Spray bar assembly

Claim 1

A spray bar for applying liquid for a rolling process or the like comprising: a plurality of nozzle assemblies for spraying liquid, each of which is individually controlled by a fluid operated valve integrally formed therein; and an elongated header having a transverse axis said header comprising: a top plate; an intermediate plate having a first and second side, a first side for sealingly cooperating with the top plate and defining therebetween a plurality of independent fluid passageways and a second side having formed thereon a plurality of sealing surfaces for cooperating with the nozzle assemblies, each of which is coupled with an independent fluid passageway by a plurality of ports extending through said intermediate plate; a bottom plate sealingly cooperating with the intermediate plate to define therebetween a liquid cavity, said bottom plate having formed therein a plurality of outlets aligned with the sealing surfaces in the intermediate plate for receiving a nozzle assembly therein which sealingly cooperate with the bottom plate and the sealing surface of the intermediate plate; means for introducing liquid within the liquid cavity; and means for coupling a control fluid signal to each of the independent passageways for independently regulating the fluid operated valve in each nozzle assembly; wherein the flow of liquid through each of the nozzle assemblies may be independently regulated by varying each of the control fluid signals in order to enable the liquid application rate to vary axially along the header.