US1668802A - Plumbing fixture - Google Patents

Description

May 8,y 1 928.

F. J. c/lmn-Rl-:LLl

PLUMBING FIXTURE Filed April 1s, 1925 197135541.

INVNToR. fam/W. /ammw ATToR EYS Patented May 8, 1928.

UNITED STATES- PATENT OFFICE. y

FRANK J. CANTRELL, 0F SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

PLUMBING FIXTURE.

Application led April 13,

from the turnout will pass through the fixture before discharging from the shower head. The fixture is provided with two water passages and with a' valve whereby the water may be directed therethrough. One passage is provided with a revolving soap-receptacle sothat soapsuds will be formed and discharged by the shower head, when water is passed therethrough, and clear water will bedischarged when directed through the other passage.

The present invention is particularly directed to means for more efiiciently forming soapsuds, and it consists in placing a brush in the fixture, a water-wheel to rot-ate the same, means for supporting the cake of soap in engagement with the brush, means permitting movement of the brush as the soap wears away, and means for admitting air to further promotev the formation of soapsuds.

One form which my Vinvention may assume is exemplified yin the accompanying drawings, in which p Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the fixture; and

Fig. 2 is aside elevation of a section" thereof. t

Referring to the drawingsv in detail, particularly Fig. 1, A indicatesa casing which' is adapted to be interposed between the standard form of shower head such asindicated at B and the plumbing or piping of a bathroom'. Thefxture `is provided with a two-way valve generally indicated at 3, the valve being `provided with an inlet connection 4 and a pair of discharge connections indicated at 5 and 6. Formed within the casing is a chamber generally indicated at C. Mounted interiorly thereof is a receptacle 7 wherebya cakeY of soap such as indicatedA at 8 may be supported. Disposed above the cake ofsoapis a brush 9, and adapted to rotate the same is a Water-wheel 10. The brush is secured upon the shaft 11 `and so Vthe wheel, and thus rotates the same.

1925. Serial No. 22,662.

is the waterswheel 10. The shaft is jour` `nalled 1n thevertically disposed bearing 12 forming a part of the cover 13 of the casing. The shaft- 10, together with the water-wheel and the brush carried thereby, is vertically movable in the bearing 117 and constant engagement may thus be maintained between the brush and the cake of soap as it wears away; A small passage is formed in the upperend of the bearing, as indicated at 13?. Water under pressure enters throu h this passage and equalizes the pressure at t e opposite ends of the shaft and the brush thus maintains engagement and proper con tact between thc brush and the soa The discharge pipe 5 is positioned in alignment with the Watcr-ivlieel l() and terminates n a `nozzle such as shown at 14, and the water ,lischarging impinges against the blades of In actual operation it has been foundthat the admission of` a small amount of air materially increases the formation of soapsuds, audin view thereof `means `are provided `for admittingl air.` This is accomplished by forming a venturi passage in the pipe 5 as indicated at 15, and connecting an air inlet pipe 16 therewith. This pipe has a check valve formed therein as indicated at 17, said valve merely serving the function of preventing' Water from dischar ing through the pipe 16 if back pressure s ould occur. The amount of water passing through the venturi passageand the pipe 5 is regulated by a needle valve 18. It may also be regulated to more or less extent by the main valve 3. An.` auxiliary container opposite the discharge pipeis iudicatedrat 19. This container may be iilled with a perfume, a disinfectant, or any other suitable liquid. The

container is connected with the air inlet tube -16 by `means of a pipe 20.' The amount of perfumefforz.disinfectant admitted may be controlled by a valve 21. The main casing A is provided with a front window such as shown at 25.I `It is also provided with a pair of side windows, as indicatedat 26. These windows are somewhat similar in construction to the ortholes in a ship-that is, they are hingeduy` supported as Vat 27, and are secured when in closed position by locking means such as indicated at 28.l A watertight jointis formed between the ends of the windows 26 andV they casing, and danger of s will become thoroughl leakage is thereby obviated. The hinged mounting of these windows permits access to the interior of the casing so that new pieces of soap may be placed therein from time to time as they are worn away or consumed. The main casing is provided with a double bottom as indicated at 8O and 3l. A central passage 32 is formed between the bottom sections. This passage communicates with the central chamber C at, the point indicated at 33 and 34, and it also communicates with the dischargepipe. A discharge pipe( isV formed. at the lower end of the casing as at 37, and the shower head or other fixture indicated at B is attached thereto. The operation will be as follows:

lVhen a person is taking a bath in a shower bath it is only necessary to turn the valve 3v to position so that all the water will pass through the pipe 6 and discharge through the shower head, so that the person rinsed. The valve 3 is next turned to position where the water discharges through the pipe 5. The water thus directed will impinge against the waterwheel and cause this, together with 'the brush, to rotate at high speed. Air will be introduced at the same time, and the air, together with the action of the brush, will produce foaming soapsuds which will then enter the shower head through the open ings 83 and 34. The person taking a bath will thus become covered withsuds and will scrub lor wash himself or herself in the usual manner, and when the washing operation is completed it is only necessary to reverse the position of the valve 3 so that clear rinsing water will be obtained. If it is desired to perfume the water slightly, it is accomplished by slightly opening the valve 2l; and

if` aA disinfectant is desired, it is accomplished by the same means.

The apparatus or fixture is exceedingly practical, convenient, easy to operate, and above all it is sanitary; and it obviatcs the necessity of handling soap, disinfectant, or any other cleansing medium required in tak.- ing a bath. It also does away with soap receptacles and other devices, and the necessity of cleaning the same fromtime to time. Soapsuds of any richnessor consistency desired may be obtained bymerely regulating the position of the needle valve 18. Econo1nical use of the soap employed is obtained, as every particle thereof is worn down by the brush, due to the fact that it held against the soap by ressure, and also due to the Vfact that it is orced down against the soap as it wears away.

While certain features of the present inventionl are more or less specifically explained, I wish itv understood that various changes may be made within the scope of the appended claims; similarly, that the materials and finish of the` several parts employed may be such as the experience and judgment of the manufacturer may dictate.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent isl. A fixture of the character described comprising a casing having a pair of chambersformed therein; to wit, an upper chamber anda lower chamber, said chambers being in communication, with each other and the lower chamber having a discharge pas sage formed therein,y a valve: adapted to be connected with a source of water supply under pressure, a pair of pipes connected with the valve, one connected with the upper chamber and one with the lower chamber, said valve adapted to direct the, water to either of the said pipes, a water wheel inthe' upper chamber, a vertically movable shaft support-ing said wheel, a stationary receptacle below the shaft for a cake of soap, andY a brush secured to the shaft and engageableV with the soap and adapted to settle by gravity with the shaft against the soap as the soap wears away. i A

.2.'A fixture of the character described comprising a casing having a pair of chambers formed therein; to Wit, an upper chamber and a lower chamber, said chambers beingfin communication with each other and the lower chamber having a. discharge passage formed therein, a valve adapted to be connected with a source of water supply un'A der pressure, a. pair of pipes connected with the valve, one connected with the upper chamber and one with the lower.l chamber, said valve adapted to direct the. waterA to either of the said pipes, a venturi passage formed in' the pipe which is connected with theupper chamber, means for admitting air to said venturi passage, a water wheel with in the upper chamber, a vertically movable shaft carrying said wheel, a brush secured. on said shaft, means permitting end'wise movement of the shaft and the brush, means for equalizing pressure at opposite ends'of the shaft to permit the shaft and brush to settle by gravity against a cake of soap and meansfor.supporting a cake ofV soap at a point below the end of the brush. v 3. A fixture of the character described comprising a, casing having a pair of cham bers formed therein; towit, an upper chamber and a lower chamber, said chambers being in rcommunication with each other and theV lower chamber having a discharge passage formed therein, a valve adapted' to be connected with the source of water supply under pressure, a pair of pipes connected' with the valve, one connected with the Yupper chamber and one with the lower-chamber, said valve adapted to direct the water to either'of thesaid pipes, a container con-f nected with the pipe which is connected with the upper chamber, said container adapted rLemmon i 3 to contain a liquid perfume or the like, a. movement of said wheel and shaft, a. brush valve between the container and the pipe to secured to lower end of said shaft, means for regulate the flow of perfume to the pipe, a, supporting a cake of soap below the brush, Water Wheel journalled Within the upper and a closure for the upper chamber through chamber and in alignment with said pipe, a which yam cake of Soap may be inserted or revertieally disposed shaft to Whioh'the Water moved.

Wheel is secured, means permitting vertical FRANK J. CANTRELL.

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