Nozzle for discharging liquids containing solid matter

Claim 2

A water discharge nozzle comprising an elongate tubular body having an outlet opening across one end thereof and an inlet opening across the other end thereof, annular plug means disposed in the body adjacent the outlet opening in spaced relation to the inlet opening and engaged about its circumference in intimate engagement with the inner walls of the body, the plug means defining a single passage therethrough, the passage being composed of a substantially circular hole which extends from the apex of a substantially conical recess in the end of the plug means adjacent the inlet opening, the recess being concave to the inlet opening, and a plurality of flutes in the walls of the hole and extending with the hole from the recess to the end of the plug means adjacent the outlet opening, each flute having opposing wall surfaces disposed in non-diverging relation proceeding radially away from the hole axis, the nozzle being devoid of any structure in the passage and being devoid of any structure located adjacent the end of the plug means proximate to the body outlet opening sufficiently to be engaged by water emerging from the passage during operation of the nozzle.

Claim 3

A nozzle according to claim 1 wherein the recess and the hole are coaxially aligned with the body.

Claim 4

A nozzle according to claim 1 wherein the plug means is disposed wholly within the body.

Claim 5

A nozzle according to claim 1 wherein the flutes have respective axes disposed parallel to the hole axis.

Claim 6

A nozzle according to claim 1 wherein the flutes have respective axes which diverge from the hole axis proceeding away from the recess.

Claim 7

A nozzle according to claim 1 wherein the flutes have respective axes which converge toward the hole axis proceeding away from the recess.

Claim 8

A nozzle according to claim 1 wherein the flutes have respective axes each of which is disposed in a respective plane radially of the hole and in which the hole axis is also disposed.

Claim 9

A nozzle according to claim 1 wherein adjacent flutes around the circumference of the hole are contiguous at said circumference.

Claim 10

A nozzle according to claim 1 wherein each flute extends radially away from the hole for a distance which is at least equal to the average width of the flute between said opposing wall surfaces thereof.

Claim 11

A nozzle according to claim 9 wherein the average depth of each flute radially of the hole is at least substantially equal to the radius of the hole.

Claim 12

A nozzle according to claim 1 wherein the opposing wall surfaces of each flute are substantially parallel.

Claim 13

A nozzle according to claim 1 wherein the recess at the end of the plug means adjacent the inlet opening has a diameter substantially equal to the inner diameter of the body.

Claim 14

A nozzle according to claim 1 wherein the half-angle of the recess is in the range of from about 30* to about 45*.

Claim 15

A water discharge nozzle comprising an elongate tubular body having an outlet opening across one end thereof and an inlet opening across the other end thereof, annular plug means disposed in the body adjacent the outlet opening in spaced relation to the inlet opening and engaged about its circumference in intimate engagement with the inner walls of the body, the plug means defining a single passage therethrough, the passage being composed of a substantially circular hole which extends from the apex of a substantially conical recess in the end of the plug means adjacent the inlet opening, the recess being concave to the inlet opening, a plurality of flutes in the walls of the hole and extending with the hole from the recess to the end of the plug means adjacent the outlet opening, each flute having opposing wall surfaces disposed in non-diverging relation proceeding radially away from the hole axis, a tubular member having an inner diameter substantially greater than the outer diameter of the body disposed concentrically about the body, annular closure members engaged at oppoSite ends of the tubular member between the tubular member and the exterior of the body to define an annular chamber within the tubular member about the body, water outlet passage means formed through the closure member located adjacent the body outlet opening and arranged to discharge water from the chamber in a desired manner, and flow aperture means through the body to the chamber between the plug means and the body inlet opening.

Claim 16

A water discharge nozzle comprising an elongate tubular body having an outlet opening across one end thereof and an inlet opening across the other end thereof, annular plug means disposed in the body adjacent the outlet opening in spaced relation to the inlet opening and engaged about its circumference in intimate engagement with the inner walls of the body, the plug means defining a single passage therethrough, the passage being composed of a substantially circular hole which extends from the apex of a substantially conical recess in the end of the plug means adjacent the inlet opening, the recess being concave to the inlet opening, a plurality of flutes in the walls of the hole and extending with the hole from the recess to the end of the plug means adjacent the outlet opening, each flute having opposing wall surfaces disposed in non-diverging relation proceeding radially away from the hole axis, a tubular member having an inner diameter substantially greater than the outer diameter of the body disposed concentrically about the body, annular closure members engaged at oppoSite ends of the tubular member between the tubular member and the exterior of the body to define an annular chamber within the tubular member about the body, water outlet passage means formed through the closure member located adjacent the body outlet opening and arranged to discharge water from the chamber in a desired manner, and flow aperture means through the body to the chamber between the plug means and the body inlet opening.

Claim 17

A nozzle according to claim 14 wherein the passage means are arranged to discharge water from the chamber in a plurality of diverging water streams spaced uniformly circumferentially of the body.

Claim 18

A water discharge nozzle comprising an elongate tubular body having an outlet opening across one end thereof and an inlet opening across the other end thereof, annular plug means disposed in the body adjacent the outlet opening in spaced relation to the inlet opening and engaged about its circumference in intimate engagement with the inner walls of the body, the plug means defining a single passage therethrough, the passage being composed of a substantially circular hole which extends from the apex of a substantially conical recess in the end of the plug means adjacent the inlet opening, the recess being concave to the inlet opening, a plurality of flutes in the walls of the hole and extending with the hole from the recess to the end of the plug means adjacent the outlet opening, each flute having opposing wall surfaces disposed in non-diverging relation proceeding radially away from the hole axis, a support base defining an internal chamber having coaxially aligned inlet openings thereto through side walls of the chamber, an outlet opening from an upper portion of the chamber, and means associated with the chamber outlet opening for mounting the nozzle to the base with the nozzle inlet opening in communication with the base chamber.

Claim 19

A water discharge nozzle comprising an elongate tubular body having an outlet opening across one end thereof and an inlet opening across the other end thereof, annular plug means disposed in the body adjacent the outlet opening in spaced relation to the inlet opening and engaged about its circumference in intimate engagement with the inner walls of the body, the plug means defining a single passage therethrough, the passage being composed of a substantially circular hole which extends from the apex of a substantially conical recess in the end of the plug means adjacent the inlet opening, the recess being concave to the inlet opening, a plurality of flutes in the walls of the hole and extending with the hole from the recess to the end of the plug means adjacent the outlet opening, each flute having opposing wall surfaces disposed in non-diverging relation proceeding radially away from the hole axis, a support base defining an internal chamber having coaxially aligned inlet openings thereto through side walls of the chamber, an outlet opening from an upper portion of the chamber, and means associated with the chamber outlet opening for mounting the nozzle to the base with the nozzle inlet opening in communication with the base chamber.

Claim 20

Apparatus according to claim 16 including flow controlling means in the chamber for causing water flowing along a path from the chamber inlet openings to the nozzle inlet opening to have a uniform liquid flow pattern at the nozzle inlet opening.

Claim 21

Apparatus according to claim 17 wherein the flow controlling means comprises a pair of perpendicular plates intersecting each other coaxially of the nozzle body and disposed in the chamber, one of the plates being aligned with the axes of the chamber inlet openings.

Claim 22

Apparatus according to claim 16 including means connected to the base and adapted for buoyantly supporting the base in a body of water.