Miniature Fluidic Spray Nozzle for Cold Low-Flow Lens Washing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing miniaturized automotive washer nozzles face challenges in achieving effective spray distribution and cold weather performance due to size constraints and limitations in spray pattern, especially for cleaning camera lenses, which require a compact, economical, and versatile solution.
Innovation Solution
A compact shear nozzle design with a 5 mm diameter spray head that generates uniform spray fans perpendicular to the axis of the feed hole, capable of operating at low flow rates and high viscosity fluids, including 50% ethanol, and functioning effectively at cold temperatures, with adjustable spray fan angles and multiple spray orientations from a single nozzle.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If fluidic type washer nozzles are used to achieve high efficiency spray performance, then spray coverage and speed are improved, but package size becomes too large for limited available space
Solution Approach 1:
The fluidic circuit is segmented into multiple functional zones within a compact housing, including a feed hole, interaction region, and spray exit arranged in a vertical stack. This segmentation allows each component to perform its function in a confined space, achieving fluidic spray performance in a miniaturized package.
Solution Approach 2:
The nozzle design transitions from horizontal to vertical orientation, with the feed hole, interaction region, and spray exit arranged vertically. This dimensional change allows the spray fan to be generated perpendicular to the feed hole axis, achieving effective spray distribution in a compact vertical footprint suitable for limited installation spaces.
2Volume of moving object
If jet spray nozzles are used to reduce package size, then nozzle dimensions are reduced, but spray pattern effectiveness deteriorates requiring higher flow rate or longer duration
Solution Approach 1:
The invention employs a fluidic oscillator circuit that uses fluid pressure and flow to generate oscillating spray patterns. The fluidic circuit includes a feed hole, interaction region, and spray exit that work together to create high-frequency oscillations, producing an effective spray fan pattern from a compact nozzle without requiring increased flow rate or duration.
3Volume of moving object
If shear nozzles are used for small package-size applications, then nozzle dimensions are reduced, but spray performance deteriorates when spraying cold high viscosity fluids
Solution Approach 1:
The fluidic oscillator circuit is designed with specific dimensional parameters optimized for cold weather operation. The feed hole diameter, interaction region geometry, and spray exit dimensions are carefully selected to maintain spray performance with cold, high viscosity fluids. The vertical arrangement and fluidic oscillation mechanism ensure reliable spray generation even when fluid viscosity increases at low temperatures.
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 nozzle assembly provides consistent and effective spray performance at low flow rates and cold temperatures, ensuring efficient cleaning of camera lenses and other surfaces with a compact, economical, and versatile design suitable for high-volume production.
Implementation Method 1
Fluidic type washer nozzles are well known for high efficiency (big coverage, high speed with low flow rate) spray performance
Implementation Method 2
the two flows collide or impinge upon one another inside an interaction region to generate high frequency spray oscillations
Implementation Method 3
Two flows are then fed into a first power nozzle and a second power nozzle, which generate two jets that face or impinge upon one another inside an interaction region
Implementation Method 4
the two jets facing each other inside an interaction region generate uniform stream lines that converge at the nozzle throat to become a uniform spray fan
Data Source
AI summary
A low flow compact spray head design for cleaning applications, especially for camera lens wash includes a miniature spray nozzle head which is about 5 mm in diameter or less for a single direction spray nozzle and about 8 mm in diameter of less for a nozzle with multiple sprays. The washer fluid is fed from the bottom of nozzle along a flow axis and is separated into two flows via two power nozzles or inlets which turn the flows 90° to become opposing jets impinging upon each other inside an interaction region. Uniform stream lines are generated by the two direct facing jets and converge at the nozzle throat to become a uniform spray fan, which is on a plane perpendicular to the axis of cylindrical nozzle head. This fluidic circuit design enables a miniature size low flowrate nozzle to operate well consistently with low flow rate (e.g., a flow rate of about 150 mL/min to about 300 mL/min at 25 psi, or even a flow rate of about 250 mL/min at 25 psi or above, at a viscosity of about 25 CP) at cold temperate (−4° F. or lower) with 50 percent ethanol. This nozzle design is capable of generating two or more different oriented spray fans (e.g., fans spraying in opposing directions) from one single nozzle.