SPRAY NOZZLE
United States Patent 3746262
A spray nozzle having a barrel or sleeve with a bowl-shaped discharge passage and jet stream orifice at its fore end, and a stem threaded in the sleeve for relative longitudinal movement and forming therewith a shut-off valve with an outlet chamber leading to the discharge passage. In the outlet chamber a longitudinally adjustable stem fore end portion is provided on which a cup-shaped member with angularly slotted passages in its sidewall is slidably mounted and resiliently urged against an enlarged head of the fore end. The stem fore end also has an internal passage to direct an axial stream forwardly of the cup. When the stem and sleeve are moved to close said shut-off valve, the cup is seated in covering relation to the discharge chamber, and when moved to a fully open position of the valve the cup is carried into spaced relation to the discharge chamber, said cup movement from closed to full open position progressively changing the spray pattern from a full cone fogging mist to a solid jet stream.
Inventors:
Bete, John U. (Marion, MA)
Burnham, Richard C. (Greenfield, MA)
Burnham, Richard C. (Greenfield, MA)
Application Number:
05/188535
Publication Date:
07/17/1973
Filing Date:
10/12/1971
View Patent Images:
Export Citation:
Assignee:
Bete Fog Nozzle, Inc. (Greenfield, MA)
Primary Class:
Other Classes:
239/459, 239/463, 239/581.200
International Classes:
B05B1/12; B05B1/30; B05B1/00; B05B1/34; B05B1/32
Field of Search:
239/451,456,457,458,459,460,463,472,473,475,480,483,485,492,574,581,582,583
Primary Examiner:
Ward Jr., Robert S.
Claims:
What is claimed is
1. In a spray nozzle assembly having stem and surrounding sleeve members provided with mating shut-off valve portions for valve opening and closing action by relative longitudinal movement between the members,
2. In a spray nozzle assembly having stem and surrounding sleeve members provided with mating shut-off valve portions for valve opening and closing action by relative longitudinal movement between the members,
3. The nozzle assembly of claim 2, in which,
4. The nozzle assembly of claim 3, in which,
5. The nozzle assembly of claim 4, in which,
6. The nozzle assembly of claim 5, in which,
1. In a spray nozzle assembly having stem and surrounding sleeve members provided with mating shut-off valve portions for valve opening and closing action by relative longitudinal movement between the members,
2. In a spray nozzle assembly having stem and surrounding sleeve members provided with mating shut-off valve portions for valve opening and closing action by relative longitudinal movement between the members,
3. The nozzle assembly of claim 2, in which,
4. The nozzle assembly of claim 3, in which,
5. The nozzle assembly of claim 4, in which,
6. The nozzle assembly of claim 5, in which,
Description:
BACKGROUND
This invention relates to spray nozzle constructions and in particular to a construction especially adapted for use as a fire hose nozzle.
The new nozzle utilizes an outer barrel or sleeve member with an inner stem member engaging the sleeve by threaded portions for relative longitudinal movement through sleeve rotation and so as to turn the nozzle on and off and vary the spray pattern. Such manual nozzle operation is conventional. The character of the spray patterns of the present nozzle are, however, unique to nozzles so operated.
Heretofore, in the prior art many different nozzles have been designed for specific end uses and various provisions have been made for producing sprays of different character and/or for controlling and changing or otherwise adjusting the pattern of the particular spray produced. The rotating sleeve or garden-hose nozzle is a widely used type. It is a primary object of the present invention to incorporate in a nozzle device operated by such conventional sleeve turning action for opening and closing a shut-off valve and means for producing by the same turning action a "full cone" fogging mist and a "solid" jet stream.
As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the advantages of a full-cone fog pattern, in contrast to a "hollow cone" pattern, and a solid straight jet stream, in contrast to a hollow jet stream, are self evident. Particularly, when used for fire fighting purposes a hollow cone spray will initially enclose or surround the area within the outline of the cone produced and is thus not nearly as effective as a full cone fog in which the mist and droplets of moisture are fully dispersed throughout the body of the space and so will blanket the area. A solid jet stream for similar reasons is likewise far preferable to the usual hollow or tubular jet spray. Insofar as is known, only hollow cone and tubular straight stream patterns have been produced by prior nozzle structures of the type in which the sleeve member is rotated for relative movement and operation of the shut-off valve. In prior nozzle designs for producing a full cone fog or a solid stream a separate shut-off valve has been typically required, such closure valve being independent of the mechanism for adjusting or changing the spray pattern.
A still further object of the present invention is to provide in a rotatable sleeve and stem type of nozzle provision for presetting the means for producing a conical fog pattern so that a continued turning of the sleeve after initially opening the valve can result in either a momentary cone pattern and then an immediate reduction of the cone angle in changing to a solid jet stream, or in the alternative, an initial dwell period during which the full cone spray may be maintained before changing to the solid jet stream. Thus, the action of the nozzle in this respect can be pre-set on assembly or latter adjusted according to individual preference as may be desired.
SUMMARY
This invention comtemplates in a preferrd embodiment a nozzle having a stem and a surrounding barrel or sleeve member threaded on the stem for relative longitudinal movement. The sleeve forwardly of its threaded section is formed with a valve inlet chamber section; a valve seating section; a valve outlet chamber section; and a bowl-shaped discharge passage at the fore end portion of the sleeve terminating in an axial spray orifice. The stem is formed with an inlet bore having radial outlet ports forwardly of its threaded section and communicating with the sleeve inlet chamber; an O-ring shut-off valve member; and a fore end portion extending into said outlet chamber section of the sleeve. The stem fore end comprises a headed pin threaded axially in the end of the stem body, a swirl cup slidably mounted on the pin back of the head and a spring surrounding the pin urging the cup against the head. The rim of the cup is engageable against a forward shoulder of the outlet chamber in surrounding relation to the discharge passage inlet, the cup sidewall having spaced angular slots connecting the outlet chamber with the discharge passage. Communication between the chamber and passage is also provided through an axial bore of the pin, having a radial inlet adjacent the inner end of the pin and an axial outlet centrally of the head.
When the sleeve is turned on the stem so that the stem O-ring engages the valve seat the headed pin and cup are in a position of forward extension relative to the valve outlet chamber, the cup being seated in covering relation to the sleeve discharging passage inlet and the head of the pin generally being advanced beyond the bottom of the cup.
From a shut-off position the sleeve may be rotated forwardly on the stem until the O-ring is displaced rearwardly of its seat and permits an annular flow around the O-ring into the outlet chamber. The cup at the end of the stem remains seated so that initial flow to the nozzle orifice is by way of the angular slots in the cup side wall supplemented by a center jet flow from the head of the pin. The angularly directed flow from the slots combined with a center jet from the pin creates a swirling action in the bowl-shapped discharge passage resulting in a full cone fog spray pattern.
As the sleeve is further advanced on the stem the head of the pin will engage the cup so that continued forward sleeve movement gradually separates the cup from its seated condition. Annular flow past the rim of the cup will then take place with progressively less swirling action in the discharge passage as the cup spacing is increased. Gradually the cone fog angle is reduced until the cup and discharge passage are separated in a fully open valve position at which time a substantially straight-through flow to the discharge passage produces a hard driving solid stream.
DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a fire hose nozzle assembly embodying the invention, the parts being in a closed valve position;
FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 showing the sleeve turned to a partially open valve position;
FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 showing the parts in the fully open valve position;
FIG. 4 is a front end view of the pattern control cup member at the end of the stem assembly shown by FIGS. 1-3; and
FIG. 5 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the stem fore end.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
In the drawings the nozzle assembly shown comprises a stem member, generally designated by numeral 2, and a barrel or sleeve member, generally designated by numeral 4, threaded on the stem and enclosing the same for relative movement therebetween.
Fixed on the inner end of stem 2 is a hex garden-hose type of attaching head 6 in which a connector (not shown) at the end of a flexible hose 8 may be suitably fixed. Forwardly of the head is an annular "keeper" groove or recessed portion at 10, formed between a rear shoulder of the stem and the shoulder of an annular O-ring seat 12 in which O-ring 14 is mounted for sealing the open end of sleeve 4; a threaded section at 16 for engaging the internally threaded section of the sleeve; a valve inlet section having a reduced diameter with radial passages or ports 18 therein leading from the end of an internal bore 20 of the stem, said bore extending from the hose connecting socket of head 6; a shut-off valve disk member having an O-ring seal 22 adapted to engage a cylindrical seat 24 of the sleeve; and an axial projection 26 on which is mounted a fore end stem portion comprising a means for adjustably controlling the spray pattern of the nozzle.
The spray pattern control, as shown, includes a headed post or pin 28 threaded in the end of projection 26. Slidably mounted on the end of the pin is a swirl cup 30 urged forwardly towards the head by spring 32 seated in surrounding relation to projection 26 and pin 28 and bearing against the bottom of the cup. As best shown by FIG. 4 the side wall of the cup is formed with a plurality of annularly spaced angular slots 34 for passage of liquid to the cup interior as will be later described. Liquid passage through the cup is also provided by an axial bore 36 of the pin, the bore outlet being in the head of the pin and the inlet being provided by radial openings as at 38.
Sleeve 4 at its fore end is provided with a forwardly tapering bowl-shaped nozzle discharge passage as at 40 leading to the nozzle spray orifice 42. Rearwardly of passage 40 the sleeve is formed with a valve outlet chamber section at 44 encasing the spray control means on the end of the stem. As shown, chamber 44 is shouldered adjacent passage 40 and provided with an annular seat at 46 against which the rim of cup 30 may be engaged in a covering relationship to discharge passage 40. At the other end of chamber 44 is the cylindrical shut-off valve seating portion 24 for receiving O-ring 16. Rearwardly of the seat a valve inlet chamber section is at 48, a threaded section at 50, and a cylindrical skirt section at 52 engaged by O-ring 14 and extending to the open inner end of the sleeve. Adjacent the end an opening is provided in the sleeve wall to receive the angled tip end of a wire clip at 54. The clip acts as a keeper to limit the relative longitudinal travel of the sleeve and stem. As shown, it is a right-angled wire piece, the longer end lying along the outer wall and held in position under the edge of a knurled rubber grip 56 provided for conveniently turning the sleeve. It will be apparent that sleeve travel forwardly on the stem will be limited by abutment of the projecting tip of the clip against the shouldered O-ring seat 12 and travel rearwardly is limited by abutment against the rear shoulder of recess 10. The clip may be easily removed as by inserting a small screwdriver blade or other tool under the exposed wire portion and lifting the clip from its seated position. The sleeve and stem may then be readily separated for purposes of inspection or repair.
In FIG. 1 the sleeve on the stem is in shut-off position. O-ring 22 is sealing passage to outlet chamber 44. The rim of cup 30 is spring pressed against annular seat 46 covering the entrance to discharge passage 40. It will be noted the head of pin 28 is disposed forwardly of the cup bottom wall. Thus, when the sleeve is turned forwardly on the stem and O-ring 22 is initially separated from seat 24 the valve is opened for restricted annular passage of liquid into outlet chamber 44, while cup 30 remains biased against seat 46. This relationship is shown by FIG. 2. Flow from the valve outlet chamber to the discharge passage 40 is thus through the angular slots 34 of the side wall and through the center passage 36 of pin 28. The angular flow combined with the center jet flow creates a swirling mixture in discharge passage 40 resulting in a full cone fog spray pattern at the nozzle orifice 42. The full cone spray pattern as above outlined is in contrast to the conventional hollow cone spray of prior standard nozzles and far more effective for fire fighting purposes.
Further turning and advance of the sleeve on the stem gradually increases the annular flow around O-ring 22 to outlet chamber 44 until the full open position is reached as shown by FIG. 3. In advancing the sleeve from the FIG. 2 to the FIG. 3 position it will be noted that the head of pin 28 will first engage the bottom of the cup and then the rim of the cup will be progressively separated from its annular seat 46. As this separation takes place annular flow around the cup is increased while the directional flow through slots 34 has progressively less directional effect in passage 40. The angle of a conical spray pattern is gradually reduced commencing with the cup and seat separation until in the fully open position of FIG. 3 a hard driving solid jet stream is produced. In this full open position slots 34 are exposed to flush out any foreign matter or debris which may have entered the nozzle passages.
In a typical embodiment of the nozzle, a single complete revolution of the sleeve from shut-off position may produce first a low volume fog then a full volume fog. Two more turns may then reduce the angle of the fog to the hard straight jet. As will be realized this sequence as related to the amount of angular sleeve movement may be modified by the relative position of the head of pin 28 with respect to the stem projection 26. The threaded connection of the pin in the tapped hole in projection 26 will permit a limited amount of adjustment of head extension. Thus the pin mounting may be set to separate the cup from its seat as may be desired for an early or a delayed reduction of the fog angle as the sleeve is turned forwardly from its closed valve position.
As will be apparent to those skilled in the art the drawings schematically illustrating the deep bowl-shaped surface contour of discharge passage 40 and orifice 42 are intended to indicate known paraboloidal surfaces and an orifice such as will produce solid hard driving jet streams. The combination thereof of the "floating" notched cup at the fore end of the stem having a center jet produces the full cone spray pattern and adjustment thereof by the same turning action as is utilized for opening and closing the nozzle shut-off valve.
This invention relates to spray nozzle constructions and in particular to a construction especially adapted for use as a fire hose nozzle.
The new nozzle utilizes an outer barrel or sleeve member with an inner stem member engaging the sleeve by threaded portions for relative longitudinal movement through sleeve rotation and so as to turn the nozzle on and off and vary the spray pattern. Such manual nozzle operation is conventional. The character of the spray patterns of the present nozzle are, however, unique to nozzles so operated.
Heretofore, in the prior art many different nozzles have been designed for specific end uses and various provisions have been made for producing sprays of different character and/or for controlling and changing or otherwise adjusting the pattern of the particular spray produced. The rotating sleeve or garden-hose nozzle is a widely used type. It is a primary object of the present invention to incorporate in a nozzle device operated by such conventional sleeve turning action for opening and closing a shut-off valve and means for producing by the same turning action a "full cone" fogging mist and a "solid" jet stream.
As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the advantages of a full-cone fog pattern, in contrast to a "hollow cone" pattern, and a solid straight jet stream, in contrast to a hollow jet stream, are self evident. Particularly, when used for fire fighting purposes a hollow cone spray will initially enclose or surround the area within the outline of the cone produced and is thus not nearly as effective as a full cone fog in which the mist and droplets of moisture are fully dispersed throughout the body of the space and so will blanket the area. A solid jet stream for similar reasons is likewise far preferable to the usual hollow or tubular jet spray. Insofar as is known, only hollow cone and tubular straight stream patterns have been produced by prior nozzle structures of the type in which the sleeve member is rotated for relative movement and operation of the shut-off valve. In prior nozzle designs for producing a full cone fog or a solid stream a separate shut-off valve has been typically required, such closure valve being independent of the mechanism for adjusting or changing the spray pattern.
A still further object of the present invention is to provide in a rotatable sleeve and stem type of nozzle provision for presetting the means for producing a conical fog pattern so that a continued turning of the sleeve after initially opening the valve can result in either a momentary cone pattern and then an immediate reduction of the cone angle in changing to a solid jet stream, or in the alternative, an initial dwell period during which the full cone spray may be maintained before changing to the solid jet stream. Thus, the action of the nozzle in this respect can be pre-set on assembly or latter adjusted according to individual preference as may be desired.
SUMMARY
This invention comtemplates in a preferrd embodiment a nozzle having a stem and a surrounding barrel or sleeve member threaded on the stem for relative longitudinal movement. The sleeve forwardly of its threaded section is formed with a valve inlet chamber section; a valve seating section; a valve outlet chamber section; and a bowl-shaped discharge passage at the fore end portion of the sleeve terminating in an axial spray orifice. The stem is formed with an inlet bore having radial outlet ports forwardly of its threaded section and communicating with the sleeve inlet chamber; an O-ring shut-off valve member; and a fore end portion extending into said outlet chamber section of the sleeve. The stem fore end comprises a headed pin threaded axially in the end of the stem body, a swirl cup slidably mounted on the pin back of the head and a spring surrounding the pin urging the cup against the head. The rim of the cup is engageable against a forward shoulder of the outlet chamber in surrounding relation to the discharge passage inlet, the cup sidewall having spaced angular slots connecting the outlet chamber with the discharge passage. Communication between the chamber and passage is also provided through an axial bore of the pin, having a radial inlet adjacent the inner end of the pin and an axial outlet centrally of the head.
When the sleeve is turned on the stem so that the stem O-ring engages the valve seat the headed pin and cup are in a position of forward extension relative to the valve outlet chamber, the cup being seated in covering relation to the sleeve discharging passage inlet and the head of the pin generally being advanced beyond the bottom of the cup.
From a shut-off position the sleeve may be rotated forwardly on the stem until the O-ring is displaced rearwardly of its seat and permits an annular flow around the O-ring into the outlet chamber. The cup at the end of the stem remains seated so that initial flow to the nozzle orifice is by way of the angular slots in the cup side wall supplemented by a center jet flow from the head of the pin. The angularly directed flow from the slots combined with a center jet from the pin creates a swirling action in the bowl-shapped discharge passage resulting in a full cone fog spray pattern.
As the sleeve is further advanced on the stem the head of the pin will engage the cup so that continued forward sleeve movement gradually separates the cup from its seated condition. Annular flow past the rim of the cup will then take place with progressively less swirling action in the discharge passage as the cup spacing is increased. Gradually the cone fog angle is reduced until the cup and discharge passage are separated in a fully open valve position at which time a substantially straight-through flow to the discharge passage produces a hard driving solid stream.
DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a fire hose nozzle assembly embodying the invention, the parts being in a closed valve position;
FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 showing the sleeve turned to a partially open valve position;
FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 showing the parts in the fully open valve position;
FIG. 4 is a front end view of the pattern control cup member at the end of the stem assembly shown by FIGS. 1-3; and
FIG. 5 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the stem fore end.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
In the drawings the nozzle assembly shown comprises a stem member, generally designated by numeral 2, and a barrel or sleeve member, generally designated by numeral 4, threaded on the stem and enclosing the same for relative movement therebetween.
Fixed on the inner end of stem 2 is a hex garden-hose type of attaching head 6 in which a connector (not shown) at the end of a flexible hose 8 may be suitably fixed. Forwardly of the head is an annular "keeper" groove or recessed portion at 10, formed between a rear shoulder of the stem and the shoulder of an annular O-ring seat 12 in which O-ring 14 is mounted for sealing the open end of sleeve 4; a threaded section at 16 for engaging the internally threaded section of the sleeve; a valve inlet section having a reduced diameter with radial passages or ports 18 therein leading from the end of an internal bore 20 of the stem, said bore extending from the hose connecting socket of head 6; a shut-off valve disk member having an O-ring seal 22 adapted to engage a cylindrical seat 24 of the sleeve; and an axial projection 26 on which is mounted a fore end stem portion comprising a means for adjustably controlling the spray pattern of the nozzle.
The spray pattern control, as shown, includes a headed post or pin 28 threaded in the end of projection 26. Slidably mounted on the end of the pin is a swirl cup 30 urged forwardly towards the head by spring 32 seated in surrounding relation to projection 26 and pin 28 and bearing against the bottom of the cup. As best shown by FIG. 4 the side wall of the cup is formed with a plurality of annularly spaced angular slots 34 for passage of liquid to the cup interior as will be later described. Liquid passage through the cup is also provided by an axial bore 36 of the pin, the bore outlet being in the head of the pin and the inlet being provided by radial openings as at 38.
Sleeve 4 at its fore end is provided with a forwardly tapering bowl-shaped nozzle discharge passage as at 40 leading to the nozzle spray orifice 42. Rearwardly of passage 40 the sleeve is formed with a valve outlet chamber section at 44 encasing the spray control means on the end of the stem. As shown, chamber 44 is shouldered adjacent passage 40 and provided with an annular seat at 46 against which the rim of cup 30 may be engaged in a covering relationship to discharge passage 40. At the other end of chamber 44 is the cylindrical shut-off valve seating portion 24 for receiving O-ring 16. Rearwardly of the seat a valve inlet chamber section is at 48, a threaded section at 50, and a cylindrical skirt section at 52 engaged by O-ring 14 and extending to the open inner end of the sleeve. Adjacent the end an opening is provided in the sleeve wall to receive the angled tip end of a wire clip at 54. The clip acts as a keeper to limit the relative longitudinal travel of the sleeve and stem. As shown, it is a right-angled wire piece, the longer end lying along the outer wall and held in position under the edge of a knurled rubber grip 56 provided for conveniently turning the sleeve. It will be apparent that sleeve travel forwardly on the stem will be limited by abutment of the projecting tip of the clip against the shouldered O-ring seat 12 and travel rearwardly is limited by abutment against the rear shoulder of recess 10. The clip may be easily removed as by inserting a small screwdriver blade or other tool under the exposed wire portion and lifting the clip from its seated position. The sleeve and stem may then be readily separated for purposes of inspection or repair.
In FIG. 1 the sleeve on the stem is in shut-off position. O-ring 22 is sealing passage to outlet chamber 44. The rim of cup 30 is spring pressed against annular seat 46 covering the entrance to discharge passage 40. It will be noted the head of pin 28 is disposed forwardly of the cup bottom wall. Thus, when the sleeve is turned forwardly on the stem and O-ring 22 is initially separated from seat 24 the valve is opened for restricted annular passage of liquid into outlet chamber 44, while cup 30 remains biased against seat 46. This relationship is shown by FIG. 2. Flow from the valve outlet chamber to the discharge passage 40 is thus through the angular slots 34 of the side wall and through the center passage 36 of pin 28. The angular flow combined with the center jet flow creates a swirling mixture in discharge passage 40 resulting in a full cone fog spray pattern at the nozzle orifice 42. The full cone spray pattern as above outlined is in contrast to the conventional hollow cone spray of prior standard nozzles and far more effective for fire fighting purposes.
Further turning and advance of the sleeve on the stem gradually increases the annular flow around O-ring 22 to outlet chamber 44 until the full open position is reached as shown by FIG. 3. In advancing the sleeve from the FIG. 2 to the FIG. 3 position it will be noted that the head of pin 28 will first engage the bottom of the cup and then the rim of the cup will be progressively separated from its annular seat 46. As this separation takes place annular flow around the cup is increased while the directional flow through slots 34 has progressively less directional effect in passage 40. The angle of a conical spray pattern is gradually reduced commencing with the cup and seat separation until in the fully open position of FIG. 3 a hard driving solid jet stream is produced. In this full open position slots 34 are exposed to flush out any foreign matter or debris which may have entered the nozzle passages.
In a typical embodiment of the nozzle, a single complete revolution of the sleeve from shut-off position may produce first a low volume fog then a full volume fog. Two more turns may then reduce the angle of the fog to the hard straight jet. As will be realized this sequence as related to the amount of angular sleeve movement may be modified by the relative position of the head of pin 28 with respect to the stem projection 26. The threaded connection of the pin in the tapped hole in projection 26 will permit a limited amount of adjustment of head extension. Thus the pin mounting may be set to separate the cup from its seat as may be desired for an early or a delayed reduction of the fog angle as the sleeve is turned forwardly from its closed valve position.
As will be apparent to those skilled in the art the drawings schematically illustrating the deep bowl-shaped surface contour of discharge passage 40 and orifice 42 are intended to indicate known paraboloidal surfaces and an orifice such as will produce solid hard driving jet streams. The combination thereof of the "floating" notched cup at the fore end of the stem having a center jet produces the full cone spray pattern and adjustment thereof by the same turning action as is utilized for opening and closing the nozzle shut-off valve.