Method and apparatus for producing droplet spray

• US 20050001072A1
• Filed: 05/14/2004
• Published: 01/06/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Methven Limited (GWA Group Limited)
• Original Assignee: Methven Limited (GWA Group Limited)
• Inventors: Wheat, Roger Allan, Brooking, Greg Nigel, Bolus, Robert Nicholas Edward, Morris, Steven Peter, Craill, Malcolm Shaun, Brownlie, Susan Myrtle, Faragher, Neil
• Granted Patent: US 7,959,088 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 239/548
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 1/185 characterised by their outlet element; Mounting arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 1/26 with means for mechanically breaking-up or deflecting the jet after discharge, e.g. with fixed deflectors; Breaking-up the discharged liquid or other fluent material by impinging jets
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 15/528 by resilient deformation of the nozzle
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 7/0846 with jets being only jets constituted by a liquid or a mixture containing a liquid

Abstract

A spray head or spray head insert is provided for use in at least one of a shower head, an industrial spray head and an agricultural spray head including a plurality of groups of nozzles, each group of nozzles having at least two nozzles that are suitable for issuing jets of fluid from a surface of the spray head or spray head insert and are dimensioned and oriented, at least in use, so that fluid exiting the said at least two nozzles under pressure collides, interacts substantially unimpeded by surrounding structures and breaks into droplets.

Claims

1. A spray head for use in at least one of a shower head, an industrial spray head and an agricultural spray head comprising a plurality of groups of nozzles, each said group of nozzles having at least two nozzles that are suitable for issuing jets of fluid from a surface of the spray head and are dimensioned and oriented so that fluid exiting the said at least two nozzles under pressure collides, interacts substantially unimpeded by surrounding structures and breaks into droplets.

2. The spray head according to claims 1 or 48, wherein the at least two nozzles are oriented at an included angle of between approximately 40°

and 140°

.

3. The spray head according to claims 1 or 48, wherein the at least two nozzles are oriented at an included angle of between approximately 70°

and 85°

.

4. The spray head according to claims 1 or 48, wherein at least one of said plurality of nozzle groups are asymmetrical in order to provide, in use, a spray in a direction other than along an imaginary line at the selected nozzle group that is normal to the surface of the spray head.

5. The spray head of claim 4, wherein the at least one of said plurality of nozzle groups has nozzles with differing cross-sectional area.

6. The spray head according to claims 1 or 48, wherein for at least one of said plurality of nozzle groups, the at least two nozzles are oriented at a different angle relative to an imaginary line at the nozzle group that is normal to the surface of the spray head or spray head insert in order to provide, in use, a spray in a direction other than along said imaginary line.

7. The spray head of claim 4, including nozzle groups that are symmetrical located in at least one predefined region of the spray head or spray head insert and nozzle groups that are asymmetrical located in one or more other predefined regions of the spray head or spray head insert.

8. The spray head of claim 7, wherein nozzle groups located toward a periphery of the spray head are configured so that spray exiting the nozzle group travels away from the center of the spray head after exiting the nozzle group.

9. The spray head according to claims 1 or 48, wherein the nozzle groups are located in a non-planar base.

10. The spray head according to claims 1 or 48, wherein at least selected one of the nozzle groups are configured so that fluid exiting the at least two thereof nozzles under pressure collides with less than 100% cross-over.

11. The spray head of claim 10, wherein fluid exiting all the nozzle groups of the spray head collide under pressure with less than 100% cross-over.

12. The spray head of claim 10, wherein the percentage cross-over is between approximately 20% and 80%.

13. The spray head of claim 10, wherein the percentage cross-over is between approximately 40% and 50%.

14. The spray head of claim 13, wherein the exit aperture diameter of the nozzles in each said nozzle group is between approximately 0.8 and 1.0 mm.

15. The spray head of claim 14, wherein centers of exit apertures of the nozzles in each said nozzle group are separated by approximately 1.5 mm.

16. The spray head of claim 10, including at least two types of said nozzle group having different sized nozzle exit diameters, one of said two types of nozzle groups having larger nozzle exit diameters and have a lesser percentage cross-over than the other of said two types of nozzle groups having smaller exit diameters.

17. The spray head according to claims 1 or 48, wherein the nozzles in each said group of nozzles are formed at least in part by an aperture formed in a flexible or elastic material.

18. The spray head of claim 17, wherein the flexible or elastic material forming said aperture protrudes out from a surface of the spray head.

19. The spray head according to claims 1 or 48, wherein each group of said nozzles comprises two nozzles.

20. The spray head of claim 19, wherein entrances and exits of the nozzles in at least selected ones of said nozzle groups are offset relative to each other.

21. The spray head of claim 20, wherein the entrances and exits of the nozzles are offset so that fluid issues from the at least selected nozzle groups at an angle of between approximately 6 and 8 degrees to an imaginary line at a nozzle group normal to the surface of the spray head.

22. The spray head of claim 1, wherein each said nozzle group is formed by at least one aperture and at least one complementary protrusion that together define a fluid flow path for each said nozzle therebetween.

23. The spray head according to claims 22 or 49, wherein each said nozzle group is formed by two apertures and complimentary protrusions, wherein the protrusions act as a blank for each said aperture, thereby increasing an included angle of the jets issuing from the nozzles in the nozzle group.

24. The spray head according to claims 23 or 49, wherein each said aperture is substantially conical in shape.

25. The spray head according to claims 23 or 49, wherein the protrusions are movable relative to the apertures to allow control over characteristics of spray produced by the spray head.

26. The spray head according to claims 22 or 49, wherein the protrusions for a plurality of the nozzle groups are all formed in a single base material.

27. The spray head of claim 25, wherein the apertures for a plurality of the nozzle groups are all formed in a single base material.

28. The spray head according to claims 22 or 49, wherein the protrusions can be removed from their corresponding apertures to provide access to the surface of the protrusions and apertures for cleaning.

29. The spray head according to claims 22 or 49, wherein the nozzles in each said nozzle group are formed by a channel or groove in at least one of the aperture and the protrusion.

30. The spray head according to claims 1 or 48, structured to create, in use, turbulent fluid flow in each said nozzle.

31. The spray head of claim 30, wherein each said nozzle includes at least one baffle to create the turbulent fluid flow.

32. (Cancelled)

33. For at least one of a shower, industrial application process or agricultural application process, a method of producing a fluid spray formed by droplets of fluid, the method including passing fluid through a plurality of groups of nozzles located proximate each other, each of the groups of nozzles including at least two nozzles oriented relative to each other so that fluid exiting the nozzles in each said nozzle group collides, interacts substantially unimpeded from surrounding structures and subsequently breaks into droplets.

34. The method according to claims 33 or 50, including providing the nozzles in said groups of nozzles that are oriented to have an included angle of between approximately 40°

and 140°

.

35. The method according to claims 33 or 50, including providing the nozzles in said groups of nozzles that are oriented to have an included angle between approximately 70°

and 85°

.

36. The method according to claims 33 or 50, including passing fluid through at least selected groups of the nozzles that are asymmetrical in order to provide a spray from selected nozzle groups at a required angle.

37. The method according to claims 33 or 50, wherein each said nozzle group comprises two nozzles.

38. The method according to claims 33 or 50, including passing a turbulent flow of fluid through each said nozzle.

39. The method according to claims 33 or 50, including directing fluid exiting the nozzles in each said nozzle group so that they collide with less than 100% cross-over.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein the percentage cross-over is between approximately 20% and 80%.

41. The method of claim 39, wherein the percentage cross-over is between approximately 40% and 50%.

52. The method according to claims 33 or 50, wherein the at least two nozzles are formed in one part by apertures through the faceplate and in another part by protrusions extending at least partially into said apertures.

42. (Cancelled)

43. A spray head for use in at least one of a shower head, an industrial spray head and an agricultural spray head including a plurality of groups of nozzles, each said group of nozzles having at least two nozzles that are suitable for providing turbulent fluid flow therein and for issuing jets of fluid from a surface of the spray head or spray head insert and are dimensioned and oriented, so that fluid exiting the said at least two nozzles under pressure collides, interacts substantially unimpeded by surrounding structures and breaks into droplets, wherein in at least selected ones of the groups of nozzles, the jets collide at a percentage cross-over of less than 100%.

44. The spray head of claim 43, wherein the percentage cross-over is less than 80% for all nozzle groups.

45. The spray head of claim 43, wherein the percentage cross-over is equal to approximately 50% for all said nozzle groups.

46. The spray head of claim 45, wherein the percentage cross-over is at least equal to approximately 40% for all the nozzle groups.

47. The spray head of claim 43, wherein the percentage cross-over is less than approximately 50% for all said nozzle groups.

56. The spray head of claim 47, wherein the protrusions and the apertures are located in one of three concentric rings.

48. A spray head for use in at least one of a shower head, an industrial spray head and an agricultural spray head comprising a plurality of groups of nozzles, each said group of nozzles having at least two nozzles that are suitable for issuing jets of fluid from a surface of the spray head and are dimensioned and oriented so that fluid exiting the said at least two nozzles under pressure collides, interacts substantially unimpeded by surrounding structures and breaks into droplets, wherein each of said nozzles is formed at least in part by an aperture through a faceplate.

49. The spray head of claim 48, wherein each said nozzle in each said nozzle group is formed in one part by said aperture through the faceplate and in another part by a complementary protrusion that together define a fluid flow path for each said nozzle therebetween.

51. The spray head of claim 48, wherein the faceplate is substantially planar.

50. For at least one of a shower, industrial application process or agricultural application process, a method of producing a fluid spray formed by droplets of fluid, the method including passing fluid through a plurality of groups of nozzles located proximate each other, each of the groups of nozzles including at least two nozzles formed at least in part by apertures through a faceplate and oriented relative to each other so that fluid exiting the nozzles in each said nozzle group collides, interacts substantially unimpeded from surrounding structures and subsequently breaks into droplets.

53. A spray head comprising a faceplate and an insert for the faceplate, the faceplate having a plurality apertures therethrough and the insert having a plurality of protrusions extending therefrom, wherein the insert is located relative to the faceplate so that the protrusions at least partially enter said apertures, whereby the protrusions and the apertures together define a plurality of groups of at least two nozzle that are configured for issuing jets of fluid from a surface of the faceplate and are structured so that fluid exiting the said at least two nozzles under pressure collides, interacts substantially unimpeded by surrounding structures and breaks into droplets.

54. The spray head of claim 53, wherein the protrusions and the apertures are distributed over substantially the entire area occupied by said faceplate and said insert.

55. The spray head of claim 53, wherein a plurality of the protrusions and the apertures are located at a different radius from a center of the spray head than a plurality of other of the protrusions and the apertures.

57. A method of manufacturing a spray head, including forming a faceplate with a plurality of apertures therein, forming a insert for the faceplate having a plurality of protrusions extending therefrom and providing a housing to receive liquid from a positive pressure liquid supply, and supplying said liquid at pressure to the insert and faceplate, wherein the insert is locatable relative to the faceplate so that the protrusions at least partially extend into said apertures, whereby the protrusions and the apertures together define a plurality of groups of at least two nozzles that are configured for issuing jets of liquid received from the housing from a surface of the faceplate and are dimensioned and oriented, at least in use so that fluid exiting the said at least two nozzles under pressure collides, interacts substantially unimpeded by surrounding structures and breaks into droplets.

58. A spray head comprising a rigid plate and an insert for the rigid plate made from a flexible material, the rigid plate having a plurality of apertures therethrough and the insert having a plurality of protrusions that extend through the rigid plate when the spray head is assembled, whereby the protrusions have at least one aperture therethrough, that optionally together with a second insert, define at least two nozzles that are configured for issuing jets of fluid therefrom, wherein when the spray head is assembled that at least two nozzles are oriented and dimensioned so that fluid exiting the said at least two nozzles under pressure collides, interacts substantially unimpeded by surrounding structures and breaks into droplets.

59. A shower head comprising a plurality of groups of nozzles, each of the groups of nozzles having at least two nozzles that are configured for issuing jets of fluid from a surface of spray head and are dimensioned and oriented so that fluid exiting the said at least two nozzles under pressure collides, interacts substantially unimpeded by surrounding structures and breaks into droplets, wherein the groups of nozzles are distributed over said surface at varying distances from a center point of the shower head.

60. The shower head of claim 59, wherein each of the groups of nozzles comprises two nozzles.

61. The shower head of claim 59, wherein the plurality of groups of nozzles comprise a first set located at a first distance from the center portion of the shower head and a second set located at a second distance from the center point of the shower head.

62. The shower head of claim 61, wherein the plurality of groups of nozzles comprise a third set located at a third distance from the center point of the shower head.

63. The shower head of claim 59, wherein each nozzle group is structured so that fluid exiting the nozzles in said at least selected nozzle groups under pressure collides with less than 100% cross-over.

64. The shower head of claim 59, wherein each of the nozzle groups is structured to induce a turbulent flow through the nozzles.