreated 6 mm from their ~ully closed positions.
thereby permitting smooth supply and discharge of hot water du~ing the supply of hot water and drain.
In this OFF condition, moreover, the controller C is waitin~ for input, and ~lso in this condition there can be made control by the controller C for the hot water supply operation and the freeze proofing operat;on in accordance with the results of detection provided fro~ the pressure sPnsor 48 and the hot water te~perature sen~or T.
Ne~t, by the pressure sensor ~8 which also serves as a level sensor there is ~ade detection as to whether the hot water level in the bathtub body 1 has reached a blow operation per~ittine level (e.~,. a position hieher than the upper-end position of the suction port lm provided in the bathtub body 1) (220 .
In the present invention, in order to ensure the blow operation, the upper-end position of the suction port lm wh1ch is the lowest level per~ittinP' the circulation of hot water in the hot water circulation path D is used as lower-limtt level permittin~ the blow operation, and

7 2 - . .. . ~ . , -,~, - - . , i, ., . -, 2 0 0~

this level is used as one condition for the start of the blow operation.
This blow operation starting condition will be described in detail later.
When the hot water level has not reached the blow operation permittin~ level (220N), warn;n~ of a decreased level is issued (225) and the operation is stopped (215). In this case, the warning of a decreased level is effected by turning on and off the indication ~L~
which indicates the decrease of level on the cloc~ display portion 115 of the operatin~ panel alternately over a period of lS seconds and at the same time sounding a buzzer (not shown). In a bathtub provided with an automatic hot water supplying apparatus, it is possible to perform a hot water replenishing operation.
When the hot water level satisfies the blow operation per~ittin~
level (220Y~, there is made detection by the hot water te~perature sensor T as to whether the hot water temperature in the bathtub body 1 is within a blow operation per~itting ran~e (e.g. 5 ~50-C) or not ~230) ' ' ~ n this embodiment, the blow operation per~ittin~ hot ~ater temperature range is determined in consideration of the protection of the user and of the pipes ~ade of a synthetic resin and freeze proofing of the hot water in the circulating pump P, and the said te~perature range is used as one condition for the start of the blow operation.
This blow operation st~rting condition wiil be described in detail later.
~ s a result, in the case of a lower temperature than the lower , . . . .

2 0 0~

limit ~e.~. 5 'C) of the blow operation permitting te~perature range (235Y), the freeze proofing operation is started ~300).
Such freeze proofing operation will be déscribed later with reference to the subroutine shown in Pi~.32.
In the case of a hi~ther temperature tban tbe upper limit (e.~. 50-C
) of thP b]ow operation per~itting temperature range (235N), there issues warnin~ of a high temperature (400) and the operation is stopped (215). ~n this case, the warning of a high temperature is effected by turnin~ on and off the indication "H~ which indicates a high water temperature on the clock display portion 115 of the operatin~ panel 6 alternately over a period of 15 seconds and at the same time sounding buzzer.
In the ca~e of a blow operation permittin~ hot water temperature (230Y), the blow operation can be started (500) by turning ON the operation switch 100 or 60 ~415Y).
The ~blow operation~ (500) is a generic ter~ for the blow operations in the varioùs blow-off modes. a ti~er operation in which blow operation is perfor~ed within the ti~e preset by the user, and an automatic filter washing operation tn which the filter 43 is washed aulomaticAlly in parallel with the blow operation. ~ach blow operation. timer operation and auto~atic filter washing operstion will be described later with reference to the subroutines shown in ~igs.~8, 29 and 30.
Upon turning 0~ the operation switch 100 or 2~0 (995Y), the operation is stopped (215~. As lon~ as the operation switch 100 or 260 . - 7 4 -2 0 0~ 3 ;s not turned O~F, the blow operation is continued.
Further~ by turning ON the operation switch lQO or 260 (~15) it becomes possible to effect the filter washing operation just before or after the blow operation (500), and the filter washing operation can be ~tarted by turnin~ ON the filter washing switch 117 (900). This filter washing operation will be described later with referenoe to the subroutine shown in Fig.31.
The above blow operation will be described below with reference to the subroutine shown in ~ig.28.

(Blow Operation) The blow operation is program~ed so that the initial blow is a child safety blow or a mild blow and the strength level ~s set to ~
Mediu~ (510), whereby the occurrence of accidents is prevented such as the legs of a child being carried away by the hot water iet at the ti~e of beginnin~ of the operation and the child falling down.
In this state of child safety blow, a desired blow operation can be selected by turnine ON a blow-off mode switch.
More specifically, othe~ than the ~old blow operation, the spotblow operation can be started (525) hy turning ON the spotblow switch 1~2 or 62 (520).
The pulse blow operations ~, B ~nd C can be perfor~ed (535)(536) (537) by turning ON the pulse blow switch 103 or 2~3 (530 (531)(532).
The wave blow operations A, 8 and C can be perfor~ed (5453~546) .

.. ~
,........ .

,, 2 0 0~ L1 (54n by turning ON the wave blow switch 104 or 265 (5~0)(541)(5~2).
The cycle blow operations ~, B and C can be perfor~ed (555)~556) (557) by turning ON the cycle blow switch 105 or 66 (550)(551)(552).
Purther, by turning ON the progra~ switch lQ6 or 267 (560)(561~
(562) there can be performed each pro~ra~ blow operation (565)(566)(567n .

For returnine to the mild blow from another blow mode, the mold blow switch 101 or 261 is a~ain turned ON (510~. ~
All the blow operations can be stoppsd into OF~ condition by turning OP~ the operation switch 100 or 60.
In this embodiment, moreover, in order to meet user's desires as far as possible, there can be performed the operation for changing the hot water blow-off position in the cases of mild blow operation, spotblow operation, pulse blow operation and wave blow operation.
Further, the operation for changing the strength level of hot water to he blown o~f can be performed in the cases of the ~ild ~low, fin~er-pressure blow, pulse b~ow, wa~e blow and cycle blow operations.
Such operations for changing the hot water blow-off positioned and strength levet will be described later.
~ ext, the timer operation will be described below with reference to the suhroutine shown in Pig.29.

tTimer ~peration ) The timer operation per~its the user to set a dssired blow - 7 ~ -2QO~

operation time and makes it poss;ble to prevent the user fro~ having a rush of blood to the head. The timer operation will be described below.
The timer operation is started as follows. When the timer switch 11~ is pu~,hed ON (580Y) after pushing ON the operation switch lO0 on the operatin~ panel 6, the clock display of the clock display portion 115 which makes a digital display usin~ a light emitting diode changes to a timer displ~y, for example, 5~ which indicates S minutes set as a minimum blow operation tl~e, and thus it is possible to set ~5 Minutes~
for the timer (585). If the timer switch 114 is turned O~ within a certain time (e.g. 2 sec) (590Y). the timer display beco~es 5:00 after the lapse of 2 seconds and the timer operation is started.
The nume~ical value of the ti~er display decreases every second (595).
When the timer operation time has elapsed and the ti~er display became "0 00~ (605) without turning ON the ti~er switch 114 during the tiMer operation (600~), the said timer display is turned on and off every 0.5 second for the period of 5 seconds and e~ery 0.5 second for the period of 5 seconds and the buzzer is allowed to sound.
Thereafter, u~on termin~tion of the timer operation (610), the operation is stopped and a retu~n is ~ade to the ti~er display ~615~
l~here it is desired to set tbe ti~e for the ti~er to any other ti~e than the above 5 minutes, by pushin8 the timer switch 114 continuou~ly for 2 secon~s or ~ore (59~N) the above indication ~5~ is increased every ~.5 second in the unit of one ~inute, and since the nu~erical value . . ~ ,, 2 0 0~93Li returns to nl~ after reaching a preset ~axi~um value (e.g. ~19~), it is possible to set a desired blow operation time in the range of, for example, 1 minute to 19 minutes (620).
If the ti~er switch 114 is turned OPP when a desired value (e.g.
9~) appeared (625Y), then in 2 seconds thereafter a desired timer ti0e (e.g. ~9000~) is indicated and the numerical value of this timer display decreases every second (595).
If the timer switch 114 is turned ON (600) and ~hen OFF within 2 seconds (630Y) during the ti~er operation, the timer operation is stopped at that time point (635) and the display returns fro~ the ti~er display to the clock display. In this case, the blow operation is continued (640).
If the timer switch 11~ is pushed ON continuously for 2 seconds or more (630N~, the ti~er display becomes a timer setting display correspondin~ to the minute indicated at that time point plus one minute, ~nd by continuing the depression of the timer switch 114 the timer operation ti~e can ~e increased every 0.5 second in the unit of one minute (620).
If the timer switch 11~ is turned O~F when a desired nu~erical value appeared (625Y), then in 2 seconds thereafter the desired time for the ti~er is indicated and then the value indicated decreases every second (595).
The timer operation ta~e~ priorty over the blow operation and can be performed (including operation stop) regardless of tbe blow-off mode.

- 7 ~ -2 0 0~

In all the operation timings relating to the ti~er operation, such as during ti~er operation and during ti~er setting, the ti~er time Is indicated by li~hting of a light emitting diode on the clock display portion 115 of the operating panel 6. ~he clock display portion 115 continues to light when clock indication is not made.
Therefore, the timer setting operation can be done in a simple manner.
When there is no operation switch input for a cert~in time (e.e. 30 minutes) ;n the state of blow operation, the bl~w operation is stopped.

rhus, by stoppin~ the blow operation after the lapse of a certain time it is intended to prevent the continuance of blow operation over a lone time caused by the user forgettine to stop the blow operation and thereby attain power saving and protection of the circulating pu~p and pipes.
~ Iso when the blow operation is stopped by the timer as set forth above, this condition is announced by the sounding of a buzzer for 5 seconds just after the operation stop.
Ne~t, the auto~atic filter washing operation will be described below with reference to the subroutine shown in Pig.30.

~Automatic Filter Washing Operation) In the auto~atic filter washine operation, the washin~ of the filter ~3 is performed auto~atically in parallel with ~low operation.

:~ - 7 9 -2 0 0~31 1 The automatic filter washin~ operation is started (770) in the case of a blow operation t765Y) in which an integrated ti~e (fro~ the start-up of the circulatin~ pump P) of the blow operation has elapsed a certain time (e.g. 1 hour) (760Y) and which satisfies auto~atic filter washing operations.
The alltomatic filter washin~ conditions as referred to herein ~ean that the blow operation permitting hot water level and temperature should be satisfied, that the blow-off mode should be ~ny of ~ild blow, finger-pressure blow, wave blow and cycle blow ~odes, and that the stren~th level should be any of strong, medium strong and mediu~.
The automatic filter washin~ operation ter~inates upon lapse of a certain time (e.g. 1 min) of the same operation, while the blow operation continues and the integrating of ti~e of the blow operation restarts (785).
When the automatic filter washing conditions are no longer satisfied ~discontinued) due to the chan~e of the blow-off ~ode or of the streneth level durin~ the automatic filter washing operation CT75Y) and when the number of times of retrying after discontinuance is s~aller than a certain number of times (e.g. ~) ~790N), the automatic filter washin~ operation is discontinued (795), and thereafter when a blow operation satisfying the automatic filter washing conditions is started (800Y), the automatlc filter washing operation is started (770 .
On the other hand, when the nu~ber of ti~es of discontinuance in the auto~atic filter washin~ operation has re~ched a certain number of times, the auto~atic filter washine op~ration ter~inates 785). Shis

- 8 0 -, r ' , ' ', . ' .,~ ~ , ~ ', ~ G "~ 5 2 0 0~31 i is for pre~enting evacuation of the bathtub body 1 caused by retry;ng infinitely.
In the case of a blow operation not satisfying the auto~atic filter washing conditions despite the integrated time of the blow operation has elapsed a certain time (e.~. 1 hour) (165N). the auto~atic filter washing operation is started upon start of a blow operation which satisfies the automatic filter washing conditions (800Y7.
Next, the filter washing operation will be des~ribed below with reference to the subroutine shown in ~ig.31.

(Pilter Washing Operation) The filter washing operation can be performed in precedence over the blow operation by turning ON the filter washing switch 117 even before or after or during the b10w operation if only after turning ON of the operation switch 100 or 260.
When the filter washing switch 117 is turned ON (905Y~, the filter washin~ operation starts (910), and if there is no abnor~al condlt~on in the dischar~e pressure of the circulating pu~p P detected by the pressure sensor 48 and in the hot water te~perature in the bathtub bodg 1 detected by the hot water te~perature sensor T, that is, if the pressure and hot water te~perat~re are blow operation per~ittlng pressure and temperature t915N~. the filter washing operation is continued for a certain time (e.g, 5 ~in) and after the lapse of the certain time the operation stops ~tS~.

,......... ,~

-~ 8 1 2 0 0~31 1 In the filter washing operation, the number of revolutions of the circulatin~ pump P is set to , for example, 3000 r.p.~., and the blow-off nozzle adjusting valves 22 in the leg- an~ back-side blow-off nozzles 2, 3 are slightly opened, for example, 0.5 mm backward fro~
their fully closed positions, with only the blow-off ~olu~e ad3usting valves 22 in the back-side blow-off noz21es 4 being fully closed.
If the pressure and water temperature are not normal (915V), there is made detection as to whether the water temperature ~s lower than the lower limit (e.~. 5 C) of the blow operation permittin8 te0perature range, and if the answer is affirmative (925Y), the freeze proofing operation is started (320), while if the answer is negative, that is.
if the hot water temperature is hi~her than the upper li~it (e.g. 50 C
) of the said temperature range (925N), the operation stops (21E~.
Next, the freeze proofing operation will be described below with reference to the subroutine shown in PiE.32.

.

~ 8 2 -.

(Freeze Proofing Operation ) The freeze proofing operation is perfor~ed to prevent freezing of the water in the cireulating pu~p P and in the h~t water circulation path D. It is performed in precedence over the blow operation, and when the water temperature becomes lower than the lower li~it (e.~. 5 'C) of the blow operation permitting temperature range during the blow operation, the blow operation is stopped forcibly and the freeze proofing operation is started.
First, the hot water temperature in the hot water circulation path D is detected by the hot water temperature sensor T, and if the detected temperature is lower than the lower limit (e.g. 5 C) of the blow operation permittin~ temperature ran~e (~lOY), the water level in the bathtu~ body 1 is detected by the pressure sensor 48 which also serves as a level sensor. If the detected level is a blow operation permitting level (e.g. a level higher than the upper end of the suction port lm) (315Y), the freeze proofing operation is started (320).
In the freeze proofing operation, the circulatin~ pu~p P is rotated at a low speed (e.g. 1000 r.p.~.) by inverter control to circulate water throu~h the hot water circ~lation path ~.
In this case, if the water temperature is lower than the lower limit (e.~. 5 C) of the blow operation permitting te~perature range of lower than the te~perature which is the said lower~ ;t te~perature plus the temperature (e.g. 2-3 'C) corresponding to the hysteresis in the hot w~ter te~perature sensor T (325~ and if the water level in the bathtub body 1 is the btow operation permitting tevel (3~0Y), the 2 0 0~ 9 1 i freeze proofing operation is continued. During the freeze proofing operation, the indication ~C~ indicating a low water temperature is turned on and off every second on the clock display portion 115 of the operating panel 6.
If by additional supply of hot water the water temperature rises to the lower limit of the blow operation permitting temperature range or higher or to the temperature which is the said lower~ it te~perature plus the temperature corresponding to the hysteresis in the hot water temperature sensor T or hi~her (325Y), the operation stops t215).
Main operations in the operation procedure of the whirlpool bath described above will be further explained below.

;(r~ - 2 ) Description of Conditions for Starting Blow Operation ~ he blow operation in the foregoing operation procedure is started only when preset water level and temperature conditions in the bathtub body 1 are satisfied.
More specifically, as shown in ~ig.33, the water level condition is determined on the basis of the suction port 1~ and the belly-side blo~-off nozzles 4 both provided in the bathtub body 1. A water level hi~her than the upper end of the openin~ of each belly-side ~low-off noz21e 4 is designated wa~er level a: a w~ter level hetween the upper end of the opening of each belly-side blow-off nozzle ~ and the uppe~ end of the -- suction ~ort l~ is desienated water level B: and a water level lower than the upper end of the suc~on leYel l~ is designated water level C.

, ...

, ~ 8 4 -2 0 0~

When the water level is ~ or B, the blow operation is started, while when the water level is C, the blow operation is not started, Further, when the water level is changed from A or B to C during blow operation, the blow operation is stopped.
In this case, even if the water level is returned to B or A fro~ C
by additional supply of hot water for example, the blow operation is held OFF, and by a~ain turnin~ ON the operation switch the level-drop stop can be cancelled, thereby attaining sureness and safety of operation.
In this connection, in the clock display portion 115 of the operatin~ panel 6, the indication "L indicating a level drop is turned on and off for 15 ssconds alternately every second by ~eans of a light emittin~ diode, and at the same ti~e warning is given by sound}ng of a buzzer.
~ etection of the water levels A, B and C is perfor~ed ~n such a manner as shown in ~l~.34. ~n consideration of waving of the hot water surface when the user enters or leaves the bathtub, the output volta~e of the pressure sensor 48 which serves as a level sensor is provided with hysteresis to prevent hunting , whereby the controlling operation of the controller C can be done s~oothly throu~h the pressure sensor 48.

In Fig.34, Soc represents a threshold value fro~ a water level lower than the level C to the level C; Scb rePresents ~ threshold Yalue fro~ the level C to the level B: Sba represents a threshold val~e fro~
- the level B to the level A; Sab represents a threshold Yalue fros the ~ .

2 0 0{~

level A to the level B; Sbc represents a threshold value fro~ the level B to the level C; and Sco represents a threshold value fro~ the level C
to a lower water level side.
Hysteresis is provided between the threshold values Soc and Sco, between the threshold values Scb and Sbc, and between the threshold values Sba and Sab.
The water temperature condition is determined on the basis of a water temperature taking into account the protection ~f the user and of the pipes made of a synthetic resin, e.g. 50 C , and a water temperature taking into account the prevention of freezing of the water in the circulation pump P, e.g. 5 'C. The water temperature hi~her than 50 C is designated the water temperature ~; the water temperature in the range of 5 C to 50-C is desi~nated the water temperature B: and the water te~perature lower than 5-C is designated the water te~perature C. The blow operation is performed at the wat~r temperature B and not performed at the water temperature a or C.
When the water temperature chan~es fro~ B to A or G durine the blow operation, the operation is stopped.
In this case, even if the water temperature is returned to B fro~ ~
~y additional supply of water for example, the blow operation Is kept OPP, and only by a~ain turnin~ ON the operation switch the stop of the operation caused by the rise of the temperature can be cancel3ed to ensure the suren0ss and safety of operation.
Jn this case, the indication H indicating a high water temperature is turned on and off alternately every second for 15 seconds B 6- .

.. , , - . . . .

2 0 0~3~ 1 i by means of a light emittin~ diode on the clock display portion 115 of the operating panel 6. and at the same ti~e a buz~er will sound to give warning.
The water temperatures A, B and C are detected in such a manner as shown in Fi~.35. In consideration of waving of the hot water surface when the user enters or leaves the bathtub, the resistance valu~ of the hot water temperature sensor T is provided with hysteresis to prevent hunting, whereby the controlling operation of the co~troller C can be done smoothly.
In Fig~35, S'oc represents a threshold value fro~ a temperature lower than the water temperature C to the temperature C; S'cb represents a threshold value froM the temperature C to B: ~'ba represents a threshold value from the temperature B to A; S'ab represents a threshold value from the te~perature A to R; S'bc represents a threshold value f-o~ the te~perature B to C; and S'co represents a threshold value fro~ the temperature C to a lower temperature side.
Hysteresis is provided between the thresbold values S'oc and S'co, between S'c~ and S'bc, and between S'ba and S'ab.

(rV-3 ) Description of State Transition of Blow-off Modes The state transition of blow-off ~odes in the operation procedure described above is as shown in Ta~le 2.
In Table 2. an operation stop condition and blow-off modes are ., 2 0 0~

enumerated in the vertical direction and state numbers are enumerated in the corresponding right-hand positions, while in the lateral direction there are enumerated operating switches (operation-switch, mild switch, spotblow switch, pulse bloN switch, wave blow switch, cycle blow switch, pro~ram blow switch) as well as display portions (mild blow, spotblow, pulse blow, wave blow, cycle blow, program blow, selection pattern A, B, C, display portions) which are indicated by light e~ittine diodes on lhe operating panel 6.
Table 2 shows the transition from a blow-off mode be~ore turning ON
of each operatin~ switch to a blow-off ~ode after turning ON thereof.
In the cases of pulse blow, wa~e blow, cycle blow and program blow each havin~ the selection patterns ~, B and C as sub modes. between blow-o~f modes of the same kind, newly added sub ~odes are sure to ~hift in a preset order, for exa~ple, in the order from high to low frequency of use ~A ~B -~C ~A in this embodiment).
Between blow-off modes of different kinds, a shift is ~ade surely to a preset sub mode, for example. a sub mode of a hi~h frequency of use (the sub mode A in this e~bodiment).
Description wi11 now be mad~ ~ore concretely with reference to Table 2. Upon turning ON of the operation switch lOO, a sbift is wade from operation stop (state No. ~0~) to ~ild blow ~state No. ~
In this state, if the pulse blow switch 263 or 103 is turned 0~, a shif~ is made ko~ ~;ld biow to pulse blow A (state No. ~3A~).
If in this state the fin~er-pressure blow switch 262 or 102 is turned ~, A shift is ~ade fro~ pulse blo~ A to spotblow ~st~te No. 2~) 'i;. ,, ''' ~~--- --8 8--2 0 0~31 i If in thP state of pulse ~low A the pulse blow switch 263 or 103 is turned ON for transition to a blow-off ~ode of thé same ki~d, a shlft is ~ade to pulse blow B (state No. ~3B~).
Further, if the wave blow switch 265 or 10~ is turned ON for transition from the state of pulse blow ~ to a blow-off ~ode of a different kind, a shift is made to wave blow ~ (state No. ~4A~), while ;f the cycle blow switch 266 or 105 is turned ON, a shift is ~ade to cycle blow ~ ~state No. 5A), or if the program blow switch 267 or 106 is turned ON, a shift is made to program blow ~ (state No. ~6A~.
Thuss since the blow-off mode is set to the mild ~low ~ode at the be~inning of operation, even when the user is a child or an old person, it is possible to prevent the user fro~ being carried away his legs by the hot water jet and fallin~ down and also prevent the user fro~
feelin~ unco~fortableness due to an excessive blow stren~th.
Moreover, since the sub ~low-off modes are sure to shift in a preset order, it is easy for the user to understand a sub ~ode transition pattern and easy to operate.
The mark ~ON~ in Table 2 indicates lighting of the display portion of the blow-off mode bein~ adopted. Por exa~ple, in the case of pulse blow A, the letter ~A" lights in both the putse blow display portion 13~ and the selection pattern display portion (142).
In the case of pro~ra~ blow patterns A, B and C, the prograo blow display portion 141 and the selection pattern display portion 145 light up, while the mild blow, finger-pressure blow, pulse blo~ and w~ve blow ~_ - 8 ~

2 0 0~i9 display portions 136. 137, 138, 139 go on and off. In Table 2, the mark ~-~ represents non-change and the mark ~. represents an OPF
condition. -In the state transition of blow-off modes described above, the blow s~ren~th l~vel does not change even if the blow-off ~ode is changed.
Thus, it is possible to maintain the body feeling streneth level in the blow-off mode before change, so it is not necessary to perforM a streneth level chaneing operation, that is? it is po~sible to prevent the user from feelin~ uncom~ortableness at the time of change of the blow-off mode. It is also possible to changs the strength level to a medium level with change in the blow-off mode.
Further, the hot water blow-off position is not chaneed even if the blow-off mode is changed.
Thus, it is possible to ~aintain the hot water blow-off position in the blow-off mode before change, so it is not necessary to perform a blow-off position changing operation, that is, it is possible to prevent the user from feeling uncomfortableness at the time of chan~e of the blow-off mode.
~ s to the hot watBr blow-off position, it is also possibls to opsn all the blow-o~f nozzles 2. 3, 4 with change in the blow-off wode, allowing the user to feel the blow-off mode aft~r change all ovsr hid hody, and thereafter ~ake a chan~e to desired blow-off positions matching the blow-off ~ode.

,~.. ,................................... --9 0--200~91i ~ _ . _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ~..,. ~ ~L ~
¦ ~ . . o . . . . . . . . . o o o o o o o ~ - Z __ _ ____ __ -oo oo o`o O O ~ _ ¢ ¢ 1 ¢ ¢ ¢ ¢ ~ ~ ~: a: m u ¢

,~ ¦ I ~ _ ¢ ¢ ¢ _ ¢ ¢ ¢ ¢ m u ¢ ¢ _ ¢
~ I ~ _ ~ u~ u~ u~ u~ u~ u> u~ ~ ~n u> ~ u~ u~

v : ~ ~ _ ~ ~ _ m .~ e ., ....... ., d _ __ _ a ¢ m u ~: ~: ~: ~ _ ~: ~ ¢ ~ ~¢

0 V _ _ _ _ N _ N N N N N N N N N N

--'C l l _~ ~ _1 ~ _~ _~ _~ _~ ~4 ~ _1 __ ~ _ o O O O O O O O O o O O O -O

u O o _ _ ¢ m ~ ¢ m u ¢ m u d m u ~ o Z O ~ ~ ~ _ e O U ~ 1 ~ e O O
J .,~ _~ m m m _~ ~ ~ m aJ m ~ E~ ~
,, _ ~ ~ ~ :~ ~ ~ O ~ C.J U~ ~oD 0~ 0~

,......... - ~1 -- . , , - i ~ . .. .
. i, ' . :

0 0~3~3 ~ rv - ~ ~ Description of State Transition of ~ot Water Blow-off Positions The hot water blow-off position changing oper5tion in the operation procedure based on flowcharts of (rV - 1 ) will be described below with reference to the exptanatory view of Fig.36.
In this embodiment, the hot water blow-off position can be changed so as to apply a hot water jet to the user's whole body or a part of the body according to the user's liking.
More specifically, a six-hole operation is initialized (950) in which hot water is blown off from the six, le~-, back- and belly-side blow-off nozzles ~,~,3,3,4,4 si~ultaneously.
Prom the six-hole operation (950) in wh;ch all of the ~N-OPP type pattern switches for the le~-, back- and belly-side blow-off no2zles are ON, a chan~e can be made into a four-hole operation ~955) (966) (9S7) in which two blow-of~ nozzles are O~F, by pushing 0~ any switch t951) (952)(950 .
By pushing ON and O~-state switch out of the pattern switches for the leg-, back- and be]ly-side blow-off nozzles ~951)(952)(953) it is possible to make a return from the four-hole operation (955~(956)(957) to the six-hole operation (950).
It is also possible to chanee from the four-hole operation (955) ; (956) (957) into a two-hole operation ~967) t968) (969) in which additional two blow-of~ nozzles are O~P, by pushing Off an ON-state switch out of the pattern switches ~or the lee-, back- ànd ~elly-side blow-off nozzles (960)-(96S).

.
. ~<, . .

2 0 0~

Further, it is possible to xake a return frox the two-hole operation t967)(968)(969) to the four-hole operation (955)(956)(957~ by pushing ON and OFP-state switch out of the pattern ~witches for the leg-, back- and belly-side blow-off nozzles (960)-(965~.
Table 3 shows the state transition of hot water blow-off positions described above, in which operation stop and hlow-off positions (back.
~elly, le~, back-belly, belly-le~, back-lee, back-belly-~eg) are enumerated in the vertical direction and state nu~bers ~re enu~erated in the corresponding ri~ht-hand positions, while in the lateral direction - there are enumerated operating switches (operation switch as well as back-, belly- ~nd lee-side switches) and pilot lamps (back-, belly- and lee-side pilot lamps) which are turned ~N by light e~itting diodes on the operating panel 6.
An explanation will now be xade concretely with reference to Table 3. If the operation switch 100 is turned ON, a cbange is ~ade fro~
operation stop (state No. O") to a six-hole operation (950 (state No.
) in which hot water is blown off frox the six, leg-, back- a~d belly-side blow-off nozzles 2,2,3,3,4,4 simulataneously, snd if in th~s state the back-side nozzle pattern switch 274 or 111 is pushed OP~, a shift is m~de to a four-hole operation (955) of the leg- and betly-s1de blow-off nozzles 2,2,4,~ and the state nu~ber becomes 011.
In the above four-hole operation (state No. 011), both leg-side pilot la~p 112a and ~elly-side pilot la~p 113a go on.
Thus, the six-hole oper~tion is initialized at the start of operation, and by turnin~ ~H and n~ the leg-, hack- and belly-side :

'~
.~ - 9 3 -200~i91i blow-off nozzle use pattern switches there can be made an easy change from the six-hole operation to the four- or two-hole operation, or from the two-hole operation to the four- or six-hole operation. In Table 3, the mark "-~ represents non-change and the mark ~. represents an 0 condition.
In the state transition of hot water blow-off positions described above, the strength level does not chan~e as lon~ as the blow operation does not stop even if the hot water blow-off positions~are changed.
~ hus, since it is possible to ~aintain the strength level in the blow-off positions before chan~e, it is not ~ecessary to perform a stren~th level changing operation, that is, it is possible to prevent the user from feeling uncomfortableness at the time of change of the blow-off positions.

". .

, . ;, ~i .

.

- 9 4 -200~91~

,.,,, ~13 Q= ~ ~ . 'ol 'o1 _ ~ o o ~
:~ ~ _ _ _ _ _ _ ~ ~U ~ . o _ ~1 o o ~ o O 3 1~; _ ~1 ~1 O _l ~ ~1 c u ~a ~1 _~ o _~ o o LO ~ Lm ~ _ _ _ _ _ ~c ~ r -~0 ~ ~ O O O O O O O
.Q ~rlO O o ~ ~1 ~ ~1 ~1 ~
~Z O O O ..

L~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~, 2 0 0~i9 i i ( N -5 ) Description of State Transition of Strength Level in Blow Operation The strength level in the operation procedure based on flowcharts of (rV -1 ) is set to five stages of ~strone, ~mediu~ strong,~
mediu~,~ ~edium weak and ~weakn for each hlow-off ~ode, and different strengths are set in consideration of the contents of the blow-off modes; th~t is, different blow-off modes lead to ~ifferent below strengths even at the same stren~th level indication ~medium~.
The state transition of such strength level is as shown in Table 4.

In Table ~, operation stop and five-stages o~ strength levels (strong, medium strong, medium, medium weak, weak) as well as progra~
blow patterns A, B. C are enumerated in the vertical direction, and state nu~bers are enumerated in the corresponding ri~ht-hand positions, while in the lateral direction there are enumerated operating switches (operation switch as well as hot water blow strong- and weak-side switches) ~nd strength level indicating lamps (level strong, mediu~
stron~, medium, mediu~ weak and weak indicting la~ps) usin~ light emittinR diodes.
The stren~th level is set so that when the hot water blow strong-side switch 68 or 107 is pushed and then released, a shift is ~ade in a direction in which the streneth is enhanced one stage, while when the hot water blow weak-side switch 69 or 108 is pushed and then released, a ~hift is ~ade in a direction in which the strength is weakened one .. ..

Z O O~i 9 s taee.
For e~ample, if the operation switch 100 is turned ON, a shift is made from operation stop (stage No. nO~) to the strength level ~mediu~
(state No. ~3), and if in this state the hot water blow strong-side switch 68 or 107 is pushed and then released, a shift is ~ade fro~ ~
medium~ to the stren~th level ~ediu~ strong~ ~state No. ~4~, then if the same switch 68 or 1~7 i~ again pushed and then released, a shift is made to the strength level ~strong~ (~tate No. 5~).
Further, if in the strength le-~el "~edium~ the hot water blow weak-side switch 69 or lO8 is pushed and then released, a shift is ~,ade to the stren~th level "medium weak~ (state No. ~2"), and if the sa~e switch 69 or 108 is again pushed and then released, a shift is ~ade to the stren~th level weak" (st~te No. 1).
In tbe progra~ blow pàtterns A, B and C, since the strength level is program~ed boforehand. it cannot be changed even upon operation of the hot water blow stron~- and weak-side switches 68, 69, or 107, 108.

In Table 4, the ~ark ~ON~ indicates lightine of tbe stre-n~th level indicating la~p in operation.
The mark ON/OPF" indicstes that the streneth level indicating la~p eoes ON and OP~ when the pro~ra~ blow pattern A, B or C incapable o~
chaneine the strength level is in operation. Further, ~- indicates non-chan~e and ~.~ indicates an O~F condition.
~ hus. since the strength level is set to ~ediu~ at the st~rt of hlow operation, there is no fear of a too strong hot water jet causin~
.',' .
.

~. - g 7 -` 2 0 0 ~ 9 1 i the user to feel uncomfortableness, and also when the user is a child or an old person, it is possible to prevent the user from being carried away by the hot ~ater jet and falling down.
Further, for both increase and decrease the strength level is chAnp,ed step by step, so it is possible to prevent a sudden change in the llser's body feeling and also possible to prevent the pipes from bein~ dama~ed by ~ater hammer due to sudden rise of the ~ater pressure in the pipes.

,, .~.. - --9 0 ~

200~
~m aC' ~YI ~ r ~

~ ~ . _ . ~ . _ ~ ~ ~ ~, ~ 1~ fi . . o . . . o o o .P o o _ Z _ _ _ _ ~ ~ ~
n _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ o a z a __ __ _ _ ___ C U ~ __ ~ ~ r~ l l l O 10 -o o o o o o o o ~Cz o _ ~ _ _ _ ~: lC C,l r :- _ e a O O ~ O ~ ~ O
~ ~ lJ ~ ~1 ~ O L~ L~
.~ _ O m U~ ~ :t: ~ P~ P

_ qf _ ~ .

2~)0~91i (rV--6 ) Description of Priority of Main Operations The priority of main operations in the operation procedure based on flowcharts of (rV - 1 ) is as shown in Table 5.

., Table 5 "
Hi~h Stop at hi~h water temperature Stop at low water level ~reeze proofin~ operation . Stop of blow operation timer Filter washin~ operation Ti~er opeation Blow operation Auto~atic filter washing op~ration Low Operation stop ,:
Thus the stop at a hi~h water te~perature is given the top priority to ensure safety, and also as to t~e other operations ths order of priorit~ is provided a~ong the~, thereby per~itting the protection of the user and of the constituent ~evbers and per~ittin~ opti~u~ control to effect an efficient operation.

.,, (~U - 7 ) Control Ti~ing between Opening/Closing of Blow-off Yolu~e ~diustin~ V~lves and Chan~e of the Hu~ber of Revolutions of Circulating Pu~p 200~

The following Tables 6 and 7 show the control timin~ between openinj~ and closing operations of the leg-~ hack- and belly-side ~low-off nozzles 2. 3, 4 and the change of thc nunlber of revolutions of the circulating pump P.

" -~ O 1-`. 200~i91i D ~1 V ~ V ~-1 0 6 O O ~ O ~ ~ O P~ O O

~0 ~ ,C O -V .C ~Uo ~V ~ 3 ~JO tl~ 0 L~ ~ O Oq ~
V ~ _~ V O _~ ~ V ~ V lU ~
OI ' O N ~ ~ g 1~ ~n ~ O ~ ~ O N
O .~ .~ ~ .~ ~1 0 h ~ ~ ~ Z

XOC
~U ~ X U~ Z~ C
.~ ~

_:E 5; ~ :~ 1~ m p, :~

;tl ~ . /00~ , .. ~

ZOO~i91i O O lll N N
I; N N
~ C~ ~O ~0 I~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~U ~ ~- C C C
U ~ ~ ~ ~ D~
~ V~ V~ V V
~7 t 0 ~ ~n ~ ~ h .~ ~ ~ .~ _~
~ U ~ 1~ ~ ~

,, ~- _ _ .
~ ~ __ _ , . .
,~

2 0 0~i~3i i In the case where it is necessary to increase the nu~ber of revolutions of the circulating pump P at the time of changing the blow-off mode as shown in Table 6, the openlng or closing operation of the blow-off noz~,les 2. 3, 4 is performed prior to changing the nu~ber of revolutions of the pump P, while when it is necessary to decrease the num~er of revolutions of the circulating pump P, the change of the number of revolutions of the pump P is performed prior to the opening or closing operation of the blow-off nozzles 2, 3, 4.
When the number of hot water jets is to be decreased at the time of changing the number of such jets as shown in ~able 7, the nu~ber of revolutions of the circulating pump P is decreased prior to the closing operation of the blow-off nozzles ~, 3, 4, while when the nu~er of hot water jets is to be increased. the opening operation of the no~zles 2.
3, 4 is performed prior to changing the number of revolutions of the pump P.
Thus, at the time of changing the blow-off mode and the numb~r of hot water jets, the control timin~ for the opening or closing operation of the blow-off nozzles 2, 3, 4 and that for the change of the number of revolutions of the circulatin~ pump P are made different. whereby not only it is possible to prevent the user fro~ feeling uncomfortableness due to a change of the blow strength but also an abrupt change in the discharge pressure of the circulating pump P can be prevented. thereby preventing the damage of pipes caused ~y water hammer, etc.

- ~ 0 4 -' ,! ' ! ' .

Claims (15)

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:

1. A blow-off nozzle structure capable of automatically varying the blow-off volume of water comprising;
a) a tubular nozzle casing defining a blow-off flow forming passage therein, said passage forming a blow-off opening at a front end thereof and a hot water inlet opening at a rear end thereof, b) a valve seat formed in the midst of said blow-off flow forming passage, c) a valve element capable of being extended to or retracted from said valve seat so as to adjust the degree of opening of said valve seat, d) an air mixing portion defined in said blow-off flow forming passage and disposed at a position in front of said valve seat said air mixing portion communicated with an air intake portion which has one end opened to air source including atmosphere, e) an automatic valve-element reciprocating means capable of moving said valve element toward or away from said valve seat whereby air-mixed water is blown off from said blow-off opening of said tubular nozzle casing and the volume of said blow-off air-mixed hot water is regulated by the degree of opening of said valve seat.

2. A blow-off nozzle structure capable of automatically varying the blow-off volume of water according to claim 1, wherein said tubular nozzle casing is connected to a nozzle mounting opening formed on a wall of a bathtub body of a whirlpool bath and said automatic valve-element reciprocating means is a power-operated lenear motor.

3. A blow-off nozzle structure capable of automatically varying the blow-off volume of water according to claim 2, wherein a nozzle casing forms an outer male-threaded portion and a flange portion in the front end thereof which are disposed outside of said bathtub body and a threaded sleeve which has an inner female-threaded portion and an outer flange portion is disposed inside of said bathtub body and said threaded sleeve has said inner female-threaded portion engaged with said outer male-threaded portion of said nozzle casing so as to biasingly clamp said wall of said bathtub body with said two flange portions.

4. A blow-off nozzle structure capable of automatically varying the blow-off volume of water according to claim 2, wherein an axis of hot water inlet opening is angularily shifted in a circumferential direction relative to an axis of said air in the portion.

5. A blow-off nozzle structure capable of automatically varying the blow-off volume of water according to claim 2, wherein said automatic valve-element reciprocating means is made of a power-operated motor, said valve element is fixedly mounted on a distal end of a reciprocating rod of said power-operated motor and a cylidrical water-proof cover is provided between said valve element and a motor casing of said power operated motor.

6. A blow-off nozzle structure capable of automatically varying the blow off volume of water according to claim 2, wherein said automatic valve-element reciprocating means is made of a power-operated stepping linear-ball motor.

7. A blow-off nozzle structure capable of automatically varying the blow-off volume of water according to claim 6, wherein said power-operated stepping linear-ball motor comprises;
a) a cylindrical coil attached to an inner surface of a motor casing, b) a cylindrical magnet concentrically disposed in said cylindrical coil such that said magnet is rotated upon energizing of said coil relative to said cylindrical coil, c) a rotor nut concentrically and fixedly mounted on the inner surface of said cylindrical magnet, said rotor nut provided with a ball-receiving spiral groove on the inner surface thereof, d) a reciprocating rod axially reciprocably disposed in said rotor nut, said reciprocating rod provided with a ball-receiving spiral groove on the outer surface thereof, e) a plurality of rolling balls accommodated in a spiral space defined between said two spiral grooves, and f) a key provided on a motor casing for preventing the rotation of said reciprocating rod while allowing the axial movement of said reciprocating rod, whereby, upon integral rotation of said cylindrical magnet and said rotor nut, said reciprocating rod is finely advanced or retracted.

B. A blow-off nozzle structure capable of automatically varying the blow-off volume of water according to claim 2, wherein a vortex generating element is disposed in said blow-off forming passage upstream of said air mixing portion.

9. A blow-off nozzle structure capable of automatically varying the blow-off volume of water according to claim 2, wherein said blow-off nozzle structure is made of a pair of leg-side blow-off nozzles and a pair of back-side blow-off nozzles which are mounted on both end walls of said bathtub body.

10. A blow-off nozzle structure capable of automatically varying the blow-off volume of water according to claim 9, wherein said blow-off nozzle structure is further provided with a pair of belly-side blow-off nozzles which are mounted on both side walls of said bathtub body.

11. A blow-off nozzle structure capable of automatically varying the blow-off volume of water according to claim 9, wherein an operation of said plurality of blow-off nozzles are controlled by a control unit to effect a cycle blow in which blow-off positions of said blow-off nozzles are changed at a certain cycle by opening or closing each said blow-off nozzle at the certain cycle.

12. A blow-off nozzle structure capable of automatically varying the blow-off volume of water according to claim 10, wherein an operation of said plurality of blow-off nozzles are controlled by a control unit to effect a cycle blow in which blow-off positions of said blow-off nozzles are changed at a certain cycle by opening or closing each said blow-off nozzle at the certain cycle.

13. A blow-off nozzle structure capable of automatically varying the blow-off volume of water according to claim 2, wherein an electrically-conductive sleeve which is earthed to ground is provided at said blow-off opening of said tubular nozzle casing thus preventing the leakage of electricity from said power-operated motor.

14. A blow-off nozzle structure capable of automatically varying the blow-off volume of water according to claim 2, wherein a motor portion of said power-operated motor is encased by an electrically-conductive cover which is earthed to ground.

15. A blow-off nozzle structure capable of automatically varying the blow-off volume of water according to claim 2, wherein said power-operated motor is controlled by a control unit along with a circulating pump mounted on a hot water circulating passage which has both ends thereof connected to a hot water suction opening and said blow-off nozzle respectively, thus providing blow-off of said hot water in various modes which are different in the blow off volume and pressure.