Fluidic Oscillator With Splitter For High Velocity Spray
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional fluidic oscillators face limitations in achieving higher mean exit velocities, larger fan angles, and more uniform spatial distribution of droplets, particularly in automotive windshield washer applications where size constraints and aesthetic considerations are significant.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of a splitter downstream of the interaction chamber, which splits the flow into component sprays with imposed yaw angles, allowing for larger fan angles and higher exit velocities by optimizing the power nozzle and throat areas, and the use of combinations of horizontal and vertical splitters to create tailored sprays with multiple components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If conventional fluidic oscillators are used with standard spray nozzle designs, then the device complexity is low and ease of manufacture is high, but the mean exit velocity, fan angle, and spatial distribution uniformity are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The fluidic oscillator is divided into multiple independent functional modules: power nozzles, interaction chamber, splitter, and multiple throats. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently for its specific function while maintaining overall system performance, enabling higher exit velocities without proportionally increasing overall complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces a vertical dimension to the traditional horizontal spray configuration by incorporating splitters that create vertically separated component sprays. This dimensional change allows the spray to overcome air drag more effectively and achieve larger fan angles without simply increasing horizontal nozzle spacing, thus improving velocity and distribution uniformity with controlled complexity
2Area of stationary object
If the spray fan angle is increased to provide wider coverage, then the area of coverage is improved, but the mean exit velocity and spray penetration distance decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The spray is segmented into multiple component sprays with different orientations and velocities. Each component spray maintains high exit velocity from its dedicated throat, while the collective arrangement of multiple sprays creates wide overall coverage. This segmentation allows both wide area coverage and high velocity to coexist
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses vertical splitters to create component sprays at different vertical levels, effectively utilizing the vertical dimension to expand coverage area. This allows the spray system to achieve wide coverage without compromising horizontal exit velocity, as each component spray maintains its velocity while the vertical separation increases overall spatial coverage
3Manufacturing precision
If multiple component sprays are created to improve spatial distribution uniformity, then the uniformity of droplet distribution is improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The oscillator is segmented into modular components (power nozzles, interaction chamber, splitter, throats) that can be designed and manufactured independently using standard fabrication techniques. This modular segmentation achieves precise spatial distribution uniformity while maintaining ease of manufacture, as each module can be optimized and assembled separately
Solution Approach 2:
The invention optimizes specific geometric parameters of each component (nozzle diameters, chamber dimensions, throat areas, splitter angles) to achieve uniform spatial distribution. By carefully controlling these parameters within standard manufacturing tolerances, high precision droplet distribution is achieved without requiring complex manufacturing processes
4Volume of moving object
If the oscillator size is reduced to meet aesthetic considerations and size constraints, then the ease of installation and aesthetic appearance are improved, but the spray velocity and coverage area are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The invention optimizes the geometric parameters of compact components (power nozzle diameters, interaction chamber volume, throat dimensions) to maximize spray velocity within a reduced overall size. By carefully scaling these parameters, high exit velocities are maintained in a compact oscillator that meets aesthetic and installation constraints
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from horizontal spray expansion to vertical spray separation, allowing compact horizontal footprint while maintaining spray performance. The vertical arrangement of component sprays enables the oscillator to be smaller in the horizontal plane (meeting aesthetic constraints) while still achieving high velocity and adequate coverage through the vertical dimension
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
This configuration results in a 30% to 49% increase in average exit velocity and larger overall horizontal fan angles, enhancing the spray's ability to overcome air drag and provide uniform coverage, even in high-speed conditions.
Implementation Method 1
at least one power nozzle configured to greatly accelerate the movement of the liquid that flows under pressure through the insert
Implementation Method 2
accelerate the movement of the liquid that flows under pressure through the insert so that it separates from the walls downstream of the power nozzle so as to form an essentially 'free' jet
Implementation Method 3
an interaction chamber through which the liquid flows and in which the flow phenomena (e.g., intermittent, alternating vortices in side-by-side locations within the chamber) is initiated that will eventually lead to the spray from the insert being of an oscillating nature
Implementation Method 4
flow phenomena (e.g., intermittent, alternating vortices in side-by-side locations within the chamber)
Implementation Method 5
a splitter downstream of the interaction chamber, which splits the flow into component sprays with imposed yaw angles
Implementation Method 6
Fluidic inserts or oscillators are well known for their ability to provide a wide range of distinctive liquid sprays into surrounding ambient gaseous environments. The distinctiveness of these sprays is due to the fact that they are characterized by being oscillatory in nature
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3A~4C
AI summary
An improved fluidic oscillator (2), that operates on a pressurized liquid flowing through the oscillator to generate a liquid jet that flows into the surrounding gaseous environment to form of an oscillating spray of liquid droplets, includes: a member into which is fabricated a two-portion, flow channel, with its first portion configured so as to create the flow phenomena in the member that yields the spray's oscillating nature, and its second portion includes a splitter (22) that is used to divide the jet into component sprays whose centerlines assume a specified yaw or pitch angle relative to the centerline of the oscillator.