Nozzle for producing laminar flow

Claim 2

A fluid nozzle for producing a laminar output stream comprising: an enclosure having an inlet port and an outlet port; a discharge nozzle body having a discharge outlet passage therethrough, said discharge outlet passage gradually reducing over its axial length to a flow area only a small fraction of the flow area of said enclosure and having a circular radial cross-section throughout; said discharge nozzle body being interconnected by a means for coupling, so that said discharge nozzle body can be easily removed, to said enclosure at said outlet port such that a flow path is defined between said inlet port and said discharge nozzle body and converging through said discharge outlet passage; and turbulence reducing means, located within said enclosure and across the flow path between said port and the smaller end of said discharge outlet passage, said turbulence reducing means being a dense columnar member comprised of filaments randomly-arranged throughout said columnar member for progressively dividing the velocity components of the incoming fluid into smaller components in all directions, promoting the transfer of momentum between the fluid molecules over the entire flow path of said columnar member, as the flow proceeds through said columnar member, whereby a more uniform velocity profile is produced and laminar flow is developed in said enclosure by minimizing disturbances in the flow stream, allowing laminar flow at higher flow rates than would normally be possible for the flow area of said enclosure.

Claim 3

The device of claim 1 wherein said enclosure is a cylindrical tank.

Claim 4

The device of claim 1 wherein said discharge outlet passage is a substantially frusto-conical passage.

Claim 5

The device of claim 1 further including means for removing air from said enclosure and said turbulence reducing means.

Claim 6

The device of claim 4 wherein said air removal means is a small hole in said enclosure with a piece or porous hydrophobic material interconnected to said enclosure allowing air to pass from said enclosure through said small hole but preventing the passage of water from said enclosure.

Claim 7

A laminar flow fluid nozzle capable of producing a substantially laminar output stream of sufficient cross-section and velocity for use in fountain displays comprising: an enclosure having an inlet port and an outlet port; a discharge nozzle body having a frusto-conical passage therethrough, said frusto-conical passage converging to a flow area only a small fraction of the flow area of said enclosure, and said discharge nozzle body being interconnected by a means for coupling, so that said discharge nozzle body can be easily removed, to said enclosure at said outlet port such that the larger diameter of said frusto-conical passage communicates with the interior of said enclosure, thereby defining a flow path between said inlet port and said discharge nozzle body, the flow path then converging through said frusto-conical passage; and turbulence reducing means within said enclosure and across the flow path between said inlet port and the smaller end of said frusto-conical passage, said turbulence reducing means being a columnar member comprised of filaments randomly-arranged throughout said columnar member for progressively dividing the velocity components of the incoming fluid into smaller components in all planes, promoting the transfer of momentum between the fluid molecules over the entire flow path of said columnar member, as the flow proceeds through said columnar member, whereby a more uniform velocity profile is produced and laminar flow is developed in said enclosure by minimizing disturbances in the flow stream, allowing laminar flow at higher flow rates than would normally be possible for the flow area of said enclosure.

Claim 8

A laminar flow fluid nozzle capable of producing a substantially laminar output stream of sufficient cross-section and velocity for use in fountain displays comprising: an enclosure having an inlet port and an outlet port; a discharge nozzle body having a frusto-conical passage therethrough, said frusto-conical passage converging to a flow area only a small fraction of the flow area of said enclosure, and said discharge nozzle body being interconnected by a means for coupling, so that said discharge nozzle body can be easily removed, to said enclosure at said outlet port such that the larger diameter of said frusto-conical passage communicates with the interior of said enclosure, thereby defining a flow path between said inlet port and said discharge nozzle body, the flow path then converging through said frusto-conical passage; and turbulence reducing means within said enclosure and across the flow path between said inlet port and the smaller end of said frusto-conical passage, said turbulence reducing means being a columnar member comprised of filaments randomly-arranged throughout said columnar member for progressively dividing the velocity components of the incoming fluid into smaller components in all planes, promoting the transfer of momentum between the fluid molecules over the entire flow path of said columnar member, as the flow proceeds through said columnar member, whereby a more uniform velocity profile is produced and laminar flow is developed in said enclosure by minimizing disturbances in the flow stream, allowing laminar flow at higher flow rates than would normally be possible for the flow area of said enclosure.

Claim 9

The device of claim 6 wherein said enclosure comprises a cylindrical tank.

Claim 10

The device of claim 6 further including means for removing air from said enclosure and said turbulence reducing means.

Claim 11

The device of claim 8 wherein said air removing means is a small hole in said enclosure with a piece of porous hydrophobic material interconnected to said enclosure allowing air to pass from said enclosure through said small hole but preventing the passage of water from said enclosure.

Claim 14

The method of claim 10 further including: removing the air from said enclosure and said turbulence reducing means.