Fluid sprinkling – spraying – and diffusing – Flow deflecting or rotation controlling means – Fluid rotation inducing means upstream of outlet
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-28
2001-02-27
Kashnikow, Andres (Department: 3752)
Fluid sprinkling, spraying, and diffusing
Flow deflecting or rotation controlling means
Fluid rotation inducing means upstream of outlet
C239S505000, C239S490000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06193172
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to spray nozzles, and more particularly, to improved spray nozzles of the type employing a swirl unit having a swirl chamber and orifice plate for swirling and emitting a fluid spray.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Spray nozzles having centrifugal swirl chambers upstream of the spray orifice have been employed for various uses, such as spray drying, aeration, cooling, and fuel injection. A typical such nozzle is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 3,680,793 to Tate et al. which shows in
FIG. 1
a nozzle body, an orifice plate defining a spray orifice, and a swirl chamber block received within the nozzle body. A retainer member is threadedly engaged behind the swirl chamber block for retaining and positioning the swirl chamber and orifice plate within the nozzle body. For spray drying applications, fluid containing suspended and dissolved solids is supplied to the nozzle under pressures generally in the range of 500 p.s.i. to 5000 p.s.i. This mixture passes through the nozzle at high velocity, resulting in rapid wear to the swirl chamber block and orifice plate. Because of this rapid wear, the swirl chamber block and orifice plate may require frequent replacement.
In the design of the '793 patent, replacement of these worn components is difficult. In practice, one might place the retainer member on a flat surface with the end for retaining the swirl chamber block facing upwardly. One would then place the swirl chamber block into the recess formed in the end of the retainer member. Next, one would place the nozzle body on a flat surface with its inlet end facing upwardly and the orifice plate would be inserted into the counter-bore formed in the nozzle body. The next step would be either (i) to invert the retainer member and swirl chamber block and insert the inverted components into the nozzle body, or (ii) to invert the nozzle body and orifice plate, and place the inverted components over the retainer member and swirl chamber block. In either case, for the inverted parts, the wear component (either the swirl chamber block or orifice plate) would tend to fall out, thus making assembly extremely difficult.
Another possible assembly method would be to place the retainer member on a flat surface with its downstream end facing upwardly, and to place the swirl chamber block into the recess formed in the upwardly-facing end of the retainer member. Next, the orifice plate would be balanced on top of the swirl chamber block. Finally, the inverted nozzle body would be placed over the stack formed by the retainer member, swirl chamber block and orifice plate, and the nozzle body then would be threaded onto the retainer member. However, this final operation would be problematic because the orifice plate would tend to move during assembly, thus making it difficult to locate the orifice plate within the counter-bore formed in the nozzle body.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved spray nozzle, and improved wear components for such nozzles, including swirl units and orifice plates, which overcome the above-described drawbacks and disadvantages encountered in assembling prior art spray nozzles.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a spray nozzle comprising a carrier defining a spray aperture on a downstream end for emitting a spray, a first locating bore formed adjacent to the spray aperture for slidably receiving an orifice plate, and a second locating bore formed on an upstream side of the first locating bore for slidably receiving a swirl unit. The carrier also includes at least one retaining surface, which is preferably formed by a pair of retaining lugs, located on an upstream side of the second locating bore and extending inwardly a predetermined distance for engaging the swirl unit to thereby retain the swirl unit and orifice plate within the carrier.
The orifice plate defines a downstream end surface engageable with the carrier, an upstream end surface axially spaced relative to the downstream end surface and engageable with the swirl unit, a spray orifice formed through the orifice plate, and a peripheral surface formed between the two end surfaces. The peripheral surface is dimensioned for slidably contacting an interior surface forming the first locating bore upon inserting the orifice plate within the bore to thereby support and align the orifice plate with the spray aperture.
The swirl unit includes a downstream end surface engageable with the orifice plate received within the first locating bore, an upstream end surface axially spaced relative to the downstream end surface, a fluid passageway formed at least in part between the two end surfaces for swirling the fluid passed therethrough, and a peripheral surface extending between the two end surfaces. The peripheral surface defines at least two locating surfaces formed on approximately opposite sides of the swirl unit relative to each other, and dimensioned for slidably contacting an interior surface of the second locating bore upon inserting the swirl unit within the bore in order to support and align the swirl unit with the orifice plate and spray aperture. The peripheral surface also defines at least one recessed surface, such as a flat, spaced radially inwardly from the at least two locating surfaces a distance greater than the predetermined distance defined by the at least one retaining surface for clearing the retaining surface upon inserting the swirl unit into the second locating bore. A tool-engaging surface, such as a slot or other recess for receiving and engaging a screw driver or other tool, is formed on the second end surface of the swirl unit. The slot is engageable with the tool for pressing the swirl unit toward the orifice plate, and in turn rotating the swirl unit and second end surface into position for engagement with the at least one retaining surface to thereby secure within the carrier the swirl unit and orifice plate.
One advantage of the nozzle of the present invention, is that the retaining surface(s) of the carrier permit the orifice plate and swirl unit to be easily installed and retained within the carrier to thereby form a sub-assembly which may be inverted or otherwise turned into any position without causing the wear components to fall out or otherwise move out of alignment with the spray aperture of the carrier. The nozzle body may then be inserted into the carrier, or the carrier may be placed over the nozzle body, to fixedly secure the nozzle body to the carrier and thereby complete the nozzle assembly. As a result, the nozzle may be assembled without encountering the above-described drawbacks and disadvantages associated with assembling prior art spray nozzles.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in view of the following detailed description and accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5934569 (1999-08-01), Soule et al.
Bassett Thomas A.
Betsold Matthew P.
deLesdernier Daniel
Dziadzio Douglas J.
Mueller Paul
Bete Fog Nozzle Inc.
Bocanegra Jorge
Cummings & Lockwood
Kashnikow Andres
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