WO1994013407A1

WO1994013407A1 - Atomising nozzle

Info

Publication number: WO1994013407A1
Application number: PCT/GB1993/002562
Authority: WO
Inventors: Robert Higginson; Toshiyuki Misaki
Original assignee: Canyon Europe Ltd.
Priority date: 1992-12-15
Filing date: 1993-12-15
Publication date: 1994-06-23
Also published as: AU5705194A; GB9226367D0; GB2273448A; GB9325657D0

Abstract

A manually operated pump spray or atomising apparatus has an orifice (10) to discharge fluid under pressure into chamber (10a) which is defined by a nozzle cap (12) slidably engaging spigot (11). The nozzle cap has a rod (13) with nipple (13a) to engage and seal the orifice (10) in a first position or to open the orifice in a second position as shown. The cap (12) has a grid-like apertured end (21) and air inlet apertures (17, 18) are included to provide foaming of the liquid discharged.

Description

ΪII E.

ATOMISING NOZZLE

This invention relates to improvements in atomising nozzles and is particularly, but not essentially concerned with nozzles operatively associated with a pump mechanism such as a manually operated device serving to discharge the fluid contents of a container as an atomised spray, jet or foam.

One object of this invention is to provide an atomising nozzle of simple construction which may be placed in an open or closed position.

Another object is to provide a nozzle with improved liquid atomising characteristics.

Yet another object is to provide a nozzle affording mixing with air of the discharged fluid.

Another object is to provide a nozzle capable of producing a foam of varying characteristics.

According to this invention and as a first aspect there is provided a nozzle assembly comprising a body having a passageway with a discharge orifice for atomising fluid medium, a spigot or projecting rim located around said orifice, a nozzle cap engagable with said spigot and having a closure member, the nozzle cap being movable axially on the spigot from a first position wherein the closure member engages and seals the orifice to a second position wherein the orifice is open for discharge of fluid medium.

According to this invention and as a second aspect there is provided a nozzle assembly for, or in combination with, a fluid atomising apparatus, said apparatus comprising a fluid container, a manually operable pump means mounted thereon and a body having a discharge orifice for fluid drawn from the container by the pump means to be discharged under pressure through the orifice and into the nozzle to produce an atomised spray, characterised in that the nozzle assembly includes a cap located around the body and defining a chamber into which fluid from the orifice is discharged, the cap having a grid or mesh-like apertured end portion spaced from the orifice and against which fluid discharged from the orifice impinges, a projection mounted on said portion extending within the chamber, the cap being movable axially relative to the body from a first position wherein the projection enters the orifice to seal-off same to a second position wherein the orifice is open to permit fluid discharge.

Preferably cooperating detent means are provided on the nozzle cap and body spigot or rim to selectively retain the cap in the first and/or the second position. In a preferred embodiment two cooperating detent means are provided, the first requiring lesser operating force defining the first and second positions of the nozzle cap on the spigot, and the second detent means requiring higher operating force resisting removal of the nozzle cap from the spigot. This arrangement allows simple assembly of the nozzle cap during manufacture and also permits removal for cleaning but obviates unintentional removal during normal use. The first detent means may be omitted.

In a particularly advantageous arrangement according to this invention, the nozzle cap has a projection forming the closure member, the projection moving axially into or away from the orifice to close or open same. The projection may comprise a rod extending axially from a front discharge opening of the nozzle cap which said opening may be provided with a foam or atomising assisting grid or the like.

In another aspect this invention includes air inlet apertures positioned either to the rear and side of the orifice or spigot or rim or through the wall forming the spigot or rim and preferably such apertures are provided in both positions. This has been found to provide good aeration and hence foaming of the fluid during discharge. The forward facing or discharge side of the nozzle cap may have an insert therein with parts arranged to modify the discharged fluid to produce a selected atomised characteristic such as a foam.

This invention and the separate aspects thereof are described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings showing a constructional embodiment incorporating the several features referred to. In the drawings:-.

Figure 1 shows a first embodiment of manual pump spray nozzle unit incorporating features according to this invention, and in cross section, Figure 2 shows a detail of the nozzle unit shown in

Figure 1, Figure 3 shows an end view of the nozzle unit from direction A of Figure 2, Figure 3A shows a nozzle insert in end view, Figure 4 shows the insert of Figure 3A in sectional view on B-B, and Figure 5 shows a modified nozzle unit but similar to Figure 1. Referring firstly to Figure 1 of the drawings a manually operated spray unit is shown having a closure cap 1 for connection with a fluid container (not shown) and a dip tube 2 defining a passageway 3 ending in a non¬ return valve 4. A trigger handle 5 operates a piston pump 6 working in cylinder 7. On the back-stroke of piston 6 fluid is drawn up through dip tube 2 along passageway 3, through valve 4 into cylinder 7. On the forward stroke of the piston 6 fluid is discharged along passageway 8 after passing through a second non-return valve 9. Fluid is discharged under pressure through orifice 10 into chamber 10a. A spigot or rim 11 is coaxially located around the orifice 10 and extends forwardly thereof. The spigot has a rectangular shape in front view.

Positioned within passageway 8 is a spinner device comprising a vortex generator 9C which serves to create a spinning in the liquid to produce a vortex flow, a spring section 9b and a shut-off valve body 9a connected therewith, the end of which forms the valve 9.

A nozzle cap 12 is located on the spigot 11 and defines chamber 10a, (see Figure 2), and is movable from a first position shown in broken lines 12a to a second position shown in full lines 12. A projecting closure member 13 is located within the nozzle cap and in the first position engages and closes the orifice 10 whilst in the second position the orifice is open. The closure member 13 has a nipple 13a at the end to fit the bore of orifice 10. The closure member 13 is supported in the centre of a pattern of cross-pieces 21 which are adapted, mainly empirically, to define the characteristics of the atomised liquid, for example to produce a foam.

The spigot 11 and nozzle cap 12 have cooperating detent means 14 and 15 more commonly known in the art as "snatches" which positively define the first and second positions of the nozzle cap. A further detent means 16 is provided on the spigot which prevents the nozzle cap being removed during normal use. The number, or indeed any other characteristic, of the detents or snatches 14 is such that the force required to overcome same is very much less than that required to overcome the detent or snatches 16. This allows simple assembly but prevents the nozzle cap being completely removed during normal use unless a very large force is applied.

A further feature which provides good aeration of the fluid sprayed and hence augments foaming is the provision of air inlets 17, to the rear of the orifice 10, and inlets 18 through the wall of spigot 11. The size of the inlets is set empirically to produce the desired result; they may be adjustable for example through the position of the nozzle 12.

To further enhance the spray characteristic or to provide a different characteristic foam the nozzle cap 12 may include an insert 19 which fits into the recess 20 in the end of the nozzle cap (see Figure 4). This insert has formations such as vanes 22 positioned in the flow. Figure 3a shows an end view of one form of insert vane having cross-pieces 22. The insert shown in Figure 3a produces a more creamy foam.

In the example the cross-sectional shape of the nozzle 12 is square but other shapes are possible.

The nozzle cap may take up positions between the two limits, such a feature affording, optionally, adjustability of the spray characteristics.

Figure 5 shows a generally similar construction wherein like reference numerals indicate like functional parts. In this embodiment only one pair of detents 15, 16 is provided, these defining the forward limit position. Air admission apertures are provided to the sides of the spigot rather than top and bottom as shown as 17 in Figure 2 and are thus not seen in this drawing.

It should be noted that the air inlet apertures 17,18 which produce the enhanced foaming effect are omitted from Figure 1 for clarity. These apertures may be elongate slots of a cross-sectional area which can be varied or changed during manufacture according to requirements. Such a change may be made by use of removable pins in the mould. For some purposes no apertures are required at all.

In manufacture the form of the grid-like apertures 21 which comprise an integral part of the nozzle cap 12 and closure member 13 can be varied by changing insert pins used in the mould. Thus the arrangement may have eight apertures as shown in Figure 3 but alternatives having from three to seven may be provided to give particular characteristics or to match the fluid to be discharged. In a similar manner the insert 22 may be adapted as required and the optional use thereof provides a second mixing option thus giving a double foaming effect possibly including further air admission apertures.

One feature in the present invention which is of advantage is the means by which the nozzle may be shut- off at the orifice to prevent loss of fluid and/or "caking". With nozzles having a flow modifying assembly spaced from the discharge orifice merely closing the outlet of the nozzle is ineffective. This invention provides a means for keeping the orifice shut even though direct access in use to fit a closure cap is not possible.

Claims

CLAIMS.

1. A nozzle assembly comprising a body having a passageway with a discharge orifice for atomising fluid medium, a spigot or projecting rim located around said orifice, a nozzle cap engagable with said spigot and having a closure member, the nozzle cap being movable axially on the spigot from a first position wherein the closure member engages and seals the orifice to a second position wherein the orifice is open for discharge of fluid medium.

2. A nozzle assembly for, or in combination with, a fluid atomising apparatus, said apparatus comprising a fluid container, a manually operable pump means mounted thereon and a body having a discharge orifice for fluid drawn from the container by the pump means to be discharged under pressure through the orifice and into the nozzle to produce an atomised spray, characterised in that the nozzle assembly includes a cap located around the body and defining a chamber into which fluid from the orifice is discharged, the cap having a grid or mesh-like apertured end portion spaced from the orifice and against which fluid discharged from the orifice impinges, a projection mounted on said portion extending within the chamber, the cap being movable axially relative to the body from a first position wherein the projection enters the orifice to seal-off same to a second position wherein the orifice is open to permit fluid discharge.

3. A nozzle assembly according to Claim 2, characterised in that the cap locates over a spigot or rim which projects forwardly from and surrounds the nozzle.

4. A nozzle assembly according to Claim 2 or 3, characterised in that the grid or mesh-like apertured portion is provided in a plate member having its plane at right-angles to the direction of fluid discharge from the orifice, the apertures in the grid being adapted to provide modification of the atomised fluid for example to produce a light, medium or heavy foam.

5. A nozzle assembly according to any preceding Claim 2 to 4, characterised in that the cap is of cup-shape, the projection comprising a rod projecting inside the cap from the apertured end portion, and preferably including a nipple to enter the orifice.

6. A nozzle assembly according to any preceding claim 2 to 5, characterised in that the body includes one, or more, air inlet apertures communicating with the chamber, and through which air may be drawn in to mix with fluid discharged from the orifice.

7. A nozzle assembly according to any preceding claim, characterised in that cooperating detent means are provided on the nozzle cap and body, spigot or rim to selectively retain the cap in the first and/or the second position.

8. A nozzle assembly according to Claim 7, characterised in that two cooperating detent means are provided, the first requiring lesser operating force defining the first and second positions of the nozzle cap on the spigot, and the second detent means requiring higher operating force resisting removal of the nozzle cap from the spigot.

9. A nozzle assembly according to any preceding claim, characterised in that air inlet apertures are provided positioned either to the rear and side of the orifice or spigot or rim or through the wall forming the spigot or rim and preferably such apertures are provided in both positions.

10. A nozzle assembly according to any preceding claim, characterised in that the cap has a forwardly facing recess into which may be located a mesh, grid or apertured insert to provide modification of the discharged atomised fluid characteristics.

11. A nozzle assembly according to any preceding claim, characterised in that the wall of the cap has an annular channel extending in from an end thereof, said spigot or rim engaging said channel and sliding therein to define said first and second positions.

12. A nozzle assembly for a fluid spray or atomising apparatus constructed and arranged to function as herein described and exemplified with reference to the drawings.

13. A spray or atomising apparatus as described herein and exemplified with reference to the drawings.