SPRAY SUPPLY SYSTEM.

Abstract

A low-pressure-loss spray delivery system can be used with an aerosol can equipped with a valve. The system includes a vertically extending conduit with an opening at one end and two openings through a surface at the opposite end. This surface is angled relative to the vertical. The system also has a first horizontal extension conduit that communicates with the vertical extension conduit through one of the two openings, and a second horizontal extension conduit that communicates with the vertical extension conduit through the other opening. A distributor defines an internal annular volume and communicates with the first and second horizontally extending conduits. A spray nozzle insert communicates with the distributor.The spray nozzle insert has a plurality of blades that extend inwards and connect to a central round cavity that has a sharp end.

Description

SPRAY SUPPLY SYSTEM BACKGROUND FIELD OF DISCLOSURE This disclosure pertains to a spray delivery system for an actuator used in an aerosol product dispenser. More specifically, this disclosure relates to a spray delivery system for a high-viscosity product that minimizes pressure loss and improves the mechanical breakdown of the product. DESCRIPTION OF RELATED TECHNIQUES Aerosol systems dispense various products from a container. In traditional aerosol dispensers, the product is mixed with a solvent and a propellant. In bag-with-valve (BOV) dispensers, the product and propellant are separated by a bag sealed to the valve. In both types, the product is stored under pressure in the container and dispensed through a nozzle when a valve is actuated. Consequently, the product may exist in one or more phases (gas, liquid) or partial phases, and in an emulsified state. The product is supplied as a plurality of atomized droplets or particles of a fluid. Over time, the pressure in the can decreases, partly due to an increase in volume resulting from the product being supplied, also known as pressure loss due to expansion. Inevitably, some gas is also released along with the product. It is advisable that the atomized droplets have or form a uniform pattern in the direction of flow. For example, the atomized droplets can have a flat, conical, or fan-shaped pattern. There is a problem with current aerosol systems when the product to be supplied has a high viscosity. First, the uniformity of the pattern decreases as the container empties, making the portion of product dispensed correctly significantly less than the total amount of product in the container. Secondly, the uniformity of the pattern decreases while the pressure loss increases as the viscosity of the product increases. Furthermore, the problem is compounded because the viscosity of the product depends on environmental variables such as temperature, which are not always controllable. BRIEF DESCRIPTION This disclosure provides a spray delivery system that enables the delivery of a high-viscosity product from a container in a uniform pattern of atomized droplets. / bccnn / oznz / B / Yi This disclosure also provides that the spray delivery system facilitates the mechanical breakdown of the high viscosity product. This disclosure also provides a spray delivery system with a dual channel geometry that feeds a spray nozzle with minimal pressure drop. This disclosure further states that the spray delivery system atomizes the high viscosity product in a uniform flat, conical, or fan-shaped pattern. This disclosure further provides a spray delivery system that reduces pressure loss in a container and atomizes the high-viscosity product in a uniform flat, conical, or fan-shaped pattern throughout the container's service life. This disclosure also provides a method for dispensing a high-viscosity product from a container. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES The accompanying drawings illustrate aspects of this disclosure and, together with the preceding overview and the following detailed description, explain the principles herein. As shown in the drawings, similar reference numbers designate similar or corresponding parts. Figure 1 is a perspective view of an actuator, a spray delivery system, and system and method container components in accordance with this disclosure. Figure 2 is a perspective view of the spray delivery system in Figure 1. Figure 3 is a top view of the spray delivery system from Figure 1. Figure 4 is a front view of the spray delivery system of Figure 1 taken normal, to a product flow direction. Figure 5 is a comparison between a standard delivery system and a spray delivery system in accordance with this disclosure at a pressure of 200,000 Pa (2 bar). Figure 6 is a comparison between a standard delivery system and a spray delivery system in accordance with this disclosure at a pressure of 900,000 Pa (9 bar). DETAILED DESCRIPTION With reference to the drawings, and in particular to Figure 1, a supply system is shown in accordance with this disclosure and generally referenced by reference number (100). The system (100) includes a container (110) with product (120) to be dispensed, which is under pressure. The container (110) is operatively connected via a valve (130) to an actuator (140) that discharges the product (120) through a spray delivery system (200). The container (110), the valve (130), the actuator (140), and the spray delivery system (200) are axially aligned along a common z-axis, axis (202). / frccnn / eznz / e / Yi The valve (130) is directly connected, or via a connector (146), in fluid communication with a lower end of the spray delivery system (200). The valve (130) is shown as a BOV-type valve having a bag (132) so that the product (120) is isolated from the propellant (134). The valve (130) can also be a conventional valve. In such embodiments, the product (120) is mixed with the propellant (134). The actuator (140) has wall structures. The wall structures are a circumferential surface (142), a top surface (141) with an opening (144), and a connector (146). The connector (146) is in operational communication with the valve (130). The opening (144) is in fluid communication with an upper end of the spray delivery system (200). The spray delivery system (200) allows a high-viscosity product to be dispensed from the container (110) in a uniform pattern of atomized droplets. The spray delivery system (200) also facilitates the mechanical disruption of the high-viscosity product (120) to atomize it into a uniform flat, conical, or fan-shaped pattern. The spray delivery system (200) further reduces pressure loss over the service life of the container (110). Thus, in operation, the product flows from the container (110), through the valve (130) and the spray supply system (200) before being discharged through the opening (144). With reference to Figures 2 and 3, the spray supply system (200) has an elongated hollow member extending vertically, namely the duct (210). The duct (210) is connected to a pair of ducts (220) and (240) that extend horizontally from the duct (210) at an angle of 90° to 180°. Ducts (210), (220), and (240) are shown as circular ducts. It will be noted that ducts (210), (220), and (240) can be triangular, rectangular, and similar shapes. In some examples, the (220) and (240) ducts are parallel. The distal ends of the conduits (220) and (240) are joined at a distributor (260). The distributor (260) is connected to a conduit (270) which has a spray insert (271) at one end, so that the product is dispensed from there. The duct (210) has an inner and outer diameter. The duct (210) extends vertically along an axis (202) coincident with the z-axis from a lower end (204) and a respective upper end (206). From the lower end (204) to the upper end (206) extends a wall (215) of the duct (210) that has a smooth inner surface. At the lower end (204), the conduit (210) has an opening (212). The opening (212) has a cross-sectional area (234) through which the fluid flows. In some examples, the cross-sectional area (234) is constant along the entire length of the duct (210). In other examples, the cross-sectional area (234) varies along the length of the duct (210). In other examples, the cross-sectional area (234) varies along part of the length of the duct (210). The duct (210) is covered at its upper end (206) by a surface (214). The surface (214) has two openings, namely opening (216) and opening (218). From the openings (216) and (218) extend the ducts (220) and (240), respectively. Conduits (220) and (240) preferably extend parallel to each other. Conduits (220) and (240) may also be substantially parallel to each other, i.e., within a range of 3.04° of parallelism, preferably within a range of 1.36° of parallelism, and more preferably within a range of 0.96° of parallelism. Ducts (220) and (240) each have a length extending from surface (214) to distributor (260). Ducts (220) and (240) are arranged along the length at an angle α with respect to the z-axis (202). In examples, the angle a can be 90° so that ducts (220) and (240) are normal to duct (210). In other examples, the angle a can be 180° so that ducts (220) and (240) are parallel to duct (210). As shown, ducts (220) and (240) are vertically aligned. In other examples, ducts (220) may be horizontally aligned or not aligned. In other examples, the angle a ranges between 90° and 180°, preferably between 100° and 160°, more preferably between 110° and 130°, and most preferably between 115° and 125°. In the example shown, the conduit (220) has an inner diameter that defines a cross-sectional area (224) for fluid flow that is constant along the entire length of conduit (220). Similarly, the conduit (240) has an inner diameter that defines a cross-sectional area (244) that is constant along the entire length of conduit (240). In another example, the cross-sectional area (224) varies along the length of the duct (220). In another example, the cross-sectional area (244) varies along the length of the duct (240). In another example, the cross-sectional area (224) varies along the length of the duct (220) and the cross-sectional area (244) varies along the length of the duct (240). In some examples, the cross-sectional areas (224) and (244) have an identical cross-sectional area. In other examples, the cross-sectional area (234) has a cross-sectional area that is about the same as the sum of the cross-sectional areas (224) and (244). / bccnn / cznz / B / Yi In other examples, the cross-sectional area (234) has a cross-sectional area that is within 5%, 10%, or 15% of a sum of the cross-sectional areas (224) and (244). Although the spray supply system (200) is shown with two ducts (220) and (240), the spray supply system (200) may have three, four or more ducts extending horizontally. With reference to Figures 3 and 4, the flow from ducts (220) and (240) joins at the distributor (260). The distributor (260) has a diameter and a wall structure (264) that define an internal annular volume. The distributor (260) is connected to the conduit (270) through an opening (266). The conduit (270) has a distal end (272) and a proximal end (274). The proximal end (274) is connected to the distributor (260). The product is discharged from a nozzle insert (271) at the distal end (272). The nozzle insert (271) has two or more vanes (276). The vanes (276) extend inward to connect with a central round cavity (278). The central round cavity (278) may have a sharp edge (279). The blades (276) have a surface (286). The blades (276) also have sharp edges (280), a depth (282), and a surface (286). The blades (276) may have an edge (284) that is tangent to a circumferential surface of the central round cavity (278). The blades (276) are preferably evenly spaced around the central round cavity (278). In the preferred examples, there are three blades (276). However, there may be one, two, four, or more blades (276). Together with the central round cavity (278), the blades (276) and the sharp edge (279) generate a Borda-Carnot effect. Without limiting ourselves to a single theory, a spray supply system with a dual-channel geometry can feed a spray nozzle with minimal pressure loss. This provides the spray nozzle with more energy for the mechanical breakdown of the product. Although described herein as a propeller-based BOV system, system (100) may be a non-propeller-based system, such as a hand pump delivery system and / or a traditional valve system. With reference to Figures 5 and 6, comparative computational fluid dynamics (CFD) studies are shown between a supply system with standard or conventional inserts and a supply system that has the present spray supply system (200), referred to in the diagram as a low pressure loss system. These studies were conducted using olive oil at 21°C (ambient temperature). As shown, the standard design has a pressure loss of 26% compared to the system (100) with spray delivery system (200), which has a loss of only 4%. / frccnn / eznz / e / Yi Without limiting ourselves to a single theory, the ductwork, distributors, and vanes of the spray delivery system (200) minimize pressure loss at the nozzle to provide more energy for the mechanical breakdown of the product. The spray delivery system (200) conserves energy until the moment of discharge, at which point the energy for mechanical breakdown is maximized, allowing the delivery of high-viscosity fluids. Although this disclosure is described with reference to one or more illustrative examples, those skilled in the art will understand that various changes can be made and elements substituted for equivalent ones without departing from the scope of this disclosure. Therefore, this disclosure is not intended to be limited to the specific examples disclosed herein.

Claims

1. A minimal pressure loss spray delivery system for use with an aerosol container having a valve, the system comprising: a vertical extension conduit having an opening at a lower end of the vertical extension conduit and two openings through a surface at an end opposite the lower end, wherein the surface is disposed at an angle relative to a vertical axis of the vertical extension conduit; a first horizontal extension conduit extending from a distal end thereof to a proximal end thereof and having fluid communication with the vertical extension conduit through one of the two openings; a second horizontal extension conduit extending from a distal end thereof to a proximal end thereof and having fluid communication with the vertical extension conduit through the other of the two openings;a distributor defining an inner annular volume and having fluid communication with the first and second horizontally extending conduits; and a spray nozzle insert that is in fluid communication with the distributor, wherein the spray nozzle insert comprises a plurality of inwardly extending vanes connecting to a central round cavity having a pointed end.

2. The spray supply system according to claim 1, wherein the first and second horizontally extending conduits are arranged normal to the two openings.

3. The spray delivery system according to claim 2, wherein the surface has an angle of 100° to 160°.

4. The spray delivery system according to claim 3, wherein the surface has an angle of 110° to 130°.

5. The spray delivery system according to claim 1, wherein the vertically extending conduit has a constant cross-sectional area.

6. The spray delivery system according to claim 1, wherein the vertically extending conduit has a cross-sectional area that varies along a portion of its total length.

7. The spray delivery system according to claim 7, wherein the vertically extending conduit has a cross-sectional area that varies along its entire length.

8. The spray delivery system according to claim 1, wherein the vertically extending conduit has a cross-sectional area that is approximately the same as the sum of the cross-sectional areas of the first and second horizontally extending conduits. / frccnn / eznz / e / Yi 9. The spray delivery system according to claim 1, wherein the first and second horizontally extending conduits are substantially parallel to each other.

10. The spray delivery system according to claim 1, wherein the first and second horizontally extending conduits each have a cross-sectional area that varies along a portion of their total length.

11. The spray delivery system according to claim 10, wherein the first and second horizontally extending conduits each have a cross-sectional area that varies along their entire length.

12. The spray delivery system according to claim 1, wherein the central round cavity, the plurality of blades and the sharp edge are configured to generate a Borda-Carnot effect.

13. The spray delivery system according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of blades comprises three blades.

14. The spray delivery system according to claim 1, wherein each blade of the plurality of blades comprises an edge that is tangent to the central round cavity.

15. The spray delivery system according to claim 1, wherein the system is configured for a bag-based propeller in the valve system.

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