US2271644A - Thermostatic valve - Google Patents

Description

I. M. JAYNES THERMOSTATIC VALVE Feb. 3, 1942.

2 Shets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 14, 1941 H 1940 .Zll. J ynes Feb. 3, 1942. I. M. JAYNES THERMOSTATIC VALVE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 lllllnfllllllll Filed Jan. 14, 1941 Patented Feb. 3, 1942 f 2,271,644 THERMOSTATIC VALVE Isac M. James, Jackson, Tenn. Application January 14, 1941, Serial No. 374,386

UNITED STATES PATENT o E 4 Claims.

This invention relates to bathing apparatus and more particularly to a combined circular shower bath and mechanical massage device.

The object of the invention is to provide a combined device of the character described of simple and inexpensive construction capable of being readily installed in a bath room or other desired place and which can be used with equally good results either as a shower or Turkish bath or for massaging the body.

, A further object of the invention is to provide a bath of circular contour with the mechanism for operating the massage element disposed on the outside of the tub so as not to interfere with the bathing operation and with the valve and electric switch for controlling the water and heat arranged within convenient reach of the bather.

A further object is to provide a novel form of thermostatic control valve interposed in the hot and cold water supply line and so constructed as to automatically cut off the supply of water to the tub in case the temperature of the water becomes too hot thereby effectually to prevent accidental scaldingv of the bather and render the bath perfectly safe for children as well as grown-ups.

A still further object of the invention is generally to improve this class of devices so as to increase their utility, durability and efficiency.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and in which similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of a combined circular bath and mechanical massage device embodying the present invention,

Figure 2 is a rear elevation,

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view of the thermostatic control valve, and

Figure 4 is a side elevation of the valve, a por tion thereof being broken away to show the construction of the operating means.

The improved circular shower bath and mechanical massage apparatus forming the subjectmatter of the present invention comprises a vertically disposed tank or tub 5 preferably circular in cross section and closed at its top and bottom, as indicated at 6 and I, the front wall of the tub being provided with an entrance opening 8 defining an upstanding lip 9 at the base of the tub to prevent the escape of water therefrom.

Secured to the inner wall of the tub 5 is an arcuate supporting rod II! on which is slidabiy mounted one or more curtains formed of any suitable material and which curtains, when drawn, serve to close the opening 8 and prevent splashing of the water when taking a shower bath and confine the heat therein when taking.

a Turkish bath.

charge and arranged directly above the drain pipe is a stool I3 on which the bather may sit when bathing.

Disposed at the top 5 of the tub is a heater ll of conventional construction and which mayKbe used either for drying the hair after taking a' bath or for heating the interior of the tub when the device is used as a Turkish bath. Connected with the electric heater I4 is an electric switch l5 having one or more push buttons operatively connected with suitable resistance coils (not shown) within the heater so that by pushing one or the other of said buttons the intensity through which they water is sprayed onto the bather.

Arranged on the outside of the tub or tank 5 and secured thereto-in any suitable manner is a bracket l9 on which is mounted an electric motor 2|) having a relatively small pulley 2| for engagement with a drivebelt 22; The belt 22 extends over a relatively large ball bearing disk or pulley 23 mounted for rotation on a supporting stud 24 secured to the tub in vertical alinement with the motor 20. Extending laterally from the disk or pulley 23 is a crank pin 25 and pivotally mounted on said pin is a connecting rod 26 preferably formed in two sections having their adjacent ends pivotally united at 21. Secured to the tub below the disk or pulley 23 is a bracket or support 28 having'a threaded socket 29 formed therein and provided with a terminal laterally extending flange 30. Coacting with the bracket 28 is a guide member 3| preferably in the form of a circular disk having a threaded shank 32 for engagement with the threads 29 on said bracket. The member 3| is provided with a vertically disposed slot 33 flan e 30 or a w to turn freely n t passage of water through the valve, as previously threads 29. stated; The seating of the valves 53 and 54 may The lower section of the connecting rod 2| is be adjusted to a nicety by rotating the fingerprovided .with a terminal socket 34 which receives piece 60 which, in turn, raises or lowers the the adjacent end of a curved spring 35, the oppobushing 49 thereby rendering the valve very sensite end of which extends through spaced loops S ive in Operation. It will-thus be seen that the 36 on a massage head, indicated at 31, the spring water controlling valve 44 andelectric switch I being retained in position'within the socket 34 are in convenient reach of the bather and the and loops 36 by suitable'clamping screws 38. It mechanism for imparting either a vertical movewill thus be seen that by loosening the clamping 1011161115 the massage element or an oscillatin screws 38 the massage head 31 may b adjusted surging movement thereto is arranged outside vertically of the spring 35 and locked in adjusted the tub so as to occupy very little space and perposition by tightening said screws. The spring mit the bather free use of his or her limbs during 35 passes through a transverse opening 39 formed the bathing operation. If it is desired to take a in the rear wall of the tub 5 so as to permit os- T rkish b h, i is m y necessary to turn 0n 1 cillating or surging movement of the massage ,the heater l4 and close the curtains ll so as to head when the guide member 33 is adjusted to confine the heat within the tub, as will be readpermit oscillation of the lower section of the conilyunderstood.

necting rod 26. The devices may be made in different sizes and I The massage head 31 is hollow and projecting shapes and constructed of any suitable matefrom the rear thereof is a nipple 40 to which is rial without departing from the spirit of the inconnected one end of a flexible tube 4|, the other vention. end of which is connected to a, eorresponding Having thus described the invention, What is nipple 42 extending from a valve 43. The valve claimed as new is! 43 is also operatively connected with the shower f1; 1. In a device of the class described, a valve nozzle l6 and is provided with an operating hanincluding a casing, a lining disposed withinthe dle 44 by means of which the flow of heated wacasing and provided with guide ribs, a housing ter to the shower attachment and massage head slidably mounted on said guide ribs and providmay be controlled at will. Connected with the ed with oppositely disposed valve seats, a valve valve 43 is a pipe 45 which, in turn, is connected 39 stem mounted for vertical movement within the by a T (not shown) with branch pipes leading housing and provided with valves cooperating to a hot water heater and cold water supply, with the valve seats, means operatively connectand connected in the pipe 45 is a thermostatic ed with the housing for adjusting said housing control valve 46 which will now be described. relative to the valves, and a thermostat opera- The valve 46 comprises a casing 41 having a 3'3 tively connected with one of said valves.

lining 48 disposed therein and provided with 2. In a device of the class described, a valve spaced solid circumferential guide ribs 48 and including a casing having means for connection disposed in contact with said guide ribs and slidwith a water supply, a lining disposed within the y mounted within the lining 48 is a vertically casing, a housing slidably mounted on said linmovable housing 49 having its opposite ends bev- 40' ing and provided with oppositely disposed valve eled to form valve. seats 50 and 5|. Arranged seats, a valve stem extending through the houswithin the housing 49 i a valve stem 52 proing, valves carried by the opposite ends of the vided with oppositely disposed valves 53 and 54 stem and coacting with said seats, a thermostat for controlling the passage of water through the secured to one of the valves, and means for casing 46 to the tub. g justing the housing longitudinally of the lining Connected with the lower valve 53 is a thermoto vary the distance between the valves and their static element 55, the lower end of which is anseats chored to the casing 46 bya brace 56. The func- 3. In a device of the class described, a valve tion of the element 55 is to automatically open or including a. casing having means for connection close the valves according to the temper u e 0f 51 with a water supply, a lining disposed within the the water and thus prevent scalding 0f the valve, a housing slidably mounted within the linbather. ing and provided with oppositely disposed valve The exterior of the housing 49 is provided with Seats, said housing b i provided t a rack, a rack 51 and-cooperating with Said rack is a 3, alve tem extending through th housing,

Dini Carried by a Stem the d of valves secured to the opposite ends of the stem ,s which is secured a suitable finger-piece 60 so that and coacting t t adja ent Seats, a t

y rotating the fi -D the housmg 49 stat' operatively connected with one of said m y be j ed v l y of he valve casing o valves, a pin journaled in the casing; a pinion v y the Opening and closing mov t of the carried by one end of the pin and engaging the valves. Under normal conditions the valves 53 6 teeth of the rack, and a finger-piececarried by and 54 will be unseated so as to allow the free the other end of the pin for rotating the pinion flow of water from a source of s pply through to adjust the housing relative to the adjacent the valve casing and housing 49 to the valve 43 valves.

within the tub. Should the water become ex- 4. In a device of the class described, a valve cessively hot, however, the thermostatic element including a casing having means for connection 55 will expand and close the valve 53 and open with a fluid supply, a housing slidably mounted the valve 54, thereby automatically cutting off within the casing and provided with oppositely the flow of water to the tub and preventing acdisposedvalve seats, a stem extending through cidental scalding of the bather, as previously. a the housing, valves carried by the opposite ends stated. Should the water be too cold, the ther- 7c of the stem and coacting with said seats, a thermostatic element 55 will contract and open'the mostat operatively connected with one of. the valve 53 and close the valve 54 so as to likewire valves, and means for adjusting the housin with cut off the ficw of water. If the water is at the. respect to the casing to vary the distance bedesired temperature, however, both valves will tween the valves and their seats.

be moved to open position so as to allowtheiree, {SAC M. JAYNES.

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