Phase change injection nozzle

Claim 2

A nozzle for converting liquid flowing from an upstream cavity into solid particles which flow into a downstream cavity, comprising: (a) a body having an inlet surface and an outlet surface; (b) at least one primary orifice formed through said body, each of said primary orifices communicating with said inlet surface, and communicating with said outlet surface, each respective primary orifice being adapted to effect the phase change of the liquid flowing into said respective primary orifice from the liquid phase to the solid phase, said phase change cooling said body; and (c) precooling means connected to said body for cooling the liquid prior to the liquid flowing into said primary orifices.

Claim 3

A nozzle as claimed in claim 1 wherein said precooling means comprises a pilot nozzle connected to said body and extending upstream therefrom.

Claim 4

A nozzle as claimed in claim 2 wherein said precooling means further comprises: (a) a continuous central cavity formed in said pilot nozzle and through said body, said central cavity communicating with the downstream cavity; and (b) a pilot orifice formed in said pilot nozzle, said pilot orifice communicating with the upstream cavity and with said central cavity, whereby a continuous flow path is formed between the upstream cavity and the downstream cavity through said pilot orifice and said central cavity.

Claim 5

A nozzle as claimed in claim 3 wherein said central cavity is adapted to prevent solid particles from blocking said central cavity.

Claim 6

A nozzle as claimed in claim 4 wherein said central cavity is tapered, such that it has a cross sectional area which increases in the downstream direction.

Claim 7

A nozzle as claimed in claim 3 further comprising: (a) an exit nozzle connected to said body and extending therefrom in the downstream direction, said exit nozzle terminating in an exit surface; and (b) said central cavity formed continuously through said exit nozzle and communicating with the downstream cavity at said exit surface.

Claim 8

A nozzle as claimed in claim 6 wherein said central cavity is tapered such that it has a cross sectional area which increases in the downstream direction.

Claim 9

A nozzle as claimed in claim 6 further comprising mixing means for causing the liquid to mix while flowing adjacent said pilot nozzle, thereby increasing the transfer of heat from the liquid to said pilot nozzle.

Claim 10

A nozzle as claimed in claim 8 wherein said mixing means comprises a spring disposed about said pilot nozzle, said spring being connected to said body.

Claim 11

A nozzle as claimed in claim 1 wherein said primary orifices have aspect ratios of at least 4.0.

Claim 12

A nozzle as claimed in claim 3 wherein said pilot orifice has an aspect ratio of at least 4.0.

Claim 13

A nozzle as claimed in claim 6 wherein: (a) said exit nozzle has an exterior surface which is continuous with said outlet surface of said body, said exterior surface terminating at said exit surface; and (b) at least a portion of said exterior surface being an inclined surface of increasing circumference in the downstream direction.

Claim 14

A nozzle as claimed in claim 12 further comprising: (a) a housing in which said nozzle is disposed, said housing having a lower portion extending downstream of said body; and (b) an exit cavity formed by said housing, said outlet surface of said body, and said exterior surface of said exit nozzle, said exit cavity terminating at said exit surface in an exit opening, a portion of said exit cavity adjacent said exit opening having a decreasing cross sectional area in the downstream direction.

Claim 15

A nozzle for converting liquid flowing from an upstream cavity into solid particles which flow into a downstream cavity, comprising: (a) a body having an inlet surface and an outlet surface; (b) at least one primary orifice formed through said body, each of said primary orifices communicating with said inlet surface, and communicating with said outlet surface, each respective primary orifice being adapted to effect the phase change of the liquid flowing into said respective primary orifice from the liquid phase to the solid phase, said phase change cooling said body; (c) an exit nozzle connected to said body and extending from said outlet surface in the downstream direction, said exit nozzle terminating in an exit surface, said exit nozzle having an exterior surface which is continuous with said outlet surface of said body, said exterior surface terminating at said exit surface; and (d) at least a portion of said exterior surface being an inclined surface of increasing circumference in the downstream direction.

Claim 16

A nozzle for converting liquid flowing from an upstream cavity into solid particles which flow into a downstream cavity, comprising: (a) a body having an inlet surface and an outlet surface; (b) at least one primary orifice formed through said body, each of said primary orifices communicating with said inlet surface, and communicating with said outlet surface, each respective primary orifice being adapted to effect the phase change of the liquid flowing into said respective primary orifice from the liquid phase to the solid phase, said phase change cooling said body; (c) an exit nozzle connected to said body and extending from said outlet surface in the downstream direction, said exit nozzle terminating in an exit surface, said exit nozzle having an exterior surface which is continuous with said outlet surface of said body, said exterior surface terminating at said exit surface; and (d) at least a portion of said exterior surface being an inclined surface of increasing circumference in the downstream direction.

Claim 17

A nozzle as claimed in claim 14 further comprising: (a) a housing in which said body is disposed, said housing having a lower portion which extends downstream of said body; and (b) an exit cavity formed by said housing, said outlet surface of said body, and said exterior surface of said exit nozzle, said exit cavity terminating at said exit surface in an exit opening.

Claim 18

A nozzle as claimed in claim 14 further comprising: (a) a pilot orifice formed in said body communicating with the upstream cavity; and (b) a continuous central cavity formed in said exit nozzle, said central cavity communicating with said pilot orifice and the downstream cavity.

Claim 19

A nozzle as claimed in claim 14 wherein said exit nozzle includes a passageway formed therethrough, said passageway communicating with the upstream cavity.

Claim 20

A nozzle for converting liquid flowing from an upstream cavity into solid particles which flow into a downstream cavity, comprising: (a) a body having an inlet surface and an outlet surface; (b) at least one primary orifice formed through said body, each of said primary orifices communicating with said inlet surface, and communicating with said outlet surface; and (c) precooling means connected to said body for cooling the liquid prior to the liquid flowing into said primary orifices, said precooling means comprising (i) a pilot nozzle connected to said body and extending upstream therefrom; (ii) a continuous central cavity formed in said pilot nozzle and through said body, said central cavity communicating with the downstream cavity; and (iii) a pilot orifices formed in said pilot nozzle, said pilot orifices communicating with the upstream cavity and with said central cavity.

Claim 21

A nozzle for converting liquid flowing from an upstream cavity into solid particles which flow into a downstream cavity, comprising: (a) a body having an inlet surface and an outlet surface; (b) at least one primary orifice formed through said body, each of said primary orifices communicating with said inlet surface, and communicating with said outlet surface; and (c) precooling means connected to said body for cooling the liquid prior to the liquid flowing into said primary orifices, said precooling means comprising (i) a pilot nozzle connected to said body and extending upstream therefrom; (ii) a continuous central cavity formed in said pilot nozzle and through said body, said central cavity communicating with the downstream cavity; and (iii) a pilot orifices formed in said pilot nozzle, said pilot orifices communicating with the upstream cavity and with said central cavity.

Claim 22

A nozzle as claimed in claim 18 wherein said central cavity is adapted to prevent solid particles from blocking said central cavity.

Claim 23

A nozzle as claimed in claim 19 wherein said central cavity is tapered, such that it has a cross sectional area which increases in the downstream direction.

Claim 24

A nozzle as claimed in claim 18 further comprising: (a) an exit nozzle connected to said body and extending therefrom in the down direction, said exit nozzle terminating in an exit surface; and (b) said central cavity formed continuously through said exit nozzle and communicating with the downstream cavity at said exit surface.

Claim 25

A nozzle as claimed in claim 21 wherein said central cavity is tapered such that it has a cross sectional area which increases in the downstream direction.

Claim 26

A nozzle as claimed in claim 21 further comprising mixing means for causing the liquid to mix while flowing adjacent said pilot nozzle, thereby increasing the transfer of heat from the liquid to said pilot nozzle.

Claim 27

A nozzle as claimed in claim 23 wherein said mixing means comprises a spring disposed about said pilot nozzle, said spring being connected to said body.

Claim 28

A nozzle as claimed in claim 18 wherein said primary orifices have aspect ratios of at least 4.0.

Claim 29

A nozzle as claimed in claim 18 wherein said pilot orifice has an aspect ratio of at least 4.0.

Claim 30

A nozzle as claimed in claim 24 wherein: (a) said exit nozzle has an exterior surface which is continuous with said outlet surface of said body, said exterior surface terminating at said exit surface; and (b) at least a portion of said exterior surface being an inclined surface of increasing circumference in the downstream direction.

Claim 31

A nozzle as claimed in claim 27 further comprising: (a) a housing in which said nozzle is disposed, said housing having a lower portion extending downstream of said body; and (b) an exit cavity formed by said housing, said outlet surface of said body, and said exterior surface of said exit nozzle, said exit cavity terminating at said exit surface in an exit opening, a portion of said exit cavity adjacent said exit opening having a decreasing cross sectional area in the downstream direction.

Claim 32

A nozzle for converting liquid flowing from an upstream cavity into solid particles which flow into a downstream cavity, said nozzle comprising: (a) a body having an inlet surface and an outlet surface; (b) at least one primary orifice formed through said body, each of said primary orifices communicating with said inlet surface, and communicating with said outlet surface, each respective primary orifice being adapted to effect the phase change of the liquid flowing into said respective primary orifice from the liquid phase to the solid phase, said phase change cooling said body; (c) a housing in which said body is disposed, said housing having a lower portion which extends downstream of said body; (d) an exit nozzle connected to said body and extending therefrom in the downstream direction, said exit nozzle terminating in an exit surface, said exit nozzle having an exterior surface which is continuous with said outlet surface of said body, said exterior surface terminating at said exit surface, at least a portion of said exterior surface being an inclined surface of increasing circumference in the downstream direction; and (e) an exit cavity formed by said housing, said outlet surface of said body, and said exterior surface of said exit nozzle, said exit cavity terminating at said exit surface in an exit opening.

Claim 33

A nozzle for converting liquid flowing from an upstream cavity into solid particles which flow into a downstream cavity, said nozzle comprising: (a) a body having an inlet surface and an outlet surface; (b) at least one primary orifice formed through said body, each of said primary orifices communicating with said inlet surface, and communicating with said outlet surface, each respective primary orifice being adapted to effect the phase change of the liquid flowing into said respective primary orifice from the liquid phase to the solid phase, said phase change cooling said body; (c) a housing in which said body is disposed, said housing having a lower portion which extends downstream of said body; (d) an exit nozzle connected to said body and extending therefrom in the downstream direction, said exit nozzle terminating in an exit surface, said exit nozzle having an exterior surface which is continuous with said outlet surface of said body, said exterior surface terminating at said exit surface, at least a portion of said exterior surface being an inclined surface of increasing circumference in the downstream direction; and (e) an exit cavity formed by said housing, said outlet surface of said body, and said exterior surface of said exit nozzle, said exit cavity terminating at said exit surface in an exit opening.

Claim 34

A nozzle for converting liquid flowing from an upstream cavity into solid particles which flow into a downstream cavity, comprising: (a) a body having an inlet surface and an outlet surface; (b) at least one primary orifice formed through said body, each of said primary orifices communicating with said inlet surface, and communicating with said outlet surface, each respective primary orifice being adapted to effect the phase change of the liquid flowing into said respective primary orifice from the liquid phase to the solid phase, said phase change cooling said body; (c) a pilot orifice formed through said body, said pilot orifice communicating with the upstream cavity; (d) an exit nozzle connected to said body and extending therefrom in the downstream direction, said exit nozzle terminating in an exit surface, said exit nozzle having an exterior surface which is continuous with said outlet surface of said body, said exterior surface terminating at said exit surface, at least a portion of said exterior surface being an inclined surface of increasing circumference in the downstream direction; and (e) a continuous central cavity formed in said exit nozzle, said central cavity communicating with said pilot orifice and the downstream cavity.

Claim 35

A nozzle for converting liquid flowing from an upstream cavity into solid particles which flow into a downstream cavity, comprising: (a) a body having an inlet surface and an outlet surface; (b) at least one primary orifice formed through said body, each of said primary orifices communicating with said inlet surface, and communicating with said outlet surface, each respective primary orifice being adapted to effect the phase change of the liquid flowing into said respective primary orifice from the liquid phase to the solid phase, said phase change cooling said body; (c) a pilot orifice formed through said body, said pilot orifice communicating with the upstream cavity; (d) an exit nozzle connected to said body and extending therefrom in the downstream direction, said exit nozzle terminating in an exit surface, said exit nozzle having an exterior surface which is continuous with said outlet surface of said body, said exterior surface terminating at said exit surface, at least a portion of said exterior surface being an inclined surface of increasing circumference in the downstream direction; and (e) a continuous central cavity formed in said exit nozzle, said central cavity communicating with said pilot orifice and the downstream cavity.