Claims
- 1. An extendible and retractable air/water jet apparatus for use in fluid containing enclosures which have at least one side wall and a pressurized water distribution system, the jet apparatus comprising:
- an elongate housing having first and second ends, a hollow interior surrounded by a side wall, a first water outlet conduit at said first end adapted to be secured to the exterior of said enclosure side wall to place said housing interior in fluid communication with said enclosure interior, a first water port near said first end, and a second water port near said second end;
- a piston slidably disposed within said elongate housing interior engaged in reciprocating relation with the interior of said housing side wall, and having a water passageway extending therethrough, said piston being movable between said housing first and second ends; and
- a second water outlet conduit slidably disposed inside said first water outlet conduit and connected at a first end in fluid communication with said piston water passageway;
- a water discharge nozzle connected in fluid communication with a second end of said second water outlet conduit to move therewith, said second water outlet conduit having an outer diameter smaller than the interior diameter of said first water outlet conduit to define a water annulus therebetween; wherein
- when water under pressure fills said housing through said first water port, said piston is moved to a position near said housing second end, said second water outlet conduit and nozzle is retracted within said first water outlet conduit, and water flows through said water annulus and is discharged around said second water outlet conduit and nozzle into said enclosure; and
- when water under pressure fills said housing through said second water port, said piston is moved to a position near said housing first end, said second water outlet conduit and nozzle is extended outwardly relative to said first water outlet conduit, said piston closes off water flow through said water annulus, and water flows through said piston water passageway, through the interior of said second water outlet conduit and nozzle, and is discharged into said enclosure.
- 2. An extendible and retractable air/water jet apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising
- water diverting means connected between said first and said second water ports and adapted to be connected to said water distribution system for selectively conducting water into said housing interior through either one of said first and second water ports.
- 3. An extendible and retractable air/water jet apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
- said second water outlet conduit is formed of flexible tubing.
- 4. An extendible and retractable air/water jet apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
- said first and said second water outlet conduits are formed of flexible tubing.
- 5. An extendible and retractable air/water jet apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
- said housing is formed of flexible tubing.
- 6. An extendible and retractable air/water jet apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:
- an air inlet on said housing near its said first end for conducting air from the exterior of said housing into the interior thereof;
- valve means connected with said air inlet for allowing passage of air only into said air inlet;
- an air tube disposed generally concentrically within said second water outlet conduit to move therewith having a first end disposed adjacent to said nozzle and a second end extending through said piston with its interior in fluid communication with the exterior of said piston, said air tube having an outer diameter smaller than the interior diameter of said second water outlet conduit and said nozzle to define a second water annulus therebetween; wherein
- when water under pressure fills said housing through said first water port, said valve means closes, said piston is moved to a position near said housing second end, said second water outlet conduit, said nozzle and said air tube is retracted within said first water outlet conduit, water flows through said water annulus and is discharged around said second water outlet conduit and nozzle into said enclosure; and
- when water under pressure fills said housing through said second water port, said piston is moved to a position near said housing first end, said air tube second end is in fluid communication with said air inlet, said valve means opens, said second water outlet conduit, said nozzle and said air tube is extended outwardly relative to said first water outlet conduit, said piston closes off water flow through said water annulus, and water flows through said piston water passageway, through said second water annulus and is discharged around said air tube first end into said enclosure creating a venturi effect to draw ambient air through said air inlet, through said air tube and form a turbulent aerated stream of water and air bubbles.
- 7. An extendible and retractable air/water jet apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising:
- a third water outlet conduit at said housing first end having a first end in fluid communication with said housing interior and a second end in fluid communication with said enclosure interior;
- a second air tube having a first end disposed generally concentrically within one end of said third water outlet conduit and a second end extending outwardly of said third water outlet conduit, said air tube having an outer diameter smaller than the interior diameter of said third water outlet conduit to define a third water annulus therebetween;
- second valve means connected with said second air tube for allowing passage of air only into said third air tube; wherein
- when water under pressure fills said housing through said first water port, said valve means closes, said piston is moved to a position near said housing second end, said second water outlet conduit, said nozzle and said air tube is retracted within said first water outlet conduit, said second valve means opens, a portion of the water flows through said water annulus and is discharged around said second water outlet conduit and nozzle into said enclosure, and another portion of water flows through said third water outlet conduit, through said third water annulus and is discharged around said second air tube first end into said enclosure creating a venturi effect to draw ambient air through said second air tube and form a turbulent aerated stream of water and air bubbles; and
- when water under pressure fills said housing through said second water port, said piston is moved to a position near said housing first end, said air tube second end is in fluid communication with said air inlet, said valve means opens, said second water outlet conduit, said nozzle and said air tube is extended outwardly relative to said first water outlet conduit, said piston closes off water flow through said water annulus and through said third water outlet conduit, and water flows through said piston water passageway, through said second water annulus and is discharged around said air tube first end into said enclosure creating a venturi effect to draw ambient air through said air inlet, through said air tube and form a turbulent aerated stream of water and air bubbles.
- 8. An extendible and retractable air/water jet apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising
- a third water outlet conduit at said housing first end having a first end in fluid communication with said housing interior and a second end adapted to be connected in fluid communication with a second spa jet remote from said housing.
- 9. An extendible and retractable air/water jet apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising:
- a second air tube having a first end disposed generally concentrically within one end of said third water outlet conduit and a second end extending outwardly of said third water outlet conduit, said air tube having an outer diameter smaller than the interior diameter of said third water outlet conduit to define a third water annulus therebetween; and
- second valve means connected with said second air tube for allowing passage of air only into said third air tube.
- 10. An extendible and retractable air/water jet apparatus according to claim 7, wherein
- said third water outlet conduit is formed of flexible tubing.
- 11. An extendible and retractable air/water jet apparatus for use in fluid containing enclosures which have at least one side wall and a pressurized water distribution system, the jet apparatus comprising:
- an elongate housing having first and second ends, a hollow interior surrounded by a side wall, a first water port near said first end, and a second water port near said second end, and a first water outlet conduit connected at a first end to said housing first end in fluid communication with said housing interior;
- a hollow generally cylindrical member at a second end of said first water outlet conduit adapted to be secured to the exterior of said enclosure side wall and having a central bore in fluid communication with said enclosure interior;
- a piston slidably disposed within said elongate housing interior engaged in reciprocating fluid sealing relation with the interior of said housing side wall, and having a water passageway extending therethrough, said piston being movable between said housing first and second ends; and
- a second water outlet conduit slidably disposed inside said first water outlet conduit and connected at a first end in fluid communication with said piston water passageway;
- a water discharge nozzle connected in fluid communication with a second end of said second water outlet conduit to move therewith, said second water outlet conduit having an outer diameter smaller than the interior diameter of said first water outlet conduit and said cylindrical member bore to define a first water annulus therebetween; wherein
- when water under pressure fills said housing through said first water port, said piston is moved to a position near said housing second end, said second water outlet conduit and nozzle is retracted within said first water outlet conduit, and water flows through said first water annulus and is discharged around said second water outlet conduit and nozzle into said enclosure; and
- when water under pressure fills said housing through said second water port, said piston is moved to a position near said housing first end, said second water outlet conduit and nozzle is extended outwardly relative to said first water outlet conduit, said piston closes off water flow through said first water annulus, and water flows through said piston water passageway, through the interior of said second water outlet conduit and nozzle, and is discharged into said enclosure.
- 12. An extendible and retractable air/water jet apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising
- water diverting means connected between said first and said second water ports and adapted to be connected to said water distribution system for selectively conducting water into said housing interior through either one of said first and second water ports.
- 13. An extendible and retractable air/water jet apparatus according to claim 11, wherein
- said second water outlet conduit is formed of flexible tubing.
- 14. An extendible and retractable air/water jet apparatus according to claim 11, wherein
- said first and said second water outlet conduits are formed of flexible tubing.
- 15. An extendible and retractable air/water jet apparatus according to claim 11, wherein
- said elongate housing is formed of flexible tubing.
- 16. An extendible and retractable air/water jet apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising:
- an air inlet on said housing near its said first end for conducting air from the exterior of said housing into the interior thereof;
- valve means connected with said air inlet for allowing passage of air only into said air inlet;
- an air tube disposed generally concentrically within said second water outlet conduit to move therewith having a first end disposed adjacent to said nozzle and a second end extending through said piston with its interior in fluid communication with the exterior of said piston, said air tube having an outer diameter smaller than the interior diameter of said second water outlet conduit and said nozzle to define a second water annulus therebetween; wherein
- when water under pressure fills said housing through said first water port, said valve means closes, said piston is moved to a position near said housing second end, said second water outlet conduit, said nozzle and said air tube is retracted within said first water outlet conduit, water flows through said water annulus and is discharged around said second water outlet conduit and nozzle into said enclosure; and
- when water under pressure fills said housing through said second water port, said piston is moved to a position near said housing first end, said air tube second end is in fluid communication with said air inlet, said valve means opens, said second water outlet conduit, said nozzle and said air tube is extended outwardly relative to said first water outlet conduit, said piston closes off water flow through said first water annulus, and water flows through said piston water passageway, through said second water annulus and is discharged around said air tube first end into said enclosure creating a venturi effect to draw ambient air through said air inlet, through said air tube and form a turbulent aerated stream of water and air bubbles.
- 17. An extendible and retractable air/water jet apparatus according to claim 16, further comprising:
- a second air inlet on said generally cylindrical member for conducting air from the exterior of said generally cylindrical member into the interior thereof;
- second valve means connected with said second air inlet tube for allowing passage of air only into said second air tube; wherein
- air is drawn through said second air inlet when water flows through said first water annulus and is discharged around said second water outlet conduit and nozzle into said enclosure to form a turbulent aerated stream of water and air bubbles.
- 18. An extendible and retractable air/water jet apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising:
- a first isolated air tube air tube disposed generally concentrically within said elongate housing having one end extending outwardly from said housing second end and a second end extending a distance inwardly from said housing second end;
- a second air tube disposed generally concentrically within said second water outlet conduit to move therewith having a first end disposed adjacent to said nozzle and a second end extending through said piston with its interior slidably received on said first air tube second end in fluid sealing relation and having an interior in fluid communication with the interior of said first air tube, said second air tube having an outer diameter smaller than the interior diameter of said second water outlet conduit and said nozzle to define a second water annulus therebetween; wherein
- when water under pressure fills said housing through said first water port, said valve means closes, said piston is moved to a position near said housing second end, said second water outlet conduit, said nozzle and said second air tube is retracted within said first water outlet conduit, water flows through said water annulus and is discharged around said second water outlet conduit and nozzle into said enclosure; and
- when water under pressure fills said housing through said second water port, said piston is moved to a position near said housing first end, said second water outlet conduit, said nozzle and said second air tube is extended outwardly relative to said first water outlet conduit, said piston closes off water flow through said first water annulus, and water flows through said piston water passageway, through said second water annulus and is discharged around said second air tube first end into said enclosure creating a venturi effect to draw ambient air through said fist and second air tubes and form a turbulent aerated stream of water and air bubbles.
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This application claims priority of U.S. Provisional application Ser. No. 60/089,205, filed Jun. 12, 1998.
US Referenced Citations (9)
Foreign Referenced Citations (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
3020015 |
Jan 1988 |
GBX |