US2612408A

US2612408A - Atomizing nozzle

Info

Publication number: US2612408A
Application number: US43939A
Authority: US
Inventors: Kurata Fred
Original assignee: KASK TECHNICAL CORP
Current assignee: KASK TECHNICAL Corp
Priority date: 1948-08-12
Filing date: 1948-08-12
Publication date: 1952-09-30
Anticipated expiration: 1969-09-30

Description

Sept. 30, 1952 KURATA 2,612,408

ATOMIZING NOZZLE Filed Aug. 12. 1948 FIGQI 6.3

FIG.5

INVENTOR.

- FRED KURATA Patented Sept. 30, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ATOMIZING NOZZLE Fred Kurata, Lawrence, Kans., assignor to Kask' TechnicalCorporation, Jackson Heights, N.-Y., incorporation of. New York Application August 12, 1948, Serial No. 43,939

Claims. 1

The, present invention relates to nozzles for atomizing liquids. Particularly in one aspect,this invention relates; to such a nozzle inwhich a vibrating. member is, employed to. bring about the desired degree of atomization. This application isv a continuationr-in-part of. my prior. and copending; application Serial No. 533,720, filed May 2, 19.4.4, andnow abandoned;

In. the. commercial. atomizing nozzles on. the market todayin..which pressure alone is employed as theatomizing force. ascontrasted with thoseinwhichagas under pressure. is used as the propelling and disruptive. agency the atomization of the liquid is. produced by subjecting it to a whirling action beioreejectinguit from an orifice of thedesired shapeand size..The. whirling motion is imparted to.the.liquid;by passing it under pressure.thrcugha-chamher of special construction. All of thenozzles. of this type are inherently inefiicient because of .the pressure. drop caused by the absorption of energy asfluid friction when. the liquid traverses the nozzle chamber.

It is anobject otthe present invention to produce'. an atomizing. nozzle of a design radically different iromthat-discussed above and in which energy. losses due to fluid friction are in a large part eliminated. v

It1isa further object of. this invention to produce an atomizing. nozzle in which a much lower fluid pressuretislrequired' to obtaina certain degree of atomization than is the case with the presently-knowntypes-aof .atomizingnozzles.

It isstillanother object-of the invention to provide anatomizi-ng nozzle of relatively simple and compact-construction which brings about a more-efficie-nt atomization of liquids than those presently in user.

It. is a still further object of the present invention to'producean atomizing nozzle.- in which the degree of atomization; of the liquid can be readily; varied. within wide limits.

Anotherobject of this invention is to provide a vibrating atomizing nozzle-in which the vibrating, mechanism; does not. interfere with: the distributiorr of the; spray produced thereby.

Still another object is to provide a vibrating nozzle-in which thevibrating'mechanism is protected from the environment in which ,theznozzle is-used;

Variousother objects and" advantagesoi the present-invention will become apparent from the accompanying description and d-isclosure.

Figure-l ofthe drawings is a front-elevational. View, partly in cross-section, 'of'the vibrating Figure 5 of the drawin'gs is'la front elevational'.

view, partly in cross-section, of another modification of the vibrating nozzle employing a conicalhelical spring and made of separately'assem led chamber and two end sections, one end section containing an orifice and the other endsection containing a guide for a vibrating valve member.

Figure (i-ofthe drawin'gs is' a front elevational view, partly in cross-section, of still another modification of different construction bu-t'corresponding in. the vibrating mechanism substantially to that-illustrated in Figure 5.

Referringto th'e-modifieation-shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings; numeral l l=- designates a body portion of anydesired shape, preferablycylindrical, having achamber: l2 therein and a conically-shapecl' or beveled-end-section l3. A discharge orifice or aperture l4 passes-through theconically-shapedend section I 3 in open communication with internal chamber l-2.-' Chamberand aperture M are preferably cylindrical andare axially aligned. In its preferred formchamber l2- narrows by'means Ora-conical section 16 to aperture [4.

The other end-of body portion H opposite discharge I orifice or aperture I4- is externally threaded as indicated by numeral lT-so as to be capable of connection with a'conduit (not shown) for supplying liquid underpressure; Other' con ventional methods"known-to-thoseskilled in the artmay be used to connect: chamber l2 to a source of supplyof liquid under pressure, such-as welding or bolting with flanges, without departing from the scope of this invention. Chamber I2 is slotted or grooved; in a longitudinal direc tion as shown by numeral l8; to receive aspring supporting'member 2'6;

7 Figure 2 being a viewtaken along line' 2-'-2 in thedirection shown clearly illustrates the-shape of the cross-section'of body portion H and chamber l-2L and the insertion ofil supporting member 26.v in grooves 18 of chamber 12.- The ends'oi-sup- 3 porting member 26 freely fit into slots or grooves I8 so that supporting member 26 can move longitudinally within chamber I2 but cannot rotate.

A valve member I9 comprising a stem 2|! and a valve head 2| is located centrally within chamv ber I2 with its valve head 2| seated on the outer edge of discharge orifice I4. That portion of the valve head 2| which seats in orifice I4 is, preferably conical as indicated by numeral 22. Valve head 2| may be spherically-shaped without departing from the scope of the invention. An important feature of the nozzle is the seating of the conically-shaped valve head 2I on the outer edge of orifice I4 to make a line. contact or a knife edge contact as contrasted to surface contact which would result if the outer edge of orifice I4 had conically shaped sides parallel to sides 22 of valve head 2|. Other important features of orifice I4 and valve head 2| will be discussed more fully hereinafter.

Preferably the included or apex angle formed by the conically-shaped portion 22 of valve head 2| is between about 60 and about 150 degrees, the actual angle best suited for any particular valve head will depend on such factors as the size of the orifice and the pressure of the liquid being atomized. Included. angles between about 90 and about 120 degrees for valve head 2| have shown good results for a wide range of liquid pressures.

The other end of valve member I9 opposite the valve head 2| is threaded as shown by numeral 24. Threaded end 24 of valve member I9 is screwed into a threaded hole 21 (Figure 2) of supporting member 25. Valve head 2| is notched or grooved at 23 to receive a screw driver.

A cylindrical-helical spring 28 is positioned within chamber I2 surrounding valve stem 20 with one end thereof pressing against the downstreamend of chamber I2 and with the other end pressing against supporting member 28 connected to the threaded end 2 4 of valve member I9. The pressure of spring 28 against the body portion II and against supporting member 26 urges the valve head 2| of valve member I9 towards the outer edge of orifice I 4 and seats the valve head 2| on the edge of the circular mouth of orifice I4. Various sizes and types of conventional springs may be used for this purpose, as hereinafter described, without departing from the scope of this invention. The force with which spring 28 urges valve head 2| against the outer edge of orifice I4 can be adjusted by inserting a screw driver in groove 23 of valve head 2| and turning valve member I9. Turning valve member I9 changes the position of supporting member 26 so as to increase or decrease the pressure of spring 28 thereon depending on the direction turned. Suflicient clearance between spring, 28 and the walls of chamber I2 is allowed to prevent binding or cramping when the spring is compressed.

Supporting member 26 serves also as a guide so that valve member I9 will be axially aligned at all times with orifice I4 and will not vibrate transversely.

The nozzle of Figure 1 of the drawings is of relatively simple construction and can be easily and inexpensively manufactured. Body portion II can be made by drilling chamber I2 and orifice I4 from bar stock of steel, alloy, cast iron, brass or bronze. Body portion I I including chamber I2 may also be cast or molded from suitable metal or alloy. Valve stem I9, supporting member 26 and spring 28 are made in the 4. conventional manner known to those skilled in the art.

In operating the nozzle of Figure 1, the force exerted by spring 28 is adjusted in the manner previously discussed to correspond to that appropriate for causing vibration of valve member I9 at the pressure of liquid available. Thereafter, liquid under pressure is supplied to chamber I2, which is connected to a supply conduit (not shown) by means of threaded portion If. Assuming the adjustment of the spring 28 is correct, valve stem I9 will vibrate in a longitudinal direction along the axis of orifice I4. Liquid issues from orifice I I of the nozzle as a fine spray of uniform particle size as the result of the vibrating action of conically-shaped valve head 2| on the edge of the mouth of cylindrical orifice I4. The size of the orifice I4, the strength of spring 28, and the mass of spring 28 and valve member I9 are so co-related to one another and to the liquid pressure that valve member I9 (and valve head 2|) is maintained in forced vibration as part of a resonant system.

In general the greater the mass of the vibrating parts, the lower will be the frequency of vibration; and the greater the spring force the higher will be the frequency of vibration. The frequency of vibration will also tend to increase with an increase of pressure of the liquid to be atomized, but this factor is not as important as the mass of the spring and the parts associated therewith and the spring tension. Thus it is seen that by varying and balancing the co-acting forces, the operable limits of the device may be widely changed and any desired degree of atomization of the liquid can be procured. For most' operations, the frequency of vibration will be maintained within the audio range; for example, frequencies of 60 to several thousand cycles per second may be cited.

In operation, the potential energy available from the pressure of the liquid is consumed by the friction of the liquid passing through the nozzle and by the energy necessary to cause vibration of the valve member. For maximum efiiciency, therefore, it is desirable to reduce the energy losses'by friction to a minimum. The greater the proportion of the total energy available for use in vibrating the valve member, the higher the frequency of vibration that can be obtained which results in the maximum dispersion of the liquid as a spray or mist for a given'pressure. In fact, if energy losses Y by friction are too great the valve member will not vibrate. Accordingly, the dimensions and shape of such elements as orifice I4, the downstream end I6 of chamber I2, and the valve stem 20 of valve member I 8 are important and the following dimensions serve as a guide inthe construction of a nozzle having minimum frictional losses. The downstream end I6 of chamber I2 is preferably in the form of a to degree cone to minimize the turbulence of the liquid as it passes from chamber I2 to discharge orifice I 4. The longitudinal length of aperture or orifice I4 is preferably as short as structural limitations will permit, for example, from about 1% to about A of an inch in length, although shorter or longer dimensions may be used, as desired. The diameter of orifice I4 should not be so small as to cause excessive energy losses by the passage of liquid through the annular passageway formed by the walls of the aperture I4 and valve stem 20. Otherwise, the diameter of aperture I I will be determined by such factors as pressure of the liquid; capacity-ofthenozzle, etc.-, and generally" scope ofthis-invention. The clearance'between.

valvestem 20 and the walls of aperture -|4 shou ld also be sufficient-to. minimize frictional losses of the liquid passing through the annular space formed therebetween; preferably a clearanceof atileast 0.001 of an inch is employed for: small orificesand-where possible with larger orifices at least-1 of i an inch, but not somuch clearance as mightcause transverse vibration. of' the valve. stem. A clearance of 0.005. of i an inch. has: been found suflicientfor producing a: spray having'par: ticle sizes less than microns.

The diameter of: valvehead 2| should be; only slightly. larger: than the diameter of I themouth OflOIiflCB. 4 in orderztoiassure uniform and mini.- mum'particlesize. It'valve: head, 2|. is too largeasxcomparedtoorifice. l4, surface area'22 pro.- jects'overthe edgeoforifice l4 to such an extent that the liquid; particles; produced by the vibrating action cling to surface 22 resulting in agglomeration of the fine particles. Preferably therefore, the diameter of valve head 2| isnot more-than about 3 5, of an inchlargerthan the diameterof the mouth of orifice [4. For example; anorificerf v inch in diameter should be used with. a: valve member having avalve head not greater than inch in diameter.

Thespray oi the nozzle of Figure l oftthedrawing will .forma-cone having an included or apex angle slightly smaller than the apex angle of conical portion 22-of valve head 2|. The particle size of the spray is a function of the tension of spring 28-within a relative narrow range; thus, for a given pressure the particle size of the spray may be. varied by adjusting the tension ofspring 28- byvalve head 2| with a screw driver in the appropriate directionuto increase or decrease the tension of the: spring as desired. A hexagonal head may replace groove 23 and valve. head 2| isthen turned. by awrench or. like means.

Although the variousstructural materials. used to makethe nozzles. form no part of this. invention, it should be noted that orifice l4 .andvalve member l9 including valve head 2| may bemade of special alloys, or plated or clad with special metals orv alloys tov prevent wear and erosion- A wear and. erosion resistant sleeve of, a suitable wear resistant material, such as stainless steel, Monel metal, Stellite, .or a jewel such as sapphire, may be inserted and fixedin orifice [4, if desired. It is desirable to make the valve member of softer material than the orifice.

Theatomizing nozzle of Figure 1. maybe used on liquids at various pressures. Best results are obtained at pressures above. about 100 pounds per square inch gage and up to pressures as high as .the tension of the spring correlated with orifice diameter will permit. Pressures as. high as 6000 pounds per square inch gage have been used with the vibrating type nozzle of thisinvention with excellent results characterized by efliciencies as high as 80 per cent and higher. Pressures as low as or pounds per square inch gage produce a fine spray of various liquids, such as water and-oil, withthe nozzles of'this invention.

Figure 3 of the drawings illustrates another modification'of the nozzle of this invention using a single-leaf spring and since its construction and operation is similar'in some of its aspects to that nozzle of Figure 1 only a-brief description of it will be made. Referring specifically to-the 6v nozzle oi "Fig1.11-'e- 3, numeral 3| designates the bod-yportion of anydesired cross-sectional shape, preferably cylindrical'butothershapes, such as polygonal, may be'used without departing from thescope-of this invention.- Body portion 3| contains a chamber -32 therein and a discharge orifice 34-passing-through-end section 33 in open communication with chamber 32. End section 33 is preferably beveled or conicall'y-shaped' as shown.

Chamber 3-2- and orifice 34 are axially alignedl The end of chamber' '32 narrows to orifice 34 as indicated by numeral 36 in a somewhat similar manner" as was described with respect to Figure 1 except that-no shoulderor ledge isnecessary for-"thespring to press against. The other end ofchamber 32- oppositeorifice 34 is threadedat 3'!" to" receive another threaded member (not shown), such as a conduit'for' supplying liquid under-pressure; Between threaded section 31 and end section 36, chamber 32 is recessed as'indicated by numeral 38- toreceive-a-fiat or leaf spring-48 which issuspended from the sides of chamber'32; In the modification shown in Figure '3; a single-leaf spring 'is shown; however, a multi-leaf spring, a coil spring, a semi-elliptical spring, arr-elliptical'spring, etca, maybe-used to advantage depending "on such factors as the size of the-orifice a-nd the liquidpressure.

As with the nozzl'e-ofFigure 1' of the drawings; the nozzle of Figure "3 also includes a valvemember-39 havingavalve head 4| which is hexagonal and a; threaded end 44"; Valve==head4| has a conically-sh'aped' section 42which seats onthe'outer edge of orifice *34 to make a knife edge orline contacttherewith. The threaded end 44- of valve member 39 passes through an opening 41 (Figure 4:) of spring 48; The tension-of spring 48 is exerted downwardly on valve stem 39'by' conventional hexagonal nuts 46 which are screwed on threaded end 445 Two nuts are used so that the nuts will lock and not rotate as a result of the' vibration of valve member 39. Bylocking nuts 46, the'tension oispring 48 will remain constant.

Figure 4'is a view in plan of single-leaf spring I 48 0f" Figure 3'. Circular portion 49- restsin-the recess -38ofchamber'3 2-as means for supporting the spring: V--shaped slots -5| fit into corresponding V-shaped projection (not shown) inchamber' 32 to prevent rotating of the spring during operation-of thenozzle or in adjusting nuts 46;. Middle-section 5-2 of spring 48 is flexible and supplies the tension to urge valvemember 3 9 towards orifice 34;

The nozzle of Figure'3 operates in a similar manneras the nozzle of Figure 1.

Figure 5 of the drawing'is-an elevational view, partly in cross-section, of another nozzle of different modification than Figures 1 and 3. The nozzle of Figure 5 is, operated by a conical-helical spring "and is of relatively simple construction. This modification comprises a body portion 6|, two

end sections

63 and 61, spring-l1, and valve member 'H' havinga valve head 12." Body portion 6| comprises an open cylinder forming a chamber 62. Each end of open cylinder 6| is internally threaded to receive threaded and flanged end sections: 63 and 6'1. End section 63 contains an aperture or orifice 6'4-in'open communication with chamber' 62. Orifice 64 is of circular'crosssection and is axially alined with chamber 62"; Numeral 66 designates a gasket made of suitable gasket material to seal the juncture between bodyportion 6| and end section'63. End section 61- hasa well or hole 68- to receive tion 67 is sealed by gasket 69.

Valve member H extends through orifice 60 and conically-shaped valve head I2 is seated on the outer edge of cylindrical orifice 64 to form a knife edge contact therebetween. The opposite end of valve member H is threaded at I3. A nut M is screwed on valve member 7! and supports fianged washer 16. Washer 76 supports one end of a spring 11 which surrounds valve member I I. The other end of spring I1 presses against the bottom of recessed end portion 63.

Body portion 6| contains a threaded hole orv aperture I8 which receives a threaded conduit I9. Conduit 19 transmits liquid under pressure to chamber 62.

The operation of the nozzle of Figure 5 is exactly the same as the operation of the nozzles of Figures 1 and 3. The tension of spring 1! may be adjusted by adjusting the position of nut 14 on valve member 1 I. Various types of springs other than that shown may be used in the modification of Figure 5 without departing from the scope of this invention. Spring 1! may be a cylindricalhelical spring, or other type compression spring. End portion 6! with well 68 serves as a guide-to assure alignment of valve member II along the axis of chamber 62 and orifice 64 and to minimize transverse vibration of valve member TI.

Figure 8 of the drawings illustrates another modification of the vibrating type nozzle of this invention which is shown in elevation and partly in cross-section. Body portion i contains a chamber 92 therein and an aperture 03 in one end thereof. Aperture 93, as shown, has a relatively great longitudinal dimension as compared to the other models shown as the result of which it acts as means for holding valve member 94 in position in assembling the nozzle. Valve member 94 and a cylindrical-helical spring I02 are arranged similar to the arrangement illustrated in Figure 5. One end of spring I02 rests on washer IOI which is supported by nut 99. The other end of spring I02 presses against the orifice or downstream end of chamber 92. Valve member 9:3 comprises a conically-shaped valve head 95 which seats in the mouth of aperture 93 and threaded end 91 upon which nut 99 is screwed. A perforated disk I03 is positioned in shoulder or recess HM of chamber 92. Disk I03 contains an opening I06 in the center thereof through which the threaded end 91 of valve member 94 passes. Disk I03 serves as a guide for valve member 94 to 'assure alignment with the axis of orifice 93 and to minimize transverse vibration. Plug I0! is screwed into the threaded portion I08 of chamber 02 to maintain disk I03 in a fixed and secure position. Plug I0! is threaded at both ends; end I09 receives a conduit (not shown) for transmitting liquid under pressure to chamber 92. Several plugs like plug I01 with difierent sized end sections I09 may be interchanged with plug I0? so that body portion 9| can be made to fit any size pipe or conduit.

In the modifications of the nozzle shown in Figures 1, and 6, the spring member is located 8 between the orifice and the guiding member'for the valve member. In this manner, the two extremes of the valve member are supported and aligned with the axis of the orifice in order to prevent transverse vibrations or Wobbling. It is important in order to obtain maximum dispersion and uniform size of the particles at a given pressure that the valve member vibrate only along the axis of the orifice thereby insuring uniform and continuous contact between the outer edge of the orifice and the conical section of the valve head when the valve head is seated in the orifice. Moreover, correct alignment of the valve member during vibration maintains uniform dispersion of the spray when the valve head is not seated in the orifice.

Contrary to what might be expected, positioning the spring within the liquid in the chamber of the nozzle does not prevent vibration of the valve member and apparently does not affect or impair the vibrating phenomenon which causes atomization. The size and mass of the spri should not be such that it interferes with the flow of liquid through the nozzle or causes excessive frictional losses.

The nozzles of this invention have demonstrated exceptionally high efiiciencies as compared to various commercial nozzles on the market. Tests have been made on various commercial nozzles and nozzles of the vibrating type of this invention on brine solutions and oil at pressures between 25 and 6000 pounds per square inch gage. With the best commercial nozzle a maximum of about 2 per cent of the brine solu tion remained in suspension at the end of a 5 minute spraying period for a pressure of 3000 pounds per square inch gage. With the nozzles of the vibrating type of this invention under similar conditions of operations, 30 per cent of the brine solution remained in suspension at the end of the spraying period. For a spraying period'oi one minute under otherwise-similar conditions, the best commercia1 nozzle maintained a maximum of 10 'per cent of the brine solution in 5 suspension, and the nozzle of the vibrating type maintained a maximum of about 95 per cent of the brine solution in suspension at the end of the spraying period.

A vibrating nozzle similar in construction to that shown in Figure 5 was tested. This nozzle had a 1%,- inch diameter orifice and a valve stem of 3% of an inch in diameter passing through the orifice which gave a clearance of ,4, of an inch. The valve head had a 120 degree cone seated on the edge of the cylindrical orifice. The chamber of the nozzle was about X of an inch in diameter and about 3 inches in length. At a liquid pressure of about 3000 to about 5000 pounds per square inch gage, this nozzle had an optimum capacity of 4 gallons per minute and an efficiency above about 80 per cent for spraying both water and oil.

Various alterations and modifications of the nozzles illustrated, such as the size and shape of the spring and the valve member, may be employed without departing from the scope of this invention. Various uses of the nozzle and its principle of operation, such as in humidification, emulsification, milk spraying, spray drying, fuel injection, spray painting, powder metallurgy, surface cooling, fire extinguishing, distillation, etc., may become apparent to those skilled in the various fields of application without departing from the scope of this invention.

9 izing liquids jhaslits'obvious application .as "in"- tegral parts of equipment and appliances, such as oil burners, internal .icombustio'n engines, fire extinguishers, etc. In: any .of' these? instances,.lthe nozzle portion of the apparatusi'szdefinedaby the various associated parts necessaryatorproduce the vibrating action, the result :of Whichatbmizes the liquid.

In using the nozzlesimilar to kthat 'shown in Figure 1 or Figure 2 as-a?meansxof injectingfu'el in an oil burner'or furnace, thezshape .of end section I3 of body portion! leis important. End section l3'in suchinstancesi'saazeo to .l'6ocdegre'e cone so as to prevent .the-accumulationzof :coke deposits around orifice I'd which would interfere with the dispersion of thespray. 'The vibration of valve head zl prevents coke 'accumulations'in the immediate vicinityvof orifice M.

Having describedmy invention, I :claim:

1. An atomizingnozzle comprisingsincombination a body portion having a rcliamber'within'said body portion and a stationary" outletcorifieahav ing an edgedseatand of'substantiallylsmaller cross-sectional dimension Lthan saidnh'a'mber, a moveable valve member adapted to .freelymove its normal span.of:movement1in.a substantially longitudinal direction along .:the axis of said orifice and havinga valve:hea'd terminating adjacent said orifice and seatedonitheaedged seat of said outlet orifice, said valve head having a maximum diameter not greater than 1% times the diameter of the orifice and an apex angle between about 60 and about 150 at its point of seating on said orifice and a 'springpositioned within said chamber urging said valve head towards said outletorifice.

2. An atomizing nozzle comprising in combination a body portion having-"a chamber within said body portion and a stationary outlet orifice having an edged seat, a movable valve member adapted to freely move in-a'd i rection substantiall-ylperpendicular-to said orifi'ce and'havin'ga valve stem and a valve-head'having a diameter not morethanabout "g go f arr-inch larg'e'rthan the diameter of said outlet orifice and seated'on theedgedseat of said outlet-orifice, and' a helical spring positioned within said chamber-urging said valve: head towards said outlet orifice.

3. An atomizing nozzle comprising in combination an open cylinder, a first'plug having a stationary cylindrical orifice therein connected .to one end of said cylinder,;arsecond plug having a well therein connected to the other end of said cylinder, a movable valve member adapted to freely vibrate in a direction substantially perpendicular to said orifice and having a valve stem and a conically shaped valve head of slightly larger diameter than said orifice, said valve head seated in said cylindrical orifice and said valve stem extending through said orifice into the well of said second plug forming a continuous annular passageway between the sides of said orifice and the valve stem communicating with the inte-' rior of said cylinder, and a helical spring positioned within the interior of said cylinder surrounding said valve stem and urging said valve head towards said orifice.

4. An atomizing nozzle comprising in combination a body portion having a longitudinally grooved chamber within said body portion and a stationary cylindrical outlet orifice having an edged seat, a movable valve member adapted to freely move in its normal span of movement in a substantially longitudinal direction along the axis of said outlet orifice and having a valve stem amigos 10 and a conically shaped valve head terminating adjacent said orifice and seated on the :edged seat of said cylindrical outlet orifice, said valve head having-a maximum diameter not greater than 1%; times the diameter of the orifice and an apex angle between about 60 and about 150 at'its point of seating on said orifice said valve stem being positioned within said chamber and projecting through said orifice toform a con- .tinuous annular passageway between thesides .of said orifice and the valve stem communicating with said chamber; a movable supporting :member' loosely positioned in the grooves of said chamber and connected to-said valve stem, and a helical spring positioned in compression within said chamber between the'supporting-member and the orifice surrounding said valve stem and pressing against one end ofsaid chamber and against said supporting member.- p

5. An atomizingnozzle eomprisingincombination a body-portion-having a tchamber containing a circumferentialrecess within said body portion and'a station-arycylindrical .outl et orifice of substantiallysmallercross-sectionaldimension' than said-chamber and havingan edged -seat, a-mov able \valvemember adapted to freely-movelin its normal-span of movement in asubstantial-ly-lon: gitudinal direction along the axis of said" outlet orifice-and having a valve stem and a, conically shaped valve head terminating adj acentsaid ori--' fice and'seatedon said edged seat of :said cylindrical outlet :orifice, said-valve "head havin 5a maximum diameter not greater than about 1- /2 times the diameter of the orifice andarr apex angle bet-ween-abou-t-60:andabout'150 at-its point of seating onsaidorifice 1 said valve stem being :positioned within said chamber and projectin'g through: said orifice toform a' continuous annular-passageway between the sides, of said: orificelandlthe valvestem-communicating withssaid chamber, and a metallic leaf spring restingon the-recessensaidzchamberurging said valve he'ad towards said outlet orifice.

-.6.-=An" atomizingnozzle comprising in combinationa body-portion having anxi-nternallythreaded chamber =.congta ining a-1'cir cumferential recess .iatonesendthereof'withi-n said: body portion andta stationary cylindrical outletorifice; a' rnrova'ble valve: member adapted to freely move P inriaii direction substantially perpendicular to ssaid outlt orifice and: having-a" valve'tstem' and-1a conically shaped valveihead terminating adja'cent saidnri fice and seated in said cylindrical outlet orifice, said valve stem being positioned within said chamber and projecting through said orifice to form a continuous annular passageway between the sides of said orifice and the valve stem oommunicating with said chamber, a helical spring positioned in compression within said chamber urging said valve head towards said outlet orifice, a perforated guide member resting on the circumferential recess of said chamber, and a threaded plug fixed into said threaded chamber adapted to hold said perforated guide member firmly in said recess of said chamber.

7. An atomizing nozzle comprising in combination a body portion having a chamber within said body portion, a stationary cylindrical outlet orifice and a converging passageway in the form of a to cone leading from said chamber to said orifice, said orifice being between about T% and about A; of an inch in length and between about and about /2 of an inch in diameter and smaller in diameter than any preceding passageway of said body portion, a movable valve 11 member adapted to freely vibrate in a direction substantially perpendicular to said orifice and having a valve stem and an enlarged'valve head in the form of a cone having an apex angle between about 60 and about 150 and a diameter not more than of an inch larger than the diameter of said outlet orifice seated in said cylindrical outlet orifice, said valve stem being positioned within said chamber and projecting through-said orifice having a clearance of at least 0.001 of an inch to form a continuous annular passageway between the sides of said orifice and i the valve stem communicating with said chamber,

and a spring positioned within said chamber urging said valve head towards said orifice.

8. An atomizing nozzle comprising in combination a body portion having a chamber within said body portion, a stationary cylindrical outlet orifice and a converging passageway in the form of a cone leading from said chamber to said orifice, said orifice being between about and about A of an inch in length and between about A,; and about A of an inch in diameter and smaller in diameter than any preceding passageway of said body portion, a moveable valve member adapted to freely move in a direction substantially perpendicular to said orifice and having a valve stem and an enlarged valve head in the form of a cone having an apex angle between about 60 and about 150 and a diameter not more than of an inch larger than the diameter of said outlet orifice seated in said cylindrical outlet orifice, said valve stem being positioned within said chamber and projecting through said orifice having a clearance of at least 0.001 of an inch to form a continuous annular passageway between the sides of said ori- 1 fice andthe valv stem communicating with said chamber, and a spring positioned within said chamber urging said valve head towards said orifice.

9. In an atomizing nozzle containing a closed moveable valve member seated on the edge of an orifice of said nozzle and employing a spring positioned within said nozzle to urge said valve member towards said orifice, the method for improving the atomization of said nozzle which comprises supplying to said nozzle a liquid at a substantially constant pressure between about and about 6000 pounds per square inch gage, vibrating said moveable valve member in a direction substantially perpendicular to the mouth 12 of said orifice at a frequency of at least cycles per second by using only -the force supplied by the liquid underv substantially constant pressure, and passing liquid through said orifice whereby the liquid is atomized by the vibration of the moveable valve member.

10. In an atomizing nozzle containing a chamber and a closed moveable valve member seated on the edge of a cylindrical outlet orifice, said valve member being positioned within said chamber and projecting through said'cylindrical outlet orifice to form a continuous annular passageway between the sides of said cylindrical outlet orifice and said valve member communicating with said chamber, and a spring positioned within said chamber to urge said valve member towards said cylindrical outlet orifice, the method for atomizing a liquid by said nozzle which comprises supplying to said nozzle a liquid at a substantially constant pressure between about 25 and about 6000 pounds per square inch gage, vibrating said moveable valve member in a direction substantially perpendicular to the mouth ofsaid orifice at a frequency of at least 60 cycles -per second by using only the force supplied by the liquid under substantially constant pressure, and passing liquid through said orifice whereby the liquid is atomized by the vibration of the moveable valve member. I

FRED KURATA.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 638,881 Parker Dec. 17, 1901 816,810 Molesworth Apr. 3, 1906 943,780 Hughes Dec. 21, 1909 1,112,416 Sargent Sept. 29, 1914 1,286,333 Johnson Dec. 3, 1918 1,491,915 McLaine- Apr. 29, 1924 1,609,578 Scott Dec. 7, 1926 1,893,457 Tartrais Jan. 3, 1933 2,119,966 Scott June 7, 1938 2,172,556 Edwards Sept. 12, 1939 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 367,014 Great Britain Feb. 12, 1932