Dripless Atomizing Nozzle Piston Sealing Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Atomizing nozzles often experience liquid dripping from the nozzle tip when the pressurized gas supply is shut off, leading to unintended liquid deposition on surfaces.
Innovation Solution
A dripless atomizing nozzle design featuring a piston mechanism with a bias element, where pressurized gas overcomes the bias force to open the liquid orifice for atomization and seals it when gas pressure drops, preventing liquid flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a standard atomizing nozzle is used, then the nozzle structure is simple, but liquid drips from the nozzle tip when gas pressure is shut off
Solution Approach 1:
The nozzle incorporates a movable piston that dynamically switches between two positions: retracted position for atomization mode and extended position for sealing mode. This dynamic component responds to gas pressure changes to automatically prevent dripping without requiring complex external control systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The piston mechanism is self-actuating, using the gas pressure itself to drive the piston to the retracted position for atomization and automatically returning to the extended sealing position when pressure is shut off. The system serves itself by using the operating condition (gas pressure) to control the sealing state.
2Reliability
If a piston mechanism is added to prevent dripping, then liquid dripping is prevented, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The piston serves multiple functions simultaneously: it seals the liquid orifice to prevent dripping, responds to gas pressure changes, and maintains the atomization flow path when retracted. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components for each function.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing function and the flow control function are merged into a single piston mechanism. The same piston that seals the orifice when extended also maintains the atomization flow path when retracted, combining what could have been separate systems into one integrated component.
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
Ensures no liquid dripping occurs even when the pressurized gas supply is off, maintaining efficient atomization and reducing inventory needs by allowing conversion of standard nozzles to dripless operation.
Implementation Method 1
a bias element connected to move the piston and stem within the piston passage, such that the presence of gas above a predetermined pressure in the piston passage overcomes a force of the bias element to displace the piston
Implementation Method 2
the presence of gas above a predetermined pressure in the piston passage overcomes a force of the bias element to displace the piston to move the tip away from the liquid orifice to open the liquid orifice
Implementation Method 3
the bias element displaces the piston to move the tip to engage and seal the liquid orifice in the absence of gas above the predetermined pressure in the piston passage
Implementation Method 4
the liquid orifice and the gas orifice positioned on the body such that gas exiting the gas orifice mixes with and atomizes liquid exiting the liquid orifice
Data Source
AI summary
A dripless atomizing nozzle may include a nozzle body having a liquid orifice in fluid communication with a liquid inlet, a gas orifice in communication with a gas inlet, and a liquid passage connecting the liquid inlet and the liquid orifice, and a piston body having a piston passage communicating with the gas inlet; the nozzle body may include a connecting portion shaped to enable the piston body to be selectively removed from and attached to the nozzle body. A piston positioned in the piston passage may include a stem and a bias element connected to move the piston and stem within the piston passage such that the presence of gas above a predetermined pressure in the piston passage overcomes a force of the bias element to displace the piston to move the tip away from the liquid orifice to open the liquid orifice.