Fluidic Oscillator Enclosure Design for Spray Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional enclosures for fluidic oscillators limit the range of achievable spray distributions, particularly in terms of surface area coverage, velocity, and pulsating frequencies, and are not optimized for low flow rates or energy efficiency in applications like showerheads and body sprays, which affects the tactile sensation and water savings.
Innovation Solution
The development of novel enclosures with specific configurations, such as a body with an interior and exterior surface that forms an enclosed pathway with the fluidic oscillator, including a throat, throat expansion region, or interaction elements, and a sloped interior surface to influence spray properties, allowing for improved spray distribution and control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional enclosures are used for fluidic oscillators, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the spray distribution range is limited and surface area coverage is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The enclosure is divided into multiple functional segments including a body, lid, and base, each with specific geometric features. The lid and base can be separately configured with different interior surface geometries (flat, convex, concave, sloped) to optimize spray distribution for different applications while maintaining a simple overall structure that is easy to manufacture.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the enclosure's interior surfaces are given different geometric properties. The lid may have a convex interior surface to focus spray, while the base may have a concave interior surface to spread spray. This local differentiation allows the same basic enclosure structure to achieve multiple spray distribution patterns without increasing overall complexity.
2Speed
If conventional enclosures are used, then manufacturing is easier, but velocity and pulsating frequencies of the spray are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The enclosure geometry parameters (lid slope angle, base curvature radius, throat dimensions) are optimized to enhance spray velocity and pulsating frequencies. By adjusting these geometric parameters within standard manufacturing capabilities, the system achieves higher spray velocities and more effective pulsating frequencies without requiring complex manufacturing processes.
3Area of stationary object
If conventional enclosures are used, then the structure is simpler, but area coverage and water efficiency are insufficient for low flow rate applications
Solution Approach 1:
The enclosure utilizes three-dimensional geometric features (convex and concave surfaces, sloped interior surfaces) to expand spray coverage in multiple directions. This dimensional approach allows a single enclosure configuration to achieve wide area coverage by manipulating spray trajectories in vertical and horizontal planes simultaneously, maximizing coverage without increasing structural complexity.
4Quantity of substance
If conventional enclosures are used, then energy consumption is higher, but achieving the same tactile sensation requires more water flow
Solution Approach 1:
The enclosure geometry is designed to work synergistically with the fluidic oscillator's natural pulsating flow to enhance spray performance. The convex lid and concave base configurations automatically redirect and focus the pulsating spray without requiring additional energy input or water flow, allowing the system to achieve desired tactile sensations at lower flow rates and energy consumption.
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 new enclosures enable wider spray distributions, higher velocities, and pulsating frequencies, achieving significant water savings and reduced energy consumption while maintaining tactile sensations, and allowing for better control over spray direction and area coverage.
Implementation Method 1
an interaction chamber through which the liquid flows and in which the flow phenomena is initiated that will eventually lead to the spray from the insert being of an oscillating nature
Implementation Method 2
a sloped interior surface to influence spray properties, allowing for improved spray distribution and control
Data Source
Figure 1~2A
Figure 2B~3
Figure 4A~4B
AI summary
For those spray applications that use a fluidic oscillator (4) of the type that generates a spray by having a pressurized liquid flow through the oscillator and exhaust into a surrounding environment, and where such an oscillator has a boundary surface (4b) which has fabricated into it a channel (4c) in the form of what is referred to herein as fluidic circuit, an improved enclosure (2) for this oscillator includes: a body (10) having an interior (13) and an exterior (12) surface, wherein a portion of this interior surface (13) is configured to attach to the oscillator boundary surface (4b) so as to form with the oscillator's channel (4c) an enclosed pathway through which the to-be-sprayed liquid may flow, and wherein a segment (23) of this interior surface is configured so as to yield specified properties of the resulting spray.