CA1304641C - Adjustable air and water entrainment hydrotherapy jet assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A hydrotherapy jet assembly capable of operating in either an air entrainment mode and/or a tub water entrainment mode. The assembly incorporates a valve means including a rotatable control member which allows a user to selectively vary the amount of supplied water jet and/or air available for entrainment and/or tub water available for entrainment.

Description

~304~;4~

BACKGROUND_OF THE IMVENTION
This lnvention relates yenerally to hydrotherapy and more particularly to hydrotherapy je~ assemblies intended for installation in the walls of wat~r tubs, typically re$erred to as spas, hot tubs, jetted bathtubs, etc.
Applicants' U.S. Patent 4,731,887 discusses the common use of ambient air entrainment in conventional hydrotherapy jet assemblies to discharge a high velocity water/air stream for the dual purpose of creating turhulence in the tub water pool and impacting against a user's body. The application points out that air entrainment unfortunately lowers the pool water temperature and thus frequently requires heater in~ervention and~or hot water replacement to maintain user comfort. In order to avoid this, and additionally to reduce the noise level characteristic of conventional hydrotherapy jèt assemblies, applicants' U.S. Patent 4,731,887 discloses an improved jet assembly which utilizes tub water entrainment, rather than alr entrainment, to ~ ` ~(3~;4L~. ( i -2- ~7/34~
1 produce the discharge stream. The assembly is characterlzed 2 by the inclusion of a passayeway communicating the tub water 3 with a mixing chamber within the assembly. This allows a 4 high pressure water jet supplied to the mixing chamber to 5 entrain the tub water for discharge into the tub through a 6 tubular flow director~ more typically referred to as an 7 "eyeball".

8 The preferred embodime~t disclosed in applicants' 9 parent application includes a manually adjustable valve member which enables the user to vary the amount of tub water 11 entrained by the supplied water jet to thus adjust the 12 intensity of the discharge stream.
13 Certain prior art air entrainment j~t assemblies also 1~ include means for adjusting the discharge stream intensity, e.g. by varying the amount of jet water supplied and/or the 16 amount of air available for entrainment. One such jet 17 assembly is disclosed in U.S. Patent 4,541,780 which teaches 18 controlling the flow of water and air by controlling the 19 movement of a single valve mechanism. A feature of that assembly is that the air passageway can never be 21 significantly opened when the water supply passageway is not 22 opened sufficiently to create a lower pressure in the mixing 23 chamber than is present in the air supply line. This avoids 2~ malfunction when multiple assemblies are coupled for ganged operation~

e. ( ~304~9Ll ( 1 SUMM~RY OF l'HE INvENTIoN
2 The present invention is directed to hydrotherapy }et 3 assemblies capable of operating in an air entrainment mode 4 andjor a tub water entrainment mode.
In accordance with a significant aspect of the 6 invention, a hydro~herapy jet assembly i5 provided 7 incorporating valve msans ~or adjusting the amount of air 8 entrainment and/or water entrainment and/or supplied water 9 jet to selectively vary the intensity of the stream discharged from the jet assembly.
11 In accordance with a further significant aspect of 1~ the invention, the aforementioned valve means includes a 13 single control member for manually adjusting the respective 1~ amounts of air entrainment and/or water entrainment and/or supplied water jet.
16 In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the 17 invention, the control member is coupled to a valve body 18 mounted both for rotation and axial movement within a housing 1~ comprised of an aerator body and wall fitting. ~he housing includes a water supply nozzle having an inlet end 21 communicating with a water supply port in the housing and an 22 outlet end for supplying the water jet into a mixing 23 chamber. The housing also includes an air supply port which 2~ opens to said mixing chamber arranged such that axial and/or 26 rotational movement of the valve body selectively varies thé
27 amount of air drawn into the mixing chamber in response to a 28 reduced pressure created by said supplied water jet.
In accordance with another featule of a preferred ~ 130~

1 embodiment, the valve body includes an adjustable tubular 2 flow director having an inlet orifice communicating with said 3 mixing chamber and a discharge orifice open to the tub water 4 pool. A portion of the flow director exterior sur*ace is spherical and cooperates with a lip adapted to seal against 6 the spherical surface when the valve body is in its forward 7 axial position. Axial movement of the valve body, achieved 8 by rotating the control member, Yaries the spacing between 9 the lip and the spherical surface which spacing defines the passageway for water entrainment.
11 In accordance with another f~ature of a preferred 12 embodiment, the valve body includes multiple spaced fingers 13 projecting axially to define a cage-like caviky. The fingers 14 exhibit a slight degree of resilience in a radial direction 1~ to permit the flow director to be inserted into, and retained 16 inj said cavity. The fingers bear against the flow director 17 spherical surface to retain it in position while permitting 18 the flow director to be manually swiveled within the cavity 19 to allow the user to selectively direct the discharge stream.
In accordance with a further feature o~ a preferred 21 embodiment, rotation of ~aid valve body also sele~tively 22 varies the magnitude of the water jet supplied to the mixing 23 chamber and the momentum of the stream discharged from the 2~ jet assembly.

26 In accordance with a still further feature of a preferred embodiment, the geometry of the valve body, housing 27 ports, and sealing lip is configured to permit the assembly 28 to selectiveIy operate in ei~her the air entrainment mode or ( ~L3(~ii41 ~-' 1 water entrainment mode, dependent on the rotational 2 orientation of the control membe~. ~n accordance with a more 3 specific feature, the discharge stream intensity (or 4 momentum) is varied by ro~ating the control mem~er to thus vary the effective size of the air entrainment passageway 6 when in the air entrainment mode, the water entrainment 7 passageway when in the water entrainment mode, and the water ~ supply passageway in either mode.
9 In accordance with a still ~urther ~eature, a cooperating cam and cam follower is used between the valve 11 body and housing to achieve controlled nonlinear axial 12 movement of the valve body in response to control member 13 rotation.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
16 Figure la is a sectional view of a ~irst embodiment 17 of a hydrotherapy jet assembly in accordance with the present 18 invention showing the water entrainment path closed and air 19 entrainment path open;
Figure lb is an enlarged sectional view o~ the area 21 "lb" shown in Figure la:
2~ Figure 2 is an isometric exploded view of the 23 embodiment of Figure la:
~ Figure 3 is a sectional view of the embodiment deplcted in Figure la, however, showing the air entrainment 26 path closed and water entrainment path open;

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1 Fi~ure 4 is a seotional view o~ a second embodiment 2 of the present invention showing the air entrainment path 3 open and water entrainment path closed;
4 Figure 5 is an exploded isometric view o~ the ~econd embodiment depicted in Figure 4;
6 Figure 6 is a sectional view of the embodiment 7 depicted in Figure 4 except showing the air entrainment path 8 closed and the water entrainment path open;
9 Figures 7a, 7b, and 7c are enlarged sectional views of the embodiment depicted in Fi~ures 4-6 showing.
11 particularly the relationship between the air valve element 12 and the cam surface formed on the valve body;
13 Figure 8 is an exploded isometric view of a third 14 embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 9 is a sectional view of the third embodiment 16 showing the air entrainment path open and water entrainment 17 path closed;
1~ Figures 10 and 11 are sectional views respectively 19 taken along the planes 10-10 and 11-11 of Figure 9;
Figure 12 is a sectional view of the third embodiment 21 similar to that depicted in Figure 9, except showing the air 22 entrainment path closed and water entrainment path open;
23 Figures 13a, 13b, 13c, 13d, and 13e are schematic 24 representations showing the valve orientations for water entrainment, air entrainment, and water supply for various 26 degrees of rotation` of the control member of the third 27 embodiment depicted in Figures 8-12;

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-7- 87/3~
1 Figure 14 i5 a developed plan view showing the shape 2 and orientation of the air inlet port on the valve body of 3 the embodiment of Figures 8-12;
4 Figure 15 i5 a sectional view of the ~ourth embodiment showing the air entrainment path open and water 6 entrainment path closed;
7 Figures 16 and 17 are sectional views respectively 8 taken substantially along the planes 16-16 and 17-17 of 9 Figure 15; and Figure 18 is a developed sectional view of a portion 11 of the valve body taXen along 18-18 of Figure 16 showing the 12 cam surface.

This application discloses four hydrotherapy jet 16 assembly embodiments, all capable of operating in an air 17 entrainment mode and a water entrainment mode. In the air 18 entrainment mode, the user is able to vary the amount of air 19 entrained by a supplied water jet to thus vary the intensity of the discharge stream. In the water entrainment mode, the 21 user is able to vary the amount of tub water entrained by the ~2 supplied water jet to thus vary the intensity o~ the 23 discharge stream. The first embodiment is depicted in 2~ Figures 1-3, the second embodiment in Figures 4-7, the third embodiment in Figures 8-14, and the fourth embodiment in 26 Figures 15-18. The third and fourth embodiments permit the 27 user to additionally vary the magnitude of the supplied water 28 jet to vary the intensity of the discharge stream.

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1 First Embodiment:
2 Attention is initially directed to Figures la, lb, 2, 3 and 3 which depic~ a hydro~herapy jet assembly ZO
4 intended to be mounted in an opening 22 in the peripheral wall 24 of a water tub 26.
6 The assembly 20 includes a housing 30 ~ormed 7 primarily by a an aerator body 32 and a wall fitting 8 ~4. The aerator body 32 includes an air supply ~ coupling 36 and water supply coupling 38. Figure la schematically illustrates an available air source, 11 represented by arrow 40, for supplying air to the 12 coupling 36 via an optional external valve 42 via a 13 pipe 4~. It should he understood that the pipe 4~ is 14 only schematically represented in the Figures and that in an actual installation, the coupling 36 would be connected 16 in conventional fashion to an air mani~old pipe having a 17 diameter substantially equal to that of coupling 36.
18 Figure la also schematically illustrates an electrically 19 driven pump 46 Por supplying pressurized water to coupling 36. The pump inlet side 48 is connected 21 through an opening 52 in the tub wall 24 below the 22 anticipated level of a water pool 54 in the tub. Thus, 23 the pump 46 can draw water from the pool and supply it 2~ via pipe 56 to the water coupling 38. Again, it should be recognized that pipe 56 is schematically 26 depicted and in an actual installation, the coupling 38 27 would be connected in accordance with conventional plumbing 28 practice to a water supply mani~old pipe having a diameter )46~a~ ! ,' 9_ 87/34 1 substantially equal to that o~ coupling 3~. It should 2 also be noted that although only a single jet assembly 20 3 is depicted in Figure la, in an actual installation, it would 4 be typical to mount several a~semblies 20 at di~ferent locations in the wall 24 with the multiple assemblies all 6 being connected to common air supply and water supply 7 manifold pipes.
8 The aerator body 32 is comprised of a cylindrical 9 section 60 having an outwardly extending terminal flange 62. The section 60 is hollow and has a threaded 11 internal wall surface 6g surrounding a cavity 66.
12 The wall fitting 34 i~ formed by a substantially 13 cylindrical wall 70 extern~lly threaded at 72 for 14 threaded mating with the wall surface 64 of aerator body 32. The wall fitting 34 also has an outwardly 16 extending terminal flange 74. As depicted in Figure la, 17 the assembly 20 is mounted on the tub wall 2~ by 18 inserting the fitting 34 through opening 22 in wall 19 24 and then threading the fitting 34 into the aera~or body 32. In this manner, the wall 24 is sandwiched 21 between the wall fitting flange 74 and aerator body 22 flange 62. Preferably sealing material ~o is provided 23 between the flange 62 and wall 24 to prevent leakage.
24 A nozzle 82, having an inlet end 84 and an outlet end 86, is centrally formed on rear wall 90 of :~

26 the wall fitting 34. The inlet end 84 extends into 28 an open boss 94 communicating with the interior of the water cou l ng 38.

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-10~ 87/348 1 The air coupllng 36 communicates via channel 2 96 with the aforementioned interior cavl~y 66. An 3 air hole loo extends through the wall so to an ~ annular recess 101 formed on the interior surface of wall 90.
6 As previously discussed, the essential function of 7 assembly 20 is to discharge a high momantum water stream 8 into the tub 26 beneath the surface of the water pool 9 54 for creating turbulence and impactiny against a user's body. More specifically, the assembly ~0 is intended to 11 enable a user to control the discharged water stream so that 12 it selectively includes a variable entrained amount of either 13 air or tub water. In order to provide the user with this 14 control capability, assembly 20 further includes a specially constructed valve body ~04, a tubular flow 16 director or eyeball 106, and a manually controllable 17 member or ring 108. Briefly, the elements 104, 18 lOS, and ~08 are mounted forward of the outlet end 19 86 of nozzle 82 to pass a water jet supplied by the nozzle. As will be seen hereinafter, depending upon the 21 adjustable axial and rotational orientation of the valve body 22 ~04, the water jet supplied by the nozzle 82 will 23 entrain variable amounts of air and/or tub water prior to 2~ being discharged into the tub pool.
The valve body 104 comprises a short essentially 2~ tubular cylindrical ~ection 110 having external threads 27 112. The valve body external threads 112 are adapted 28 to engage the threaded inner wall 114 of wall fitting ( ~L3(~
~.

1 34. The rear portion 116 of the valve body is 2 shaped, as is best shown in Figure lb, to be closely received 3 within the annular recess 101. When the valve body 4 104 is in its forward axial position, as depicted in Figures la and lb, air hole 100 permlts air flow from 6 channel 96 through cavity 66 past valve body portion 7 116 into a mixing chamber area 120. on the other 8 hand, when the valve body 10~ is moved to its rearward 9 axial position, as depicted in Figure 3, then the valve body portion 116 moves into recess lol to seal air hole 11 100. ' 12 Three spaced fingers 130 project axially forward 13 from the valve body tubular section 110. The fingers 14 130 are preferably formed integral with the section llo and are circumferentially spaced from one:another by 16 approximately 120 to define a cage like cavity 134 17 into which the spherical portion 136 of the thrust 18 director 106 can be received and retained. The valve 19 body 104 is preferably formed of a plastic material~ which permits the fingers 130 to exhibit slight radial 21 resiliency and at least one of the fingers is undercut, as at 22 138, to allow the spherical portion 136 to be readily 23 manually inserted and removed from the cage like cavity 2~ 134. When the spherical portion 136 is placed within the cavity, the fingers 130 will bear against its 26 2xterior surface to hold its orientation while permitting it 27 to be manually swiveled relative to the valve body 104 to 28 selectively direct the discharge stream.

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( ~30~;4~ ( -12 ~7/348 1 The thrusk director 106 de~ines an inkerior ~low 2 path havlng an lnlet orifice 14~ and a diF.charge ori~ice 3 144. In assembling the assembly 20, the ~hrust director lOfi is inserted into the cage like cavity 134 and then the valve body 104 is manually threaded into the 6 wall fitting 3~. Thereafter, the control member 108 7 is snapped over the flange 74 of the wall fitking as is 8 depicted in Figure la. The member 10~ comprises a ring 9 having a central opening 150 defined by an axially depressed circular lip 152. An axially extending finger 11 154 extends rearwardly from the lip 152 and fits 12 between one of the fingers 130 and an extra finger 156 13 formed on the valve body 104 and spaced close to one of 14 the fingers 130. The slot formed between the extra finger 156 and its neighboring finger 130 accommodates the 16 finger 154 extending from control member 108. Thus, 17 by the user manually rotating the member 108, the valve 18 body 104 is rotated relative to the wall fitting 34 19 causing it to move axially relative to the wall fitting.
: Now considering further the details of member 21 108, note that when the valve body 32 is in its 22 forwardmost axial position depicted in Figure la, the 23 ;circumferential lip 152 seals against the spherical 24 surface of thrust director 106. Moreover, in this axial position, the air hole 100 is open.
26 In contrast, when the ring 108 is rotated to move 27 the valve body 104 to its rearmost axial position as ¦ depicte~ in igure 3, then the thrust d~rector 106 moves , ( 13(3~
-13- ~7/348 1 axially aw~y from the sealing llp 15~ and additionally the ~ valve body portion 116 moves into recess 98 to ~eal 3 the air hole 100.
4 In the use of jet assembly 20 o~ Fig~res 1-3, high pressure water is supplied by electrically driven pump 6 46 to coupling 38 and then through nozzle 82 which 7 in turn supplies a high pressure water jet to the inlet 8 orifice 142 of flow director 106. The enclosed volume 9 outside of the outlet end of nozzle 82 and including the entrance to the tubular member 106 forms the 11 aforementioned mixing chamb~r generally depicted as 120.
12 By well known jet pump action, the supplied water jet acts to 13 reduce the pressure within the mixing chamber 120 1~ enabling, selectively, air to be drawn into the mixing chamber via air hole 100 or tub water to be drawn into the mixing 16 chamber along a passageway from the water pool past the 17 sealing lip 152 and between the spaced fingers 130.
1~ That is, when the valve body 104 is in the axial position 19 depicted in Figure la, the passageway from the tub water pool into the mixing chamber 120 is closed by the sealing lip 21 152 engaging the spherical surface of the thrust director 22 106. In this axial position, however, the air hole a3 lOO is open and the water jet discharged into the mixing 24 chamber 120 entrains air drawn from the coupling 36 via channel 96. On the other hand, when the valve body 26 104 is moved to the axial position depicted in Figure 3, 27 the air hole 100 is sealed and tub water flow is permitted 28 ~ past the se ing lip ISZ exteriorly of the thrust director .

1- ~ 304~
-14- 87/34g 1 106,between the fin~ers 130, into the mixing cham~er 2 120.
3The following Table I generally describes the 4 operation and per~ormance of a jet assembly constructed in accordance with the embodiment of Figures 1-3. In this 6 embodiment, the control member 108 is mounted for 7 rotation, defined by mechanical stops 164, 166, 8 through a range of 328. Figures la and 3 respectively 9 depict the axial position of the valve body lG4 at rotational positions of 0 and 328.

14 ANGLE ENTRAIN. SUPPLY ENTRAIN. MOMENTUM
AIR1l 0(STOP) CLOSED OPEN OPEN +4 15 ENTRAINMENT ~ ¦
MODE ,~, 80 NEGLIG. OPEN I +3.5 6 l IVAR.
165 1 OPEN I +3 7 IVAR. I
WATER~l 248 1 OPEN NEGLIG. +3.5 18 ENTRAINMENT ,¦ I
19 MODE ~ 328(STOP) OPEN OPEN CLOSED ~4 ~0 Note that for a 0 rotation, the water entrainment 21 path, i.e. the tub water passageway past sealing lip 152, 22 is closed and the air entrainment path through hole 100 23 is open. This position results in substantially conventional ~ air entrainment operation producing a high momentum stream at the discharge orifice 144. To facilitate explanation 26 herein, an arbitrary scale of NEGLIGIBLE to +4 has been used 27 to represent the magnitude of the discharge stream momentum.
28~ Thus ror the C~ position repres~nted in Table 1, with fu11 :

~ ~30~

1 air entrainment, the dlscharge stream is shown as having a ~ momentum of +4. As the control member lo~ is rotated 3 toward 328, note tha~ the air entrainment pas5ageway 4 through hole ~00 will gradually close as the water entrainment passageway past sealing lip 1g2 will 6 gradually open. From 0 to approximately 165, as the 7 air entrainment passageway closes, the momentum of the 8 discharge stream diminishes from approximately +4 to +3.
9 Thereafter, as the air entrainment passageway is reduced to NEGLIGIBLE and then CLOSED, while concurrently the water 11 entrainment passageway opens, the momentum o~ the discharge 12 stream increases back toward ~4.
13 Thus, by manually rotating the control member 14 108, the user is able to selectively vary the amount of air entrainment or water entrainment desired and the 16 impacting momentum of the discharge stream. Whereas some 17 users may prefer the air entrainment mode, because of the 18 presence of air bubbles, other users are likely to prefer the 19 water entrainment mode because it reduces the necessity of heater intervention and/or hot water replacement, and the 21 operating:noise level.
22 A ~et assembly 20 in accordance with the ~3 invention would find application in any water tub 2~ application, e.g. spa, hot tub, jetted bathtub, etc. The assembly can be manufactured very inexpensively of injection 27 molded plastic parts and indeed the only parts vislble to the user, i.e. the eyeball 106 and plate 108j can be 28 manufactured in various colors to compliment the colors of ~.

(:. 13~4~i4~ 1 -16- ~7/34~
1 the tub walls 26. Additionally, a trim ring lgO can 2 be provided (which can be used with each disclosed 3 em~odiment), f~rmed for example of brass or chrome plated 4 metal, for attachment over the control ring ~o~ to matching other bathroom fixtures.
6 Second Embodiment:
7 Attention is now called to Figures 4-7 which depict a 8 jet assembly 200 very similar to the aforediscussed 9 assembly 20 except that an improved air valve arrangement has been incorporated to afford the user greater control of 11 the discharge stream in the air entrainment mode. That is, 12 recall from Figures 1-3 that the closing of the air 13 passageway was effected by the axial movement of the valve 14 body lO~ which was solely attributable to the threading of the valve body ~04 in the wall fitting 3~. In 16 order to achieve more rapid and positive closing of the air 17 passageway, assembly 200 utilizes a valve element 202 18 which is loosely mounted for linear movement in an air hole 19 203. The valve element 202 includes a cylindrical cap 204 and a cylindrical body 206 supporting an 21 0-ring 207 therebetween. A fluted lower portion 22 comprised of four legs 208 arranged in cruciform fashion 23 in cross section depends from cylindrical body 20.
21 ~ssembly 200 further includes a valve body 220 whose lower portion includes a cam surface 222.
26 The cam surface 222 is intended to engage the cap 204 27 to establish the position of the valve element 202 within 28 the air hole 203. Table II depicts the operation of the ( ~30~ifl3~
-17- ~7/34 1 assembly 200 depicted in Figures 4-7.

ROTATION WATER WATER AIR DISCHARGE
ANGLE E~TRAIN, SUPPLX ENTRAIN. MOMENTUM
6 AIR .¦~ 0(STOP) CL0SED OPEN OPEN +4 7 ENTRAINMENT ~ VAR.
8 MODE ~ 80 NEGLIG. OPENNEGLIG. +2 9 165 1 OPENCLOSED +2.75 10 WATER ~ 248~ IVM. OPENCLOSED ~3.5 ENTRAINMENT ,~l I
11 MODE ~ 328(STOP) OPEN OPENCLOSED +4 12 Figures 4 and 6 respectively depict the axial 13 position of the valve body at rotational positions of the 14 control member at 0 and 328Q.
At 0, as represented in Figure 4, the air 16 entrainment passage will open as the reduced pressure in the 17 mixing chamber draws air from air coupling 36 to force 18 the valve element 202 open permitting air to flow between 19 the valve element legs 208 into the mixing chamber 120 for entrainment by the water jet supplied by nozzle 21 82. Figures 4 and 7a show the relationship between the 22 cam surface 222 and valve element 202 at 0, i.e.
23 with the air passageway fully open. As the control member is 2~ rotated, the cam sur~ace 222 will move the valve element 202 to an intermediate position, (approximately 80 as 26 represented shown in Figure 7b) at which the body 206 27 substantially closes the air hole 203. Figures 6 and 7c show the 0-ring 207 to fully close the air passageway at : -17-.

( ~o~
-18~ 87/34 1 318.
2 Because of the use o~ the cam surface 222, the 3 air hole 203 can be closed within a shorter range of 4 axial movement of the valve body and a smaller rotation of the manual control memberO Thus, note in Table II that the 6 air entrainment passageway is variable between o and 80 7 substantially closing before the water entrainment passageway 8 opens significantly. Thus, in the embodiment of Figures 4-6, 9 because at 80, both the air entrainment and water entrainment passageways are only negligibly open, a lower 11 discharge stream momentum can be achieved than in the first 12 em~odiment. In other words, by rotating the control member 13 from only o to 80, the discharge momentum is reduced 14 from ~4 to ~2. Then by ~urther rotating the control member from 80 to 328, the water entrainment passageway 16 gradually opens to increase the discharge stream momentum to 17 +4.
18 Third Embodiment:
19 Attention is now directed to Figures 8-14 which illustrate the construction and operation oP a third ~et 21 assembly embodiment 300 in accordance with the present 22 invention. The embodiment 300 provides operational 23 advantages over the two previously discussed embodiments, 24 which advantages should become apparent from the follo~ing Table III:

27 ~//

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-lg- 87/34 ROTATION WATER WATER AIR DISC~ARGE
3 ANGLE ENTRAIN. SUPPL~ ENTRAIN. MOMENTUM
4 AIR ,i~ 0(STOP) CLOSED OPEN OPEN ~4 5 ENTRAINMENT ''~l IVAR. I~AR. IYAR.
6 MODE i~ 75 SMALL SMALL CLOSED +l 7 85 SMALL NEGLIG. CLOSED NEGLIG.
8 UATER 1~1 950 SMALL NEGLIG. CLOSED NEGLIG.
9 ENTRAINMENT ~, IVAR. IVAR. IVAR.
10 MODE ', 180(STOP) OPEN OPEN CLOSED +4 12 Initially, note in Table III that khe total 13 rotational range for the control member has, for convenience, 14 been restricted to 0-180. Additionally, note that whereas the water supply path in the first two embodiments 16 was always open, the embodiment of Table III provides for 17 varying the water supply path while concurrently varying the 18 water entrainment and/or air entrainment paths. This feature 19 enables the user to more significantly vary the momentum of the discharge stream as shown in Table III. With xeference 21 to the same arbitrary scale of N~GLIGIBLE to +4 previously 22 assumed in Tables I and II, note in Table III that the third 23 embodiment, i.e. assembly 300, can discharge a stream 2~ whose momentum, in the air entrainment mode, can be varied from +4 down to +l and then in the water entrainment mode can 22G be varied from an essentially negligible level up to ~.
Thus it should be appreciated that the third embodiment of 28 the invention provides a user with a broader range of .
~ , .

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1 discharge stream momentum which can be more easily selected 2 within a narrower range o~ rotation o~ the control member.
3 ~ssembly 300 is similar to the two aforediscussed assemblies in that it includes an aerator body 302 having a flange 304 and a wall fitting 306 having a flange 6 308. The outer surface of the wall fitting 306 is 7 threaded into an internal surface of the aerator body 302 8 to sandwich a tub wall 310 between the flanges 304 9 and 308. Gasket material 3~2 is preferably provided between the wall 310 and f1ange 304 to prevent water 11 leakage. The aerator body 302 includes an air supply 12 coupling 314 and water supply coupling 316.
13 The wall fitting 306 is substantially cylindrical 14 and is threaded into the body 302 as shown in Figure 9.
The fitting 306 includes a recess 318 which 16 accommodates an O-ring 320 to seal against the interior 17 wall o~ body 302. The lower end of wall fitting 306 18 as viewed in Figure 9, includes a bottom wall 324 19 provided with an open centrally located cylindrical nipple 326. The rear end of the nipple 326 is cut away to 21 leave two arcuate side walls 330, 332 which are best 22 depicted in the sectional view of Figure 11. The side walls 23 330 ~and 332 are thus spaced by openings 334 and 24 336. Openings 334 and 33~ communicate with a 26 cavity 340 internal to the aerator body 302. Water supply coupling 316 opens into the cavity 340.
27 Assembly -300 also includes a valve body 344 28 substantlally cylindrical in cross section. The eXterior -21- 87/3~8 1 surface 346 of the valve body i5 threaded into the 2 interior wall surface of wall fitting 306. The valve 3 body 344 is formed to ~e~ine an open cylindrical nozzle 4 350 having an inlet end 352 and an outlet end 354. The inlet end of the nozzle is cut away to define 6 two short arcua~e side wall portions 35~ and 358 7 which are best shown in Figure 11. The side wall sections 8 356 and 358 are bridged by a wall 360. The 9 nozzle 350 fits for concentric rotation in nipple 326.
o-ring 359 prevents leakage between the nozzle outer wall 11 and nipple. Together, the side wall sections 356, 12 3S8, and end wall 360 define openings 362 and 13 364 which can align with the openings 334 and 336 14 defined by the wall fitting 306u ~ow~ver, by rotating the valve body 344 relative to the wall fitting 306, 16 the side wall sections 356 and 358 of the valve body 17 344 will move relative to the wall fitting to block the 18 openings 334 and 336~ This will be discussed in 19 greater detail hereinafter in connection with the schematic diagram of Figure 13.
21 The air supply coupling 31g opens through channel 22 370 and passage 372 to an opening 37~ in wall 23 fitting 306. This can perhaps best be seen in Figure 3.
24 Opening 376 communicates with a mixing chamber 380 proximate to the outlet end 354 of the nozzle 350 and 2G adjacent to the inlet orifice 382 of flow director 28 384. An internal passageway extends ~rom inlet orifice 382 to discharge orifice 386.

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., ~,, -2~- 87/348 1 The tubular flow director 38~ is mounted within a 2 cage-like cavity defined by fingers 390 projecting 3 axially from the valve body 34~ in the same manner as was discussed in connection with the embodiment of Figures 1-3.
Similarly, a manually rotatable c~ntrol member 392 is 6 provided having a dependin~ finger 394 which fits between 7 finger 390 and extra finger 395 to enable rotation of 8 the valve body 344. Rotation of the control member 9 392 produces both rotational and axial movement of the valve body 344. In the assembly 300 axial movement 11 of the valve body 344 selectively varies the water 12 entrainment passageway defined between the spherical surface 13 398 of the flow director 384 and a sealing lip 14 400 defined by the control member 3g2, in the same manner as has been previously discussed. Further, in 16 assembly 300, the rotational position of the valve body 17 344 varies the air flow passageway dependent upon the 18 degree of mating between ~ixed air hole 374 and the tear 1~ drop shaped air hole 376 on valve body 344.
Additionally, the rotational position o~ the valve body 21 344 determines the amount of high pressure water supplied 22 from coupling 316 into the inlet end of nozzle 352, 23 depending on the alignment between openings 362, 364 24 and 334, 336.
2~ In order to better understand the operation of the 27 assembly 300 to produce the operational characteristics 28 described by Table III, attention is directed to Flgure 13 which schematically depicts the water entrainment path, the ( ~3()4~
-23-- 87/34~
1 air entrainmen~ pa~h, and the water supply path for each of 2 the rotational positions shnwn in Table III. Initially 3 consider a o rotation, as represented in Figure 9. As 4 shown schematically in Figure 13a, in this position the water entrainment path is closed because the spherical surface 6 398 of the flow director 384 is sealed against the 7 lip 400 of control member 392. With the same 0 8 rotation depicted in Figure 13a, the air hole 376 formed 9 on the wall of valve body 344 will be aligned with the air hole 374 on wall fitting 306 and thus the air 11 entrainment passageway will be fully open. With the same 12 0 rotation, the side wall sections 356 and 358 o~
13 the valve body 344 will be adjacent to the side wall 14 sections 330 and 332 of wall fitting 306 and thus the water supply path will be fully open.
~6 Now consider rotation of the control member by 175 17 as represented in Figure 13b. Note that the water 18 entrainment path is now slightly open as the flow director 19 384 has moved axially away from the sealing lip 400, the air entrainment path is closed as the air opening 376 21 has moved out of alignment with the air opening 374 and 22 the water supply path opening has closed substantially.
23 Thus, by rotating the control member 392 from 0 2i through 75 as represented by Figures 13a and 13b, and by corresponding entries in Table III, it should be apparent 26 that the user will gradually reduce both the amount of water 27 supplied and air entrainment to reduce the momentum of the 2~ ~ ¦ discharge str .~a (i.e. +4 to +l).

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-24- 87/34~
1 At 85 (Figure 13c) and at 95 (Figure 13d) the 2 water supply path becomes very small or negligible and 3 consequently the momentum of the discharge stream is also 4 negligible. In actual installations, it is preferable to prevent complete closure of the water supply path to avoid 6 damaging the pump supplying water to the coupling 316.
7 Rather, it is preferable that at least a negligible amount of 8 water be permitted to flow into the nozzle 350 for all 9 positions of the control member 392.
Note in Figure 13d, that further clockwise rotation 11 of the control member will start to open the water supply 12 passageway. The air entrainment passageway will remain 13 closed but the water entrainment passageway between the flow 14 director 384 and the sealing lip 400 will progressively open. Thus, between approximately 95 and 16 180, as progressively more tub water is entrained by the 17 increasing amount of water supplied from the nozzle 350, 18 the momentum of the discharge stream will increase, shown in 19 Table III to be from a negligible value to +4.
Thus, the assembly 300 enables the usar to vary 21 the momentum of the discharge stream over a wide range in 22 both the air entrainment mode and the water entrainment mode 23 with a rotational range of the control member of 180.
24 This degree o~ control is achieved in a very compact assembly which can be readily manufactured of inexpensive molded 26 plastic parts, ~ ~L3~

1 From the ~oregoing description o~ the third 2 embodiment depicted in Figures 8-14, it should be recognized 3 that the water entrainment path attributable to the axial 4 movement of the valve body 344 begins gradually opening well prior to the 95 position at which the water supply 6 means begins to open ~or the water entrainment mode. More 7 specifically, note for example in Table III and in Figure 13b 8 that, for a 75 rotation, the water entrainment path is 9 open slightly so that with a small water supply flow, some degree of tub water entrainment occurs. Also, note that the 11 water entrainment path continues to gradually open as the 12 control member is rotated through 85 to 95 all while 13 the water supply flow is negligible. This fact of course is 14 attributable to the axial movement of the valve body 344 being linearly related to the rotational movement of the 16 valve body. In other words, as a consequence of the threaded 17 engagement between the valve body 34~ and the wall 18 fitting 306, a 1 rotational movement of the valve body 19 will produce a fixed amount of axial movement. In order to even further enhance the user's ability to selectively vary 21 the momentum of the discharge stream throughout both the air 22 entrainment mode and water entrainment mode, attention is now 23 directed to the fourth embodiment depicted in Figures 15-18.
2L~ Fourth Embodiment:
Assembly 500 of Figure 15-18 is substantially 2~ identical to embodiment 300 o~ Figures ~3-14 except that 27 in lieu of threadedly engaging the valve body 344 within 2~ the wall fitting 306l a cam and cam follower arrangement -26- 87/34g 1 is used. More specifically, note that a ridge or key 504 2 is formed on the outer surface of the valve body 506.
3 The key 504 projects radially and extend~ in excess of 4 180 around the circumference of the valve body 506.
The key 509 extends ~hrough a keyway or slot 508 6 which projects radially outward in the interior wall of the 7 wall fitting 510. The key 50~ is shaped to define a S cam surface to introduce a nonlinear relationship between the 9 rotational movement of the valve body 506 and its axial movement. More specifically, in order to optimize the full 11 range of available valve body axial movement for water 12 entrainment path adjustment, it is desired that the water 13 entrainment not begin to open until approximately 95~, as 14 the water supply path begins to open. This operation is depicted by the following Table IV:

19 ANGLE ENTRAIN. SUPPLY ENTRAIN. MOMENTUM
AIR ~1 0(STOP) CLOSED QPEN OPEN ~4 21 ENTRAINMENT ~ IVAR. IVAR. IVAR.
22 MODE i 75 CLOSED SMALL CLOSED ~
23 85 CLOSED NEGLIG. CLOSED NEGLIG.
2~ WATER ~3 95 NEGLIG. NEGLIG. CLOSED NEGLIG.
25 ENTRAI~MENT ~ VAR. IVAR. IVAR.
26 MQDE ,,l 180(STOP) OPEN OPEN CLOSED +4 In order to prevent the water entrainment path from 28 opening between approximately 0 and 90, the key 504 .

( ~3~4~;41 ' 1 is shaped so that it is flat, i.e. has no axial pitch, ~or 2 the initial approximately 90 around the valve hody 3 s06. Thus, ~or rotation of the control member from o 4 to approximately so, the key so~ will move through the keyway 508 without the ~eyway wall exer~ing any axial 6 force on the key. However, from about 95 to 180, the 7 shape of the key sO4 is angled so as to have an axial 8 pitch component. Accordingly, as the valve body 506 is 9 rotated relative to the fixed wall fitting 513 and fixed keyway 508, the valve body 506 will move axially as 11 the keyway wall exerts an axial force on the key 504.
12 Thus, utilization of the key and keyway in assembly 500, 13 in lieu of the threaded coupling between the valve body and 1~ wall fitting in assembly 300, enables the axial movemen*
of the valve body to be restricted to a specific portion of 16 the rotational range of the valve body; This is represented 17 in the foregoing Table IV wherein it should be noted that the 18 water entrainment path remains closed through substantially 1~ the initial 90. This permits the momentum of the discharge stream to be varied over a wider range than in the 21 assembly 300 of Figures 8-13.
22 In all other respects, the assembly 500 is 23 identical to the assembly 300 except that whereas the 2~ tear drop shaped air hole 376 was skewed axially in assembly 300 (Figure 14) to compensate for valYe body 26 axial movement within the rotational range of the air 27 entrainment mode, such skewing is not necessary in assembly 28 500 because valve body 344 does not move axially ~3~

6~312-370 within the rotational range associated with ~he air entrainment mode.
From the foregoiny, it should now be recognized that several embodiments of improved hydrotherapy je~ assemhlieæ have been disclosed herein, characterized by structures which enable a user to operate the assembly in either an air entrainment mode or a water entrainmen~ mode with the user having the ability, with a single control member, to vary the momentum of the discharge stream in either mode. Although each of the disclosed embodiment~
can be selectively operated in either mode, it is pointed out that other embodiments of the invention may have more restricted capability. For example only, an embodiment which eliminates the air passageway and employs the valve body having the cage like cavity to retain the ~low director for the purpose of controlltng only water entrainment and water supply would still have significant utility. As a further example, water entrainment capability can be deleted from an embodiment in which the valve body and caged flow director are employed solely ior controlling air en~rain~ent and/or water supply.
As will no douht be appreciated, embodiments of the invention can be constructed in various dimensions. However, as taught in U.S. Patent 4,731,887, it is preferable that the tub water entrainment passageway have an effective area equal to at least 20% of the difference between the nozzle outlet area and the tubular member discharge orifice area.

2~ a

Claims (36)

1. A hydrotherapy jet assembly suitable for mounting in an opening of a water tube peripheral wall for discharging a water stream into said tub for impacting against a user's body, said assembly including: housing means defining a mixing chamber and including means for discharging a water jet along a defined water jet axis into said chamber for creating a suction therein; tubular flow direction means having an inlet orifice and discharge orifice; means mounting said flow director means with said inlet orifice open to said mixing chamber and substantially aligned with said water jet axis whereby water supplied by said jet will flow through said flow director means to said discharge orifice; first passageway means for passing water from said tub into said chamber, drawn by said suction, for entrainment by said water jet, said first passageway means including first valve means for selectively varying the flow therethrough; second passageway means for passing air into said chamber, drawn by said suction, for entrainment by said water jet, said second passageway means including second valve means for selectively varying the flow therethrough; a manual control means; and means coupling said control means to said first and second valve means for selectively varying flow through said first and second passageway means.

2. A hydrotherapy jet assembly suitable for mounting in an opening of a water tube peripheral wall for discharging a water stream into said tub for impacting against a user's body, said assembly including: housing means defining a mixing chamber and including means for discharging a water jet along a defined water jet axis into said chamber for creating a suction therein; tubular flow director means having an inlet orifice and a discharge orifice; means mounting said flow director means with said inlet orifice open to said mixing chamber and substantially aligned with said water jet axis whereby water supplied by said jet will flow through said flow director means to said discharge orifice; first passageway means for passing water from said tub into said chamber, drawn by said suction, for entrainment by said water jet, said first passageway means including first valve means for selectively varying the flow therethrough; second passageway means for passing air into said chamber, drawn by said suction, for entrainment by said water jet, said second passageway means including second valve means for selectively varying the flow therethrough; and third valve means for varying the magnitude of said water jet discharged into said chamber.

3. The assembly of claim 2 including a manual control means; and means coupling said control means to said first, second, and third valve means for respectively varying the magnitudes of said water available for entrainment, said air available for entrainment, and said water jet.

4. The assembly of claim 3 wherein said control means includes a ring member mounted for rotational movement; and trim ring means for overlaying said ring member.

5. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said housing means includes a flange for engaging said tub peripheral wall around said opening; and trim ring means for overlaying said flange.

6. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said control means includes a ring member mounted for rotational movement; and trim ring means for overlaying said ring member.

7. A hydrotherapy jet assembly comprising: a housing defining an interior mixing chamber having an inlet end and an outlet end; nozzle means fox supplying a water jet along a defined axis to said chamber inlet end to create a reduced pressure in said chamber; a tubular member defining an interior flow path having an inlet orifice and a discharge orifice means mounting said tubular member adjacent to aid chamber outlet end, said mounting means including means defining a first passageway for passing water exteriorly of said tubular member interior flow path from proximate said tubular member discharge orifice into said chamber; and control means for selectively varying (1) the effective area of said first passageway and (2) the magnitude of said supplied water jet.

8. A hydrotherapy jet assembly comprising: a housing defining an interior mixing chamber having an inlet end and an outlet end; nozzle means for supplying a water jet along a defined axis to said chamber inlet end to create a reduced pressure in said chamber; a tubular member defining an interior flow path having an inlet orifice and a discharge orifice; means mounting said tubular member adjacent to said chamber outlet end, said mounting means including means defining a first passageway for passing water exteriorly of said tubular member interior flow path from proximate said tubular member discharge orifice into said chamber; control means for selectively varying the water flow through said first passageway, said control means including, a valve body having a central opening extending therethrough; means mounting said valve body in said housing with said central opening oriented substantially along said nozzle axis; a plurality of axially projecting fingers extending from said valve body to define a cavity therebetween; and wherein said tubular member is mounted in said cavity.

9. The assembly of claim 8 wherein said tubular member includes a portion having a substantially spherical exterior surface; and wherein said tubular member spherical surface engages said fingers in said cavity to permit said tubular member to swivel relative to said fingers for selectively orienting said discharge orifice.

10. The assembly of claim 7 wherein said control means includes: a valve body having a central opening extending therethrough; and means mounting said valve body in said housing for axial movement along a central axis coincident with said nozzle axis.

11. The assembly of claim 10 wherein said control means further includes means for varying water flow through said first passageway dependent on the axial position of said valve body.

12. The assembly of claim 10 wherein said control means further includes means for varying air flow through said second passageway dependent on the axial position of said valve body.

13. The assembly of claim 10 wherein said control means further includes a control member mounted exteriorly of said housing for manual rotation; and means responsive to rotation of said control member for moving said valve body axially.

14. The assembly of claim 7 wherein said control means includes: a valve body having a central opening extending therethrough; and means mounting said valve body in said housing for axial movement along a central axis coincident with said nozzle axle and rotational movement around said central axis.

15. The assembly of claim 14 wherein said control means further includes a control member mounted exteriorly of said housing for manual rotation; and means responsive to rotation of said control member for moving said valve body both axially and rotationally.

'

16. A hydrotherapy jet assembly comprising: a housing defining an interior mixing chamber having an inlet end and an outlet end; nozzle means for supplying a water jet along a defined axis to said chamber inlet end to create a reduced pressure in said chamber; a tubular member defining an interior flow path having an inlet orifice and a discharge orifice; means mounting said tubular member adjacent to said chamber outlet end, said mounting means including means defining a first passageway for passing water exteriorly of said tubular member interior flow path from proximate said tubular member discharge orifice into said chamber; said housing defining a second passageway for coupling an air source to said chamber; and control means including a valve body for varying the effective area of said first passageway dependent on the axial position of said valve body and for varying the effective area of said second passageway dependent on the rotational position of said valve body.

17. In combinations a tub for containing a water pool, said tub having a peripheral wall including a jet opening and a water return opening formed therein; a housing mounted in alignment with said jet opening, said housing defining a mixing chamber and including nozzle means for supplying a water jet along a defined axis into said chamber for creating a suction therein;
electrically driven pump means having an inlet side coupled to said water return opening and an outlet side coupled to said nozzle means for drawing tub pool water and supplying pressurized water to said nozzle means first passageway means open to said water pool and communicating with said chamber for passing water from said pool into said chamber, drawn by said suction, for entrainment by said water jet; second passageway means open to a source of air and communicating with said chamber for passing air, drawn by said suction, for entrainment by said water jet; first valve means for varying the flow of water through said first passageway means; second valve means for varying the flow of air through said second passageway means; and manually operable control means for controlling said first and second valve means.

18. The combination of claim 17 wherein said control means comprises a single control member mounted for rotation; and means coupling said control member to said first and second valve means.

19. In combination: a tub for containing a water pool, said tub having a peripheral wall including a jet opening and a water return opening formed therein; a housing mounted in alignment with said jet opening, said housing defining a mixing chamber and including nozzle means for supplying a water jet along a defined axis into said chamber for creating a suction therein;
electrically driven pump means having an inlet side coupled to said water return opening at an outlet side coupled to said nozzle means for drawing tub pool water and supplying pressurized water to said nozzle means; first passageway means open to said water pool and communicating with said chamber for passing water from said pool into said chamber, drawn by said suction, for entrainment by said water jet; second passageway means open to a source of air and communicating with said chamber for passing air, drawn by said suction, for entrainment by said water jet; first valve means for varying the flow of water through said first passageway means; second valve means for varying the flow of air through said second passageway means; and third valve means for varying the magnitude of said supplied water jet.

20. The combination of claim 19 including a manually operable control member; and means coupling said control member to said first, second, and third valve means.

21. A hydrotherapy jet assembly comprising: a housing defining an interior mixing chamber having an inlet end and an outlet end; nozzle means for supplying a water jet along a defined axis to said chamber inlet end to create a reduced pressure in said chamber; a tubular member defining an interior flow path having an inlet orifice and a discharge orifice; water source means for supplying water to said nozzle means; control means for selectively varying the water flow from said water source means;
said control means including a valve body having at least one central opening extending therethrough; means mounting said valve body in said housing with said central opening oriented substantially along said defined axis; a plurality of axially projecting fingers extending from said valve body to define a cavity therebetween; and wherein said tubular member is mounted in said cavity.

22. The assembly of claim 21 wherein said tubular member includes a portion having a substantially spherical exterior surface; and wherein said tubular member spherical surface engages said fingers in said cavity to permit said tubular member to swivel relative to said fingers for selectively orienting said discharge orifice.

23. The assembly of claim 21 wherein said means mounting said valve body permits rotation of said valve body around said defined axis.

24. The assembly of claim 21 wherein said housing includes a flange for engaging a tub peripheral wall around an opening therein; and trim ring means for overlaying said flange.

25. The assembly of claim 21 wherein said control means includes a ring member mounted for rotational movement; and trim ring means for overlaying said ring member.

26. A hydrotherapy jet assembly comprising, a housing defining an interior mixing chamber having an inlet end and an outlet end; nozzle means for supplying a water jet along a defined axis to said chamber inlet end to create a reduced pressure in said chamber; a tubular member defining an interior flow path having an inlet orifice and a discharge orifice; means mounting said tubular member adjacent to said chamber outlet end, said mounting means including means defining a first passageway, exteriorly of said tubular member interior flow path for passing water from proximate said tubular member discharge orifice into said chamber; water source means for supplying water to said nozzle means; and a manual control means for selectively varying the (1) effective area of said first passageway and (2) the water flow from said water source means.

27. The assembly of claim 26 wherein said control means includes: a valve body having at least one opening extending therethrough; means mounting said valve body in said housing with said opening oriented substantially along said nozzle axis; a plurality of axially projecting fingers extending from said valve body to define a cavity therebetween; and wherein said tubular member is mounted in said cavity.

28. The assembly of claim 27 wherein said tubular member includes a portion having a substantially spherical exterior surface and wherein said tubular member spherical surface engages said fingers in said cavity to permit said tubular member to swivel relative to said fingers for selectively orienting said discharge orifice.

29. The assembly of claim 27 wherein said means mounting said valve body permits rotation of said valve body around said defined axis.

30. The assembly of claim 26 wherein said housing includes a flange for engaging a tub peripheral wall around an opening therein; and trim ring means for overlaying said flange.

31. The assembly of claim 26 wherein said control means includes a ring member mounted for rotational movement; and trim ring means for overlaying said ring member.

32. A method of operating a hydrotherapy jet assembly to discharge a high intensity stream through an opening in the peripheral wall of a water tub beneath the surface of a water pool contained therein, which assembly includes a nozzle for discharging a water jet into a mixing chamber to create a suction at a suction inlet to said chamber and an orifice for discharging a stream from said chamber, said method including the steps of:
pumping water from said water pool and supplying it under pressure to said nozzle to produce said water jet; providing a first passageway from said water pool to said suction inlet for drawing water from said pool for entrainment by said water jet; providing a second passageway from an air source to said suction inlet for drawing air for entrainment by said water jet; and selectively varying the effective areas of said first and second passageways to control the amount of water and air drawn for entrainment.

33. The method of claim 32 including the further step of selectively controlling the water supplied to said nozzle.

34. A method of operating a hydrotherapy jet assembly to discharge a high intensity stream through an opening in the peripheral wall of a water tub beneath the surface of a water pool contained therein, which assembly includes a nozzle for discharging a water jet into a mixing chamber to create a suction at a suction inlet to said chamber and an orifice for discharging a stream from said chamber said method including the steps of:
pumping water from said water pool and supplying is under pressure to said nozzle to produce said water jet; providing a passageway from said water pool to said suction inlet for drawing water from said pool for entrainment by said water jet; and selectively varying the amount of water supplied to said nozzle and the effective area of said passageway.

35. The assembly of claim 2 wherein said housing mean includes a flange for engaging aid tub peripheral wall around said opening; and trim ring means for overlaying said flange.

36. The assembly of claim 21 further including, air source means for supplying air to said chamber; and wherein said control means further includes means for selectively varying the air flow from said air source means.