Force-Balancing Spray Nozzle for Flexible Robotic Arms

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional spray nozzles attached to slender cantilevered members in newer spray processes experience significant deflection due to reaction forces, leading to instability and inability to maintain intended position, which is detrimental to coating processes and can cause harm to engine components.

Innovation Solution

The development of force-balanced spray nozzle devices that include a first conduit for a first fluid, a second conduit for a second fluid, a dispensing aperture for an atomized multiphase spray, and at least one balancing outlet to balance the ejection force by exiting the second fluid, allowing the nozzle to be coupled to a flexible robotic arm without requiring structural stiffness.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If the spray nozzle is attached to a slender cantilevered member, then the device complexity and structural stiffness requirements are reduced, but the spray nozzle experiences significant deflection due to reaction forces

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural stiffness requirementsVSAvoidspray nozzle position stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces balancing outlets that eject fluid in the opposite direction to the main spray, creating a counteracting reaction force. This balances the momentum change and eliminates the net reaction force that causes deflection, allowing the nozzle to remain stable on flexible support structures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #8Anti-weight (Counterweight)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the harmful reaction force that causes deflection into a useful balancing force. By ejecting fluid through balancing outlets in the opposite direction, the previously harmful reaction force becomes a beneficial counterbalancing force that maintains nozzle position stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the spray nozzle is attached to a flexible robotic arm, then the adaptability and ease of operation are improved, but the spray nozzle cannot maintain its intended position due to deflection

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverobotic arm flexibilityVSAvoidspray deposition precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The balancing outlets create a counteracting reaction force that balances the momentum change of the main spray. This allows the robotic arm to remain flexible and adaptable while the spray nozzle maintains precise positioning through force balance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #8Anti-weight (Counterweight)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces dynamic force balancing through adjustable balancing outlets that can compensate for varying spray conditions. This allows the system to maintain precision across different operating conditions while preserving robotic arm flexibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Device complexity

If conventional spray nozzles are used with slender support structures, then the device complexity is reduced, but harmful spray deposition occurs on unintended engine parts

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesupport structure complexityVSAvoidundesirable spray deposition

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

By balancing the reaction forces through opposing fluid ejection, the nozzle maintains stable positioning that prevents spray deposition on unintended areas. This force balancing eliminates the deflection that would otherwise cause harmful spray migration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #8Anti-weight (Counterweight)

Solution Approach 2:

The previously harmful effect of reaction force-induced deflection is converted into a beneficial force balance that prevents undesirable spray deposition on engine components not intended for coating.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

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 solution effectively reduces the need for structural stiffness, enabling the spray nozzle to maintain its intended position and precision during spraying, even when attached to a flexible robotic arm, thereby improving the accuracy and safety of coating processes.

Implementation Method 1

the spray exiting the spray nozzle exerts a reaction force on the spray nozzle

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectReaction force: Reaction (physics)

Implementation Method 2

at least one balancing outlet in fluid communication with at least the second conduit, the balancing outlets eject therefrom a balancing jet of fluid to balance a reaction force of the ejection of the spray from the dispensing aperture

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMomentum balance: Conservation of Momentum

Data Source

PatentUS12318801B2Force-balancing spray nozzle devices

Publication Date: 2025.06.03 OLIVER CRISPIN ROBOTICS

AI summary

A spray nozzle includes a first conduit that provides a first flow path for a first type of fluid, a second conduit that provides a second flow path for a second fluid that is different from the first fluid, a first dispensing aperture that ejects therefrom a spray that includes the first type of fluid and/or the second type of fluid, and at least one balancing outlet in fluid communication with the second conduit. The at least one balancing outlet permit the second type of fluid to exit therefrom to balance a force of ejection of the spray from the first dispensing aperture.