US2720845A

US2720845A - Ejector nozzle

Info

Publication number: US2720845A
Authority: US
Inventors: Jr Robert A Whitlock
Original assignee: Automatic Pump and Softener Corp
Current assignee: Automatic Pump and Softener Corp
Priority date: 1951-12-14
Filing date: 1951-12-14
Publication date: 1955-10-18
Anticipated expiration: 1972-10-18

Description

Oct. 18, 1955 R. A. WHITLOCK, JR 2,720,845

EJECTOR NOZZLE Filed D60. 14, 1951 [Wren/0r W a, 74/72/3 United States Patent Ofiice 2,720,845 Patented Oct..18, 1955 EJECTOR' NOZZLE Robert A. Whitlock, In, Rockford, Ill., assignor to Antomatic Pump & Softener Corporation, Rockford, ill., a corporation of Illinois.

Application Decemlier 14, 1-951, Serial No. 261 619 3 Claims. (Cl..103.278):

This invention relates to an ejector nozzle.

It is an object of this invention toprovide an adjustable ejector nozzle which is operative in all of the positionsto which it is adjusted to pass a jet of fluid:

Another object of'thi's-invention is to provide anejector nozzle having a needle valvetherein which is adjustable for selectively varying the flow' of fluid through the nozzle and which-inall the positions to which it may be adjusted is operative to passa jetof fluid through the nozzle;

It is also an object of this invention to provide an ejector' nozzle having an adjustable needle valve controlling the fl'ow of 'fluid' out the discharge port of" the nozzle, wherein the needle valve is operative in one ex.- tremelimit of its adjustment to block the nozzle discharge passage and establish a minimum dischargefi'ow through the needle valve itself and is operative inits opposite extreme limit of movement to be retracted from the nozzle discharge passage topermit a maximum flow therethrough.

A; further object of this invention is to provide an ejector nozzle with an adjustable needle valve therein for controlling the flow through the nozzle having a novel arrangement for maintaining the needle val've properly located in the position to whichithas been adjusted.

A still further object of this invention isto provide an ejector nozzle with an adjustable needle valve: therein for controlling the flow through the-nozzle having a novel arrangement for resisting any undesired displacement of the needle valvein response to:the flow of fluidthrough the nozzle.

Yet another object of this invention isthe. provision of an ejector nozzle with an adjustable needle valve thereinfor controlling the flow through the nozzle having novel means for preventing leakage of. fluid between the needle valve and the nozzle.

Other and further objects and advantagesof'thepresent invention will be apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof, which is shown in thedrawing' to illustrate the: principlesof the invention.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary cross-section of a lift-turn valveused' in a water treatment system having the. ejector nozzle: of the present invention incorporated therein;

Figure 2 isa longitudinal cross-section of the. ejector nozzle of the present invention, with the adjustable needle valve: therein. in a. retracted position;

Figure 3' is a fragmentary longitudinal crossasection of theFig. 2 device, with the needle valve positionedto blockthe discharge passage of; the: nozzle;

Figure 4 a fragmentary longitudinal cross-section of. the threaded, mounted end of the: needle valve. incorporated in. the ejector. nozzle. of. the present invention; and.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary cross-section taken transverse to the Fig. 4 view, and showing the threaded, mounted end of the adjustablev needle valve for the ejector nozzle.

Referring to Fig. 1, the ejector of the present'invention is shown in conjunction with a lift-turn valve commonly used in water treatment apparatus, such as watersofteners. The lift-turn valve includes a back plate 11 which is separated from the upper valve chamber 12 by an angularly adjustable rotor 13. In one position of the valve rotor 13, the port 14therein registers with an inlet passage 15 in the back plate which communicates with. a chamber 16 inwhich is located the ejector nozzle 17 of the present invention. A brine inlet 18 in the back plate 11 communicateswith a passage 19 which is located between the discharge end of the ejector nozzle 17' and the venturi' shaped throat 20 of the ejector. In operation, water passes from the upper valve chamber 12 down into passage 16 and thence through the ejector nozzle, the stream of water discharged from the. ejector nozzle drawing brine through inlet 18 into the throat 20. of the ejector, after which the brine solution passes to: the. water softener tank for regenerating the bed of water softening material. therein.

From Fig. 2 it will be seen that the ejector nozzle 17 isformed with a generally cylindrical outer nozzle body formed intermediate. its extent with a. plurality of circumferentially spaced inlet passages 21, which incline inwardly toward the discharge passage 22. in the nozzle. Toward its discharge end the ejector nozzle is externally threaded at 23 to he adjustably received in. the end wall 24* of the passage 19 in the back plate of the valve. A. longitudinal, substantially cylindrical passage. 25 is formed inthe outer nozzle body to eflect communication between the inlet. passages 21 and the discharge passage 22. At 26 the nozzle passage 25: tapers inwardly to.- wardits juncture with the smaller discharge passage 22.

For asubstantial portion of its length away from. the discharge. passage 22 the nozzle passage 25 is internally threaded at 27- for receiving the enlarged externally threaded rear end 28 of the needle valve. At its rear face the needle valve is provided with a slot 30 for the reception of a screw driver for effecting adjustment of the needle valve within the nozzle. An elongated stem portion 29 of the needle valve, of smaller cross-sectional size than the nozzle passage 25, extends forward within the nozzle passage and. terminates in a tapered forward end- 32' which is adapted to extend into the nozzle discharge passage 22 and completely block the latter. As best seen in Fig. 3, in the extreme forward limit of ad justment of the needle valve, a portion of itstapered forward end 32 is seated. against the juncture of the discharge passage 22 and the inwardly inclined portion 26 of the nozzlepassage 25.

At its forward end the needle valve stem 29 is formed with a longitudinal passage 33 which terminates in a port at the. front faceof the stem 29 which is centrally aligned with. the nozzle discharge passage 22. Adjacent its other end the needle valve passage 33 communicates with a transverse passage 34, which inclines inwardly and forwardly from the periphery of the valve stem. When the forward end 32 of the valve stem is seated within the nozzle discharge passage 22 to block the latter (Fig. 3), the.

valve stem passages

34 and 33 pass water from the nozzle passage 25 out the. discharge end of the nozzle. Thus, the needle valve provides a minimum flow through the ejector nozzle when the requirements of the system dictate such a minimum flow. When the needle valve is full retracted the maximum flow occurs through the ejector nozzle, this. maximum flow being determined by the size of the nozzle discharge passage 22. Between these two extremes, the. needle valve is operative to set the flow through the ejector nozzle at any desired value to adapt the nozzle tov the needs of the particular system. Obviously, this adjustability of the ejector nozzle renders threaded portion 27 thereof.

it readily adaptable to systems of widely ditferent sizes and capacities.

In the use of this device it was found that the water passing through the

needle valve passages

34, 33 exerted a twisting force on the needle valve tending to twist the same, so as to screwit forward or backward along the nozzle passage 25 away from the position to which it had been adjusted. To avoid any such undesired displacement of the needle valve, the latter is formed at its threaded rear end with a transverse, diametrically extending drilled hole 35 for receiving a cylindrical resilient insert 36 of rubber or other suitable material capable of deforming under pressure and of returning to its original shape. The insert 36 initially is' of substantially the same cross-section as the hole 35, but capable of being manually inserted therein. Initially the insert 36 is about A inch longer than the major diameter of the threaded portion 28 of the needle valve so as to project beyond the threads thereon at diametrically opposed areas thereof at the opposite ends of the hole 35. When the needle valve is first screwed into the threaded portion 27 of the axial nozzle passage 25 the insert 36 is compressed at both ends until it snugly fills the drilled hole 35, after which the insert exerts acompres'sive force against the female threads at 27. It is to be noted that the compressive force of the insert 36 against the female threads 27 is at diametrically opposite locations on the needle valve so that the needle valve is maintained properly centered within the outer nozzle. This is quite important in order to insure that the discharge through the needle valve passage 33 is aligned withthe discharge passage 22 in the nozzle. 'To add to the locking action of the insert 36, after awhile there is a certain amount of vulcanization which seals the insert 36 to the adjacent threaded portion 27, in the event that the insert contains an appreciable amount of natural rubber or certain synthetic rubbers, such as neoprenes, known to have that reaction with certain metals, and the threaded portion 27 is of brass or other metal, such as silver, known to have the described reaction with the natural or synthetic rubbers.

For preventing leakage between the threaded rear end 28 of the needle valve and the threaded portion 27 of the nozzle, there is provided an O-ring 37 of resilient material, such as rubber, seated against a transverse, flat, annular face 38 formed on the nozzle immediately behind the An enlarged head 39 is formed on the nozzle and provides an internal threaded axial passage 40 immediately behind the face 38. An externally threaded hollow cap member 41, which has its outer end closed by an externally knurled head 42, is

threadedly received in the threaded passage 40. At its inner .end'the cap member terminates in an annular face 43, which tapers forwardly and inwardly for engagement with the 0-ring 37 to compress the latter.' The knurled head'42 permits the cap 41 to be manually screwed in to cause its tapered inner end face 43 to distort the O-ring for effecting a positive seal at the rear end of the threaded portion'27 of the nozzle. When it is desired to change the position of the needle valve axially within the nozzle,

the cap 41 may be screwed out manually and the desired adjustment of the needle valve accomplished by a screw driver engaging in theslotted end 30 of the needle valve.

While in the foregoing description there is disclosed a specific preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is to be understood that various changes and modifications which depart from the described form of the invention may beadopted without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

I claim: 7 a

1. A screw-in nozzle unit comprising an outer nozzle body formed with a discharge passage terminating in a discharge opening at the forward end of the body,

said body adjacent its forward end being threaded externally and forward of said externally threaded portion having its periphery terminate short of the outer periphery of said externally threaded portion to permit screw-in insertion of the forward end of the outer nozzle body in a supporting structure, said outer nozzle body immediately behind its externally threaded portion having a cylindrical periphery and formed thereat with a plurality of inlet passages for admitting fluid to said discharge passage from outside the nozzle body, said body having an enlarged annular, internally threaded portion formed integrally on the rear end of said cylindrical portion and defining therewith an annular external shoulder for limiting insertion of the nozzle unit in the supporting structure and an annular inner shoulder, said cylindrical portion of saidbody being internally threaded, a needle valve having an externally threaded portion threadedly received in said cylindrical portion and having a stem projecting forwardly therefrom to control the flow of fluid through said discharge opening, a resilient O-ring seated against said inner shoulder, and an externally threaded cap threadedly received in said enlarged portion on the outer nozzle body, said cap member being formed at its inner end with an annular face for engaging said O-ring to compress the latter against said inner shoulder and thereby seal the rear end of said nozzle body.

2.. A screw-in nozzle unit comprising an outer nozzle body formed with a discharge passage terminating in a discharge opening at the forward end of the body, said body adjacent its forward end being threaded externally and forward of said externally threaded portion having its periphery terminate short of the outer periphery of said externally threaded portion to permit screw-in insertion of the forward end of the outer nozzle body in a supporting structure, said outer nozzle body immediately behind its externally threaded por tion having a cylindrical periphery and formed thereat with a plurality of inlet passages for admitting fluid to said discharge passage from outside the nozzle body, said body having an enlarged, annular, internally threaded portion formed integrally on the rear end of said cylindrical portion and defining therewith an annular external shoulder for limiting insertion of the nozzle unit in the supporting structure and an annular inner shoulder, said cylindricalportion of said body being internally threaded, a needle valve havinganuexternally threaded portion threadedly received in said cylindrical portion and having a stern projecting .for-

wardly therefrom to control the flow of fluid through said discharge opening, a resilient O-ring seated against the inner shoulder 15, and an externally threaded cap zle body formed with 'a discharge passage terminating in a discharge opening at the forward end of the body, said body adjacent its forward end being threaded externally and forward of said externally threaded portion having its periphery terminate short of the outer periphery of said externally threaded portion to permit screw-in insertion of the forward end of the outer nozzle body in a supporting structure, said outer, nozzle body immediately behind its externally threaded portion having a cylindrical periphery and formed thereat with a plurality of inlet passages foradmitting fluid to said discharge passage from outside the nozzle body, said body having an enlarged, annular, internally threaded portion: formed integrally on the rear end of said cylindrical portion and defining therewith an annular external shoulder for limiting insertion of the nozzle unit in the supporting structure and an annular inner shoulder, said cylindrical. portion of said body heing internally threaded, a needle valve having an externally threaded portion threadedly received in said cylindrical portion and having a stem projecting forwardly therefrom to control the flow of fluid through said discharge opening, a resilient O-ring seated against said inner shoulder, and an externally threaded cap threadedly received in said enlarged portion on the outer nozzle body, said cap member being hollow and having an inner diameter greater than the outer diameter of the threaded portion on said needle valve, said cap member being formed on its inner end with a forwardly and inwardly tapering annular face for engaging said O-ring to compress the latter against said inner shoulder and the inner walls of said enlarged portion on said nozzle body and thereby seal the rear end of the nozzle 15 body.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Scharff Nov. 8, 1892 Turner Mar. 10, 1896 Grundell et a1. Apr. 26, 1904 Turnbull, Jr. May 31, 1910 Reinecke May 5, 1925 Fahrney Oct. 20, 1931 Kilborn et al. Mar. 21, 1939 Guyton Feb. 4, 1941 Jacobsson et al. Aug. 15, 1950 Carroll Sept. 19, 1950