Abstract:
This disclosure relates to nozzles, systems containing them and methods of using them. In particular, this disclosure relates to nozzles that can produce bubbles from a liquid saturated with gas. The nozzles can produce micro bubbles which are desirable in bathing.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/941,271, filed Feb. 18, 2014 entitled “NOZZLES” which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    This disclosure relates to nozzles, systems containing them and methods of using them. In particular, this disclosure relates to nozzles that can produce bubbles from a liquid saturated with gas. The nozzles can produce micro bubbles which are desirable in bathing. 
         [0004]    2. Background of the Invention 
         [0005]    Nozzles are well known for controlling the direction or characteristics of a fluid flow as it exits an enclosed chamber or pipe. 
         [0006]    Some nozzles are designed to cause liquid flowing through them (such as water) that is saturated with gas (such as air), to release gas in the form of micro bubbles. Micro bubbles are becoming popular in bathing. In a shower, for example, micro bubbles in the water can produce a pleasing bathing experience. Micro bubbles in the water of a bath can appear like a white cloud, otherwise known as a “milk bath,” which is similarly pleasing and may have some hygienic or health benefits. 
         [0007]    While production of some micro bubbles may have some utility, it is preferred that the generation of micro bubbles be maximized otherwise, for example, bath water may have a relatively fewer micro bubbles and the appearance and/or effects may be correspondingly diminished. Maximizing the production of micro bubbles, however, typically requires rather complex nozzle systems that are therefore relatively expensive. 
         [0008]    It would be advantageous if a relatively simple nozzle could be designed to compete with more complex and therefore more expensive designs and yet match or substantially match the degree of micro bubble production. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    This disclosure provides nozzles, particularly nozzles suitable for generating micro bubbles, comprising a chamber having an inlet port and an outlet port, the outlet port communicating with a discharge channel or outflow passage having an inlet end adjacent to, but offset from, the outlet port and an outlet end, the outlet end being wider than the inlet end. This structure can cause a pressure drop in liquid traveling from the inlet end to the outlet end. This disclosure provides such nozzles and nozzle systems comprising them, including those that have only one such discharge channel. 
         [0010]    The discharge channel or outflow passage can be located in a generally tubular structure having a central longitudinal axis. The nozzle can have a plurality of discharge channels but it is preferred to have a single discharge channel. Preferably the discharge channel or outflow passage is offset with respect to the central axis of the tubular structure. 
         [0011]    The discharge channel or outflow passage can have an increasing diameter from the inward end to the outlet end, such as one that increases continually and smoothly. This can cause a pressure drop in liquid travelling through the discharge channel or outflow passage causing gas dissolved in the liquid to form bubbles therein. 
         [0012]    The outlet port from the chamber can be offset with respect to the inlet end of the discharge channel. 
         [0013]    The outlet port of the chamber can communicate with the discharge channel via an intermediate chamber. The intermediate channel can have a general disc like shape. The intermediate chamber can be generally circular in shape and have a center aligned with the central axis of the tubular structure around the discharge channel or outflow passage. 
         [0014]    The inlet port to the chamber can be formed by a generally tubular structure. The chamber can be generally circular in cross section around the outlet port and the inlet tube can be arranged substantially tangentially to that circular cross section. 
         [0015]    The chamber can comprise a curved inside wall, such as generally semihemaspherical. Preferably the curved internal wall is integrally formed with the section having a circular cross section and is located at the opposing end of the chamber to the outlet port. 
         [0016]    The inlet tube to the chamber and the tube around the discharge channel can extend in different directions and can be arranged at approximately 90° to one another. 
         [0017]    These shapes, along with the tangential inlet pipe can advantageously cause incoming liquid to swirl vigorously around the chamber. 
         [0018]    This disclosure provides a nozzle comprising a housing forming a first chamber for receiving a liquid, the chamber having an inlet and an outlet communicating with an outflow passage also having an inlet and an outlet; an intermediate chamber located between the outlet of the first chamber and the inlet of the outflow passage; a generally cylindrical structure enclosing the outflow passage and having a central longitudinal axis extending into the outlet of the first chamber; the intermediate chamber having a first wall generally perpendicular to said axis and surrounding the outlet from the first chamber and second wall spaced from said first wall and generally parallel thereto and surrounding the inlet to the outflow passage, said inlet being offset with respect to said axis and only on one side of said axis; said outflow passage being generally parallel to said axis and said outflow passage inlet being smaller than said outflow passage outlet. 
         [0019]    This disclosure provides a nozzle for generating micro bubbles in a liquid comprising: a flow passage having an inlet and an outlet and a gradually increasing diameter, in the direction of flow of the liquid when the nozzle is in use, from adjacent said inlet to adjacent said outlet; said passage being generally straight and the nozzle having one such flow passage. 
         [0020]    This disclosure provides a nozzle for generating micro bubbles in a liquid comprising: a housing forming a first chamber for receiving a liquid, the chamber having an inlet and an outlet communicating with an outflow passage also having an inlet and an outlet, said inlets and outlets being generally circular in cross section; an intermediate chamber located between the outlet of the first chamber and the inlet of the outflow passage; a generally cylindrical structure enclosing the outflow passage and having a central longitudinal axis extending into the outlet of the first chamber; the intermediate chamber having a first wall generally perpendicular to said axis and surrounding the outlet from the first chamber and second wall spaced from said first wall and generally parallel thereto and surrounding the inlet to the outflow passage, said inlet being offset with respect to the outlet from said first chamber, such that said second wall faces the outlet from the first chamber and the inlet of the outflow passage faces said first wall; said outflow passage being generally parallel to said axis and said outflow passage inlet being smaller than said outflow passage outlet, the nozzle having a single such outflow passage. 
         [0021]    This disclosure provides baths or showers incorporating at least one nozzle disclosed herein. 
         [0022]    This disclosure provides a method of making micro bubbles which comprises supplying water saturated with air to a nozzle disclosed herein. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0023]    Some preferred features of this disclosure will now be more particularly described by reference in and to the following drawings, which are only exemplary of the disclosure. 
           [0024]      FIG. 1  is a schematic representation of a system comprising a nozzle according to this disclosure connected to a supply of water saturated with air and connected to a bath. 
           [0025]      FIG. 2  is a schematic representation of a nozzle according to this disclosure; 
           [0026]      FIG. 3  is a schematic, cross sectional view of the nozzle of  FIG. 2  taken along the line  3 - 3  in the direction of the indicated arrows; 
           [0027]      FIG. 4  is a schematic, perspective view of a nozzle according to this disclosure connected to a fitting suitable for attachment to the wall of a bath. 
           [0028]      FIG. 5  is a schematic, cross sectional view along the line  5 - 5  shown in  FIG. 4  and in the direction of the indicated arrows. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0029]      FIG. 1  illustrates a hydrotherapy system  1  comprising a bath  100  having side walls  101  so as to contain water  102  therein. Side walls  101  have holes  103  and  104  in which fittings  105  and  106 , respectively, are attached in a conventional manner so as to attach to the outside of the bath a nozzle assembly  107  and pipe  108 , respectively. Nozzle  107  receives an inlet pipe  109 . 
         [0030]    Pipe  108  is a return pipe for recycling water from the bath  100  driven by a pump  110 . Pump  110  draws water past an inlet  111  to the system that is open to a supply of gas such as air and has a restriction feature  112  to regulate the amount of air drawn into the system. 
         [0031]    Pump  110  draws water and air into a mixing tank  113  where, in a manner known in the art, air is caused to be dissolved in or to saturate the water for supply along pipe  109  to nozzle assembly  107 . Alternatively, air can be supplied directly into mixing chamber  113 . 
         [0032]      FIG. 2  illustrates a nozzle assembly  200  comprising an inlet housing  201  having attached thereto an inlet tube  202  and an outlet tube  203 . Housing  201  comprises a generally cylindrical section  204  and a distal, generally hemispherical section  205 . Inlet tube  202  is arranged tangentially to cylindrical section  204 . Tubes  202  and  203  can be threaded for attachment to other system components. 
         [0033]    Outlet tube  203  comprises a discharge channel or outflow passage  206  having an outlet  207 . Outlet tube  203  forms an internal space  208  between its outer wall  209  and an internal wall  210  forming the outflow passage  206 . As shown, inlet tube  202  it is arranged at about 90° or a right angle to outflow tube  203 . 
         [0034]      FIG. 3  illustrates a nozzle assembly  300  comprising an inlet housing  301  comprising a generally cylindrical section  302  and a distal, generally curved section  303 . These sections are formed by walls  304  and  305  respectively and form between them an internal inlet chamber  306 . The remainder of the chamber is formed by a cross wall  307 . Attached thereto or formed therewith is an outlet tube  308  which is generally cylindrical and has a central axis X. Centered in cross wall  307 , which is generally perpendicular to axis X, is an outlet  309  from chamber  306  which is in fluid communication with an outflow passage  310  by means of intermediate chamber  311 . Outflow passage  310  has an inlet  312  and an outlet  313 . Outlet passage  310  has a diameter that gradually increases from inlet  312  to outlet  313 . 
         [0035]    Intermediate chamber  311  is formed by opposing walls  314  and  315 . Outlet  309  from inlet chamber  306  is centered on wall  314  on axis X. Inlet  312  to the discharge outflow passage  310  is offset with respect to outlet  309  from the inlet chamber  306  to disrupt the flow of liquid leaving inlet chamber  306  by means of outlet  309  and causing turbulence in intermediate chamber  311  before the water reaches the inlet  312  of outflow passage  310 . The offset can be such that there is no overlap of outlet  309  with inlet  312 . Thus, opposite outlet  309  is wall  315  along axis X. 
         [0036]    Typically, the nozzles herein are formed with a single outflow passage, such as  310 . 
         [0037]    Outlet tube  308  can have a space  316  adjacent thereto or, alternatively, that space can be occupied by material forming outlet tube  308 . 
         [0038]      FIG. 4  illustrates a nozzle assembly  400  having an inlet section  401  having an inlet tube  402  and a micro bubble generating section  403  connected to an outlet  404  from inlet section  401 . Micro bubble generator  403  is connected to an outlet section comprising a housing  405  having walls  406  forming an internal chamber  407 . Chamber  407  communicates with an outlet  408  having a flanged fitting  409  for attachment to a corresponding hole in the wall of a bath (not shown). 
         [0039]    Inlet section  401  has a substantially cylindrical section  410  and a distal, substantially hemispherical section  411 . Inlet tube  402  is arranged in a generally tangential manner with respect to cylindrical section  410 . 
         [0040]    Micro bubble generator  403  is a generally cylindrical or tubular structure  412 , which is arranged substantially perpendicular to inlet tube  402 . 
         [0041]    Walls  406  of housing  405  are generally cylindrical and are arranged substantially perpendicularly to tube  412  of bubble generator  403 . 
         [0042]    In use, a supply of water having air dissolved therein or saturated with air is supplied to inlet  402 . The water enters a chamber in section  401  and circulates therein before leaving the chamber by means of outlet  404 . Micro bubbles are caused to be generated from the water by micro bubble generator  403 . Water containing micro bubbles then enters housing  405  and the chamber  407  formed by walls  406  and are lead through outlet  408  into a bath (not shown). 
         [0043]      FIG. 5  illustrates a nozzle assembly  500  having an inlet section  501  communicating with a micro bubble generator section  502  which in turn communicates with an outlet section  503 . Inlet section  501  comprises substantially cylindrical walls  504  and a distal, substantially hemispherical wall section  505  forming an inlet chamber  506  therein. The inlet chamber has an inlet port  507  and an outlet port  508  formed in a wall  509  which extends across the substantially cylindrical section  504 . 
         [0044]    Outlet  508  communicates with an intermediate chamber  510 . Outlet  508  and intermediate chamber  510  are both centered on an axis Y that is central to wall  509  and the chamber  506 . Intermediate chamber  510  has wall  511  (surrounding outlet  508 ) and an opposing wall  512 , which together form intermediate chamber  510 . Formed in intermediate chamber wall  512  and offset from both the outlet  508  and the axis Y is an inlet  513  to an outflow passage or discharge passage  514  which has a gradually increasing diameter until its outlet  515  into a chamber  516  formed in outlet section  503 . Chamber  516  has an outlet  517  which comprises a flanged threaded section  518  for receiving a flanged threaded fitting (not shown) to fit the nozzle assembly to the wall of a bath.