WO2007017626A1 - Une buse et un dispensateur ayant une telle buse - Google Patents

Une buse et un dispensateur ayant une telle buse Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2007017626A1
WO2007017626A1 PCT/GB2006/002811 GB2006002811W WO2007017626A1 WO 2007017626 A1 WO2007017626 A1 WO 2007017626A1 GB 2006002811 W GB2006002811 W GB 2006002811W WO 2007017626 A1 WO2007017626 A1 WO 2007017626A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
nozzle
protrusion
atomising
outlet
degrees
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/GB2006/002811
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Keith Laidler
Gary Eales
Original Assignee
Incro Limited
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Incro Limited filed Critical Incro Limited
Priority to EP06765129A priority Critical patent/EP1917106A1/fr
Publication of WO2007017626A1 publication Critical patent/WO2007017626A1/fr

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
    • B05B—SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES
    • B05B1/00—Nozzles, spray heads or other outlets, with or without auxiliary devices such as valves, heating means
    • B05B1/14—Nozzles, spray heads or other outlets, with or without auxiliary devices such as valves, heating means with multiple outlet openings; with strainers in or outside the outlet opening
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
    • B05B—SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES
    • B05B1/00—Nozzles, spray heads or other outlets, with or without auxiliary devices such as valves, heating means
    • B05B1/34—Nozzles, spray heads or other outlets, with or without auxiliary devices such as valves, heating means designed to influence the nature of flow of the liquid or other fluent material, e.g. to produce swirl
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
    • B05B—SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES
    • B05B1/00—Nozzles, spray heads or other outlets, with or without auxiliary devices such as valves, heating means
    • B05B1/34—Nozzles, spray heads or other outlets, with or without auxiliary devices such as valves, heating means designed to influence the nature of flow of the liquid or other fluent material, e.g. to produce swirl
    • B05B1/3405—Nozzles, spray heads or other outlets, with or without auxiliary devices such as valves, heating means designed to influence the nature of flow of the liquid or other fluent material, e.g. to produce swirl to produce swirl

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a nozzle for producing an atomised spray of liquid.
  • the invention also relates to a dispenser which incorporates such a nozzle arrangement.
  • Atomising nozzles are often used to provide a means of generating atomised sprays of various fluids, usually liquids.
  • nozzle arrangements are commonly fitted to the outlet valves of pressurised fluid-filled containers, such as so-called "aerosol canisters", to provide a means by which the fluid stored in the container can be dispensed in the form of an atomised spray or mist.
  • a large number of commercial products are presented to consumers in this form, including, for example, antiperspirant sprays, deodorant sprays, perfumes, air fresheners, antiseptics, paints, insecticides, polish, hair care products, pharmaceuticals, water and lubricants.
  • nozzle arrangements are frequently used with manual pump type dispensers where the release of fluid from a non-pressurised container is achieved by the operation of a manually operable pump or trigger to generate an atomised spray or mist of certain fluid products.
  • Examples of products that are typically dispensed using manually actuatable pump or trigger devices include various lotions, insecticides, and various garden and household sprays.
  • Nozzle arrangements can also be used in industrial apparatus to control the ejection of pressurised fluids in many different applications.
  • Nozzle arrangements typically comprise a fluid flow passageway which leads from an inlet to an outlet orifice and are configured so that a fluid stream flowing through the nozzle under pressure is caused to break up or "atomise" into numerous droplets as it is passes through the nozzle and is ejected through the outlet orifice to form a spray or mist. It is also known to provide a swirl chamber next to the outlet to cause the fluid to spin as it passes through the outlet.
  • the optimum size of the droplets required in a particular spray depends primarily on the product concerned and the application for which it is intended.
  • a pharmaceutical spray that contains a drug intended to be inhaled by a patient usually requires very small droplets, which can penetrate deep into the lungs.
  • a polish spray preferably comprises spray droplets with larger diameters to promote the impaction of the aerosol droplets on the surface that is to be polished and, particularly if the spray is toxic, to reduce the extent of inhalation.
  • Typical liquefied gas propellants include propane, butane, isobutene, n-butane, and dimethyl ether, all of which are volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
  • VOCs are harmful to the environment and there is increasing pressure to reduce the amount of VOCs used in aerosol canisters. Reduced VOC aerosols often have lower operating pressures and reduced amounts of propellant in suspension in the liquid. As a result, it can be difficult to achieve effective sprays for certain products such as air fresheners and insecticides in particular.
  • a propellant is present in an aerosol canister as a vapour or compressed gas above the liquid
  • a vapour phase tap to bleed some the propellant gas into the liquid as it is passes through the aerosol valve or the nozzle to be dispensed.
  • the propellant gas is mixed with the liquid in the aerosol valve and/or the nozzle and helps the break up the liquid stream as it passes out through the outlet orifice.
  • This arrangement may be required where there is no or only a small amount of propellant in suspension, as may be the case with a reduced VOC formulation or where an alternative non-VOC propellant such as carbon dioxide is used.
  • a problem with known nozzle and dispenser arrangements is that fine droplets in the spray tend to fall away fairly close to the nozzle so that the average size of the droplets in a spray naturally increases with distance from the nozzle. This is a major problem with many products and in particular with products such as an air freshener and insecticides, where it is desirable to fill a room with fine droplets which tend to stay in the air longer and thus increase the effectiveness of the product.
  • Nozzles having multiple final orifices are also known and these tend to generate finer droplets than a single orifice.
  • the outlet orifices are arranged to direct the fluid along divergent paths so as to create a separate spay plume at each orifice.
  • the individual spray plumes merge as they spread outwardly to form a single combined spray plume having a very wide angle.
  • the known multi-outlet orifice nozzle arrangements do not address the problem of increasing the reach of the spray.
  • an atomising nozzle as defined in claim 1.
  • a nozzle as defined in claim 30 In accordance with a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a nozzle as defined in claim 30.
  • a liquid dispenser comprising a nozzle in accordance with either or the first and second aspects of the invention, as set out in claim 41.
  • Figure IA is a side elevation of part of a nozzle arrangement in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention.
  • Figure IB is a cross sectional view through the nozzle arrangement of
  • Figure 1C is a side elevation of a distal end part of a protrusion forming part of the nozzle arrangement of Figure IA, illustrating the spray pattern produced by the nozzle in use;
  • Figure 2A is longitudinal cross sectional view through part of a nozzle arrangement in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention.
  • Figure 2B is plan view of the nozzle arrangement of Figure 2A, taken on arrow B;
  • Figure 3 is a side elevation of part of a nozzle arrangement in accordance with a third embodiment of the invention.
  • Figure 4 is a side elevation of part of a nozzle arrangement in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the invention.
  • Figure 5 A is a longitudinal cross sectional view through part of a nozzle arrangement in accordance with a fifth embodiment of the invention.
  • Figure 5B is a cross sectional view through the nozzle arrangement of
  • Figure 6A is a longitudinal cross sectional view through part of a nozzle arrangement in accordance with a sixth embodiment of the invention.
  • Figure 6B is a cross sectional view through the nozzle arrangement of Figure 6A, taken on line D-D;
  • Figure 7 A is a side elevation of part of a nozzle arrangement in accordance with a seventh embodiment of the invention;
  • Figure 7B is a plan view from above of the nozzle arrangement of Figure
  • Figure 8 is a longitudinal cross sectional view through part of a nozzle arrangement in accordance with an eighth embodiment of the invention.
  • Figure 9 is a view similar to that of Figure 8 but showing a nozzle arrangement in accordance with a ninth embodiment of the invention.
  • Figure 10 is a view similar to that of Figure 8 but showing a nozzle arrangement in accordance with a tenth embodiment of the invention.
  • Figure 11 is a cross sectional view through an outlet region of part of a nozzle arrangement in accordance with a eleventh embodiment of the invention.
  • Figure 12 is a plan view of the nozzle arrangement of Figure 11;
  • Figure 13 is a cross sectional view through a protrusion insert adapted for use with the nozzle arrangement of Figure 11;
  • Figure 14 is a pian view of the insert of Figure 13;
  • Figure 15 is a cross sectional view through an outlet region of part of a nozzle arrangement in accordance with a twelfth embodiment of the invention.
  • Figure 16 is a plan view of the nozzle arrangement of Figure 15;
  • Figure 17 is a cross sectional view through a protrusion insert adapted for use with the nozzle arrangement of Figure 15;
  • Figure 18 is a plan view of the insert of Figure 17;
  • FIGS. 1 A to 7B of the accompanying drawings illustrate outlet portions of various nozzle arrangements in accordance with the invention. It will be appreciated that these nozzle arrangements will also comprise a body defining fluid inlet means and fluid passageway means for fluidly connecting the inlet means with the outlet portion.
  • the nozzle arrangements may each be an integral part of a liquid dispenser such as a manual pump or trigger dispenser or they may each be part of an actuator for attachment to an aerosol canister.
  • other nozzle arrangements can also be adapted in accordance with the invention, including industrial and agricultural nozzles.
  • Figures IA and IB show an outlet portion of a nozzle arrangement 10 which includes a tapered projection or protrusion 12.
  • the tapered protrusion 12 is conical but, as will be discussed in more detail later, other configurations of tapered protrusion can be used.
  • the protrusion is outwardly tapering, that is to say it tapers in a direction away from the nozzle so that the distal end 12A of the protrusion is its narrowest point.
  • the protrusion is 2mm in length and has an internal angle of inclination ⁇ of 60 degrees relative to a plane which extends perpendicularly to the axis 12D of the protrusion (i.e. a generally horizontal plane as shown in Figure IA).
  • the nozzle arrangement 10 includes three final outlet orifices 14 formed by means of elongate bores that extend through a base region 12B of the protrusion and which open through the sloping side wall 12C of the protrusion.
  • the inner, upstream, ends of the orifices 14 are in fluid connection with one or more fluid passageways through which liquid can flow from the inlet means of the nozzle arrangement to the outlet and so through the outlet orifices 14.
  • the orifices 14 are all aligned with their axis 14A parallel to the longitudinal axis 12D of the protrusion 12.
  • the nozzle 10 may comprise further flow passageway means (not shown) though which a gas is introduced into the nozzle to mix with the liquid before it flows through the outlet orifices.
  • the gas may be a mixture of gases such as air.
  • the gas may be a propellant gas which is bled into the nozzle from the canister.
  • the protrusion 12 and outlet orifices 14 are arranged so that when liquid 15 is forced through the outlet orifices of the nozzle under pressure, some of the liquid exiting each orifice 14 will form a very fine spray plume 15A at each orifice 14 but the majority travels along the protrusion 12 towards its tip 12A, where the liquid from all three orifices combines to form a core jet of liquid 15B.
  • the core jet of liquid 15B flows from the end 12A of the tapered protrusion and creates a pressure differential, which draws the separate spray plumes from the three outlet orifices 14 in towards the core to form a single spray plume. Some of the finer droplets from the three spray plumes may also coalesce at the centre to add to the core jet. After the core jet has travelled for a distance from the end of the protrusion it also atomises, as indicated at 15 C, so that the whole spray becomes atomised.
  • the core jet was found to form at a distance of 25mm from the outlet orifices with the three spray plumes being drawn in towards the core jet at a distance of between 25mm and 100mm.
  • the core jet 15B was found to fully atomise at a distance Z of between 100 to 150mm.
  • the nozzle 10 was found to produce a full spray angle of 30-40 degrees. This wider than the 20-30 degree full spray angle that a typical single orifice nozzle would produce but is much narrow than the prior art multi-orifice nozzles which produce separate, divergent spray plumes that mingle together to forma wide angle spray.
  • Some atomisation of the liquid 15 flowing along the protrusion 12 towards the distal end 12A takes place as indicated at 15D. This is due to the liquid being stretched and stripped from the angled surface. However, the majority remains liquid and forms the core jet 15B. Since the core jet 15B is heavier than the atomised droplets 15 A, it has greater momentum and travels faster than the atomised droplets. This causes the pressure in the central region to drop, which draws the spray plumes containing the finer droplets in toward the central core. The presence of the central core jet 15B increases the momentum of the overall spray so that it travels much further than it would ordinarily, carrying the finer droplets further.
  • the fluid flowing through the outlet orifices of the nozzle is referred to herein, including in the claims, as being a "liquid” but it should be understood that this term is intended to cover not only a pure liquid of any type, including a liquor, but also a mixture of two or more liquids and a mixture of one or more liquids with one or more gases.
  • a nozzle 10 in accordance with the invention can be manufactured from any suitable materials or combinations of materials including metals and/or plastics. However, for use in many applications it is expected that the nozzles will be injection moulded from plastics materials such as polypropylene, nylon, acetyl or PVC, for example.
  • the nozzle 10 can have any number of outlet orifices 14 from two upwards but in preferred embodiments the nozzle has three or four outlet orifices. Where the nozzle is injection moulded, the outlet orifices are formed by pins in the mould. Since small diameter pins are more susceptible to breakage, it is preferable to use three larger outlet orifices rather than four smaller ones.
  • the angle of inclination ⁇ of the side wall region can be anywhere in the range 40 degrees to 80 degrees but is preferably in the range of 50 degrees to 70 degrees and even more preferably in the range of 55 degrees to 65.
  • the length of the protrusion can also be varied as required but it is expected that the tapering part of the protrusion will be 0.5mm to 10mm in length, with 2mm being typical. However, in certain applications a protrusion having a tapering length outside of the above range can be used.
  • the axes 14A of the outlet orifices 14 are parallel with the longitudinal axis 12D of the protrusion but they can be angled away from the longitudinal axis 12D of the protrusion 12 by a small amount, provided this does not disrupt the formation of the core jet.
  • the axis 14A of each outlet orifice can be angled outwardly from the longitudinal axis of the protrusion by up to 10 degrees, though in preferred embodiments they are angled outwardly by no more than 5 degrees.
  • Maintaining the axes 14A of the outlet orifices 14 parallel with the longitudinal axis 12D of the protrusion is particularly beneficial where the nozzle is injection moulded. This is because the longitudinal axis 12D of the protrusion is usually either coincidental with, or parallel to, the longitudinal axis of the nozzle. Hence, maintaining the axes 14A of the outlet orifices parallel with the longitudinal axis 12D of the protrusion enables the outlet orifices to be moulded using pins with no side action required on the moulding tool.
  • a conical protrusion 12 that narrows to a relatively fine point has been found to give particularly good results, but the shape of the protrusion can be varied.
  • other shapes which taper to a fine point can be used, including flat sided shapes which taper in the form of a pyramid. These may have three, four, or more sides.
  • protrusions which taper to a fine point are preferred, protrusions which have a flattened or otherwise shaped distal end can be used.
  • the protrusion 12 could be frusto-conical for frusto-pyramidal.
  • the terms “taper” and “tapered” are used here in a general sense to mean that the protrusion narrows towards its distal end from a wider proximal base region.
  • the protrusion may curve from the wider base towards the narrow distal end rather than having a generally straight, angled surface.
  • the protrusion may be parabolic or elliptical in the manner of a nose cone of an aircraft. What is important is that the liquid is able to flow along the protrusion to its distal end to form the core jet without too much of the liquid being stripped off. Those skilled in the art will be able to configure different shapes and angles of protrusion to perform this function.
  • the angle at which the protrusion narrows can vary along its length so that the protrusion could be bi-conic for example.
  • the angle of inclination refers to a general or average angle of inclination of the protrusion.
  • the surface of the protrusion is preferably smooth but it could be textured.
  • a nozzle arrangement 10 in accordance with the invention may have more than one tapered protrusion 12, with each protrusion having two or more outlet orifices 14 as described above.
  • Each protrusion 12 will create its own core jet and spray but the sprays from adjacent protrusions will mingle at a distance from the nozzle to form a wider combined spray angle.
  • Figures 2A to 7B illustrate nozzle arrangements 10 having a variety of different protrusion arrangements. These are provided as examples only and should not be considered limiting. Individual features in each embodiment can be combined with other individual features of any one or more of the other embodiments in any way, including the embodiment shown in Figures IA and IB.
  • Figures 2A and 2B illustrate a hollow protrusion 16 having a distal end 16A, a circular base region 16B with parallel sides and a tapered conical portion 16C leading from the base region to the distal end.
  • the interior of the protrusion has a cavity 18 with a first portion 18A with parallel sides and which is circular in cross section, a second, frusto- conical portion 18B which tapers inwardly and a third portion 18C which is similar to the first portion but is of a smaller diameter.
  • Three final outlet orifices 14 extend from the second portion of the 18B of the inner cavity to the outer surface of the conical portion 16C of the protrusion 16.
  • Each outlet orifice 14 is stepped, having a first larger diameter portion 14B and a second smaller diameter portion 14C.
  • the inner cavity 18 is connected with a fluid flow passageway (not shown) of the nozzle arrangement via an inlet opening 20.
  • the axes 14A of the final outlet orifices are arranged parallel to a longitudinal axis 16D of the protrusion. As can be seen from Figure 2B, the three final outlet orifices 14 are equi-spaced about a circle drawn concentrically with the axis 16D of the protrusion.
  • the protrusion 16 may only taper along a distal portion 16C provided the outlet orifices 14 have outer openings which are located at least partially in the sloping side wall of the tapering portion.
  • Figure 3 illustrates a nozzle arrangement with a protrusion 20 similar to the protrusion 12 described above in relation to Figure 1, except that the protrusion 20 in this embodiment is frusto-conical having a flat distal end 2OA. As with the embodiment shown in Figure 1, the protrusion 20 has three final outlet orifices 14.
  • the protrusion 22 in Figure 4 is similar to the protrusion 20 in Figure 3, except that the distal end 22A has an inverted cone shaped indentation.
  • the shape of the distal end 22A of the protrusion in any of the embodiments described can be varied in any manner provided the liquid flowing along the protrusion is able to form a central core jet of liquid from the end.
  • Figures 5A and 5B show nozzle arrangement with a conical protrusion 26 similar the protrusion 12 in Figures IA and IB, except that in this embodiment there are six final outlet orifices 14 arranged in pairs.
  • the axes 14A of the final outlet orifices 14 are not parallel with the axis longitudinal 26A of the protrusion but arranged at various angles to the axis 26A. Some of the outlet orifices 14 are arranged so that they direct sprays towards each other but all diverge from the longitudinal axis 26A of the protrusion.
  • the axes of the outlet orifices should diverge outwardly from the axis 26A of the protrusion by an angle of no more than 10 degrees and more preferably by no more than 5 degrees to ensure that sufficient of the liquid travels along the protrusion to its distal end to form a central core.
  • the protrusion 28 in Figures 6A and 6B is also conical but has only two final outlet orifices 14 which are arranged on the same plane and with their axes parallel to the longitudinal axis 28A of the protrusion.
  • This configuration is particularly suitable where the nozzle 10 is a split nozzle comprising two halves that join together.
  • the protrusion 28 could be formed in two halves, split along its length along the line X. The mating surfaces of each half having grooves which when the two halves are brought together form the outlet orifices 14.
  • Figures 7A and 7B show a nozzle arrangement 10 having a protrusion 30 with three flat sides in the form of a pyramid.
  • Three final outlet orifices 14 extend through the protrusion 30, with each orifice opening in a respective one of the sides.
  • the axes 14A of the orifices are arranged parallel to the longitudinal axis 3OA of the protrusion.
  • the protrusion 30 can have any number of sides with one or more outlet orifices in each side. Whilst it is preferred that the distal end of the protrusion 30A from a fine point, the protrusion could be frusto-pyramidal or the end could be otherwise shaped provided the liquid flowing along the protrusion is able to form a central core.
  • Each side of the pyramid may have an angle of inclination ⁇ of 60 degrees.
  • the angle of inclination ⁇ of the side walls can be anywhere in the range 40 degrees to 80 degrees but is preferably in the range of 50 degrees to 70 degrees and even more preferably in the range of 55 degrees to 65 degrees.
  • Figure 8 is a cross sectional view through a nozzle arrangement 10' having a conical protrusion 32 similar to the protrusion 12 described above in relation to Figures IA and IB at the outlet end.
  • the nozzle arrangement 10' has a body 34 with fluid passage 36 which fluidly connects an inlet 38 of the nozzle with three final outlet orifices 14.
  • the fluid passage 36 includes a first chamber 40 having an outlet orifice 42 leading to a further, shaped expansion chamber 44 adjacent the final outlet orifices 14.
  • a partition means 46 extends across the fluid passage within the shaped expansion chamber to define constricted openings 48 through which the fluid passes from the inlet side of the chamber to the outlet side.
  • the final outlet orifices 14 extend from an end wall of the final shaped chamber 44 through the protrusion 32 where the open partway along the tapering side surface of the protrusion.
  • Figures 9 and 10 show nozzle arrangements 10" and 10'" which are similar to that shown in Figure 8 but which have differently configured fluid passages 36" and 36'" respectively.
  • the final outlet orifices 14 can be of any shape including straight, tapered, stepped or angled holes.
  • the orifices will usually all open out on a common plane of the protrusion but at least some could be arranged to open on different planes of the protrusion, e.g. at different distances from the distal end of the protrusion.
  • final outlet orifices 14 that open part way along the length of the tapering part of the protrusion
  • many of the advantages of the invention can be obtained if the final outlet orifices 14 are positioned around the base of the protrusion, provided that at least part of an outer opening of each orifice is located in a sloping side wall region of the protrusion, so that at least part of the liquid leaving each orifice flows along the length of the protrusion to its distal end to form a central core jet as described above.
  • the shape of the final outlet orifices may take any form and they could be provided as two or more slits that extend around all or part of the base of the protrusion.
  • the fluid passageway in the nozzle arrangement 10 upstream of the protrusion and the final outlet orifice(s) 14 may be a simple channel or it may comprise multiple channels, including any of the arrangements disclosed in WO 2005/005053 Al, and/or one or more spray controlling features, such as any of those disclosed in WO01/89958 Al, and/or one or more shaped chambers, such as those disclosed in WO 2005/005055 Al .
  • an expansion chamber or a swirl chamber may be provided adjacent the inlet ends of the final outlet orifices 14.
  • An expansion chamber is a chamber having an increased cross sectional area compared to the cross sectional area of the fluid passageway immediately upstream of the chamber.
  • a swirl chamber is a chamber which is configured to cause the fluid passing through it to spin, usually about the axis of the nozzle. If a swirl chamber is positioned adjacent the inlet ends of the final outlet orifices, the fluid will enter the orifices whilst spinning.
  • the swirl chamber could be located within the protrusion or at the base of the protrusion with the final outlet orifices 14 of the nozzle 10 being the outlet orifices of the swirl chamber.
  • the swirl chamber can be of any type including any of those described in WO2006/059065, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
  • the fluid passageway in the nozzle could include a combination of any expansion chamber and any swirl chamber upstream of the outlet orifices.
  • the protrusion(s) will often be largely hollow, as shown in Figures 2A and 2B for example, though they can be solid except for the orifices 14. Where very fine outlet orifices 14 are required, it may be difficult to manufacture the protrusion and the orifices as a single moulded piece. In this case all or part of the protrusion can be manufactured as separate item to be inserted into an opening in the nozzle arrangement. To form the orifices 14, matching grooves may be formed around the surface of the protrusion insert and around the opening, which grooves co-operate to form the orifices when the protrusion insert is in position.
  • the orifices 14 may be formed entirely by means of grooves formed about the surface of the protrusion insert, with the surface of the opening being smooth.
  • a further option would be to form the outlet orifices 14 by means of grooves in the surface of the opening with the surface of the insert being smooth. This arrangement would tend to cause the spray to diverge away from the protrusion as well as causing some of the liquid to run along the surface of the protrusion to the distal end.
  • the opening may be a formed in a generally flat surface of the nozzle arrangement.
  • part of the protrusion may be formed as a wall surrounding the opening with the insert sitting inside the wall to form the distal end part of the protrusion.
  • Figures 11 to 14 illustrate this type of arrangement.
  • an outlet region of a nozzle arrangement has an opening 50 adapted to receive a protrusion insert 52, which is shown in Figures 13 and 14.
  • the opening 50 is circular and has three semi-circular grooves 54 spaced about its surface.
  • a tapered wall 56 surrounds the opening 50 on an outer surface of the nozzle arrangement.
  • the protrusion insert 52 is generally circular in cross section having a first portion 58 with parallel sides and a conical outer or distal end portion 60.
  • Three semi-circular grooves 62 corresponding to the grooves 54 extend from an inner end 64 of the insert to just above the beginning of the conical portion.
  • the insert 52 is positioned in the opening 50 so that the conical end portion of the insert 52 aligns with the tapered wall 56 to form a substantially continuous conical protrusion.
  • the semicircular grooves 62 on the insert align with the semi-circular grooves 54 in the opening to form the final outlet orifices 14.
  • the protrusion may be arranged so that it can be moved relative to the remainder of the nozzle arrangement to allow the outlet orifices to be cleaned or cleared.
  • the protrusion insert may be biased inwardly towards the main body of the nozzle arrangement to enable the outlet orifices to be cleaned or unblocked and be moved outwardly into a dispensing position by the pressure of the fluid when the nozzle is in use.
  • An embodiment of a nozzle arrangement suitable for use in this way is illustrated in Figures 15 to 18.
  • FIG. 15 to 18 The arrangement shown in Figures 15 to 18 is similar to that described above in relation to Figures 11 to 14. However, in this embodiment, the opening 70 in the outlet end of the nozzle arrangement narrows slightly from its inner end 72 towards its outer end 74. A first portion 76 of the insert 78 which is received within the opening 70 is correspondingly tapered such that it narrows from an inner base region 80 to the start of the conical outer portion 82. The arrangement is such that the insert 78 can be inserted into the opening 70 through the inner end 72 until the tapered first portion 76 of the insert firmly engages with the tapered walls of the opening 70, at which time further outward movement of the insert 78 is prevented.
  • the outer conical portion 82 of the insert will be aligned with the tapered wall 84 surrounding the opening 70 to form a generally continuous conical protrusion and grooves 86 in the outer surface of the insert define outlet orifices opening part way along the length of the conical protrusion.
  • Spring means can be provided to bias the insert inwardly from the fully extended position when the nozzle arrangement is not in use, tending to open up the final outlet orifices to allow any foreign matter in them to be dislodged.
  • the force of the fluid passing through the nozzle will bias the insert 78 outwardly to the fully extended position to reform the outlet orifices and the protrusion.
  • a spring means can be used to bias the insert 78 to the fully extended position and it can be left to a user to push the insert inwardly in order to unblock the outlet orifices.
  • the final outlet orifices are formed by means of grooves 86 formed around the protrusion insert 78 only, with the walls of the opening 70 being smooth.
  • Nozzle arrangements in accordance with the invention can be adapted for use with liquids of any viscosity. Nozzle arrangements in accordance with the invention can also be adapted for use in a wide range of applications including dispensers such aerosol canisters or manually activated pumps and trigger dispensers and for use in industrial nozzle applications. Accordingly, nozzle arrangements in accordance with the invention can be adapted for use in delivering a wide range of products in spray form including, but not limited to, antiperspirant sprays, de-odorant sprays, perfumes, air fresheners, antiseptics, paints, insecticides, polish, hair care products, pharmaceuticals, water and lubricants, lotions, insecticides, as well as various garden and household sprays and industrial fluids.
  • nozzles in accordance with the invention are particularly suitable for use with reduced VOC aerosol canisters, especially for use with products such as air fresheners and insecticides where it is desirable to fill a room with fine droplets which tend to stay in the air longer and thus increase the effectiveness of the product.
  • Nozzles in accordance with the invention are also particular suitable for use with manually actuated pump and trigger dispensers which are configured to dispense a mixture of liquid and air.
  • Most aerosol canisters have a dip tube with an internal diameter in the region of 3.5 mm in which a volume of liquid is retained between actuations of the dispenser. Where the liquid contains a propellant gas in solution, it is a problem that the gas may separate out from the liquid in the dip tube over time.

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  • Nozzles (AREA)

Abstract

L’invention concerne une buse permettant de générer une pulvérisation de liquide ayant une sortie avec une projection effilée (12) et deux ou plusieurs orifices de sortie (14) qui s’ouvrent vers une région de paroi latérale pentue de la projection effilée (12). La projection effilée (12) et les orifices (14) sont configurés pour qu’une portion du liquide (15) émise de chaque orifice de sortie est atomisée pour constituer une pulvérisation (15A) tandis qu’une autre portion du liquide émise de chaque orifice s’écoule le long de la surface effilée vers une extrémité distale de la projection où le liquide provenant de tous les orifices se combine pour constituer un jet central (15B) s’écoulant de l’extrémité distale de la projection sur une distance donnée avant atomisation (15C). La projection effilée (12) possède un angle d’inclinaison dans la fourchette allant de 40 degrés à 80 degrés et l’axe de chacun des orifices de sortie diverge vers l’extérieur à partir d’un axe longitudinal de la projection sans dépasser 10 degrés et de préférence sans dépasser 5 degrés. Elle comporte également une description de dispensateur de liquide comprenant la buse, avec les revendications en annexe.
PCT/GB2006/002811 2005-08-06 2006-07-28 Une buse et un dispensateur ayant une telle buse WO2007017626A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP06765129A EP1917106A1 (fr) 2005-08-06 2006-07-28 Une buse et un dispensateur ayant une telle buse

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GBGB0516216.9A GB0516216D0 (en) 2005-08-06 2005-08-06 Nozzle arrangement
GB0516216.9 2005-08-06

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2007017626A1 true WO2007017626A1 (fr) 2007-02-15

Family

ID=34984214

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/GB2006/002811 WO2007017626A1 (fr) 2005-08-06 2006-07-28 Une buse et un dispensateur ayant une telle buse

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1917106A1 (fr)
GB (1) GB0516216D0 (fr)
WO (1) WO2007017626A1 (fr)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20100103391A1 (en) * 2008-10-23 2010-04-29 Asml Netherlands B.V. Fluid handling structure, lithographic apparatus and device manufacturing method

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0194074A1 (fr) * 1985-02-19 1986-09-10 Electrosols Limited Appareil de pulvérisation
US5240183A (en) * 1991-06-06 1993-08-31 Bete Fog Nozzle, Inc. Atomizing spray nozzle for mixing a liquid with a gas
US5692682A (en) * 1995-09-08 1997-12-02 Bete Fog Nozzle, Inc. Flat fan spray nozzle
GB2316022A (en) * 1996-02-16 1998-02-18 Fujisaki Electric Co Ltd Spray nozzle

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0194074A1 (fr) * 1985-02-19 1986-09-10 Electrosols Limited Appareil de pulvérisation
US5240183A (en) * 1991-06-06 1993-08-31 Bete Fog Nozzle, Inc. Atomizing spray nozzle for mixing a liquid with a gas
US5692682A (en) * 1995-09-08 1997-12-02 Bete Fog Nozzle, Inc. Flat fan spray nozzle
GB2316022A (en) * 1996-02-16 1998-02-18 Fujisaki Electric Co Ltd Spray nozzle

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20100103391A1 (en) * 2008-10-23 2010-04-29 Asml Netherlands B.V. Fluid handling structure, lithographic apparatus and device manufacturing method
US8508712B2 (en) * 2008-10-23 2013-08-13 Asml Netherlands B.V. Fluid handling structure, lithographic apparatus and device manufacturing method

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB0516216D0 (en) 2005-09-14
EP1917106A1 (fr) 2008-05-07

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