DAMPENER NOZZLE FOR PRINTING PRESSES

Abstract: An improved spray nozzle for supplying dampening fluid to a printing press is made of modular parts joined together and formed so that air and dampening fluids flow through the body of the nozzles exit through outlet orifices in directions substantially perpendicular with respect to each other and then impinge against a deflector plate (35) located between two of the body modules (14,15) so that fluids join while traveling in substantially parallel directions to produce a spray which is widely dispersed in the direction while being narrowly dispersed in a second direction.

Description: Background of the Invention Field of the Invention. This invention relates to an improved nozzle for applying dampening fluid to the dampening rolls of lithographic printing presses. Specifically, it provides an improved means for obtaining a widely dispersed yet thin almost laminar spray in which droplet size can be controlled by varying some of the input requirements. For example, the air stream remains constant with a constant pressure air inlet. Secondly, the fluid flow rate can be varied to change the delivered flow and the pressure required for the nozzle flow. This device may be used in conjunction with a pump, a gravity feed system or other flow pressure device. Additionally, the inlet fluid may be continuous or pulsed while the energy of the outlet stream may be varied by changing the inlet air pressure. The fluid outlet serration pattern is designed to provide even distribution of the fluid over a flat surface. Finally, the device is constructed in such a way that the serration pattern used on the dispersion part of the nozzle is designed so that the serrations are larger the further they are away from the nozzle centerline. Description of the Prior Art Conventionally, dampener spray apparatus heretofore used in conjunction with lithographic printing presses have utilized the normal type of nozzle where air and dampening fluid are comingled in the interior of the nozzle and sprayed toward the dampening system. When this configuration is used, the configuration of the spray can generally be described as conical in shape so that a uniform deposition of spray on the dampening roll is virtually impossible. Examples of existing spray dampener apparatus may be seen by referring to US-A-1,834,169; US-A-3,924,531 and US-A-4,044,674. The present invention relates to a spray nozzle for applying dampening fluid to a printing press, the nozzle comprising: A nozzle body having a plurality of body parts joined together; means defining separate passages for conducting streams of air and dampening fluid between separate inlet and outlet orifices; means formed on the body parts causing the outlet orifices to be disposed at right angles with respect to each other; and deflector means extendig outwardly from the body parts to define a deflector lip. A nozzle of this configuration is shown in US-A-2,364,264. In the nozzle shown in this document, however, the deflector lip merely defines the stream of air on its side opposite the direction in which the stream of water droplets intersects the air stream. The droplets of the fluid are deflected and entrained by the air-stream. The nozzle body is a separate component from a hollow shaft which has a number of apertures in its wall wherefrom the water droplets exit. In accordance with the present invention, the body parts of the nozzle body are modular, and the deflector lip is secured between two of the modular body parts, the deflector lip intersecting the fluid stream exiting from the dampening fluid inlet and outlet orifices to change the direction of the flow of the dampener stream into substantially the direction of the air stream, said deflector lip creating a widely dispersed laminar spray pattern. In the art generally relating to spraying devices, the US-A-2,317,066, it is known to produce a thorough and fine atomization at relatively low air pressure by defining separate passages for streams of air and water between separate inlet and outlet orifices, and causing the outlet orifices to be disposed at right angles with respect to each other. It is also known in this field of art, the CH-A-365577 for example, to provide separate streams of liquid and air and to intercept the stream of liquid with a deflector lip to deflect the stream of liquid substantially in the direction of the air-stream. However, the outlet orifices of the liquid and air-streams are not diposed at right angles with respect ot each other. Description of the Preferred Embodiment For a better understanding of the improved nozzle of this invention reference is made to the drawings and more particularly to Figures 1-3 of the drawings where the numeral 10 indicates the nozzle generally. Dampening fluid is introduced into nozzle 10 through a tube 11. Nozzle 10 is comprised of a body 12 constructed of a plurality of individual body parts. Specifically, body 12 includes an upper modular body part 13, an intermediate modular body part 14 and a lower body part 15. These individual parts, 13, 14 and 15, are joined together to form the nozzle body 12 by means of threaded fasteners such as machine screws 20 which join upper modular part 13 to intermediate modular part 14 and machine screws 21 which join intermediate modular part 14 to the lower modular body part 15. Obviously, other or alternative fastening means may be used to join the individual modular parts together to produce a unitary structure. Means are provided in the modular parts 13, 14 and 15 to define passages 22 and 23 that conduct streams of dampening fluid and air, respectively, between inlet and outlet orifices. Passage 22 has an inlet orifice 30 at the upper end whereby tube 11 is inserted into the opening of passage 22 and an outlet orifice 31 where passage 22 terminates in the cut out portion formed on the upper right hand corner of intermediate modular part 14, as shown in Figure 6 . Passage 23 extends upwardly through the lower modular body part 15 from inlet orifice 32 toward an outlet orifice 33 that directs air coming through passage 23 outwardly away from the nozzle 10. Again, referring to Fig. 6, it can be seen that there is provided between the lower modular part 15 and the intermediate modular part 14, deflector means in the form of a deflector plate 35. Plate 35 is held in position by the machine screws 21 which join the intermediate body 14 to the lower body 15. Deflector plate 35 is mounted to provide a lip portion 36 that extends outwardly beyond the outermost surfaces of modular parts 13 and 15 to intersect the fluid streams exiting from outlet orifices 31 and 33. The lip portion 36 decreases in thickness from a point adjacent the outer surfaces of the modular parts 13 and 15 to the outer edge thereof and has its upper surface formed with striations, as shown in Fig. 5. Outlet orifice 31 is defined by the material removed from the corner of intermediate module 14 (referred to above) an overhanging, dependent portion 40 formed as part of upper module 13 and the outer surface 41 of intermediate module 14. Thus, the direction of flow of dampening fluid from orifice 31 is vertically downwardly along the outer surface 41 toward the lip 36 and air outlet orifice 31, orifice 31 being disposed at essentially right angles with respect to orifice 33. It should be pointed out that the outer surface 41 of module 14 is arcuate in configuration and is striated in the direction perpendicular to the direction of curvature of the arc of face 41. The nozzle 10 of this invention acts in a manner that causes a change in the direction of flow of one of the fluid streams, specifically the dampening fluid stream, to create a widely dispersed laminar spray pattern. The provision of deflector plate 35 accomplishes several desirable results, namely, it reduces outlet air turbulence to thereby increase the horizontal spray angle and simultaneously decrease spray droplet size to be varied by changing inlet air pressure. In operation, compressed air enters inlet orifice 32 and is directed through passage 23 to the narrow slot that defines the outlet orifice 33. Simultaneously, dampening fluid enters inlet orifice 30 through tube 11 and inlet orifice 30 and exits outlet orifice 31 between overhang portion 40 and face 41. The dampening fluid then impinges against the striated upper surface of lip portion 36 of deflector plate 33 where its direction of flow is caused to become substantially identical to that of the air from outlet 33. When the dampening fluid and air streams are shaped in this manner it is possible to produce a wide angular dispersion in a horizontal direction while severely limiting the depth of the spray pattern in a vertical direction. While the present invention has been described in connection with a preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that modifications and changes can be made within the purview and scope of the appended claims without departing from the true scope and spirit of the invention.

Claims: A spray nozzle (10) for applying dampening fluid to a printing press, said nozzle comprising: a. a nozzle body (12) having a plurality of body parts (13, 14, 15) joined together; b. means defining separate passages (22, 23) for conducting streams of air and dampening fluid between separate inlet and outlet orifices (30, 31, 32, 33); c. means formed on said body parts causing said outlet orifices to be disposed at right angles with respect to each other; and d. deflector means (35) extending outwardly from said body parts (14, 15) to define a deflector lip (36); characterized in that said body parts (14, 15) are modular and said deflector lip (36) is secured between two of said modular body parts (14, 15), said deflector lip (36) intersecting the fluid stream exiting from said dampening fluid inlet and outlet orifices (30, 31) to change the direction of the flow of said dampener stream into substantially the direction of the air stream, said deflector lip (36) creating a widely dispersed laminar spray pattern. A spray nozzle as defined in claim 1 wherein said nozzle body (12) is constructed of upper (13) intermediate (14) and lower (15) modular body parts. A spray nozzle as defined in claim 2 wherein said deflector lip (36) is disposed between said lower (15) and said intermediate (14) modular body parts. A spray nozzle as defined in claim 3 wherein (a) the dampening fluid inlet orifice (30) is located in said upper body part (13) and the outlet orifice (31) is through said intermediate body part (14) outwardly into the outer surface thereof in a first direction against said deflector lip (36) which changes the flow to a second direction: and (b) the air inlet orifice (32) is located in said lower modular body part (15) to direct air against said deflector lip (36) for flow in said second direction. A spray nozzle as defined in claim 4 wherein the outer surface (41) of said intermediate body part (14) is arcuate and striated in the direction perpendicular to the direction of curvature of the arc of said outer surface (41). A spray nozzle as defined in claim 5 wherein said deflector lip (36) extends outwardly beyond said curved outer surface (41) of said intermediate portion (14). A spray nozzle as defined in claim 6 wherein said deflector lip (36) curves to match the curvature of the outer surface (41) of said intermediate body part (14), decreases in thickness from said outer surface (41) to the outer edge and is striated on the upper surface thereof.

Inventors: MOORE, ANDREW L., NIEMIRO, THADDEUS A.
Applicants: ROCKWELL INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
Application year: 1988
Main classification: B41F7
IPC codes: B41F7, B05B7