Spray Gun Nozzle Body With Vortex Gas-Guiding Elevations

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing spray guns face challenges in achieving effective atomization of liquid paints with lower gas pressures, particularly for water-based paints with higher viscosities, leading to reduced paint flow rates and increased noise, while maintaining transfer efficiency.

Innovation Solution

A nozzle body design with a gas-guiding surface featuring converging side surfaces on the nozzle tube wall, generating vortices in the atomizing gas flow to enhance atomization and mixing, allowing for improved atomization and mixing without increasing gas pressure or flow rate.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If the pressure of atomizing gas is increased to achieve finer atomization, then the atomization quality is improved, but the volume of high-frequency noises increases and transfer efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveatomization qualityVSAvoidhigh-frequency noise
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The gas-guiding surface is segmented into multiple elevations (protrusions) that divide the atomizing gas flow into multiple separate streams. Each elevation creates its own vortex structure, segmenting the single high-pressure flow into multiple lower-pressure flows that collectively achieve the same atomization effect with reduced noise

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The elevations on the gas-guiding surface create vortex flows that add a rotational dimension to the atomizing gas. This vortex structure enhances mixing and atomization through rotational motion rather than relying solely on increased linear pressure, thereby improving atomization quality without proportionally increasing noise

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Manufacturing precision

If the pressure of atomizing gas is increased to achieve finer atomization, then the atomization quality is improved, but transfer efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveatomization qualityVSAvoidtransfer efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

By segmenting the gas flow into multiple streams through the elevations, the patent creates more uniform distribution of atomizing gas around the liquid stream. This segmented approach improves atomization quality while maintaining better transfer efficiency compared to a single high-pressure stream that disperses more widely

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The elevations change the flow parameters of the atomizing gas by creating vortex structures and altering flow velocity distributions. This transforms the gas flow from a simple high-pressure jet into a structured flow pattern that achieves finer atomization with more effective energy utilization

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Manufacturing precision

If water-based liquid paints with increased solids content are used, then paint quality is improved, but the viscosity increases making the liquid more difficult to atomize

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepaint qualityVSAvoidatomization difficulty
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The elevations on the gas-guiding surface fundamentally change the flow parameters of the atomizing gas, creating vortex structures that enhance mixing with high-viscosity paints. This allows effective atomization of water-based paints with increased solids content that would be difficult to atomize with conventional gas flow patterns

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

4Manufacturing precision

If a stronger flow of atomizing gas is used to provide finer atomization, then atomization quality is improved, but consumption of pressurized atomizing gas increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveatomization qualityVSAvoidgas consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The segmentation of gas flow into multiple streams through the elevations allows for more efficient utilization of the atomizing gas. Each segmented stream contributes to atomization in a coordinated manner, achieving the desired atomization quality with lower total gas consumption compared to a single undivided high-volume stream

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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 body design achieves a more homogeneous distribution of smaller liquid droplets, enhancing coating quality and reducing operational noise and costs by creating turbulent gas flow for improved atomization and mixing.

Implementation Method 1

the gas-guiding surface comprises a lowland portion and a plurality of circumferentially-spaced elevations, each protruding radially outward from the lowland portion, for generating vortices in the flow of atomizing gas

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVortex generation: Vortex Ring

Implementation Method 2

The side surfaces are oriented relative to each other such as to converge towards the front end... creating turbulent gas flow for improved atomization and mixing

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTurbulence: Turbulence

Implementation Method 3

enhancing the mixing between atomizing gas and liquid, i.e. to obtain a more homogeneous mixing ratio between the liquid and the atomizing gas

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVortex-induced mixing: Vortex Ring

Data Source

PatentEP4603191A1Nozzle body for a liquid spray gun
Publication Date: 2025.08.20 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES CO
  • EP4603191A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4603191A1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP4603191A1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

Nozzle body (1) for a liquid spray gun, the nozzle body including a nozzle tube (66) comprising a) an elongated nozzle tube passage (58) extending between a nozzle tube inlet and a nozzle tube outlet (52), b) a nozzle tube wall (71) having - a front end (80) surrounding the nozzle tube outlet (52), - a radially-inner surface (76), in contact with the liquid, - a radially-outer gas-guiding surface (75) for guiding a flow of pressurized atomizing gas (110) towards the front end (80). The gas-guiding surface (75) comprises a lowland portion (90) and a plurality of circumferentially-spaced elevations (100), each protruding radially outward from the lowland portion, for generating vortices in the flow of atomizing gas (110). Each elevation (100) comprises two side surfaces (102) oriented relative to each other such as to converge towards the front end (80).