Rotatable Fluid Nozzle for Seam Seal Pattern Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing techniques for replicating the look or pattern of original vehicle seam seals during replacement are time-consuming and require manual processes, lacking efficient tools for controlling the appearance of seam seals.
Innovation Solution
A fluid nozzle with a rotatable cap and tube design that allows for selective control of fluid ejection width and pattern by rotating the cap relative to the tube, providing maximum and minimum open areas for the outlet.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual processes are used to replicate seam seal patterns, then flexibility in creating different patterns is maintained, but time consumption and labor effort increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The nozzle incorporates a rotatable cap that allows dynamic adjustment of the outlet opening area between minimum and maximum positions. This dynamic mechanism enables the operator to switch between different seam seal patterns (narrow vs. wide) without manual intervention or tool changes, directly increasing productivity while reducing time loss.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed nozzle design is used, then device complexity is minimized, but the ability to replicate different seam seal patterns is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The nozzle is segmented into distinct functional components: a tube body, a rotatable cap, and a shield portion. The cap can rotate independently relative to the tube, creating distinct operational modes (minimum and maximum opening areas). This segmentation provides pattern adaptability while keeping each individual component relatively simple in structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotatable cap introduces a dynamic element that allows the nozzle to adapt between different sealing patterns. By rotating the cap between defined positions, the outlet opening area changes, enabling replication of various seam seal patterns without requiring multiple fixed nozzles or complex adjustment mechanisms.
3Productivity
If the outlet opening area is increased for faster sealing, then productivity improves, but precision in replicating original seam seal appearance decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The rotatable cap mechanism allows dynamic control of the outlet opening area, enabling the operator to select between minimum opening (for precise, narrow seals) and maximum opening (for fast, wide seals). This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction by allowing the user to match the opening size to the specific replication requirement.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physical parameter of outlet opening area by rotating the cap between defined positions. This parameter change allows the same nozzle to produce different seam seal widths and patterns, enabling both high productivity (wide opening) and high precision (narrow opening) depending on the operational requirement.
Data Source
AI summary
Various embodiments of a fluid nozzle are disclosed. The nozzle includes a tube having a fluid passageway that extends between an aperture disposed in a first end of the tube and an inlet disposed in a second end of the tube, and a notch disposed in a sidewall of the tube. The notch defines a shield portion of the sidewall of the tube. The fluid nozzle further includes a cap rotatably connected to the tube and disposed over the aperture and the notch of the tube. When the nozzle is in a first orientation the cap is rotated relative to the tube such that an outlet of the cap includes a maximum open area. When the nozzle is in a second orientation the shield portion of the tube occludes a portion of the outlet of the cap such that the outlet includes a minimum open area.