Abstract:
A device for producing a pulsating waterjet having a manifold body with a hollow interior, a fluid inlet, and at least one outlet leading from the hollow interior and fluidly connecting the hollow interior to at least one waterjet; and a selector cam having at least one propelling vane and at least one dam that cooperates with the at least one outlet so as to sequentially align with and unalign with the at least one outlet, wherein the selector cam is rotationally mounted within the hollow interior of the manifold body, whereby fluid entering the manifold body through the fluid inlet impinges upon the at least one propelling vane imparting rotational motion to the selector cam and the at least one dam thereby rotating the at least one dam such that when the at least one dam aligns with the at least one outlet fluid is allowed to exit the manifold body through the at least one outlet and when the at least one dam unaligns with the at least one outlet fluid is thwarted from exiting the manifold body through the at least one outlet.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Technical Field  
         [0002]     The present invention generally is in the field of devices for generating pulsating jets of water, and more particularly is in the field of valves for generating pulsating jets of water through one or more waterjets in spas, swimming pools, tubs and the like.  
         [0003]     2. Prior Art  
         [0004]     Waterjets can be used in artificial water structures, such as pools, spas and hot tubs (for ease of this disclosures, all artificial water structures will be referred to as spas in this disclosure), to provide jets of water to provide a massaging and therapeutic action. The massaging and therapeutic action usually is provided by waterjets that are recessed into the walls of the artificial water structures. Several waterjets are usually spaced about the perimeter of an artificial water structure. Waterjets typically comprise nozzles for forming and adjusting the water flow through the waterjets and, in some waterjets, the nozzles may be rotated to achieve a desired flow. The nozzle is often a swivel type nozzle, which allows the direction of the flow to be adjusted by the user of the artificial water structure for maximum massaging or therapeutic action.  
         [0005]     Spas often are provided with a number of waterjets around its periphery for the introduction of water or aerated water into the main body of water in the spa. The water can be supplied in steady stream or in a pulsating manner. Generally, water is supplied by way of a manifold valve to all of the waterjets in a spa continuous manner. The waterjets themselves often are adjustable to allow the water to flow therethrough in a steady stream or in a pulsating manner. However, such prior art waterjets require a separate pulsator unit for each nozzle, increasing the complexity, cost and maintenance of the spa.  
         [0006]     Accordingly, there is a need for a central device that allows for the pulsation of some or all of the waterjets in an artificial body of water, such as a spa, swimming pool, tub or the like with a minimum of manufacturing and installation costs. There also is a need for a central device that allows for the concurrent pulsation of waterjets in a spa or the pulsation of the waterjets in a spa in a set sequence or rotation. It is to these needs and others that the present invention is directed.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     Briefly described, the present invention is a valve for sequentially diverting the water being supplied to the waterjets in a spa in such a manner that the various waterjets emit water into the spa in a pulsating manner. In its most basic configuration, the valve comprises a multi-port manifold body and a water-driven selector cam rotationally contained within the manifold body.  
         [0008]     The valve can be included in a more or less typical spa water circulation scheme comprising a spa, the valve, one or more waterjets, and connecting fluid carrying conduits. Water is pumped through the valve such that the water impinges generally normal to the plane of a propelling vane in the valve. Water flowing into the valve through a water inlet end impinges on the propelling vane causing the propelling vane to rotate. This rotation causes cam lobes, which are attached to a spindle to which the propelling vane also is attached, to rotate and for dams located at the outward ends of the cam lobes to align and unalign with outlets (ports) in the manifold body. The outlets are fluidly connected to the waterjets. The alternating alignment and unalignment of the dams with the outlets causes the water flowing through the valve to be distributed to the waterjets in an intermittent manner to create a pulsating effect.  
         [0009]     In operation, water that is pumped through the valve is supplied in a pulsating manner to those waterjets connected to the valve. The water can be supplied to the waterjets in a sequence dependant on the positioning of the cam lobes about the spindle. For example, the waterjets can be fluidly connected to the outlets in a pattern allowing the pulsating effect to appear to rotate around the spa, in a pattern allowing alternate (every other) waterjets to pulse, or in many other patterns. Thus, water can be distributed to one or more of the waterjets at any one time in accordance with the invention. Preferably, water is distributed to fewer than all of the waterjets at any one time.  
         [0010]     These features, and other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent to those of ordinary skill in the relevant art when the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments is read in conjunction with the appended drawings in which like reference numerals represent like components throughout the several views. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]      FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of the invention.  
         [0012]      FIG. 2  is a side view of the manifold body of the present invention.  
         [0013]      FIG. 3  is a sectional side view of the manifold body of  FIG. 2 .  
         [0014]      FIG. 4  is an end view of the manifold body of  FIG. 2 .  
         [0015]      FIG. 5  is an exploded perspective view of the selector cam of the present invention.  
         [0016]      FIG. 6  is a side view of the selector cam of the present invention.  
         [0017]      FIG. 7  is an end view of the selector cam of  FIG. 6  from the water inlet end showing the propelling vanes.  
         [0018]      FIG. 8  is an end view of the selector cam of  FIG. 6  from the end opposite the water inlet end showing the cam lobes.  
         [0019]      FIG. 9  are schematic sectional views of the present invention in four positions showing the flow of the water through the invention, with  FIG. 9A  being in a first position,  FIG. 9B  being in a position rotated 90 degrees from the first position,  FIG. 9C  being in a position rotated 180 degrees from the first position, and  FIG. 9D  being in a position rotated 270 degrees from the first position.  
         [0020]      FIG. 10  is a schematic of an array of waterjets in a spa connected to the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0021]     Illustrative embodiments of a pulsating waterjet valve  10  according to the present invention are shown in  FIGS. 1 through 10 .  FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of the invention showing how the manifold body  12  and the selector cam  30  fit together.  FIG. 2  is a side view of the manifold body  12  of the present invention illustratively configured with a single inlet  14  and eight outlets  16  for controlling up to eight waterjets  90  (see  FIG. 8 ).  FIG. 3  is a sectional side view of the manifold body of  FIG. 2  illustrating the hollow interior manifold  18 .  FIG. 4  is an end view of the manifold body of  FIG. 3  viewing from the water inlet end  20 .  
         [0022]      FIG. 5  is an exploded perspective view of the selector cam  30  of the present invention showing how the propelling vanes  36 , the cam lobes  32 , and the spindle  34  fit together.  FIG. 6  is a side view of the selector cam  30  of the present invention illustratively configured to cooperate with the manifold body  12  by having eight cam lobes  32  attached to a central axial spindle  34 .  FIG. 7  is an end view of the selector cam  30  of  FIG. 6  from the water inlet end  20  showing the propelling vanes  36  for rotating the selector cam  30 .  FIG. 8  is an end view of the selector cam  30  of  FIG. 6  from the end opposite the water inlet end  20  showing the cam lobes  32 .  
         [0023]      FIG. 9  are schematic sectional views of the present invention in four positions showing the flow of the water through the invention.  FIG. 9A  illustrates the selector cam  30  in a first position allowing water to flow through a limited number of outlets  16  to a limited number of corresponding waterjets  90 .  FIG. 9B  illustrates the selector cam  30  in a second position rotated 90 degrees from the first position allowing water to flow through a limited number of outlets  16  to a limited number of corresponding waterjets  90 , which are not necessarily the same outlets  16  and waterjets  90  as in the first position.  FIG. 9C  illustrates the selector cam  30  in a third position rotated 90 degrees from the second position allowing water to flow through a limited number of outlets  16  to a limited number of corresponding waterjets  90 , which are not necessarily the same outlets  16  and waterjets  90  as in the first or second positions.  FIG. 9D  illustrates the selector cam  30  in a fourth position rotated 90 degrees from the third position allowing water to flow through a limited number of outlets  16  to a limited number of corresponding waterjets  90 , which are not necessarily the same outlets  16  and waterjets  90  as in the first, second or third positions.  FIG. 10  is a schematic of an array of waterjets  90  in a spa  80  connected to the present invention.  
         [0024]     Referring to  FIGS. 1 through 4 , manifold body  12  is shown. Manifold body  12  is a generally cylindrical structure having an outer sidewall  22  and an end cap  24  forming a hollow interior manifold  18 . Open water inlet end  20 , which is located at the opposite end of manifold body  12  from end cap  24 , connects to water inlet conduit  84  (see  FIG. 10 ) for supplying water to the device  10 . One or more outlets  16  are formed into and arranged radially along outer sidewall  22 , preferably in two rows parallel to and opposite each other from a central axis  26  through manifold body  12 . Outlets  16  are hollow tubes and each has an inner end that opens radially into hollow interior manifold  18  and an outer end that opens external of manifold body  12 .  
         [0025]     Although outlets  16  are shown in two longitudinal respective rows opposite each other about central axis  26 , the rows of outlets  16  can be rotationally spaced from each other about central axis  26  by any desired increment, such as two rows rotationally spaced 180 degrees from each other, three rows rotationally spaced 120 degrees from each other, four rows rotationally spaced 90 degrees from each other, etcetera. Further, there need only be one row of outlets  16 . It is within the scope of this invention to provide outlets  16  or rows of outlets  16  that are longitudinally and/or rotationally spaced relative to the central axis  26  in any number and combination.  
         [0026]     Manifold body  12  can be a single structure comprising outer sidewall  22 , end cap  24  and outlets  16 , or it can be a combination of separate structures. For example, in the preferred embodiment, outlets  16  and outer side wall  22  is a single structure and end cap  24  is a separate structure. In this preferred embodiment, end cap  24  is attached to outer side wall  22  using screw threads  28  such that end cap  24  is removable from outer side wall  22 , thus allowing access to hollow interior manifold  18 . As discussed later, this allows the insertion and removal of selector cam  30  into and out of hollow interior manifold  18  for cleaning, repair, and replacement, and for the use of alternative selector cams  30 .  
         [0027]     Primary selector cam support  50  is located proximal to water inlet end  20  of manifold body  12 . Primary support  50  is a structure extending across the diameter of interior of manifold body  12 , that is, across hollow interior manifold  18 , normal to central axis  26 . Centrally located on primary support  50 , coaxial with central axis  26 , is a first bearing or receiving slot  52  into which the first end  62  of spindle is received for mounting selector cam  30  within manifold body  12 . Similarly, end cap  24 , whether a separate structure or a part of manifold body  12 , comprises an inner surface  60  comprising a second bearing or receiving slot  54  into which the second end  64  of spindle  34  is received for mounting selector cam  30  within manifold body  12 . In this manner, end cap  24  acts as a secondary selector cam support. Together, end cap  24  and primary selector cam support  50  rotationally support selector cam  30  within manifold body  12  such that selector cam  30  can rotate within hollow interior manifold  18 .  
         [0028]     Referring to  FIGS. 5 through 8 , selector cam  30  is shown. Selector cam  30  comprises cam lobes  32  and a propelling vane  36  mounted on a spindle  34 . Spindle  34  is a generally cylindrical rod, preferably of a constant diameter, terminating at a first water inlet end  40  with journal  38  and a second end  42  with journal  44 . Journals  38 ,  44  preferably are of a smaller diameter than spindle  34 . Propelling vane  36  is located at or proximal to first water inlet end  40  of spindle  34 . Cam lobes  32  are securely located along spindle  34  between propelling vane  36  and second end  42  of spindle  34 .  
         [0029]     Propelling vane  36  is a more or less typical propeller-shaped structure that is securely attached to or a part of selector cam  30 . If formed as a part of selector cam  30 , propelling vane  36  is formed at water inlet end  40  such that when water enters valve  10  from a water source, the water can contact propelling vane  36  without first having been impeded or otherwise acted on by, for example, cam lobes  32 . If formed as a separate structure, propelling vane  36  can have a central axial mounting hole that has an inner diameter that either fits snugly and coaxially over journal  38  or over spindle  34 . In either formation, propelling vane  36  is securely attached to selector cam  30  such that when water contacts propelling vane  36  and causes propelling vane to rotate, this rotation also is imparted to the entire selector cam  30  causing selector cam  30  to rotate.  
         [0030]     Cam lobes  32  comprise arc-shaped dam  46  and one or more support  48 , which are shown as struts in the exemplary embodiment shown in the FIGs. The outer arc curvature surface of dam  46  is generally equivalent to and cooperates with the inner curvature surface of manifold body  12 . Support  48  supports dam  46  relative to spindle  34  at a set distance from spindle  34 . More specifically, the distance between outer surface of dam  46  and central axis  26  (which is central to both manifold body  12  and cam selector  30 ) is slightly less than the inner diameter of manifold body  30 , that is, slightly less than the diameter of hollow manifold interior  18 . As a result, selector cam  30  can be inserted into manifold body  12  within hollow manifold interior  18  with dam  46  proximal to but not necessarily touching the inner surface of manifold body  12 . In this manner, selector cam  30  can rotate within manifold body  12  with cam lobes very close to the inner surface of manifold body  12  but without cam lobes  32  preventing selector cam  30  from rotating within manifold body  12 .  
         [0031]     Cam lobes  32  are arranged on spindle  34  such that dams  46  cooperate with outlets  16 . More specifically, as selector cam  30  rotates within manifold body  12 , dams  46  alternately align with and unalign with their respective outlets  16 . Thus, when dam  48  aligns with a specific outlet  16 , water is prevented from flowing through that specific outlet  16  to the waterjet  90  associated with that specific outlet  16 , and when dam  48  unaligns with that specific outlet  16 , water is allowed to flow though that specific outlet  16  to the waterjet  90  associated with that specific outlet, creating the pulse of water. In various embodiments of the valve  10 , each dam  46  may cooperate with one or more outlets  16  and one or more dams  46  may cooperate with each outlet  16 . Further, cam lobes  32  can be arranged on spindle  34  in any manner of configurations. For example, cam lobes  32  can line up with each other such that all waterjets  90  pulse at the same time, cam lobes  32  can be entirely offset from each other such that only one waterjet  90  pulses at a time, and cam lobes  32  can be offset in various arrangements so as to set up a specific pattern of pulses through waterjets  90 .  
         [0032]     Dam  48  has an arc length (partial circumference) of less than the circumference of the inner surface of manifold body  12 , and preferably up to about one-half the circumference of the inner surface of manifold body  12 , and more preferably approximately one-quarter the circumference of the inner surface of manifold body  12 . The arc length can be chosen to provide the desired water pulse duration. Dam  48  has a height (length along central axis) of at least the diameter of outlet  16  and preferably slightly greater than the diameter of outlet  16 . It is not necessary that dam  46  prevent all water flow into outlet  16  when dam  46  aligns with outlet  16 ; however, it is preferable that water flow into outlet  16  is sufficiently reduced to create a pulsating effect through waterjet  90  caused by the alignment and unalignment of dam  46  with outlet  16 .  
         [0033]     Supports  48  preferably are relatively thin strut-like structures so as to reduce interference with water flowing through valve  10  and to minimize or reduce backflow of water within valve  10 . Alternatively, supports  48  can be panels extending radially from and parallel to central axis  26 , which would provide additional strength with minimal additional water flow impedance. Alternatively, supports  48  can be vanes extending radially from and generally parallel to central axis  26  but having an offset such that they would assist propelling vane  36  in rotating selector cam  30 .  
         [0034]     Referring to  FIG. 9 , selector cam  30  (see  FIGS. 5 through 8 ) is rotationally mounted within and coaxial with manifold body  12 . Either end cap  24  or primary support  50 , or both, can be removable to allow the insertion and removal of selector cam  30  into and out of manifold body  12 . In the preferred embodiment, primary support  50  is securely attached to manifold body  12  and end cap  24  can be removed from manifold body  12  to allow access to hollow manifold interior  18 . More specifically, with end cap  24  removed from manifold body  12 , selector cam  30  can be inserted into or removed from hollow manifold interior  18 . Journal  38  is inserted into receiving slot  52  on primary support  50 . End cap  24  then is replaced onto manifold body  12  such that journal  44  is inserted into receiving slot  54  on end cap  24 . In this manner, selector cam  30  is rotationally supported within hollow manifold interior  18  of manifold body  12  such that selector cam  30  is coaxial with manifold body  12  along central axis  26 . End cap can be attached by screw threads  28 , adhesive, sonic welding, friction, clips, or any other attachment means.  
         [0035]     As selector cam  30  preferably is removable, should selector cam  30  break it can be replaced. Further, different selector cams  30  having different configurations of cam lobes  32  can made so as to produce different pulsation patterns through waterjets  90 . For example, by changing the rotational offset of one set of cam lobes  32  relative to another set of cam lobes  32  or relative to each other within a set (two opposed cam lobes  32  per set are shown in the illustrative FIGs.), or by changing the number of cam lobes  32  per set or the arc length of a cam lobe  32 , different pulsation patterns can be created. Thus, the user can replace one selector cam  30  with another selector cam  30  should selector cam  30  break or should the user desire a different pulsation pattern.  
         [0036]     Although an eight-outlet  16 , eight-dam  46  configuration is shown, this is for illustrative purpose only, as manifold body  12  can have any number of outlets  16  and selector cam  30  can have any number of dams  46 , so long as there is at least one outlet  16  and one associated dam  46 . As water enters valve  10  through water inlet end  20 , the water impinges on and imparts a force to propelling vane  36 , which causes propelling vane  36  to rotate. As propelling vane  36  rotates, thus rotating cam lobes  32 , dams  46  align and unalign with outlets  16 . When dams  46  align with outlets  16 , water is for the most part prevented from flowing through outlets  16  to waterjets  90 , and when dams  46  unalign with outlets  16 , water is allowed to flow through outlets  16  to waterjets  90 .  
         [0037]      FIG. 9A  illustrates the selector cam  30  in a first position allowing water to flow through a limited number of outlets  16  to a limited number of corresponding waterjets  90 .  FIG. 9B  illustrates the selector cam  30  in a second position rotated 90 degrees from the first position allowing water to flow through a limited number of outlets  16  to a limited number of corresponding waterjets  90 , which are not necessarily the same outlets  16  and waterjets  90  as in the first position.  FIG. 9C  illustrates the selector cam  30  in a third position rotated 90 degrees from the second position allowing water to flow through a limited number of outlets  16  to a limited number of corresponding waterjets  90 , which are not necessarily the same outlets  16  and waterjets  90  as in the first or second positions.  FIG. 9D  illustrates the selector cam  30  in a fourth position rotated 90 degrees from the third position allowing water to flow through a limited number of outlets  16  to a limited number of corresponding waterjets  90 , which are not necessarily the same outlets  16  and waterjets  90  as in the first, second or third positions.  
         [0038]      FIG. 10  is a schematic of an array of waterjets  90  in a spa  80  connected to the present invention. To illustrate the various embodiments of the use of the invention,  FIG. 10  is a collage of the various embodiments and is not meant to be the sole configuration. Specifically, valve  10  is shown with eight outlets  16  such that valve  10  can pulse up to eight waterjets  90 . However, two of outlets  16  are capped with caps  72 , illustrating that it is not necessary for all of outlets  16  to be connected to waterjets  90 . Further, spa  80  is shown with eight waterjets  90  such that at least two waterjets  90  are not pulsed by valve  10 , illustrating that spa  80  can have waterjets  90  not attached to valve  10 .  
         [0039]      FIG. 10  illustrates that valve  10  can be included in a more or less typical spa water circulation scheme comprising spa  80 , valve  10 , waterjets  90  and connecting conduits  96 . Water is pumped through valve  10 , or directly to waterjets  90 . Water preferably is supplied to valve  10  generally parallel to central axis  26 , that is longitudinal to spindle  34  and hollow interior manifold  18 , such that the water impinges generally normal to the plane of propelling vane  36 . Water that is pumped through valve  10  is supplied in a pulsating manner to those waterjets  90  connected to valve  10 . The water can be supplied to waterjets  90  in a sequence dependant on the positioning of cam lobes  32  about spindle  34 . Waterjets  90  can be fluidly connected to outlets  16  in various sequences resulting in various pulsating patterns in spa  80 . For example, waterjets  90  can be fluidly connected to outlets  16  in a pattern allowing the pulsating effect to appear to rotate around spa  80 , in a pattern allowing alternate (every other) waterjets  90  to pulse, or in many other patterns. Thus, water can be distributed to one or more waterjets  90  at any one time in accordance with the invention. Preferably, water is distributed to fewer than all of waterjets  90  at any one time; however, an alternate selector cam  30  can be inserted that allows water to be distributed to all waterjets  90  at the same time, effectively eliminating the pulsating feature of the invention.  
         [0040]     In operation, water flowing (arrow W) into valve  10  through water inlet end  20  impinges on propelling vane  36  causing propelling vane  36  to rotate. This rotation causes cam lobes  32  to rotate and for dams  46  to align and unalign with outlets  16 . The alternating alignment and unalignment of dams  46  with outlets  16  causes the water to be distributed to waterjets  90  in an intermittent manner to create a pulsating effect. Waterjets  90  introduce water into spa  80 . Water then is recirculated. Although only one propelling vane  36  is shown, more than one propelling vane  36  can be used. For example, a second propelling vane  36  can be located at second end  42  to possibly balance the first propelling vane  36 . Alternatively, propelling vanes  36  can be located between each set of cam lobes  32 .  
         [0041]     The foregoing detailed description of the preferred embodiments and the appended figures have been presented only for illustrative and descriptive purposes and are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the scope and spirit of the invention. The embodiments were selected and described to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical applications. One of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that many variations can be made to the invention disclosed in this specification without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.