Fluidic oscillator and spray-forming output chamber
First Claim
1. A fluid oscillator comprising:
- nozzle means for forming and issuing a jet of fluid in response to application thereto of fluid under pressure;
an oscillation chamber having a common inlet and outlet opening, said oscillation chamber being positioned to receive said jet of fluid from said nozzle means through said common opening, said oscillation chamber including;
oscillation means for cyclically oscillating said jet back and forth across said chamber in a direction substantially transverse to the direction of flow in said jet; and
flow directing means for directing fluid from the cyclically oscillated jet out of said chamber through said common inlet and outlet opening.
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Abstract
A fluidic oscillator includes a chamber having a common inflow and outflow opening into which a jet is issued in a generally radial direction. After impinging upon the far chamber wall the jet is redirected to form a vortex on each side of the incoming jet. The vortices alternate in strength and position to direct outflow through the common opening along one side and then the other of the inflowing jet. A spray-forming output chamber is arranged to receive the pulsating outflows from the aforementioned or other fluid oscillator and establish an output vortex which is thereby alternately spun in opposite directions. An outlet opening from the output chamber issues fluid in a sweeping spray pattern determined by the vectorial sum of a first vector, tangential to the output vortex and a function of the spin velocity, and a second vector, directed radially from the vortex and determined by the static pressure in the chamber. By increasing or decreasing the static pressure, or by increasing or decreasing the vortex spin velocity, the angle subtended by the sweeping spray can be controlled over an unusually large range. By properly configuring the oscillator and/or output chamber, concentrations and distribution of fluid in the spray pattern can be readily controlled.
36 Citations
81 Claims
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1. A fluid oscillator comprising:
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nozzle means for forming and issuing a jet of fluid in response to application thereto of fluid under pressure; an oscillation chamber having a common inlet and outlet opening, said oscillation chamber being positioned to receive said jet of fluid from said nozzle means through said common opening, said oscillation chamber including; oscillation means for cyclically oscillating said jet back and forth across said chamber in a direction substantially transverse to the direction of flow in said jet; and flow directing means for directing fluid from the cyclically oscillated jet out of said chamber through said common inlet and outlet opening. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
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51. A spray-forming device comprising:
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means for providing first and second fluid repetitive flows of varying amplitudes and different phases; a chamber having peripheral walls; means for directing said first and second fluid flows in opposite generally tangential directions into said chamber along said peripheral walls; means for converting the fluid from said first and second fluid flows into an output vortex which fills said chamber and which alternately spins in first and second opposite directions about a spin axis in response to inflowing of said first and second fluid flows to said chamber; and outlet means displaced from said spin axis for providing an outflow flow from said chamber to ambient environment, which output flow is cyclically swept back and forth as said vortex spins in said first and second directions, respectively. - View Dependent Claims (52, 53, 54, 55, 56)
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57. A spray-forming device comprising:
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means for providing first and second fluid repetitive flows of varying amplitudes and different phases; a chamber having peripheral walls; means for directing said first and second fluid flows in opposite generally tangential directions into said chamber along said peripheral walls; means for converting the fluid from the inflowing fluid flows into an output vortex which fills said chamber and which alternately spins in first and second opposite directions in response to inflowing of said first and second fluid flows to said chamber; and outlet means for providing an output flow from said chamber to ambient environment, which output flow is cyclically swept back and forth as said vortex spins in said first and second directions, respectively, said outlet means comprising means for forming said output flow into a sheet of fluid expanding normal to the direction in which said output flow is cyclically swept.
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58. A spray-forming device comprising:
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means for providing first and second fluid repetitive flows of varying amplitudes and different phases; a chamber having peripheral walls; means for directing said first and second fluid flows in opposite generally tangential directions into said chamber along said peripheral walls; means for converting the fluid from the inflowing fluid flows into an output vortex which fills said chamber and which alternately spins in first and second opposite directions in response to inflowing of said first and second fluid flows to said chamber; and outlet means for providing an output flow from said chamber to ambient environment, which output flow is cyclically swept back and forth as said vortex spins in said first and second directions, respectively, said chamber being between first and second sidewalls which converge toward said outlet means.
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59. A spray-forming device comprising:
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means for providing first and second fluid repetitive flows of varying amplitudes and different phases; a chamber having peripheral walls; means for directing said first and second fluid flows in opposite generally tangential directions into said chamber along said peripheral walls; means for converting the fluid from the inflowing fluid flows into an output vortex which fills said chamber and which alternately spins in first and second opposite directions in response to inflowing of said first and second fluid flows to said chamber; and outlet means for providing an output flow from said chamber to ambient environment, which output flow is cyclically swept back and forth as said vortex spins in said first and second directions, respectively, said first and second fluid repetitive flows comprising first and second pulse trains, the device further comprising first and second flow dividers positioned in the paths of said first and second pulse trains, respectively, to divide the fluid pulses into two separate pairs, said flow dividers each having curved walls shaped to direct the divided pulse flows rotationally in said chamber.
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60. A spray-forming device comprising:
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means for providing first and second fluid repetitive flows of varying amplitudes and different phases; a chamber having peripheral walls; means for directing said first and second fluid flows in opposite generally tangential directions in said chamber along said peripheral walls; means for converting the fluid from the inflowing fluid flows into an output vortex which fills said chamber and which alternately spins in first and second opposite directions in response to inflowing of said first and second fluid flows in said chamber; and outlet means for providing an output flow from said chamber to ambient environment, which output flow is cyclically swept back and forth as said vortex spins in said first and second directions, respectively; said chamber being semi-spherical and said means for directing first and second fluid flows comprising first and second substantially co-planar flow passages arranged to issue said first and second fluid flows in opposite tangential directions into said chamber, and wherein said outlet means includes an opening from said chamber to ambient residing in the plane of said first and second flow passages. - View Dependent Claims (61, 62, 63, 64, 65)
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66. The method of providing an oscillating fluid flow comprising the steps of:
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issuing a fluid jet into a chamber through a common opening to impinge upon a wall of said chamber; dividing the impinging jet into two oppositely recirculating vortical flow patterns, one on each side of said jet, which increase and decrease in size in phase opposition; and alternately flowing fluid from said two vortical flow patterns out of said chamber through said common opening.
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67. A device for spraying liquid comprising:
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a body member; an inlet for receiving pressurized liquid into said body member; first and second outlet openings for issuing pressurized liquid from said body member in predetermined general directions into ambient environment; and sweeping means inside said body member for sweeping the liquid issued from said outlet openings back and forth transversely of said predetermined general directions to provide two simultaneous swept spray patterns. - View Dependent Claims (68)
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69. A spray device comprising:
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a body member having a chamber region therein, an inlet opening for conducting pressurized liquid into said chamber region, and at least first and second outlet openings for issuing pressurized liquid from said chamber region to ambient environment; fluid oscillator means in said chamber region for providing alternating oppositely-directed fluid vortices in response to conduction of said pressurized liquid into said chamber region; and means responsive to said alternating fluid vortices for causing fluid to issue in cyclically swept patterns from each of said first and second outlet openings.
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70. The method of oscillating a fluid jet comprising the steps of:
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issuing said jet into a chamber having a common inlet and outlet opening; forming alternating oppositely-directed fluid vortices in said chamber from the fluid in said jet; and
,under the influence of said alternating vortices, alternately directing fluid to opposite sides of said jet and out of said chamber through said common inlet and outlet opening. - View Dependent Claims (71)
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72. A spray-forming device comprising:
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fluid oscillator means for receiving a flowing fluid and separating it into first and second fluid signals of varying amplitude and different phases; a chamber including means for receiving said first and second fluid signals of varying amplitudes and different phases; means for converting said fluid signals into a single body of vortically spinning fluid which fills said chamber and alternately spins in first and second directions in response to inflowing of said first and second signals to said chamber; and outlet means for providing an output spray from said chamber to ambient environment, said spray being swept back and forth as said vortically spinning fluid spins in said first and second directions, respectively.
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73. A spray-forming device comprising:
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means for providing first and second fluid repetitive flows of varying amplitudes and different phases; a chamber having peripheral walls; means for directing said first and second fluid flows in opposite generally tangential directions into said chamber along said peripheral walls; means for converting the fluid from the inflowing fluid flows into an output vortex which fills said chamber and which alternately spins in first and second opposite directions in response to inflowing of said first and second fluid flows to said chamber; and outlet means for providing an output flow from said chamber to ambient environment, which output flow is cyclically swept back and forth as said vortex spins in said first and second directions, respectively; said chamber having top and bottom walls and sidewalls, said output vortex being constrained to flow in a plane which is substantially parallel to at least one of said top and bottom walls; said outlet means comprising an opening in said sidewalls which communicates between the chamber interior and ambient environment for issuing fluid from said chamber at a velocity which is the vectorial sum of a first vector directed tangentially to said output vortex at said outlet means and a second vector directed radially outward from said output vortex, said first vector being determined by the spin velocity of said vortex at said outlet means, said second vector being determined by the static pressure at said outlet means. - View Dependent Claims (74, 75)
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76. A spray-forming device comprising:
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means for providing first and second fluid repetitive flows of varying amplitudes and different phases; a chamber having peripheral walls; means for directing said first and second fluid flows in opposite generally tangential directions into said chamber along said peripheral walls; means for converting the fluid from the inflowing fluid flows into an output vortex which fills said chamber and which alternately spins in first and second opposite directions in response to inflowing of said first and second fluid flows to said chamber; and outlet means for providing an output flow from said chamber to ambient environment, which output flow is cyclically swept back and forth as said vortex spins in said first and second directions, respectively; said chamber having top and bottom walls and sidewalls, said output vortex being constrained to flow in a plane which is substantially parallel to at least one of said top and bottom walls; said outlet means comprising a plurality of openings in said sidewalls which communicate between the chamber interior and ambient environment for issuing fluid from said chamber at a velocity which is the vectorial sum of a first vector directed tangentially to said output vortex at said outlet means and a second vector directed radially outward from said output vortex, said first vector being determined by the spin velocity of said vortex at said outlet means, said second vector being determined by the static pressure at said outlet means.
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77. A spray-forming device comprising:
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means for providing first and second fluid repetitive flows of varying amplitudes and different phases; a chamber having peripheral walls; means for directing said first and second fluid flows in opposite generally tangential directions into said chamber along said peripheral walls; means for converting the fluid from the inflowing fluid flows into an output vortex which fills said chamber and which alternately spins in first and second opposite directions in response to inflowing of said first and second fluid flows to said chamber; and
,outlet means for providing an output flow from said chamber to ambient environment, which output flow is cyclically swept back and forth as said vortex spins in said first and second directions, respectively; said chamber having top and bottom walls and sidewalls, said output vortex being constrained to flow in a plane which is substantially parallel to at least one of said top and bottom walls; said outlet means comprising an opening in the periphery of said chamber which communicates between the chamber interior and ambient environment for issuing fluid from said chamber at a velocity which is the vectorial sum of a first vector directed tangentially to said output vortex at said outlet means and a second vector directed radially outward from said output vortex, said first vector being determined by the spin velocity of said vortex at said outlet means, said second vector being determined by the static pressure at said outlet means; and
,said opening comprising a notch defined through said top and bottom walls and said sidewalls.
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78. A spray-forming device comprising:
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means for providing first and second fluid repetitive flows of varying amplitudes and different phases; a chamber having peripheral walls; means for directing said first and second fluid flows in opposite generally tangential directions into said chamber along said peripheral walls; means for converting the fluid from the inflowing fluid flows into an output vortex which fills said chamber and which alternately spins in first and second opposite directions in response to inflowing of said first and second fluid flows to said chamber; and
,outlet means for providing an output flow from said chamber to ambient environment, which output flow is cyclically swept back and forth as said vortex spins in said first and second directions, respectively; said chamber having top and bottom walls and sidewalls, said output vortex being constrained to flow in a plane which is substantially parallel to at least one of said top and bottom walls; said outlet means comprising an opening in the periphery of said chamber which communicates between the chamber interior and ambient environment for issuing fluid from said chamber at a velocity which is the vectorial sum of a first vector directed tangentially to said output vortex at said outlet means and a second vector directed radially outward from said output vortex, said first vector being determined by the spin velocity of said vortex at said outlet means, said second vector being determined by the static pressure at said outlet means; and
,said outlet means issuing said output flow in the form of a cyclically swept sheet of fluid extending in width perpendicular to the plane of said output vortex.
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79. A spray-forming device comprising:
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means for providing first and second fluid repetitive flows of varying amplitudes and different phases; a semi-spherical chamber having peripheral walls; means for directing said first and second fluid flows in opposite generally tangential directions into said chamber along said peripheral walls; means for converting the fluid from the inflowing fluid flows into an output vortex which fills said chamber and which alternately spins in first and second opposite directions in response to inflowing of said first and second fluid flows to said chamber; and outlet means for providing an output flow from said chamber to ambient environment, which output flow is cyclically swept back and forth as said vortex spins in said first and second directions, respectively.
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80. A spray-forming device comprising:
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means for providing first and second fluid repetitive flows of varying amplitudes and different phases from a single incoming flow of substantially constant amplitude; a chamber having peripheral walls; means for directing said first and second fluid flows in opposite generally tangential directions into said chamber along said peripheral walls; means for converting the fluid from said first and second fluid flows into a single output vortex which fills said chamber and which alternately spins in first and second opposite directions in response to inflowing of said first and second fluid flows to said chamber; and outlet means for providing an output flow from said chamber to ambient environment, which output flow is cyclically swept back and forth as said vortex spins in said first and second directions, respectively.
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81. A spray-forming device comprising:
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means for providing first and second fluid repetitive flows of varying amplitudes and different phases; a chamber having peripheral walls; means for directing said first and second fluid flows in opposite generally tangential directions into said chamber along said peripheral walls; means for converting the fluid from the inflowing fluid flows into an output vortex which fills said chamber and which alternately spins in first and second opposite directions in response to inflowing of said first and second fluid flows to said chamber; and outlet means for providing an output flow from said chamber to ambient environment, which output flow is cyclically swept back and forth as said vortex spins in said first and second directions, respectively; said chamber having top and bottom walls and sidewalls, said output vortex being constrained to flow in a plane which is substantially parallel to at least one of said top and bottom walls; and
,said outlet means comprising an elongated slot extending radially in one of said top and bottom walls.
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Specification