Patent US4202338A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3762648A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Spray nozzle
Assignee: TDY Industries LLC
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Filing: 1972-06-21
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Granted: 1973-10-02
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Expires: 1992-06-21
Abstract
Abstract A spray nozzle especially useful as a showerhead operable to deliver an intermittently interrupted or pulsating spray. Water passing through the device is divided within the device into two flow paths which are recombined prior to discharge through groups of nozzle orifices. Water flowing through one of the flow paths is directed against a turbine blade assembly to drive a rotatable valve rotor in rotation at a rotary speed dependent upon the pressure of water following this flow path. The second flow path bypasses the turbine blades, and hence water following the second flow path does not contribute to the rotary speed of the valve rotor. By adjustably throttling flow through the second flow path, the pressure head or driving force of water in the first flow path against the turbine blades may be varied to thus vary the rotary speed of the valve rotor independently of the supply pressure. Flow of water to each group of nozzle orifices is cyclically interrupted by the rotating valve rotor which connects only a portion of the orifices to supply at a given time. The configuration of the rotating valve port and the arrangement of the groups of nozzle orifices is such that back pressure at the rotating valve port remains constant regardless of the rotary position of the valve port.
Inventors
- 👤 S Deines
- 👤 J Trenary
- 👤 D Smith
- 👤 C Hickman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 22:41
CPC Classifications
B; B05; B05B; B05B1/00; B05B1/14; B05B1/16; B05B1/1627; B05B1/1636; B05B1/02; B05B1/08; B05B1/083; B05B1/085; B05B1/18; B05B1/188; B05B1/1887; B05B3/00; B05B3/02; B05B3/04; B05B1/1896; B05B15/00; B05B15/60; B05B15/62
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
180 words
A spray nozzle comprising a hollow housing having a fluid inlet at one end, an end wall at the opposite end of said housing, said end wall having a plurality of fluid discharge orifices extending therethrough in a symmetrical pattern about a central axis of said housing, a valve member mounted in said housing for rotation about said axis at a location between said inlet and said end wall, said valve member having a valve port establishing fluid communication between said inlet and a portion only of said orifices at all rotative positions of said valve member, flow passage means in said housing between said inlet and said valve port having separate first and second flow passages for conducting fluid from said inlet to said port, turbine means on said valve member for driving said valve member in rotation in response to the flow of fluid through said first flow passage, and control means for adjustably throttling flow through one of said flow passages to thereby vary the portion of the total flow which passes through said first flow passage.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
180 words
A spray nozzle comprising a hollow housing having a fluid inlet at one end, an end wall at the opposite end of said housing, said end wall having a plurality of fluid discharge orifices extending therethrough in a symmetrical pattern about a central axis of said housing, a valve member mounted in said housing for rotation about said axis at a location between said inlet and said end wall, said valve member having a valve port establishing fluid communication between said inlet and a portion only of said orifices at all rotative positions of said valve member, flow passage means in said housing between said inlet and said valve port having separate first and second flow passages for conducting fluid from said inlet to said port, turbine means on said valve member for driving said valve member in rotation in response to the flow of fluid through said first flow passage, and control means for adjustably throttling flow through one of said flow passages to thereby vary the portion of the total flow which passes through said first flow passage.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
105 words
A spray nozzle as defined in claim 1 wherein said flow passage means comprises a plate extending across the interior of said housing normal to said axis between said inlet and said valve member, said valve member having an annular upper wall member disposed in substantially face to face relationship with the side of said plate remote from said inlet, and an annular series of circumferentially spaced turbine blades in said upper wall member defining said turbine means, said first flow passage being defined by a plurality of axially inclined bores extending through said plate tangentially of said axis in operative alignment with said blades.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
A spray nozzle as defined in claim 2 wherein said second flow passage extends axially through said plate, said upper wall member having axial passages therethrough rotatable in a path aligned with said second flow passage.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
A spray nozzle as defined in claim 3 wherein said control means comprises a valve shutter movable across the surface of said plate adjacent said inlet into and out of overlying relationship with said second flow passage.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
95 words
A spray nozzle as defined in claim 1 wherein said valve member comprises a hollow generally cylindrical member coaxial with said axis and having a downstream end wall located in adjacent face to face relationship with the inner surface of said end wall of said housing, said valve port being constituted by an opening through said downstream end wall in the shape of a segment of an annulus coaxial with said axis, said discharge orifices being located in axial alignment with the annular path traversed by said valve port upon rotation of said valve member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
68 words
A spray nozzle as defined in claim 5 wherein said discharge orifices are arranged in a plurality of like groups circumferentially uniformly spaced from each other, the angular extent and spacing between the groups or orifices being related to the angular extent of said valve port such that the number of discharge orifices aligned with said valve port remains constant over all rotative positions of said valve member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
101 words
A spray nozzle as defined in claim 5 wherein said downstream end wall includes a first portion located in substantially face to face engagement with the inner surface of said end wall of said housing and a second portion axially offset from said first portion, said valve port passing through said first portion of said downstream end wall and said first portion terminating at generally radially extending shoulders adjacent the opposite ends of said valve port, and a floating wear plate slidably engaged between said second portion of said downstream end wall and the inner surface of said housing end wall.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
68 words
A spray nozzle as defiNed in claim 7 wherein said discharge orifices are arranged in a plurality of like groups circumferentially uniformly spaced from each other, the angular extent and spacing between the groups of orifices being related to the angular extent of said valve port such that the number of discharge orifices aligned with said valve port remains constant over all rotative positions of said valve member.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
113 words
A spray nozzle as defined in claim 1 wherein said valve member comprises a shaft coaxial with said axis, stationary hub means in said housing having a bore therein rotatably receiving said shaft, means defining a plurality of internal chambers in said hub means having inlet ports symmetrically spaced about and opening into said bore, each of said chambers communicating with a group of said discharge orifices, said valve port being located on said shaft to communicate with said inlet port and having an angular extent about said axis such that only a portion of said inlet ports are in communication with said valve port at any given rotative position of said shaft.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
43 words
A spray nozzle as defined in claim 9 wherein said discharge orifices are arranged in a plurality of groups uniformly spaced from each other within an annular band coaxial with said axis, each group of said orifices communicating with one of said chambers.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
39 words
A spray nozzle as defined in claim 9 wherein said inlet ports are of uniform configuration and angular spacing from each other, the angular extent of said valve port being equal to the angular spacing of said inlet ports.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
191 words
A spray nozzle comprising a housing having an internal chamber defined in part by a first wall of said housing, means defining a plurality of discharge orifices extending through said first wall from said chamber and arranged in a plurality of groups uniformly spaced from each other within an annular band having a central axis, a valve member mounted within said chamber for rotation about said central axis means defining a valve port in said valve member offset from said axis and establishing fluid communication between said chamber and a segment of said annular band to place said groups of orifices successively in communication with said chamber upon rotation of said valve member, coupling means defining an inlet to said chamber and operable to couple said nozzle to a source of fluid under pressure, means in said housing defining a first and a second flow passage for conducting fluid from said inlet to said discharge orifices via said port, drive means coupled to said valve member in rotation in response to the flow of fluid through said first flow passage, and control means for adjustably throttling flow through said second passage.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
191 words
A spray nozzle comprising a housing having an internal chamber defined in part by a first wall of said housing, means defining a plurality of discharge orifices extending through said first wall from said chamber and arranged in a plurality of groups uniformly spaced from each other within an annular band having a central axis, a valve member mounted within said chamber for rotation about said central axis means defining a valve port in said valve member offset from said axis and establishing fluid communication between said chamber and a segment of said annular band to place said groups of orifices successively in communication with said chamber upon rotation of said valve member, coupling means defining an inlet to said chamber and operable to couple said nozzle to a source of fluid under pressure, means in said housing defining a first and a second flow passage for conducting fluid from said inlet to said discharge orifices via said port, drive means coupled to said valve member in rotation in response to the flow of fluid through said first flow passage, and control means for adjustably throttling flow through said second passage.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
93 words
A spray nozzle as defined in claim 12 wherein said valve member comprises a hollow cylindrical tube having a first end wall at one end complementary in shape to the inner side of said first wall of said housing, said valve port passing through said first end wall, a turbine wheel having an annular series of blades constituting said drive means fixedly mounted within the opening at the opposite end of said tube, and means defining a series of axially extending openings through said wheel constituting a portion of said second flow passage.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
135 words
A spray nozzle as defined in claim 13 wherein said valve member is mounted for rotation with a cylindrical portion of an annular conduit sealingly secured at one end to said first wall of said housing, the opposite end of said conduit being in direct fluid communication with said inlet, a plate fixedly mounted within said conduit adjacent said turbine wheel, said plate having a first series of inclined openings therethrough aligned with the blades of said turbine wheel and constituting said first flow passage, said axially extending openings in said wheel being at a common radial distance from the center of said wheel, and means defining an axially extending opening through said plate at said common radial distance from the center of said plate and constituting the remaining portion of said second flow passage.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
28 words
A spray nozzle as defined in claim 14 wherein said control means comprises a shutter like valve member adjustably movable across said axially extending opening in said plate.
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) | 1976-10-01 | 1977-04-02 | 1977-10-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-10-01 | 1981-04-02 | 1981-10-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-10-01 | 1985-04-02 | 1985-10-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |