US3471091A

US3471091A - Hydrotherapy fitting

Info

Publication number: US3471091A
Application number: US665168A
Authority: US
Inventors: William O Baker
Original assignee: Swimquip Inc
Current assignee: Sta Rite Industries LLC; Swimquip Inc
Priority date: 1967-09-01
Filing date: 1967-09-01
Publication date: 1969-10-07
Anticipated expiration: 1986-10-07

Description

Oct. 7, 1969 w. o. BAKER 3,471,091

aYnnomsnAryri'rwmo Fil ed Sept. 1. 1967 v v 78 83A y l8, 7 :3: l0 70 72 66 I4 4 62 55 2o 22 l a Q 75 -60 3a 7 5,, S H6. 2 4 30 Q I 9 INVENTOR. WILLIAM 0. BAKER ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent US. Cl. 239-416 8 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to hydrotherapy equipment, and particularly to hydrotherapy fittings.

A hydrotherapy fitting according to the present invention includes a housing having a cavity. Liquid inlet means is provided in fluid communication with said cavity and is adapted to be connected to a source of pressurized liquid, such as water. Gas inlet means is likewise supported by said housing and is adapted to be connected to a source of gas, such as air. A fluid guide means is mounted within said cavity and includes a nozzle having a throat. First passage means provides fluid communication between the gas inlet means and the nozzle for introducing the gas into said nozzle, and second passage means provides fluid communication between the cavity and the nozzle for introducing liquid under pressure into the nozzle downstream from the first passage means. Upon connection of the liquid inlet means to a source of pressurized liquid, a stream of liquid flows .through the second passage means thereby creating a low-pressure area down-stream from vthe first passage means thereby drawing gas into the nozzle through the second passage means.

According to an optional but desirable feautre of the present invention, the gas is permitted to be introduced axially into the nozzle and the liquid is injected into the nozzle.

According to another optional but desirable feature of the present invention, there are included separate controls for regulating the flow of liquid and gas through the nozzle.

This invention relates to hydrotherapy equipment, and more particularly to hydrotherapy fittings.

Hydrotherapy fittings commonly utilize the injection of a liquid and a gas, such as water and air, through a nozzle for discharge into a body of water, such as a bathtub or therapy pool. In some prior hydrotherapy fittings, both the air and the water are injected under pressure into the fitting so as to obtain a turbulence within the nozzle to obtain mixing of the air and water. These pressure-operated fittings have required expensive pump assemblies and intricate conduits for delivering the air under pressure to the fitting.

In other prior hydrotherapy fittings, water has been injected axially into the nozzle under pressure and air has been drawn in at the sides of the nozzle. This arrangement has resulted in a main water stream being directed through the nozzle, surrounded by a boundary layer of air. Unless a baffie was placed in the nozzle to divert the water stream into the boundary stream of air there was not enough turbulence of air or water to achieve proper mixing of air in water. Thus, without a bafile arrangement, the jet stream emitted from the nozzle was merely a jet stream of water surrounded by a stream of air.

If, however, a bafie arrangement was included in the nozzle of prior hydrotherapy fittings having axial water injection, enough turbulence was created for proper mixing of the air and water, but the velocity of the emitted jet stream was reduced and the direction of the emitted jet stream was difiicult, if not impossible, to control due to the random turbulence created in the nozzle.

3,471,091 Patented Oct. 7, 1969 According to the present invention, air is admitted into the nozzle of a hydrotherapy fitting, and water is introduced under pressure into the nozzle at a location downstream from the place where the air is admitted. This arrangement produces a low-pressure area downstream from the place where the air is admitted, thereby drawing air into the nozzle and mixing it with the water.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a hydrotherapy fitting wherein gas is mixed with liquid, but does not require external pressurization of the gas.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a hydrotherapy fitting wherein suflicient mixing of the gas and liquid is achieved without the use of deflection baflles.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a hydrotherapy fitting for injecting a mixture of gas and liquid into a pool of Water wherein said fitting is universally mounted so as to direct the flow of the mixed gas and liquid inany desired direction.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a hydrotherapy fitting having separate liquid and gas controls so that the flow of liquid and gas may be separately regulated, thereby regulating the mixture of liquid and gas in the outlet stream of the injector fitting.

According to the present invention, the pressurized liquid and also the gas, which need not be pressurized, is brought to a nozzle within the cavity of the housing. The liquid is introduced into the nozzle at a position downstream from the place of introduction of the gas, and the flow of the liquid into and through the nozzle draws the gas into the liquid.

According to a preferred feature of the invention, the pressurized liquid is introduced into the nozzle in a flow pattern by which the introduced liquid surrounds the flow axis through the nozzle and the gas is introduced within this flow pattern of the liquid.

According to another optional but desirable feature of "ice 4 the present invention, separate regulatory controls are provided for separately controlling the flow of gas and liquid into the nozzle, so that the content of gas in liquid in the jet stream emitted from the nozzle may be controlled.

The above and other features of the present invention will he more fully understood from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional side view of hydrotherapy fitting according to the presently preferred form of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view in cutaway cross-section of an alternative mount for mounting the fitting of the present invention; and

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a ball joint and nozzle for use in the hydrotherapy fitting according to the present invention.

Referring to the drawings and particularly to FIG. 1, a hydrotherapy fitting according to the present invention is illustrated generally at 10. Fitting 10 includes face plate 12 mounted to housing 14 by suitable fasteners 16. Gasket 18 provides a fluid seal between face plate 12 and housing 14. Recess portion 20 on face plate 12 supports a seal means, such as a Teflon O-ring 22. Annular shoulder 26, integral with housing 14, and wall 30 support resilient bias means 32, such as a compressed rubber ring. Bias means 32 supports a seal means, such as a Teflon O-ring 24 3 axis. Nozzle 38 has its forward portion extending out of cavity 34.

Ball joint 36 includes an internal protrusion 42 having an axial passage 44 therethrough to provide fluid communication between the interior of nozzle 38 and cavity 25 of bias means 32. Cavity 46 is formed Within ball joint 36 and provides fluid communication with cavity 34 through a plurality of passageways 48. It is preferred that passages 48 be disposed a sufficient angular distance from axial passage 40 that arcuate surface 49 seals against O-ring 24 for all angular positions of ball joint 36.

Nozzle 38 includes a valving surface 50 capable of closing over the external surface of protrusion 42. Nozzle 38 includes an internal convergent portion 52 forming a throat adjacent valving surface 50 and a divergent portion 54 which extends from the throat to the forward end of nozzle 38.

Receptacle portion 56, integral with housing 14, is in fluid communication with cavity 34 and is adapted to be connected to a liquid inlet conduit (not shown) such as the outlet of a pump for a swimming pool. Receptacle 56 receives liquid under pressure from the pressurized source and delivers it to cavity 46 of the fluid guide means through cavity 34 and passages 48. Receptacle portion 58 is adapted to be connected to a gas inlet conduit (not shown) and is in fluid communication with the internal portion of seal 24 through conduit 60 and cavity 25 in bias means 32.

Needle valve 62 is threadably mounted in conduit 63 of housing 14 and is adapted to regulate the flow of gas between receptacle 58 and conduit 60 by regulating fluid communication between receptacle 56 and conduit 60 at valving wall 64. A suitable O-ring seal 66 is provided on needle valve 62 to prevent escape of gas past the needle valve.

In operation of the hydrotherapy fitting according to the present invention, receptacle 58 is connected to a suitable supply of gas, such as atmospheric air, and receptacle 56 is connected to a suitable supply of liquid under pressure, such as the outlet of a water pump (not shown). The water is permitted to follow the direction of arrows 68 through cavity 34, passages 48 and into cavity 46 of ball fitting 36. At the same time, air is permitted to flow in the direction of arrows 69 through conduit 60 and into passage 44 of the ball fitting.

The water contained within cavity 46 is permitted to pass valving surface 50 and into the throat of nozzle 38. Since the water is under pressure, the water moves past valving wall 50 and the forward end of passage 44 and into the throat of nozzle 38. The flow of water past valving wall 50 forms a Venturi-type throat, thereby creating a low-pressure region downstream from the forward end of passage 44. The low pressure or semi-vacuum area downstream from passage 44 causes the air in conduit 60 and passage 44 to be drawn in the direction of arrows 70 into the throat of the nozzle. Since the water is directed towards axis 40, the water and air mix in the throat, and are discharged under pressure through the divergent section of the nozzle in a jet stream from the hydrotherapy fitting.

Ball joint 36, being supported within cavity 34 by O-rings 22 and 24, is universally mounted so as to provide movement of nozzle 38 both horizontally and vertically so as to permit selection of the direction at which the jet stream will emit from the nozzle. The ball joint may be rotated to any desired angular position, limited only upon the point of contact of nozzle 38 with opening 76 in the face plate. The geometry of passages 48 through the wall of the ball fitting and of arcuate surface 49 is such that passages 48 are in fluid communication with cavity 34 for all possible angular positions of ball fitting 36 and nozzle 38. Likewise, the O-ring 24 provides a fluid seal between housing 12 and ball fitting 36 and between the air and water inlets for all possible angular positions of the ball fitting and nozzle. Thus, passage 44 is, for all angular positions of the ball fitting and nozzle, in fluid communication with conduit 60.

Bias spring 32, by biasing O-ring 24 against ball fitting 36, biases ball fitting 36 to the left (as shown in the drawing), thereby assuring a proper fluid seal between the face plate and ball fitting by O-ring 22, and between the housing and ball fitting at arcuate surface 49 by O-ring 24. O-ring 24 also provides a fluid seal between the air and water inlet passages, thereby preventing fluid flow between them.

Regulation of the air supply is controlled by axially turning needle valve 62 to regulate the size of the opening between receptacle 58 and conduit 60. Likewise, regulation of the flow of water is controlled by axially turning nozzle 38 to thereby regulate the size of the opening between valving surface 50 and the external portion of protrusion 42.

To prevent the needle valve from being completely drawn from the fitting, lock ring '70 is mounted on needle valve 62 and is adapted to contact wall 72 of face plate 12 when the needle valve has been opened (or moved as far to the left as possible in the drawings).

The present hydrotherapy fitting is useful for both hydrotherapeutic swimming pool-s and bathtubs. When used in a pool, the hydrotherapy fitting according to the present invention is most conveniently mounted to the pool by mounting

brackets

78 and 80 to suitable mounting means 82 fixed to the pool. Fasteners 81, such as bolts, may be used for fastening the brackets to the mounting means. The mounting brackets are preferably recessed from the forward end of housing 14 so that upon completion of the pool, the plaster forming the pool surface may cover the mounting brackets and the wall surface of the pool is flush with the forward portion of the housing as indicated at 83.

FIG. 2 illustrates an alternative mounting so that the hydrotherapy fitting may be used in a bathtub. In such an arrangement, a shoulder portion 84 is provided on face plate 12, and wall 86 of the bathtub is sandwiched between shoulder 84 of the face plate and housing 14.

FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective View of ball joint 36 having nozzle 38 threaded therein. As shown in FIG. 3, the ball joint is substantially spherical and contains a plurality of passages 48 disposed about the periphery of the ball joint so that water passing through receptacle 56 (FIG. 1) will enter the ball joint regardless what angular position the ball joint is in. Serrations 88 and 90 are preferably provided on needle valve 62 and nozzle 38, respectively, to aid in manual turning of the needle valve and nozzle.

The present invention thus provides a hydrotherapy fitting which does not require the use of air under pressure to obtain a proper mixing of air and water. The fitting has separate air and water regulation controls so that the user may adjust the mixture of air and water to suit his pleasure. The device is simple to construct and operate.

Although the hydrotherapeutic fitting according to this invention is substantially free from maintenance problems, the device may be easily disassembled for repair, cleaning or replacement by merely removing face plate 12 and disengaging needle valve 62 from conduit 63. The ball fitting and nozzle, the needle valve, and all seals may then be removed.

This invention is not to be limited by the embodiment shown in the drawings and described in the description, which is given by way of example and not of limitation.

What is claimed:

1. A hydrotherapy fitting comprising:

(a) a housing having a cavity;

(b) liquid inlet means supported by said housing and in fluid communication with said cavity, said liquid inlet means being adapted to be connected to a source of pressurized liquid;

(c) gas inlet means supported by said housing;

(d) a fluid guide means supported within said cavity,

said fluid guide means including (i) a ball fitting universally supported within said cavity for rotation in any plane,

(ii) a nozzle having a throat, said nozzle being mounted to said ball fitting and extending out of said cavity,

(iii) first passage means providing fluid communication between said gas inlet means and said nozzle for introducing gas into said nozzle, and

(iv) second passage means providing fluid com munication between said cavity and said nozzle for introducing liquid under pressure into said nozzle downstream from said first passage means, said second passage means being so arranged and disposed as to introduce liquid into said nozzle in a flow pattern which substantially surrounds the axis of said nozzle, and the first passage means is so arranged and disposed as to introduce gas into said nozzle within the flow pattern of said liquid, whereby upon connection of said liquid inlet means to a source of pressurized liquid, a stream of liquid flows through said second passage means into the throat of said nozzle, thereby creating a low pressure area downstream from said first passage means, thereby drawing gas into said nozzle through said second passage means and said gas inlet means.

2. A hydrotherapy fitting according to claim 1 wherein said flow pattern of said liquid is directed toward the axis of said nozzle.

3. A hydrotherapy fitting according to claim 1 further including first seal means supported in said cavity at the forward end thereof, and second seal means supported in said cavity at the rearward end thereof, said first and second seal means providing a fluid seal between said housing and said ball fitting.

4. A hydrotherapy fitting according to claim 3 further including bias means for biasing said second seal means against said ball fitting and for biasing said ball fitting against said first seal means.

5. A hydrotherapy fitting according to claim 4 further including regulation means for regulating flow of gas and liquid to said nozzle.

6. A hydrotherapy fitting according to claim 5 wherein said regulation means comprises first valve means supported by said housing for regulating flow of gas, and second valve means operatively associated with said nozzle and ball fitting for regulating flow of liquid, whereby the flow of gas and liquid may be separately regulated.

7. A hydrotherapy fitting according to claim 1 further including regulation means for regulating flow of gas and liquid to said nozzle.

'8. A hydrotherapy fitting according to claim 7 wherein said regulation means comprises first valve means supported by said housing for regulating flow of gas, and second valve means operatively associated with said nozzle and ball fitting for regulating flow of liquid, whereby the flow of gas and liquid may be separately regulated.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,421,702 1/1969 OBrien 239587 X 1,688,320 10/1928 Bassett 239416.4 1,748,004 2/ 1930 Urquhart 239416 X 1,751,719 3/ 1930 Uhri 239434.5 X 1,855,457 4/ 1932 Murray 239-4345 2,259,215 10/ 1941 Seheurer 239-416 2,442,991 6/ 1948 Allen 239-434.5 X 3,224,793 12/1965 Benjamin.

FOREIGN PATENTS 351,075 6/ 1931 Great Britain.

M. HENSON WOOD, 111., Primary Examiner B. BELKIN, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R.