Wash arm and method and apparatus for forming the same

• US 4,582,259 A
• Filed: 09/12/1984
• Issued: 04/15/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/1984
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Premark FEG LLC (Illinois Tool Works Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hobart Corporation (Illinois Tool Works Inc.)
• Inventors: McMahon, William H., Hoover, Richard D.
• Primary Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wallace, Ronald S.
• Application Number:
  US06/649,586
• Time in Patent Office: 580 Days
• Field of Search: 29/157 C, 29/DIG. 26, 72/316, 72/335, 72/367, 239/251, 239/559, 239/567, 239/DIG. 1, 134/104, 134/172, 134/175, 134/176, 134/179, 134/198, 134/199
• US Class Current: 239/559
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/42 Details
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 1/20 Arrangements of several outlets along elongated bodies, e.g. perforated pipes or troughs, e.g. spray booms spray booms for agricultural uses A01M7/0071; spray bars for treating roads E01C19/176; Outlet elements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B21D 28/28 in tubes or other hollow bodies
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 239/01 Pattern sprinkler
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 29/026 Method or apparatus with machining
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49433 Sprayer

Abstract

A method of forming a spray nozzle along a fluid conduit includes forming a hole into a length of tubing and then providing a countersink for the hole. A portion of the tubing is then depressed inwardly along an imaginary line along the tubing outer surface that is parallel to the central tube axis and that passes over the hole. An apparatus for carrying out the method is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A method of forming a spray nozzle along a fluid conduit comprising the steps of:

forming a hole into a length of ductile tubing having an inner surface, an outer surface, and a central tube axis, said hole defining an opening having an axis substantially radial to said central tube axis;

providing a countersink for said hole whereby said opening is of greater diameter on said outer surface of said tubing than on said inner surface; and

depressing inwardly a portion of said tubing along a line parallel to said central tube axis extending along said outer surface of said tubing and passing over said hole.

2. The method as defined in claim 1, comprising the further step of subsequent to providing said countersink, supporting said tubing around substantially the entire portion of said outer surface, and wherein said depressing inwardly of said tubing is performed by:

positioning against said outer surface of said tubing a wedge having a leading edge, said edge being disposed against said outer surface along said line and directed toward said central tube axis; and

forcing said wedge radially against said tubing, whereby said outer surface along said line is moved toward said central tube axis.

3. A fluid conduit having a spray nozzle formed therein by the method defined in claim 1, wherein said hole is formed as a circular hole, whereby the spray nozzle defines an oval spray opening on said outer surface of said tubing having a greater dimension parallel to said central tube axis, and wherein said inwardly depressed portion of said tubing defines an elongated depression having an axis parallel to said centeral tube axis and a pair of opposed, generally planar side walls.

4. A method of forming a plurality of spray nozzles along a fluid conduit comprising the steps of:

drilling a plurality of holes into a length of ductile tubing having an inner surface, an outer surface, and a central tube axis, said holes defining an opening having an axis substantially radial to said central tube axis and being drilled along a line parallel to said central tube axis extending along said outer surface;

providing a countersink for each of said holes whereby said openings are of greater diameter on said outer surface of said tubing than on said inner surface; and

depressing inwardly at least a portion of said tubing along said line including each segment thereof passing over any of said holes, said depressing being carried out to a depth which distorts each of said holes to be of essentially equal or greater diameter on said inner surface at right angles to said line, thereby forming a spray nozzle at each of said holes that provides a spray pattern, when said tubing is under liquid pressure, that defines a fan parallel to said central tube axis and that is of relative flat narrow width at right angles to said fan.

5. The method as defined in claim 4, wherein the depressing inwardly of said tubing forms a plurality of depressions along said line, one of said depressions being formed about each of said holes.

6. The method as defined in claim 4, wherein the depressing inwardly of said tubing forms a single depression along said line, said depression being formed to extend across all of said holes.

7. The method as defined in claim 4, comprising the further step of following the drilling and providing a countersink for each of said holes, deburring each of said holes.

8. The method as defined in claim 4, comprising the further step of subsequent to providing said countersink for each of said holes, supporting said tubing around substantially the entire portion of said outer surface, and wherein said depressing inwardly of said tubing is performed by:

positioning against said outer surface of said tubing at least one wedge having a leading edge, said edge being disposed against said outer surface along said line and directed toward said central tube axis; and

forcing said wedge radially against said tubing, whereby said outer surface along said line is moved toward said central tube axis.

9. The method as defined in claim 4, wherein said holes are drilled along said line but off-center therefrom such that when said tubing is under liquid pressure, said spray patterns are formed non-radially from said tubing.

10. The method as defined in claim 9, wherein said holes are drilled off-center to either side of said line in alternating but uniform fashion.

11. A fluid conduit having a plurality of spray nozzles formed therein by the method defined in claim 4, wherein said holes are formed as circular holes, whereby the spray nozzles define a plurality of oval spray openings on said outer surface of said tubing with each having a greater dimension parallel to said central tube axis, and wherein said inwardly depressed portions of said tubing define a plurality of elongated depressions, with each of said depressions having an axis parallel to said centeral tube axis and a pair of opposed, generally planar side walls.

12. A fluid conduit having a plurality of spray nozzles formed therein by the method defined in claim 4, wherein said holes are drilled along said line but off-center to either side of said line in alternating uniform fashion.

13. A fluid conduit having a plurality of spray nozzles formed therein by the method defined in claim 4, wherein said tubing is formed from stainless steel.

14. Apparatus for forming a spray nozzle into a length of ductile cylindrical tubing, said tubing having an inner surface, an outer surface and a central tube axis, and defining a hole therethrough substantially radial to said central tube axis, said hole being provided with a countersink whereby said hole is of greater diameter on said outer surface than on said inner surface, said apparatus comprising:

means for releasably supporting said tubing around substantially the entire portion of said outer surface;

a wedge having a leading edge slidably carried within an opening through said supporting means for positioning of said leading edge against said outer surface of said tubing when held within said supporting means, said wedge being disposed adjacent said outer surface to extend axially of said tubing and across said hole; and

means for causing relative movement of said wedge with respect to said supporting means inwardly against said tubing for depressing inwardly the portion thereof adjacent said wedge to a depth which distorts said hole to be of essentially equal or greater diameter on the inner surface at right angles to said leading edge, thereby forming a spray nozzle that provides a spray pattern, when said tubing is under liquid pressure, that defines a fan parallel to said central tube axis and that is of relative flat narrow width at right angles to said fan.

15. Apparatus as defined in claim 14, wherein said releasable supporting means includes a punch and a cooperation die, said die having a first semi-cylindrical trough defined therein of a diameter equal to the diameter of said tubing, and said punch having a second semi-cylindrical trough therein of a diameter equal to the diameter of the said tubing, said first and second troughs cooperating to firmly support the outer surface of said tubing during depression of said tubing by said wedge.

16. Apparatus as defined in claim 15, wherein said opening defined through said supporting means is defined through said die.

17. Apparatus as defined in claim 16, further comprising means for locating said tubing within said second trough such that said hole is positioned over said opening to cause said leading edge of said wedge to contact said tubing across said hole.

18. Apparatus for forming a spray nozzle into a length of ductile cylindrical tubing, said tubing having an inner surface, an outer surface and a central tube axis, and defining a hole therethrough substantially radial to said central tube axis, said hole being provided with a countersink whereby said hole is of greater diameter on said outer surface than on said inner surface, said apparatus comprising:

means for releasably supporting said tubing around substantially the entire portion of said outer surface;

a wedge having a leading edge slidably carried within an opening through said supporting means for positioning of said leading edge against said outer surface of said tubing when held within said supporting means, said wedge being disposed adjacent said outer surface to extend axially of said tubing and across said hole; and

means for causing relative movemnt of said wedge with respect to said supporting means inwardly against said tubing for depressing inwardly the portion thereof adjacent said wedge to a depth which distorts said hole to be of essentially equal or greater diameter on the inner surface at right angles to said leading edge, thereby forming a spray nozzle that provides a spray pattern, when said tubing is under liquid pressure, that defines a fan parallel to said central tube axis and that is of relative flat narrow width at right angles to said fan;

said releasable supporting means including a punch and a cooperating die, said die having a first semi-cylindrical trough defined therein of a diameter equal to the diameter of said tubing, and said punch having a second semi-cylindrical trough therein of a diameter equal to the diameter of the said tubing, said first and second troughs cooperating to firmly support the outer surface of said tubing during depression of said tubing by said wedge;

said opening defined through said supporting means being defined through said die;

and wherein said means for causing relative movement of said wedge includes;

means for fixedly mounting said wedge;

means for movably supporting said die over said fixed mounting means such that said wedge is normally disposed within said opening but outside of said second trough;

means for movably supporting said punch over said die;

ram means for selectively moving said punch downwardly into contact with said die, and thereafter, moving said punch and said die downwardly toward said fixed mounting means, whereby said wedge is moved into said second trough; and

means for biasing said die in an upward direction such that upon withdrawing said punch from said die by upward movement of said ram means, said die is moved upwardly from said mounting means, whereby said wedge is moved out of said second trough.