Fluid delivery service

Abstract

A conduit assembly 100 comprising: conduit 101 to convey a fluid stream; flow constrictor 102 to constrict the fluid stream; one or more air induction channels 130 for conveying a stream of air from o

Claims

1. A conduit assembly comprising:a conduit configured to convey a fluid stream;a flow constrictor configured to constrict flow of the fluid stream along the conduit, thereby producing, in use, a pressure drop in the fluid stream downstream of the flow constrictor;one or more air induction channels for conveying a stream of air from outside the conduit into the conduit at one or more locations downstream of the flow constrictor; andan air induction channel closure means operable between a first state, in which one or more of the air induction channels are open and a second state, in which one or more of the air induction channels are closed;wherein:when the air induction channel closure means is in the first state, the pressure drop in the fluid stream downstream of the flow constrictor causes one or more streams of air to be drawn along the open air induction channel(s), wherein the one or more streams of air mix with the fluid stream in the conduit to form an aerated fluid stream; andwhen the air induction channel closure means is in the second state, no streams of air are conveyed along the closed air induction channel(s) from outside the conduit into the conduit.

2. The conduit assembly of claim 1, wherein the air induction channel closure means is operable to translate relative to the conduit.

3. The conduit assembly of claim 2, wherein the air induction channel closure means is operable to translate relative to the conduit in a direction parallel or substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the conduit.

4. The conduit assembly of claim 1, claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the air induction channel closure means comprises a grip means to facilitate manual actuation between the first state and the second state.

5. The conduit assembly of claim 1, wherein the air induction channel closure means comprises a movable plate.

6. The conduit assembly of claim 5, wherein the moveable plate is operable to actuate the conveyance of air along the one or more air induction channels.

7. The conduit assembly of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the conduit assembly is be made from a first part and a second part, which are configured to couple selectively to one another.

8. The conduit assembly of claim 7, wherein either or both of the first part and the second part is / are substantially tubular in shape.

9. The conduit assembly of claim 7 or claim 8, wherein an end of the first part proximal to the second part forms a reduced radius portion which has a smaller external radius than a remainder of the first part.

10. The conduit assembly of claim 7, claim 8 or claim 9, wherein an end of the second part proximal to the first part forms an increased radius portion which has a larger internal radius than a remainder of the second part.

11. The conduit assembly of any one of claims 7 to 10, wherein the first part is configured to fit at least partially within and engage the second part to couple selectively the first and second parts of the conduit.

12. The conduit assembly of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the flow constrictor forms one end of a hollow insert.

13. The conduit assembly of claim 12 when dependent upon any one of claims 7 to 11, wherein the conduit assembly is configured such that the hollow insert is located within the first part.

14. The conduit assembly of claim 12 or claim 13, wherein the hollow insert includes a radially projecting rim distal to the flow constrictor.

15. The conduit assembly of claim 7 or any one of claims 8 to 14 when dependent upon claim 5, wherein the one or more air induction channels include a first set of air induction passages which at least partially perforate the first part of the conduit.

16. The conduit assembly of claim 12 or any one of claims 13 to 15 when dependent upon claim 12, wherein the one or more air induction channels include a second set of air induction passages which at least partially perforate the hollow insert.

17. The conduit assembly of claim 16, wherein one or more of the second set of air induction passages may be arranged to receive air from a respective one of the first set of air induction passages and provide air to an interior of the hollow insert.

18. The conduit assembly of claim 12 or any one of claims 13 to 17, wherein the conduit assembly is configured such that air enters the hollow insert downstream of the flow constrictor.

19. The conduit assembly of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the flow constrictor may comprise a section of the conduit wherein a cross-sectional area progressively narrows in a direction of the fluid stream.

20. The conduit assembly of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the conduit is perforated by one or more air induction channels for conveying a stream of air from outside the conduit into the conduit.

21. A fluid delivery device or a plumbing system comprising a conduit assembly according to any one the preceding claims.

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