WO2012090118A1 - Mist-producing nozzle and fixture formed therefrom - Google Patents

Mist-producing nozzle and fixture formed therefrom Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2012090118A1
WO2012090118A1 PCT/IB2011/055791 IB2011055791W WO2012090118A1 WO 2012090118 A1 WO2012090118 A1 WO 2012090118A1 IB 2011055791 W IB2011055791 W IB 2011055791W WO 2012090118 A1 WO2012090118 A1 WO 2012090118A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
housing
mist
base
distributor
inlet end
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/IB2011/055791
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Emilio GOMEZ VARELA
Original Assignee
Gomez Varela Emilio
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 Gomez Varela Emilio filed Critical Gomez Varela Emilio
Priority to MX2012009589A priority Critical patent/MX2012009589A/en
Publication of WO2012090118A1 publication Critical patent/WO2012090118A1/en

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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
    • B05B1/34—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
    • B05B1/341—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 before discharging the liquid or other fluent material, e.g. in a swirl chamber upstream the spray outlet
    • B05B1/3421—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 before discharging the liquid or other fluent material, e.g. in a swirl chamber upstream the spray outlet with channels emerging substantially tangentially in the swirl chamber
    • B05B1/3431—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 before discharging the liquid or other fluent material, e.g. in a swirl chamber upstream the spray outlet with channels emerging substantially tangentially in the swirl chamber the channels being formed at the interface of cooperating elements, e.g. by means of grooves
    • B05B1/3442—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 before discharging the liquid or other fluent material, e.g. in a swirl chamber upstream the spray outlet with channels emerging substantially tangentially in the swirl chamber the channels being formed at the interface of cooperating elements, e.g. by means of grooves the interface being a cone having the same axis as the outlet
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
    • B05B—SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES
    • B05B3/00—Spraying or sprinkling apparatus with moving outlet elements or moving deflecting elements
    • B05B3/02—Spraying or sprinkling apparatus with moving outlet elements or moving deflecting elements with rotating elements
    • B05B3/04—Spraying or sprinkling apparatus with moving outlet elements or moving deflecting elements with rotating elements driven by the liquid or other fluent material discharged, e.g. the liquid actuating a motor before passing to the outlet
    • 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
    • B05B1/02—Nozzles, spray heads or other outlets, with or without auxiliary devices such as valves, heating means designed to produce a jet, spray, or other discharge of particular shape or nature, e.g. in single drops, or having an outlet of particular shape
    • B05B1/04—Nozzles, spray heads or other outlets, with or without auxiliary devices such as valves, heating means designed to produce a jet, spray, or other discharge of particular shape or nature, e.g. in single drops, or having an outlet of particular shape in flat form, e.g. fan-like, sheet-like
    • B05B1/046—Outlets formed, e.g. cut, in the circumference of tubular or spherical elements
    • 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
    • B05B1/18—Roses; Shower heads

Definitions

  • a typical low-flow showerhead emits 20 liters (-2.5 gallons) per minute, meaning that an average shower of from five to ten minutes consumes 100 to 200 liters (-12.5 to 25 gallons) of water. For a household of four, this can mean consumption of from 400 liters (-100 gallons) up to 2,000 liters (-500 gallons) per day, the latter number being in cases where household members are physically active and take multiple showers daily, or where the bather simply takes long showers.
  • the amount of water used on a daily basis can be multiplied hundreds to thousands of times over, depending on the number of residents/guests at any given time.
  • the nozzle of the present invention includes a housing having a cylindrical interior and an exit orifice, a distributor having a base rotatably retained within the housing interior, and an inlet portion with an input orifice and an outlet cylinder dimensioned for receiving the base of the distributor and having openings through its sidewalls for providing water to the distributor.
  • Grooves formed in the distributor face cause the distributor to rotate as water is introduced under pressure from the inlet portion. Rotation of the distributor produces a mist which is emitted from the exit orifice of the nozzle housing.
  • one or more nozzles may be incorporated into a faucet or other water-dispensing fixture. Multiple nozzles disposed within a showerhead may be fed water from a common chamber or a manifold may be provided within the showerhead housing with a port connected to each nozzle.
  • a mist-producing nozzle comprises a housing having a cylindrical interior and an outlet orifice; a distributor disposed within the cylindrical interior, the distributor having a face with a plurality of grooves formed therein; and a base for rotatably supporting the distributor within the housing, the base having an inlet end and two or more outlets extending radially from an axial center of the base; wherein a liquid introduced under pressure through the inlet end of the base passes through the outlets to enter the plurality of angled grooves whereby axial rotation of the distributor within the cylindrical interior of the housing produces a mist that is released through the outlet orifice.
  • mist-producing nozzle comprises a housing defining a cylindrical cavity having a cavity diameter, the housing having a closed outlet end with an orifice formed therein and an open inlet end; a base adapted to fit within the inlet end of the housing, the base comprising a hollow cylinder with a sidewall and a base inlet end, and a fastening portion for mating with a corresponding fastener within the inlet end of the housing, the cylinder having outlet openings formed in the sidewall; and a distributor having a head portion and a base portion having a first diameter to rotatably fit
  • the head portion having a second diameter larger than the first diameter so that a proximal end of the head portion is supported on an edge of the sidewall, wherein the second diameter is smaller than the cavity diameter, the head portion having a plurality of angled grooves spaced uniformly around a face of the head portion; herein a liquid introduced under pressure through the base inlet end passes through the outlet openings of the base to enter the plurality of angled grooves whereby rotation of the distributor within the cylindrical cavity produces a mist that is released through the orifice in the housing.
  • a shower head is provided with an outlet surface and a plurality of nozzles arranged around the outlet surface, in which each nozzle comprises a hollow housing having a cylindrical interior and a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is closed and has an orifice formed at an axial center of the housing and wherein the second end is open and has an inner diameter; a base adapted to fit within the second end of the housing, the base comprising a an annular sidewall in fluid communication with an inlet end and a fastening portion at the inlet end for mating with a corresponding fastener within the second end of the housing, the annular sidewall having outlet openings formed therethrough; and a distributor having a head portion with a face and a base portion having a base diameter to allow axial rotation of the distributor within the second end of the housing, wherein the head portion has a head diameter larger than the base diameter so that the head portion is supported on an edge of the sidewall, wherein the head diameter is smaller than the inner diameter of
  • the distributor is a solid structure having a mushroom-like shape with a base and a head portion, with the head portion being oriented downstream of the base.
  • the downstream end of the head is beveled with the grooves uniformly spaced around the circumference of the head.
  • the depth and width of each groove is selected to produce droplet sizes corresponding to mist or fine spray (30 ⁇ to 60 ⁇ or larger.)
  • the grooves are on the order of 1 mm to3 mm in width and depth and around 4 mm to 7 mm long, emanating in a pinwheel fashion.
  • the distributor is formed from a low-friction polymer, for example, NYLAMID ® nylon resin, TEFLON ® polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), and similar polymers that are frequently referred to in the art as "self- lubricating", in order to prevent or minimize any build-up that may occur from minerals and other materials in the water.
  • a metal such as aluminum or stainless steel may also be used with a coating of a self-lubricating polymer.
  • the distributor may be conical or cylindrical in shape, with angled or spiral grooves which cause the distributor to rotate and break the water stream into mist-sized droplets.
  • the inlet portion has a hollow cylindrical portion at the downstream end with an inner diameter adapted to receive the base of the distributor so that the distributor can rotate.
  • Two or more small openings through the sidewall of the cylinder direct water that is introduced through the input orifice radially outward to the outside of the cylindrical portion so that the water is forced into the annular gap between the outer sidewall of the inlet portion and the inner wall of the housing to flow past the distributor head and through the grooves, causing the distributor to rotate and break up the water flow into a cloud of mist droplets which is forced through exit orifice.
  • An exemplary showerhead constructed according to the present invention will consume water at a rate of about 3 liters per minute, a nearly 7 fold improvement over current low-flow showerheads. Because of the fine mist, a higher temperature initial input water will be needed to offset the rapid cooling resulting from the mist, but once the air within the shower enclosure is filled with the warm mist, it will provide a comfortable and
  • a showerhead constructed according to the present invention is attached to the gooseneck or other inlet pipe by way of a locking or set screw that prevents removal of the showerhead without a tool. This feature is intended to minimize the unauthorized removal of the showerhead as has been known to occur when a guest checks out of a hotel room.
  • the showerhead may be replaced or combined with a shower bar with a plurality of the inventive nozzles disposed in a linear or zig-zag (staggered) relationship along the length of the bar.
  • the nozzles may be directed straight outward, perpendicular to a vertically- or horizontally-oriented bar that is mounted on the wall of the shower enclosure.
  • the nozzles may be directed at an angle by providing short pipe extensions from the shower bar.
  • a single nozzle may be incorporated into a cylindrical housing similar to that used with faucet aerators.
  • Such housings typically include an external thread dimensioned to removably attach to the end of a standard faucet spout.
  • the nozzle may be incorporated directly into the faucet spout to produce a water-saving mist suitable for washing hands, dishes, food and for any other common faucet use.
  • FIG. 1 is an exploded side view of a nozzle according to the present invention.
  • FIGs. 2a - 2d are views of the components of the inventive nozzle, where Fig. 2a is a front view of the nozzle housing; FIG. 2b is a front view of the nozzle distributor;
  • FIG. 2c is a front view of the nozzle inlet section; and FIG. 2d is the rear (inlet end) of the inlet section.
  • FIG. 3 is a side view of the nozzle according to the present invention.
  • FIG. 4a is a side view of an exemplary showerhead incorporating the nozzles of the present invention
  • FIG. 4b is a face view of the exemplary showerhead with five nozzles.
  • FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic side view of a combination showerhead and shower bar incorporating the nozzles of the present invention.
  • FIGs. 6a and 6b illustrate different approaches for incorporating the inventive nozzle into a standard faucet.
  • upstream and downstream which indicate flow direction of the water within the nozzle.
  • the inventive nozzle 2 includes a housing 10 having a cylindrical interior and an exit orifice 18, a distributor 20 having a base 22 rotatably retained within the housing interior, and an inlet portion 30 with an input orifice 38 and an outlet cylinder 32 dimensioned for receiving the base 22 of the distributor and having openings 36 through its sidewalls for providing water to the distributor.
  • Grooves 28 formed in the distributor face 25 cause the distributor to rotate as water is introduced under pressure from the inlet portion 30. Rotation of the distributor produces a mist which is emitted from the exit orifice 18 of the nozzle housing.
  • the nozzle housing 10 includes an externally threaded portion 1 1 for attaching the nozzle to a showerhead, an example of which is shown in FIG. 3.
  • a middle portion 14 of the housing may be formed with a hexagonal cross-section, as shown in FIG. 2a, to facilitate attachment and removal of the nozzle from a showerhead or other fixture using a standard wrench.
  • Alternative shapes to enable use of other types of tools may be used, or the edges of the middle section 14 may simply be knurled to enable manual attachment and removal of the nozzles.
  • nozzle housing Internal threads within nozzle housing are configured to mate with external threads 34 of inlet portion 30 so that inlet portion 30 retains the distributor 20 within the housing interior, as can be seen in FIG. 3. Insertion of inlet portion 30 into the housing is facilitated by slot 35 formed in the downstream side of inlet portion 30, which is dimensioned to receive a standard slot screwdriver.
  • a semi-spherical portion 15 at the downstream end of the housing has a flattened area 16 at its center with exit orifice 18 at the center of the flattened area.
  • the distributor 20 is a solid structure having a mushroom-like shape with a base 22 and a head portion
  • the downstream end of the head 24 has a bevel 26 and a face 25 with grooves 28 uniformly spaced around the circumference of the head 24, extending across the bevel 26 and partially into the face
  • each groove 28 is selected to produce droplet sizes corresponding to mist or fine spray (30 ⁇ to 60 ⁇ or larger.)
  • the grooves may be on the order of 1 mm to 3 mm in width and depth and around 4 mm to 7 mm long, emanating in a pinwheel configuration.
  • the distributor is formed from a low-friction (self-lubricating) polymer, for example, NYLAMID ® nylon resin, TEFLON ® polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), and similar polymers, in order to prevent or minimize any build-up that may occur from minerals and other materials in the water.
  • a metal such as aluminum or stainless steel may also be used with a coating of a self-lubricating polymer.
  • the distributor may be conical or cylindrical in shape, with angled or spiral grooves which cause the distributor to rotate and break the water stream into mist-sized droplets.
  • the inlet portion 30 has a hollow cylindrical portion 32 at the downstream end with an inner diameter adapted to receive the base 22 of the distributor 20 so that the distributor will rotate freely around a central axis 4 that extends from the input orifice 28 to the exit orifice 18 .
  • Two or more small openings 26 through the sidewall of the cylinder 32 direct water that is introduced through the input orifice 38 radially outward to the outside of the cylindrical portion so that the water is forced into the annular gap
  • multiple nozzles 2 may be disposed within a showerhead
  • each nozzle 60, with water being provided to each nozzle from a common chamber that is filled with water or by manifold (not shown), which may be enclosed within the showerhead housing with a manifold port connected to each nozzle.
  • manifold not shown
  • FIGs. 3, 4a and 4b An example of a showerhead constructed according to the present invention, for example, with four or more nozzles in a disk-like structure is illustrated in FIGs. 3, 4a and 4b.
  • Each nozzle 2 may be screwed into a corresponding bore 65, which may be disposed within a recessed area 63, as shown in FIG. 4b.
  • the showerhead may be formed from a two piece construction with a front plate, to which the nozzles are attached, and a back plate 61 to which the inlet pipe 62 may be attached.
  • a showerhead constructed according to the present invention is attached to the gooseneck or other inlet pipe 67 by way of a locking or set screw 65, which prevents removal of the showerhead without a tool.
  • inlet pipe 62 may be integrally molded with (in the case of a plastic housing), welded (in the case of a metal housing) or otherwise permanently attached to, the back of the showerhead. This combination of features is intended to minimize the unauthorized removal of the showerhead as has been known to occur when a guest checks out of a hotel room.
  • the showerhead 60 may be replaced or, as illustrated in FIG. 5, combined with a shower bar 68 with a plurality of the inventive nozzles disposed in a linear or zig-zag relationship along the length of the bar.
  • the nozzles may be directed straight outward, perpendicular to a vertically- or horizontally-oriented bar that is mounted on the wall of the shower enclosure.
  • the nozzles may be directed at an angle by providing short pipe extensions 66 from the shower bar.
  • a showerhead constructed according to the present invention will consume water at a rate of about 3 liters per minute, a nearly seven-fold improvement over current low- flow showerheads. Because of the fine mist, a higher temperature initial input water may be needed to offset the rapid cooling resulting from the mist, but once the air within the shower enclosure is filled with the warm mist, it will provide a comfortable and satisfying shower because the user's body will be surrounded in a warm cloud that is of sufficient density to efficiently wet and rinse the skin and hair. Even with the hotter initial water, the risk of discomfort or burning from the water being too hot is minimized ⁇ because of the finer mist, the wet bulb effect cools the droplets sufficiently before they contact the skin. In addition to the water conserving features of the invention, significant health benefits are also provided by a mist-shower of clean water, including respiratory (sinus and lungs), and skin benefits.
  • FIGs. 6a and 6b illustrate alternative approaches to incorporating the inventive nozzle in a faucet, including configurations that can be used to retrofit existing faucets.
  • the nozzle 102 is incorporated into a cylindrical housing 104, for example, by screwing the nozzle 102 into a matching internal thread pattern within the housing 104.
  • the upstream end of housing 104 has an external thread pattern dimensioned to mate with a standard thread pattern and size, e.g., 7/8", which is commonly used in kitchen faucets.
  • a faucet with an external thread would require an internal thread in the housing 104.
  • FIG. 6b illustrates an approach in which the nozzle housing itself is dimensioned to screw directly into the end of the faucet 106.
  • the nozzle can be incorporated into a pull-out faucet head or spray trigger.
  • Other approaches to incorporating the inventive nozzle into a faucet or other water-dispensing fixtures will be readily apparent to those in the art.
  • a faucet incorporating the inventive nozzle may be used for virtually any application in which a conventional faucet may be used, with particular advantages for hand washing and washing fruits, vegetables and other food items.

Abstract

A mist-producing nozzle (2) includes a housing (10) with a cylindrical interior and an outlet orifice (18). A distributor (20) disposed within the cylindrical interior has a face (25) with a plurality of grooves (28) formed therein. A base rotatably supports the distributor (20) within the housing (10), and has an inlet end (30) and two or more outlets (36) extending radially from an axial center of the base so that when a liquid introduced under pressure through the inlet end (30) of the base, it passes through the outlets (36) to enter the plurality of angled grooves (28) causing axial rotation of the distributor (20) within the cylindrical interior of the housing (10), producing a mist that is released through the outlet orifice (18).

Description

MIST-PRODUCING NOZZLE AND FIXTURES FORMED THEREFROM
RELATED APPLICATIONS
The present application claims the priority of U.S. provisional application No. 61/428,050, filed December 29, 2010, which is incorporated herein in its entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
With increasing population density prudence in the use of the world's resources has become a major concern. One resource that is central to all the functions of life is clean water, a resource that is growing scarce and is therefore now a key concern of most municipalities. Put simply, the availability of fresh water now limits most municipal growth and virtually all current housing expansions are associated with costly water recycling and other conservation measures. This cost exchange can only continue to rise in a world in which the mean temperature is increasing and the resulting climate change is predicted to impact many regions with severe drought, forcing a shrinking water supply to be stretched thin to serve an ever growing population.
One area where significant improvement can be made to preserve declining water resources is in bathing, in particular, showers. A typical low-flow showerhead emits 20 liters (-2.5 gallons) per minute, meaning that an average shower of from five to ten minutes consumes 100 to 200 liters (-12.5 to 25 gallons) of water. For a household of four, this can mean consumption of from 400 liters (-100 gallons) up to 2,000 liters (-500 gallons) per day, the latter number being in cases where household members are physically active and take multiple showers daily, or where the bather simply takes long showers. For businesses and institutions such as hotels, gyms and sports facilities, dormitories and prisons, which have large scale water-handling needs, the amount of water used on a daily basis can be multiplied hundreds to thousands of times over, depending on the number of residents/guests at any given time.
Low-flow showerheads and faucets that are currently in use still require improvement to reduce water consumption further. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In an exemplary embodiment, the nozzle of the present invention includes a housing having a cylindrical interior and an exit orifice, a distributor having a base rotatably retained within the housing interior, and an inlet portion with an input orifice and an outlet cylinder dimensioned for receiving the base of the distributor and having openings through its sidewalls for providing water to the distributor. Grooves formed in the distributor face cause the distributor to rotate as water is introduced under pressure from the inlet portion. Rotation of the distributor produces a mist which is emitted from the exit orifice of the nozzle housing.
In one embodiment, one or more nozzles may be incorporated into a faucet or other water-dispensing fixture. Multiple nozzles disposed within a showerhead may be fed water from a common chamber or a manifold may be provided within the showerhead housing with a port connected to each nozzle.
In one aspect of the invention, a mist-producing nozzle comprises a housing having a cylindrical interior and an outlet orifice; a distributor disposed within the cylindrical interior, the distributor having a face with a plurality of grooves formed therein; and a base for rotatably supporting the distributor within the housing, the base having an inlet end and two or more outlets extending radially from an axial center of the base; wherein a liquid introduced under pressure through the inlet end of the base passes through the outlets to enter the plurality of angled grooves whereby axial rotation of the distributor within the cylindrical interior of the housing produces a mist that is released through the outlet orifice.
In another aspect of the invention, mist-producing nozzle comprises a housing defining a cylindrical cavity having a cavity diameter, the housing having a closed outlet end with an orifice formed therein and an open inlet end; a base adapted to fit within the inlet end of the housing, the base comprising a hollow cylinder with a sidewall and a base inlet end, and a fastening portion for mating with a corresponding fastener within the inlet end of the housing, the cylinder having outlet openings formed in the sidewall; and a distributor having a head portion and a base portion having a first diameter to rotatably fit
within the cylinder and the head portion having a second diameter larger than the first diameter so that a proximal end of the head portion is supported on an edge of the sidewall, wherein the second diameter is smaller than the cavity diameter, the head portion having a plurality of angled grooves spaced uniformly around a face of the head portion; herein a liquid introduced under pressure through the base inlet end passes through the outlet openings of the base to enter the plurality of angled grooves whereby rotation of the distributor within the cylindrical cavity produces a mist that is released through the orifice in the housing.
In still another aspect of the invention, a shower head is provided with an outlet surface and a plurality of nozzles arranged around the outlet surface, in which each nozzle comprises a hollow housing having a cylindrical interior and a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is closed and has an orifice formed at an axial center of the housing and wherein the second end is open and has an inner diameter; a base adapted to fit within the second end of the housing, the base comprising a an annular sidewall in fluid communication with an inlet end and a fastening portion at the inlet end for mating with a corresponding fastener within the second end of the housing, the annular sidewall having outlet openings formed therethrough; and a distributor having a head portion with a face and a base portion having a base diameter to allow axial rotation of the distributor within the second end of the housing, wherein the head portion has a head diameter larger than the base diameter so that the head portion is supported on an edge of the sidewall, wherein the head diameter is smaller than the inner diameter of the second end of the housing, and wherein the face has a plurality of angled grooves spaced uniformly therein; wherein a liquid introduced under pressure through the inlet end of the base passes through the outlet openings of the base to enter the plurality of angled grooves whereby axial rotation of the distributor within the cylindrical interior of the housing produces a mist that is released through the orifice in the housing.
In the exemplary embodiment, the distributor is a solid structure having a mushroom-like shape with a base and a head portion, with the head portion being oriented downstream of the base. The downstream end of the head is beveled with the grooves uniformly spaced around the circumference of the head. The depth and width of each groove is selected to produce droplet sizes corresponding to mist or fine spray (30 μπι to 60 μπι or larger.) In an exemplary embodiment, the grooves are on the order of 1 mm to3 mm in width and depth and around 4 mm to 7 mm long, emanating in a pinwheel fashion. In the preferred embodiment, the distributor is formed from a low-friction polymer, for example, NYLAMID® nylon resin, TEFLON® polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), and similar polymers that are frequently referred to in the art as "self- lubricating", in order to prevent or minimize any build-up that may occur from minerals and other materials in the water. A metal such as aluminum or stainless steel may also be used with a coating of a self-lubricating polymer. In other embodiments, the distributor may be conical or cylindrical in shape, with angled or spiral grooves which cause the distributor to rotate and break the water stream into mist-sized droplets.
The inlet portion has a hollow cylindrical portion at the downstream end with an inner diameter adapted to receive the base of the distributor so that the distributor can rotate. Two or more small openings through the sidewall of the cylinder direct water that is introduced through the input orifice radially outward to the outside of the cylindrical portion so that the water is forced into the annular gap between the outer sidewall of the inlet portion and the inner wall of the housing to flow past the distributor head and through the grooves, causing the distributor to rotate and break up the water flow into a cloud of mist droplets which is forced through exit orifice.
An exemplary showerhead constructed according to the present invention, for example, with four or more nozzles in a disk-like structure, will consume water at a rate of about 3 liters per minute, a nearly 7 fold improvement over current low-flow showerheads. Because of the fine mist, a higher temperature initial input water will be needed to offset the rapid cooling resulting from the mist, but once the air within the shower enclosure is filled with the warm mist, it will provide a comfortable and
satisfying shower because the user's body will be surrounded in a warm cloud that is of sufficient density to efficiently wet and rinse the skin and hair. Even with the hotter initial water, the risk of discomfort or burning from the water being too hot is minimized
— because of the fine mist, the wet bulb effect cools the droplets sufficiently before they contact the skin. In addition to the water conserving features of the invention, significant health benefits are also provided by a mist-shower of clean water, including respiratory
(sinus and lungs), and skin benefits.
In a preferred embodiment, a showerhead constructed according to the present invention is attached to the gooseneck or other inlet pipe by way of a locking or set screw that prevents removal of the showerhead without a tool. This feature is intended to minimize the unauthorized removal of the showerhead as has been known to occur when a guest checks out of a hotel room.
In one embodiment, the showerhead may be replaced or combined with a shower bar with a plurality of the inventive nozzles disposed in a linear or zig-zag (staggered) relationship along the length of the bar. The nozzles may be directed straight outward, perpendicular to a vertically- or horizontally-oriented bar that is mounted on the wall of the shower enclosure. Alternatively, the nozzles may be directed at an angle by providing short pipe extensions from the shower bar.
In another embodiment, a single nozzle may be incorporated into a cylindrical housing similar to that used with faucet aerators. Such housings typically include an external thread dimensioned to removably attach to the end of a standard faucet spout.
Alternatively, the nozzle may be incorporated directly into the faucet spout to produce a water-saving mist suitable for washing hands, dishes, food and for any other common faucet use.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is an exploded side view of a nozzle according to the present invention. FIGs. 2a - 2d are views of the components of the inventive nozzle, where Fig. 2a is a front view of the nozzle housing; FIG. 2b is a front view of the nozzle distributor;
FIG. 2c is a front view of the nozzle inlet section; and FIG. 2d is the rear (inlet end) of the inlet section.
FIG. 3 is a side view of the nozzle according to the present invention.
FIG. 4a is a side view of an exemplary showerhead incorporating the nozzles of the present invention; FIG. 4b is a face view of the exemplary showerhead with five nozzles.
FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic side view of a combination showerhead and shower bar incorporating the nozzles of the present invention.
FIGs. 6a and 6b illustrate different approaches for incorporating the inventive nozzle into a standard faucet.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
For purposes of the description, reference may be made to "upstream" and "downstream", which indicate flow direction of the water within the nozzle.
Referring to FIGs. 1 -3, the inventive nozzle 2 includes a housing 10 having a cylindrical interior and an exit orifice 18, a distributor 20 having a base 22 rotatably retained within the housing interior, and an inlet portion 30 with an input orifice 38 and an outlet cylinder 32 dimensioned for receiving the base 22 of the distributor and having openings 36 through its sidewalls for providing water to the distributor. Grooves 28 formed in the distributor face 25 cause the distributor to rotate as water is introduced under pressure from the inlet portion 30. Rotation of the distributor produces a mist which is emitted from the exit orifice 18 of the nozzle housing.
The nozzle housing 10 includes an externally threaded portion 1 1 for attaching the nozzle to a showerhead, an example of which is shown in FIG. 3. A middle portion 14 of the housing may be formed with a hexagonal cross-section, as shown in FIG. 2a, to facilitate attachment and removal of the nozzle from a showerhead or other fixture using a standard wrench. Alternative shapes to enable use of other types of tools may be used, or the edges of the middle section 14 may simply be knurled to enable manual attachment and removal of the nozzles.
Internal threads within nozzle housing are configured to mate with external threads 34 of inlet portion 30 so that inlet portion 30 retains the distributor 20 within the housing interior, as can be seen in FIG. 3. Insertion of inlet portion 30 into the housing is facilitated by slot 35 formed in the downstream side of inlet portion 30, which is dimensioned to receive a standard slot screwdriver. A semi-spherical portion 15 at the downstream end of the housing has a flattened area 16 at its center with exit orifice 18 at the center of the flattened area.
Referring again to FIGs. 1 and 2b, in the exemplary embodiment, the distributor 20 is a solid structure having a mushroom-like shape with a base 22 and a head portion
24, with the head portion 24 being oriented downstream of the base 22. The downstream end of the head 24 has a bevel 26 and a face 25 with grooves 28 uniformly spaced around the circumference of the head 24, extending across the bevel 26 and partially into the face
25. The depth and width of each groove 28 is selected to produce droplet sizes corresponding to mist or fine spray (30 μηι to 60 μηι or larger.) In an exemplary embodiment, the grooves may be on the order of 1 mm to 3 mm in width and depth and around 4 mm to 7 mm long, emanating in a pinwheel configuration. In the preferred embodiment, the distributor is formed from a low-friction (self-lubricating) polymer, for example, NYLAMID® nylon resin, TEFLON® polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), and similar polymers, in order to prevent or minimize any build-up that may occur from minerals and other materials in the water. A metal such as aluminum or stainless steel may also be used with a coating of a self-lubricating polymer. In other embodiments, the distributor may be conical or cylindrical in shape, with angled or spiral grooves which cause the distributor to rotate and break the water stream into mist-sized droplets.
The inlet portion 30 has a hollow cylindrical portion 32 at the downstream end with an inner diameter adapted to receive the base 22 of the distributor 20 so that the distributor will rotate freely around a central axis 4 that extends from the input orifice 28 to the exit orifice 18 . Two or more small openings 26 through the sidewall of the cylinder 32 direct water that is introduced through the input orifice 38 radially outward to the outside of the cylindrical portion so that the water is forced into the annular gap
between the outer sidewall of the inlet portion and the inner wall of the housing to flow past the distributor head 24 and through the grooves 28, causing the distributor to rotate and break up the water flow into a cloud of mist droplets which is forced through exit orifice 18.
As shown in FIG. 4b, multiple nozzles 2 may be disposed within a showerhead
60, with water being provided to each nozzle from a common chamber that is filled with water or by manifold (not shown), which may be enclosed within the showerhead housing with a manifold port connected to each nozzle.
An example of a showerhead constructed according to the present invention, for example, with four or more nozzles in a disk-like structure is illustrated in FIGs. 3, 4a and 4b. Each nozzle 2 may be screwed into a corresponding bore 65, which may be disposed within a recessed area 63, as shown in FIG. 4b. The showerhead may be formed from a two piece construction with a front plate, to which the nozzles are attached, and a back plate 61 to which the inlet pipe 62 may be attached.
In a preferred embodiment, a showerhead constructed according to the present invention is attached to the gooseneck or other inlet pipe 67 by way of a locking or set screw 65, which prevents removal of the showerhead without a tool. In this case, inlet pipe 62 may be integrally molded with (in the case of a plastic housing), welded (in the case of a metal housing) or otherwise permanently attached to, the back of the showerhead. This combination of features is intended to minimize the unauthorized removal of the showerhead as has been known to occur when a guest checks out of a hotel room.
In the embodiment, the showerhead 60 may be replaced or, as illustrated in FIG. 5, combined with a shower bar 68 with a plurality of the inventive nozzles disposed in a linear or zig-zag relationship along the length of the bar. The nozzles may be directed straight outward, perpendicular to a vertically- or horizontally-oriented bar that is mounted on the wall of the shower enclosure. Alternatively, the nozzles may be directed at an angle by providing short pipe extensions 66 from the shower bar.
A showerhead constructed according to the present invention will consume water at a rate of about 3 liters per minute, a nearly seven-fold improvement over current low- flow showerheads. Because of the fine mist, a higher temperature initial input water may be needed to offset the rapid cooling resulting from the mist, but once the air within the shower enclosure is filled with the warm mist, it will provide a comfortable and satisfying shower because the user's body will be surrounded in a warm cloud that is of sufficient density to efficiently wet and rinse the skin and hair. Even with the hotter initial water, the risk of discomfort or burning from the water being too hot is minimized ~ because of the finer mist, the wet bulb effect cools the droplets sufficiently before they contact the skin. In addition to the water conserving features of the invention, significant health benefits are also provided by a mist-shower of clean water, including respiratory (sinus and lungs), and skin benefits.
FIGs. 6a and 6b illustrate alternative approaches to incorporating the inventive nozzle in a faucet, including configurations that can be used to retrofit existing faucets. In FIG. 6a, the nozzle 102 is incorporated into a cylindrical housing 104, for example, by screwing the nozzle 102 into a matching internal thread pattern within the housing 104. The upstream end of housing 104 has an external thread pattern dimensioned to mate with a standard thread pattern and size, e.g., 7/8", which is commonly used in kitchen faucets. Obviously, a faucet with an external thread would require an internal thread in the housing 104. FIG. 6b illustrates an approach in which the nozzle housing itself is dimensioned to screw directly into the end of the faucet 106. In one embodiment, the nozzle can be incorporated into a pull-out faucet head or spray trigger. Other approaches to incorporating the inventive nozzle into a faucet or other water-dispensing fixtures will be readily apparent to those in the art. A faucet incorporating the inventive nozzle may be used for virtually any application in which a conventional faucet may be used, with particular advantages for hand washing and washing fruits, vegetables and other food items.
The above description of the disclosed embodiments is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make or use the invention. Various modifications to these
embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles described herein can be applied to other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, it is to be understood that the description and drawings presented herein represent a presently preferred embodiment of the invention and are therefore representative of the subject matter which is broadly contemplated by the present invention. It is further understood that the scope of the present invention fully encompasses other embodiments that may become obvious to those skilled in the art and that the scope of the present invention is accordingly limited by nothing other than the appended claims.

Claims

CLAIMS:
1. A mist-producing nozzle comprising:
a housing defining a cylindrical cavity having a cavity diameter, the housing having a closed outlet end with an orifice formed therein and an open inlet end;
a base adapted to fit within the inlet end of the housing, the base comprising a hollow cylinder with a sidewall and a base inlet end, and a fastening portion for mating with a corresponding fastener within the inlet end of the housing, the cylinder having outlet openings formed in the sidewall;
a distributor having a head portion and a base portion having a first diameter to rotatably fit within the cylinder and the head portion having a second diameter larger than the first diameter so that a proximal end of the head portion is supported on an edge of the sidewall, wherein the second diameter is smaller than the cavity diameter, the head portion having a plurality of angled grooves spaced uniformly around a face of the head portion;
wherein a liquid introduced under pressure through the base inlet end passes through the outlet openings of the base to enter the plurality of angled grooves whereby rotation of the distributor within the cylindrical cavity produces a mist that is released through the orifice in the housing.
2. The mist-producing nozzle of claim 1 , wherein the distal end of the head portion has a beveled portion, and the plurality of angled grooves extend through the beveled portion.
3. The mist-producing nozzle of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of angled grooves has a pinwheel configuration.
4. The mist-producing nozzle of claim 1 , wherein the distributor is formed from or coated with a low-friction polymer.
5. The mist-producing nozzle of claim 1 , wherein the fastening portion of the base comprises an external thread and the corresponding fastener in the housing comprising an internal thread dimensioned to receive the external thread .
6. The mist-producing nozzle of claim 1 , wherein the closed outlet end of the housing is semi-spherical in shape.
7. The mist-producing nozzle of claim 1 , wherein the housing has an external thread formed near the inlet end.
8. The mist-producing nozzle of claim 1 , wherein each angled groove has a width and a depth each on the order of 1 mm to 3 mm and a length on the order of 4 mm to 7 mm.
9. A shower head having an outlet surface and a plurality of nozzles arranged around the outlet surface, wherein each nozzle comprises:
a hollow housing having a cylindrical interior and a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is closed and has an orifice formed at an axial center of the housing and wherein the second end is open and has an inner diameter;
a base adapted to fit within the second end of the housing, the base comprising a an annular sidewall in fluid communication with an inlet end and a fastening portion at the inlet end for mating with a corresponding fastener within the second end of the housing, the annular sidewall having outlet openings formed therethrough;
a distributor having a head portion with a face and a base portion having a base diameter to allow axial rotation of the distributor within the second end of the housing, wherein the head portion has a head diameter larger than the base diameter so that the head portion is supported on an edge of the sidewall, wherein the head diameter is smaller than the inner diameter of the second end of the housing, and wherein the face has a plurality of angled grooves spaced uniformly therein;
wherein a liquid introduced under pressure through the inlet end of the base passes through the outlet openings of the base to enter the plurality of angled grooves whereby axial rotation of the distributor within the cylindrical interior of the housing produces a mist that is released through the orifice in the housing.
10. The shower head of claim 1 , wherein the face of the head portion has a beveled portion, and the plurality of angled grooves extend through the beveled portion.
1 1. The shower head of claim 9, wherein the plurality of angled grooves has a pinwheel configuration.
12. The shower head of claim 9, wherein the distributor is formed from or coated with a low-friction polymer.
13. The shower head of claim 9, wherein the fastening portion of the base comprises an external thread and the corresponding fastener in the housing comprising an internal thread dimensioned to receive the external thread .
14. The shower head of claim 9, wherein the first end of the housing is semi- spherical in shape.
15. The shower head of claim 9, wherein the housing has an external thread formed near the second end.
16. The shower head of claim 9, wherein each angled groove has a width and a depth each on the order of 1 mm to 3 mm and a length on the order of 4 mm to 7 mm.
17. A mist-producing nozzle comprising:
a housing having a cylindrical interior and an outlet orifice;
a distributor disposed within the cylindrical interior, the distributor having a face with a plurality of grooves formed therein;
a base for rotatably supporting the distributor within the housing, the base having an inlet end and two or more outlets extending radially from an axial center of the base; wherein a liquid introduced under pressure through the inlet end of the base passes through the outlets to enter the plurality of angled grooves whereby axial rotation of the distributor within the cylindrical interior of the housing produces a mist that is released through the outlet orifice.
18. The mist-producing nozzle of claim 17, wherein the face has a beveled portion, and the plurality of angled grooves extend through the beveled portion.
1 . The mist-producing nozzle of claim 17, wherein the plurality of angled grooves has a pinwheel or spiral configuration.
20. The mist-producing nozzle of claim 17, wherein the distributor is formed from or coated with a low-friction polymer.
21. The mist-producing nozzle of claim 17, wherein the base further comprises an external thread and the housing further comprises an internal thread dimensioned to receive the external thread .
22. The mist-producing nozzle of claim 17, wherein an outlet end of the housing is semi-spherical in shape.
23. The mist-producing nozzle of claim 17, wherein the housing has an external thread formed near an inlet end.
PCT/IB2011/055791 2010-12-29 2011-12-19 Mist-producing nozzle and fixture formed therefrom WO2012090118A1 (en)

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GB2525752A (en) * 2015-04-02 2015-11-04 Drenched Ltd Atomiser nozzle
WO2016156884A1 (en) * 2015-04-02 2016-10-06 Drenched Limited Atomiser nozzle
US9925545B2 (en) 2014-08-28 2018-03-27 Nebia Inc. Immersive showerhead
US10974259B2 (en) 2018-03-13 2021-04-13 Innomist Llc Multi-mode fluid nozzles

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FR2351354A1 (en) * 1976-05-11 1977-12-09 Soudan Robert Jet for oil fired central heating boiler - has conical profile and single tangential groove into annular feed chamber in nozzle body
US6415994B1 (en) * 2000-08-29 2002-07-09 Clayton F Boggs Rotational nozzle atomizer
US20060049279A1 (en) * 2001-07-31 2006-03-09 Haru Miyake Hand-held sprayer for bathroom

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2351354A1 (en) * 1976-05-11 1977-12-09 Soudan Robert Jet for oil fired central heating boiler - has conical profile and single tangential groove into annular feed chamber in nozzle body
US6415994B1 (en) * 2000-08-29 2002-07-09 Clayton F Boggs Rotational nozzle atomizer
US20060049279A1 (en) * 2001-07-31 2006-03-09 Haru Miyake Hand-held sprayer for bathroom

Cited By (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US9925545B2 (en) 2014-08-28 2018-03-27 Nebia Inc. Immersive showerhead
GB2525752A (en) * 2015-04-02 2015-11-04 Drenched Ltd Atomiser nozzle
GB2525752B (en) * 2015-04-02 2016-04-06 Drenched Ltd Atomiser nozzle
WO2016156883A1 (en) * 2015-04-02 2016-10-06 Drenched Limited Atomiser nozzle
WO2016156884A1 (en) * 2015-04-02 2016-10-06 Drenched Limited Atomiser nozzle
CN107995879A (en) * 2015-04-02 2018-05-04 纽珀有限公司 Atomizer
CN107995879B (en) * 2015-04-02 2020-12-25 纽珀有限公司 Atomizing nozzle
US10974259B2 (en) 2018-03-13 2021-04-13 Innomist Llc Multi-mode fluid nozzles
US11590518B2 (en) 2018-03-13 2023-02-28 Innomist Llc Multi-mode fluid nozzles
US11845091B2 (en) 2018-03-13 2023-12-19 Innomist Llc Multi-mode fluid nozzles

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