FR2515500A1 - Pneumatic height adjuster for domestic bath - uses four hydraulic cylinders under pneumatic control to raise and lower bath under control of user - Google Patents

Abstract

The conventional bath is placed on a tubular support with at least four telescopic tubular columns supporting the unit. The bath is raised and lowered by hydraulic cylinders, one at each end of the bath, supplied from a central pressure unit remotely installed and driven by an electric motor. Flexible pipes couple the hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic cylinders. The central pressure unit is itself connected by a flexible sleeve containing two capillary conduits to a pneumatic controller which is used to control the flow of hydraulic fluid.

Description

 The present invention relates to a device allowing a traditional bath tub to be transformed at a lower cost into an elevating bath, without having to modify the premises or the infrastructure, and all while retaining the possibility of installing the energy-producing device at the necessary and sufficient distance from said bathtub.

 In the prior art apparatus, the height-adjustable baths have been specially designed for this purpose, and often of a high coat, this being linked to the fact of the realization of a special bath tub integrating the elevating mechanisms in a constitutive manner. This is how lton was able to see successively appear tubs with lateral tilting and height variation combined, this, by means of two water jacks, then cu7es cantilevered on a guide rail system and pushed by a single water or hydrsulic oil cylinder, in the latter case the pressure unit being housed in the head of the bath, then baths whose general appearance is more like traditional baths, but still resulting in a particular construction of the tank to accommodate either water jacks and regulator-rack type, or worms operated frames with integrated electric motor.

 The major drawback of these systems lies in the fact that in all cases the actual tub of the bathtub is of special construction and adapted to integrate or be added to the various types of lifting mechanisms,-consequently a high coat, - and generally of dimensions different from the traditional standards thus generating difficulties of installation, see norminative problems of food, in particular - for the models using electricity. In practice; their use is almost exclusively the responsibility of medical communities.

 The main object of the present invention is to avoid these drawbacks by reducing costs, by making it possible to adapt directly to traditional commercial bath tubs without modifying them, by not creating any problems of instaln -lation or norminatives, and to make the height-adjustable bathtub accessible to individuals.

The device which is the subject of the present invention will be explained.
-that below with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
-Figure 1 is a side view illustrating a conventional bathtub-
-elle provided with the device according to the invention.

 - Figure 2 is a view along one of the ends.

-Figuro 3 is a detail view showing reciprocal guidance
support frame and frame.

The device which is the subject of the present invention comprises a
tubular support frame (2) intended to receive, supported on its upper side rails, a traditional commercial bath, as is found at the homes of individuals (1).

This support frame (2) has an amount at each of its angles
vertical tubular on which are taken two superimposed side rails and spaces for the parts considered to be the
sides of the bathtub For the parts considered to be the ends of the bathtub, a single horizontal spar, spaced from the upper part of the frame (2), connects the vertical uprights with angles,
and this by means of reinforcement brackets. A single horizontal beam
Eat thus placed at each end, essentially to allow the lower part of the faucet of the cwe of bathtub (1) not to be on contact with a constituent part of the frame
support (2). The length and width dimensions of this frame
support (2) come directly from the dimensions of the tanks of traditional commercial baths for which they are intended.

Tubular frame (3) has U-shaped ends connected
between them for the lateral parts by two horizontal side rails, the lowest being at least fifteen centimeters from the ground to allow the insertion under the bath of the support material for the user. ends in
U-shape of the tubular frame (3) are stiffened in their part
upper by a horizontal spar recessed back towards
inside of the tubular bSti (3) to allow the installation
cylinders (4). The dimensions of this tubular frame (3) are direct
- exits for the length and width of those of the frame
support (2) to allow the four vertical tubular uprights
-caux located at the corners of the support frame (2) to slide
in the four uprights of the U-shaped ends of the frame (3).

There is thus obtained a relative sliding of the support frame (2) relative to the frame (3) which rests on the ground at the same time had a guide, the anti friction device (15) of which will be explained later.

 Ie movement of ascent or descent of the support frame (2) relative to the frame (3) is obtained using a hydraulic cylinder (4) located at each end, or two cylinders in all, and which respectively take support on the U-shaped ends of the frame (3) and the horizontal end members of the support frame (2).

These two hydraulic cylinders t4; are connected by hoses to a pressure unit (5) actuated by an electric motor and comprising the fluid reservoir, this pressure unit (5) being located outside the baAti (3), and this at the necessary distance and sufficient. On one of the two supply hoses (6) for the jacks (4) is mounted a throttling valve which allows synchronization of movement of the two jacks (4). This throttle valve (13) being located as close as possible to the jack (4) furthest from the pressure center (5). A mobile fixed station (7) has two pneumatic controls whose effect is transmitted to the central unit (5) by means of a flexible sheath comprising two capillary conduits (8) leading to the central unit (5) where, by means of pressure switches and relays, the central pressure unit (5) is started up which cylinders (4) will raise the support frame (2), or on the contrary, the opening of solenoid valves allowing the decompression of the cylinders (4) and consequently the descent by gravity of the support frame (2). the bath tub (1) being made by flexible pipe (11) as well as the supply of the fittings (12), these flexible pipes being fixed at the outlet on the covering (10) of the head end on the fitting side, the installer or user will not have to provide any special infrastructure, the pressure center (5) will suffice t simple single socket outlet can be located at a suitable distance or in an adjoining local room, and connected to the frame (3) by its two flexible hoses (E) and the capillary sheath (n) which if necessary will be combined in the same coniuit.

 The guide of the support frame (2) during its sliding movement inside the ends of the frame U (3) is obtained on the one hand by pads (15) of anti friction material fixed inside the part upper, for the four sides of external angles, of the U-shaped ends of the tubular frame (3) inside which slide and bear the four vertical uprights of the angles of the support frame (2), and on the other hand by a slight angle of incidence - which linked to the phenomenon of elasticity of the metal will always hold them in abutment against the pellets (15).

 To avoid any phenomenon of resonance, the traditional bath-tub (1) will be maintained on each side by bolts (14) taken on the lower lateral spar of the cadra sup -port (2).

 The covering of the device according to the invention is produced by panels (10) directly fixed for the lower part on the frame (3), and for the upper part, by panels (9) linked at their upper part to the support frame. (2) by means of screws and spacers (17), sliding by interlocking during movement on the panels (10) and bearing on the said panels by means of roalettes- (16) drawer slide type.

 The device according to the invention makes it possible to make a traditional bath tub at variable height, as encountered in private homes, without having to modify the infrastructure of the premises, without having to take into account dimensions other than those of the bath. traditional, without having to undergo norminative constraints, without having any obligation of electricity in the premises concerned for both the mechanisms and the controls, and all for lower costs.

The device according to the invention allows a disabled person brought by means of a stretcher or an armchair with a cantilevered tray above the bathtub (13 in the low position) to be integrated with its support in the tank when elevation of this tank.I1 also allows by means of a cantilever seat and rotatable around a vertical axis, secured to the frame (3) has a suitable point to cross the disabled by rotatien of
sits on the edge of the tank in the low position, and to be integrated in the serious movement of the removal of said tank, and this, both in medical communities and for the individual.

Claims (3)

CLAIMS 101-Device which makes it possible to make a traditional bath tub (1) of the current model that can be made at variable height that is generally encountered in private homes, characterized by the fact that said traditional bath tub (i) rests on a tubular support frame (2) which by means of its four vertical tubular uprights located at angles slides in the four uprights of the U-shaped ends of the frame (3) which rests on the ground, and in that the upward movement and descent is obtained using soft hydraulic cylinders (4), one i each end of the device, supplied by a pressure center (5) arranged at a distance and driven by an electric motor, and the pressurized fluid is transmitted by hoses (6) to hydraulic cylinders (4), and in that this pressure unit (5) is ells m8me connected by a flexible sheath comprising two capillary conduits (8) to a fixed pneumatic control unit (7) or mobile whose the inflow thus transmitted makes it possible to control the movements of ascent or descent. 20 / -A device according to claim 1, characterized in that the dimensions of length and width of the support frame (2) are directly derived from the dimensions of the tanks of traditional commercial baths for which they are intended.  3 / -Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the central pressure (5) is located outside the frame (3) at the necessary and sufficient distance.  4 / -Device according to claim I, characterized in that the guide of the support frame (2) during its sliding movement inside the U-shaped ends of the frame (3) is obtained on the one hand by pellets ( 15) made of anti friction material fixed inside the upper part, for the four sides of external angles of the U-shaped ends of the tubular frame (3) inside which slide and support the four vertical uprights of the angles of the support frame (2), and on the other hand by a slight angle of incidence which linked to the phenomenon of elasticity of the metal will always hold them in support. against the pellets (15).  5 / -A device according to claim 1, characterized in that the covering of the device according to the invention is produced by panels (10) directly fixed for the lower part on the frame (3), and for the upper part, by panels (9) linked at their upper part to the support frame (2) by means of screws and spacers (17), sliding by interlocking during movement on the panels (10) and bearing on said panels by means of rollers (16) drawer slide type.