Spray nozzle

The present invention relates to a spray nozzle for mounting on a output channel of a fluid dispensing device for dividing said product fluid into fine droplets. Some fluid products such as fragrances, for example, are preferably distributed in vaporized or powdered form to increase the dispersion of product and avoid excessive localized application. To do this, a nozzle is used spray mounted on the output channel of the dispensing device which is usually a pump or a valve.

The spray nozzles are usually integrated in the push button pump or valve, in which case they move vertically upon actuation of device. They may also be secured to a part of the device that remains static upon actuation.

Figures 1 to 4 illustrate a conventional spray nozzle of the prior art incorporated in a push button 100. Figure 1 is a a front view of the nozzle, then the nozzle was removed to reveal the interior of the nozzle. Pushbutton 100 is in the form of a small cylinder closed at its upper end by a ergonomic curved surface 118 adapted to the application of a finger. The cylinder is constructed with a cylindrical housing 110 which is partially filled by a core 111 to form cylindrical which extends horizontally at the center of the housing 110. An annular space 114 is thus created between the cylindrical inner wall of the housing 110 and the core 111. A window 112 connects the annulus 114 with an internal channel 117, as can be see Figures 2 and 3. The internal channel 117 receives the end of a hollow rod actuator 103.

The core 111 has a smooth front surface 119. A nozzle 102 is fitted to force on the core 111 as seen in FIG 3. The nozzle 102 is in the as a small bucket whose bottom is an orifice 121, Spray said. The nozzle thus comprises a bottom and an annular skirt 122 which is engaged by force in the annular space 114 (Fig. 1). The inner wall of the skirt is made with three channels 113 of angularly distributed power and extending over the entire height of the skirt 122. The skirt does not come in contact with the bottom of the annular space 114 so that there is a annular passage 115 which communicates the window with the feed channels 113 (Fig. 3). On the other hand, the bottom of the nozzle 102 has a structured internal wall 129 in which are formed three swirl channels 125 and a chamber swirl 124 centered on the spray orifice 121 (Fig. 4). Channels swirl and the swirl chamber are complemented by tight implementation the inner surface 129 of the nozzle against the smooth end surface 119 of the core. Canals Swirling are thus isolated from each other. The three channels swirl 125 are each in communication with one of three supply channels 113. The fluid dispensed by the pump or the valve thus flows through the stem hollow 103, the inner channel 117, the window 112, the annular passage 115, the three channels power, the three swirl channels, the swirl chamber and the spray orifice.

In this nozzle of the prior art, as in those disclosed in FR-2325434 and DE-3314020, the height of the nozzle is directly related to the height of the nozzle, and therefore its structure.

The present invention aims to reduce the height of the nozzle, thereby reduce the total height of the dispensing device.

To do this, the present invention aims to a spray nozzle for mounted on an output channel of a fluid dispensing device for dividing said fluid into fine droplets, said nozzle comprising a core and a nozzle together defining: hermetically received in a housing of said nozzle, said core and nozzle<ul><li>a swirl chamber which communicates with the outside through via a spray orifice formed in said nozzle, and</li><li>several swirl channels which open into the chamber swirling non-radially,</li></ul>nozzle and housing having an oblong shape the large longitudinal axis extends in a plane horizontal when the nozzle is mounted on the outlet channel of the dispensing device.

This embodiment has the effect of decreasing the height of the nozzle: while a conventional nozzle in a circle as could be seen in reference to Figure 1, the nozzle according to the invention is in the same circle, but only with his great lying longitudinal axis. Therefore, the nozzle is much less high a nozzle classic, which reduces the height of the room in which it is formed or integrated, such as a push button.

Another problem of the spray nozzles of the prior art lies in the fact that the feeding and swirl channels are supplied by a single window 112. However, the angular arrangement of the supply and swirl channels is defined at mounting the nozzle which is not angularly oriented so that a channel Power and swirling can for example be positioned just to the right of the window and thus be favored over the other two. It follows a bad distribution of the fluid product from the window in the various channels. this disadvantage is inevitable given that it is impossible to find a configuration that puts the three feed channels and swirl in the same flow relationship by relative to the window. This maldistribution of the flow has the effect malformation of the vortex in the vortex chamber which results in a poor spray quality. According to the invention, this problem is solved by providing advantageously the vortex channels communicate with the outlet channel the spray device via several supply conduits symmetrical to each of the corresponding swirl channels a duct power, so that all the vortex channels are fed with product fluid equally. This ensures that the fluid flow path is identical for each of the swirl channels.

Preferably, the supply lines are two in number, extending on side of the core in a horizontal plane.

A height reduction is possible, while providing food perfectly balanced swirl channels. Thus, a smaller nozzle is made, Moreover having an improved dynamic behavior. Moreover, as the size of the nozzle is reduced, the bearing surface of the fluid on the nozzle is also reduced. Specifically, the nozzle does not need to be fitted with such a large force that in the prior art. For example, for a conventional nozzle, the nozzle must resist Pressure 30.10⁵ Pa, while for a nozzle according to the invention, a pressure of 12 to 15.10⁵ Pa enough. It is therefore easier to hang a nozzle according to the invention, since the attachment means does not need to withstand high pressures.

On the other hand, the spraying of the fluid is achieved by the vortex that is created in the whirl chamber, that the swirl channels open in the non-radially chamber. The fluid therefore undergoes a movement swirling in the chamber which generates a centrifugal acceleration before going out in through the spray orifice which is perfectly centered on the vortex eye. The product emitted fluid is then distributed in the atmosphere with a conical dispersion.

It is essential that the spray opening is perfectly centered on the eye vortex, otherwise the fluid is distributed with large droplets, because it is in the eye of the vortex that the acceleration is greatest. This requires that the nozzle is molded with high precision, so that the swirl chamber is exactly centered on the spray orifice. In addition, the swirl channels must also be molded very accurately, and the supply channels. The nozzle therefore a high-precision piece. In addition, the fitting of the nozzle on the core must also be performed with high accuracy.

To simplify the design of the nozzle by reducing the requirements of tolerances, said vortex channels and at least a portion of the swirl chamber are formed in a front wall of the core, the nozzle having an inner wall sealing contact with said front wall of the core to isolate the channels vortexing each other.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the nozzle forms a part of the chamber swirling. The swirl chamber is made of two parts, one formed in the front wall of the core and the other in the nozzle. The party formed in the nozzle corresponds to where the eye of the vortex shape. It was noted that, although the two chamber parts are not exactly aligned, the eye of the vortex will form when same in a centered manner on the spray orifice, provided of course that the orifice of Spraying is perfectly centered in the chamber portion formed in the nozzle. If both parties are not perfectly aligned, the vortex is simply a little deformed, but its acceleration properties remain intact. This is the part of chamber formed in the nozzle which determines the formation position of the eye of the vortex.

Advantageously, the nozzle has a symmetry relative to a plane extending perpendicular to the axis passing through the spray orifice, so that the present nozzle two identical sides making it reversible. The nozzle is then presented simply in the form of a breakthrough oblong pellet with a central hole formed between two recesses symmetrical cylindrical defining the two parts of swirl chamber. The nozzle includes no annular skirt as is the case in the prior art. he follows, therefore, a considerable simplification of the nozzle which provides benefits at different levels. First, the nozzle is reversible due to its symmetry, thereby simplifying the orientation of the nozzle during its mounting on the core. Then, the nozzle requires less material because of its small size and the lack of annular skirt. On the other hand, it is simpler molding with a mold into two identical parts. Finally, room parties symmetrical with centered spray port are easier to achieve because the pin necessary for molding is shorter, thereby increasing its accuracy. So we can molding a nozzle according to the invention with great precision using spindle more easy to manipulate.

According to another feature, the nozzle is hermetically received in a housing containing the feed ducts and the core, said nozzle being provided on its periphery contact with said housing a sealing cord which bites into the material constituting said housing. The nozzle is engaged strength in the housing and is held by a kind of harpoon effect. Using materials required, we manage to get such commitment regarding interference. Advantageously, said nozzle has a penetration peripheral chamfer to facilitate mounting of said nozzle in said housing. During assembly, the jet does not need to be brought so perfectly centered around housing. If this is not the case, the chamfers penetration refocus automatically the nozzle on its housing. On the other hand, the output channel of the device of Spray has a free end that communicates with crenellated ducts the nozzle feed. There was thus no need to provide any arrangement to the nozzle to permit flow of fluid out of the outlet channel. This also allows to further reduce the height of the nozzle.

The nozzle may be integral with a push-button mounted on a rod actuating hollow defining the outlet channel.

The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, giving by way of nonlimiting example, an embodiment of the present invention.

In the drawings:<ul><li>Figures 1 to 4 show the prior art and have already been discussed above; However :<ul><li>Figure 1 is a front view of a push button incorporating a nozzle spraying the prior art, the nozzle jet having been removed to leave appear inside the nozzle,</li><li>Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view through the push button and nozzle of the prior art of Figure 1,</li><li>Figure 3 is an enlarged view of the spray nozzle of Figures 1 and 2 with the nozzle in place,</li><li>Figure 4 is a top view of the nozzle of Figure 3,</li></ul></li><li>Figures 5 to 10 show one embodiment of a spray nozzle assembly the invention. In the drawings:<ul><li>Figure 5 is a front view of a push button incorporating a nozzle spraying carried out according to the present invention, the nozzle of the nozzle having been removed to see inside the nozzle.</li><li>Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view of the pushbutton and the nozzle assembly the invention of Figure 5,</li><li>Figure 7 is a horizontal sectional view of the pushbutton and the nozzle according to the invention of Figure 5, with the nozzle in place,</li><li>Figures 8 to 10 are enlarged views of the nozzle according to the invention, respectively front, side and sectional.</li></ul></li></ul>

Referring to Figures 5 to 7, the push button is designated in this example by the reference numeral 1. It is intended to be fitted on an output channel such as a rod actuating hollow 3 of a fluid dispenser device such as a pump or a valve. The spray nozzle made according to one embodiment of the invention is integrated in the push-button 1, as is usually customary. However, the spray nozzle will now be described in detail can equally well be incorporated to another element of a spray device incorporating an outlet channel. The invention relates to the structure of the nozzle and not at its disposal in relation to dispensing device. The embodiment chosen to illustrate the invention uses however the use spray nozzle in a general form pushbutton classic.

The push button 1 is in the form of a small hollow cylinder closed at its upper end by a surface 18 adapted to receive a pressure exerted by a finger for example. The push-button 1 on its cylindrical portion comprises an elongated housing 10 in which is received a correspondingly shaped nozzle. Figures 5 and 6 show the pushbutton with the nozzle removed to reveal the interior of the elongated housing 10. It contains a core 11 partially filling said housing 10 and two ducts 12 13 and said supply which sink into the push button on either side of the core extending parallel in a horizontal plane, when the surface 18 is directed towards the up, as shown in Figures 5 and 6. As in a conventional manner, the core is surrounded by an annular passage (see 114, Fig. 1), according to the invention, there are two ducts separate power 12 and 13 which extend towards the center of the push button 1 where they intercept an internal channel 17 formed in the push button is engaged wherein forces the hollow actuating rod 3 of the dispensing device. The core is no longer a projecting pin surrounded by an annular space, but is directly connected by its parts above and below the mass constituting the push-button 1, as shown in the Figures 5 and 6. The core does not project more freely forward, but made literally part of the push button. Somehow, the kernel is a partition for the two supply ducts 12, 13. The core 11 extends radially inwardly of the push button and ends just before flowing into the internal channel 17 in which is mounted the actuator rod 3.

The latter has an open upper end 30 which is formed with a castellation whose tips are in abutment against the upper wall of the inner channel which defines also a portion of the thrust surface 18. With this serration, the fluid can flow out of the actuating rod 3 without it being necessary to provide a any means to the upper wall of the inner channel 17 to prevent the open upper end 30 of the rod 3 is in sealing contact with the wall top of inner channel 17, which would prevent the flow of fluid. We win and height since actuating rod 3 penetrates maximally in the pushbutton 1.

Note that with this particular arrangement of the supply lines 12, 13 and internal channel 17, the flow of fluid in the conduits 12, 13 is made of balanced and equally, because the two ducts 12, 13 connect the inner channel 17 symmetrically. The ducts 12, 13 each will always fed the same amount of fluid flow equal.

On the other hand, compared with a conventional nozzle of the prior art, where the channels supply 113 (Fig. 4) are extremely thin, the two supply conduits 12, 13 of the invention exhibit much higher working sections. Furthermore, as the ducts Power connect the internal channel 17 without realizing throttle, there is no loss of charge at this level, while in a conventional nozzle of the prior art, the window 112 (Fig. 1) was a cause of great loss just before charging channels supply 113. Thus, with the upper section of the supply conduits and good joint of these conduits with the internal channel, the swirl channels can be supplied with optimal fluid without creating loss before Entrance.

The core 11 has a front end wall 19 which is slightly recessed in 10 about 1 millimeter housing. This wall 19 is not flat, but incorporates, a swirl chamber portion 14 and two swirl channels 15 and 16 which open with one of their ends into the swirl chamber 14 not radially and with the other of their ends respectively in each of the supply conduits, as shown in Figure 5. While it is normally usual molding the chamber and swirl channels in the nozzle according to the present invention, they are molded in the core of the end wall 11. The pin used in the mold suitable for molding such a nozzle is of a relatively simple design. Indeed, This pin comprises two branches corresponding to the supply conduits 12 and 13 connected together by a bridge in which the negative of the room channel swirl is machined, eg by electro-erosion. The branches of the pin extend into the inner channel 17 which is formed by a further cylindrical pin whose upper end is inserted between the two arms of the core pin. That is why the core has a substantially trapeze to promote the engagement and disengagement of the pin of the inner channel respectively in and out the branches of the core pin. Looking at Figure 7, it is understood that the branches of the core pin engage in the internal channel 17. The portion of the nozzle spraying an integral part of the push button is very easy to achieve with only two very simple pin.

On a hydraulic plan, it should be noted that the swirl channels being given that each communicate with a supply conduit, are perfectly symmetrical with respect to the swirl chamber and which will be fed with fluid identically. It is a particularly advantageous feature, as this provides a perfect formation of the vortex in the vortex chamber.

It has been seen so far what the structure of part of the spray nozzle which is integral, that is to say molded in one piece with the push-button 1. The nozzle portion as described still requires the addition of a nozzle which is designated whole by reference numeral 2 in Figures 6 to 10. Reference is made more particularly 7 to 10 to explain its structure and function, because she represents an enlarged manner.

The nozzle 2, correspondingly to the shape of the housing 10 wherein it is received is elongate, ie wider than high. For example, the present nozzle a width of about 3 mm to a height of about 1 millimeter. these quantities should not be limiting. Compared to a conventional nozzle of the prior art, there is a gain nearly 2 millimeters in height affects the height of the push button 1. The nozzle is in the form of an oblong grain pierced by a central orifice 21 of said spray. The spray orifice is formed between two symmetrical recesses substantially cylindrical and he communicates that define each part of complementary swirl chamber 24 to the chamber portion 14 formed in the core 11. According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, the nozzle is symmetrical relative to a vertical plane perpendicular to the axis passing the center of the orifice of spraying and wherein is contained the longitudinal axis of the nozzle. This plan goes so between the two parts of swirl chamber 24, and thus makes the reversible nozzle, which explains the doubling of the complementary part 24 of the chamber swirling. Only one of the complementary parts of chamber 24 fulfill the function for which it is intended, the other then being used only as exhaust nozzle. This reversibility of the nozzle to remove an operation prior to orientation of the nozzle before mounting on the push button. this allows eliminate a baffle in the bowl for the orientation of the jet in string mounting.

For the attachment of the nozzle in the housing 10, preferably the technique used is the strength of commitment with regard to interference. To do this, the nozzle is provided on its outer oblong periphery of a sealing bead 22 which gives the nozzle a oversizing relative to the housing 10. By making the nozzle with a material harder than that of the push button, for example POM (polyoxymethylene) for nozzle and polyethylene for the push button, the bead 22 will bite into the internal wall of the housing by material deformation. To facilitate engagement of the nozzle in the housing 10, the nozzle is formed with penetration chamfers that enable automatically center the nozzle on its housing.

Once fully engaged in the slot 10, the nozzle is in contact with one of its faces 29, incorporating part of turbulence chamber 24, with the end wall 19 core incorporating chamber 14 and the channels 15, 16. The contact between the face 29 and the end wall 19 is sealed, so that the swirl channels are isolated from each other between full swirl chamber 14, 24 and respective ducts Power 12, 13.

In Figure 6, the front wall 19 of the core extends vertically when the nozzle is right outfit. Alternatively, it is possible to produce a core with a front wall acting an angle to the vertical. In this case, the nozzle would be fitted obliquely, so that the jet is sprayed with a scattering angle relative to the horizontal. We can imagine such a realization in a pharmaceutical application, for example, in wherein the fluid tank must remain vertically oriented while the product stream sprayed must be directed upwards with a predetermined scattering angle.

The swirl chamber which is traditionally formed only in the nozzle is constituted of two parts formed respectively in the one ring and the other in the nozzle. This division into two parts does not involve any complication at the formation of vortices in the vortex chamber, as it has been noticed that the eye of vortex is always formed at the center of the spray orifice, provided that the part of nozzle chamber is centered. In other words, the eye of the vortex formed in the orifice spray although the two chamber parts are not perfectly aligned. The precision in molding must be paid on the nozzle. Now it is much easier to molding a flat nozzle (without annular skirt 122; fig. 3) which is more fully symmetrical. In fact, the necessary mold consists only of two identical parts each incorporating a pin for forming the swirl chamber parts 24 and the spray orifice. The two pins are necessary and extremely short it is known that the molding accuracy is so much greater that the pins are short. Therefore, increased molding accuracy is achieved without use of more pins accurate. In the prior art, as the room was formed in the bottom of the nozzle, it had to use a longer pin, resulting in a loss of precision. Thanks to the invention, the nozzle is easily moldable with a minimum of material, using a mold simple two parties. It is also easy to mount the push button due to its and reversibility of the decrease in pressure which is exerted on it. Indeed, as the nozzle has a bearing surface which is more than twice less than that of a nozzle classic, the force acting on it is more than two times less, since the force is proportional to the bearing surface. Underperforming hooking means can therefore be used to insert the nozzle into the housing 10, the means described does constituting a preferred form.