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US 6,003,167 AGranted
Apparatus for eliminating gas from a fluid piping system
OwnerW. Wayne Nehringinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A gas release apparatus for use with centrifugal pumps, and particularly for centrifugal pumps when used in conjunction with a fluid piping system such as hydrotherapy tubs, spas, and whirlpools.
Claims11
Hydrotherapy apparatus comprising:
- a tub configured to be filled with water and including a drain connection;
- a jet positioned below the surface of the water when the tub is filled and operable to aspirate air into water flowing through the jet;
- a centrifugal pump including an outlet positioned above the jet and an inlet;
- a first conduit connecting the inlet of the pump to a water source;
- a second conduit connecting the outlet of the pump to the jet;
- a third conduit extending from the jet to above the surface of the water to enable air to be aspirated through the jet by water flowing from the pump through the jets;
- and
- a fourth conduit connected at a first end to a high point of the second conduit and adapted to bleed air and water from the second conduit continuously when the centrifugal pump is in operation.
5 more elements
A system for reducing gas from liquid piping, the system comprising:
- (a) a drain-and-fill reservoir for holding a quantity of liquid for hydrotherapy or bathing purposes having at least one reservoir outlet and at least one exit jet;
- (b) a centrifugal pump with a pump inlet and a pump outlet at an elevation greater than the exit jet;
- and
- (c) a liquid piping system connecting the reservoir and the pump, the piping system comprising
- a suction line connecting the reservoir outlet and the pump inlet;
- a discharge line connecting the pump outlet and the exit jet;
- an air release apparatus connected to the discharge line between the pump outlet and the exit jet;
- an air line having a first end connected to the air release apparatus, and a second end communicating with the atmosphere;
- the air release apparatus comprises a T-coupling having a disk with an orifice that is from about 1 mm to about 6 mm in diameter mounted in the T-coupling so as to allow gas or liquid to pass through the orifice into the air line.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.