US3731876A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Injection spray systems
Assignee: Automotive Engine Associates LP
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Filing: 1971-03-19
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Granted: 1973-05-08
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Expires: 1991-03-19
Abstract
Abstract Injection spray systems and methods are disclosed for spraying heated and pressurized liquid through a nozzle orifice to produce very fine spray droplets. The pressurized liquid is heated to a temperature above ambient temperature whereby the vapor pressure of the liquid exceeds the pressure outside of the nozzle orifice so that discharge of the heated and pressurized liquid through the orifice produces very fine droplets.
Inventors
- 👤 M Showalter
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 22:36
CPC Classifications
F; F02; F02M; F02M53/00; F02M53/04; F02M53/06; B; B05; B05B; B05B17/00; B05B17/04; B05B9/00; B05B9/002; B05B9/005; F23; F23D; F23D11/00; F23D11/24
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
160 words
A method of forming liquid droplets and vapor by spraying a pressurized liquid where substantially all of the mass of the sprayed liquid is in droplets with a mass mean diameter less than 25 microns comprising the steps of: pressurizing the liquid, delivering the pressurized liquid to a nozzle assembly having a spraying orifice, heating the liquid without involving chemical changes in said liquid and prior to discharge through the spray orifice to a temperature sufficiently above atmospheric temperature so that the vapor pressure of said liquid exceeds the pressure of the space into which the orifice sprays, controlling the heating of the liquid so that said liquid is maintained in liquid state until discharge through the spray orifice, and discharging the heated and pressurized liquid through said spray orifice shaped to produce flow streamlines without substantial liquid entrainment on the outside surface of the spray orifice to form spray droplets having a mass mean diameter less than 25 microns.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
160 words
A method of forming liquid droplets and vapor by spraying a pressurized liquid where substantially all of the mass of the sprayed liquid is in droplets with a mass mean diameter less than 25 microns comprising the steps of: pressurizing the liquid, delivering the pressurized liquid to a nozzle assembly having a spraying orifice, heating the liquid without involving chemical changes in said liquid and prior to discharge through the spray orifice to a temperature sufficiently above atmospheric temperature so that the vapor pressure of said liquid exceeds the pressure of the space into which the orifice sprays, controlling the heating of the liquid so that said liquid is maintained in liquid state until discharge through the spray orifice, and discharging the heated and pressurized liquid through said spray orifice shaped to produce flow streamlines without substantial liquid entrainment on the outside surface of the spray orifice to form spray droplets having a mass mean diameter less than 25 microns.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method as set forth in claim 1 and wherein the vapor pressure is increased to produce spray droplets having a mass mean diameter of less than 10 microns.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method as set forth in claim 1 and wherein the vapor pressure is increased and the entrainment properties of said orifice surface are reduced to produce spray droplets having a mass mean diameter of less than 1 micron.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
172 words
A method of forming droplets from a pressurized liquid said method comprising the steps of: pressurizing a liquid, delivering the pressurized liquid to a nozzle assembly having a variable orifice closed by elastic means and responsive to pressure, controlling the pressure of the liquid delivered to the nozzle to determine orifice size, heating the liquid prior to introduction into the orifice to a temperature above the temperature outside the orifice whereby the vapor pressure of the liquid exceeds the pressure outside the orifice, controlling the heating of the liquid so that the vapor pressure of the liquid is less than the pressure required to overcome the closing force of the elastic means, thereby insuring that the liquid is maintained in liquid state until discharge through the variable orifice, and discharging the heated and pressurized liquid through the orifice, said orifice being shaped to produce flow streamlines without substantial liquid entrainment on the outside surface of the spray orifice to form spray droplets having a mass mean diameter of less than 25 microns.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
172 words
A method of forming droplets from a pressurized liquid said method comprising the steps of: pressurizing a liquid, delivering the pressurized liquid to a nozzle assembly having a variable orifice closed by elastic means and responsive to pressure, controlling the pressure of the liquid delivered to the nozzle to determine orifice size, heating the liquid prior to introduction into the orifice to a temperature above the temperature outside the orifice whereby the vapor pressure of the liquid exceeds the pressure outside the orifice, controlling the heating of the liquid so that the vapor pressure of the liquid is less than the pressure required to overcome the closing force of the elastic means, thereby insuring that the liquid is maintained in liquid state until discharge through the variable orifice, and discharging the heated and pressurized liquid through the orifice, said orifice being shaped to produce flow streamlines without substantial liquid entrainment on the outside surface of the spray orifice to form spray droplets having a mass mean diameter of less than 25 microns.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
166 words
A method of forming liquid droplets and vapor by spraying a pressurized liquid where substantially all of the mass of the sprayed liquid is in droPlets with a mass mean diameter less than 25 microns comprising the steps of: pressurizing the liquid, delivering the pressurized liquid to a nozzle assembly having a variable area spraying orifice, heating the liquid without involving chemical changes in said liquid and prior to discharge through the spray orifice to a temperature sufficiently above the temperature immediately adjacent the orifice so that the vapor pressure of said liquid exceeds the pressure of the space into which the orifice sprays, controlling the heating of the liquid so that said liquid is maintained in liquid state until discharge through the spray orifice, and discharging the heated and pressurized liquid through said spray orifice shaped to produce flow streamlines without substantial liquid entrainment on the outside surface of the spray orifice to form spray droplets having a mass mean diameter less than 25 microns.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
166 words
A method of forming liquid droplets and vapor by spraying a pressurized liquid where substantially all of the mass of the sprayed liquid is in droPlets with a mass mean diameter less than 25 microns comprising the steps of: pressurizing the liquid, delivering the pressurized liquid to a nozzle assembly having a variable area spraying orifice, heating the liquid without involving chemical changes in said liquid and prior to discharge through the spray orifice to a temperature sufficiently above the temperature immediately adjacent the orifice so that the vapor pressure of said liquid exceeds the pressure of the space into which the orifice sprays, controlling the heating of the liquid so that said liquid is maintained in liquid state until discharge through the spray orifice, and discharging the heated and pressurized liquid through said spray orifice shaped to produce flow streamlines without substantial liquid entrainment on the outside surface of the spray orifice to form spray droplets having a mass mean diameter less than 25 microns.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-05-07 | 1976-11-06 | 1977-05-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-05-07 | 1980-11-06 | 1981-05-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-05-07 | 1984-11-06 | 1985-05-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |