Sprayer having induced air assist

Claim 1

A liquid sprayer having a sprayer body containing a discharge orifice located in an outer wall through which liquid is capable of being discharged in the form of a divergent liquid spray plume of a given size in a forward direction, comprising, a first baffle plate mounted on said body at a spaced predetermined distance from said orifice in said forward direction, opposing surfaces of said plate being open to the atmosphere, said plate having an open port therein lying along the axis of said orifice, said plate presenting a gap with said wall so as to define an unobstructed first air plenum including the adjacent atmosphere, and the size of said port being greater than that of said orifice and being sized to accommodate the spray plume at the location of said baffle plate so that the spray plume substantially fills said port as air in said gap is driven through said port by impingement of the spray particles issuing from said orifice which thereby entrains air laterally from said plenum into the spray plume for creating a turbulent effect which increases collisions between the spray particles, prevents any backflow of air through said port and adds air mass and mixing with said spray particles resulting in a finer and more consistent spray particle breakup.