Adjustable Cold Spray Nozzle Throat
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cold spray nozzle assemblies are not commercially feasible as they fail to accommodate variations in gas pressures, deposition rates, and powder materials, and suffer from machining tolerances and component wear issues.
Innovation Solution
A cold spray nozzle assembly with a venturi having converging and diverging portions and an adjustable member that can be axially moved to achieve desired gas pressures and deposition rates, accommodating machining tolerances and wear, with a retention member to maintain the adjustment position, and a powder feeder system that delivers powder material through various passages.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed venturi or nozzle assembly is used, then the structure is simple, but it cannot accommodate different powder materials, gas pressures, or deposition rates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements an adjustable member that can be axially moved between multiple positions within the venturi, allowing dynamic adjustment of the effective throat area. This enables the nozzle to adapt to different powder materials, gas pressures, and deposition rates by changing the geometry of the flow path, thereby resolving the contradiction between adaptability and structural simplicity.
2Manufacturing precision
If standard machining tolerances are used in nozzle assembly, then manufacturing is easier, but component wear and tolerance accumulation affect performance consistency
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustable member compensates for manufacturing tolerances and component wear by allowing post-assembly adjustment of the throat area. This dynamic adjustment capability enables the system to achieve consistent performance despite variations in machining tolerances or wear over time, resolving the contradiction between manufacturing precision and ease of manufacture.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The nozzle assembly allows for flexible operation with different powder materials and gas pressures, maintaining performance despite machining tolerances and wear, ensuring consistent deposition rates and gas pressures.
Implementation Method 1
The carrier gas flows through a venturi, typically provided in a cold spray nozzle assembly, to accelerate powdered material through the venturi to a desired velocity for deposition onto a substrate.
Data Source
AI summary
A cold spray nozzle assembly includes a venturi having converging and diverging portions interconnected at a throat. An air supply conduit is in communication with the venturi for supplying a carrier gas to the converging portion. A powder feed tube is in communication with the venturi for supplying a powder material. An adjustment member is arranged within the venturi and is axially moveable relative thereto between multiple positions. The multiple positions respectively provide multiple different areas or throat clearances including a desired area between the adjustment member and the venturi or throat clearance. As a result, the adjustment member can be axially positioned to achieve desired gas pressures, deposition rates, and accommodate machining tolerances and component wear based upon the selected area. A retention member maintains the adjustment member in the desired position during operation of the cold spray nozzle assembly.