Self-cleaning whirlpool system for bathtubs in general

A self-cleaning system for use in conjunction with a whirlpool having a sump portion defined by walls having inner and outer surfaces, a drain conduit, and supply means for supplying water under pressure from a water main to the whirlpool, comprising:

• an air intake circuit assembly and a hydraulic circuit assembly supported on the outer surface of said walls defining said sump portion;
• a circulating pump operably coupled to said air intake and hydraulic circuit assemblies;
• said hydraulic circuit assembly having a plurality of water jet discharge nozzles mounted in spaced-apart relation around said sump portion of said whirlpool;
• said air intake circuit assembly having at least one air intake opening mounted to said whirlpool, said air intake circuit assembly having means to mix air into said hydraulic circuit assembly conducted through said water jet discharge nozzles;
• first valve means coupled intermediate said supply means and said air intake and hydraulic circuit assemblies and displaceable between a whirlpool mode where water from said supply means is not directly introduced into said air intake and hydraulic circuit assemblies and a cleaning mode where water from said supply means is directly supplied under pressure into said air intake and hydraulic circuit assemblies;
• second valve means operably coupled to said air intake circuit and hydraulic circuit assemblies and being mounted in juxtaposition, respectively, to said at least one air intake opening and each of said plurality of water jet nozzles, said second valve means being displaceable between said whirlpool mode where said at least one air intake opening and water jet nozzles are open to said sump portion of said whirlpool and a cleaning mode where said at least one air intake opening and water jet nozzles are closed to said sump portion of said whirlpool;
• metering means coupled to said whirlpool to provide a predetermined amount of a cleansing agent into said air intake and hydraulic circuit assemblies when said first and second valve means are positioned in their cleaning mode so that a mixture of cleansing agent from said metering means and fresh water from said supply means is circulated by said pump through said air intake and hydraulic circuit assemblies for a predetermined period of time;
• third valve means operatively coupled to said air intake and hydraulic circuit and the drain conduit and displaceable between a first position where said drain conduit is closed to said air intake and hydraulic circuit assemblies and a second position where said drain conduit is open to said air intake and hydraulic circuit assemblies to discharge said cleansing agent water mixture from said air intake and hydraulic circuit assemblies into said drain conduit;
• a control unit operatively coupled to said first, second and third valve means, said metering means and said circulating pump, said control unit being electrically operative to selectively shift said first and second valve means from their whirlpool mode to their cleaning mode, and said third valve means from its first to its second position;
• and
• switch means to actuate said control unit.