Swirl Device for Nozzles with Molding-Optimized Geometry

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing swirl devices for full cone spray nozzles are prone to clogging with viscous liquids, have limited production flexibility, and are not suitable for large batch production due to the need for milling processes, which restricts material choice and increases costs.

Innovation Solution

A swirl device with a cylindrical body featuring circular bases and inclined ducts that eliminate undercut profiles, allowing for production through molding processes, ensuring a continuous and uniform fluid distribution without a central hole, and enabling use of plastic materials for cost-effective and flexible manufacturing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If a central hole is provided in the swirl device to enable fluid interference and rotation, then the spray uniformity is improved, but the device becomes prone to clogging with viscous liquids

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespray uniformityVSAvoidclogging resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention removes the central hole from the swirl device structure. Instead of having fluid pass through a central opening, the design relies solely on peripheral slots to generate the swirling motion. This extraction of the problematic central hole eliminates the clogging issue while maintaining spray uniformity through the optimized peripheral slot configuration and cylindrical body geometry.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Manufacturing precision

If milling processes are used to produce the swirl device with lateral slots, then the slots can be precisely formed, but the production flexibility is limited and costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveslot precisionVSAvoidproduction flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the manufacturing approach from subtractive milling to additive or formative molding processes. The swirl device is designed with a cylindrical body and peripheral slots that can be directly formed during molding, eliminating the need for subsequent milling operations. This parameter change in the manufacturing process enables mass production with plastic materials while maintaining the required slot precision through mold design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of operation

If undercut profiles are present in the lateral ducts, then the fluid particles are directed along specific paths, but the device complexity increases and production becomes more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefluid direction controlVSAvoidduct profile complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of creating undercut profiles that require complex tooling and assembly, the invention inverts the approach by designing the ducts with profiles that are open and accessible from the outside. The lateral slots are configured to allow fluid entry and exit without undercuts, simplifying the manufacturing process while still achieving the desired fluid direction control through the slot geometry and arrangement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

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 solution provides a more uniform and efficient full cone spray with reduced turbulence, allowing for large batch production and use of plastic materials, enhancing design and production flexibility while minimizing clogging risks.

Implementation Method 1

the fluid delivered from the orifice, subjected to centrifugal force, is divided into drops that will uniformly fill the inner volume of the cone

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCentrifugal force: Centrifugal Force

Data Source

PatentEP2907581B1Swirl device for nozzles
Publication Date: 2017.12.27 PNR ITAL
  • EP2907581B1 patent drawingFigure 1(A)~1(C)
  • EP2907581B1 patent drawingFigure 2(A)~2(D)
  • EP2907581B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention relates to a swirl device (10; 10'; 20) for full cone nozzles for pressurized fluids, to impart a swirling motion to the particles of a fluid, characterized in that it has a geometry that makes it suitable to be obtained through molding operations.