Eductor suitable for use in an assembly for preparing a liquid product, an assembly for preparing a liquid product and a system for preparing a liquid product

An eductor suitable for use in an assembly for preparing a liquid product, the eductor comprising:

• (A) a housing having a substantially cylindrical wall with a longitudinal axis extending from one end of the cylindrical wall to the other end of the cylindrical wall opposite the one end, the housing having:
• (i) a first liquid inlet at the one end of the cylindrical wall for supplying a first liquid to the eductor in a direction at least substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis;
• (ii) a second liquid inlet at the other end of the cylindrical wall for supplying a second liquid to the eductor in a direction having a component perpendicular to the longitudinal axis;
• and
• (iii) a liquid product outlet for discharging a liquid product from the eductor in a direction at least substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis, the second liquid inlet of the eductor seen in longitudinal direction being positioned between the first liquid inlet and the liquid product outlet;
• and
• (B) an injector valve positioned within the cylindrical wall, the injector valve comprising:
• (i) an outer surface and a central, longitudinal channel for supplying the first liquid from the first liquid inlet to the liquid product outlet;
• and
• (ii) the injector valve being displaceably arranged within the cylindrical wall from a first position to a second position longitudinally spaced from the first position, and vice versa;
• and
• (iii) the outer surface comprises two annular protrusions which are spaced from each other by a distance that at least equals the distance between the first position and the second position of the injector valve,
• (a) wherein each of the annular protrusions engage the inner surface of the cylindrical wall to form a seal therewith,
• (b) wherein the annular protrusions, together with the inner surface of the cylindrical wall, form an annular chamber,
• (c) wherein the annular protrusions are arranged to isolate the annular chamber from fluid communication with an environment outside the annular protrusions when the injector valve is positioned in the first position, the second position or a position between the first position and the second position,
• (d) wherein the inner surface of the cylindrical wall comprises two further annular protrusions which are spaced from each other by a distance that at least equals the distance between the first position and the second position of the injector valve,
• (e) wherein each of the further annular protrusions engage the outer surface of the injector valve to form another seal therewith,
• (f) wherein the further annular protrusions, together with the outer surface of the injector valve, form a further annular chamber, and
• (g) wherein the further annular protrusions are arranged to isolate the further annular chamber from fluid communication with an environment outside the further annular protrusions when the injector valve is positioned in the first position, the second position, or any position therebetween.