Baths – closets – sinks – and spittoons – Tubs – Means for agitating or circulating water in a tub
Patent
1992-01-31
1994-01-18
Yasich, Daniel M.
Baths, closets, sinks, and spittoons
Tubs
Means for agitating or circulating water in a tub
2394255, A61H 3302
Patent
active
052790037
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention relates to jet units for whirlpool-bath systems, of the kind which include a nozzle for directing a stream of water across an air-gap into a discharge outlet of the unit.
Jet or nozzle units of this above-specified kind are known for use in whirlpool-bath systems (which are sometimes referred to as hydro-massage systems) for injecting jets of water mixed with air into a tub or bath at spaced locations below the water-level, so as to create foaming and turbulence which has an invigorating and/or therapeutic effect on the one or more occupants of the bath. The jets are injected into the bath from the individual jet units, water being supplied to the nozzle under pressure from a water-supply pipe or line that encircles the bath. Air is drawn into the jet unit to be entrained with the water stream from the nozzle, by the suction that is created by venturi effect at the gap as the water issues from the nozzle. The resultant water stream is discharged as a jet into the bath from an outlet of the jet unit, and in the bath produces turbulence and a general whirlpool effect that is intensified by the entrained air.
The extent of turbulence and desired whirlpool effect created by the jet from the outlet of the jet unit is dependent upon the degree with which the air is mixed with the water stream from the nozzle. With some known forms of jet unit, mixing is very superficial and the results consequently poor, and although mixing can be improved by injecting the air into the centre of the water stream, this has practical disadvantage.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a form of jet unit of the said specified kind, by which improved mixing of air with the water stream can be achieved without the need for central air-injection.
According to one aspect of the present invention a jet unit of the said specified kind is characterised in that it includes constricting means that serves to even out distribution of air to the gap, around the stream.
The jet unit may have an air-supply inlet that opens into a chamber which surrounds the gap within the unit, and the said constricting means may surround the gap to constrict air in its passage from the chamber to the gap. The constricting means in these circumstances may be means to shroud the gap from direct entry of air from the chamber.
According to another aspect of the present invention a jet unit of the kind specified is characterised in that an air-supply inlet to the unit opens into a chamber that surrounds the gap, and the gap is shrouded to constrict air entry to the gap from the chamber.
The shrouding may define a passageway for air from the chamber to the gap that increases in cross-sectional area towards the gap. The passageway may alternatively be of substantially uniform cross-sectional area to the gap.
The nozzle may extend into the chamber to open in alignment with, but separated by said gap from, the entrance to the discharge outlet from the chamber. A skirt may surround the gap to provide the shrouding and may be such as to restrict entry of air to the gap to an annular space around the nozzle. A portion of the nozzle surrounded by the skirt, like the water passage within the nozzle, may be of reducing cross-sectional area towards the gap.
The outlet of the jet unit according to either of the aspects of the present invention identified above, may include provision for adjusting or varying the direction of discharge of the jet of water and air into the bath, but may simply provide for a fixed-direction of discharge. In the latter respect, the outlet may involve a hollow stem that is aligned with the nozzle, and this may have a circumferential skirt which projects backwardly from the stem to surround the gap and a nose-part of the nozzle. Entry of air to the gap in these latter circumstances is constricted to space between the skirt and the nose-part of the nozzle.
A whirlpool-bath system including jet units according to the present invention, will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in
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Butler David S. O.
Gape Alan F.
PH Pool Services Limited
Yasich Daniel M.
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