Fluid sprinkling – spraying – and diffusing – Rigid fluid confining distributor – Having interior filter or guide
Reexamination Certificate
1998-09-18
2001-01-16
Graham, Matthew C. (Department: 3613)
Fluid sprinkling, spraying, and diffusing
Rigid fluid confining distributor
Having interior filter or guide
Reexamination Certificate
active
06173916
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to CO
2
jet spray nozzles, and more particularly, to CO
2
jet spray nozzles having multiple orifices.
2. Description of Related Art
The related prior art of CO
2
jet spray nozzles is believed to involve the use of a variable orifice. Despite much literature on the subject, this aspect has not been well explained or documented. Exact geometries of the nozzles vary and can be considered proprietary by each manufacturer. Fixed orifice nozzles are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,806,171, issued to Whitlock et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 4,962,891, issued to Layden. In each case a set of two (consecutive) orifices is given as essential to good jet spray (snow) production. In both cases the source of CO
2
is in gaseous form, and in that case two consecutive orifices appear to be needed. However, expanding CO
2
gas is inefficient and does not have the aggressiveness of CO
2
jet spray from liquid. In using liquid CO
2
, two consecutive orifices are detrimental to snow production since the second orifice frequently clogs and causes sputtering of the CO
2
jet spray.
Therefore, it is an objective of the present invention to provide for improved CO
2
jet spray nozzles that overcome the problems of conventional CO
2
jet spray nozzles.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The production of a CO
2
jet spray requires an orifice to generate snow, and a nozzle to shape, control, and direct snow to a surface. In order to meet the above and other objectives, the present invention provides for nozzles for use in producing CO
2
jet spray, these nozzles having multiple orifices. In the present invention, a pattern of orifices forms a critical orifice, which is an integral part of the nozzle. By fabricating different nozzles in which orifice size, orifice geometry (round, oval, or elongated slit), total orifice area, nozzle diameter and nozzle length is varied within a well-defined matrix, any desired intensity of CO
2
jet spray may be obtained. By varying the arrangement of the orifices, nozzle geometry, and nozzle length, different spray patterns may be provided.
More particularly, the CO
2
jet spray nozzle of the present invention comprises a body, an elongated nozzle tube extending from the body, and an orifice disk disposed in the nozzle tube adjacent the body that has a plurality of orifices disposed therein. The orifices are formed by any suitable means such as laser drilling through the orifice disk, or by means of electron discharge machining (EDM), for example. The body has an input aperture that mates with a source of CO
2
and an elongated tube extending toward an output end. The body has a first axial hole of a predetermined depth disposed along an axis of the body adjacent the output end, and a centrally located second axial hole having a diameter that may be different than the diameter of the first axial hole disposed through the remaining length of the body. The orifice disk is disposed at the bottom of the first axial hole and has a circular input aperture that couples CO
2
to the plurality of orifices. The elongated nozzle tube is disposed in the first axial hole so that it abuts the orifice disk and protrudes a predetermined length in front of the body. The orifice disk may have a circular pattern of orifices that provide a circular CO
2
spray pattern. The orifice disk and nozzle tube are typically welded together to prevent leakage.
The present invention also contemplates a linear jet spray nozzle that contains multiple orifices each with different dimensions or one that uses a changing density of orifices, such that it starts out on one side of the nozzle with a large number of orifices per linear inch, and gradually changes to a relatively small number of orifices per inch on the opposite side.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3630455 (1971-12-01), Parkison
patent: 4426040 (1984-01-01), Smith
patent: 4806171 (1989-02-01), Whitlock et al.
patent: 4962891 (1990-10-01), Layden
patent: 5018667 (1991-05-01), Lloyd
patent: 4016368 (1990-12-01), None
patent: 4331496 (1994-04-01), None
patent: 528635 (1940-11-01), None
patent: 24095441 (1974-09-01), None
patent: 2048721 (1980-12-01), None
Armstrong R. Craig
Eco-Snow Systems, Inc.
Graham Matthew C.
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