Nozzle assembly

A nozzle assembly including a nozzle turret rotatably mounted on a body. The body has a face, an outlet in the face, and an annular seat in the face, surrounding the outlet. A relatively non-compressible strut extends from the face of the body, while a relatively non-compressible spacer abuts the face. A compressible sealing member is positioned in the seat and, when not compressed, extends out of the seat and further from the face of the body than the spacer. The turret has a bore rotatably received on the strut, and the turret abuts the spacer. Nozzles are arrayed in the turret such that the nozzles sequentially align with the outlet of the body as the turret is rotated on the strut. A fastener secures the turret to the strut such that the turret compresses the sealing member to provide a fluid-tight seal between the outlet and the nozzle aligned with the outlet. According to one embodiment, the nozzle assembly further includes structure for indexing the rotation of the turret with respect to the body. According to another embodiment, the nozzles are removably mounted within the turret.

BACKGROUND 
The present disclosure relates, in general, to a spraying device, such as a 
nozzle, a sprayer, a sprinkler or a shower head. Even more particularly, 
the present disclosure relates to a nozzle assembly having differently 
configured, and/or sized nozzles arrayed in a turret that can be rotated 
to align one of the different nozzles with a source of pressurized fluid. 
Nozzles, sprinklers, sprayers and shower heads are used during machining 
and manufacturing processes, for agriculture production, lawn care and 
gardening, and for bathing, for example. Nozzles are used to produce a fan 
spray of droplets from a solid stream of pressurized liquid, and can be 
configured or "sized" to produce different fan spay patterns, different 
flow rates and/or different droplet sizes. 
Raindrop.TM. brand nozzles, available from Delavan Spray Technologies, a 
division of Coltec Industries, Inc., of Monroe, N.C., for example, are 
provided in a variety of configurations to provide different flow rates, 
fan spray patterns and/or droplet sizes. Each nozzle includes a tubular 
nozzle body, and a pre-orifice fitting and a nozzle insert received in 
opposing ends of the nozzle body. The nozzle insert has an elliptical 
orifice formed by a V-shaped groove intersecting a hemispheric cavity. The 
pre-orifice fitting has a pre-orifice in alignment with the elliptical 
orifice. During operation, the pre-orifice fitting meters liquid and 
directs the liquid in high velocity solid streams to impact a 
hemispherical surface of the hemispheric cavity, which directs the streams 
to collide at the elliptical orifice, which in turn discharges a single 
fan-spray of droplets. 
It is desirable to provide a nozzle assembly having differently configured, 
and/or sized nozzles whereby one of the different nozzles can be easily 
and quickly selected for use, such that the single nozzle assembly can 
provide different flow rates, fan spray patterns and/or droplet sizes. 
Preferably, the nozzles will be removable, such that the assembly can be 
provided with even more varieties of nozzles. In addition, it is desirable 
that the nozzle assembly not leak, and be sturdy and resistant to damage 
and corrosion. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
Accordingly, the present disclosure provides a nozzle assembly having a 
nozzle turret rotatably mounted on a body. The body has a face, an outlet 
in the face, and an annular seat in the face, surrounding the outlet. A 
relatively non-compressible strut extends from the face of the body, while 
a relatively non-compressible spacer abuts the face. A compressible 
sealing member is positioned in the seat and, when not compressed, extends 
out of the seat and a distance further from the face of the body than the 
spacer. The turret has a bore rotatably received on the strut, and the 
turret abuts the spacer. Nozzles are arrayed in the turret such that the 
nozzles sequentially align with the outlet of the body as the turret is 
rotated on the strut. A fastener secures the turret to the strut such that 
the turret compresses the sealing member to provide a fluid-tight seal 
between the outlet and the nozzle aligned with the outlet. 
According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a length of the strut 
between the spacer and an end of the strut received by the bore of the 
turret is at least equal a length of the bore of the turret. 
According to an additional aspect of the present disclosure, the spacer is 
annular and radially extends outwardly from the strut, and the spacer and 
the strut are unitary and made from stainless steel. 
According to yet another aspect of the present disclosure, the nozzle 
assembly further includes structure for indexing the rotation of the 
turret with respect to the body. According to one aspect, the indexing 
structure comprises notches in one of the turret and the body, and 
resilient detents on the other of the turret and the body engaging the 
notches to index the rotation of the turret on the strut. According to 
another aspect, the notches are in the body and the resilient detents are 
on the turret. 
According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the nozzles are 
removably mounted within the turret. 
The present disclosure provides another nozzle assembly having a nozzle 
turret rotatably mounted to a body. The body has a face and an outlet in 
the face. A strut extends from the face of the body, a button is biased 
outwardly from the face. The turret is rotatably mounted on the strut, and 
includes at least one receptacle for sequential alignment with the outlet 
of the body and the button when the turret is rotated with respect to the 
body. The receptacle has inner and outer portions divided by a ledge. 
The assembly also includes a nozzle received in the receptacle of the 
turret. The nozzle has a radially extending base caught on the ledge, 
retaining the nozzle in the receptacle. The base is shaped to pass through 
the outer portion of the receptacle when the nozzle is rotated within the 
receptacle to free the base of the ledge. One of the base and the ledge 
have a notch, while the other of the base and the ledge have a projection 
for being received in the notch to prevent the nozzle from being rotated 
within the receptacle. 
According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the body further 
includes a ring extending from the face around the outlet, ribs extending 
from the face to a height substantially equal to a height of the ring, and 
a recess in the face for alignment with the receptacles of the turret. A 
spring is positioned in the recess, and the button is positioned on the 
spring and biased outwardly from the face to a height substantially equal 
to a height of the ring.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
Referring to FIGS. 1 through 9, a nozzle assembly 10 is disclosed that 
includes a body 12, a nozzle turret 14 rotatably secured to the body, and 
different sized nozzles 16 arrayed in the turret. The turret 14 rotates 
such that one of the nozzles 16 can be aligned with a conduit 18 of the 
body 12. In this way, flow rate and droplet size of spray from the nozzle 
assembly 10 can be easily changed with a turn of the turret 14 to 
sequentially align the different sized nozzles 16 with the conduit 18 of 
the body 12. In addition to the nozzles 16, the assembly 10 can include a 
"blank" or solid insert 17 for sealing the conduit 18 of the body 12 when 
aligned therewith. 
The body 12 is generally circular and includes a centrally located bore 20 
that extends through the body to a face 22. A tube 24 extends radially 
outwardly from the body and the conduit 18 extends from an inlet 26 of the 
tube to an outlet 28 in the face 22 of the body 12. The tube 24 has a 
narrowed portion 25 such that the tube can be secured by a lock-type 
connector in a fluid-tight manner to a source of pressurized fluid for 
spraying, such as a hose, pipe or tank. A ring 30 extends from the face 
22, around the outlet 28 of the conduit 18 and has an seat 32. A 
compressible sealing member 34 having a thickness greater than a depth of 
the seat 32 is positioned in the seat. The body 12 also includes a 
plurality of ribs 36 extending from the face 22 to a height equal to a 
height of the ring 30 surrounding the outlet 28. An annular wall 48 
extends from and circles the face 22. 
Referring also to FIG. 9, the assembly 10 includes a tubular strut 58 
having opposing first and second ends 62, 64, and a relatively 
non-compressible annular spacer 60 radially extending outwardly from the 
strut and dividing an outer surface of the strut between the first and the 
second ends. The second end 64 of the strut 58 is secured within the bore 
20 of the body 12, with the annular spacer 60 abutting the face 22 of the 
body. The strut 58 and the spacer 60 are preferably formed as a single 
piece from stainless steel. 
The annular spacer 60 of the strut 58 has a thickness not greater than the 
height of the ring 30 surrounding the outlet 28 of the body. Thus, in a 
non-compressed state, the sealing member 34 extends from the ring 30, 
surrounding the outlet 28, further from the face 22 of the body 12 than 
the annular spacer 60. As shown, the sealing member preferably is provided 
in the form of an oaring 34. 
The nozzle turret 14 includes a centrally located bore 66 which is received 
on the first end 62 of the strut 58 such that the turret fits within the 
annular wall 48 of the body 12 and abuts the o-ring 34 extending from the 
ring 30 surrounding the outlet 28. A bolt 84 extends through the tubular 
strut 58 and is fastened with a nut 86 to secure the nozzle turret 14 to 
the body 12. Washers 88 and a lock washer 90 are used with the nut 86 and 
bolt 84, as shown. The nut 86 is tightened at least until the turret 14 
compresses the o-ring 34. If there are indications of fluid leakage, the 
nut 86 can be further tightened until the turret abuts the annular spacer 
60, the ribs 36 and the ring 30 extending from the face of the body 12, 
such that the o-ring 34 is further compressed. 
The portion of the strut 58 between the first end 62 and the spacer 60 is 
at least as long as the bore 66 of the nozzle turret 14, such that the 
strut acts as a compression limiter so that the nut 86 can be somewhat 
over-tightened on the bolt 84 without fear of cracking the turret. 
Preferably, the strut 58 between the first end 62 and the spacer 60 is 
longer than the bore 66, such that the strut acts as a compression 
limiter, yet allows the turret 16 to compress the o-ring 34 to provide a 
fluid tight seal. Since the annular collar 60 of the strut 58 is 
relatively non-compressible, the collar also provides structural stability 
and evenly spaces the turret 14 from the body 12 regardless of how tight 
the nut 86 is turned on the bolt 84. The portion of the strut 58 between 
the second end 64 and the spacer 60 is at least as long as the bore 20 of 
the body 12. 
Referring to FIG. 10, an alternative strut 158 for use with the assembly is 
shown. The solid strut 158 has opposing first and second ends 162, 164, 
and a relatively non-compressible annular spacer 160 radially extending 
outwardly from the strut and dividing the strut between the first and the 
second ends. The strut 158 and the spacer 160 are preferably formed as a 
single piece from stainless steel. The annular spacer 160 of the strut 158 
has a thickness not greater than the height of the ring 30 surrounding the 
outlet 28 of the body, and the portion of the strut between the first end 
162 and the spacer 160 is at least as long as the bore 66 of the nozzle 
turret 14, and preferably longer than the bore 66. The portion of the 
strut 158 between the second end 164 and the spacer 160 is at least as 
long as the bore 20 of the body 12. Threaded extensions 166, 168 extend, 
respectively, from the first and the second ends 162, 164 of the strut 
160, and receive washers 188, lock washers 190, and nuts 186 for securing 
the turret 14 to the body 12. The threaded extensions 166, 168 each have a 
smaller diameter than the strut 160, such that tightening of the nuts 186 
is limited by the first and the second ends 162, 164 of the strut. 
Referring back to FIGS. 1 through 8, the assembly 10 also includes means 
for indexing the rotation of the turret 14 with respect to the body 12 
such that the nozzles 16 are precisely aligned with the conduit 18. The 
means for indexing preferably comprises a plurality of spaced-apart 
inwardly faced notches 50 in the annular wall 48 of the body 12, which are 
engaged by resilient detents 68 extending from the outer periphery of the 
turret 14 to hold the turret in position with respect to the body. A user 
can manually rotate the turret 14 in an indexed manner with respect to the 
body 12 by providing enough torque to overcome the resilience of the 
detents 68. Alternatively, the detents can be provided on the body 12 and 
the notches provided on the turret 14. 
The assembly 10 is designed such that the nozzles 16 and the solid insert 
17 can be quickly and easily inserted into and removed from the assembly 
10. As shown, the turret 14 includes a plurality of nozzle receptacles 70 
arrayed around the centrally located bore 66. Each receptacle 70 has inner 
and outer portions 74, 72. The outer portions 72 each have an oblong 
cross-section, which forms ledges 78, while the inner portions 74 each 
have a circular cross-section. Each ledge 78 includes a notch 82. 
The nozzles 16 and the solid insert 17 each have a radially extending, 
oblong base 76, which match the oblong cross-sections of the outer 
portions 72 of the nozzle receptacles 70. Thus, the nozzles 16 are 
inserted, base-first, through the outer portions 72 of the receptacles 70 
and rotated in the inner portions 74, such that the radially extending 
oblong bases 76 of the nozzles 16 catch on the ledges 78 to secure the 
nozzles in the receptacles. The bases 76 of the nozzles 16 include 
projections 80 which engage the notches 82 in the ledges 78 of the 
receptacles 70 such that the nozzles must be pushed inwardly, until the 
projections 80 clear the notches 82, before being rotated to remove the 
nozzles from the receptacles. Thus, the nozzles 16 and receptacles 70 are 
configured for a "twist and lock" engagement between the removable nozzles 
and the receptacles. 
To assist in the removal and insertion of the nozzles 16 into the turret 
14, a spring bore 38 is located in the face 22 of the body 12, and 
includes a boss 40 which receives a spring 42 that in turn biases a button 
44 out of the spring bore. The button 44 is biased outwardly generally to 
a height of the ribs 36, the ring 30 and the annular spacer 60. A handle 
46 extends radially outwardly from the body 12, in alignment with the 
spring bore 38. 
During operation, the turret 14 is rotated with respect to the body 12 
until a desired nozzle 16 or the solid insert 17 is aligned with the 
outlet 28 of the conduit 18 of the body, i.e. in alignment with the tube 
24 extending from the body. When a nozzle 16 is aligned with the outlet 
28, the base 76 of the nozzle 16 compresses the o-ring 34 surrounding the 
outlet 28 to provide a fluid-tight passage from the conduit through the 
nozzle. When the solid insert 17 is aligned with the outlet 28, the base 
77 of the insert 17 compresses the o-ring 34 surrounding the outlet 28 to 
provide a fluid-tight seal of the outlet. 
When a selected nozzle 16 is to be removed, the turret 14 is rotated until 
the selected nozzle is aligned with the spring-biased button 44, i.e. 
aligned with the handle 46 extending from the body 12. The nozzle 16 is 
then depressed against the button 44, until the projections 80 of the base 
76 of the nozzle disengage, or clear, the notches 82 of the ledges 78 of 
the receptacle 70. While still depressing the nozzle 16, the nozzle is 
turned until the oblong base 76 of the nozzle clears the ledges 78 and 
aligns with the oblong outer portion 72 of the receptacle 70 so that the 
nozzle can be pulled out of the receptacle, as shown in FIGS. 6 through 8. 
The nozzles 16 are preferably Raindrop.TM. brand nozzles available from 
Delavan Spray Technologies, a division of Coltec Industries, of Monroe, 
N.C. Raindrop.TM. nozzles are provided in a variety of configurations to 
provide different flow rates and droplet sizes. Each nozzle 16 includes a 
tubular nozzle body 1, a pre-orifice fitting 2, and impingement plate 3 
and a nozzle insert 4. The pre-orifice fitting 2 and the nozzle insert 4 
are received in opposing ends of the nozzle body 1, with the impingement 
plate 3 therebetween. The nozzle insert 4 has an elliptical orifice 5 
formed by a V-shaped groove intersecting a hemispheric cavity. During 
operation, the pre-orifice fitting 2 meters and directs pressurized liquid 
through a pre-orifice 6 in a high velocity solid stream to impact the 
impingement plate 3. Streams of droplets are then forced through apertures 
7 in the impingement plate 3 to impact a hemispherical surface 8 of the 
hemispheric cavity, which directs the streams to collide at the elliptical 
orifice 5, which in turn discharges a single fan-spray of smaller 
droplets. The differently sized and/or differently configured nozzles 16 
(and solid insert 17) are all preferably provided in different colors for 
easier identification of each size and/or configuration. 
The turret 14 and the body 12 of the assembly 10 are both preferably formed 
from a light-weight, rigid, strong, and corrosion-resistant material, such 
as plastic or reinforced plastic. If used in applications where durability 
or cleanness,. for example, are more of a factor than cost, the nozzle 
turret 14, the body 12, the nozzles 16, and the solid insert 17 can all be 
made of a metal, such as stainless steel, aluminum, brass or copper. The 
body 12 further includes structural strengthening webs 52. A tab 54 
extends outwardly from the body 12 and has a hole 56 therethrough. The tab 
54 is used to attach a safety line to the assembly 10 such that the 
assembly does not become lost, if it is knocked lose from a tractor for 
example, during a fertilizing or irrigation process. 
Referring to FIG. 11, another nozzle assembly 100 is disclosed. The 
assembly 100 is similar to the assembly 10 of FIGS. 1 through 9, and 
elements that are the same have the same reference numeral. Instead of 
being mounted in a twist and lock fashion, however, the assembly 100 
includes nozzles 102 and a solid insert 104 that are simply screwed into 
receptacles 106 of the assembly. The receptacles 106 each have a circular 
cross-section and threaded inner surfaces 108, which threadingly receive 
threaded outer surfaces 110 of the nozzles 102 and the solid insert 104. 
In addition, the conduit tube 24 extending from the body 12 of the 
assembly 100 has a threaded outer surface 112 for connection to a fluid 
source. Otherwise, the assembly 100 of FIG. 11 operates in the same manner 
as the assembly 10 of FIG. 1. 
The principles, preferred embodiments and modes of operation of the 
presently disclosed nozzle assemblies have been described in the foregoing 
specification. The presently disclosed nozzle assemblies, however, are not 
to be construed as limited to the particular embodiments shown, as these 
embodiments are regarded as illustrious rather than restrictive. Moreover, 
variations and changes may be made by those skilled in the art without 
departing from the spirit of the presently disclosed nozzle assemblies.