JET UNITS FOR WHIRLPOOL-BATH SYSTEMS.

摘要

PCT No. PCT/GB90/01208 Sec. 371 Date Jan. 31, 1992 Sec. 102(e) Date Jan. 31, 1992 PCT Filed Aug. 2, 1990 PCT Pub. No. WO91/01675 PCT Pub. Date Feb. 21, 1991.The fixed-direction jet units (1) of a whirlpool-bath system each include a nozzle (18) for supplying water under pressure from a tube-section (17) to an outlet (12) across an air gap (20) within a chamber (19). The unit (1) is clamped to the bath-wall (14) between a flange (16) of the outlet (12) and the unit housing (15). The flow of water from the nozzle (18) across the gap (20) into the axially-aligned stem (13) of the outlet (12) draws air into the chamber (19) from an inlet pipe (21) that is coupled to a distribution manifold (7) of an air-supply controller (9) by an individual supply tube (8). A circumferential skirt (22) projects backwardly from the stem (13) to shroud the gap (20) over a frusto-conical nose-part (23) of the nozzle (18), so that air is constricted to enter the gap (20) through the annular space (24) between them. The constriction evens out air flow around the stream of water from the nozzle (18), enhancing small-bubble distribution in the stream and the consequent foaming and turbulence of the jet discharged from the outlet (12). The cross-sectional area of the pathway for air between the nozzle nose-part (23) and the skirt (22) increases towards the gap (20), but may be substantially uniform.