Jet pump

Abstract

A jet pump includes a housing having a first inlet for a first fluid, a second inlet for a second fluid and an outlet for a combined fluid comprising said first and second fluids. A nozzle assembly is removably received within the housing and configured to receive the first fluid from the first inlet, and a mixing tube/diffuser assembly removably received within the housing downstream of the nozzle assembly and configured to receive and combine the first and second fluids. The nozzle assembly and the mixing tube/diffuser assembly are removable from the housing through the first inlet.

1 . A jet pump comprising:
 a housing including a first inlet for a first fluid, a second inlet for a second fluid, and an outlet for a combined fluid comprising said first and second fluids,   a nozzle assembly removably received within the housing and configured to receive the first fluid from the first inlet, and   a mixing tube/diffuser assembly removably received within the housing downstream of the nozzle assembly and configured to receive and combine the first and second fluids,   wherein the nozzle assembly and the mixing tube/diffuser assembly are removable from the housing through the first inlet.   
     
     
         2 . A jet pump according to  claim 1 , wherein the mixing tube/diffuser assembly includes an axial bore having an upstream portion comprising a mixing tube and a downstream portion comprising a diffuser portion. 
     
     
         3 . A jet pump according to  claim 2 , wherein the upstream mixing tube portion of the axial bore has a substantially constant cross-sectional area and the downstream diffuser portion has a cross-sectional area that increases towards the downstream end of the mixing tube/diffuser assembly. 
     
     
         4 . A jet pump according to  claim 1 , wherein the housing includes a second diffuser portion that is located downstream of the mixing tube/diffuser assembly. 
     
     
         5 . A jet pump according to  claim 4 , wherein the second diffuser portion comprises a continuation of the first diffuser portion. 
     
     
         6 . A jet pump according to  claim 1 , wherein the nozzle assembly and the housing include complementary stop members that are configured to limit movement of the nozzle assembly towards the outlet. 
     
     
         7 . A jet pump according to  claim 1 , wherein the mixing tube/diffuser assembly and the housing include complementary stop members that are configured to limit movement of the mixing tube/diffuser assembly towards the outlet. 
     
     
         8 . A jet pump comprising:
 a housing including a first inlet for a first fluid, a second inlet for a second fluid, and an outlet for a combined fluid comprising said first and second fluids,   a nozzle assembly removably received within the housing and configured to receive the first fluid from the first inlet,   a mixing tube/diffuser assembly removably received within the housing downstream of the nozzle assembly and configured to combine the first and second fluids,   wherein the mixing tube/diffuser assembly includes an axial bore having an upstream portion comprising a mixing tube and a downstream portion comprising a diffuser portion,   and wherein the housing includes a second diffuser portion that is located downstream of the mixing tube/diffuser assembly.   
     
     
         9 . A jet pump according to  claim 8 , wherein the mixing tube/diffuser assembly includes an axial bore having an upstream portion comprising a mixing tube and a downstream portion comprising a diffuser portion. 
     
     
         10 . A jet pump according to  claim 9 , wherein the upstream mixing tube portion of the axial bore has a substantially constant cross-sectional area and the downstream diffuser portion has a cross-sectional area that increases towards the downstream end of the mixing tube/diffuser assembly. 
     
     
         11 . A jet pump according to  claim 10 , wherein the second diffuser portion comprises a continuation of the first diffuser portion. 
     
     
         12 . A jet pump according to  claim 8 , wherein the first fluid has a higher pressure than the second fluid. 
     
     
         13 . A jet pump according to  claim 8 , wherein the housing includes an elongate tubular body, the first inlet is located at an upstream end of the tubular body and the outlet is located at a downstream end of the tubular body. 
     
     
         14 . A jet pump according to  claim 13 , wherein the second inlet extends through a circumferential wall of the tubular body and opens into the tubular body downstream of the nozzle assembly and upstream of the mixing tube/diffuser assembly. 
     
     
         15 . A jet pump according to  claim 8 , wherein the nozzle assembly is configured to discharge the first fluid into a discharge zone downstream of the nozzle assembly and upstream of the mixing tube/diffuser assembly. 
     
     
         16 . A jet pump according to  claim 8 , wherein the mixing tube/diffuser assembly is sealingly received within the housing to prevent fluid communication into a region between the mixing tube/diffuser assembly and the housing. 
     
     
         17 . A jet pump according to  claim 2 , wherein the housing includes a second diffuser portion that is located downstream of the mixing tube/diffuser assembly. 
     
     
         18 . A jet pump according to  claim 3 , wherein the housing includes a second diffuser portion that is located downstream of the mixing tube/diffuser assembly. 
     
     
         19 . A jet pump according to  claim 5 , wherein the nozzle assembly and the housing include complementary stop members that are configured to limit movement of the nozzle assembly towards the outlet. 
     
     
         20 . A jet pump according to  claim 5 , wherein the mixing tube/diffuser assembly and the housing include complementary stop members that are configured to limit movement of the mixing tube/diffuser assembly towards the outlet.