Fluidic oscillator and spray-forming output chamber
First Claim
12. substantially rectangular. 18. The oscillator according to claim 12 wherein said oscillation chamber includes first and second sidewalls which extend from said far wall in said oscillation chamber to beyond said member to constitute first and second sidewalls, respectively, of said
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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.
44 Citations
61 Claims
- 12. substantially rectangular. 18. The oscillator according to claim 12 wherein said oscillation chamber includes first and second sidewalls which extend from said far wall in said oscillation chamber to beyond said member to constitute first and second sidewalls, respectively, of said
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30. said flowing fluid..]. 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
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36. one of said top and bottom walls. 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
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37. cyclically swept. 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 direction 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
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38. said outlet means. 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 cylically 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
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39. flows rotationally in said chamber. 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
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42. flow passages. 63. The device according to claim 62 wherein said first and second fluid flows comprise first and second pulse trains equal in frequency and displaced in phase by 180°
- and said third and fourth fluid flows comprise third and fourth pulse trains equal in frequency and
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43. displaced in phase by 180°
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44. displaced in phase by 90°
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45. the frequency of said third and fourth pulse trains. 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 .Iadd.which remain in said chamber.Iaddend., one on each side of said jet, which .Iadd.patterns .Iaddend.increase and decrease in size in phase opposition; alternately moving said vortical flow patterns in phase opposition between locations proximate said common opening and remote from said common opening; and .[.alternately.]. flowing fluid from said two vortical flow patterns out of said chamber .Iadd.in phase opposition .Iaddend.through said common opening .Iadd.such that more fluid egresses from the vortical flow pattern remote from said common opening than from the vortical flow pattern
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46. proximate said common opening.Iaddend.. 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
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47. general directions to provide two simultaneous swept spray patterns. 68. The device according to claim 67 wherein said means comprises:
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means for providing first and second repetitive fluid signal of varying amplitudes and different phases; a chamber; means for directing said first and second fluid signals into said chamber in opposite generally tangential directions; and means forming a vortex in said chamber from the fluid supplied from said first and second fluid signals, said vortex alternately spinning clockwise and counter-clockwise in response to said first and second fluid signals, respectively; wherein said first and second outlet openings are located at the periphery of said chamber and at the and issue pressurized liquid from said vortex outer edge of said vortex in a direction determined by the rotational
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48. speed and direction of said vortex. 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
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49. outlet openings. 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,.]..Iadd.retaining said vortices in said chamber while translating said vortices in phase opposition between locations proximate and remote from said common opening; and
.Iaddend.under the influence of said alternating vortices, alternately directing fluid to opposite sides of said jet.Iadd., around respective vortices, .Iaddend.and out of said chamber through said common inlet and outlet opening .Iadd.such that less flow is directed out of said chamber from around the vortex proximate said common opening than from around the
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50. vortex remote from said common opening.Iaddend.. 71. The method according to claim 70 wherein the step of forming comprises the steps of:
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impinging the issued jet against a peripheral wall of said chamber; and alternately directing fluid from the impinging jet in opposite tangential
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51. directions along said peripheral wall. 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. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32)
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52. 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
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- 53. the static pressure at said outlet means. 74. The device according to claim 73 wherein said opening is a slot having a length perpendicular to the plane of said output vortex which is greater than its width in the
- 54. plane of said output vortex. 75. The device according to claim 73 wherein said opening is a slot having a length in the plane of said output vortex which is greater than its width perpendicular to the plane of said output
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55. vortex. 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 - View Dependent Claims (35)
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56. the static pressure at said outlet means. 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
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57. and said sidewalls. 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
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58. output vortex. 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
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59. vortex spins in said first and second directions, respectively. 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
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60. vortex spins in said first and second directions, respectively. 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 - View Dependent Claims (40)
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- 61. said top and bottom walls. .Iadd.82. The method according to claim 66 wherein said step of alternately flowing includes the step of directing the fluid flowing out of said chamber sufficiently close to said jet in said common opening to produce mutual aspiration without momentum interchange between the jet and the flowing fluid. .Iaddend. .Iadd.83. The method according to claim 70 wherein the step of alternately directing fluid includes the step of directing that fluid sufficiently close to the jet in said common opening to produce mutual aspiration without momentum interchange between the jet and the directed fluid. .Iaddend.
Specification