Abstract:
A misting spray nozzle includes a hollow body having an interior wall descending from an upper end to a lower end. The interior wall tapers toward the lower end to form a choke. A channel section provides two fluid paths descending from an upper central aperture. A turbine is sized and shaped to fit closely within the choke and has spiral grooves on its outer surface. The turbine attaches to the body at its upper end and has a cone-shaped opening at its lower end. A conical core is sized and shaped to fit closely within the cone-shaped opening and has grooves spiraling in an opposite direction on its outer surface. The core is attached at its upper end to the turbine. The two sets of spiral grooves define a pair of intersecting fluid control paths that meet at the lower end of the body to create a dense mist.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE  
       [0001]     The Applicants claim the benefit of their Provisional Application, Ser. No. 60/722,395, filed Oct. 1, 2005. 
     
    
     FIELD OF INVENTION  
       [0002]     The invention pertains to apparatus for providing a mist or a fog by atomizing water or other liquids. More particularly, the invention relates to nozzles, jets and related devices for generating a dense, uniform fog layer for firefighting, metal quenching and finishing.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     Conventional firefighting techniques usually involve aiming a large volume of water at a central point in a fire in an attempt to cool the combustion below the flash point of the incendiary material. It has been found that depriving a fire of oxygen is often a more effective method of controlling a blaze. Nozzles that can produce a dense fog have been found effective in dealing with fires in this fashion. The most effective type of fogging nozzle is one that can produce a fog without any holes or pockets of air within it. Nozzles that can produce such a dense and uniform fog or mist are also useful for quenching and tempering metal and for applying paint and other finishes. The following are some examples of fogging and misting devices that have been developed.  
         [0004]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,253,716, issued to Mitchell, is directed to a fog producing firefighting tool has a nozzle which includes a plurality of apertures oriented so that when pressurized fluid flows through each aperture, the liquid impacts at an angle of 90 degrees with another stream of liquid to atomize the liquid and create a fog. The firefighting tool is of modular construction which includes a first member, one or more intermediate members, and an end member wherein the members are connected to each other by means of quick coupler devices which can be readily locked into coupled relationship and will not interfere with the usage of the tool when it is forced into or removed from a hole in a structure.  
         [0005]     U.S. Pat. No. 2,235,258, issued to Jones is directed to a fire extinguishing nozzle. The nozzle head includes a central pair of relatively large orifices and two pairs of relatively small orifices positioned at the sides of the central pair. Each pair is so arranged that the ejected streams of water leaving the nozzle head from each individual pair of orifices are caused to impinge together in such a way that the resulting impingement will cause the two streams of water to be broken up into a spray in which substantially all of the particles of the water are of substantially uniform size.  
         [0006]     U.S. Pat. No. 6,398,136, issued to Smith discloses a fire-fighting tool incorporates a twist-lock mechanism whereby various nozzles can be interchanged for particular fire-fighting purposes. Included in such nozzles are a penetrating nozzle having a doubly beveled front end for easier access through a roof, and various fluid ejection and misting elements that can be configured in terms of fluid aperture angles to produce a mist directed somewhat back towards the user, transverse to the nozzle, or forward from the nozzle. A non-penetrating embodiment of the invention also uses an end ejecting misting region. The foregoing elements can be used in conjunction with various extension wands, which are removably connectable fluid channels bent to various angles, so as to provide easier access to fires that are located within recesses of buildings, motor vehicles, or boats and the like.  
         [0007]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,520,331, issued to Wolfe describes a convergent/divergent gas nozzle atomizes a liquid provided through a lid delivery tube having an aperture which is centered within a central gas conduit of an upstream mixing block connected to the nozzle. The aperture of the liquid delivery tube is located just upstream of a narrowed throat of the nozzle. The throat of the nozzle is dimensioned such that its inside diameter is equal to the outside diameter of the liquid injector tube. A spout is located at the discharge end of the nozzle which has an inside diameter equal to two times the inside diameter of the throat. This nozzle displays superior performance, providing an extremely fine mist having high momentum. This nozzle is particularly well-suited to fire extinguishment.  
         [0008]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,553,784, issued to Theurer is directed to a nozzle assembly provides a high pressure dispersion of water particles in a misting process. The nozzle includes multiple arrayed discharge outlets into a single mixing zone wherein the discharge outlets are concentrically arranged alternating between water and gas streams. The mist from the novel arrangement is highly dispersed, providing excellent gas cooling operation with minimal maintenance.  
         [0009]     It is an objective of the present invention to provide a misting or fogging device capable of a dense and uniform mist. It is a further objective to such a device be compatible with existing fire sprinkler systems in terms of required pressure and fire sensing activators. It is yet a further objective of the invention to provide a device suitable for point dispersion and another device capable of lateral dispersion. It is still a further objective to provide devices suitable for metal quenching and for surface finishing such as painting. Finally, it is an objective to provide a misting or fogging device that is simple and inexpensive to produce while fulfilling all of the described performance criteria.  
         [0010]     While some of the objectives of the present invention are disclosed in the prior art, none of the inventions found include all of the requirements identified.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0011]     The present invention addresses all of the deficiencies of prior art misting and fogging inventions and satisfies all of the objectives described above.  
         [0012]     (1) A misting device providing all of the desired capabilities can be constructed from the following components. A body is provided. The body has a cylindrical interior space, a first end, a second end, means for attaching the body at the first end to a fluid supply, an internal attachment means adjacent the first end. The body has a first opening at the first end of a first predetermined diameter, an interior wall descending from the first opening toward the second end. The wall tapers inwardly to form a choke portion from a point spaced from the first end to the second end and terminating at a second opening of a second, smaller predetermined diameter.  
         [0013]     A turbine is provided. The turbine has a cylindrical shape, an upper end and a lower end, a central attachment means, a mating external attachment means for attaching to the body and a channel portion. The channel portion provides at least two fluid channels and supports a fluid directing portion. The fluid directing portion has an external surface and an internal surface. The external surface is sized and shaped to fit closely adjacent to the choke portion. The external surface has at least one first downwardly angled spiral groove. The first groove spirals in a first direction, thereby defining a first spiraling channel. The internal surface forms a cone-shaped chamber. The chamber has a first smaller end and a second larger end adjacent the lower end.  
         [0014]     A core is provided. The core has a truncated cone shape and is sized and shaped to fit closely adjacent to the cone-shaped chamber. The core attaches to the central attachment means and has at least one second downwardly angled spiral groove. The second groove spirals in a second, opposite direction, thereby defining a second spiraling channel. The body is attached to the fluid supply, the turbine attached to the body and the core attached to the turbine. Fluid is provided. The fluid is supplied to the first end of the body at a predetermined pressure.  
         [0015]     When the fluid is supplied to the body at the predetermined pressure it is routed through the channel portion of the turbine and broken into two streams, a first stream directed to the first spiraling channel and spiraled in a first direction, and a second stream directed to the second spiraling channel and spiraled in a second direction. The first and second streams intersect at the second end of the body and atomize into a mist.  
         [0016]     (2) In a variant of the invention, the choke portion further includes at least one downwardly angled spiral groove.  
         [0017]     (3) In another variant, the cone-shaped chamber further includes at least one downwardly angled spiral groove.  
         [0018]     (4) A misting device providing all of the desired capabilities can be constructed from the following components. A body is provided. The body has a cylindrical interior space, a first end, a second end, means for attaching the body at the first end to a fluid supply, an internal attachment means adjacent the first end. The body has a first opening at the first end of a first predetermined diameter, an interior wall descending from the first opening toward the second end. The wall tapers inwardly to form a choke portion from a point spaced from the first end to the second end and terminating at a second opening of a second, smaller predetermined diameter.  
         [0019]     A turbine is provided. The turbine has a cylindrical shape, an upper end and a lower end, a central attachment means, a mating external attachment means for attaching to the body and a channel portion. The channel portion provides at least two fluid channels and supports a fluid directing portion. The fluid directing portion has an external surface and an internal surface. The external surface is sized and shaped to fit closely adjacent to the choke portion. The external surface has at least one first downwardly angled spiral groove. The first groove spirals in a first direction, thereby defining a first spiraling channel. The internal surface forms a cone-shaped chamber. The chamber has a first smaller end and a second larger end adjacent the lower end and has at least one second downwardly angled spiral groove. The second groove spirals in a second, opposite direction, thereby defining a second spiraling channel.  
         [0020]     A core is provided. The core has a truncated cone shape and is sized and shaped to fit closely adjacent to the cone-shaped chamber. The core attaches to the central attachment means. The body is attached to the fluid supply, the turbine attached to the body and the core attached to the turbine. Fluid is provided. The fluid is supplied to the first end of the body at a predetermined pressure.  
         [0021]     When the fluid is supplied to the body at the predetermined pressure it is routed through the channel portion of the turbine and broken into two streams, a first stream directed to the first spiraling channel and spiraled in a first direction, and a second stream directed to the second spiraling channel and spiraled in a second direction. The first and second streams intersect at the second end of the body and atomize into a mist.  
         [0022]     (5) In a variant of the invention, the choke portion further includes at least one downwardly angled spiral groove.  
         [0023]     (6) In another variant, the core further includes at least one downwardly angled spiral groove.  
         [0024]     (7) In still another variant, the first groove is angled at from 0 degrees to 180 degrees to the second end of the body.  
         [0025]     (8) In yet another variant, the second groove is angled at from 0 degrees to 180 degrees to the second end of the body.  
         [0026]     (9) In a further variant, the angle between the first groove and the second groove is 90 degrees.  
         [0027]     (10) In still a further variant, the angle between the first groove and the second groove ranges from 0 degrees to 180 degrees.  
         [0028]     (11) In another variant of the invention, the distance between the choke portion and the external surface of the turbine ranges from 0.001 mm to 5 mm.  
         [0029]     (12) In still another variant, the distance between the cone-shaped chamber and the core ranges from 0.001 mm to 5 mm.  
         [0030]     (13) In yet a further variant, a lateral misting device includes a hollow body. The body has a flattened rectangular shape, a top edge, first and second bottom edges, first and second side edges, an interior chamber, first and second interior walls and a fluid inlet connector located adjacent to the top edge. A divider plate is provided. The divider plate is sized and shaped to fit between the first and second interior walls and has first and second sides. Each of the sides has at least one downwardly spiraling groove. The at least one groove on the first side spiraling in a first direction and the at least one groove on the second side spiraling in an opposite, second direction.  
         [0031]     The divider plate is attached between the first and second interior walls and divides a path from the fluid inlet connector into two pathways. Each of the first and second bottom edges angles inwardly toward the divider plate and forms a channel. The channel is directed at the channel formed on an opposite side of the divider plate. Fluid is provided. The fluid is supplied to the fluid inlet connector at a predetermined pressure. When the fluid is introduced to the fluid inlet connector it will be divided into first and second streams. The first stream is directed between the first interior wall and the divider plate and is spiraled in a first direction. The second stream is directed between the second interior wall and the divider plate and is spiraled in a second, opposite direction. The first stream impinges upon the second stream at the bottom edges of the body and produces a mist with a lateral dispersion.  
         [0032]     An appreciation of the other aims and objectives of the present invention and an understanding of it may be achieved by referring to the accompanying drawings and the detailed description of a preferred embodiment. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0033]      FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional side elevation of the preferred embodiment of a round pattern misting device, illustrating two intersecting spiral fluid paths;  
         [0034]      FIG. 1A  is a cross-sectional side elevation of the  FIG. 1  embodiment illustrating additional spiral channels cut into the inner surface of the body;  
         [0035]      FIG. 2  is a partial cross-sectional side elevation of the turbine of the  FIG. 1  embodiment, illustrating a first set of spiral grooves and a smooth interior for the cone-shaped chamber;  
         [0036]      FIG. 2A  is a partial cross-sectional side elevation of the turbine of the  FIG. 1  embodiment, illustrating the first set of spiral grooves and an additional set of spiral grooves in the interior for the cone-shaped chamber;  
         [0037]      FIG. 3  is side elevation of the core of the  FIG. 1  embodiment illustrating a second set of spiral grooves;  
         [0038]      FIG. 3A  is side elevation of the core of the  FIG. 1  embodiment without a second set of spiral grooves;  
         [0039]      FIG. 4  is a partial cross-sectional side elevation view of a flat pattern sprayer;  
         [0040]      FIG. 5  is a partial cross-sectional side elevation view of a second design for a round pattern misting device;  
         [0041]      FIG. 6  is a partial cross-sectional side elevation view of a third design for a round pattern misting device;  
         [0042]      FIG. 6A  is partial a cross-sectional side elevation of the turbine and the core of the  FIG. 6  embodiment, illustrating the first set of spiral grooves on the outer surface of the turbine;  
         [0043]      FIG. 6B  is a partial cross-sectional side elevation of the turbine of the  FIG. 6  embodiment, illustrating the first set of spiral grooves and an additional set of spiral grooves in the interior for the cone-shaped chamber; and  
         [0044]      FIG. 6C  is a partial cross-sectional side elevation of the core of the  FIG. 6  embodiment illustrating its smooth upper surface.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0045]     (1) A misting device  10 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 1-3  and  5 , providing all of the desired capabilities can be constructed from the following components. A body  14  is provided. The body  14  has a substantially cylindrical interior space  18 , a first end  22 , a second end  26 , means  28  for attaching the body  14  at the first end  22  to a fluid supply (not shown), an internal attachment means  34  adjacent the first end  22 . The body  14  has a first opening  38  at the first end  22  of a first predetermined diameter  42 , an interior wall  46  descending from the first opening  38  toward the second end  26 . The wall  46  tapers inwardly to form a choke portion  50  from a point  54  spaced from the first end  22  to the second end  26  and terminating at a second opening  58  of a second, smaller predetermined diameter  62 .  
         [0046]     A turbine  66 , as illustrated in  FIG. 2 , is provided. The turbine  66  has a substantially cylindrical shape, an upper end  70  and a lower end  74 , a central attachment means  78 , a mating external attachment means  82  for attaching to the body  14  and a channel portion  86 . The channel portion  86  provides at least two fluid channels  90  and supports a fluid directing portion  94 . The fluid directing portion  94  has an external surface  98  and an internal surface  102 . The external surface  98  is sized and shaped to fit closely adjacent to the choke portion  50 . The external surface  98  has at least one first downwardly angled spiral groove  106 . The first groove  106  spirals in a first direction  110 , thereby defining a first spiraling channel  114 . The internal surface  102  forms a cone-shaped chamber  118 . The chamber  118  has a first smaller end  122  and a second larger end  126  adjacent the lower end  74 .  
         [0047]     A core  130 , as illustrated in  FIG. 3 , is provided. The core  130  has a truncated cone shape and is sized and shaped to fit closely adjacent to the cone-shaped chamber  118 . The core  130  attaches to the central attachment means  78  and has at least one second downwardly angled spiral groove  134 . The second groove  134  spirals in a second, opposite direction  138 , thereby defining a second spiraling channel  142 . The body  14  is attached to the fluid supply, the turbine  66  attached to the body  14  and the core  130  attached to the turbine  66 . Fluid  146  is provided. The fluid  146  is supplied to the first end  22  of the body  14  at a predetermined pressure.  
         [0048]     When the fluid  146  is supplied to the body  14  at the predetermined pressure it is routed through the channel portion  86  of the turbine  66  and broken into two streams, a first stream  150  directed to the first spiraling channel  114  and spiraled in a first direction  154 , and a second stream  158  directed to the second spiraling channel  142  and spiraled in a second direction  162 . The first  150  and second  158  streams intersect at the second end  26  of the body  14  and atomize into a mist  166 .  
         [0049]     (2) In a variant of the invention, as illustrated in  FIG. 1A , the choke portion  50  further includes at least one downwardly angled spiral groove  170 .  
         [0050]     (3) In another variant, as illustrated in  FIG. 2A , the cone-shaped chamber  118  further includes at least one downwardly angled spiral groove  174 .  
         [0051]     (4) A misting device  10 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 6-6C , providing all of the desired capabilities can be constructed from the following components. A body  14  is provided. The body  14  has a cylindrical interior space  18 , a first end  22 , a second end  26 , means (not shown), for attaching the body  14  at the first end  22  to a fluid supply (not shown), an internal attachment means  34  adjacent the first end  22 . The body  14  has a first opening  38  at the first end  22  of a first predetermined diameter  42 , an interior wall  46  descending from the first opening  38  toward the second end  26 . The wall  46  tapers inwardly to form a choke portion  50  from a point  54  spaced from the first end  22  to the second end  26  and terminating at a second opening  58  of a second, smaller predetermined diameter  62 .  
         [0052]     A turbine  66 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 6A and 6B , is provided. The turbine  66  has a cylindrical shape, an upper end  70  and a lower end  74 , a central attachment means  78 , a mating external attachment means  82  for attaching to the body  14  and a channel portion  86 . The channel portion  86  provides at least two fluid channels  90  and supports a fluid directing portion  94 . The fluid directing portion  94  has an external surface  98  and an internal surface  102 . The external surface  98  is sized and shaped to fit closely adjacent to the choke portion  50 . The external surface  98  has at least one first downwardly angled spiral groove  106 . The first groove  106  spirals in a first direction  110 , thereby defining a first spiraling channel  114 . The internal surface  102  forms a cone-shaped chamber  118 . The chamber  118  has a first smaller end  122  and a second larger end  126  adjacent the lower end  74  and has at least one second downwardly angled spiral groove  136 . The second groove  136  spirals in a second, opposite direction  138 , thereby defining a second spiraling channel  142 .  
         [0053]     A core  130 , as illustrated in  FIG. 6C , is provided. The core  130  has a truncated cone shape and is sized and shaped to fit closely adjacent to the cone-shaped chamber  118 . The core  130  attaches to the central attachment means  78 . The body  14  is attached to the fluid supply  30 , the turbine  66  attached to the body  14  and the core  130  attached to the turbine  66 . Fluid (not shown), is provided. The fluid is supplied to the first end  22  of the body  14  at a predetermined pressure.  
         [0054]     When the fluid is supplied to the body  14  at the predetermined pressure it is routed through the channel portion  86  of the turbine  66  and broken into two streams, a first stream  150  directed to the first spiraling channel  114  and spiraled in a first direction  110 , and a second stream  158  directed to the second spiraling channel  142  and spiraled in a second direction  138 . The first  150  and second  158  streams intersect at the second end  26  of the body  14  and atomize into a mist  166 .  
         [0055]     (5) In a variant of the invention, the choke portion  50  further includes at least one downwardly angled spiral groove (not shown).  
         [0056]     (6) In another variant, as illustrated in  FIG. 6C , the core  130  further includes at least one downwardly angled spiral groove  176 .  
         [0057]     (7) In still another variant, the first groove  106  is angled at from 0 degrees to  180  degrees to the second end  26  of the body  14 .  
         [0058]     (8) In yet another variant, the second groove  134  is angled at from 0 degrees to  180  degrees to the second end  26  of the body  14 .  
         [0059]     (9) In a further variant, the angle  178  between the first groove  106  and the second groove  134  is 90 degrees.  
         [0060]     (10) In still a further variant, the angle  178  between the first groove  106  and the second groove  134  ranges from 0 degrees to 180 degrees.  
         [0061]     (11) In another variant of the invention, the distance  182  between the choke portion  50  and the external surface  98  of the turbine  66  ranges from 0.001 mm to 5 mm.  
         [0062]     (12) In still another variant, the distance  186  between the cone-shaped chamber  118  and the core  130  ranges from 0.001 mm to 5 mm.  
         [0063]     (13) In yet a further variant, a lateral misting device  242  includes a hollow body  246 . The body  246  has a flattened rectangular shape, a top edge  250 , first  254  and second  258  bottom edges, first  262  and second  266  side edges, an interior chamber  270 , first  274  and second  278  interior walls and a fluid inlet connector  282  located adjacent to the top edge  250 . A divider plate  286  is provided. The divider plate  286  is sized and shaped to fit between the first  274  and second  278  interior walls and has first  290  and second  294  sides. Each of the sides  290 ,  294  has at least one downwardly spiraling groove  298 . The at least one groove  298  on the first side  290  spiraling in a first direction  302  and the at least one groove  298  on the second side  294  spiraling in an opposite, second direction  306 .  
         [0064]     The divider plate  286  is attached between the first  274  and second  278  interior walls and divides a path  310  from the fluid inlet connector  282  into two pathways  314 ,  318 . Each of the first  254  and second  258  bottom edges angles inwardly toward the divider plate  286  and forms a channel  322 . The channel  322  is directed at the channel  322  formed on an opposite side  290 ,  294  of the divider plate  286 . Fluid  146  is provided. The fluid  146  is supplied to the fluid inlet connector  282  at a predetermined pressure. When the fluid  146  is introduced to the fluid inlet connector  282  it will be divided into first  326  and second  330  streams. The first stream  326  is directed between the first interior wall  274  and the divider plate  286  and is spiraled in a first direction  302 . The second stream  330  is directed between the second interior wall  278  and the divider plate  286  and is spiraled in a second, opposite direction  306 . The first stream  326  impinges upon the second stream  330  at the bottom edges  254 ,  258  of the body  246  and produces a mist  336  with a lateral dispersion.