Air Injection System for Hydro-Massaging Bath
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air injection systems for hydro-massaging baths cause a cool sensation due to dry air interacting with wet skin and lead to premature cooling of bathwater, with prior solutions being costly and prone to clogging issues.
Innovation Solution
An air injection system that uses hot humid air injected through a conduit with a water spray to humidify and heat the air, regulated by a pressure-reducing valve with a filter cartridge and a heater to maintain a comfortable temperature, preventing clogging and ensuring uniform air distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If air is injected into hot water to create turbulence for massaging, then water massage therapy is provided, but the user experiences a cool sensation on wet skin where air jets impact
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the temperature parameter of the injected air from ambient temperature to heated temperature (60-80°C). By heating the air before injection, the harmful cool sensation on wet skin is eliminated while maintaining the massaging turbulence effect. The air heater raises air temperature to a range that provides thermal comfort rather than cooling effect.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite air-water mixture by injecting water into the pressurized air stream before the air reaches the bath. This composite flow combines the benefits of both air (massaging turbulence) and water (moisture to prevent dryness and cool sensation), eliminating the harmful effect of dry heated air on wet skin.
2Ease of operation
If air is injected into the bathtub to create turbulence, then massaging therapy is provided, but the water temperature decreases prematurely due to large surface contact area with air
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the temperature parameter of the injected air from ambient to heated (60-80°C). By introducing heated air instead of ambient air, the overall temperature of the water-air mixture increases, compensating for the heat loss from turbulence and preventing premature cooling of the bathwater.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If water is mixed with air in large quantities to reduce cool sensation, then comfort is improved, but the system complexity and cost increase due to required injector assemblies
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the water mixing function from complex injector assemblies and performs it separately using a simple water injection system. Water is injected into the pressurized air stream in the air convecting conduit, creating the composite flow without requiring sophisticated injector hardware. This simplifies the system while achieving the same comfort benefit.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a water injection system as an intermediary component between the air source and the bath. This simple intermediary device adds moisture to the air stream, reducing the cool sensation on skin without requiring complex injector assemblies. The water injection point acts as a mediator that combines air and water in a straightforward manner.
4Device complexity
If recirculated water from the bottom of the bathtub is used for mixing, then the system is simple, but the nozzles clog due to impurities and products in the water
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary filtration of the recirculated water before it reaches the injection nozzles. A filter is installed in the water circulation line to remove impurities and products from the water before injection. This preliminary cleaning action prevents clogging of the nozzles while maintaining system simplicity and using readily available recirculated water.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system effectively eliminates the cool sensation and maintains water temperature by injecting hot humid air, reducing the risk of skin discomfort and extending bathwater heat retention while maintaining cleanliness and preventing clogging.
Implementation Method 1
a water spray injector is provided in the air convecting conduit to inject a spray of water in the injected air
Implementation Method 2
a heater is provided in the air convecting conduit to heat the humidified air to a desired temperature
Implementation Method 3
An air blower is provided for injecting air under pressure in an entry opening of the air convecting conduit
Implementation Method 4
the air cools the water in the bathtub prematurely because of the large surface contact area of turbulent water with the air
Data Source
AI summary
An air injection system for a hydro-massaging bath is described. An air convecting conduit is in communication with a plurality of injecting orifices formed in a peripheral wall of the bath. An air blower injects air under pressure in an entry opening of the air convecting conduit. A water spray injector is located downstream of the entry opening and upstream of the air injecting orifices to inject a spray of a predetermined volume of water in the injected air under pressure. A water supply conduit is connected to the water spray injector and has a flow regulating valve to regulate the volume of water spray injected in the heated air to saturate the air with water. A shut-off valve is provided in the water supply conduit, and a heater is disposed in the air convecting conduit downstream of the water spray injector and upstream of the air injecting orifices wherein heated, humidified air injected in the water contained within the bathtub does not produce a cool sensation on the body of a user person.