Carwash Spray Nozzle With Circular Jet Array
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current car wash systems are inefficient in providing a thorough scrubbing and debris removal action on vehicle surfaces, particularly on wheels and undercarriage components, as they lack a high-velocity cleaning mechanism that ensures uniform coverage.
Innovation Solution
A high-velocity multiple jet spray nozzle with a circular array of small diameter outlets, comprising a body with a fluid inlet and chamber, producing highly collimated jets of water or chemically loaded water, is designed to provide a uniform and continuous cleaning action on vehicle surfaces, with the nozzle assembly including a base, nozzle carrier, and cover plate made of aluminum and stainless steel respectively, ensuring effective debris removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional spray systems are used, then the structure is simple, but the cleaning effectiveness and uniformity are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The nozzle is divided into multiple functional segments: a body structure, a nozzle carrier with multiple small-diameter outlets arranged in a circular array, and a cover plate with flow passages. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently for its specific function while maintaining overall system effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The nozzle design implements local quality by creating highly collimated jets through specifically engineered small-diameter outlets (0.030 to 0.060 inches) in the nozzle carrier, while the cover plate provides larger flow passages that do not contact the jets. This localized optimization of passage dimensions at different positions ensures high-velocity jet formation where needed while maintaining structural integrity.
2Productivity
If high pressure spray is used, then debris removal capability is improved, but uniform coverage is difficult to achieve
Solution Approach 1:
The nozzle design uses asymmetric arrangement of the circular array of outlets relative to the vehicle direction of travel, with outlets positioned to create overlapping patterns that ensure uniform coverage. The non-uniform angular spacing (e.g., 0°, 72°, 144°, 216°, 288° for five outlets) creates asymmetric jet trajectories that collectively provide symmetric uniform coverage across the vehicle surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from conventional single-dimension spray patterns to a three-dimensional collimated jet structure. The small-diameter outlets create highly collimated jets that maintain their coherence over distance, adding the dimension of jet coherence and directional stability to the spray pattern, which enables both high impact force and uniform distribution.
3Reliability
If multiple nozzles are arranged to provide continuous coverage, then cleaning completeness is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple individual nozzle functions are merged into a single integrated nozzle assembly. The nozzle carrier combines multiple small-diameter outlets into one unit, and the cover plate integrates flow distribution passages that serve all outlets simultaneously. This merging reduces the number of separate components and simplifies installation while maintaining continuous coverage capability.
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 system achieves a powerful and uniform cleaning action, effectively removing dirt, ice, and other debris from vehicle surfaces and undercarriage components, ensuring complete coverage with minimal overlap, enhancing the efficiency of car wash operations.
Implementation Method 1
A generally circular array of small diameter outlets from the chamber produce a generally circular group of spray jets which causes high velocity fluid, water or chemically loaded water, to flow in highly collimated fashion toward the surface of a vehicle
Data Source
AI summary
A high velocity, multiple-jet spray nozzle for use in carwash systems. Each nozzle comprises the axial unitary combination of a base, a nozzle carrier and a face plate. An inlet and a chamber are formed in the body and axially aligned flow passages are formed in the nozzle carrier and face plate so that when the components are assembled, five parallel jets arranged in a circular pattern are defined between the chamber and the outer surface of the face plate. Stainless steel nozzle inserts are press fit into the flow passages of the nozzle carrier and are held in place by the face plate. Screws hold the assembly together. The nozzles are preferably used in multiples to define a wide stream of washing fluid which can be used to attach mud, ice and other debris on the surfaces of a vehicle as well as on wheels and undercarriage. Each nozzle has an alignment axis marked on the face plate along which the spacing between adjacent nozzle outlets is uniform.