Abstract:
The invention concerns a nozzle support device ( 10 ) comprising a body ( 12 ) that has a fluid inlet passage ( 24 ) and at least one outlet passage ( 26 ), and that comprises a revolving section that forms a hub ( 16 ) that extends around a rotational axis (A), a nozzle-carrying head ( 14 ) that is rotatably mounted on the hub ( 16 ) of the body ( 12 ) around the rotational axis (A), and that is designed to simultaneously carry at least two nozzles, and immobilising means ( 74, 86 ) for immobilising the nozzle-carrying head ( 14 ) in rotation on the body ( 12 ) in a plurality of predefined positions, characterised in that the device ( 10 ) is provided with a mechanism for rotating the nozzle-carrying head ( 14 ) comprising an oscillating drive member ( 90 ) provided with at least one retractable drive pawl that has one free end designed to push the drive teeth in succession.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The invention relates to a nozzle-carrying device which is equipped with a nozzle-carrying head rotatably mounted between a plurality of predetermined positions. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    This type of nozzle-carrying device is generally used in a liquid spray plant, for which it is necessary to have nozzles of several shapes or sizes that can be instantaneously switched. 
         [0003]    Such a nozzle carrier, described and shown in document FR-A-2655571 for example, usually includes a body which has an inlet passage of a fluid and at least one outlet passage, and which includes a revolution section forming a hub which extends around an axis of rotation. 
         [0004]    In addition, a nozzle-carrying head, which is designed to simultaneously carry at least two nozzles, is rotatably mounted on the hub of the body around the axis of rotation. 
         [0005]    Complementarily, the nozzle-carrying head is rotatably immobilized on the body by immobilizing means, in a plurality of predetermined positions in at least some of them one of the nozzles is linked to the outlet passage of the body. 
         [0006]    The immobilizing means are designed to allow switching a nozzle with another, or from a predetermined position with another, by a simple rotation of the nozzle-carrying head. 
         [0007]    According to this type of nozzle-carrying device, the rotation of the nozzle-carrying head is manually performed, which requires the intervention of an operator on the nozzle-carrying head. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY 
       [0008]    The invention particularly aims to provide a nozzle-carrying device for driving the nozzle-carrying head from one position to another by means of an actuator, so that the nozzle-carrying head is suitable for being remotely driven in rotation. 
         [0009]    For this purpose, the invention provides a nozzle-carrying device of the type including:
       a body which has a fluid inlet passage and at least one outlet passage, and which includes a revolution section forming a hub that extends around an axis of rotation,   a nozzle-carrying head which is rotatably mounted on the hub of the body around the axis of rotation, and which is designed to simultaneously carry at least two nozzles, and   immobilizing means for rotatably immobilizing the nozzle-carrying head on the body in a plurality of predetermined positions, in at least some of them one of the nozzles is linked to the outlet passage of the body, characterized in that the device is equipped with a mechanism for driving the nozzle-carrying head in rotation including:   a plurality of drive teeth which are regularly arranged around the axis of rotation on the nozzle-carrying head,   a drive element equipped with at least one retractable drive pawl which has a free end suitable for successively pushing the drive teeth, the drive element being mounted in oscillatory manner on the body, around the axis of rotation, according to a forward motion during which the pawl incrementally drives the nozzle-carrying head to a predetermined position by cooperation with one of the drive teeth, and a return motion during which the pawl is retracted,   an actuator including an actuating rod which is movably connected on the drive element for driving the drive element in oscillatory motion.       
 
         [0016]    The drive mechanism allows driving the nozzle-carrying head into each of its predetermined positions without manual intervention. 
         [0017]    The actuator is a cylinder which drives in displacement the actuating rod along a direction perpendicular to the axis of rotation between an extended position and a retracted position, the actuating rod being equipped with a connecting catch which extends parallel to the axis of rotation and which has a free end cooperating with a complementary housing delimited by the drive element, so as to drive the drive element in oscillatory displacement via a back and forth motion of the actuating rod. 
         [0018]    The cylinder is an actuator with the advantage of being space-saving and that it can be supplied by a fluid such as compressed air. 
         [0019]    According to another feature, the drive element has the shape of an annular ring which is removably mounted in oscillatory manner on the hub of the body, around the axis of rotation. 
         [0020]    This feature offers the possibility to withdraw the drive element, particularly to replace it in case of breakage, or to mount the nozzle-carrying device in a manual configuration in which it is devoid of the drive mechanism. 
         [0021]    Also, the pawl has a circular arc shape which generally extends around the axis of rotation, from an elastically deformable sub plate, to a free end suitable for successively pushing the drive teeth, around the axis of rotation. 
         [0022]    Such a design allows obtaining a pawl which is radially retractable by elastic deformation and which can be made in one piece with the drive element. 
         [0023]    According to another aspect, the immobilizing means include an annular immobilizing ring including at least one immobilizing element which has a radial protrusion designed to cooperate with a set of complementary cavities, each delimited on the nozzle-carrying head so as to incrementally immobilize said head in its predetermined positions, the protrusion being radially retractable for allowing the rotation of the nozzle-carrying head between two predetermined positions. 
         [0024]    In addition, the immobilizing ring includes securing means in rotation on the hub of the body, around the axis of rotation, in form-fitting manner, and said securing means are designed to allow dismantling the immobilizing ring on the associated body. 
         [0025]    This feature particularly allows replacing the immobilizing ring and also allows dismantling the other parts mounted on the hub of the body. 
         [0026]    According to another aspect, the nozzle-carrying device includes an anti-drop device comprising:
       a first chamber in which the inlet passage and the outlet passage open into each other,   a second chamber juxtaposed to the first chamber,   a first blocking membrane which is designed to be driven in a closed position in which it interrupts communication between the inlet passage and the outlet passage, and a second blocking membrane which abuts with the first membrane and which has an area larger than the area of the first membrane, the assembly constituted by the first membrane and the second membrane being interposed between the first chamber and the second chamber,   a control member which allows increasing the pressure in the second chamber such that the second membrane applies a force on the first membrane to drive the first membrane in its closed position.       
 
         [0031]    The area difference between the first membrane and the second membrane allows multiplying the force exerted on the second membrane, whereby it is possible to reduce the necessary and sufficient pressure in the second chamber to drive the first membrane in its closed position. 
         [0032]    In addition, the nozzle-carrying device includes:
       a first tubular stopper which is screwed onto the body and which delimits a first annular clamping section axially plating a peripheral edge of the first membrane against a shoulder formed in the body, and an axial abutment axially blocking the nozzle-carrying head on the body, and   a second blind stopper which is screwed onto the first stopper and which includes a second annular clamping section axially plating a peripheral edge of the second membrane against a shoulder formed in the first stopper.       
 
         [0035]    Furthermore, the second stopper is equipped with a first grip allowing for its manual unscrewing, and a second grip suitable for cooperating with a tool for unscrewing the second stopper. 
         [0036]    Also, the second stopper includes a first insert forming connection for supplying fluid under pressure to the second chamber, and a second insert forming connection for supplying fluid under pressure to an additional nozzle-carrying device from the second chamber. 
         [0037]    This feature improves the compactness and promotes the mounting in series of the nozzle-carrying device with other devices. 
         [0038]    According to another aspect, the nozzle-carrying device includes a lighting device designed to illuminate at least the spray spectrum of the fluid ejected by the nozzle-carrying device. 
         [0039]    Finally, the nozzle-carrying device includes a cleaning element which is arranged in the inlet passage to cause the fluid to become turbulent partially opposing its flow. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0040]    Other features and advantages of the invention will appear upon reading the following detailed description for the comprehension of which reference is made to the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0041]      FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view, which illustrates a nozzle-carrying device provided with a mechanism for driving the nozzle-carrying head, according to the invention; 
           [0042]      FIG. 2  is an assembled perspective view, which illustrates the nozzle-carrying device of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0043]      FIG. 3  is an axial sectional view, which illustrates the arrangement of the nozzle-carrying head on the body of the nozzle-carrying device of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0044]      FIG. 4  is a radial sectional view along the line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 3 , which illustrates the immobilizing means of the nozzle-carrying head; 
           [0045]      FIG. 5  is a radial sectional view along the line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 3 , which illustrates the oscillating drive element of the nozzle-carrying head in rotation; 
           [0046]      FIG. 6  is an exploded perspective view, which illustrates a variant including a nozzle-carrying head manually driven in rotation. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0047]    In the description and claims, to clarify the description and claims, a non-limiting terminology will be adopted, longitudinal, vertical and transverse in reference to the trihedron L, V, T indicated in the figures, the longitudinal direction of which is parallel to the axis A of the nozzle-carrying device. 
         [0048]    Also, in a non limiting manner, the expressions “axial” and “radial” will be used to refer to a direction parallel to the axis of rotation A and a direction perpendicular to the axis A of rotation, respectively. 
         [0049]    There is shown in  FIG. 1  a nozzle-carrying device  10  which includes a body  12  and a nozzle-carrying head  14  rotatably mounted on the body  12  around an axis A of rotation. 
         [0050]    To this end, the body  12  delimits a cylindrical section forming a hub  16  around the axis A. The nozzle-carrying head  14 , of a complementary annular form, is delimited by an inner annular face  18  which cooperates with the hub  16 . 
         [0051]    Furthermore, the nozzle-carrying head  14  is equipped with five outlet vents  20  which radially extend and which are regularly distributed around the axis A of rotation, to the periphery of the nozzle-carrying head  14 . 
         [0052]    Each outlet vent  20 , which is intended to be equipped with a nozzle (not shown) radially extending and opening into the inner annular face  18  of the nozzle-carrying head  14 . Complementarily, as can be seen in  FIG. 3 , the body  12  has an inlet passage  24  and an outlet passage  26  of a fluid. 
         [0053]    The inlet passage  24  axially extends along the axis A from an inlet orifice  28  to a first chamber  30 . 
         [0054]    The outlet passage  26  extends from the first chamber  30  via an axial section along the axis A, to the external face of the hub  16  via a radial section. 
         [0055]    The first chamber  30  has a generally cylindrical shape around the axis A of rotation. 
         [0056]    Advantageously, the nozzle-carrying device  10  includes a sealing ring  32  which is tightly mounted on the hub  16  and delimits a passage hole  34  arranged at the end of the outlet passage  26 . 
         [0057]    The nozzle-carrying device  10  is designed to be connected to a supply pipe  36 , illustrated in  FIG. 3 , which is pierced by a hole  38  of an axis perpendicular to the axis of the pipe  36 . 
         [0058]    The edges of the hole  38  penetrate into a groove  40  of the body  12 , which surrounds the inlet orifice  28  of the inlet passage  24  and which is provided with a sealing O-ring  42 . 
         [0059]    In addition, the body  12  forms two axially protruding lugs  46  on which a fastener  44  is screwed to clamp the supply pipe  36  against the O-ring  42 . 
         [0060]    According to another aspect, the nozzle-carrying device  10  includes an anti-drop device comprising a first circular blocking membrane  48  which extends radially and which delimits the first chamber  30 . 
         [0061]    To this end, the first membrane  48  is held by a first hollow tubular stopper  50  which is screwed onto the body  12 . 
         [0062]    The first stopper  50  includes a first threaded cylindrical clamping section  52  which sealingly axially plates the peripheral edge of the first membrane  48  on a shoulder of the body  12 . 
         [0063]    As can be seen in  FIG. 3 , the first stopper  50  includes an annular portion forming an axial abutment  53  which axially locks the nozzle-carrying head  14  on the hub  16 . 
         [0064]    Also, the anti-drip device is equipped with a second stopper  54  which includes a second threaded cylindrical clamping screw section  56  screwed on the first stopper  50 , along the axis A of rotation, on an opposite side to the clamping section  52  of the first stopper  50 . 
         [0065]    The second stopper  54  delimits a second chamber  58  generally cylindrical-shaped around the axis A, which is delimited by a second membrane  60 . 
         [0066]    To this end, the second membrane  60  extends radially and is axially held by pinching between the clamping section  56  of the second stopper  54  and a shoulder formed on the first stopper  50 . 
         [0067]    In addition, a spacer  62  for stress distribution is arranged in the first stopper  50  and is axially interposed between the first membrane  48  and the second membrane  60  for transmitting an axial thrust stress between the membranes. 
         [0068]    As can be seen in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the second stopper  54  is equipped with a first insert  64   a  forming a pneumatic fitting for supplying compressed air to the second chamber  58 , and a second insert  64   b  forming a pneumatic fitting for the compressed air supply of an additional nozzle-carrying device (not shown), from the second chamber  58 . 
         [0069]    The compressed air is channeled through a duct (not shown) which is connected on the first insert  64   a  from a power source controlled by a control member (not shown), so as to make the pressure vary in the second chamber  58 . 
         [0070]    Also, the compressed air is ejected by another duct (not shown) which is connected on the second insert  64   b  and which is connected on an additional nozzle-carrying device, for example. 
         [0071]    Such a design allows simultaneously controlling a plurality of nozzle-carrying devices  10  mounted in series. 
         [0072]    By increasing the pressure in the second chamber  58 , the second membrane  60  pushes the first membrane  48  by means of the spacer  62 , and the first membrane  48  is driven in a closed position, shown in  FIG. 3 , wherein it interrupts communication between the inlet passage  24  and the outlet passage  26 . 
         [0073]    For this purpose, the first membrane  48  includes a central bead  66 , which axially abuts against the end of the outlet passage  26  and interrupts communication between the outlet passage  26  and the first chamber  30 . 
         [0074]    Advantageously, the second membrane  60  has an area, or surface, greater than the area of the first membrane  48 . 
         [0075]    This feature allows, at equal pressure in the second chamber  58 , exerting a greater force on the spacer  62  and the first membrane  48 . 
         [0076]    In addition, the anti-drop device includes a helical spring  68  which is axially interposed between the bottom of the second stopper  54  and the central portion of the second membrane  48 , to exert axial pressure on the membrane in the closing direction of the first membrane  48 . 
         [0077]    As can be seen in  FIG. 2 , the second stopper  54  is equipped with a first grip  70  with radial fins for manually unscrewing the second stopper  54 , and a second grip  72  of hexagonal shape suitable for cooperating with a tool allowing unscrewing the second stopper  54 . 
         [0078]    According to another aspect, the nozzle-carrying device  10  includes immobilizing means for rotatably immobilizing the nozzle-carrying head  14  on the body  12 , around the axis A of rotation, in a plurality of predetermined positions. 
         [0079]    With reference to  FIGS. 1 and 4 , the immobilizing means include an annular immobilizing ring  74  which is securely mounted in rotation on the hub  16  of the body  12 , around the axis A of rotation. 
         [0080]    To this end, the immobilizing ring  74  includes an annular internal face delimiting a set of teeth  76  which cooperate with a set of complementary grooves  78  formed at the free end of the hub  16 . 
         [0081]    Thus, the set of teeth  76  and the associated grooves  78  form means for securing in rotation the immobilizing ring  74  on the hub  16  of the body  12 , in form-fitting manner, these securing means being designed for dismantling the immobilizing ring  74  on the body  12  by axial sliding along the axis A. 
         [0082]    In addition, the immobilizing ring  74  includes two diametrically opposite immobilizing catches  80 , which are each generally circular arc shaped. 
         [0083]    As can be seen in  FIG. 4 , each immobilizing catch  80  generally extends around the axis A of rotation from a first end forming a sub plate  82  linked to the external peripheral face of the immobilizing ring  74 , to a second free end forming a radial protrusion  84 . 
         [0084]    The radial protrusion  84  of each immobilizing catch  80  is designed to cooperate with a set of complementary cavities  86  each delimited on the inner annular face  18  of the nozzle-carrying head  14 , so as to immobilize the nozzle-carrying head  14  in each of its predetermined positions. 
         [0085]    Each immobilizing catch  80 , due to its longitudinal design, is elastically deformable in a radial manner, so that each protrusion  84  is radially retractable to allow rotation of the nozzle-carrying head  14  around the axis A of rotation, between two predetermined positions. 
         [0086]    The cavities  86  are here ten and are regularly distributed around the axis A of rotation, so that the nozzle-carrying head  14  is suitable to be immobilized in ten predetermined positions angularly shifted by a tenth of a revolution. 
         [0087]    These predetermined positions switch alternately and successively from a spraying position in which one of the outlet vents  20  is linked, or communicates, with the outlet passage  26  for the passage of the fluid, to a closed position in which the outlet vent  20  is angularly shifted and is no longer linked to the outlet passage  26 . 
         [0088]    In a non limiting manner, the immobilizing catches may be replaced by a ball-spring (not shown) which is movably mounted in a radial manner on the immobilizing ring  74  and which is designed to cooperate with a set of cavities  86 . 
         [0089]    According to another aspect, the nozzle-carrying device  10  is equipped with a mechanism for driving the nozzle-carrying head  14  in rotation. 
         [0090]    According to  FIG. 5 , the drive mechanism includes ten radially protruding drive teeth  88 , which are arranged on the inner annular face  18  of the nozzle-carrying head  14  and which are regularly distributed around the axis A, and angularly shifted by a tenth of a revolution. 
         [0091]    In a complementary manner, the nozzle-carrying device  10  comprises an annular ring  90  forming a drive element which is mounted in oscillatory manner on the hub  16  of the body  12  around the axis A of rotation. 
         [0092]    The ring  90  is delimited by an annular internal face  92  which cooperates with a complementary sleeve  94  of the hub  16  for oscillating the drive ring  90 , and by an annular external face  96  in which are formed two retractable drive pawls  98 . 
         [0093]    Each pawl  98  generally has a circular arc shape which extends around the axis A of rotation, from a sub plate  100  linked on the ring  90 , to a free end  102  suitable for pushing the drive teeth  88  successively around the axis A of rotation. 
         [0094]    To this end, the free end  102  of each pawl  98  substantially protrudes radially outwards with respect to the external face  96  of the ring  90 . 
         [0095]    In addition, each pawl  98  is elastically deformable in a radial manner between a drive position, shown in  FIG. 5 , in which the pawl  98  is elastically returned and in which the pawl  98  is able to cooperate with one of the associated drive teeth  88 , and a retracted position in which the pawl  98  is radially retracted in a housing  104 , provided for this purpose, which is formed in the external face  96  of the ring  90 . 
         [0096]    Each pawl  98  is here integral with the ring  90 , by injection of plastic material for example. 
         [0097]    The ring  90 , forming a drive element, is mounted in an oscillatory manner on the body  12 , around the axis A of rotation, according to a pivoting forward motion during which each pawl  98  incrementally drives the nozzle-carrying head  14  to a predetermined position, by cooperating with one of the drive teeth  88 , and a pivoting returning motion during which each pawl  98  is retracted into the housing  104  thereof in contact with the following drive tooth  88 . 
         [0098]    The drive of the ring  90  in oscillatory manner is made by means of a single-acting pneumatic cylinder  106 . 
         [0099]    The cylinder  106  includes a cylindrical body  108  in which a piston  110  divides the volume of the body  108  into a first chamber (not shown) supplied with compressed air via a pneumatic connection  112 , and a second chamber (not shown) equipped with a return spring  116 . 
         [0100]    The piston  110  is linked on an actuating rod  118  which is movably driven along a direction perpendicular to the axis A of rotation, between an extended position, and a retracted position towards which the rod  118  is returned by the spring  116 . 
         [0101]    The free end of the rod  118  is housed in a protective casing  120 . 
         [0102]    The casing  120  also allows securing the cylinder  106  on the body  12 , here by means of two screws (not shown). 
         [0103]    In addition, the actuating rod  118  is equipped with a connecting catch  122  which extends parallel to the axis A and which has a free end cooperating with the drive ring  90 . 
         [0104]    To this end, the ring  90  includes a bearing  124  which extends axially and which delimits a housing  126 , illustrated in the cutaway view on  FIG. 3 , in which the free end of the connecting catch  122  is received, so that the rod  118  of the cylinder  106  is movably connected on the drive ring  90 . 
         [0105]    The housing  126  has a substantially oblong shape longitudinally extending in a radial manner, for displacing the free end of the catch  122  during the driving of the ring  90 . 
         [0106]    The bearing  124  extends through a lumen  127 , which is illustrated in  FIG. 1 , and which is arranged in the body  12 . 
         [0107]    Thus, the to-and-fro movement of the rod  118  of the cylinder  106  allows movably driving the drive ring  90  in oscillatory motion around the axis A. 
         [0108]    Indeed, when the rod  118  of the cylinder  106  is driven from its retracted position, to its extended position, the ring  90  is pivotally driven around the axis A of rotation along a first rotation direction, the ring  90  in turn, driving the nozzle-carrying head  14  by a tenth of a revolution, from a predetermined position to the following predetermined position, by means of the two pawls  98 . 
         [0109]    Conversely, when the rod  118  of the cylinder  106  is driven from its extended position to its retracted position, the ring  90  is pivotally driven around the axis A along a second opposite rotation direction, each pawl  98  is then retracted to allow the returning of the ring  90  to its initial position without pivotally driving the nozzle-carrying head  14 . 
         [0110]    However, and in a non limiting manner, the driving in oscillatory motion of the ring  90  can be made by any type of actuator, such as an actuator of the type including a rod movably driven by a electromagnet, between a retracted position in which it is returned by a spring, and an extended position. 
         [0111]    The drive mechanism is for example driven and remotely controlled by an operator using a control panel (not shown) which allows controlling the cylinder  106 . 
         [0112]    According to another aspect, the nozzle-carrying device  10  is equipped with a lighting device  128  designed to illuminate the spray spectrum of the fluid ejected from the nozzle of the nozzle-carrying head  14  which is supplied with fluid, that is to say, the nozzle which is linked on the outlet passage  26 . 
         [0113]    The lighting device  128  includes a set of electroluminescent diodes supplied with electricity by a battery. 
         [0114]    Moreover, as can be seen in  FIG. 1 , the lighting device  128  includes an elastically deformable lug  130  provided with a spur  131 , which cooperates with a complementary housing  132  (visible in  FIG. 3 ) formed on the body  12 , to allow a rapid and removable securing by form-fitting of the lighting device  128  on the body  12 . 
         [0115]    Finally, the nozzle-carrying device  10  is equipped with a cleaning element (not shown) of the first membrane  48 . 
         [0116]    The cleaning element is formed by a bulge which is arranged in the inlet passage  24 , to cause the fluid to become turbulent by partially opposing its flow. 
         [0117]    The thus created turbulence allows projecting the fluid on the first membrane  48  to clean and prevent clogging of the first membrane  48 . 
         [0118]    As described above, the nozzle-carrying device  10  according to the invention allows remotely rotationally driving the nozzle-carrying head  14  via an actuator, here, the cylinder  106 . 
         [0119]    In addition, the nozzle-carrying device  10  is designed to be produced in a manual configuration, illustrated in  FIG. 6 , in which the device is devoid of a cylinder  106 , the nozzle-carrying head  14  being manually driven by an operator. 
         [0120]    In this manual configuration, it is noted that the nozzle-carrying device  10  is particularly devoid of the drive ring  10  and the associated cylinder  106 . 
         [0121]    However, other parts used for making the nozzle-carrying device  10  in its manual configuration are identical and interchangeable, thus avoiding manufacturing different additional parts. 
         [0122]    Indeed, the parts which are mounted on the hub  16  of the body  12  such as the immobilizing ring  74 , are suitable for being removed from the body  12  by axially sliding on the hub  16 . According a variant which is not shown, the outlet passage  26 , an associated seal member, the outlet vent  20 , as well as the associated nozzle of the nozzle-carrying head  14 , are parallel, or oblique with respect to the axis A, the outlet vents  20  and the associated nozzles of the nozzle-carrying head  14  each extend axially, so that the nozzle-carrying head forms a cylinder barrel, flat or cylindrical, rotatably mounted around the axis A of rotation, or along an oblique axis with respect to the axis A, the input vents being alternately put in communication with the outlet passage  24   26 , and the seal thereof, by rotating the nozzle-carrying head  14 .