US 2020/0260916 A1 · Extendable Jet Assembly and Liquid Circulation System

Abstract

An extendable jet assembly for a liquid-filled container includes a housing configured to be positioned in an opening in a wall of the container. The housing includes a proximal end configured to be connected to a liquid conduit, a distal end connected to the opening in the wall, and a sidewall extending therebetween. The jet assembly also includes an extendable jet at least partially mounted in the housing defining a liquid channel extending between a proximal end and a distal end thereof. The jet includes a valve at least partially disposed in the liquid channel of the jet. When the valve is open, the jet is configured to transition from a retracted position to an extended position. When the valve is closed the jet is configured to transition from the extended position to the retracted position.

Claims28

Dependent claims

An extendable jet assembly for a liquid-filled container, comprising:

a housing configured to be positioned in an opening in a wall of the container, the housing comprising a proximal end configured to be connected to a liquid conduit, a distal end connected to the opening in the wall, and a sidewall extending therebetween;
and
an extendable jet at least partially mounted in the housing defining a liquid channel extending between a proximal end and a distal end thereof, the jet comprising a valve at least partially disposed in the liquid channel,
wherein, when the valve is open, the jet is configured to transition from a retracted position to an extended position, and when the valve is closed, the jet is configured to transition from the extended position to the retracted position.

1 more element

A liquid circulation system for a liquid-filled container, the system comprising:

at least one pump configured to produce a pressurized fluid stream through one or more liquid conduits;
at least one extendable jet assembly in fluid communication with the at least one pump through at least one of the one or more liquid conduits for expelling the pressurized fluid stream into the liquid-filled container;
and
at least one diverter valve in fluid communication with the at least one pump and the at least one jet assembly, wherein the at least one diverter valve is transitionable between at least the following positions:
a first position, in which a suction force generated by the at least one pump is exerted on the at least one extendable jet assembly through the one or more liquid conduits to cause the at least one jet assembly to be in a retracted position;
a second position, in which the stream of pressurized liquid produced by the at least one pump is exerted on the jet assembly through the one or more liquid conduits, wherein the stream of pressurized liquid causes the at least one jet assembly to be in an extended position;
and
a third position in which a portion of the pressurized liquid stream generated by the at least one pump passes through the jet, and wherein the jet remains in one of the extended position or the retracted position.

5 more elements

A method of operating an extendable jet assembly of a liquid circulation system, the method comprising:

with an extendable jet of the jet assembly in a retracted position, moving a diverter valve of the liquid circulation system from a first position, in which pressurized liquid produced by a pump of the liquid circulation system bypasses the jet assembly and returns to the pump, to a second position, in which substantially all pressurized liquid passing through the diverter valve passes to the jet assembly,
wherein moving the diverter valve from the first position to the second position causes a diffuser of the extendable jet to disengage from a housing of the jet assembly and to transition from the retracted position to an extended position.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Extendable Jet Assembly and Liquid Circulation System

Life of this patent

Extendable Jet Assembly and Liquid Circulation System

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims28