Atomizing nozzle device

Abstract

An atomizing nozzle device (1) is provided, which comprises a housing (2, 3) having an inlet (23), a valve seat (6), a valve element (7) interacting with the valve seat (6), a restoring device (8) acting on the valve element (7), and an orifice (9). In such an atomizing nozzle device, dripping should be avoided. To this end, the valve element (7) is fixed in a guide element (12), which is guided in an orifice (16) of the housing (2, 3).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to an atomizing nozzle device, the atomizing nozzle device comprising a housing having an inlet, a valve seat, a valve element interacting with the valve seat, a reset device acting on the valve element, and an orifice.

[0002] Such nozzle devices are used, for example, to produce a fine mist of liquid. These nozzle devices can be used for purposes such as humidification, dust suppression, pest control, disinfection, cooling, and others. The orifice can also be referred to as a "nozzle".

[0003] To produce a fine atomized spray, the liquid to be atomized is supplied to the inlet at a defined or given pressure sufficient to atomize the liquid. This pressure opens the valve, meaning the force exerted on the valve element exceeds the force of the reset device, and the pressure lifts the valve element from the valve seat, allowing the liquid to reach the orifice where it is atomized. When atomization should stop, the pressure at the inlet decreases, the reset device presses the valve element against the valve seat, and the valve should be fully closed to prevent dripping when the inlet pressure is completely removed or falls below a lower limit.

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to provide a drip-free atomizing nozzle device.

[0005] This objective is achieved by fixing the valve element in a guide element that is guided in an orifice in the housing.

[0006] The requirement for a tight-closing valve is that, when the valve is closed, the valve element enters a predetermined position relative to the valve seat. This typically demands a fairly high level of precision during valve manufacturing. However, such high precision incurs costs. This high level of precision can be avoided when manufacturing valves for nozzle equipment by securing the valve element within a guide element that is guided within an orifice in the housing. The guide element guides the valve element and ensures that it contacts the valve element with the required precise positioning. Therefore, the addition of a guide element contributes to the sealing of the nozzle equipment and helps prevent dripping.

[0007] In embodiments of the invention, at least one flow channel is formed between the guide element and the housing. Therefore, no additional channel bypassing the guide element is required.

[0008] In embodiments of the invention, the orifice has a circular cross-section and the guide element has a shape adapted to the circular cross-section with predetermined tolerances. The circular cross-section of the orifice can be produced by drilling. The circular cross-section of the guide element can be simply produced by turning. The diameter of the circular cross-section of the guide element is slightly smaller than the diameter of the circular cross-section of the orifice, such that the guide element can move in the orifice with low friction, yet with sufficient guidance or alignment. Tolerances can be on the order of a few hundredths of a millimeter.

[0009] In an embodiment of the invention, the guiding element has at least one flat section on its circumference, the flat section extending along the axial length of the guiding element. The flat section forms a channel between the wall of the orifice and the guiding element, through which liquid can flow from the valve to the orifice.

[0010] In embodiments of the invention, the valve element includes a symmetrically curved surface on at least one side facing the valve seat. This symmetrically curved surface allows a portion of the valve element to be inserted into the valve seat, thereby enabling a sealing line that improves the valve's sealing performance.

[0011] In embodiments of the invention, the valve element includes a spherical surface at least in the region facing the valve seat. A spherical surface is a simple form of a symmetrically curved surface. When the valve element is in the form of a ball, this spherical surface can be achieved in a simple manner.

[0012] In embodiments of the invention, the valve element is made of a resiliently deformable material. This material can be, for example, rubber or a similar plastic. Resiliently deformable materials have two advantages. Firstly, they can be pressed against a valve seat to achieve the desired seal. Secondly, such a deformable valve element can be easily installed in a guide element.

[0013] In embodiments of the invention, the guide element includes a longitudinal channel extending from the valve element to the opposite side of the guide element. When the valve element is mounted in the guide element, there is no closed volume between the guide element and the valve element, such that there is no trapped fluid in the closed volume that could expand to force the valve element out of the guide element.

[0014] In embodiments of the invention, the valve element is held in the guide element by friction or shape locking. Therefore, no other means are required for securing the valve element in the guide element.

[0015] In embodiments of the invention, the housing includes a first housing portion and a second housing portion, wherein the second housing portion includes an external thread that engages with an internal thread in the first housing portion, and wherein the second housing portion includes an inlet channel connected to an inlet, and a valve seat is formed at the inner end of the inlet channel. Therefore, the valve seat can be produced in a simple manner. Essentially, only the inlet channel needs to be formed.

[0016] In embodiments of the invention, the valve seat comprises a conical or curved shape. In particular, this conical shape, combined with the spherical surface of the valve element, increases the sealing line between the valve seat and the valve element.

[0017] In embodiments of the invention, a tapered element is arranged within a housing, between a guide element and an orifice, wherein a resetting device is arranged between the tapered element and the guide element. The tapered element is used to guide liquid from the radially outer portion of the flow path to the centrally located orifice. The tapered element can also be used to set the liquid to be atomized in a circular motion.

[0018] In embodiments of the invention, the reset device is arranged in a recess in the tapered element and / or a recess in the guide element. The reset device may, for example, be in the form of a spring. The length of the reset device is at least partially accommodated in the tapered element and / or the guide element, such that the length of the nozzle device can be kept small.

[0019] In an embodiment of the invention, the tapered element is held within the first housing portion by the second housing portion. This simplifies the installation of the nozzle device.

[0020] In embodiments of the invention, the orifice includes at least one groove extending along its length. The orifice forms part of a flow path from the valve seat to the orifice for the liquid to be atomized. In addition to a flat section of the guiding element or an alternative to a flat section, a groove may also be used.

[0021] Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0022] Figure 1 An exploded view of the first embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0023] Figure 2 A view (partially cross-section) of the nozzle device is shown, with the valve closed, and...

[0024] Figure 3 A view (partially cross-section) of a second embodiment of the nozzle device is shown, in which the valve is open.

[0025] Figure 1 An exploded view of an atomizing nozzle device 1, including a housing, is shown, the housing having a first housing portion 2 and a second housing portion 3. From Figure 2 It can be seen that the second housing part 3 includes an external thread 4 that is screwed into the internal thread 5 of the first housing part 2.

[0026] Furthermore, the nozzle device 1 includes a valve seat 6 and a valve element 7 that interacts with the valve seat. Additionally, a reset device in the form of a spring 8 is provided. The spring 8 acts on the valve element 7. Furthermore, the atomizing nozzle device 1 includes an orifice 9, in which... Figure 1 and Figure 2 In the embodiment shown, the hole is arranged in a perforated plate 10, which is inserted into the first housing portion 2.

[0027] The valve element 7 includes a symmetrically curved surface 11, at least in the region facing the valve seat 6. This symmetrically curved surface 11 may be spherical. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, this is achieved by using a ball as the valve element 7.

[0028] Valve element 7 is made of a resiliently deformable material. This material can be, for example, rubber or plastic. Using a resiliently deformable material increases the sealing performance of the valve formed by valve seat 6 and valve element 7.

[0029] Valve element 7 is fixed in guide element 12. For this purpose, guide element 12 includes a receiving portion 13 for valve element 7, into which valve element 7 can be pressed. Valve element 7 can be held in guide element 12 by friction, or the receiving portion 13 can have a slightly radially inwardly deformed outer edge, such that valve element 7 is held in guide element 12 in a form-locking manner.

[0030] The receiving part 13 is connected to the opposite side of the guide element via the longitudinal channel 14, so that when the valve element 7 is installed in the guide element 12, the air in the receiving part 13 can be transferred to the other end of the guide element 12 through the longitudinal channel 14.

[0031] The guide element 12 includes at least one flat side 15. However, it is preferred that the guide element includes more than one flat side 15, wherein the flat sides 15 are symmetrically distributed along the circumferential direction of the guide element 12.

[0032] The flat surface 15 may have a circumferential extension large enough that adjacent flat surfaces 15 contact each other. The guide element 12 then has a polygonal cross-section, wherein the edges of the polygon are arranged on a circle. The edges or corners may be rounded.

[0033] The second housing element 3 includes an orifice 16 in which a guide element 12 is guided. In addition to one or more flat sides 15, the guide element 12 also has a circular cross-section. The orifice 16 also has a circular cross-section. The diameter of the guide element 12 is matched to the diameter of the orifice 16, i.e., the diameter of the guide element 12 is a few percent smaller than the diameter of the orifice 16 by a few millimeters. This narrow tolerance allows the guide element 12 to move well in the orifice 16 with low friction; however, it also defines the position of the guide element 12 in the orifice 16 with sufficient precision. Since the valve element 7 is held in the guide element 12, this narrow tolerance also defines the position of the valve element 7 relative to the valve seat 6 with sufficient precision.

[0034] The flat surface 15 forms a space 17 between the inner wall of the orifice 16 and the guide element 12, through which liquid can flow once the valve element 7 has been lifted from the valve seat 6 and the valve is opened. Figure 3 As shown.

[0035] The second housing portion 3 includes an inlet channel 18 terminating in the orifice 16. The transition between the inlet channel 18 and the orifice 6 forms a valve seat 6. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the valve seat 6 may be machined to produce a conical or curved shape.

[0036] The tapered element 19 is mounted in the first housing portion 2. The tapered element holds the orifice plate 10.

[0037] The tapered element 19 includes a recess 20 for receiving the spring 8. Alternatively, the recess may be formed in the guide element 12, for example, by widening the diameter of the longitudinal channel 14 over a portion of its length, so that the spring 8 can also be received in the guide element 12. Alternatively, only one recess may be used in the guide element 12 to receive the spring 8. The spring 8 acts on the valve element 7 via the guide element 12.

[0038] The sealing ring 22 in the form of an O-ring is fitted into a groove 21 on the outside of the second housing part 3 and prevents leakage from the outside of the nozzle device 1 when the second housing part 3 is screwed into the first housing part 2.

[0039] When installing the nozzle device 1, the valve element 7 is connected to the guide element 12 by pressing the valve element 7 into the receiving portion 13 of the guide element 12. The orifice plate 10, the tapered element 19, and the spring 8 are inserted into the first housing portion 2. The sealing ring 22 is fitted into the groove 21 on the second housing portion 3.

[0040] The guide element 12 is inserted together with the valve element 7 into the orifice 16 of the second housing portion 3, and the second housing portion 3 is screwed into the first housing portion 2. In this way, all components of the nozzle device 1 are in the desired positions.

[0041] When the nozzle device 1 is used to atomize the liquid supplied via the inlet channel 18, the pressure of the liquid increases to a given pressure. The resulting pressure acts on the valve element 7 in the area defined by the inner diameter of the valve seat 6. When the force generated by this pressure exceeds the force generated by the spring 8, the valve element 7 is lifted away from the valve seat 6. At this time, the area of ​​pressure action suddenly increases, so that the valve element 7 is reliably held at a certain distance from the valve seat 6, and the liquid can pass through the inlet channel 18 through the space 17, the transverse channel 24, and through the channel to the orifice 9 formed between the tapered element 19 and the orifice plate 10, in which the liquid is atomized.

[0042] Once atomization ends, the pressure at inlet channel 18 decreases, causing the force of spring 8 to exceed the force generated by the liquid supply and the valve to close, with valve element 7 in close contact with valve seat 6. Because valve element 7 is precisely guided by guide element 12, the valve is sealed.

[0043] The advantage of the orifice plate 10 in this embodiment is that changing the spray pattern by simply changing the orifice plate 10 is a simple method.

[0044] Figure 3 A second embodiment of the atomizing nozzle device is shown, wherein the same elements are indicated by the same reference numerals.

[0045] Figure 3 Nozzle device 1 and Figure 1 and Figure 2 The difference in the illustrated embodiment is that the hole 9 is formed directly in the first housing portion 2. Furthermore, it is shown that the valve element 7 is lifted away from the valve seat 6, causing the valve to open. This has the advantage that only one portion, namely the second housing portion 3, must be processed during installation.

[0046] In both embodiments, the flat portion 15 of the guide element 12 can be replaced by a groove on the guide element or a groove in the inner wall of the orifice 16.

Claims

1. An atomizing nozzle device (1), comprising a housing (2, 3) having an inlet (23), a valve seat (6), a valve element (7) interacting with the valve seat (6), a reset device (8) acting on the valve element (7), and an orifice (9), characterized in that, The valve element (7) is fixed in the guide element (12), which is guided in the orifice (16) of the housing (2, 3), the orifice (16) having a circular cross section and the guide element (12) having a shape adapted to the circular cross section with a predetermined tolerance, and the guide element (12) having at least one flat section (15) on its circumference, the flat section (15) extending along the axial length of the guide element (12).

2. The nozzle device according to claim 1, characterized in that, At least one flow channel (17) is formed between the guide element (12) and the housing (2, 3).

3. The nozzle device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The valve element (7) includes a symmetrically curved surface on at least one side (11) facing the valve seat (6).

4. The nozzle device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The valve element (7) includes a spherical surface in at least the area facing the valve seat (6).

5. The nozzle device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The valve element (7) is made of an elastically deformable material.

6. The nozzle device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The guide element (12) includes a longitudinal channel (14) extending from the valve element (7) to the opposite side of the guide element (12).

7. The nozzle device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The valve element (7) is held in the guide element (12) by friction or shape locking.

8. The nozzle device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The housing (2, 3) includes a first housing portion (2) and a second housing portion (3), wherein the second housing portion (3) includes an external thread (4) that engages with an internal thread (5) in the first housing portion (2), wherein the second housing portion (3) includes an inlet channel (18) connected to the inlet (23) and the valve seat (6) is formed at the inner end of the inlet channel (18).

9. The nozzle device according to claim 8, characterized in that, The valve seat (6) may be conical or curved.

10. The nozzle device according to claim 8, characterized in that, A tapered element (19) is arranged in the housing (2, 3) between the guide element (12) and the hole (9), wherein the reset device (8) is arranged between the tapered element (19) and the guide element (12).

11. The nozzle device according to claim 10, characterized in that, The reset device (8) is arranged in the recess (20) of the conical element (19) and / or in the recess of the guide element (12).

12. The nozzle device according to claim 10, characterized in that, The conical element (19) is held in the first housing part (2) by the second housing part (3).

13. The nozzle device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The orifice (16) includes at least one groove extending along the length of the orifice (16).

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