Jet pump

Abstract

A jet pump ( 26 ) includes an elongate tubular housing ( 30 ) that has a longitudinal axis (A), an upstream first end ( 32 ) and a downstream second end ( 34 ). A nozzle assembly ( 50 ) and a mixing tube/diffuser assembly ( 52 ) are removably received within the housing ( 30 ). The housing ( 30 ) includes a first inlet vent ( 40 ) for a HP first fluid, a second inlet vent ( 42 ) for a LP second fluid and an outlet vent ( 48 ) at the downstream second end ( 34 ) of the housing for the combined first and second fluids. The first and second inlet vents ( 40, 42 ) extend non-axially through a circumferential wall ( 31 ) of the tubular housing. The nozzle assembly ( 50 ) and the mixing tube/diffuser assembly ( 52 ) can removed from the housing ( 30 ) through the upstream first end ( 32 ).

1 . A jet pump including an elongate tubular housing that comprises a longitudinal axis, an upstream first end and a downstream second end, a nozzle assembly and a mixing tube/diffuser assembly, said nozzle assembly and said mixing tube/diffuser assembly being removably received within the housing, a first inlet vent for a HP first fluid, a second inlet vent for a LP second fluid and an outlet vent at the downstream second end of the housing for the combined first and second fluids, wherein the first and second inlet vents extend non-axially through a circumferential wall of the tubular housing, and wherein the nozzle assembly and the mixing tube/diffuser assembly can removed from the housing through the upstream first end thereof. 
     
     
         2 . A jet pump according to  claim 1 , wherein one or both of the first and second inlet vents extend through a circumferential wall of the tubular housing at an angle θ relative to the longitudinal axis, where 0°<θ≦90°. 
     
     
         3 . A jet pump according to  claim 1 , further including a removable closure member at the upstream first end of the housing. 
     
     
         4 . A jet pump according to  claim 1 , wherein the nozzle assembly and the mixing tube/diffuser assembly are interconnected by a link assembly. 
     
     
         5 . A jet pump according to  claim 4 , wherein the link assembly is configured such that the nozzle assembly and the mixing tube/diffuser assembly are separable. 
     
     
         6 . A jet pump according to  claim 1 , further including a pull-out assembly connected to the nozzle assembly for extracting the nozzle assembly and the mixing tube/diffuser assembly from the housing through the upstream first end thereof. 
     
     
         7 . A jet pump according to  claim 6 , wherein the pull-out assembly is separable from the nozzle assembly. 
     
     
         8 . A jet pump according to  claim 6 , further including a tubular sleeve element that interconnects the pull-out assembly and the nozzle assembly. 
     
     
         9 . A jet pump according to  claim 8 , wherein the tubular sleeve element includes a fluid flow passageway configured to allow HP fluid to flow from the first inlet vent to the nozzle assembly. 
     
     
         10 . A jet pump according to  claim 1 , wherein the first inlet vent extends through the circumferential wall of the tubular housing upstream of the nozzle assembly. 
     
     
         11 . A jet pump according to  claim 1 , wherein the second inlet vent extends through the circumferential wall of the tubular housing downstream of the nozzle assembly and upstream of the mixing tube/diffuser assembly. 
     
     
         12 . A jet pump according to  claim 2 , further including a removable closure member at the upstream first end of the housing. 
     
     
         13 . A jet pump according to  claim 2 , wherein the nozzle assembly and the mixing tube/diffuser assembly are interconnected by a link assembly. 
     
     
         14 . A jet pump according to  claim 3 , wherein the nozzle assembly and the mixing tube/diffuser assembly are interconnected by a link assembly. 
     
     
         15 . A jet pump according to  claim 2 , further including a pull-out assembly connected to the nozzle assembly for extracting the nozzle assembly and the mixing tube/diffuser assembly from the housing through the upstream first end thereof. 
     
     
         16 . A jet pump according to  claim 3 , further including a pull-out assembly connected to the nozzle assembly for extracting the nozzle assembly and the mixing tube/diffuser assembly from the housing through the upstream first end thereof. 
     
     
         17 . A jet pump according to  claim 4 , further including a pull-out assembly connected to the nozzle assembly for extracting the nozzle assembly and the mixing tube/diffuser assembly from the housing through the upstream first end thereof. 
     
     
         18 . A jet pump according to  claim 5 , further including a pull-out assembly connected to the nozzle assembly for extracting the nozzle assembly and the mixing tube/diffuser assembly from the housing through the upstream first end thereof. 
     
     
         19 . A jet pump according to  claim 7 , further including a tubular sleeve element that interconnects the pull-out assembly and the nozzle assembly. 
     
     
         20 . A jet pump according to  claim 6 , wherein the first inlet vent extends through the circumferential wall of the tubular housing upstream of the nozzle assembly. 
     
     
         21 . A jet pump according to  claim 20 , wherein the second inlet vent extends through the circumferential wall of the tubular housing downstream of the nozzle assembly and upstream of the mixing tube/diffuser assembly.