CA2006933A1 - Whirlpool bath with inverter-controlled circulating pump - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT

A whirlpool bath with an inverter-controlled circulating pump comprises a bathtub body, a circulating pump driven by a power-operated motor, a hot water circulation path disposed between the bathtub body and the circulating pump, the hot water circulation path comprising a hot water suction path and a hot water forced-feed path, the hot water forced-feed path having at least one terminal end which is open into the bathtub body, at least one blow-off nozzle which is mounted on the terminal end of the hot water forced-feed path, an air intake portion connected to the hot water forced-feed path to permit blowing of bubbling hot water into the bathtub body from the blow-off nozzles, an inverter interposed between a drive circuit of the power-operated motor of the circulating pump and a power source and an electricity insulation means protecting the transfer of high frequency components of inverter-produced current to the hot water in the bathtub body. Due to such construction, the circulating pump can be controlled such that the revolution of the motor is readily and smoothly varied by way of a frequency modulation effected by the inverter to provide the blow-off of hot water in various modes which are different in the blow-off amount and pressure of the blow-off hot water, while assuring a maximum degree of safety of a bather.

Description

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` A WHIRLPOOL aATH WITH AN INVERTER-oor~LLED CIR~ULATING PUMP
,, ,~ TECHNICAL FIELD

The present lnvention relates to a whirlpool bath w~th an ~nverter-controlled circulating pump.
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BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
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For giving a massaglng effect to a bather, there has be~n a whirlpool bath unit which injects alr-incorporated water into a bathtub. This known whirlpool bath unit comprises a bathtub, a circulating pump disposed separate from the bathtub, a return passage having one end connected to the circulat~ng pump and the other end , opening into the bathtub, a return passage hav~ng one end connecbed to ~; the circulating pump and the other end opening into the bathtub, a ,.;
water injection passage havlng one end conmected to the circulatS ~ pump `- and the other end connected to branch passagss openingbathtub, and an air-mlxing unit connected to th~ water~: ~ t~on passage to mix air lnto the water flowing through the water ~ ~ t10n ; passage.
~';5, i, Recently, as one of lmprovemsnts on such whlrlpool bath unit, a : ; whirlpool bath employing an inverter to drlve the motor of the ~,~$;;` clrculating pump has been proposed ln Japanese laid-open utility-model ,`~ applicatlon 63-100035, wherein the the revolutlons of the motor ~s - 1 - i`' ,'' " ' ' ' ' ' ': ~ ` ' ' 2 0 0 ~ 9~3 var~ed smoothly by the inverter to control the discha~ge pressure and d~scharge rabs of the b10w-off water.
The AC output of the inverter, however, includes much high-frequency components as shown ~n Figs. 51 and 52. The hlgh-frequency components leak into the field core due to the capacitive coupling of the f~eld core and winding o~ the moto~. When the motor ~s not grounded perfectly, there is the danger of a bathing p~rson bathing in the h thtub b~ing struck by the leakage high-frequency components that flow through the circulating pump into the water c~ tained in the bathtub. Since one of the conductors of a comnercial power source is grounded withot exception, the bathing person may possibly be struck by an high-frequency current generated by the inverter when the h thing person touches a grounded part of the whirlpool bath unit, because the high-frequency current flows through a circuit: the inverter - t h e winding of the motor - (capacitive coupling) .the field core of the motor-~ the circulating pump - water-~ h thing person -the grounded part- the ground - the grounded line of the co mercial power source -~lines connecting the commercial power source to the inverter ~t h e ~nverter.
If the in~erter and the circulating pump is connected electrically by a case or the like, the h thing person is struck by a high-frequency current g~nerated by the inverter that flows through a circuit: the inverter-~the case the circulating pump-~water .the bathing person -the groundbd part .the ground the grounded line of the commercial power source-~lines connecting the commercial power source to the `'' ' '' .

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Accord~ngly, It ~s an obJect of this ~nvention to provide a whirlpool hth wh1ch can resolve such problen6.
SU~RY OF INVENrION
In swn~ry, thc present ~nvention discloses a whirlpool hth wlth an , .............................................................. .
inverte~controlled circulat~ng pump conprising a) a hthtub body, b) a circulating pump driven by a power-operated motor and mount~d exteriorly of said bathtub body, c) a hot water circulation path disposed betwcen said bathtub body and said circulatin5~ pump, said hot water circulatlon path comprlsir~ a hot water suction path and a hot water force~feed patha said hot water forced -feed path Itaving at least one tenninal end which is open into said hthtub body, d) at least one blow off nozzle which is mounted on said telminal end of said hot ~ater forced-feed path, e) an air inh ke portlon connected to said hot water forced-feed path to permlt blowlng of bubbllng hot water lnto sald.
bathtub body from sald blow-off nozzles, f) an inverter interposed between a drlve circuit of said power-operated motor of sald circulatlng pump and a power source, whereby the operation of sald ., i ~' circulat~ng pump is controlled such that the revolut~on of sa~d motor ::~ ls readl!y and smoothly var~ed by way of a freguency modu!at~on ~ effected by sald ~nverter to provld~ said blow-off of hot water ln - ~S various modes which are different in the blow-off amount and pressur~ of .i` sa~d blow-off hot water, and g) an electr~c-lnsulatlon means i~ protecting the transfer of hlgh frequency components of lnverter-produoed current tc sa~d hot water in saiJ hthtub body.
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2 0 0 ~33 3 As one of such electricity ~nsulation means, followings are considered.
(a) An isolating transfonmer is interposed between ths 1nverter and a oommerc~ally available power source.
(b) The clrculating pump and the inverter are ~ccommodated ~n a functional unit and an electric insulation is provlded between the circulating pump and the in~erter as well as between the inverter and the functional casing.
(c) An isolating transfonmer is interposed between the inverter and a commercially available power source and a motor casing of the circulating pump is connected to an lntermidiate point of the com~ercially available power source.
td) A motor portion and a pump portion of the clrculat~ng pump are ~ntegrally constructed and the motor portion and the pump port~on are electrlcally ~nsulated from each other.
(e) The inverter is electrically ~nsulated from a functlonal cas~ng which accommodates said inverter there~n and a capac~ty coupl~ng between the inverter and the functior,al casing is m~n~m~zfxL
(f) A funct~onal un~t is disposed remDte fron the hthtub body and~ ~n the functional casing, the circulating pump ~s d~sposed at the oenber of the casing, a filter is disposed beside the circulat~ng pump, and above these elements, a motor port~on and electr~c parts such as th~
control unit and the inverter are d~sposedL
(g) A line filter is interposed between sa~d ~nverter and a commercially available power source.

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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE oRAWINGS

; Fig.1 is a perspective view of a whirlpool bath acoord~ng ito the ;, present invention;
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" Fig.2 is a plan view of ~he whlrlpool bath.
Fig.3 is a conceptive explanatory view of the construction o~ the whirlpool bath; ~f ~- Fig.4 is an explanatory view of an alr intake pilp~ng;
Fig.5 is an enlarged sectional view of a blow-of~ nozzle;
Fig.6 is a side elevational view of the blow-off n~zzle;
~ig.7 is a cross-section~l view taken on line I - If Fig.5;
Fig.~ is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a nozzle valve actuating motor;
Fig.8a ls an enplanatory vlffw showing the manner of mixlng a~r 1nto the hot water by a conventional blow-off nozzle.
Fig.8b is an enplanatory view show~ng the manner of mixin~ a~r ~nto the hot water by the blow~off nozzle of the present lnNent~on~
Fig.8c is an enlarged long~tudinal cross sectional v~w of a hot waber suction port fitting of the whlrlpool h th , Fig.~d is an enlarged explanatory view shoh~ng the e~sent~al part ....
~, ~ of the hot water suction port fitting.
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;-; Fig.8e is an enlarged front view of the decorat~ve oover of the hot waber suction port fitting.
; ` Fig.9 is ~n enlarged vertical cross-sect~onal view of an a~r intabe - 5 - ` :
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200~ 3 portion providbd with an operating panel on the top thereof.
Fig.9a is an en~arged cross-vertlcal sectional vlew of an air ; Intake port prov~ded with an operating panel on the top thereof taksn along the lins ~ - ~ of Flg.9.
,F~g.9b is a plan vlew of the air int~ke port where the operating x' panel is mounted.
Fig.10 is a front cross-sectional elevational view of a functional unit in which a circulating pwmp is installed.
-; Fig.11 is a cross-sectional plan vlew of a functional unit taken along the lIne m - m of Fig.lQ
Fig.12 is a cross-sectional plan view of a funct~onal unit taken ~, along the line rV -rV of Fig.1C~
Fig.13 is a partially-cut~away elevational view of the oirculat~ng pump provided wi~h a pump-operating motor.
Fig.13a is a schematic view of a filter used for clean~n~ hot water and filter element periodically.
~ Fig.14 is a plan view of a remote controller;
Fig.15 is a side view of the remote controller;
Fig.15a is a longitudinal cross-sect~onal vi~w of the remote controller.
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Fig.15b is a partially cut-away plan view of the remote oontroller showing the inner construction thereof.
Fig.15c is a transverse cross-sectional side view of the above remote controller.
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`Fig.15d is a rear-side view of the above remote controller shoh~ng .'~

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the batter storage portion.
Fig.lSe is a partially-cut-away plan view of a mod~f~cat~on of the remote controller.
F~g.15f ~s a cross-sect~onal plan view of th~ abov~ remote controller showing the inner construction thereof.
` Fig.lSg is a longitudinal cross-sect~onal side v~ew of the above remote controller taken along the line V - V of Fig.lSf.
Fig.lSh is a blow mode pattern showing the mild b~ow operation~
Fig.lSi is a blow mode pattern sh4~nng the spot blow operatfon.
Fig.15j is a blow mode pattern showing the pulse blow operation.
Fig.15k is a blow mode pattern shcwnng the cy~le blow operation.
Fig.151 is a blow mode pattern showiny the wave blow operation.
Fig.15m is a blow mode pattern showing the randon blow operation.
Figs.16a and 16b are explanatory views of blow-off volume blow~off pressure characterlstics;
Figs.17a and 17b are explanatory v~ews of blow-off nozzle , ....................................................... .
characteristics;
Fig.18 is an operation tim~ng chart of each blowLo ff nozzle~ ~ ths~
-~' circulating pump in a mild blow mode;
Fig.19 is an operation timin~ chart of each blow~off nozzle and th~
circulating pump in a child safety blow mode;
Fig.20 is an operation timing chart of each blow~off nozzle and the circulating pump in a spot blaw mode;
s " Fig.21 is an operat10n timing chart of each blow~off nozzle and the ' circulating pump in a pllse blow mode;

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Fig.22 is an operation timing chart of each blow~o~f r~zzls and the circulating pump in a wave blow pattern A;
Fig.23 is an operation tim~ng chart of each blow~off nozzle and ths clrculating pump in a wave blow patt~rn B;
Fig.24 is an operation t~ming chrt 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-o~f nozzle and the - circulating pump in cycle blow patterns A and B;
Fig.26 is an operation timing chart of each blow-o ff nozzle and the - circulating pump in a cycle blow pattern C;
Figs.27 to 32 are operational flow charts of the whirlpool bath;
-y Fig.33 is an explanatory view of reference positions for water ~~ level detection;
Flg.34 is an explanatory view of a level detecting method;
Fig.35 is an explanatory view of a water temperature detecting ; method; and Fig.36 is an explanatory view of a hot wter blow~o N position changing operation.
Fig.37 is block diagram of an inverter clrcuit for controlling the power-operated motor of the circulating pump.
Figs.38 to 45 are explanatory views showing the various ~; characteristic curves on the blow~off pressure and volume of th~ hot -, water achieved by the lnverter-controlled motor of the present invention.
Fig.46 is a block diagram of an electricity insulatlon circuit.
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, 2 0 0 ~ 9~3 Fig.47 and Fig.4e are block diagrams of the essential part of the circuit.
Fig.49 and FigO50 are graphs showing the leakage hlgh-frequency voltage and leakage high-frequency current with tims according to the electricity insulation circuit of th present invention.
Fig.51 and Fig.52 are graphs showing the lea hge h~gh-frequency ~ ! voltage and leakage high-frequency current with t~me of the! " conventional inverter circuit~ ~' Fig.53 to Fig.55 are block diagrams of the oircuit of another electricity insulation means.
Fig.56 is a block diagram of the circuit of still another electricity insulation means.

, . , DETAILED DESCRIPlION OF THE PREFERRED EMBOODMENTS
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~,~ A whirlpool bath embodying the present invention h~ll be dbscr~bed , .
in detail below according to the following items with referenoe t~ th~
accompanying drawings.

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~ (I) Description of the ~hole of the Whirlpool Bath ~ .
t~) Description of the Construction of Various Portions t~ - 1 ) Description of the Construction of Blow~off Nb~zles t~ -2 ) Descrlption of the Construction of Hot ~aber Suct~on Port t ~ - 3 ) Description of the Construction of Alr Intak~ Portion . ~ .

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2 0 0 ~ 9~ 3 4 ) Description of Functional Unit 5 ) Description of Circulating Pump ( n --6 ) Description of Filter (~ -7 ) Description of Controller 8 ) Description of Operating Panel n - g ) Description of Remote Controller (~ -10) Description of Inverter !,~ ~ , ( m ) Description of Blow~off Mbdes - (m--l~MildBlow tm - 2 ) Spot Blow ,. (m -3 ) Pulse Blow ." (m~)waveBlow (m - 5 ~ Cycle Blow t m -6 ) Progra~ Blow .:
~N) Description of the Operation of the ~hirlpool Bath (N -1 ) Oescription of Operat~on Procedure hsed on Flow charts (rJ -2 ) Description of Conditions for S h rt~ng Blow Openat~on (N -3 ) Description of S hte Transition of Blow-off Mbdes . .;, . . .
; (N--4 ~ Description of State Transition of Hot ~ater B10w-off .. ,. ~. .
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(rV -5 ) Description of State Transition of Strength Level in Blow : Operation trv 6 ) ~escription of Pr~ority Main Operations , .
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200~9~3 (rV -7 ) Control Timing between Open~ng/Clos1ng of Blow-off Volwme Ad4usting Valves and Change of the Nu~ber of Revolut~ons of C1rculating ; Pump ~ rv--8 ) Electr~c1ty insulation aga~nst high frequency components of current generated by the inverter ,, i ,.:
"i, -~ (I) Description of the Whole of the Whirlpool Bath ~

First~ the construction of the whole of the wh1rlpool bath according to the invention h~ll be descrlbed bolvw.
In Figs.1 and 2, the reference mark A denotes the whlrlpool h th ,~ acoording to the present invention. The wh1rlpool hth A has a total of s~x leg-, h ck- and belly s~de blow-o ff nozzles 2,2; ~ 3; 4,4 formed ~n the front wall, rear wall, and right and left s1de walls, respect1vely, ~;~ of a bathtub body 1 formed in the shape of a box whose upper surfaoe ~s open.
The bathtub body 1 has a marginal flange-libo portlon la~ n air intake portion S is fonmed in the marg~nal flange-llbs portion~laL~ ;
Further, a pair of vertically long recesses lb, lb wh~ch are generally v` shaped in cross section are fonmed in a w roximately central ~ ~s~
portions of the right and left side walls~ and the belly-side blow off ;` nozzles 4,4 are mounted in inclined surfaces 1 b, 1 ~ b of the recesses lb, lb which surfaccs face the rear wall (back side), the nozzles 4 4 being mDunted toward the oentral part of ths rear wall.
.,,~i.; ., , .i , , 2 0 0 ~ 9;~3 The belly-s~de 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 ~, water can surely be applied to the belly, the breast and other port~ons of the human body.
Outside of the whirlpool bath A is d~sposed a funct~onal unit 9.
Within the functional unit 9, as shown in Fig.10 to Fig.12, there ~ are provided a hot water circulating pump P, a filter 43 for filter~ng - the hot water which is circulated by the pump P, a p~p driving ~otor M
for driving the pump P, and a controller C for controlling the operation of the pump driving motor M as well as the operat~ons of later-described nozzle valve actuating motors M1, bubble volume ad~usting , valve actuating motors MZ and a motor-driven three-wqy valve 45.
The functional unit 9 and the inside construction thereof are described in detail later in conJunction with Flg.10 to Fig.12.
Between the c1rculating pump P and the whirlpool bath P~ there ~s disposed a hot water circulation path D as shown ~n Fig.1 and Fi$
The hot water circulation path D is composed 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 p~pe 11 for feeding hot ~ater from the circulating pump P to the inside of the bathtub body 1.

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As shown in Fig.3, one end of the hot water suction pipe 10 ~s ; connected to a suction port lm which is open in a lower part of the bathtub body 1, and the other end thereof is connected to a suction port of the circulating pump P for the suction of hot water into the .

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200~3 circulating pwmp P. On the other hand, the hot wab~r forced-feed plpe 11 is connected at one end thereof to a d~scharge port of the , circulating pump P and it has opposite end portions connected to the 'blow~off nozzles 2,3,~
" The suction port lm is provided ~n a position low~r than the leg-.
and back-side blow~off nozzles 2,3.
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The suction port lm is expla;ned in detail laber in vlew of Fig.8c and Fig.8d. ~' Between the circulating pump drivlng motor M and the controller ~, !.
there is disposed an inverter E, as shown in Fig.3. The number of revolutions of the circulating pump P ~s controlled by varying the output frequency of the inverter E, whereby the change of the number of revolutions of the pump P which corres p nds to the change of blow-off volume and pressure of hot water can be done smoothly and with ~i certainty.
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;,'','t As shown in Fig. 3, moreover, a pressure sensor 48 for detecting ... .
the flow pressure of hot water being fed under pressurs through the hot `;water forced-feed pipe 11 is mGunteJ hlfway of the pipe 11~ The ~ t `~of detection from the pressure sensor 48 is fed to ths controlle~C, ~which in turn controls the volume of pressu m of hot water to be b~own `~off from the no~zles 2~3,4 by chang~ng the number of re wlutlon of ths .~ ~pump driving motor M and the degree of openlng or that of clos~n~ of ~;each of those no~zles 2,3,A
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~The pressure sensor 4B also serves as a level sensor for dbtect~ng ;.the level of hot water in the h thtub body 1 when the circulat~ng ~ P

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2 0 0 ~ 9 ~ 3 is not operabed. Namely, the whirlpool h th A being considered aboue is constructed such that, when the hot water lev~l is found to b~ below a predetenmined certain level by the us3 of the pressure sensor 48 wh~eh 't~'works as a level sensor~ blow operation, freeze proofing operatlon, filter washing operation and automatic filter washing operation whlch are started by the controller C as described later are not yet started.

''t'' A hot water temperature sensor T for detecting~the temperature of hot water being fed under pressure through the hot water h rced-feed pipe 11 is mounted ln a halfway position of the pipe 11, as shown in Fig.3. The result of detection from the temperature sensor T is fed to ,........ .
the controller C, wh~ch in turn controls the pump driving mot,or M and the blow-off nozzles 2,3,A
When the hot water temperature fs 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 washing operation and automatic f~lter 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 pnedetermined oe rta~n levels, the later-described blow operation, freeze proofing operat~on, filter washing operation and automatic filter washing operation by the controller C are not started .
As shown in Figs.l~ 4, 9, 9a and 9b, 2 plurality of alr intake ;:
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2 0 0 ~ 9~3 pipes 12 ar~ disposed b~tween the alr ~ntake portion 5 and~ths blow off nozzles 2,3,A From halfway portions of the air ~n h ke pipes 12, there are formed air suction pipes 12a,12b,12c toward the blow-off nozzles 2,3,~ The ends of th~ air suction pipes 12a,12b,12c are connec W to ; the nozzles 2,3,4 respectively.
- Th~ alr which has be~n taken in from the air intake portion S ~s ... .
introduced into the blow-off nozzles 2,3,4 through the air suction pipes 12a,12b,12c of the air intake pipe 12 by utilizing a negative pressure generated at the time of blow-off of hot water~ffrom the no zles 2,3,4 whereby air-mixed bubbling hot wat~r can be blown off into the bathbub body 1 ~rom those nozzles 2,3,A
In the vicini~y of the bathtub body 1, there is disposed an operating parel 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 operatin~ panel 6 will be described later.
As shown in Fig.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-described remote controller 3Cl In the above construction, the gist of the present ~ ~ on resides in that the degree of opening and that of closing of ~ of th~
leg-, back- and belly-side blow-off nozzles 2,3,4 whose blow-off voluTes can be varied auto~atically, and the number of revolutions of the circulat~ng pump P is varied by employing an inverter between the c~ruulating pump P and a power source and the lnverter is contorlled by ~ . .

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2 0 0 ~ 9;~3 the controller C to obtain various blow-o ff modes tm~ld blow, spot blow, pulse btow, wavs blow, cycle blow, and program blow) as will be described ~n detail later ~n order to fully satisfy various likings of bath~ng persons.
, j , In th~s embod~ment, howsver, for obta~n~ng var~ous blow-off modes, the degr~e of open~ng and that of closing of blow-o ff nozzles 2,3,4 and v the number of revolut~ons of the c~rculating pump P are varied.
In this embodimen~ the blow strength can be var~ed by oontroll~ng the number of revolut~ons of the circulating pump P, and further in that var~ous blow-off positions can be selected so that hot water jets of a desir~d strength can be appl~ed to des~red portions of the bath~ng - person's body to ob h in a sufficient massaging effect induced by the - ; hot waber Jets.
Particularly, ~n this embodiment, besides the inv~rter which ~s provided for controll~ng the circulating pump P, an electricity ~nsulat~on means is provided for assuring the maximum degree of the safety of a hther tak~ng a bath .' ) Descript~on of the Construction of Uar~ous Port~ons Descr~ption of the Construct~on of Blow-off Nozzles . . .~ . . .
The leg-, back- and bel1y-s~de blow-off nozzles 2,3~4 are automatic blow-off volume changeable nozzles of the same construction ~n wh~ch , .. .
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the blow-off volume and pressure of hot water can be changed autoratically.
The structure of a leg-side blow~off nozzle 2 will be descr~d below with refer~nce to F~gs. 5 to a ;,, The leg-slde blow-off nozzle 2 ~s constructed as follows.
,,, A cylindrical nozzle cas~ng 20 Is connected to a leg-side blow~off nozzle connection port lg of the bathtub body 1 In a cant~levered fonm . ;, .
outside the bathtub body 1 as shown in Fig.5. ~f The interior of the nozzle casing ao ~s composed of a hot-water-jet fonming portion ~ or a turbulent-hot-water-flow forminy portion) 50 for fonming the hot-waiter supplied into the nozzle cas~ng 20 from the hot water forced-feed pipe 11 into a hot-water-Jet or a turbulent-hot water-flow; an air mixing portion 70 communicating wlth the alr intake portion 5 through the air int~ke pipe 12 and functioning to m~x air into th~ hot-water jet fed from the hot-waiter-jet fonm~ng portion 5D; and a throat portion 59 wh~ch dec~des the blow~off direct~on of air-n~xed bubbllng hot water blown off from the throat port~on 59 toward the interior of the h thtub body 1.
As shown in Fig. 5~ the front end of the nozzle cais~ng ZO is connected in a watertight manner to the leg-s~d~ blow-off nozzl~
connection port lg whlch ~s circular and is open in a lowsr part of the front wall of the bathtub body 1, while the rear end thereof is ., .~-. .extended backwards substantially horizontally.
'i. Numeral lh denotes a ring-shaped packing having the outer ,. circumferential portion thereof snugly and water~tightly fitted ~n th~

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connection port lg along the peripheral edge of the same port lg;
numeral li denotes a nozzle mounting sleeve which has an ~nlargad-flange portion lJ at one end thereof and an outer male threided portion lk on the other end thereof. The enlarged-flange portion U ~s abutted to the ; front end surface of the ring-shaped packing lh while the outer male threaded portion lk is meshed to an inner threaded portion lp so as to ~ fixedly mount the nozzle 2 on the side wall of the bathtub body 1.
; Numeral aoc in Fig.6 and Fig.7 denotes a forced-f~d pipe connect~ng portion to which the hot water forced-feed pipe 11 is connected replaceably. The arrow n indicates a hot water inflow directionb Nwmeral 26 denotes a decorative cover havlng a front end portion 26b which covers both the front end of the nozzle casing 20 and the enlarged-flange portion lj of the nozzle nounting sleeNe 1i.
And a later-described throat fixing member 25 is fixed by the rear end of the decorative cover Z6. On the outer per~pheral surface of the decorative cover 26 which is cylindrical as a whole, there is formed an outer threaded portion 26a, which is threadedly engaged d~sengageably with an internal threaded portion 20J forTed on the inner perlpheral surface of the front end portion of the nozzle cas~ng 2C~
; The throat portion 59 is composed of a throat 24~ a throat f~xing r~-, member 25 which supports the throat 24 ln a tiltable manner, and a ~- front portion of a valve seat fonming cylindrical body 21. Nuneral 24a ~; denotes a throat base having a spherical outer per~pheral surface;
numerals 25a and 21c denote throat supporting sur h ces formed on the inner periphery of the throat fixing member 25 and t h t of the valve .
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seat froming cylindrical body 21, respect~vely~ t~ support the throat base Z4a stidably; and numeral 24b denotes a throat tip which Is ; cylindrical and whose outside dlameter ~s smaller than that of the throat base 24a.
The tiltlng angle of the throat tlp 24b ~s manually adJustable ~n ;-'''?, the vertical and horlzontal directions about the base 24a.
Besides, the throat 24 can be stopped at any desired tilted angle i by a predetermined certain sliding reslstance exe~rted from the the - throat supportiny surfaces 25a, 21c on the hse 24a of the throat 24L
The reference mark S denotes a space for throat tilting h rmed between the outer peripheral surface of the throat tip 24b and the ~nner perlpheral surface of the decorative cover 26.
The throat fixing member 25 is fitted in the front por~on of the ~-;, nozzle casing 20 through a posltloning groove formed ~n the ~nner ; ; p~ripheral surface of the caslng front portion, and ~ts front face 25b ,~.,, ,~t,';" I is fixed to the rear end of the decorative oover 26 by means of a f~x~ng ring 2a ` Further, its throat supporting surface 25a formed on th~ ~ r ~`' periphery supports the outer peripheral surfa oe of the front portlon of the throat hse 24a slidably.
The valve seat formlng cyl~ndr~cal body 21 is Inserted ~ntojthe oentral portion of the nozzle casing 20 removably from the front-end ; opening lg of the nozzle casing 20 so that lts rear end face ~s positioned in the vicin~ty of the forced-feed p~pe connectlny portlon ~ -:
": aoc, and a convex stepped portion 21b formed on the outer peripheral . .

1 9 ~:

2 0 0 ~ 9;~3 surface of the front portion of th~ cyllndrical body 21 is enga~ed with a concave stepped portion 2Di fonmed in the inner peripheral surface of the nozzle casing 20 to prevent a backward slide of the cyl~ndrical body 21.
The throat base 24a is fitted ~n the front portion of the valve seat fonming cylindrical body 21 In contact with the throat supporting surface 21c fonmed on the inner peripheral surface of the said front portion. In thls state, a forward slide of the ~alve seat forming cylindrical body 21 is prevented by the throat base 24a whose forward slide is pr~vented by the throat fixing menber 25.
The hot-water jet fonming portion 50 is composed of a valve seat 21a which defines interiorly a hot-water jet fonming path 27; a blow~off volume adjusting valve element 22 which comes into contact and m~ves out of contact with the valve seat 21a to adJust the degree of open~ng and that of closing of the hot water Jet fonming path 27 (that ~s, adJust the blow-off volume and pressure of blowr~off hot water); a nozzle valve actuating motor Ml for actuating the blow~off volume adJusting valve element 22; and a rear wall formin~ plat~ Zg.
In Figs. 6 and 7, the numeral 21d denotes an air ~nllow path fonmed annularly along the outer peripheral surface of the valve seat form~ng cylindrical body 21; and numerals 21e, 21f ,represent a~r inlet open~ngs ~ormed 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 o~ the valve seat forming cylindrical body 21 and the air in h ke pipe connecting port~on 20b are . .
..;.
,, ~. ~., . ,-,; ., 2()0 ~ 3 communicated wlth each other through the air ~nlet openings 21e, Z1f to form the air mixing portion 70 within th~ cylindrical body 21. The reference mark m indicates an air in~low directior~
According to the construction of the nozzle val~s actuating motor Ml shown in Fig.S and Fig.~ a cyl1ndrlcal motor cas~ng 23 is attached to the rear wall fonming pla$e 29 removably; a cylindrical coil 23a is mounted within the motor casing 23 coaxially with the no zle caslng 20~
a cylindrical magnet 23b is disposed inside the coiPf23a, which magnet can be rotated forward and reverse by energi~ing the coil 23a; a cylindrical rotor nut 23c is mounted in the interior of the magnet 23b concentrically and integrally, which rotor nut 23c is Journalled rotatably in bearings 23e; and a valve-element supporting rod 23d 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 sl~dable forward and backward axlally.
Further, a spiral rotor nut-side ball groove 23k ;s fonmed in the inner peripheral surface of the rotor nut 23c~ while in the outer peripheral surface of the valvc element support~ng rod 23d~ thers is fonmed a spiral rod-side ball groove 23m ~n the saD d~nect~on as the rotor nut-side ~all groove 23k~ and a plural~t~ of balls 23n are:
interposed for rolling between the opposed rotor nut-s~do hll groove 23k and rod-side ball groove 23m. Numeral 23g denotes a rotation . ~ .
.~ preventing member for preventing the valve supporting rod 23d from.. ; rotating boghther with the rotor nut 23c~ thus oonverting the rotating :~ movement of the rotor nut 23c to the reclprocat~ng l~near movement of '.', ', ` .

" .
''1 .. ~, . .

~ ~ .

2 0 0 ~ 9;~3 the valve-element supporting rod 23d.
On the rear end of the valve-element supporting rDd 23d, there i5 mounted a valve operation checking sensor 23f for debecting the norral operation of the nozzle valve actuat~ng motDr M1. Namely, if the sensor 23f generates an output slgnal, this Implies that, with the actlvatlon of the motor M1, the valve-element supporting rod 23d and the valve element 22 are retracted from the reference posltion ( full valve closed position ) so as to open the the hot water j~t fonmlng path Z7.
In other words, during the blow operation, if the valve operation checking sensor 23f generates no output signal, ~t implles that the no zle valve actuating motor t~l is in trouble.
The sensor 23f is composed of a position ~etectlng Hall elelment 23i and a position detecting magnet 23j attached to the valve supporting rod 23d in a rear end position opposed to the Hall element 23î.
The degree of opening of the hot water Jet forming path 27 corresponds to the movement of the valve-element support~ng r~d 23d, which, in turn is proportional to the number of pulses (rotational angle) from the reference position t full valve-closed posit~on of the nozzle valve actuating motor Ml~. Accordingly, such dbgree of openlng of the hot water Jet forming path 27 is accurately and flnely adJusted by controlling the no~zle val w actuating motor Ml by the controller C

As shown in Fig.5, an electrlcal conection for the nozzle valve actuating m~tor M1 substantially compr~ses an edge connector 23p and 23q, a flexible flat cable 2~r and a sheath protected cable Z~s.

, ;`

, V ~ r~

2 0 0 ~ 9;~3 The edge connector 23p ~s made of a sochet 23t wh1ch i5 oonnected to the flex~ble flat cable 23r and a plug 23u wh~ch is one end removably inserted into the socket 2~t and the other end connecb0d to ;; the coil 23a of the nozzle valve actuating motor Ml.
In the nozzle valve actuating motor Ml of the above construction, the rotor nut 23c ls rotated to~ether with the magnet 23b by energ~zing the coil 23a, and the valve supporting rod 23d is moved forward or ~ackward interlockedly with the rotat10n of the rotdr nut 23c, whereb~
the blow-off volume adJusting valve ele~ent 22 mounted on the front e~d of the valve supporting rod 23d is moved into contact with or away from : the valve seat 21a to adjust the blcw-off volume an~ pressure of hot water into the bathtub body 1.
~ As to the degree of op~ning or that of closing of the blow-o ff w: volume adjusting valve element Z2, the result of detection of the referen oe position perfon~ed by the valve operat10n check1ng sensor 23f is fed to the controller ~ which, in turn, controls the energ~at10n 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 volume and pressure of the hot water to be blo~n off int~ th~ hthtub body 1.
The nozzle valve actuating motor Ml 1s not spec1ally 11m{ted 1f only it can move the blow-off wlume adjusting v?lve element 2Z
: ~ steplessly at a very small distance to make a fine adJùsbment of the volwme and pressure of hot water to be blown off. There may be ussd a - piezoelectric actuator. Numeral 40 denotes a bellows-lihs watsr-proof cover fonmed integrally with the blow-off volume adJusting valve element ... ; .
... .
s ..

.. ` `
`} .
: - ~ 3 -200~i9~3 .. .

22.
The r~ar wall of the nozzle cas~ng Z0 is enlarged so as to form a motor portion 20p which, along with a cover lid 20r, defines a motor portion storlng spaoe 20q in whlch a motor portlon of the nozzle valve " actuating motor Ml i s ~nstal 1 ed.
;; Numeral 29a and 29b denotes packi ngs provi ded on the cincumferential surface of the rear wall forming plate 29, while nuneral 29c denotes a pack;ng provided on the circumferent~l surface of the valve seat fonning cylindrical body 21.
Nwr~ral 23v is a water leakage sensor which is mounted on a prlnted circuit 23w. Upcn detecting the presenoe of water in.the motor portion i storing space 20q, the controller C stops the activation of the valv~
element actuating motor Ml.
Due to such construction, the accident that the electricity leaks to the bather from the no~le valve actuating motor Ml to the hot water filled in the interior of the hthtub body 1 can be prevented.
": ' Furth~rmore, as shown in Fig.5, the outs~de d~ameter of th~ motor casing 23 is made smaller than the ins~de diamet~r of`a re ~ d - opening 20k of the nozzle casing 2Q
,.~ Due to su~h construction, the nozzle valve actuat~ng motor ~ ~
. be inserted Into the nozzle casing 20 removably from the front~end:
., opening of the latter. Namely, the leg-side blow~o ff noz~le;2 can be~ -disassembled from the interior of ths bathtub body 1.
In disassembling operatlon, the decorat~ve cover 26 ~s first removed and a nozzle mounting sleeve li is removed. Subsequently, th~

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,~
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2 0 0 ~ 9~3 fixing ring 2~ the throat f~xing menber 25, the throat 24 and the val~e seat forming cyl~ndrical body 21 are removed. Finally, th~ no zle valve . actuating motor M1 is removed together with the rear wall 29 while ;, assuring the electrlcal connectlon due to the elongated flex~ble flat cable 23r, thus fac~litating the maintenance of the no~zle valve actuating motor Ml.
: Also, the back-and belly-s~de blow-off no zles 3, 4 are of the same construction as that of the blow~off nozzle 2 describ~d above to penmit , _/
'~,L

." ' / , .

/
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'':", , /
;''"' ' ' / ' ' ~
l /
,:' .' , :";' ,; , /
. ' /
', '; /
~ '"' ~
S
' ' ' .; ,~ i ' .. . .

2 0 0 ~ 9 3 3 adjustment of the volun~ and pressure of hot water to be blown off.
Adjusbment of the blow-o ff nozzles 2,3,4 can bs performed by the operatlng panel 6 or the wireless remote controller 30 as w~ll be descr~bed later.
There are two kinds of using patterns of the s~x lag-, back and belly-side blow-off nozzles 2, 3, 4 descr~bed aboveb Accord~ng to one pattern, hot water is blown off ~rom all of the six nozzles 2,~ 4 at a time, while according to the other pattern, one or b~6 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~of~ nozzle use pattern chan~e-over sw~tch on the operating panel 6 or of the wireless remote controller 3Cl The ~ollowing description is now provided about Inlt~al~z~ng , " .
(adJusting) the no zle valve actuatin~ motor Ml in the blow-off nozzles 2,3,4~
When the power Is turned ON (when the plug is inserted):
, .,,. ~
The nozzle valve~ actuating motor Ml is dr~ven ~n a clos~n~
direction of the blow-off volume adJusting valve element Z2~for C~5~`
second at a normal voltage te g. 12U~, 50 pps.
The nozzle valve actuating motor Ml is dr~ven ~n a clos~ng ~; direction of the blow-off volume adJusting valve element 22 for 1.5 ~`~'!'~'.`' ~ second at a low voltage (e.g. 4V~, 200 pps.
u ..~
~ Then, in a completely closed position~ the motor Ml is allowed to ; step out for a oe rtain time (e.g. 2 seconds) to make in~t~al~ a tior~
~ The nozzle valve actuating motor Ml is driven at a nonmal voltage i. .
~, .~ , ~ ....... . .
~ -2 6-, ': . .

2(l0 ~ 9~3 te.g. 12V), 200 pps, to retreat the blow-off volume adJusting valve ele~ent 22 by 6 mm frcm the ~nit~alized, completely closed posltion.
Inltialization ~adjustment) can be done by operating the nozzle valve actuatlng motor M1 llke the above ~ to 6~. The numerical - values mentioned above are examples and constitute no l~mltat~on.
;~ By such initiali~atlon (adjus~ment) of the nozzle valve actuating motor M1, there are obba~ned the following effects.
-- a) By the above operation ~, it is possi~le to remove oil sticking to the sealing portion and ensure a subsequent smooth operation of the motor M1.
b) By the above operation ~ the blow-off volwme adJust~ng valve .,~., t element 22 can be brought into abutment with the valve seat 2~a at a relatively low urging force, so it ~s possible to prevent damage, etc.
of the valve element 22 and the valve seat 21a.
c) 8y the above operat~on ~ the blow-off volwme adJust~ng vatve element 22 is retreated and opened 6 mm from the completely closed position, thereby permitting smooth feed and drain of hot waber.
Further, at the W me of start of a later-described blow~ ~ W on, the above openations ~ and ~ of the nozzle valv~ actuat1ng motor M1 are performed, whereby the mild blow as an lnitializlng blow can be effected smoothly.
~ In Fig.~a, the manner of mixing air into t h hot water flow w~th a conventinal blow~off nozzle 10CD is shown. As can b~ readily undbrstood '6 fram the draw~ng, the air passes through the blow~off nozzle 1000 along - the upper inner surface of thereof so that the hot water blown off fron -' ' ' .
, ..

. ` --2 7 -.' .

200~9~3 the blow-off nozzle 1000 conta~ns a small amount of a~r therein resulting in the poor massaging effec~
According to the blow-off nozzle 2 of the present ~nvent~ona due to the provision of the hot-water Jet path 27 and the rec~procat~ng valve element 22, a vigorous hot-water Jet flow or the turbulent hot-water flow is produced and the air from the air ~ntake portion 5 is sufficiently mixed to the hot-water Jet flow whereby the hot wab~r flow blown off from the blow-off nozzle 2 contains a la~ge amount of air therein resulting in the extremely effect1ve massaging effect ~nclud~ng stimulating effect and relaxing ef~ect.

t~ -2 ) Descript10n of the Construction of Hot Water Suct~on Port .::
The construction of a suction port ~itt1ng 350 which ~s attached to ~ the suctlon port lm is descr~bed hsre~na~ter.
.~ As shown in F~gs. 8c, 8d and Be, the front end o~ a cyl~dr~cal sleeve 351 is connected 1n a watertight manner bo the suct~on port ln of the h thtub body 1 which ~s circular and 1s open ~n a low3r.p~rt o~ tha side wall of the bathtub b~dy 1, whll~ t~e rear end thereoF 1 ~ d . backwards subshnt~ally horizontally.
:; Numeral 352 Indicates a ring-shaped pack~ng hav~ng the outer circumferential portion thereof snugly and water-t~ghtly f~tted ~n th~
suction port lm along the per1pheral edgs of the same port 1n~ Numsral .. 353 indicates a sleeve mounting collar wh~ch has an enlarged flange portion 354 at one end thereof and an outer male threaded port~on 355 on , .

2 0~ 9~3 the other end thereof. The enlarged-flange portion 354 ~s abutted to the front end surface of the rin~-shaped pack~ng 352 while the outer male threaded portion 355 is meshed to an ~rner threaded portlon 356 of the cyllndrical sleeve 351 so as to f~xedly mount the suctlon port fitting 350 to the side wall of the bathtub body 1 ~n a cant~lever ~i manner.
Numeral 357 indicates a suct~on-pipe connecting port~on of the cylindrical sleeve 351 to which one end of the hot wa~er suction p1pe 10 ls connected.
- In the cyllndrical sleeve 351, an annular filter element 358 is provided so as to prevent dust such as human hair from entering into - the circulating pump P whereby the occurrence of trouble on the circulating punp P c~n be effectively prevented.
The filter element 358 is fi'xedly and stably attached to the ~ns~de of the cylidrical sleeve 351 by means of a filter support 359 wh~ch has a proximal end fixedly mounted on the lnner wall of th~ cyllndr1cal sleeve 351.
For enabling a quick and f~rm mount~ng and replaoemeot of the filter element 358 to the filter support 359, a thread~d shaft 360 ~s threaded into a female threaded hole 361 formed ln the f~lter support .i f 359 and an annnular protrusion 362 and an annular groove 363 are formed on the outer surface thereof and at the midst portion thereof while an annular groove 364 is fonmed in the ~nnèr surface of th filter support 359 at a position correspondent to the grcove 363 and an 0-r~ng 365 is accommodated in a space defined by two grooves 363 and 364.
.. , ~ .

. ~
. --2 9 200~9~3 Furthenmore, the suct~on port fltting 350 ls also prDvidbd wlth a decorative cover 366 and such cov~r 366 has the central portlon th~rsof ; connected to the head sur~ace of the threaded shaft 3ÇC~
As shown in Fig. &, such decorative cover 366 is prov~d4d with a ; plurallty of arcuate openings ~67 for preventlbg the dust of :;. considerable slze from entering into the hot wabbr clrculat~on path D.
... .
Numeral ~68 indicates a palr of auxiliary suctfl~nrplpe connecting : portions of the cylindrical sleeve 351 which are usually closed by plugs or lids and opened ~n case the hot water suction pipe 10 must be led to the hot water suction port lm fron dlfferent dlrection.

3 ~ Descrlption of the Construction of Air Intake Port~on .
The construction of the alr intake port~on S wlll be d~scr~bed , , .
,,:,.' bel~w.
. ~- . . .
As shown in Figs. 9, 9a and 9b, tha alr Intake portlon 5 ~j mountsd on the marginal flange-like portlon la of the bath~tub body L~
The intake portion S is composed of a rectangular b~a~r intake body 92 having an open top and contaln~ng a plural~ty of silencers 92a,92b ~n two rows; a cover 82 ha~lng an a~r ~ntabe por~ 82a ; fonmed outside and covering the top open~ng of the a~r ~ntake boqy 92; a . .
.;. - plurality of a~r ~ntake p~pe connect~ng port~ons E3a, 83b, E3c hav~ng - .: upper ends thereof connected to the s~lencers 92b and lower ends , I connected to the a~r suct~on p~pes 12a, 12b, 12c; and a plural~ b of a~r . . i ,. , ,` ' ~ `,~

2 0 0 ~ 3 volume adjusting valves 87a, 87b, 87c disposed in communication paths which bridge between the silencers 92b and the air intake pipe connecting portions 83a, 83b, 83c to open and close the above ccmmunicat~on paths.
Due to such construction, a finely regulated amount of air can be fed to thei blow-off nozles 2,3,4 through the air suction pipes 12a,12b and 12c.
Each air volume adjusting valve 87a, 87b, 87~ is composed of a cylindrical valve body ~8 having an upper edge which def~nes an open~ng 88a; an air volume adjusting valve actuating motor M2 mounted to the bottom o~ the cylindrical valve body 8B; a valve element supporting rod 89 connected to the motor M2; and a valve element 90 mounted to the front end of the rod 89 and capable of moving into and out of con h ct with a valve seat 88b formed at the upper edge of the vatve body ~B.
Numeral B8d denotes a communicatlon opening formed ~n the per~pheral wall of the valve body E~
The air volume a~justing valve actuating motor M2 ~s of a linear stepping motor structure which is the same as the structure of the nozzle valve actuating motor M1, and it can be controlled by the controller C as will be described later.
;~
~: In this embod~ment~ however~ there ~s not perfonmed an adJustment ~ . of the air volume through the valve element 90 by driving the motor M2 :. during the blow operation, but there is perfonmed the blow operatlon In ~.: . a preset air voluneb ... .
. Numerals 93a,93b denote a pair of upper and lower sllencer-. .

.: .

2 0 0 ~ 9~3 supporting plates dlsposed horizontally in two rows within the air intake bo~y 92 to support the silenc0rs 92a,92b. A plurality of communication holes 94a,94b which are fonmed in silencers 92a,92b of the upper row are respectively aligned w~th a plurallty of commun~cat~on holes 94a,94b which are formed in silencers 92a,92b of the lower row.
; The reference mark r indicates an air ~nflow direction~
Furthermore, as can be understood from Figs. 9, 9a and 9b, the operationg panel 6 is incorporated into the cover ~2~and when an panel CGW r 6a is opened, a panel switching surface 6b is readily accessible thus facilitating the blow off operation together with a remote controller 30 which will be described later in dehils.

~m--4 ) ~escript~on of Functinal Unit . .
The construction of the functional unit 9 is hereinafter expla1ned !` '. ' ;~ in view of Fig.10, Fig.11 and Fig.12.
... . .
~; The functional unit 9 ~ncludes a rectan~ular box-shaped us~ng 60 which is made of a upper plate 60a, a bottom frame 60b, a p~r of std~
plates 60c,60d, a front plate 60e and a rear plate 6Cf.
In the inner space defined within the functional unit 9, a ~ virtually horizDntal shelf 61 made of three frame members 61a,61b and .1;; 61c is bridged between the side plates 60c,60d defin~ng an upper storing spa oe 62 and a lower sbor~ng spaoe 63~ `
;i In the upper spa oe 62, a plurallty of slectrlc devi oes are dlsposed , ;~ wh~le, ln the lower space 63, a plural~ty of substantlally non electr~c ,.. :
. " ", , , -3 2- :

2 0 0 ~ 9~3 devices are disposed.
Namely, a leakege breaker 64 and an insulating trans~onmer 65 are mounted on the frame member 61a, a power source transformer 66 and a noise filter 67 are mounted on the frame member 61b and the control un~t C and an inverter E are mounted on the frame member 61c.
On the bottom frame 60b, the clrcul~t~ng pum,p P pr~vided with a cold-proofing heater and the filter 43 for cleaning hot water are mounted on the bottDm frame 60b.
Due to such construction, the electrical insulation between the electric devices and non-electric devi oes are reliably achieved whereby theleakege of electricity fron electric devi oes to the hot water in the . .--. .
bathtub body 1 by way of non-electric devices can be compeletely prevented assuring the complete safety of the bather.
Referring to other construction ln the functional unit 9, a plurality of rubber connections 6B are prov~ded at Junctions of var~ous pipings in the ~untional unit 9.
For providing a ventulation of the functinal un~t 9, a gallery 69 are provided on both side plates 60c,6Dd of the casfng 6C~

(m -5 ) Description of Circulating Pump - ;:
;,.. .
The construction of the circulating pump P will b bscribed below.

The circulating pump P has such a construct10n as shown ln F1g.13.
~ An upper impeller chamber 33 and a lower impeller chamber 34 are .~`.'.

,;, ~ '.'~ ' . .
( -200t~9~3 conmmicated with each other through a comnunication path 32d in a pump casir~ 3Z. The lower impeller chamber 34 is in comnunlcation with the hot water suction pipe 10 through a hot water suction path 3Za formed on one slde of the lower portion o~ the pwnp casing 32, also ~th the hot water force~feed pipe 11 through a hot water forced-feed path 32b fonned on the other side of the lower portion of the pump caslng 32, and further with one end of an incoming pipe 41 of the filber 43, which will be descri~ed later, through a filtering for~bd-feed path 32c formed on one side of the upper impeller chamber 33. N~meral 32e denotes a suction port; nwneral 32f a lower discharge port; numeral 32g an upper discharge port; zl indicates a circulation flow direction; and zZ indicates a filtration flow direction.
An irnpeller shaft 35 extends vertically throu~h the oenters of the upper and lower impeller chambers 33, 34~ and upper and lower impellers : ", - 33a, 34a are mounted on the impeller shaft 35 coaxially wlthin the upper and lower impeller chambers 33, 34~ respectively. 1~ ~mpeller shaft 35 being interlocked with a drive shaft 39 of the punp driving motor M
which is mounted on the pump casing 32 integrally in a watert~ght nanner. Numeral 36 denotes a sealing mem~er whlch ensùrQs ` !
watertightness of the int~rior of the pUlp casing 3æ
To the upper impeller chamber 33 of the clrculating pump P is connected filter 43 through the inccming pip~ 41 an~ a return pipe 42, .. , ~. . .
as shown in Fig.13a. A portion of the hot water whlch has been sucked ~; into the lower impeller chanber 34 is fed to the filter 43 through the incaning pipe 41 connected to the upper discharge port 32g of the upper ~1 , .
`~ ' .
..

.,,,~ ,. :

~ -34 . ~

2 0 0 & 9;~3 impeller chamber 33, then the hot water filtered by the f~lter 43 ls fed to the h~t water forced-feed pipe 11 through the return p~pe 42 and joined to the hot water being fed forcibly into the pipe 11 from the lower discharge port 32f of the lower Impeller chamber 34.
Under the above construction, upon rotation of the upper ~mpeller 33a, the hot water in the bathtub body 1 ~s 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 1C~ then fe~ forcibly from 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 foreed-feed pipe 11.
,....
In this case, a portion of hot water which entered the lower impeller chamber 34 passes through the co~municat~on path 32d and enters the upper impeller chamber 33, then passes through the f~lter~ng forced-feed path 32c, further through the ~ncomlng p~pe 41 fro~ the ~: upper dlscharge port 33a, and is fe4d to the filter 43h The hot water threrby filtered is fed ~nto the hot water forced-feed p~pe 11 through the return pipe 42.
` Thus, the hot water which is circulated through the hot water circulation path by means of the circulating pamp P hav~ng upper and lower impellers 33a, 34a is partially filtered by the filter 43~
.... .
~ On the outer periphery of the circulat~ng pump P there is provided . .
. a heater H1 for a freeze proofing pump. The heater H1 ~s controlled by -~ the controller C in accordance w~th the result of detection of the temperature of the hot water ~n the hot water forced-feed pipe 11 ,".s.-.~ .
i,.,~j.,,,t ; ~ ~

~ .:

.

2 0 0~9~3 obtained by th hot water temperature sensor T, whereby the freezing of the hot waber in the circulating pump P can be prevented.
The pump driving motor M is a three-phase 1nduction type provided with a fan for cooling the motor M. Numeral 39a denotes a rotor mounted to the outer per1pheral surface of the drive shaft 39 of the ;pump driving motor M; numeral 39b denotes a fixed magnetic pole attached to the inner peripheral surface of a motcr casing 38 in an inside-outsi~e opposed state with respect to the rot~r 39a; and numeral 39c denotes a cooling fan.
- The inverter E, whlch is disposed between th~ pump driving motor M
and an output interface 52, performs a conversion processlng for the input frequ~ncy fed from a commercial AC supply, in accordance wnth a program stored in a memory 53 of the controller ~ as w~ll be described later. Mbre specifically, the inverter E conver*s the powsr from an AC
10oV power supply into a three-phase aoov power and outputs the latter.
~,,.
,..:
~;,A~iThen, the number of revolutions of the pump driving motor M ~s controlled in proportion to the output frequ~ncy ~hlch has~gon~ throqgh the conversion processing in the inverter E to thereby control the number of revolutions of the circulating pump P, thereby pern~tt1ng the volwme and pressure of the hot water from the blow~o ff nozzles 2, 3, 4 ,~to be changed in accordanoe wnth the aforementioned pn~uL
,,,A,,,In this way the number of revolutions of the circulating pump P can ;be controlled smoothly and oe rta~nly by the inver~er ~ As a result~
~;the following effects are ob hineKL

, . .
. ~,,*~ ~ .

'., .

2 0 0 ~ 9~3 ~ By suitably comblning the change in the number of revolutions of the circulating pump P made by the Inverter E with the opening and closing operations of the blow-off nozzles 2, 3, 4 it ls madb possible to change the blow-off mode variously acoording to likings of bathing persons and thus it is possible to satisfy various l~kings of bathlng persons.
~ The blow strength can be changed in several steps or steplessly according to likings of bathing persons by changfng 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 h thing persons.
~ Since the change in the number of revolutions of the circulating ..- .
pump P can be done smoothly by the inverter E together w~th the opening or closing operation of the blow~off nozzles 2, 3, 4~ it is poss~ble to effect the change from one blow-off mode to another and further the change of the blow strength in various blow-off modes smoothly and 510wly without giving any uncomfortable feeling to the person taking a bath.
~ Since the circulating pwmp P can be given a slow lead~ng-edge roh tion by the inverter E, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of an accident such as falling-down of the bathlng 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 lead~ng-edge . .
rotation by the inverter E, it is possible to prevent thè inconvenience that the pwmp P takes in air and races9 so a smooth blow~off of hot air can be ensured by the pump P.
.: .

.~,,`;, , .

2 0 0 ~ 9~3 Since the circulating pump P can be g~ven a slow leading edge rotation by the inverter E~ it is possible to reduce the discharge sound of air in pipes and so the reductlon of nolse can be atta~ne~
~ When the change of blow strength or the chan~e of blow~o~f mode ~s performed by changing the blow-off volume and pressure as ln this - embodimen~ wasteful electric power can be saved and so power savlng can ~ be attained.
- ~ Sinoe the circulating pwmp P can be reverse-rota~éd by the inverter - E, ;t is possible to remove foreign matters suoh as dust from pipes.

t~--6 ) Description of Filter The construction of the filter will be descr~bed below.
. As shown in Fig.13a, the filter 43 is composed of a filter body 43a ~ an acylic mesh 43b stretched in the lower port~on of the fllter body 43a, a filter med~um 43c provided on the mesh 43b, and a baffle 43d . ...
:~ attached to the inner surface of the upper wall of the f~lter body 43a.
~ .
One end of the incoming pipe 41 is connecbed to the ~ of ; the filter body 43a, while one end of the return p1pe 42 ~s oornected to the lower end of the filter body 43a, and hot water ls allowed to pass ~ from above the filter body 43a downwards through the filter ned~um 43c, ; whereby the hot water un be filtered.
~ . . .
. A filter heater H2 for freeze proofing is mounted to the outer . periphery of the f~lter 43 and it is controlled by the controller C

.. ~ .~ - .
, ~-.- , 2 0()~ 9 ~ 3 , .. . .
according to the result of detection of the temperature of the hot water ~n the hot water forced-~eed pipe 11 made by the hot water te~p~rature sensor T, whereby the freezing of the hot water ln the f~lter 43 can be prevented.
Further, halfway of the 1ncom1ng plpe 41, there 1s prov1ded the motor-driven three-way valve 45, and a drain pipe 46 ls connected to one end of the three-way valve 45, so that the incoming pipe 41 and the drain pipe 46 can be brought into communication with~éach other through the three-way valve 45.
By changing over the motor-driven three-way valve 45 to make communication between the incoming pipe 41 and the drain pipe 46 and rotating the upper and lower impellers 33a, 34a of the c~rculating pump P, a portion of hot water is passed through the return pipe 42 and then passed from the lower portion of the filter body 43a upwards through the filter medium 43c, thereby permitting wash~ng of the filter med~wm 43c.
The change-over operation of the motor-driven three way valve 45 can be ~one by the remote controller 30 which wlll be described later.

. ' .
~ 7 ) Description of Controller . . .
- The construction of the controller C will be descri~ed below.
- As shown in Fig.3, the controller ~ is composed of a m~croprocessor MPU, input/output lnterfaces 51, 52, a memory 53 compris~ng ROM and Ro~ and a timer SA
.`
t ~;,; ,.

. , .
_ - 3 9 -:

200~3 ,, ;, , .

. In the above construction, to the ~nput inter~ace 51~ there are connected the valve operation checklng sensor Z~f for detectlng the ~, ~ degree of opening and that of closlng of the blow-off volume adjustin~
~, valve 22; a valve opening checklng sensor 91 for checklng the openlng of "' the air volume adjusting valve 87a~87b~87c; the pressure sensor 48 for ;'~ detecting the water pressure in 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 ~ and the infrared nay sensor 30b for sensing a drive signal using infrared ray provided from the remote controller 30~
On the other hand, to t,he output interfaoe 52, there are connected later-described clock display portion 115 and hot water temperature ~, indicatir~ portion 116 on the operating par,el 6, the pwmp driving motor .'` M~ the no zle valve actuating motor M1, the alr volume adJus,t~,ng valve ; actuating motor M2, the pump heater H1, the fllter heater H2 and the motor-driven three-way valve 45. The pump driving motor M ~s connected ,. to the output interface 52 through the inuerter E.
, ~, .
In the memory 53, there is stored a drlve sequence praspram for ~ operating drive portions such as the motors M~ M1, M2 and the motor-i~ driven three-way valve 45 in accordance wlth output signals from the .. ~ above sensors and drive signals from the operating panel 6 or fro~ ths remote controller 3CL `' .~.............. i ~ .
,~ ,.
.~ .

~ . .

, 2 0 0 ~ 9~3 8 ) Description of Operating Panel The following description ~s now provided w~th reference to F~g.9, Flg.9a and Flg.9b about the operatlng pan~l 6 which 1s for manually transmitting driving outputs to the controller C.
The operat1ng panel 6 is, as previously described, incorporated in ~he cover 5a of the air intake port~on 5.
As readily understood from Fig. 9b, the opq~ating panel 6 is provided with an operations switch 1CX~ blow operat~on switches such as a mild blow switch 101, a finger-pressure blow switch 102, a pulse blow switch 103, a wave blow switch 104, a cycle blow sw~tch 105 and a ,. .
program blow switch 106, hot water blow strong- and weak-s1de switches 107, 1C~ blow-off nozzle use pattern change-over switches such as a h ck-s~de blow-ofP nozzle use pattern switch 111, a leg-s~de blow-off nozzle use pattern switch 112 and a belly-side blow-off nozzle use pattern switch 113, a timer switch 114, th~ clock display portion 115 which also serves as a timer display portion, the hot water bemperature indicating portion 116, a filter washing switch 117, a time setting switch 118 for making correction of the time dlsplayed on the clock display portion 115, an hour setting switch 119, and a minute setting - switch 1~
The later-described blow operation can be started by turning ON the operation switch 1CX~
Numeral 100a denotes a pilot lamp which goes on upon turning ON of the operation switch 100; numerals 101a, lOQa, 1C3a, lC4b4 106a and 106a :~`

, ;t~ .

. ''"' , ' ' 2~)0 ~ 9~3 denote blow operation switch lndication lamps; numerals 109a, 109b, lO9c, lO9d and 109e denote strength level indication lamps; nwmerals llla, 112a and 113a denote leg-, back- and belly-s~de indication lamps, respectively; numerals 121, 122 and 123 denote lamps which indicate selection patterns A~ a and C in later-described pulse blow, wave blow, cycly blow and program blow; numeral 117a denotes a filter washing indication lamp; and numeral 117b denotes a filter operation indication lamp.
The operating panel 6 is further provided w~th the infrared ray sensor 30b at one side end portion thereof as shown 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 predetermined wave length corresponding to the operated switch is emitted from an infrared ray radiating portion 30a provided in the rs~Dte controller 30 in accordance with a preset multi-frequency tone modulatlon system .. . .
(MFTM). The infrared ray thus emitted is detected by the ~nfrared ray sensor 30b and the detected signal is fed to the ~nput interfao~ 50 of the control un~t C, whereby a desired drive unit is operated ~n ., ~
accordance with a drive program read out from the memory 5æ
To the upper surface of the operating panel 6~ as descri b befiore, is att~ched the cover 125 which can be opened and closed and which ~;;, .
; oovers the other switches and indication lamps than the timer sw~tch 114~ clock display portion 115, hot water temperature indicating portlon 116, filter operation indicating lamp 117b and infrared ray sensor 30b.
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.. ~;~.' ,.

iu`~ ~ --4 ~--2 0 0~9~3 ~ urther, the infrared ray sensor 30b may be disposed at a place where it is easy for the sensor to sense in~rared ray other than on the operating parel 6.

i ,, .
(~ - 9 ) Descriptlon of Remote Controller .-, ;..
The following description is now provided about the remote control1er 30 which is for manually transmitting dri~lng outputs to the controller ~ in a bathing state separately from the operat~ng pannel 6.
~, As sh~l in Fig.14 and Fig.15a te Fig.15d, the remote controller 30 is constructed as follows. A partition wall 235 ls provlded withln a vertically long, rectangular box-like case 231 to deflne 1n an lsolated manner a substrate receiving chamber 336 for rece~vlng there~n a substrate 241 as a printed c~rcult ~oard and a battery re oe~v~ng chamber 237 for receiving therein a h ttery B in an ene~g~zed state.
In the upper end portion with~n the substrate receilvlng chamber 236 there is provided and infrared ray emitting portion 245 wh~ch is connected with the substrate 241, and in the upper port~on of the interior of the substrate receiving chamber 236, there ls prov~ded a blow state display portion 233 ln connectlon wlth the substrats 241.

Further, various operating sw~tches 234 of a membrane sw~tch type . . .
- are stuck on the lower-half surface portlon of the case 231 so that - they are in connection wlth the substrate 241. The whole of the rem~te . ~ .
: . .

.;~,, ~
~ --4 3--2(~0 ~ 9;~3 controller 30 is water-tigh~
The case 231 is formed using an acrylonitrlle-butadiene-styrene (ABS) resln to ensure rlgidity, strengt~ Impact reslstance and water-tightness. Numeral 233a denotes a view~ng wlndow plate made of an acrylic resin wh~ch is transparent so that -the blow state d~splay , .. . .
portion 233 can be seen from the exterior.
Since the operating switches 234 are menbrane switches, the remote controller 30 can be made thin, light in weight~and compact, the swltches can be arranged freely, and seal~ng ~s ensured. Those switches are each connected to the su~strate 241 through a flexible cable 234 as shown in Fig.15a.
In connection with the operating switches 234, the numeral 260 denotes an operation switch; numeral 261 denotes a mlld blow swltch;
nwmeral 262 denotes a finger-pr~ssure blow sw~tch; nwmeral 263 denotes a pulse blow sw~tch; numeral Z65 a waw blow sw~tch; numeral 266 a cycle blow switch; numeral 267 a program blow switch; numerals 26~ and 269 Jbnote hot water blow strong- and weak-side switches, respect~ely; and . . .
numerals 274, Z75 and 276 denote leg-, h ck- and belly-s~de blow-off nozzle use pattern switches, respect~ely.
In the blow state display portion 233, the nun~ral 431 denotes a blow-off node character indicating portion; numeral 432 denotes a wave blow indicating portion; numeral 432 denotes a wave blow ~nd~cat~ng portion; nwmera; 433 denotes a blow off poslt~on lndlcating portlon;
and numeral 43~ denotes a strength level lndicating port~on. The indicatin~ portions 431, 432, 433 and 434 each operate uslng l~quld ~.
, ~ .
- ~ 4 - .

200~3 crystal.
A concrete structure of the blow state display portion 233 and that of the operating switches 234 are the same as in the remote controller described in the foregoing 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 td ~orm the su~strate receiving chamber 236 and the bat~ery reoeiving chanber 237 on the upper and lower sid~s, respectively, within the case 231~ The chambers 236 and 237 are isolated from each other while ensuring wate~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 isolat0d from each other while ensuring water-tightness by bondlng the side edges of the partition wall 235 to the inner surface of the case 231 positlv~ly using an adhesive~
The entire interior of the substrate reoeiving chanber 236 nsy be - subjected to potting, that is, filled with a thermosettlng resin~ to impart inpact and vibration resistance thereto and ex~luds tl~ cause of .:~ moisture and corrosion.
By potting using an expandable pylyurethane ~sin it is possible to protect the interior of the remote controller ~0 and reduce the weight ;., thereof, and it is also possible to float the re~ote controller 30 on ~- ~ the hot ~ater surface.
-` Further, by partially supporting the substrate 241 with an expanded . .
polyurethane resin it is possible to protect the substrate Z41 without ...
. , ~;
, ~.. j . ~. ., , ,;. .
.
~ --4 5--2 0 0 ~ 9;~3 the provision of any special substrate supportlng nenber.
In thls way, even in the event the remote controller 30 should be dropped into the bath at the time of battery change, it is poss~ble tD
prevent the hot water which has entered the h tbery rece~v1ng chamber 237 from entering the substrate rece~ving chamber ~36. Also in the event of leakage of the battery fluid, it is possible to prevent the liquid from entering the substrate receiving chamber 236.
Within the substrate receiving chamber 236 ~he substrate 241 connected to the blow state display portion 233 and the operatlng switches 234 is supported in a suspended state by means of first and second projecting support pie oes 238, 23~ 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 prDjecting support pie oe 24D proJecting from an upper part of the rear wall 231b toward the surfa oe wall 231a. Between the projecting support pie oes 23~ Z40 and the substrate 241 there are disposed first and second packings Z42~ 243 as shock absorb~ng members~
The packings may be substituted by rubber springs, etc. Nwmeral 238' denotes a fixing bolt Further, an infrared ray emitting portion 245 for en~tting lnfrared ray toward the infrared ray sensing portion aog on the operat~ng panel ao6 is prDvided in the Inner upper portion of the substrate receiving ,; ., .
. chamber 236.
The infrared ray emitting portion 245 comprises a case 245d fonmed of an acrylic which permits infrared ray to pass therethrou~h and a to hl- of three light emitting diodes 245a, 245b, 245c as infrared ray .~,, ~.
. ,-,;, .

:
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2 0 0 ~ 3 emitters provided in oe ntral and left and right posit~ons w~thin the case 245d. The central light emitting diode 45a can ~mit Infrared ray forwards, while the left and rlght light emitting dfodes 245b~ 245c can emit infrared ray downward left- and rightwards~ resp~cti wly.
Further, from the infrared ray emltting portion 245 there are emitted pre~etermined code signals corresponding to the operating switches 23~ on the basis of a preset serial code emittlng signai.
The infrared ray thus emitted is detected b~ the infrared ray sensing portion 209, then the detected signal is fed to the imput interface, a, of the controller C, and a desired driv~ng unit is operated in accordance with a driving program read out from the memory, .
, . , Within the battery receiving chamber 237, there can be rece1ved a h ttery B which serves as a power source, and a lid 247 for openlng and closing is mounted to a battery open~ng 246 formed ~n the underslde of the case 23~. By opening and closing the lid 247, the battery B can be loaded and unloaded with respect to the battery receiving chamber 237.
The lid 247 is composed of a connection plate 247a of a large wldth capable of closing the ~attery opening 246 and a f~tting projection 247~ projecting from the inner surface of the connection plate 247a and which is to be fitted in the h ttery opening 24h The connection plate 247a is mounted removably with small bolts 249 to the underside of a lid receptacle 248 which def~nes the battery opening 2~6. Numeral 250 denotes a nut provided ~n the l~d receptacle ~- 24EL
,.;

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

,'. . . .

.

200&9~3 , The fitting projection 247b is fltted in the battery opening so that a peripheral surface Z47c thereof comes into contaet with the inrer peripheral surface of the lid receptacle 248. An 0-rlng mounting groove 247d is formed centrally in the peripheral surfaæ 247c, and an ~ring 251 is mounted therein. Further, a current conduct1ng plate 252 which turns conductive upon contact with the end face of the battery B
is attached to the end face of the fittlng proJection 247b.
Under the abow construction, by inserting the ~itting proJection 247b of the lid 247 into the lid receptacle 248 and mounting the connection plate 247a to the lid receptacle 248, the curr~nt conductlng plate 252 attached to the end face of the`fitting proJectlon 247b ~mes into contact with the end face of the battery 8 and can be turned conductive thsreby.
In this case, waterproofness of the lnterior of the battery rsceiving chamber 237 can be ensured by the 0-ring mounted to the peripheral surface of the fitting proJection 247b.
Further~ the upper and lower portions of the remote controller 30 constructed as above ars provided with upper and lower protectors 253~
254, respectively~ as shown in Figs.4 to 7 to prevent the remote controller 30 ~tself, the bathtub body 1, the bathroom tlle, etc. from being damaged by drom shock.
More specifically, the upper protector 253 is fonrRd in the shape of a cap capable of being fittdd on the upper portion of the remote controller 30 to cover the uppsr portion and it ls provlded with in~rared ray passlng openlngs 255, 256 and 257 ln positlons .-'''~
., ...... .

.

;~0 0 ~ 3 .: ~

corresponding to the central port~on and r~ght and left ~nfrared ray ~m~tting windows. numeral denotes a wall surface abutting portlon.
The lower protector 254 ~s fonmed 1n the s h pe of a cap capable of be~ng fitbed on the lower port~on of the remote controller 30 to cover the lower portlon. Numeral 254a denotes a wall surface abutting port10n.
As the material of the protectors 253 and 254 there is used one having a shock absorbing function. For example, t~re naiy be used an elastic rubbe such as nitrile butadiene rubber (N~R), an expanded polyurethane or an ethylene-propylene trimer (EP~M~. Where a material of a small specific gravity such as an expanded polyurethane is used, it is possible to float the remote controller 3iO on the hot water surface by adjusting the specific gravity of the same controller.
Thus~ by mounting the upper an~ lower protectors 253, 254 to the remote controller 30, even in the event of erroneous drop of the renote controller 30 onto the bathtub body 1, the bathroom tile, etc.
In this embodiment, mo m ver, as shown in Figs.6 to 9, a msgnet 2aD
a a mounting means is provided on the back of the remote controller 3D, whil~ a magnetic material 2~0' is provided on a side wall of the bathtub ~ody 1 or the bathroom side wall W, .50 that the remote - controller can be attached removably to the bathroom side wall W by virtue of magnetism.
The magent 2~0~ which is in the fonm of a thin rectangular plate, is provided throughout the entire sur~ace of the back of the remote controller 30 except the upper and lower portions of the controller .
... ..

. , - , . ... . ~ . ;i.. .

,, ` ' ' ' , ! ~ ; ' 2 0 0 ~ 9~3 , . .
covered with the upper and lower protectors 253, 254. Thus it is provided to enlarge the area of contact thereof w~th the magnetic materlal 2B0' provided on the bathroom side wall W for example.
The magnetic force o~ the magnet 2ao can be set to a sultable magnitude so that the remote controller 30 can be mounted poslt~vely ; and detached easily.
~ n the other hand, on the side wall of the bathtub body 1 or the bathroom side wall W there is provided the magnetic ~terial 2 ~ wh~ch -` is in a thin plate, as shown in Flg.15c. The magnet~c material 2~lr is provided ei~her partially plurally on the bathroom side wsll W or fon~ed widely to cover a wide area.
~i The bathtub body 1 may be fonmed using the magnet~c mater1al 2~0' to increase the degree of freedom for the mounting and storage of the remote controller 3D.
Thus, by increaslng the degree of freedbm for the mount1ng and storage of the remote controller 30, the user can at h ch the remote controller to a place permitting easy mounting and removal and so ~t ls made possible to use the remote controller in a m~re eas~ly manner.
- Contrary to the above, the magnetic materlal 2~ may be prov~Jed on the remote controller 30, wh~le the magnet 2~0 mqy be prov~ W on .r.:,. the bathroom side ~all W.
In this embodiment~ moreover, sin oe the upper and lower protectors 253, 25~ are mounbed to the remot~ controller 3C~ the magnet 2aO or the magnetic mater~al 2aO' as a mounting means msy be provided on those protectors.

,~ ~x :
,. . . . .
.,~ , .
0 , ,. .

.

200~933 .

The mounting means is not limited to the magnet 28D having magnetic force. There may be used any mounting means if only it can attach the remote controller 30 to the bathroom side wall W or any other su~table place detachably, for example, a mount~ng means uslng adh sive force such as a face fastener or.
In Figs.15e, 15f and 15g, a modification of the above-mentloned remobe eontroller 30 is shown.
The modification is substantially characterized ~n that the s~ æ or area of a blow state display portion 533 is cons~derably enlarged compared to the blow state display portion 233 shown in Flg. 14 so that a batther can enjoy more easily the blow st~tes such as shown in Fig.
15h to Fig. 15~
In Fig.15h, a blow state of the mild blow is shown, where~n the blow of relatively sufficient volume and low pressure is expressed visually.
In Fig.15i, a blow state of the spot blow is shown, wherein the ,.:
blow of relatively small volume and h~gh pressure ~s expressed visually.
In Fig.15j, a blow state of the pulse blow is shown, wherein the blow operation in which the blow of a des~red blow mode, e.g. the spot blow is operated periodically is expressed visually.
i .
In Fig.15k, a blow state of the cycle blow is show~ where~n the blow in which the blow posltions of the blow-off nozzles are changed at ~....~
a certain cycle ~y opening or clos~ng each blow-off nozzle at the oerhin cycle in each blow-off modb is expressed visually.
:: .
:,~
. i~ . ..
,, ; , 2 0 0 ~ ~ ~ 3 In Fig.15l, a blow state of the wave blow is shown, wherein the blow in which the amount of blown off ~s char~ed periodically by changing the number of revolutlons of the circulating pump P ~s expressed visually.
In F1g.15m, a blow state of the random blow is shown, where~n the blow operation in which the blow mode is randomly shifted.from one blow mode to the other giving a bather always fresh feeling during bathing is expressed visually.
These blow modes are further explained in detail hereinafter In view of description of blow-off modes below.
Furthermore, the modification is also characterized by the reinforcement of water proofing so as to assure the use of the remote controller in the bathtub body 1.

-10~ ~escription of Inverter Referring to Fig.37, the in w rter E comprises a rectlfler circult 9B8 connected to a single-phase commercial power source 937~ a smooth~r~ circuit 94D connected to the rectlfier circult 938~ a switchir~ circuit 939 connected to the smooth1ng circult 940 and a notor :, - :- drive unit 9Z1, and an inverter control circuit 912 connected to the switching circuit 939. A control unlt C 1s connected to the inverter control circuit 912 to control the output frequency of the inN~rter E by controlling the switching circuit 939 through the inverter control circuit 912r The rectifier c~rcu~t 93B and the snoothlng circu~t 940 i " . ~
, . . .
, . 'a' ,~

. .

2 0 0 ~ 9~3 convert the supply voltage of 100 V as of the commercial powor source 937 ;nto 200V D~.
The dlscharge pressure an~ dischar~e rate of the circulating pwmp P
can be freely and smoothly varled as characteristlc curves Qc shown ~n F~g. 38 to Fig. 45 by varying the rotating speed of the circulat~ng pump 2 by controlling the inverter 1~ by th~ control unit C.
!;, , Accordingly, the blow off pressure and blow-off volume of the hot water blown off from the blow-off noz~les 2,3,4 an~ also smcothly and freely var;ed giving a bather a bathing feeling of versatility enhancing the comfortableness of the bather.

tm ) Uescr~ption of Blow-o ff Mbdes .~,................................................................. .
The blow-off modes (mild blow, spot blow, pulse blow~ wave blow, ~, cycle blow, and program blow) o~ta1ned by this embod1ment w~ll be ,~t'~, described below with reference to Flgs.16 to 26 ` [m -1 ) Mild Blow ~ . .
The mild blow msde is a blow-sff msde in which the blow~off wlwme of hot ~ater from the blow-sff nszzles 202,203,204 is large and the blow-off pressure thereof is low. According to this blow mode~ the ,. -. ^~
i whole of the bather's body is wrapped in hot water mildly and softly to - give the feeling of massage to the h ther.
Mbre specifically, in the mold blow mode, the blow-off volwme t ~ . ;

. ,.~, ~ ~ , .

, ','~':.`
~ - 5 3 -2 0 0 ~ 3 ., adjusting valves Z22 in the blow-off noz~les 20Z,2037204 are opened almost fully, the number of revolut~ons of the clrculat~ng pump P ~s ,j changed within a predetermined cer~ain range (e.g. 1700-3000 r.p.m.)~
and the d~scharge pressure of the pump P is set to several stages (e.g.
, 1, five stages) of strength levels within a preset low pressure range te.g.
, Q Z-0.5 kg/ cm2) thereby penmitting a large amount of hot water (e.g.
40~0Q /m;n) to be blown off from the no~les 202,203~2C~
' Fig.16 shows blow-off volume - blow-off press~re characteristic curves 'F1,F2,F3 which vary as the num~er of revolutions of the '~ circulating pump P changes. N1,N2 N3 and N4 represent revolution perfon~anoe curves of the circulating pump P, provided these perfonmance ;,................................................. .
curws are in the relation of N1 > N2 > N3 > N4 in tenms of the number of revolutions.
In Fig.16a, the point b on the blow-off volume - blcw-off pressure characteristic curve F1 indicates the state of mold blow, asswming that the number of revolutions of the c~rculating pump P is near lts maximum N1 te.g~ ~000 r.p.nL). Yl nepresents a mild ~low zone, while the po~nts bl and b2 indicates mild blow states set in the m~ld blow zone Y1.
In Fig.17~ there are shown blow-off nozzls characberist~c curves R1, R2~ and R3 obtained when the blow-off volume adJust1n,g valves 22 are fully open, half open and qu~rber open. In bhe same figure, u1,u2 and u3 represent blow~off pressure lines, provided these pressure curv~s are ~'~' in the relation of ul ~ u2 ~ u~ in tenms of n~gnitudeb ,' The point b ln Fig.16a can be indicated as point b' on bhe blow~Dff nozzle,character1stic curve R1 shown in Fig.17a.

.~,.r, ~, :
~, '`` ' ' .
~- 5 4 , 2(~0~i9~3 In Fig~17a, Y'1 represents a mild blow zone in the blow-off characteristics, while the points b'1 an~ b'2 represent mild ~low states set in the mild blow zone ~ 1.
The above mild blow operat~on is performed by turn~ng ON the mild blow switch 261 of the remote controller 3Cl : The change-over of switches at the time of changing the strength ~ level in the mild blow mode or changing the blow-off nozzle use patt~rn ! , is performed in a short time (e.g. about 1 sec).
- Fig.18 is a timing chart relating to the openin~clos~ng operation of the blow off volume adjusting valves 22 in the leg-, back- and belly-side blo~off no zles 2,3,4 and the operation of the circulating pump P.

.
For a certain time tz (e.g. 1 sec) after the lapse of a certain time t~ (e.g. O sec) from the time tO when the mild blow switch was . operated, the blow-off volume adJusting valves 22 in the leg-~ back-; ~ and belly-side blow off nozzles 2,3,4 are each operated from a medium-open position d, (the open position before the blow~of~ mode change) to a preset open position dz (e.g. a valve-open posltlon 6 mm retreated .,., ~
~ from a fully closed position) at a high speed tpreferably the maxlmum ,~ ,, ; ~ speed).
....
From just ~efore the lapse of end time t'l of the preset valve ~ opening operation of each blow off volume adJusting valve 22~ the number r 9 of revol utions V1 (e. g. Z300 r. p. nL ) before the blow off mode change of the circulating pwnp P is decr~ased gradually so that a certain numb~r "~ of revolutions Vz (e.g. 2400 r.p.nL) is reach~d withln a oertain t~me ~' ~ - 5 S -' ` , " ~ r ":

2 0 0~i~t~3 t'2 (e.g. 3 sec).
In this embodimen~ moreover, upon start of operation tUpon 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 m~ld blow mode and the strength level ls initialized to "Medlumn, tak~ng lnto account the safety during bath~ng of a child or an old person~ (this blow operation will hereinafter be referred to as the "child safety bloN~').
In this embodiment, moreover, as shown in tFre timing chart of Fig.19~ only the blow off volume adjusting valves 22 ln the back-side blow-off nozzles 3 are once operated up to a fully closed position at the time of operation s h rt to prevent cold water remaining in pipes after the previous use from blow~ng off from the h ck-side rozzles 3 whlch would cause uncomfortable feeling of the user or mlght endanger the user.
More speclfically~ in F~g.l9~ for a certain time t2 (e.g. 1 sec) after the lapse of a certain time t~ (e.g. 0 sec) from the t~me t~ when the mild blow switch was operated, the blow-off volume adJust~ng valves 22 in the back-side nozzles 3 are each operated fro~ a medium posltlon (the valve-open position before the blow-off mode change) to a fully closed position at a high speed (preferably the maximum speed), and for a certain time t4 (e.g. 1 sec) after thls closed state ls malntained for a oertain time t, (e.g. 2 sec), the blow-off volume adJusting valves 22 are each operated up to a preset open position dz te.g. a valve-open position 6 mm retreated from a fully closed position) at a high spee~
(preferably the maximum speed).
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. . ~ , .
., ~ . .
r 2 0 0 ~ 9~3 As to the blow-off volume adjusting valves 22 in the le~- and belly-side blow~off nozz1es 2~ 4 for a certain time tl (e.g. 1 sec) after the lapse of a certain time ~ te~g. 1 sec) from the time tD when the mlld blow switch was operated, those val~es are each operated from a medium-open posltion dl (the open position before the blow-off mode change) to an almost fully open position d2 (e.g~ a valve-open pos~tion retreated 6nm from a fully closed position~ at a high speed (preferably the m~ximum speed).
The circulating pump P is operated Just after the lapse of end time t~l of the closing or preset opening operation of each blow-off volume adjusting valve 22, and the number of revolutions thereof is increased gradually so that a oertain number of revolutions Vz (e.g. 2aoo r.p.nL) is reached within a oertain time t' 2 (e.g. 10 sec).
The control timing for both the openin~ or closing operation of the blow-off volume adjusting valve 22 ~n each of the blow-off nozzles 2~
3~ ~ and the change of the number of revolutions of the circutat~ng pump P is determined while consider~ng that the user will not have uncomfortable feeling and that a sudden increase ~n discharge pressure of the circulating pump P should be prevented. Th1s point will be explained later in ~rv -7 ) -m -2 ) Spot Blow ,, .~;.
~,.,,.,".~
;it', The spot blow mode is a blow mode ~n whlch the blow-off wlume of ~` hot water from the blow-off nozzles 2, ~, 4 is small and the blow~off ., ~
.-~, : , , ~, .
,~. , ` ` ~!
--' - 5 7 -, ~.

, 2 0 0 ~ 9 3 3 pressure thereof is h1gh and in wh1ch a hot water Jet ~s applled vigorously to a part of the user's body, whereby the us~r is ~ven a feeling of massage lnvolving a fin~er-pressure feeling.
More specifically, ~n the spot blow mode, the blow-off volume adjusting valve element 22 in each of the blow-off nozzles 2, 3, 4 is slight1y opened, the number of revolut~ons of the circulating pump P is changed within a certain range (e.g. 2000 to 3000 r.p.m.), and the dischar~e pressure of the pump P can be set to severa~ stages (e~ $ five stages) of strength levels within a preset high pressure range (e.g.
0.5 to 1.0 kg/cn~).
The point e on the blow-off volume - blow-off pressure , characterlstic curve F3 in Fig.16a indicates the sbte of spotblow at a min1mwm blow-off volume (e.g. 30Q /min) of hot water.
In Fig.16a, moreover, Y2 represents a spot blow zone in the blow-off volume - blo~off pressure characterist~cs, and the points el and e2 each indicate the state of spotblow set within the spotblow zone Y2.
The point e in Fig.16a can be expressed as point e' on the blow o ff nozzle characteristic curve R3 shown in Fig.17a.
- In Fig.17a, r 2 represents a spotblow zone in the blow-o ff nozzle characteristics, and the points e'1 and e'2 each ind~cate the state of - spotblow set within the spotblow zone ~ Z.
,, The ab~w fir~er-pressure blow operation i5 perfonmed by turning ON
the spot blow switch 62 of the remote controller 3CL
Fig.20 is a timing chart relating to the open~ng~closing operation of the blow-off uolum~ adJustlng valve elements 22 ln the leg-, back-I ,~

'"

2 0 0 ~ 9;~3 and ~elly-side blow-off nozzles 2, 3~ 4 and the operatlon of the circulating pump P.
More specifically, In Fig.20, for a certain tim~ t2 (e.g. 1 sec) after the lapse of a oe rtain time tl (e.g. 0 sec) from the time t~ when the flnger-pressure blow switch was operated, each blow-off volume adJusting valve element 22 is operated from the open pos~tion d, before the blow-off mode change (e.g. a valve-open positlon re~neated 6mm from a ful 1 y cl osed posi tion) to a preset open positio~dz (e.g. a valve open position 1.5 mm retreated from the fully closed pos~tion) at a high speed (preferably the maximum speed).
Then, from just after the lapse of end time t'l of the preset opening operatlon oF each blow-off volume adJust~ng valve element 22, the circulating pump P gradually increases its nwmber of revolutions V~
before the blow off mode change ( e.g. 2400 r.p.nL) so that a certa~n nwmber of revolutions Vz ( e.g. 2800 r.p.nL)is reached w~th~n a cerh~n time t'~ te.g. 3 sec).
, ', .
:- ~m - 3 ~ Pulse Blow ,:
The pulse blow mode is a blow mode in which the blow-o ff of hot water and stop thereof are perfonmed in an alternate manner by openlng and closing the individual blow-off noz~les 2~ 3~ 4 periodically to ; alternabe the blow-off of a hot water Jet and stop thereof pulsewise~
thereby giving a sharp stimulation to the user.
According to the pulse blow mode~ in the forego~ng spot blow ~,;

'' ''', ,`, 2 0 0 ~ 9~3 operation the blow-o~f volwme adJusting valve elements 22 in the blow-off nozzles 2, 3, 4 are each moved at a hlgh speed (preferably the maximum speed) to a preset open posltion and a fully closed position alternately in a short time te.~. 1 sec) at every lapss of a certain time, whereby there can be alternately created a s b te ~n which hot water is blown off and a state in whlch hot water is not blown off. In some case the hot water blown off contains bubbles9 while in the other it does not. ~' The change of the strength level of such pulse ~low can be done by setting the blow-off volume of hot water in several stages (e.g. ~ive s h ges) within a certain range (e.g. 30 to 50 Q /min) which can be effected by changing the number of revolutions of the circulating pump P- .
The above pulse blow operation is perfonmed by turnlng ON the pulse blow swltch 26~ of the remote controller 30.
Fig.21 is a timing chart relat~ng to the opening and clos~ng operation of the blow-off volume adjusting valve element 22 in the le~-, back- and belly-side blow-off no zles 2, ~, 4 and the operatlon of the cinculating pump P.
Mbre specifically, in Fig.21, after the lapse o~ a oerta~n t~me t, (e.g. 0 sec) ~rom the time t~ w~en the pulse blow switch was operat~d~
each blo~-off volume adJusting valve element 22 is operat~d from ~ts open position dl before the blow~off mode change ~e.g~ a valve-open posltion 6 mm retreated from a fully closed position to a preset open position d2 ~e.g~ a valve-open po51tion 2 mm retreated from the fully . -, ~ .
. .
..
, ~-r~ 6 0 ~
~; ., 2 0 0 ~ 9;~3 closed position) at a high speed (preferably the naxlmum speed) for a certain time tz (e.g. 1 sec). After this open cond~t1On 1s maintained for a oe rtain ti-ns t3 (e.g. 1 sec), the valve eleme2nt 22 ~s closed up to the fully closea position at a high speed (preferably the m~2x1mwm speed) for a ce2rta~n time t~2 (e.g. 1 sec), then after this fully closed condition is maintained for a certain time t5 te.g. 1 sec)~ th2e valve2 is opened up to the foregoing preset open position dz at a high speed (prefera2~21y the m~ximum spee2d) for a certain time2~ te.g. 1 sec).
Further, after this open condition is h~ld for a certa~n time2 ~ (e.g. 1 sec), the valve is closed. These valve opening and closing operations are rep20~ated periodically.
After the lapse of a certain time t', (e.g. 1 sec) from the time t22 when the pulse blow sw1tch was operated, the number of revolations Vl before the blow-off mode change te.g. 2400 r.p.m.) is increased gradually so as to reach certain revolutions Vz (e.g. Z~OG r.p.m.) w~thin a certain time t'z (e.g. 3 sec).
. . .
By changing the certain t1me t, for ma1nta1ning the preset valve-op~n condition there can be set different puls~ blow patterns. In this embodiment there are set three kinds of pulse blow patterns P~ B and G
with the certain time t~2 set to one~ two and three seconds~
re2spectiv~1y, so that there can be selectea a hot water 3et st1mulation ~ time for the2 user accorcir.g to a liking of the user.

:~ (m~ ) ~22~e2 Blow 2.

-:'h 2 0 0 ~ 9 ~ 3 The wave blow mode is a blow mode ~n wh~ch the number of revolutions of the circulating pump P is changed perlodically to change the blow off volume and pressure of hot water periodlcally. By changing the blow-nff volume and pressure w~th a slow period there is fonmed a varied flow to apply a hot water Jet having the lmage of wave whlch approaches and leaves repeatedly to the user.
In the waw blow mode, the blow-off volume adJustln~ valve elements 22 in the blow-off no zles 25 ~, 4 are fully opene~ or mediwr-opened and the circulating pump P is turned on and off, or the number of revolutlons of the pump P is changed periodically withln a certain range te g. 1600 to 3000 r~p.m~).
- The change of the wave blow strength level can be ~one ~y settlng the range of the number of revolutions of the circulating pump P which is to be changed periodically, in several stages (e.g. fiYe stages) wlthin the range of the foregoing nwmber of revolut~ons.
The d" d2 and d3 shown In Fig.16b represent blowLo ff volume blow-off pressure characteristic curves in the wave blow mode .
The blow-off voluTe and pressure of hot water vary along the~curues dl, dz and d,.
The d'l, d' 2 and d' 3 shown in Fig.17b represent blow-off nozzls ~ j , characteristic curves. In the wave blow mode, the amount of bubbles can be varied greatly.
- The wave blow operation descrlbed abovs is started by turnlng ON
the wave blow switch 265 of the remote controller 3C~
The hot water blow-o ff nozzle use pattern ln the wave blow modb is " ~. , ~- --6 2-- :

200~ 3 the same as in the foregoing m~ld blow mode.
Fig.22 is a timing chart relating to the opening and closlng operation of the blo~off volume adJusting valve eleoents 22 in the leg-back- and belly side blow-off nozzles 2, 3 and 4 and the operation of the circulating pump P.
Mbre specifically, in Fig.22, after the lapse of a oertain time t, (e.g. 1 sec) from the time to when th wave blow switch was operated, each blow-off volume adjusting valve element 22 is operated at a high speed (p~ferably the maximwm speed~ for a certain time tz (e.g. 1 sec) from the open position d, before the blow-off mDde change te.g. a valve-open position retreated 6 mm from a fully closed position) up to a preset valve-open position d2 (e.g. a valve-open position 4 mm retreated from a fully closed position).

; ;~ . . . ,~
1 ~.`; , /
.~', /
~,,,,; /

.,, /

i ~ /

~';' / ' ' r~ /

"~ ~"';
~' i!~
.ii .'' ., 2 0 0 ~ 3 Then, from just after the lapse of end time t~ of the preset openiny operation of ea~h blo~-off volume adjusting valve 22, the circulating pump P gradually increases its number of revolutions V, before the blow~off mode change (e.g. 2400 r.p~m.) so that a certain large number of revolutions Vz (e.g. 3000 r.p.m~) is reached within a certain time tb (e.g. ~ sec). Thereafter, the number o~ revolutions thereof is gradually decreased to a smaller nwmber of revolutions VJ
(e.g. 1~00 r.p.m.) within a oe rtain time ~ (e.g~ ~ sec), then it is again incre~sed gradually up to the above large number of revolut~ons V2 ithin a certain time t~ te.g. ~ sec). In this way the number of revolutions of the circulating pump P is varied periodically.
.\r~ '~
By chal~ing the way of periodic change in the number of revolutions of the circulating pump P it is possible to set dif~erent wave blow pa~erns In this enlbodiment, the wave blow pattern descr~bed above is designated a ~ave blow pattern A, and wave blow patterns which will be explained below are designate~ wave blow patterns B and C Thus, there are set thnee kinds of patterns.
~ ccording to the wave blow pattern B, as shown in the timing chart of Fig 23, From just after the lapse o~ enJ time t3 of the preset opening operation of each blo~off volume adJusting valve 22, the nwTber of re~olutions Vl before the blow-off mo~e change (e.g. 2400 r.p.nL) is increased gradually up to a large nu~ber of revolutions V2 ~e.g. ~OOD
r.p.m.) within a certain time t~ (e.g. ~ sec), which large number of revolutions V2 is maintaîned ~or a certain time ~ (e.g. 2 sec), thereafter the number of revolutions is gradually decreased to a A, ~, ~ --6 4--2 0 0 ~ 9;~3 smaller number of revolutions V3 (e.g. 1B00 r.p~m.) within a certain time tc te~g. ~ sec), which smaller number of revolutions V3 iS
maintained for a certain time t7 (e.g. 2 sec), thereafter the nu~ber of revolutions is gradually increased up to the aforesa;d large number of revolutions V2 whth;n a cert~;n time t~ (e.g. 4 sec). In this way the number of revolutions is varied periodically.
According to the ~ave blow pattern C~ as shown in the t;ming chart of Fig.2~, from just after the lapse of end time~t3 of the preset opening operation of each blo~o M volllme adjusting valve 22, the number of revolutions Vl before the blow-off mode change (e.g. 2400 r.p.-~ ) is increased gradually so as to describe a do~Rrdly convex curve up to a certain lar~e number of revolutions Vz ~e.g. 300Q r.p.m.) within a certain ti~ t4 (e.g. 3 sec), thereafter $he number of revolutions is gradually decreased so as to describe a downwardly convex corve to a smaller number of revolutions V~ (e.g. 1aO0 r.p.m.~ within a certain time t~ (e.g. 3 sec), an~ thereafter the number of revolutions is .: .
gradually increased so as to describe a downwardly convex curve up to . . , the a~oresaid large number of revolutions Vz within a certain time t~
`i (e.g. 3 sec). In this way the number of revolutions is varied ,: periodically~
In this embodiment, since the number of revolutions of the ,~, sirculating pump P is controlled by the inverter E~ a periodic change in ~ the number of revolutions of the circulating pump P is performed : smoo~hly and positively, whereby there can be generated the wave blows B and ~ each having a pulsatory power in a faint hot water Jet.

~^
.,~

_ -- 6 5 - ~
-- .

:

2 0 0 ~ 9;~3 Pa~ticularly, in the wave bl~ patbern ~, the number of revolutions of the circulat;r~ pump P varies while dbscribing a gener~lly catenary curve, and the rate of increase and that of decreasc in the nwmher of revolutions ar large in a high revolution region, while those in a low revolution region are small~ Therefore, it is possible to obtain a ~lc~-off m~de having clear distinction and a finger-pressure effect fior the user, in which a strong blow change occurs in a nelatively short time, wl-ile a weak blow cha~e occurs over a relativ~ y long time~

.
~ ~ (m---5 ) ~ycle Blow . ~ "
In the cyc1e blow mode, the hot water blow-off position is changed autom~tically and periodically, thereby permitting the user to enjoy the chan~e in the hot water blo~off position.
More speciFica11y~ in the cycle blow mode, the blow-off volume adjl~ting valves 22 are opened to blow off hot ~ater for a certain time in the crcer of, for example, back-side blow-off no zles 3,3 -~bel! y sidb blo~ofF nozzles 4~ ~leg-side blow-off nozzles 2~2. In this case, as the blow-of~ mode of hot wate~ from the blow~off nozzles 2, 3, there can be used the mild blow, spotblow and wave blow modes, and further there can be adopted a blow-off mode in which the mild blow and :~ ~ the spotblow are changed periodically.
~- In this embodiment, there are set three kinds o~ cycle blow patterns ~, B and ~, which will be explained below with referen oe to the timing charts shown in Fig.25 and 26.
. ' .~. .
....~
. ~,...... ..

~.. .
,_-~, ~0 0 ~ 9 3 3 The cycle blow A is perfonmed in the spotblow ~ode. As sh~wn inthe timing chart of Fig.25, after the lapse of a oe rtain tin~ tl (e.g. O
sec) fro~ the time t~ when the cycle blow switch was operated~ only the ", blo~-off volun~ adjusting valves 22 in the back-side blow-off nozzles 3 are each operated from the open position d, before the ~low-off mode change ~e.g. a valve-open position 6 n~ retreated from a fu11y closed position) up to a preset open position dz (e.g. a valve-open position 1~5 mm retreated ~rom the ~ully closed position~ at a high speed (preferably the maximum speed) for a certain time tz (e.g. 1 sec), ~hile the blow-off volw~e adjusting valves 2Z in the leg- and belly-side blow-off no~zles 2, a are each operated up to a fully closed position at a high speed (preferably the mHximum speed) for a certain time tz (e.g. 1 sec)~
.,. ~
In this state, hot water is blo~m off in the spotblow mode from only the b~ck-side blo~-Dff nozzles 3, 3.
after the blow-off volume adjusting valves 22 in the ~ack-side blow-off no2zles 3 are each held in the open position d2 for a certain time t~ (e~g. 2 sec), they are each operated up to the fully closed position at a high speed (preferably the m~ximum speed~ for a cer hin tin~ t~ (e~g. 1 sec~.
Th~n, aft~r the lapse of a certain time t5 (e.g. O sec), the ~low off uolun~ adjusting valves Z2 in the belly-side blow-off nozzles 4 which are closed are each operated up to the preset open position at a high sp~d ~prefera~ly the n~ximwm speed) for a oertain time t~ (e.g. 1 sec), then aFter held in the preset open position dz for a oertain time .J'.,~
.!, 2 0 0 ~ 9~3 tl (e.g. 2 sec), the values 22 are each operated up to the Fully closed position at a high speed (preferably the maximum speed) for a certaln time t8.
In this state, hot water is blown off in the spot blow mode from ; only the ~elly-side blo~of~ nozzles ~ ~
Then, aFter the lapse of a certain time t9 (e.g. 0 sec), the blow off volunte adjustit~g valves 22 in the leg-side ~low-off nozzles 2 which ~s are closed are each operated up to the preset open position dz at a ; high speed (preferakly the maximum speed) for a certain time tlo (e.g.
1 sec), then after held in the preset open position d2 for a certain tin~ tlI (e.g. 2 sec), the valves 22 are each operated up to ~he ~ully ~ ~,. . .
closed position at a high speed (preferably the maximum speeJ) for a certain time tlz (e.g. 1 sec).
In this shte, hot water is blown off in the finger-pressure blow mn~e from only the leg-side blow-off nozzles 2, 2~
Then, a~ter the lapse of a certain time t,~ ~e.g. 0 sec), the blow-,. , off nozzle adjustit~g valves 22 in the ~ack-side blow-off nozzles 3 which are closed are each operated up to the preset open position dz at a hi~h sp~ed (preferably the maximum speed) for a cerhin time ~ ~ (e.g.
1 sec)~ then aFter held in the preset open position d2 for a cer~ain tin~ t1~ ~e.g. Z sec), the valves 22 are each operated up to the fully closed position at a high speed (prefera~ly the maximum speed) for a cert2in ti~e ~ b (e.~. 1 sec~.
In the circulating pump P, after the lapse of a certain time t'l (e.g. 0 sec~ from the time t~ when the cycle blow switch was operated, .

. .
~ 6 8 -,, 200~i~33 the nunber of revolutions Vl before the blow off mode change (e.g. 2~DO
r.p. ~ ) is decreased gradually to a certain number of revolutions Vz (e.g. Z500 r~p.m.) within a cerhin time t'2 (e.g. 1 sec). This number of revolutions Vz is maintained durir~ the blow operation.
The cycle blow B is performed in the spotblow mode. According to the cycle blow pattern ~5 in the timing chart of the cycle blow pattern A described above the certain time t~, t~, tl, for maintaining the p~eset open position dz of the blow-off volume adju~ting valves in the blow-oFF no~71es 2, 3~ 4 is different ~e.g. ~ sec). This is the only difference.
Thus, in the cycle blow patterns A and B, the blow-off volume adjusting valves 22 in the blow-off nozzles 2, 3, 4 are opened and closed at a certain period in the order of back -~belly -~leg -~back and the number of revolutions of the circulating pump P is kept constant, so that the finger-pressure effect can be provided throughout the user's ~dy while ~le spot bl~w pos~tion is ch~nged.
The cycle blow pattern C is perfor~ed in the ~ve ~low mode. As shown in the timing char~ of Fig.Z6~ thene is used a preset open position d2 which (e.g. 4 mm) is larger than that in the cycle operations A and B, and the certain time ~? t7, tl, for ~aintaining the preSet op~n position ~ are different (e.g. 8 sec) from that in the cycle blow patterns ~ and B.
Further, the number of revolutions of the circulating pump P is changed periodically.
More specifically~ in the circulating pump P, after the lapse of a .
~' . !.~
,~'i~, '~'.':.',' . .'~;~
,, `~. i ,~

' ` ` ' 2 0 0 ~ 9~3 certain time t'l (e.g. 0 sec) from the tin~3 to when the cycle blow switch was operated, the number of revolutions Vl before the blow~off mode change (e.g. 2~00 r.p.m.) is decreased gradually to a certain small number of revolutions V3 (e.g. 1600 r.p.m.) within a certain time t' 2 (e.g. 1 sec), then the number of revolutions is gradually increased to a certain larc3e number of revolutions Vz within a certain time t'3 te.g. ~ sec), and thereafter the number o~ revolutions is gradually decreased to the certain small number of revolu~ions V3 within a certain t;me t'4 (e.g. ~ sec).
~ fter such certain small nunt~3r of revolutions VJ ;S maintained for a certain time t'~ (e.g. 1 sec), the change of the number of revolutions tV~ -~V2 -~V3) described above is repeated.
Such ~hangirlg of the number of revolutions tV~ -~V2-~V 3 ) ; S
per-for~3d only during the blow -~off of hot water from the blow ~o f f nozzles 2, ~, 4, and timing is taken to maintain the certain small number of revolutions V, during opening or closing operation of the blow-off volume adjusting valves 22 in the blow-o ff no zles 2~ and prevent an abrupt change in the blow strength~ thereby preventing the user fn~n Freling uncomfiortableness.
Th;s~ together with the change in the blow-off position of hot waten, pertnits the user t~ enjoy a hot wat~r jet having the image of aues peculiar to the wa~e blow.
A~though in this embodiment the change of the hot water blow-off position in the cycle blow patterns A, ~ and C is perfonmed in the order of back -~belly ~leg -~back, no speclal limitaion is placed in this ` .
, .,~ ....
. : ;
~i .~ ., :'' .~, 2 0 0 ~3 3 order. There may be adopted another order (e.g. back->leg -~bel1y -~back). It is a1so possi~le to change the hot water blow-off position irregularly.
', ; ~m - 6 ) Program Blow , i, The program blow mode is a blow mode in which the change of blow is diversified by suitably combining or chan~ing with ~time the selection oF blow-oFf mode, that of blow-off strength and that of blow-off `- position in accordance with a preset program. This blow mode permits the user to enjoy a combined blow-off mode order having unexpectedness which is not a forcing system of a fixed fo ~
In this embodiment, moreover, a plurality of different contents of ~,:
prcg~ams ane provided in consideration of the age and sex distinction of l~sers~ Selection ~an be made from among program blow ~ which is a ;` standard blow operation having the most general menu, program blow B
, , .
which is a hard blow oper~tion having the strongest menu, and program, ., ~
hlow C ~hich is the lightest blow operation having mildness.
The program blow patterns ~ B and C are as shown in the pr~gram blo~ specification of Table 1~
", j , . . .

~", . .

'i , '.

200~9;~3 _ r ___ _ __ _ _ ~ >~ P~ D D ~ D D~

__ . -- D ----~ . D _ ~1 ~ _~ O
n '¢ u U ~ m ~ ~ U U m .
o 3 o 3 ~ n 3 3 u~ ,~ 0 3 3 ,~ n dP n ~ n _ ,~ n _ ~ n ~
o a ~ ~ ~ ~: a~ c v rl P. æ ~ n æ u n :~ P. u n P. _ , _ _ C _~ ~ ~ ~

D 1 4 ¦¦ 3 31 1-~ ¦ ¦ D .0 41 ¦ Y ¦4 ~¦ U
o _~ . ~ ~ ~ _ u~ P~ æ _~ :Z u ~:~ v / _ _ ~6 36 .C~ UO 40 ~ UO ,~$ ~o uo . ,t ~ .

. ~ 0~ _~ a ~ s ce ~ 3 ~ ~ 3 e ~ 3 ~ :~ u~P n rJ~ 0 n ~ .a .. o ~ ~ o~a ~ o ~
3),~ 0~ 1- h V ~ .y Ul J-.- _1 P $ ~
m o lu ~ e o 0 E3 0 3-0 m ~ 6 1 ' m ~ I : m P~ 1~1 O ~ m " . ~ ~o C m ~ s ~ u~ ~ ~ ' .,,, . , .: - ~ ~ ~ ~j m 1 a u `. . o 3 g. 3 ' ::
- '7 2-2 0()~ 3 In Table 1, the ranks 1, Z and ~ represent three stages of apperarnce probabilities of blow-off ~odes in three divided groups of the foregoing plural blow-off modes. The appearance pro~ability of the blow-off modes belonging to rank 1 is 5C~ that of the blow-off modes belong;ng to rank 2 is 3C~ and that belor~ing to rank 3 is 2C~
The blow strength level is set in five stages, which are weak 15 medium weak 2, medium 3, medium strong ~ and strong 5.
In the program blow A , the blow strength leve~ is set to 2-4 in order to perform a standard blow operation; in the program blow B, the blow strength level is set to 3-5 in order to perform a hard blow operation; and in the program blow G, the blow strength level is set to 1-3 in order to perfonm a light blow operation.
As to the hot ~ater blo~off positions tportions), there are the case where hot ~ater 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 is blown off from any two of those portions, and the case where hot water is blown off from any one of those portions. Such simul~aneous three-portion blow-o ff is indicated as (leg- h ck-belly);
such si~ultaneous two-portion blow-off is indicated as (leg- h ck) (back-belly) (leg-belly); and such one portion blow-off is indicated as (leg) (back~ (~elly).
,, ~ "
The blow-off modes, blow strength levels, and hot water blow~off posi~ions, are each change~ over from one to another after the lapse of ` a certain time (e.g. 30 sec) to give the pleasure of change to the user .~ continu~usly, ~hereby preventing the user from becoming weary.
, , ~
. .. ; ~.~.

. . " ~.
,, .

_ - 7 3 - ~
. .~, 2 0 0 ~ 9~3 As to the blow--off modes, considera~ion is made to prevent continuous appearance of the same mode, thereby ensurlng th~ pleasure of change given to the user~
In each of the program blow patterns A, B and C it is possible to set the blow time constant In th~s embodiment, the prcgram blows P4 B
and C are set to 4~ 5 and 3 minutes~ respectively.
If seueral kinds of menus are set for each of the program blows A, B and C and any one program blow is selected, the selection of menus can be made irregularly from the selected program blow.
Thus, in the program blows P~ B and C, thei chan~e of blow-off modei, blow stren~th and blow-off portion is done irregularly in consideration of age and sex distinction, so the user can fully enJoy the unexpectedness of the contents of the change and that of the order of the change and is thereby prevented from becoming weary while taking a bath.

V) Description of the Opetation of the Whirlpool Bath V -1 ) Description of Cperation Procedure based on Flowcharts .
~- The operation of the whirlpool bath A described above will be ~ explained below with reference to ths flowcharts of Figs.27 to 32.
- First reference is here made to the msin rountine shown 1n Fig.27.

The plug of the controller C, etc. is inserted into the power . i, . .
'~ ' , .
, ~ .
- 7 ~ -... .

2()0 ~3~3 source for the supply of elelctric power thereto.
The nozzle valve actuating motors Ml ln all of the leg-, h ck- and ~elly-side blow~sff nozzles 2~ ~, 4 are ~nitialized (Z10).
Subsequently, the whirlpool bath A turns OFF (215). In this OFF
conditlon, the various actuators for the cireulating pump P oonnected to ; the whirlpool bath A and the blow-o ff no~zles 2, 3, 4 are turned OFF.
At this time, in the nozzles 2, 3, ~ the noz~le valve actuating motors Ml are in an initiali æd condition, that is, the valves are in an : open condition retreated 6 mm from their fully closed positions, thereby penmitting smooth supply and discharge of hot water durlng the supply of hot water and drain.
In this OFF condition, moreover, the controller C is waiting for input, and also in this condition there can be made control by the controller C for the hot water supply operation and the freeze prooflng operation In accordance with the results of detection provided from the . pressure sensor 48 and the hot water temperature sensor T.
. Next~ by the pressure sensor 48 which also serves as a level sensor ; ~, there is made detection as to whether the hot water level in- the . bathtub body 1 has reached a blow operation perm~tt~ng level (8.g. a position higher than the upper~end position of the suction port lm provided in the bathtub~body 1) ~22n).
In the present invention, ln order to ensure the blow operation~
the upper-end posit~on o~ the suct~on port lm which is the lowest level ; permitting the circulation of hot water in the hot water c~rculation path D is used as lower-limit level penmitting the blow operat~on~ and , .
:.. , ,~:
.. ..

~ . ~
_ - 7 5 -., 200fi9~3 this level is used as one condition for the start of the blow oper~tion.
This blow operation startirg condltion will be described in detail laber.
When the hot water level has not reached the blow operation permitting level (220N), warnlng of a decreased level is issued t225) 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 clock ~splay portion 115 of the operating panel alternately over a period of 15 seconds anJ at the same time sounding a buzzer tnot shown). In a bathtub provided with an automatic hot water supplying apparatus, it is possible to perfonm a hot water replenishing operation.
When the hot water level satisfies the blow operation penmitting level t220Y), there is made detection by the hot water temperature sensor T as to whether the hot water temperature in the ~athtub body 1 i5 within a blow operation permitting range (e.g. 5 ^~SCPc) or not (23D) In this embodiment, the blow operation penmitting hot water temperature range is detenmined in consideration of the protect~on o~
the user and of the pipes made of a synthetic resin and freeze proofing of the hot water the c~rculating pump P, and the said temperature range is used as one condition for the start of the blow operation. Thls blow operation starting condition wlll be described in detail later.
As a result, ~n the case of a lower temperature than the lower llmit (e.g. S ~C) of the blow operation penmitting temperature range ' . ..
,. .. .

;

2 ~ 0 ~ ~ ~ 3 (235Y), the freeze proofing operatlon is started (3QO).
Such freeze proofing operation will be descr~bed later with ref~rence to the subroutine shown in Fig.32.
In the case of a higher temperature than the upper llmit te.g. 50 C
) of the blow operatlon permitting temperaturo range (235N), there issues warning of a h~gh temperature (400) and theioperation is stopped (215). In this case, the warning of a high temperature is ef~ected by turning on and off the indication "H" which indic~ates a high water te~perature on the clock display portion 115 of the operating panel 6 alternately over a period of 15 seconds and at the same time sounding buzzer.
In the case of a blow operation permitting hot water temperature (230Y), the blow operation can be started (500) by turnlng ON the operation switch 100 or 60 (415Y).
The "blow operation" (500~ is a generic term for the blow operations in the various blow-off modes, a timer operation in which blow op~ration is performed within the time preset by the user, and an automatic filter washing operation in which the filter 43 1s washed automatically in parallel with the blow operation. Each blow operation, timer operation and automatic filber washing operation will be described later with reference to the subroutines shown in Figs.2E~
29 and 30 Upon turning OFF of the operation switch 100 or 260 (99~Y), the operation is sbopped ~215). As long as the operation switch 1~0 or 260 is not turned OFF, the blow operation is continued.

! .:

, ~

; - 7 7-~,; . . .

2 0~ 3 Further, by turning ON the operation switch 100 or 260 (415) it becomes possible to ef~ect the filter washing operation Just before or after the blow operati~n (500)j and the filter washlng operation can be started by turn~ng ON the filter wRshlng switch 117 (gOO). Th~s fllter washing operation will be describe~ later with reference to the subroutine shown In Fig~31.
The above blow operation will be described below with reference to the subroutine shown in Fig.2a ~Blow Operation~

The blow operation is programmed so that the inltial blow is a child safety blow or a mild blow and the strength level is set to n Medium" (510), whereby the occurrence of accidents is prevented such as the legs of a child being carried away by the hot water jet at the time of ~eginning of the operation and the child falling d~wrb ~ In this state of child safety blow~ a desired blow operation can be :l selected by turning ON a blow-o ff mode switch.
. Mbre specifically, other than ~he mold blow operation, the spotblow ,.~ operation can be started (525~ by turning ON the spot~low swntch 10Q or 62 (520).
. . The pulse blow operations A~ B and C can be perFormed ~535~(536) (537) by ~urning ON the pulse blow switch 103 or 263 (530)t531)(532)-The wave blow operations A, B and C can be perfonmed (545)(546) t547) by turning ON the wave blaw switch 10~ or 265 (540)(5 U)(542).

. , :

~............... .

. .

2 0 0 ~ 9;~3 The cycle blow operations ~ B and C can be performed (555)(556) (557) by turnir~ ON the cycle blow switch 105 or 66 (550)(551)~552~.
Further, by turn1ng ON the program switch 106 or 267 (560)(561) (562) there can be perfonmed ~ach program blow operation (565)(566)t567) For returning to the mild blow from another blow mode, the mold blow switch 101 or 261 is again turned ON (510).
All the blow operations can be stopped into OFF condition by ; turning OFF the operation switch 100 or ~
In this embodiment, moreover, in order to meet user's desires as far as possible, there can be perfonmed the operation ~or changing the hot water blow-off position in the cases of mild blow operation, spotblow operation, pulse blow oper~t~on and wave blow operation.
Further~ the operati~n for changing the stren3th 1evel of hot water '~ to be blown off can be perfonmed in the cases of the ~ld blow~ finger-" ~
` pressure blow~ pulse blow, wave blow and cycle blow operations.
Such operations for changing the hot water blow o ff pos~St~oned and . . .
strength level will be described later.
, :
ext~ the timer operation will be described below w~th refereroe to the subroutine shown in Fig.Z9.

~;. .
~ ~Timer Operat~on ) ,,.,,~.
; ~ The timer operation permits the user to set a desired blow operation time and makes it possible to prevent the user from having a ~ !,~;, .~'.;
'',' ~_''`' ' ' ?~

2 0 0 ~ 9;~3 rush of blood to the head. The timer operatlon will be described below.
The timer operation is s hrted as follows. When the timer switch - 11~ is pushed ON (5~0Y~ after pushing ON khe operation switch 100 on the operatlng panel 6, the clock dlsplay of the clock display portion 115 which makes a digital display using a light emitting diode changes to a timer display, for e~ample "-5" which indicates 5 minutes set as a minimum blow operation time, and thus it is possible to set "5 minutes"
for the timer ~585). If the timer switch 114 is turned OFF within a ~ertain time te.g. 2 sec) (590Y, the timer display beccnes "5:ccr after the lapse of 2 seconds and the timer operation is started.
The numerical value of the timer display decreases every second (595).
- When the timer operation time has elapsed and the timer display became l~0:00" (605) wlthout turning ON the timer sw~tch 114 durlng the timer operation t600N), the said timer display is turneJ on and off every 0.5 second for the period of 5 seconds and every Q 5 second for the period of 5 seconds and the buzzer is al!owed to sound.
Thereafter, upon ten~ination of the t~mer operation t610), the openat~on is stopped and a return is made to the timer display (615).
Whene it is desired to set the time for the timer to any other tlme than the above S mlnutes, by pushing the timer switch 114 continuously for 2 seconds or mone (59CN) the a~ove indication ~5~ is increased every 0.5 second in the unit of one minute, and s~nce the numer~cal value returns to ~1~ after reaching a preset maxlmum value (e.g. ~19~ t ~s . ., . ~, ~, .
. . .
., , , _ - 8 0 -., 2 0 0 ~ 9 3 3 .

possible to set a desired blow operation time in the range of, for example, 1 minute to 19 minutes (6aD).
If the timer switch 114 is turned OFF when a desired value (e.g.
9~) appeared (625Y), then in 2 seconds thereafter a des~red timer time (e.g. ~9:ocr) is indicated and the numerical value of th~s timer display decreases every second (595).
If the timer switch 114 is turned ON (600) and then OFF within Z
seconds ~63~Y) during the timer operation, the ~mer operation ~s stopped at that time point (635) and the display returns from the timer display to the clock display. In this case, the blow operation is continued t640).
If the timer switch 11~ is pushed ON continuously for 2 seconds or more (6~0N), the timer display becomes a timer setting display corresponding to the minute indicated at that time point plus one minute, and by continuing the depress~on of the timer switch 114 the tim~r operation time can be increased every 0.5 second in the unit of ~. ( one minute (620)~ -If the timer switch 114 is turned OFF when a desired numerical value appeared (625Y~, then in 2 seconds thereafter the desired time for .
the timer is indicated and then the value indicated decreases every second (595).
The timer operation takes priorty over the blow operation and can be performed (including operation stop) regardless of the blow-off mode.
In all ths operation timings relatin~ to the timer operation, such . . .
.... .

. ,; ~. .
~ 8 1 2 0 0 ~ 9~3 as during timer operation and durlng timer setting, the t~mer time is lndicated by lighting of a light emitting dio~e on the clock ~isplay portion 115 of the operating panel 6. The clock display portlon 115 continues to light when clock ~ndication is not made.
Therefore, the tlmer setting operation can be done ~n a simple i manner.
When there is no operation switch input for a certain time (e.g. 30 minutes) in the state of blow operation, the blow operation is stopped.
,.;
Thus~ by stopping the blow operation after the lapse of a certain time it is intended to prevent the continuan oe of blow operation over a long time caused by the user forgetting to stop the blow operatlon and thereby attain power sabing and protection of the circulating punp and pipes.
Also when the blow operation is stopped by th~ timer as set forth above, this condition is announoed by the sounding of a buzzer fior 5 seconds just after the operation stop.
Next, the automatic filter washing operation will be descrfbed below with reference to the subroutine shown in Fig. ~
. :
~ ~ ~Automatic Filter Washing Operation) ' ~ ' . ~, !,~ In the automatic filter washing operation, the wash~ng of the filter 43 is perfonmed automatically in parallel w~th blow operation.
The autonatic filter washing operation is started (77D) in the case of a ,~. ~. .

.... .
~, .
--û 2-. .~, 2 ~)0 ~ 9~3 blow operation (765Y) in which an integrated time (from the start-up of the circulating pump P) o~ the blow operatlon has elapsed a certaln time (e~g. 1 hour) (76CY) and which satisfies automaW c filter washing operations.
~ The automQt;c filter washir~ conditions as referred to herein mean i that the blow operation permitting hot water level and temperature should be satisfied, that the blow-off mode should be any of mild blow, finger-pressure blow, wave blow and cycle blow modes, and that the - strength level should be any of strong, medium strong and medium.
The automatic filter washing operation terminates upon lapse of a certain time ~e.g. 1 min) of the same operation, while the blow operation continues and the integrating of time of the blow operation resh rts ~785).
When the automatic filter washing conditions are no longer satisfied (discontinued) due to the change of the blow-off mode or of !,~ ' the strength level during the automatic filter washing operation (775Y) and when ~he number of times of retrying after discontinuance is smaller ~.
- ~ than a certain number of times (e~g. 4) p90N), the automatic filber washing operation is discontinued (795)~ and thereafter when a blow - operation satisfying the automatic filter washlng conditions is s h rted ; (~OOY), the autoratic filber washing operation is stdrted ~77D).
-~- On the other hand, when the number of times of discontinuance in the autoratic filter washlng operation has reached a certain nwmber of times, the automatic filter washing operation tenminates (7~5). This ` i5 for preventing evacuat~on of the h thtub body 1 cause~ by retrying '' ' '' ' , "`

2 0 0 ~ ~ ~ 3 infinitely.
In the case of a blow operation not satlsfying the automatic f~lber washing conditions despite the ~ntegrated time of the blow operation h~s elapsed a certain time te.g. 1 hour) (765N), the aut~mat~c filter washing operation is started upon start of a blow operatlon whlch satisfies the automatic filter washing conditions ~ocY~.
Nest, the filter washing operation will be described below with re~erence to the subroutine shown in Fig.31.

~Filber Washing Cperation~

The filter washing operation can be perfonmed in precedence over the blow operation ~y turning ON the filter washlng switch 117 even before or a~ter or during the blow operation if only after turning ON of the operation switch 100 or 260.
When the filter washing switch 117 is turned ON (906Y~, the f~lber washing operation starts (910)~ and if there is no abnormal oondlt~on ln the discharge pressure of the circulating pump P detected by the pressure sensor o8 and in the hot water temperature ~n the bathtub body 1 detected ~y the hot water temperature sensor T, that ~s, 1f the pressure and hot water temperature are blow operation permlttlng pressure and temperature ~915N), the filter wash~ng operatlon is continued for a certaln time (e.g. 5 mln) and after the lapse of the oertain time the operatlon stops (215).
In the filter washlng operation~ the number of revolutlons of the ... ..
. ' .

:

200~3~3 circulating pump P is set to , for example, 3000 r.p.nL~ and the blow off nozzle adJusting valves 22 in the leg- and back-side blow-off nozzles 2, 3 are alightly opened, for example~ 0.5 mm h ckward from their fully closed positlons, w~th only the blow-off volume a~Justing valves 22 in the back-slde blow-off nozzles 4 being fully closed.
;If ~he pressure and water temperature are not normal (915~, there !~ is made detection as to whether the water temperature is lower than the lower limit (e.g. 5 ~C) of the blow operation pern~tting temperature range, and if the answer is affinmative (925Y), the freeze pr~of~ng operation is started ~320), while ~f the answer ls negative, that is~
if the hot water temperature is higher than the upper limit (e.g. 50 ~C
) of the said temperature range (925N), the operation stops (215).
Next, the free æ proofing operation will be described below with reference to the subroutine shown ~n Fig.~2.

~ . . .~ .. . .

/

:''` " / ' ' , ;. l /
,: ,, /
~'``. /
. ' /
.. ~ ~
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.
.-; .
''',' '' .. . .
~ - 8 5 - ;

Z O O ~ 9~3 (Freeze Proofing Operation ) The freeze proofing operation is performed to prevent freeziny of the water In the circulating pump P and In the hot water circulation path D. It is perfonred in precedbnce ow r the blow operat~on, and when the water temperature becomes lower than the lower limit (e.g. 5 C) f the blow operation permittlng temperature range durilng the blow operation, the b10w 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 te-g 5 C) of the blow operation permitting temperature range (310Y), the water level in the bathtub body 1 is detected by the pressure sensor 48 which also serves as a level sensor~ If the detected leNel is a blow operation permitting lewl (e.g. a le wl higher than the upper end of the suction port 1m) (315Y~, the freeze proofing operation is sh rted (3aO~.
In the freeze proofing operat~on, the circulaW ng pump P is rotated at a low speed (e.g. 1000 r.p.m.) by inverter control to circulate water through the hot water circulation path D.
In this case, if the water temperature is lower than the lower limit (e.g. S C) of the blow operation penmitting te~perature range of low~r than the tamperature which is the said lower-limit temperature plus the temperature (e.g. 2-3 C) corresponding to the hysteresis in the hot water teTperature sensor T (325N) and if the water level in the bathtub body 1 is the blow operation permitting level (330V), the , ' ' .
~
.
..
.; ' .

2 0 0 ~ 9~3 feeeze proofing operation is contlnued. During th~ freeze proofing operation, the Indication "C" Indicating a low water temperature is turned on and off every second on the clock dlsplay portion 115 of the operating panel 6.
If by additional supply of hot water the wa~er temperature rises to the lower limit of the blow operation penmitting temperature range or higher or to the temperature which is the said low~r-limit temperature plus the temperature corresponding to the hysteresis in the hot water temperature sensor T or higher t325Y), the operation stops t215).
Main operations in the operation procedure of the whirlpool bath described above will be further explained below.

~rv -2 ) Oescription of Conditions for Starting Blow Operation , The blow operation in the foregoing operation procedure is started only when preset water level and temperature conditions in the bathtub body 1 are satisfied.
Mbre specifically, as shown in Fig.33~ the water level condition is detenmined on the basis of the suction port lm and the belly-side blow-off no~zles 4 both provided in the bathtub body 1. A water level higher than the upper end of the opening of each belly-side blow~o ff nozzle 4 -`~. is designated water level A; a water level between the upper end of the ~A
opening of each belly-side blow-off no~zle 4 and the upper end of the ~ suction port lm is designated water level B; and a water level lower : i than the upper end of the suction level lm is designhted water level C.
''~ '`

: ., 2 0 0 ~ 9;~3 When the water lewl is A or B, the blow operation is started, ~hile when the water level is C, the blow operation is not started.
Further, when the water level changed from A or B to C during blow operation, the blow operation is stopped.
In this ca~e, even if the water level is returned to B or A from C
by additional supply of hot water for exampleS the blow operat~on is held OFF~ and by again turning ON the operation switch the level-Jrop stop can be cancelled, thereby attalning surene~ss and safety of oper~tion.
In this connection, in the clock display portion 115 of the operating panel 6, the indication "L~ indicatlng a level drop is turned on and off for 15 seconds alternately every second by means of a light emltting d10de, and at the sa~e time warning is g~ven by sounding of a buzzer.
Detection of the water levels P~ B and C is performed in such a manner as shown ~n Fig.~4~ In consideration of wav~ng of the hot water surface when the user enters or leaves the bathtub, the output voltage of the pressure sensor 48 which serves as a level se~sor ~s prov~ded with hysteresis to prevent hunting ~ whereby the controlling operation of the controller C can be done smoothly through the pressure sensor 4EL
1,~
.; , ., . . ~
In Fig.34, Soc represents a threshold value from a water level lower than the level C to the level C; Scb represents a threshold value from the level C to the level B; Sba represents a threshold value from ~ the level B to the level A; Sab represents a threshold value from the '~' .

.. .. ..
. ''` .
~ - 8 8 -2 0 0 ~ 9~3 level A to the level B; Sbc represents a threshold value fron the level B to the level C; and Sco represents a threshold value from the level C
to a lo~Jer 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 ~ater te~perature condition is determined on the basis of a water temperature taking into account the protection gf the user and of the pipes made of a synthetic resin, e.g. 50 ~C 9 and a water temperature takin~ into account the prevention of freezir~ of the water in t~ circulation pwmp P, e.g. 5 ~C- The water temperature higher than 50 C is designat~d the water temperature A; the water temperature in the range of 5 C to 50C is designated the water temperature B; and the water beTperature lower than 5~C is de~ignated the water temperature C. The blow operation is performed at the water temperature B and not performed at the water temperature A or C.
When the water temperature chnges from B to A or C during the blow operation, the operation is st~pped.
In this case~ even if the water te~perature is returned to B from A
by additional supply of water for example~ the blow operation 15 kept OFF, and only by again turning ON the operat~on sw~tch the stop of the operation caused by the rise of the temperature can be can oelled to : i, ensure the sureness and safety of operation.
In this case, the ind1cation ~H~ indicat~ng a h~gh water .~ tenperature 1s turned on and of~ alternately evsry seoon~ for 15 se~onds .'' "\
?
. `' ~ ` ~ .` .
, , ~ ` .
~ - 8 9 -2 0 0 ~ 9 ~ 3 by means of a light emittin~ diode on the closk display portion 115 of the operating panel 6, and at the sam~ t~me a bu~zer wlll sound to ~ive warning.
The water temperatures ~ B and C are detected in such a manner as sho~ in Fig.35. In consideration of wauing of the hot water sur h ce when the user enters or leaves the bathtub, the resistance value of the hot waber bemperature sensor T is provided with hysteresis to prevent hunting, whereby the controlling operation of the controller C can be done smoothly.
In Fig.35, S'oc represents a threshold value from a temperature lower than the water temperature C to the temperature ~; S'cb represents a threshold value from the temperature C to B; S'ba represents a threshold value from the temperature B to A; S'ab represents a threshold value from the temperature A to B; S'bc represents a threshold value from the temperature B to C; and S'co represents a threshold value from the temperature C to a lower temperature side.
Hysteresis is provided between the threshold values S'oc and S'co, between S'cb and S'bc~ and between S' h and S'ab.

V-3 ) Description of State Transition of Blow-off Mbdes The state transition of blow off modes in the operatlon procedure described above is as shown in Table 2.
In Table 2~ an operation stop condition and blow-off modes are , ~-. . -, :.,, :

, ~ g O_ ~ .
, .

2 0 0 ~ 9~3 enum~rated in the vertical direction and sh te numbers are enum~rated in the corresponding right-hand posltions, whlle In the lateral directlon there are enumerated operating switches toperation switch, m~ld swltch, spotblow switch, pulse blow swltch~ wa w blow sw~tch, cycle blow switch, program blow switch) as well as display portlons (mild blow, spotblow~
pulse blow, wave blow, cycle blow, program blow, selection pattern P~ B, C, display portions) which are indicated by light emltting diodes on . .
the operating panel 6.
: Table 2 shows the transition from a blow-o ff mo~e before turning ON
of each operating switch to a blow-off mode afber turning ~N thereof.
In the cases of pulse blow, wave blow, cycle blow and program blow each having the selection patterns A, B and ~ as sub modes, between blow-off modes of the same kind, newly added sub modes are sure to shift : in a preset order, for example, in the order from high to low frequency of use ~Ar~B ~ A in this embodiment).
: Between blow~off modes of different kinds, a shift ~s made surely ....
to a preset sub mode, for example, a sub mode of a h~gh ~requency of ; use (the sub mode A in this embodiment).
Description will now be made more concretely with reference to Table.2. Upon turning ON of the operation switch 1CX~ a shift is made ; from ope~atlon stop ~state No. "On) to mild blow (state No. ~1nj.
~In thls state, if the pulse blow switch 263 or 103 is turned ON, a - . ~shift is made from mild blow to pulse blow A (state No. ~3An~.
If in this state the finger-pressure blow switch 262 or 102 ~s : turned ON, a shift ~s made from pulse blow A bo spotblow (state No. "2~) ... . .
~;,, ~ , .
.,, ,~ .

~,. ...
~ , -9 1- ~ .
. .

- 200~i9~3 . , .

If in the state of pulse blow~ A the pulse blow switch 263 or 103 ls turned ON for trans~tion to a blow-off mode of the samQ kind~ a sh~ft is made to pulse blow B ~state No. "3Bn).
Further, if the wave blow switoh 265 or 104 is turned ON for transition from the state of pulse blow A to a blo~w-off mode of a differend kind, a shift is made to wave blow A (state NOD "4A--), while if the cycle blow switch 266 or 105 ~s turned ON, ~ shift is made to cycle blow ~ (state No. "5A"), or if the program blow swltch 267 or 106 is turned ON, a shift is made to program blow A (state No. "6An).
Thus, since the blow-off mode is set to the mild blow ~ode at the beginnir~ of operation, even when the user i5 a child or an old person, it is possible to prevent the user from being carried away his legs by the hot water Jet and falling down and also p~event the user from feeling uncomfortableness due to an excessi w blow strength.
~ breover, since the sub blow-off modes are sure to shift in a preset order, it is easy for the user to understand a sub mode transition pattern and easy to operate.
. , .
: The msrk ~ONr in Table 2 indicates lighting of the display portion - of the blow-off mode beirg adopted. For example, in the case of pulse blow A, the letter "A~ lights in both the pulse blow display portion 13B and the selection pattern display portion (142).
- In the case of program blow patterns A, B and C, the program blow display p~rtion 141 and the selection pattern display portlon 145 light up, while the mild blow~ finger-pressure blow, pulse blow and wave blow ,. ..
.. , :-~ ^ .
~^, ., . .
. .

200~ 3 ., .
display portions 136~ 137~ 138, 1~9 go on and off. In Table 2, the mark n_n represents non-change and the mark ".~ represents an OFF
condition.
In the state transition of blow-off modes described aboue, thé blow strength level does not change even if the blow-off mode is changed.
Thus, it is possible to maint~in the body feel~ng strength level ~n the blow-off mode before change, so it is not necessary to perforn a strength level changing operation, that is, it i5 p~ssible to prevent the user from feeling uncomfortableness at the tlme o~ change of the blow-off mode~ It ls also possible to chan~e the strength level to a medium level with change in the blow-off mode~
Further, the hot ~ter blow-off position is not changed even îf the blow off mode is changed.
Thus~ it is possible to maintain the hot water blow-off position ~n the blow-off mode before change, so it ls not necessary to perform a blow-ofF position changing operation, that is, it is possible to prevent the user from feeling uncomfortableness at the tim~ of c h nge of the blow~off mode.
As to the hot water blow-off position, it is also posslble to open all the blow-off noz~les 2, ~, 4 with change in the blow-off moJe, allowin~ the user to feel the blow-off mode after change all over hid body, and thereafter make a change to desired blow-off pos~tions , . ,~
- matching the blow-off mode~

. ~
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` -9 3-20~ 3 ~' _ _ _ _ _ O _ _ O _ _ O _ _ 4 `".' :~.--Z _ , , O -O , O -Z -O -O _ O -O , ~ ~.~ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ O O O
: a u a __ _ _ _ __ _ _ o o o __ _ ., ~ ~ . _ . _ _ _ -o o Z ._ _ _ oo oo _oo' 'a. D . . . Z Z Z __ ____ Zo~ ~0 00 .' . .~ I ~ . . O . . . . . . . . . 00 40 00 ~0 : -O __ __ __ ____ 00 ~ ~, ., o ~ ~ _ ~: ~ ~1: ~ e ~c ~ ~: ~¢ ~: ~1: ~ u ~_ a u o ~ ¢ ~ a: ~¢ ~: ~c ~ ~¢ m u ~ ~ c _ - ~u ~ _ ~ e ~ _ .s m u ~ ~ ¢ ~¢ ~ ~ ~
Ul 3 ¦ P- ' ¢ ~: r~ ~ a: e ¢ a: ~5 ~'C ~C ~ ~ ~S
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o ~: ~. P. ~ æ :~ :~ u ~ ~ P~ P. P.
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2 0 0~9~3 ( N--4 ) Description of St~ te Tr.ansition of Hot Water Blow-of~
Positions The hot wat~r blow-off position changing operation in th~ operation procedure based on flowcharts of ~rV -1 ) will be described below wlth reference to the ~xplanatory view of Fig.~6.
In th;s embodimen~ the hot water blo~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 accord;ng to t~ user's liking.
More specifically, a six-hole operation is initialized (950) in which hot water is blown off from the six, leg-, back- and belly-side blow-off nozzles 2,2,3,3,4~4 simultaneously.
From the six-hole operation (950) in which all of the ON-OFF type . pattern switches for the leg-, back- and belly-side blow-off nozzles are ON~ a change can be made into a four-hole operation (955)(956)(957) in which two blow-off no zles are OFF, by pushing OFF any switch (951) (952~(953).
~ y pushing ON and OFF-state switch out of the pattern switches for ., : the leg-, back- and belly-side blow-off nozzles (951)(952)t953) it is possible to make a return from the four-hole operation t955)(956)(957) - to the six-hole operation (950).
It is also possible to change from the four-hole operation (955) : (956)(957) into a two-hole operation (967)(96a)(969) in which ,~ v;
~.:.;; . additional two blow-off nozzles are OFF~ by push~ng Off an ON-state ., .
- switch out of the pattern sw~tches for th~ leg-, back- and belly-side blow-off nozzles t960)-(965).

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Table 3 shows the state transitlon of hot water blow-off posltions i described above, in which operatlon stop and blow-off positions (back, belly, leg, back-belly, belly-leg~ back-leg~ back-belly-leg) are enumerated in ~he vertical direction and state nwmbeSS.~ are enumera W in the corresponding right-hand positions, while in the lateral direction there are enumerated operating switches (operation swltch as well as back-, belly- and leg-side switches) and pilot la~ps ~back-, belly- and leg-side pilot lamps) which are turned ON by light emittiS~g diodes on the operating panel 6.
An explanation will now be made concretely with referen oe to Table 3. If the operation sw1tch 100 1s turned ON, a change is made from operation stop (state No~ ~a~) to a six-hole operation (950) (staSte No.
) in which hot water is blown off from the six, leg-, h ck- and belly-side blow~off nozzles 2,2,3,3,4 4 simulataneously, and if ~n this ; state the ~ack-side nozzle pattern switch 274 or 111 is pushed OFF, a ~ shift is made to a four-hole operation (955) of the leg- and blly-side - . blow-off nozzles 2~2,~ 4 and the state number beoomes ~o~
In the above fouS~-hole operation state No. "Olln~, both leg-side pilot lamp 112a and belly-side pilot lamp 113a go on.
- Thusl the six-hole operation is initialized at the start of operation, and by tuS~ning OM and OFF the leg-, back- and belly-side . .
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2 0 0 ~ 9~3 blow-off no~zle use pattern switches there can be made an easy change from the six-hole operation to the four- or two-hole operat~on, or from the two-hole operatlon to the four- or six-hole operatiorb In Table 3~
the m~rk n_n represents non-change and the mark ~.~ represents an OFF
; , conditlon.
; In the state transitlon of hot wat~r blow-off positions descri~ed above, the strength level ~oes not change as long as the blow oper~tion does not stop even if the hot water blo~-off positio~s are changed.
Thus, since it is possible to maintain the strength level in the blow-off positions before change, it is not necessary to perform a strength level changing operation, that is, it i5 possible to prevent the user from feeling uncomfortableness at the time of change of the blo~-off positions.

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, , 2 0 0 ~ 3 (~T _S ) Description of State Transition of Str~ngth Level in Blow Operation The strength level In the operation procedure based on flowcharts of ~rv ~ s set to flve stages of "strong,~ ~mediwm strong,~ "
- medium," ~medium weak" and "weak" for each blow-off mode~ and different strengths are set in consideration of the contents of the blow-off !, ' modes; that is, different blow-off modes lead t~o different belowstrengths even at the same strength level indication ~mediwm~.
The state transition of such strength le~el ls as shown in Table A

In Table 4, operation stop and five-stages of strength levels ; (strong, medium s~rong, medium~ medium weak, weak) as well as program blow patterns A, B, C are enumerated in the vertical direction~ and s~te num~ers are enumerated ln the correspond~ng r~ght-hand pos~tions, while in the lateral direction there are enwmerated operatlng sw1tches (operation switch as well as hot water blow strong- and weak-s~de switches) and strength level indicat1ng lamps (level strong, medlum ` strong, medium~ medium weak and weak ind~cting lamps) us~ng l~ght ` emitting diodes.
The strength level is set so taht when the hot water blow strong-sidb switch 68 or 107 is pushed and then released~ a sh~ft ~s made in a direction in which the stren~th is enhan oe d one stage~ wh~le when the hot water blow weak-side switch 0 or 10B is pushed and then released, a shift is made ln a direction in which the strength is weakened one ..~

' ~ , 2 0 0 ~ 3 sta~e~
For example, if the operation sw1tch 100 1s turned ON, a shift is made from operation stop tstage No. On) to the strength level "m~dium"
(state No. ~3n), and if in this state the hot water blow strong-s~de sw1tch 68 or 107 1s pushed and then released~ a shift is madb from n medium" to the strength level ~medium strong" (state No. "4n), then 1f the same switch 68 or 107 is again pushed and then released, a shift is 7 made to the strength level "strong" (state No. "5n).~
Further, if in the strength level ~medium" the hot water blow weak-side switch 69 or lOB is pushed and then released, a shift 1s made to the strength level "medium weak" (state No. "2n), and 1f the same switch 69 or 10B is again pushed and then released, a shift i5 made to the st~ength level "weak" (state No. "1n).
In the program blow patterns A, B and C, since the strength level is programred boforehand, it cannot be changed even upon operat~on of -~ the hot water blow strong- and weak-side sw1tches 68~ 69~ or 107~ lOB.
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In Table 4 the mark ~CNr indicates lighting of the strength level 1ndicating lamp in operation.
The mark "ON~OFF" ind1cates that the strength level ind1cating lamp goes ON and OFF when the program blow pattern A, B or C incapable of : - changing the strength level is 1n operatio~ Further~ 1ndicates: non-change and ~.~ indicates an OFF condit10n.
~: Thus, since the strength level 1s set to ~med1um~ at the start of blow operation, there ~s no fear of a too strong hot watsr Jet caus~ng .: .
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the user bo 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 water jet and falling down.
Further, for both increase and decrease the strength level is ~ changed step by step, so it is possible to prevent a sudden change in : . the user's body ~eeling and also possible to prevent the pipes from : being damaged by water ham~er due to sudden rise of the water pressure in the pipes~ ~
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`i -2 0 0 ~ 9;~3 - 6 ) Description of Priority of Main Operatlons The prlority of main operatlons in the operation prooedure based on flowcharts of ~rV -1 ) is as shown in Table 5.
'' ' , Table 5 ~ ", _ . ._ . . ._ . .
High Stop a high water temperature Stop a low water lev~l Free~e proofing operation Stop o blow operation timer !' . Filter washing operation Timer opeatlon . Blow operat10n .: Automatic filter washing operation . Low eration stop " ~ ~ .
Thus the stop at a high water temperature is glven the top priority to ensurei safety, and also as to the other operations the order of priority Is provided among them, thereby permitting the prot~ction of the user and of the constituent m~mbers and permitting optimum control to effect an efflclent operation.

'.,~! ' (rV -7 ) Control Timing between Opening~Closing of Blow~off Volwme .~ Adiusting U~lves and Change of the Number of Revolutions of Circulat~ng ,: Pump .i~ .
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, 2()0~9;~3 , The following Tables 6 and 7 show the control timing between opening and closing operations of the leg-~ hck- and belly-side blow-- off no zles 2, 3, 4 and the change of th~ number of revolutions of the ;~ circulating pump P.
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Ul U 1~ h U~ Ul iS~ i~l ., '~3 :` - I 0 b-Z 0(~ 9~3 In the case where it ls necessary to increase the number of revolutions of the circulatir~ pump P at the t~me of chang~ng the blow-off mode as shown in Table 6, the opening or closing operation of the blow off nozzles 2, 3, 4 is performed prior to chang~ng the number of revolutions of the pump P, wh~le when it ls necessary to decrease the number of revolutlons of the c~rculating pwmp P3 the change of the number of revolutions of the pump P is perfonmed prior to the opening or closlng operation of the blow-off no ztes Z, 3, 4k When the number of hot w~ter Jets ~s to be decreased at the time of changing the number of such jets as shown in Table 7, the number of revolutions of the circulatirg pump P is decreased prior to the clos~ng oper~tion of the blow-off nozzles 2, 3~ 4~ while when the number of hot water jets is to be increased, the opening operation of the nozzles 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 number of hot water jets, the control timing for the opening or closlng operat~on of the blow-off nozzles 2, 3, 4 and that for the change of the number of revolutions of the circulating pump P are made different, whereby not only it is possible to prevent the user from feel~ng u noomfortableness due to a chan~e of the blow strength but also an abrupt change in the discharge pressure of the circulat~ng pump P can be prevented, thereby prevent~ng the damage of p~pes caused by water ..
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2 0 0 ~ 9 ~ 3 (rV - 8 ) Electricity insulation against hlgh frequency components of inverter produoed current.

H~reinafter, preferred embodiments of electricity insulation means applicable for protecting the transfer of high frequency components of inverter-produoe d current to the hot water in said bathtub body 1 is explained in view of attached drawings.
(a) As shown in Figs. 46~47 and 44~ an isolating trans~ormer 1140 is interposed between the inverter E and a commercially available power source 937.
Fig.49 is a graph showing the frequency distribution of the leakage high-frequency voltage, and Fig.50 is a graph showing the variation of the leakage high-frequency current with time, when the isolating t~ansfonmer 1140 is provided. As can b readily understood, the leakage high-frequency vol hge and leakage high-frequency current of the h~gh- -freguency components shown in Figs. 49 and 50 are far less than those . .
`j~ shown In Fig.51 and 52 in the conventional bathtub unit respectively.
Thus, the present invention prevents ef~ectively the h thing person being struck by electricity even if the motor M is grounded imperfectly by any possibility.
(b) As shown in Fig.10 to Fig.12, the circulating pump P and the inverter E are accommodated in the functional unit 9 and an electric insulation is provided between the circulating pump P and the inverter E
as well as ~etween the inverter E and the casing 60 of the functional unit 9.

- i ,, 2()0 ~3~ 3 Due to such construction, the present invention also prevents effectively the bathing person being struck by electricity even 1f the motor M is grounded imperfectly by any possibility.
(c) As shown in Fig.53,54 and 55, an ~solatin~ transfonmer 1140 is interposed between the inverter E and a commercially available power source 937 and a motor casing 938 of the circulating pump P is connected to an intenmediate point n of the commercially available power source 937.
Due to such construction, the present invention also prevents effectively the bathing person being struck by electricity even if the motor M is grounded imperfectly by any possibility.
(d) A mDtor portion 1038 and a pump portion 32 of the circulating pump P are integrally constructed and the motor portion 1038 and the pump portion 32 are electrically insulated from each other.
Namely, as shown in Fig. 9, an insulating plate 1033 formed of a synthetic resin is intsrposed between the motor casing 32 and the pump cas~ng 38 to prevent a high-fr2qusncy current that flows from a field core 1C24 to the motor casing 38 from leaking through the pump casing 32 into the watsr contained in the bathtub 1. The impeller integrally having the uppPr impeller 33a and the lower impeller 34a is fonmed of an insulating synthetic resin. The lowsr end of the rotor shaft 35 of the mDtor unit M is fitted in the core 1035 of the upper boss 1034 of the impeller. Thus, the pump unit 32 is insulated electrically from the mDtor unit 3E~
Due to such construction, the present invention also prevents .

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2 0 0 ~ 9 3 3 effectiv~ly the bathing person ~oing struck by electricity even if the motor M is grounded imperfectly by any possibility.
(e) As shown in Fig.10 to Fig. 12~ the inverter E is electrically insulated from the casing 60 of the functional unit 9 which accommodates said inverter E therein and a capacity coupling between the inverter E and the casing 60 of the functional unit 9.
Due to such construction, the present invention also prevents effectively the bathing person being struck by electricity even if the motor M is grounded imperfectly by any possibility.
tf) As shown in Fig.1C~ a functional unit 9 is disposed remote from thR bathtub body 1 and, in the functional unit 9, the circulating pump P
is disposed at the center of the unit 9, the filter 43 is disposed beside the circulating pump 9, and above these elements, a motor portion and electric parts such as the control unit C and the inverter E are disposed.
Due to such construction, the present invention also prevents effectively the bathing person being struck by electricity even if the motor M is grounded imperfectly by any possibility.
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(g) As shown in Fig.57, a line filter 1143 is interposed between the inverter E and a comercially available power source 937.
In the c~rcuit shown in Fig.56, numeral 1145 indicate a pair of lead lines, numerals 1146 and 1147 indicate condensers, numeral 1148 lndicates a casing of filter 1143.
Due to such construction, the present invention also prevents ' ' ' - 1 1 0 -. ` .
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Claims (14)

1. A whirlpool bath with an inverter-controlled circulating pump comprising;
a) a bathtub body, b) a circulating pump driven by a power-operated motor and mounted exteriorly on said bathtub body, c) a hot water circulation path disposed between said bathtub body and said circulating pump, said hot water circulation path comprising a hot water suction path and a hot water forced-feed path, said hot water forced-feed path having at least one terminal end which is open into said bathtub body, d) at least one blow-off nozzle which is mounted on said terminal and of said hot water forced-feed path, e) an air intake portion connected to said hot water forced-feed path to permit blowing of bubbling hot water into said bathtub body from said blow-off nozzles, f) an inverter interposed between a drive circuit of said power-operated motor of said circulating pump and a power source, whereby the operation of said circulating pump is controlled such that the revolution of said motor is readily and smoothly varied by way of a frequency modulation effected by said inverter to provide said blow-off of hot water in various modes which are different in the blow off amount and pressure of said blow-off hot water, and g) an electricity insulation means protecting the transfer of high frequency components of inverter-produced current to said hot water in said bathtub body.

2. A whirlpool bath with an inverter-controlled circulating pump according to claim 1, wherein said blow-off modes comprises, a) a mild blow in which the amount of said hot water blown off from said blow-off nozzles is large and the blow-off pressure thereof is low;
b) a spot blow in which the amount of hot water blown off from said blow-off nozzles is small and the blow-off pressure thereof is high;, c) a pulse blow in which said blow-off nozzles are opened and closed periodically to perform blow-off of hot water and stop thereof in an alternate manner; and d) a wave blow in which the amount of hot water to be blown off is changed periodically by changing the number of revolutions of said circulating pump periodically.

3. A whirlpool bath with an inverter-controlled circulating pump according to claim 2, wherein said hot water forced-feed path has a plurality of terminal ends which are open into said bathtub body and a plurality of blow-off nozzles which are mounted on said terminal ends of said hot water forced-feed path, and said control unit controls the operation of said blow-off nozzles 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 in said each blow-off modes.

4. A whirlpool bath with an inverter-controlled circulating pump according to claim 1, wherein there can be effected a program blow in which said blow-off modes, blow strength of said blown-off hot water and selections of blow-off positions of said blow-off nozzles are optionally combined or changed with time in accordance with a preset program by controlling the degree of opening and that of closing of each said blow-off nozzle and the number of revolutions of said circulating pump in said various blow-off modes to diversify the change of blow.

5. A whirlpool bath with an inverter-controlled circulating pump according to claim 1, wherein there can be effected another program blow in which each said blow-off mode comprises a plurality of sub-blow-off modes and every time said blow-mode Is changed from one blow-off mode to the other blow-off mode, a reference sub-blow-mode which is predetermined in said controller is selected.

6. A whirlpool bath with an inverter-controlled circulating pump according to claim 1, wherein the amount and pressure of said blow-off hot water take a sinosoidal curve in each blow-off modes.

7. A whirlpool bath with an inverter-controlled circulating pump according to claim 1, wherein the amount and pressure of said blown-off hot water take an irregular curve in each blow-off modes.

8. A whirlpool bath with an inverter-controlled circulating pump according to claim 1, wherein an electrically isolating transformer is interposed between said inverter and a commercially available power source.

9. A whirlpool bath with an inverter-controlled circulating pump according to claim 1, wherein said circulating pump and said inverter are accommodated in a functional unit and an electricity insulation is provided between said circulating pump and said inverter as well as between said inverter and said functional unit.

10. A whirlpool bath with an inverter-controlled circulating pump according to claim 1, wherein an electically isolating transformer is interposed between said inverter and a commercially available power source and a motor casing of said circulating pump is connected to an intermediate point of said commercially available power source.

11. A whirlpool bath with an inverter-controlled circulating pump according to claim 1, wherein a motor portion and a pump portion of said circulating pump are integrally constructed and said motor portion and said pump portion are electrically insulated from each other.

12. A whirlpool bath with an inverter-controlled circulating pump according to claim 1, wherein said inverter is electrically insulated from a functional unit which accommodates said inverter therein and a capacity coupling between said inverter and said functional unit is minimized.

13. A whirlpool bath with an inverter-controlled circulating pump according to claim 1, wherein a functional unit is disposed remote from said bathtub body and, in said functional unit, said circulating pump is disposed at the center of said unit, a filter is disposed beside said circulating pump, and above these elements, a motor portion and electric parts such as said control unit and said inverter are disposed.

14. A whirlpool bath with an inverter-controlled circulating pump according to claim 1, wherein a line filter is interposed between said inverter and a commercially available power source.