Fluid sprinkling – spraying – and diffusing – Including supplemental gas shaping or shielding jet
Reexamination Certificate
2000-06-02
2001-11-27
Scherbel, David A. (Department: 3752)
Fluid sprinkling, spraying, and diffusing
Including supplemental gas shaping or shielding jet
C239S296000, C239S298000, C239S299000, C239S425000, C239S433000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06322003
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to air assisted spray nozzles, and more particularly, to an improved nozzle assembly for enhanced liquid particle breakdown and distribution.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In many spray applications, such as humidification or evaporative cooling, it is desirable to generate relatively fine spray particles so as to maximize surface area for distribution in the atmosphere. For this purpose, it is known to use air assisted spray nozzle assemblies in which a pressurized gas such as air is used to break down or atomize a liquid flow stream into very fine liquid particles. For example, in some air assisted nozzle assemblies the liquid is mechanically broken down primarily in an atomizing chamber located in the nozzle assembly upstream from a spray tip or air cap which serves to form the discharging spray pattern. Alternatively, the liquid particle break down can occur in the air cap itself.
From an efficiency and economic operating standpoint it is also desirable that such particle breakdown be effected using relatively low air flow rates and pressures. Heretofore this has created problems. In particular, spray tips or air caps which provide efficient and economic operation are generally relatively complex in design, and hence relatively expensive to produce.
Additionally, these air caps are also very limited in terms of flexibility of use. For example, such air caps are typically designed so that they can only be used with a specific air assisted nozzle body configuration. Accordingly, differently configured air caps must be provided for each type of nozzle. Moreover, such air caps cannot be easily customized to discharge the liquid in different spray patterns.
Another problem with existing air assisted spray nozzles, and in particular nozzles used for spraying a coating or paint onto a surface, is that the high air pressure necessary to breakdown the fluid particles results in a high nozzle discharge pressure. This high discharge pressure often causes the particles to bounce back from the surfaces upon which they are applied. This not only can adversely affect the applied coating and create waste in material, but also can create an environmental hazard by virtue of the spray particles which are discharged into the surrounding ambient air.
Still a further problem with existing air assisted spray nozzles is that to achieve necessary atomization it often is necessary that pressurized air streams be directed against the liquid stream in a manner that produces a flat spray pattern. On the other hand, it often is desirable that the spray have an outwardly opening conical spray pattern, with finely atomized particles distributed throughout a full cone. Heretofore it has not been possible to achieve such full cone spray patterns at low air pressures, such as 10 psi.
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide an air assisted spray nozzle assembly which is effective for producing full cone spray patterns with enhanced liquid particle breakdown and distribution.
Another object is to provide an air assisted spray nozzle assembly of the foregoing type which provides effective atomization of fluids at relatively low air pressures.
A further object is to provide a spray nozzle assembly as characterized above which has an air cap that can be easily customized for producing a desired spray pattern.
Another object is to provide a spray nozzle assembly of the above kind which is relatively simple in design and which lends itself to economical manufacture.
Yet another object is to provide an air cap of the above kind which can be used in air assisted nozzles bodies of various designs.
These and other features and advantages of the invention will be more readily apparent upon reading the following description of a preferred exemplary embodiment of the invention and upon reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:
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Leydig. Voit & Mayer Ltd.
Nguyen Dinh Q.
Scherbel David A.
Spraying Systems Co.
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