MXPA97001437A - Spray nozzle with pump to produce solid aspers unpatron - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a hand-operated pump sprinkler, comprising a pump body having a fluid discharge passage and a probe, a nozzle cover on said probe, said cover having a discharge orifice and means comprising a turning chamber for imparting a rotation at a given speed so that fluid is discharged through said orifice in a predetermined spray pattern, said turning chamber means in communication with said orifice and with said fluid discharge passage, in wherein the majority comprises: one end of said probe facing said turning chamber having a closed chamber humidifying flow of the generally cylindrical fluid in open communication and coaxial with said turning chamber, said humidifying chamber being a viscous fluid coupled with said chamber of rotation and said humidifying chamber has a non-smooth side wall defined by at least one projection extending towards the axis of said humidifying chamber, wherein the fluid enters said chambers and turns with respect to the central axis of said humidifying chamber developing turning energy that directs the fluid out of the orifice forming a dew, the turning energy being moistened in the chamber of rotation due to the viscous fluid coupled and formed with the fluid in the humidifying chamber, wherein the energy loss occurs as a rotational flow of the fluid that is in said at least one projection to reduce the rotational energy to effect a solid spray cone of the fluid having a consistently circular pattern with uniform dispersion of particles leaving said orifice

Description

SPRAY NOZZLE WITH PUMP TO PRODUCE A SOLID SPRAY PATTERN BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to a vaporizer with manually operated pump having a discharge nozzle for effecting a fine spray, the nozzle includes a nozzle cap in contact with a rotating probe and rotating mechanisms provided to impart a rotation at a given speed to discharge the fluid through a discharge orifice in the cap.

More particularly, a generally cylindrical fluid flow humidifying chamber is provided either at the end of the probe facing the turning chamber or is incorporated in the turning chamber, to reduce the rotational energy within the turning chamber of so that the available atomization energy is reduced, by changing the size of the main mass particle to a larger one to effect a solid filling spray cone of the fluid exiting the discharge orifice.

Hand-operated pump vaporizers having discharge nozzles of various configurations for imparting a rotation at a given speed to the fluid to be discharged through the discharge orifice are well known. The turning mechanisms include a swirl or swirl chamber having a plurality of grooves or tangential passages intersecting the wall of the turning chamber. A cylindrical rotating probe is attached by the skirt of the nozzle cover, the turning mechanisms are placed either at the end of the probe or on the inside face of the nozzle cover facing the probe. The fluid entering the turning chamber through the tangents is subjected to a vortex or swirling action of the fluid adjacent to the discharge orifice so that the combined movements of swirling and axial flow through the orifice provide a mechanical breakdown of the product and the subsequent production of a dew pattern. The dew pattern is generally conical in shape and, depending on the type of liquid sprayed, the conical spray pattern is annular or hollow so it produces a donut-shaped spray pattern against the target, which is undesirable.

There is a need to improve the spray quality issued from the discharge orifice to produce a rounder and more solid spray fluid cone to better wet the target with those certain fluids known to produce a hollow dew cone.

U.S. Patent No. 3,785,571 discloses an aerosol spray button with mechanical rupture that provides a central cavity at the end of a post-rimmed cup-shaped terminal orifice having a swirl chamber in front of the chamber. The cavity is either conical, pyramidal or triangular in shape. Otherwise, the conical shaped cavity is formed with a plurality of leaves or ribs or is formed with a plurality of grooves. The patent suggests that by changing the shape and structure of the conical cavity, the coarseness and dew pattern can alter to produce a homogeneous or solid dew pattern instead of the dew pattern similar to a common funnel.

However, the results of the tests obtained by pumping the same liquid product using three of the cavity shapes presented previously in the patent number 3,785,571, have shown that the conical spray measured in the target at the same dew distances from the target is in the form of a consistently hollow dew cone for each of the known cavity shapes. Whether the aerosol system and the vaporizer with pump test the results that prove otherwise the teachings of the prior art, it is uncertain.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The manually operated pump vaporizer conforms to the invention has a generally cylindrical fluid wetting chamber in addition to or in combination with the turning chamber, the wetting chamber has a non-smooth side wall defined by at least one projection that is extends to the axis of the chamber to reduce the rotational energy within the rotation chamber so that the available atomization energy is reduced, by changing the size of the main mass particle to a larger one to effect a solid filling spray cone of the fluid exiting the discharge orifice. For those fluids having a high surface tension and which normally exhibit a funnel-like spray pattern, the humidifying chamber provided according to the invention produces a round dew pattern having a center fill with a particle size distribution. larger.

The separate fluid flow humidifying chamber can be provided at the end of the rotating probe by a skirt of the nozzle cover and confronting the turning chamber. Otherwise, the at least one projection may be formed in the cylindrical side wall of the turning chamber to produce a intended wetting effect.

A plurality of said projections, in various shapes and patterns, can be provided in the separate or integrated humidifying chamber and said projection or projections can be formed by molding the plastic nozzle cap or the rotating probe portion. other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will be more apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DUCTS Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of a portion of a manually operated pump vaporizer with the tip of the finger embodying the invention; Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 of the nozzle portion of a trigger pump vaporizer embodying the invention; Figure 3 is a view taken substantially along line 3-3 of Figure 2; Figure 4 is a perspective view of a solid rotating probe conforming to the prior art; Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4 of the rotating probe having a hollow cavity with smooth walls; Figure 6 is a terminal view taken substantially along line 6-6 of Figure 1 of only the rotating probe; Figures 7, 8 and 9 are views of rotating probes according to the prior art; Figure 10 is a side view, partly in section of a trigger-driven pump vaporizer embodying the invention; Figure 11 is a view similar to Figure 10 of an enlarged cross-section of the nozzle end of the vaporizer embodying the invention; Figure 12 is a view taken substantially along line 12-12 of Figure 11 in a rotated position of the nozzle cap, Figure 13 is a view showing a target surface in vertical section and a conical dew pattern issued from a discharge orifice in the nozzle; Figures 14, 16 and 18 are spray patterns produced according to the prior art, generally taken along the line x-x of Figure 13 at various distances from the discharge orifice from the target; Figures 15, 17 and 19 are spray patterns produced according to the invention, taken substantially along the line x-x of Figure 13 at the same distance from the hole from the target in contrast to the prior art patterns; Y Figures 20, 21 and 22 are graphs showing the spray intensity achieved by the patterns of Figures 15, 17 and 19 in contrast to those produced by the spray patterns of Figures 14, 16 and 18.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION With attention now to the drawings in which similar reference characters refer to similar corresponding parts throughout the various views, the finger-operated pump sprayer partially illustrated in Figure 1 is the same as that presented in U.S. Patent No. 4,051,983, except that it involves the present invention. The full disclosure of this patent is specifically incorporated herein by reference.

The sprayer includes a rear part of the hollow piston 30 on which a plunger head 31 is mounted to be reciprocal with the piston inside its cylinder (not shown). The plunger head includes an integral probe or plug element 32 and a nozzle cap 33 mounted with its skirt 34 around the probe. The terminal wall 35 of the lid includes a central discharge hole 36 and a turning chamber 37 is formed on the inside face of the lid and the wall facing the probe. The turning chamber has a generally cylindrical side wall 38 and a plurality of tangential grooves 39 (as illustrated in Figure 3), each intercepting the side wall 38 and each connected to a fluid channel 41 in fluid communication with the discharge passage 42 defined by the rear part of the hollow piston.

The pump sprayer according to the patent 4,051,983 is similarly structured as described above with reference to Figure 1, except that it has a solid probe 132 as illustrated in Figure 4. Thus, after reciprocation of the plunger after the pump is actuated , the liquid product flows under pressure into the turning chamber through the tangents which creates a thin conical blade through the discharge orifice. When leaving the orifice the conical leaf develops in a normally round dew pattern. For some known liquids, the tapered spray pattern is hollow and forms a donut-shaped spray pattern on the surface of the target at certain predetermined distances from the discharge port from the target.

According to one example of the invention, the probe 32 has a generally cylindrical humidifying chamber 43 formed therein coaxial with the turning chamber 37 and the discharge hole 36. The humidifying chamber 43 is in fluid communication with the turning chamber. 37, so that the chambers 37 and 43 are coupled together fluently.

At least one or a plurality as illustrated in Figure 6, projection or projections 44 are formed in the side wall of the chamber 43 that extends towards the central axis of the chamber 43 to thereby provide an essentially non-smooth side wall. The plurality of projections may be in the form of a multi-tip star pattern illustrated in Figure 6.

During the reciprocation of the plunger of Figure 1 of the pump sprayer embodying the invention, the fluid enters the combined chambers 37 and 43 by tangents 39 which rotate about the central axis of the chamber 43. The rotational energy drives the fluid out of the discharge orifice forming a spray. Said rotational energy is moistened within the turning chamber due to the coupling of the viscous fluid formed with the fluid in the humidifying chamber 43 where the loss of energy occurs as the rotational flow encounters the projections 44. Since the Available atomization energy reduces the dew pattern in donut form exhibited in the target is eliminated, so that a solid dew that has a larger average droplet size occurs.

The invention is adaptable for a trigger-driven pump sprayer also, Figure 2 shows the terminal nozzle assembly for said trigger sprayer. The probe 32 is surrounded by the skirt 34 of the cap of the nozzle 33 having the turning chamber and the tangents formed on its terminal inner wall surface. As in Figure 1, the humidifying chamber 43 is formed at the end of the probe in the same manner and has a projection or projections 44 on its side wall to operate reducing the rotational energy as in the manner and for the purpose described with reference to Figure 1.

Alternatively, the probe 132 of Figure 4 can be replaced by the probe 32 in Figure 2 so that the chamber 37 is a combined turning chamber and humidifier. For this purpose, the projections 44 on the side wall of the generally cylindrical turning chamber extend towards the central axis of the chamber to define a non-smooth side wall. As illustrated in Figure 3, one or more projections 44 are positioned adjacent each tangential 39 in the direction of fluid rotation within the chamber. Again, the fluid that enters the chamber under pressure after triggering with turning energy that is reduced in the humidifying chamber 43 forms a smaller dew pattern with a larger average droplet size when exiting through the discharge orifice .

A slightly different nozzle assembly for a trigger-operated spray 45 of Figure 10 incorporates the invention, the spray 45 is the same as that described in U.S. Patent No. 4,706,888, the entirety of which discovery is specifically incorporated herein. as reference.

The probe 32 has a turning chamber 37 formed at its distal end with tangents leading inside the turning chamber and confronted by a smooth surface 46 of the terminal wall of the nozzle cover. The chamber 37 is a rotating camera and combined humidifier chamber having formed on its side wall one or more projections 44 as illustrated in FIGS. 11 and 12 to operate in the same manner as described with reference to FIGS. at 3, except that the combined turning / humidifier chamber is formed at the end of the probe, instead of the inner face of the terminal wall of the nozzle cover.

Experimentation was carried out using a product of Johnson & Johnson called "No More Tangles", the product is sprayed each time against the surface of a lens as in 46 (Figure 13) using the sprayer with pump operated with the tip of the finger of Figure 1. Using the technology of light images in sheet laser and the product being dyed to increase the light intensity, several spray patterns were photographed at various distances downstream of the discharge orifice 36.

The standard probe 132 of Figure 4 was used in the pump of Figure 1 to contrast the dew patterns developed on the surface targets illustrated in Figures 14, 16 and 18. The probe 32 according to the invention, formed with a humidifying chamber 43 and projections 44 (eight in number) extending from the cylindrical side wall of the chamber to the central axis of the chamber, was used in the pump of Figure 1 to generate the spray patterns of Figures 15, 17 and 19.

At 0.5 inches between the discharge orifice 36 and the target surface 46, a dew pattern 47 was generated as illustrated in Figure 14 having a distinct hollow core that produces a donut-shaped pattern on the surface of the objective 46 In contrast, for the same distance of 0.5 inches from the target, the dew pattern 48 was generated on the target to form a solid pattern of rounder, denser and smaller diameter configuration compared to that of the dew pattern. 47 The dew pattern 49 of Figure 16 was generated at a distance of one inch between the discharge orifice from the lens surface, using the standard probe 132. The donut pattern should be noted.

The pattern at the same distance of one inch 51 of Figure 17 was generated, as can be seen, as a solid pattern, denser and of smaller diameter compared to pattern 49 of Figure 16.

At a distance of 2.0 inches between the discharge orifice and the target surface, the dew pattern 52 of Figure 18 was generated using the standard probe 132 for the spray of Figure 1. The pattern is solid but quite irregular and relatively large diameter. In comparison, the dew pattern 53 of Figure 19 was generated at the same distance with the same liquid but using the rotary probe 32 of the pump sprayer of Figure 1. The smaller size and the higher density and the improved roundness of the dew pattern 53 is noted in comparison to dew pattern 52.

Figure 20 is a graph of the dew patterns 47 and 48 generated at 0.5 inches between the discharge orifice and the target surface, grained in color intensity along the axis and against the position along the x axis. The intensity is the intensity of light between zero that is all white and 255 that is all black according to the known color scale. The position variables are in inches that measure the diameter of the pattern.

While the diameter is approximately 1.2 inches, the center point at 0.6 inches has approximately the greatest intensity of color that corresponds to the highest density for the pattern 48 approximately at its center point. The intensity of color and thus the intensity of the dew for the dew pattern 47 appears as shoulders for the annular pattern.

The curves graphed in Figures 21 and 22 are based on similar parameters as described for Figure 20, except that the upper parts for the curves are flat at about an intensity value of 255 that is all black. In Figures 21 and 22 it can be seen that the higher intensity and thus the density of the dew patterns 51 and 53 have contrast on the shoulders of higher intensity of the dew patterns 49 and 52 that illustrate the donut pattern of the pattern.

In Table 1 below is a tabulation of particle sizes as a function of the design of the probe obtained by experimenting with a Measurements of Malvem particles. When carrying out the tests, a pump of Figure 1 was used, which has an output of 0.14 ce with size of discharge hole of the same size. The medium used was "No More Tangles" by Johnson & Johnson.

The only variable in the pump structure was the rotating probe in which six different probe designs were used including that according to the invention in each of the six pumps. Thus, one of the pump vaporizers included a standard probe of the design of Figure 4, another had a hollow probe of the design of Figure 5, another of the design of Figure 7, another of the design of Figure 8, another of the design of Figure 9 and finally a pump having a probe design according to Figure 6 of the invention was used.

TABLE 1 Particle Size as a Function of the Probe Design Figure 4 Figure 5 Figure 7 Figure 8 Figure 9 Figure 6 SMD (D (3.2) 46.54 47.50 47.50 48.65 49.42 55.06 ST. DEV. 3.20 1.72 1.47 1.38 2.64 2.49 D (v, 0.5) 57.06 58.04 57.6 59.97 60.14 67.31 ST. DEV. 2.95 1.47 1.57 1.30 2.98 2.31 The values listed in the Table! above indicate data of particle sizes of Malvem The SMD value is the Sauter Precise Diameter, which is the diameter of the drop whose The proportion of volume with the surface is the same as that of the whole dew. The value D (v, 0.5) is the precise mass diameter.

It can be seen that the hollow probe, Figure 5, did not affect the size of the particle in absolute, even though a more consistent dew pattern was observed in terms of diameter and roundness using the hollow probe.

The three probes of the prior art 7, 8 and 9 had little effect in terms of SMD and the precise mass diameter.

The initial hollow probe according to the invention (values of Figure 6) reduced the average diameter of the spray pattern, changed the particle size distribution to a larger droplet size and increased the average droplet size (SMD and D ( v, 0.5)) by approximately 10 microns.

The initial hollow probe according to the invention achd the coarsest particle size as confirmed in Figures 15, 17 and 19 compared to the results illustrated in Figures 14, 16 and 18 as described above.

Those parts having the humidifying chambers with projections formed therein are integrally molded plastic parts, although the invention is not limited to the formula of the projections 44 by molding.

Obviously, many other modifications and variations of the present invention are made possible in light of the above teachings. Therefore, it should be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, it could be practiced in a manner different from that specifically described.

Claims (10)

1. The CLAIMS are: 1. A pump sprayer, a pump body comprising a fluid discharge passage and a probe, a nozzle cover on said probe, said cover has a discharge orifice and means comprising a turning chamber. to impart a rotation at a given speed so that the fluid is discharged through said orifice in a predetermined spray pattern, said turning chamber means in communication with said orifice and with said discharge passage for fluids, the improvement wherein : one end of said probe facing said turning chamber has a humidifying flow chamber of the fluid generally cylindrical in the same coaxial with said turning chamber so that the fluid between said chambers and rotates about the central axis of said humidifying chamber, said humidifying chamber has a non-smooth side wall defined by at least one projection extending towards the axis of said humidifying chamber to reduce the energy to pivot to effect a solid spray cone of fluid exiting said orifice.
2. 2. The pump sprayer according to claim 1, wherein said side wall has a plurality of projections, in a given pattern, extending toward said wetting chamber axis.
3. 3. The pump sprayer according to claim 1, wherein said probe comprises an integrally molded element of said pump body having said at least one projection on said side wall thereof.
4. 4. The pump sprayer according to claim 2, wherein said probe comprises an integrally molded element of said pump body having said plurality of projections in said side wall thereof.
5. 5. A pump sprayer comprising, a pump body having a fluid discharge passage and a probe, a nozzle cap on said probe, said tapping has a discharge orifice and means comprising a rotation chamber for imparting a rotation at a given speed for the fluid to be discharged through said orifice in a predetermined spray pattern, said turning chamber means in communication with said orifice and with said fluid discharge passage, the improvement wherein: said turning chamber comprises a turning chamber having a generally cylindrical non-smooth side wall and at least two tangential grooves intersecting said side wall and said side wall having at least one projection adjacent each of said grooves in a direction of rotation of the fluid and extending towards the central axis of said chamber to reduce the rotational energy of the fluid that rotates in said chamber about the central axis of the same to effect a cone of solid dew coming out of said hole.
6. 6. The pump sprayer according to claim 5, wherein said side wall has a plurality of projections, in a given pattern, extending to said chamber axis.
7. 7. The pump sprayer according to claim 5, wherein said lid comprises an integrally molded element having said at least one projection adjacent each of said grooves on the side wall thereof.
8. 8. The pump sprayer according to claim 6, wherein said lid comprises an integrally molded element having said plurality of projections on the side wall thereof.
9. 9. A pump sprayer comprising, a pump body having a fluid discharge passage and a probe, a nozzle cover on said probe, said cover having a discharge orifice and means comprising a rotation chamber for imparting a rotation at a speed given to a fluid to be discharged through said orifice in a predetermined spray pattern, said turning chamber in communication with said orifice and with said fluid discharge passage, the improvement wherein: said probe having a chamber generally cylindrical fluid flow humidifier with a non-smooth side wall defined by at least one projection extending towards the axis of said humidifying chamber, said humidifying chamber coupled with said turning chamber to reduce the rotational energy of the fluid which rotates in said humidifying chamber around the central axis thereof to effect a solid spray cone of fluid exiting said orifice.
10. 10. A pump sprayer comprising, a pump body having a fluid discharge passage and a probe, a nozzle cover on said probe, said cover having a discharge orifice and means comprising a rotation chamber for imparting a rotation at a given speed to a fluid to be discharged through said orifice in a predetermined spray pattern, said turning chamber in communication with said orifice and with said fluid discharge passage, the improvement wherein: said turning chamber means they comprise a turning chamber having a non-smooth side wall and at least two tangential grooves intersecting said side wall and said side wall having at least one projection adjacent to each of said grooves in a direction of fluid rotation and extending towards the axis of said cover to reduce the rotational energy of the fluid that rotates in said chamber around the central axis of the same to effect a cone of solid dew of fluid gone that comes out of said hole. ABSTRACT OF THE INVENTION A manually operated pump sprayer of the type having a discharge nozzle cover in contact with a probe, turning mechanisms formed between the cover and the probe. A generally cylindrical fluid flow humidifier chamber formed at the end of the probe in communication with the turning chamber or integrated with the turning chamber has a non-smooth side wall defined by at least one projection extending to the axis of rotation. the probe for reducing the rotational energy of the fluid rotating in the humidifying chamber and / or in the turning chamber around the axis to effect a solid dew cone of the fluid exiting through the orifice.