Convergent Envelope Steam Nozzle for Antibacterial Surface Treatment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fluid nozzles used for antibacterial treatments, especially in the food industry, face inefficiencies in expanding coverage area while maintaining superheated steam potency, often leading to overheating or surface damage, and are typically heavy due to diverging designs.
Innovation Solution
A lightweight, heat retentive diffuser nozzle with a converging envelope design and a nozzle guard equipped with coil spring spacing arms that allows for adjustable distance and lateral movement, dispersing superheated steam over a broader area without reducing steam potency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If a standard diffuser (expander) is used to expand coverage area, then the coverage area increases, but the device becomes heavy and steam potency is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional diffuser design by using a converging envelope instead of a diverging one. The converging shape focuses the steam flow while the internal geometry creates diffusion effects, achieving coverage expansion without the weight penalty of traditional expander designs
2Area of stationary object
If a standard diffuser (expander) is used to expand coverage area, then the coverage area increases, but steam potency is lost causing overheating or surface damage
Solution Approach 1:
The converging envelope design creates localized high-velocity steam jets that maintain potency at the target surface while the overall diffusion effect expands coverage. The geometry ensures that steam reaches the surface with sufficient energy to kill microbes without excessive heat buildup that would cause damage
3Weight of moving object
If a converging envelope design is used, then device weight is reduced, but diffusion capability must be maintained
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the inversion principle by using a converging envelope shape that naturally creates diffusion through its geometry. The convergence focuses the flow initially, then the envelope shape disperses it, achieving diffusion without requiring heavy expander components
4Productivity
If superheated steam is used for rapid microbial removal, then antibacterial effectiveness increases, but risk of surface burning increases
Solution Approach 1:
The converging envelope design delivers superheated steam in controlled partial streams that maintain high temperature for microbial killing while the diffusion effect spreads the heat load across a larger area, preventing concentration of excessive heat at any single point that would cause burning
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 solution enhances surface treatment efficiency by maintaining steam potency and preventing overheating, while reducing human energy use and surface damage, with improved coverage and productivity.
Implementation Method 1
coil spring spacing arms that allows for adjustable distance and lateral movement
Implementation Method 2
A new diffuser is proposed which converges down from the nozzle (exhaust end of the application device) but enables a diffusion type of action
Data Source
AI summary
Presented is an apparatus and a means to more broadly apply a projected fluid to a surface by the passing of the fluid through a convergent diffuser. The use of a convergent diffuser runs counter to the present state of the art which suggests the use of a divergently configured diffuser. A preferred embodiment teaches a construction of the diffuser employing mesh configurations in various shapes. Another embodiment envisions a diffuser configured of a coil of material formed in a donut shape through which a fluid passes and is dispersed.