Fluid flow system with flow diverter
AssigneeSaratoga Spa & Bath Co., Inc.
InventorsAnthony Brennan, W. John Gardenier, Wesley Cox
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fluid flow system for a spa is provided. The fluid flow system includes an ejector which discharges fluid in a first direction toward an interior of the spa through an outlet of the ejector and a diverter which is moveable to a position within said first direction between the outlet and the interior of the spa. The diverter is adapted to deflect at least a portion of the fluid to a second direction different from the first direction.
Claims25
A fluid flow system for a hydrotherapy spa comprising:
- an ejector attachable to the spa and configured to receive fluid through at least one fluid supply conduit of the spa, said ejector being configured to discharge the fluid in a flow path in a first direction within an interior of the spa through an outlet of said ejector when said ejector is attached to the spa;
- a diverter disposed coplanar to said outlet, said diverter being movable from a first position outside a flow path to a second position external to said ejector, said second position being within the flow path between said outlet and said interior of the spa when said ejector is attached to the spa;
- and
- wherein said diverter is adapted to deflect at least a portion of the fluid to a second direction different from said first direction, when said diverter is in said second position and said ejector is attached to the spa, and wherein said diverter avoids the fluid when said diverter is in said first position and said ejector is attached to the spa.
A fluid flow system for a spa, comprising:
- an ejector attachable to the spa and configured to receive fluid from at least one fluid supply conduit of the spa, said ejector being configured to discharge fluid in a flow path toward an interior portion of the spa through an outlet of said ejector when said ejector is attached to the spa;
- a diverter ring located coplanar to said outlet and rotatable around said ejector;
- and
- wherein a circumferential portion of said diverter ring is adapted to alter a direction of fluid discharge in response to said circumferential portion being rotated from a position outside the flow path to a position within the flow path between said outlet and the interior portion when said ejector is attached to the spa, and wherein said diverter avoids the fluid when said diverter is in said position outside the flow path.
A diverter ring for use with a fluid flow ejector configured to be attached to a wall of a hydrotherapy spa to allow the ejector to receive fluid through the wall, the fluid flow ejector having an outlet for discharging fluid in a first direction to an interior of the spa when the fluid flow ejector is attached to the wall, said diverter ring comprising:
- plurality of diverters for altering a direction of fluid discharge from said fluid flow ejector and wherein said diverter ring is configured to connect to said fluid flow ejector to allow said diverter ring to rotate around said ejector and about an axis substantially perpendicular to the first direction to allow said plurality of diverters to be selectively located between the outlet and the interior, when the fluid flow ejector is attached to the wall.
A method of controlling fluid flow of a spa, comprising:
- moving a diverter, which is operatively connected to the spa and disposed coplanar to an outlet of a fluid flow ejector attached to the spa, from a first position outside a flow path of the outlet to a second position external to the ejector, the second position being between the fluid flow ejector and an interior portion of the spa;
- discharging fluid from the fluid flow ejector in a first direction;
- and
- avoiding contact between the diverter and the fluid, when the diverter is in the first position;
- deflecting at least a portion of the fluid to a second direction different from the first direction by the diverter, in response to the moving the diverter to the second position.
A hydrotherapy spa, comprising:
- an interior portion;
- an ejector attached to the interior portion and configured to discharge fluid in a flow path in a first direction within said interior portion through an outlet of said ejector;
- and
- a diverter operatively connected to the spa and disposed coplanar to said outlet, said diverter being movable from a first position outside the flow path to a second position external to said ejector, said second position being within said flow path between said outlet and said interior portion, said diverter avoiding contact with the fluid in said first position;
- and
- wherein said diverter is adapted to deflect at least a portion of the fluid to a second direction different from said first direction, when said diverter is in said second position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.