Reverse Mushroom Nozzle Insert for Low Flow Spray Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional fluidic nozzle designs fail to effectively clean exterior camera lenses and sensors in vehicles due to geometrical and dimensional limitations, leading to instability and poor performance at low flow rates, especially in high viscosity conditions, and are aesthetically unappealing when used in small-scale applications.
Innovation Solution
A compact fluidic nozzle assembly with a reverse mushroom-shaped insert geometry, featuring a flat-top interaction region, concave power nozzle angle, and specific dimensions, which enhances spray stability and high viscosity performance while maintaining a small size, enabling effective cleaning of camera lenses and sensors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If conventional fluidic nozzle designs are used, then spray coverage is achieved, but spray stability and performance deteriorate at low flow rates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the geometric parameters of the nozzle insert, specifically using a reverse mushroom shape with a flat top interaction region and optimized power nozzle angles. These parameter changes enable stable spray formation at low flow rates by improving fluid dynamics within the constrained geometry, directly resolving the contradiction between low flow rate operation and spray stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The reverse mushroom insert geometry incorporates curved surfaces and optimized angular features, including a flat top interaction region and specific power nozzle angles. These curved and angled surfaces guide fluid flow more effectively at low rates, maintaining spray stability where conventional straight or simple geometries fail.
2Volume of moving object
If compact nozzle size is reduced for aesthetic reasons, then visual obtrusiveness improves, but spray performance and stability worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The nozzle is segmented into distinct functional regions: a compact body for aesthetic integration, and an internal reverse mushroom insert structure that performs the fluidic oscillation function. This segmentation allows the external dimensions to be minimized for visual appeal while the internal geometry maintains adequate volume for reliable spray performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The reverse mushroom insert is nested within the compact nozzle body, allowing the functional fluidic elements to be contained within a small external envelope. This nesting enables the nozzle to maintain aesthetic compactness while housing the complex geometry needed for stable low-flow spray performance.
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional nozzle geometry is used, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but high viscosity fluid performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes specific geometric parameters including the flat top interaction region height, power nozzle angles, and insert dimensions. These parameter changes improve the nozzle's ability to handle high viscosity fluids by creating appropriate flow paths and pressure distributions, while the overall reverse mushroom geometry can still be manufactured using standard techniques.
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 compact fluidic nozzle assembly achieves high velocity droplets with uniform distribution and improved performance in low flow rate applications, reducing instability and roll, and is visually unobtrusive, suitable for small-scale automotive and camera wash applications.
Implementation Method 1
fluidic oscillator geometry having a compact curved, bottom wall radius (WC) in the range of about 0.5 mm to about 2 mm... an oscillating jet issuing from the outlet orifice produces a more desirable spray fan
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to various low flow rate fluidic nozzle inserts having a reverse mushroom-shaped mushroom insert geometry that are useful for a wide range of spraying and cleaning applications. In one embodiment, the present invention relates to fluidic nozzle inserts that are able to perform at low flow rates with geometrical and dimensional limitations. In still another embodiment, the present invention relates to compact fluidic nozzle inserts that provide a manner by which to attain a desired level of performance in a fluidic nozzle assembly for small scale applications at low flow rates.