Nozzle Assembly Laminar Flow Maintenance

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional nozzles fail to maintain a tight and controlled laminar fluid stream over long distances, leading to premature dissipation, which limits their effectiveness in cleaning confined spaces like sewer vaults without requiring personnel entry.

Innovation Solution

The nozzle assemblies feature multiple sections with alternating quantities of ducts or tubes, arranged serially to induce and maintain laminar flow, ensuring the fluid stream remains intact for distances of at least 20 feet or more, using flow straightener assemblies with distinct quantities of tubes to direct fluid flow.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Length of stationary object

If conventional nozzles are used to direct fluid flow, then the nozzle structure is simple, but the fluid stream dissipates prematurely and cannot maintain laminar flow over long distances

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedistance of laminar fluid stream maintenanceVSAvoidnozzle structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Length of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The flow straightener assembly is divided into multiple sections, each containing a specific number of ducts arranged in a circular pattern. These sections are positioned at different locations along the fluid flow path, creating a segmented structure that progressively straightens the fluid flow while maintaining laminar conditions over extended distances

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Multiple ducts are introduced as intermediary elements between the fluid source and the target area. These ducts act as flow straighteners that guide and condition the fluid flow, transforming turbulent flow into laminar flow while extending the distance over which the fluid stream remains intact

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If conventional flow straighteners are used, then the nozzle structure is simple, but the fluid stream dissipates into a mist within the vault, reducing cleaning effectiveness

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning effectiveness in confined spacesVSAvoidflow straightener structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The flow straightener assembly is divided into multiple sections, each containing a specific number of ducts arranged in a circular pattern. These sections are positioned at different locations along the fluid flow path, creating a segmented structure that progressively straightens the fluid flow while maintaining laminar conditions over extended distances

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different sections of the flow straightener assembly have different numbers of ducts (e.g., first section has six ducts, second section has four ducts, third section has two ducts). This variation in local structure creates different flow conditioning effects at different locations, optimizing the overall laminar flow maintenance while adapting to specific flow conditions at each section

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Length of stationary object

If multiple sections with alternating quantities of ducts are used to maintain laminar flow, then the fluid stream remains intact for longer distances, but the manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedistance of laminar fluid stream maintenanceVSAvoidnozzle assembly manufacturing

Core Design Contradiction:

Length of stationary objectVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The flow straightener assembly is divided into multiple sections, each containing a specific number of ducts arranged in a circular pattern. These sections are positioned at different locations along the fluid flow path, creating a segmented structure that progressively straightens the fluid flow while maintaining laminar conditions over extended distances

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The flow straightener assembly is designed as a multi-functional component that simultaneously conditions fluid flow, maintains laminar flow patterns, and extends the effective range of the fluid stream. This universal design consolidates multiple functions into a single integrated assembly, simplifying the overall nozzle system while achieving extended laminar flow maintenance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 design enables the nozzle assemblies to produce and maintain a substantially laminar fluid stream over extended distances, allowing effective cleaning of confined spaces without personnel entry, maintaining flow integrity and pressure across various applications.

Implementation Method 1

The nozzle assemblies facilitate delivery of a substantially laminar fluid stream, and maintenance of the laminar fluid for a target distance

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLaminar flow: Laminar Flow

Data Source

PatentUS11919014B2Nozzle assembly

Publication Date: 2024.03.05 SONNYS HFI HOLDINGS LLC

AI summary

Nozzle assemblies adapted to produce a laminar fluid flow and maintain the laminar fluid flow over a substantial distance facilitate cleaning of a confined space, such as a sewer vault, without personnel entry into the confined space, and include a housing having an inlet, an outlet, and an internal channel extending between the inlet and the outlet. The nozzle assembly can further include a flow straightener assembly within the internal channel. The flow straightener assembly can have a first section with a first plurality of tubes fluidly connected to the inlet, and a second section with a second plurality of tubes fluidly connected to the first plurality of tubes and the outlet. A quantity of the first plurality of tubes is different than a quantity of the second plurality of tubes.