The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 14, 1991
Filed:
Oct. 13, 1989
Lawrence E Thrasher, Simi Valley, CA (US);
Gordon E Olson, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA (US);
Garrett J Burkitt, III, Simi Valley, CA (US);
Timothy E Schmidt, Camarillo, CA (US);
Elias M Haddad, Thousand Oaks, CA (US);
Susan Conti-Johnston, Simi Valley, CA (US);
KDI American Products, Inc., Moorpak, CA (US);
Abstract
A hydrotherapy jet assembly that produces rotating and pulsating streams of water and provides for user adjustable flow control, and user adjustable control of the speed of rotation independently of the flow control. The assembly includes a nozzle rotor supported for rotation in a generally cylindrical body, and a rotor retainer cage having a thrust plate that applies an axial retaining force to the rotor. The rotor has two internal passages that discharge water in directions that may be selected to produce a turning moment applied to the rotor. Fins may be incorporated into the rotor to produce or contribute to rotation. In all of the disclosed forms of the rotor, radial thrust components resulting from discharge of water through the two rotor passages cancel each other. The rotor is thereby balanced in directions transverse to its axis or rotation. Axial thrust components resulting from the discharge of water from the nozzle rotor are substantially balanced by the force of water entering the rotor. A brake washer is installed adjacent to the nozzle rotor and a compression spring applies a controllable braking force to the rotor to control its speed.