Computer-controlled hydrotherapy system
OwnerE. Taylor Galyean, Tinsley A. Galyeaninventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A hydrotherapy system uses a plurality of water sources, each of which produces water at a fixed temperature. The water from the fixed temperature sources can be mixed to form several mixed water streams, each with a predetermined temperature, by an array of computer-controlled on-off solenoid valves. Solenoid valves can also be used to apply the mixed water streams with different flow rates selectively to different body zones. The solenoids are controlled via sequences that can be created and maintained with an intuitive graphical user interface.
Claims13
A hydrotherapy system for treating a plurality of body zones, comprising:
- a plurality of fixed-temperature water sources, each water source providing water with a temperature different from other water sources;
- a plurality of on-off solenoid valves, the on-off solenoid valves being arranged in sets, with all valves in each set being connected by pipes to a single one of the water sources;
- a plurality of nozzles, with a nozzle for each body zone;
- a plurality of pipes, each pipe connecting the on-off solenoid valve sets to the nozzles so that, for each body zone, one and only one on-off solenoid valve in each on-off solenoid valve set is connected to the nozzle for that body zone in order to combine water streams from selected water sources and apply the combined stream to that body zone;
- and
- means for opening and closing selected ones of the plurality of on-off solenoid valves to provide water streams simultaneously to each body zone in a pattern of temperature and flow rates that changes over time.
A method for operating a hydrotherapy system for treating a plurality of body zones, comprising:
- (a) providing a plurality of fixed-temperature water sources, each water source providing water with a temperature different from other water sources;
- (b) providing a plurality of on-off solenoid valves, the on-off solenoid valves being arranged in sets, with all on-off solenoid valves in each set being connected by pipes to a single one of the water sources;
- (c) providing a nozzle for each body zone and a plurality of pipes, each pipe connecting the on-off solenoid valve sets to the nozzles so that, for each body zone, one and only one on-off solenoid valve in each on-off solenoid valve set is connected to the nozzle for that body zone in order to combine water streams from selected water sources and apply the combined stream to that body zone;
- and
- (d) opening and closing selected ones of the plurality of on-off solenoid valves to provide water streams simultaneously to each body zone in a pattern of temperature and flow rates that changes over time.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.