Patent Application
20060231646
This invention relates generally to fluid spray nozzles, and more particularly, to a commercial nozzle for spraying liquids, such as water, in different stream patterns.
Spray nozzles for water or other fluids generally comprise a barrel having an axially movable valve for generating different spray patterns. The nozzle may include an adjustable pattern inducing projection in the path of the stream for causing the stream to vary, such as from a coarse to a fine stream. A stem is connected to the valve and projects beyond the barrel at the barrel rear to receive the flow of fluid.
Some garden hose nozzles also include a by-pass attachment to and extending from the barrel to mix materials with the flow of water, such as fertilizer.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,129,511 issued Sep. 6, 1938 to E.H. Tompkins, et al., is of interest and is directed to a gas pump nozzle which has a straight flow design. Such a nozzle is designed for a high volume of pass through of liquids and the quantity of liquid is controlled by a valve which has variable degrees of opening which creates turbulence in the stream. It is believed that this type of design is remote from the invention defined herein.
It is desirable to have a nozzle which allows the fluid to flow through the housing in an uninterrupted path so that there is no dissipation of the maximum obtainable volume.
An object of this invention is to provide a straight through design of a nozzle allowing water and/or a water solution to flow through the nozzle undergoing less turbulence.
Another object of the invention is to provide a nozzle with less contamination.
A still further object is to provide a nozzle with a seal on the pressure side of the seat so that pressure acts to force the closure of the seal.
Another object of the invention is to provide a nozzle with less flow-resistance.
Another object of the invention is to provide a nozzle with a smaller silhouette.
Another object of the invention is to provide such a nozzle in which the flow path does not have sharp turns which would reduce the velocity.
Another object of the invention is to provide a nozzle with improved drainability.
A still further object of the invention is to provide a nozzle which is readily cleanable.
Another object of the invention is to provide such a nozzle which is inexpensive to produce and is reliable in operation.
Another object of the invention is to provide such a nozzle which has as few moving parts and chambers.
Another object of the invention is to provide a nozzle which allows easy changeability of discharge nozzle heads.
These and other objects and the advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following descriptions.
In accordance with the invention, generally stated, a straight flow nozzle is provided having a housing through which fluid flows in a straight line. The housing is preferably a cylinder made of stainless steel. The housing has two opposite ends. One of the ends is a discharge port open to the ambient atmosphere for discharge of the fluid from the nozzle. A coupling means is secured to the other end of the housing for coupling to the housing a pressurized supply of fluid.
The nozzle has an associated valve assembly means of novel construction . The valve assembly has a valve seat located adjacent to the discharge end of the housing. A valve closure means is provided for operating in combination with the valve seat. The valve closure means is located so that it is maintained in a closed position by the force of the pressurized fluid in the housing which prevents the flow of fluid out of the discharge port.
Control means is provided for opening the valve. The control means is located on the outer side of the housing. A handle is provided which when pressed downward towards the housing opens the valve closure to allow fluid to flow out of the housing. The handled has a fulcrum point on the housing where it is secured to allow downward movement. A curved arm is affixed to the short end of the handle which extends through the housing and connects to an extension arm of the closure. The extension arm of the closure extends from the closure along the center axis of the housing. The extension has a slot in its end which allows the curved arm to pass through the extension and securing means for maintaining the curved rod in contact with the extension rod affixed to the valve closure. When the handle is pressed downward it causes the extension arm to move laterally and open the valve assembly to allow the passage of fluid out of the housing through the discharge port.
Referring to FIGS. 1 to 5, in accordance with the invention, a nozzle, generally indicated at 10, is provided having a straight fluid flow design allowing fluid to flow through the nozzle with limited turbulence. The nozzle has a housing 12, preferably in the form of a tube with a hollow core and a horizontal axis, through which fluid flows. The flow of fluid is indicated by a series of arrows on
The housing has two opposite ends 20, 22. One of the ends 20 is a discharge port 24 open to the ambient atmosphere for discharge of the fluid from the nozzle. A coupling means 52 secured to the opposite end 22 of the housing 12 for coupling to the housing, not shown, a source of pressurized fluid such as a hose or other suitable delivery systems.
A fluid control valve assembly 25 is disposed in the discharge end 20 of the housing 12 . The assembly comprises a circular metal, preferably stainless steel, valve seat member 16 closely received in and retained in the bore of the housing 12 by “O” retaining ring 18 which mates in a groove in the housing bore. The member is sealed to the housing to prevent free passage of fluid.
The valve seat 16 is substantially conical and located adjacent to the discharge end 20 of the housing 12 for receiving the valve closure means 26. Preferably, the valve closing means or seal is a resilient, durable material, such as synthetic rubber, and has a sloped or slanted peripheral outer edge to conform to the conically-shaped valve seat providing self-cleaning, sealing arrangement closure.
The valve closure means 26 operates in combination with the valve seat 16. The valve closure means 26 is primarily forced into a closed position by the force of the pressurized fluid flow through the housing 12 and spring 57 which prevents the flow of fluid from passing out of the discharge port 24. Control means or trigger is provided for opening and closing the valve closure means 26.
A connecting rod 28 is affixed by suitable means such as a coupling sleeve 32 to the closure 26. The rod 28 is journaled to the inside of the housing at positions 33, 35 spaced apart on the inside of the housing to position the rod along the axis of the housing. At the terminal end 29 of the rod 28 a disc stop 46 is provided which holds a curved member 44 in place on the rod. The curved member paces through a vertical slot 43 in the control rod which allows vertical movement. When hand force is applied to the handle 40 it cause an upward force on the curved member 44 causing the valve closure 26 to separate from the seat and allow the passage of fluid out of the nozzle. When the pressure on the handle is released, the force of the fluid and spring 57 causes the rod 28 to return to its closed position so that the closure 26 fits tightly in the seat to shut off the flow of fluid from the nozzle.
The valve control means takes the form of a lever handle 40 extending at an inclined plane to the housing12. For delivery of the fluid the user manually depresses the lever handle 40. The delivery is accomplished by a curved member 44 which is an extension to the handle 40 and affixed to the handle at its end to slidably connected to the rod 28 extending to the closure 26. When the handle is depressed it causes the rod 28 to move longitudinally and disengage the closure 26 from its seat 16.
The handle 40 is cantilevered at a pivot point 42 adjacent to the end of the handle 40. When the control member 44 is forced downwardly it causes the control lever to force the rod 28 out of contact with the seat opening the housing to the flow of water. The handle 40 is provided with a stop 50 which when the handle 40 is totally depressed contacts the outside of the housing to prevent further downward movement.
The pivoting means 42 is preferably located near the end of the handle for a cantilevered effect and can be constructed of a series of two bracket sets 45, 46 having curved tops. The first set of brackets 45 are affixed to the outside of the housing 12 spaced apart to align with a similar set of two brackets 46 affixed in space relation to the lower side of the handle 40. A bolt 42 can pass through a hole provided in all of the brackets and serve as the pivoting point. The bolt 42 can easily be removed for disassembly of the unit.
As indicated the curved connecting member 44 passes into the inner chamber of the housing 12 through a resilient sleeve 56 such as synthetic rubber forming an extension of the housing 12. The passage is in such a manner as to prevent the passage of fluid and allow the necessary movement of the curved arm. For ease of assembly the rod 44 has a cut out portion 43 at its end to allow the curved rod to be slipped into the cutout and secured by the stop 46 and a bolt 54.
The coupling 52 can take any suitable form such as a typical hose coupling of mating screw threads.
The invention is primarily intended for restaurants and the food preparation industry but it can also find use in other industries such as animal research. Referring to
It will occur to one of ordinary skill that still other modifications may be made to the disclosed embodiment. It is intended that the invention be defined by the appended claims and not by the description given herein which is given by way of example and not limitation.
From the foregoing, it can be seen that there has been provided a valve construction which has many advantages. The valves are constructed in such a manner that they can be readily inspected and cleaned. The valves particularly lend themselves to sanitary operations permitting cleaning and steam sterilization with the valves in place. The valves can be cleaned and steam sterilized without breaking the system once they are installed. Greatly improved sealing is achieved with the elastomeric boot because of its resiliency.
While the invention has been described in its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the words which have been used are words of description rather than limitation and that changes may be made within the purview of the appended claims without departing from the true scope and spirit of the invention in its broader aspects.
