Abstract:
The present invention provides a nozzle assembly for producing varying water patterns. In one embodiment, a variable first flow of water is constrained to flow in a linear direction. A variable second flow of water is applied to the first flow of water to impart a twist to the first flow of water. The resulting flow of water has a height component that is largely determined by the first flow of water and a lateral component that is largely determined by the second flow of water. For example, if there is only a first flow and no second flow, the resulting water effect is a narrow column of water. If there is no first flow and a second flow, the resulting water effect is a cone with a small vertical dimension. If there are both first and second flows, a cone is produced with a vertical dimension that is largely determined by the first flow and a lateral dimension that is largely determined by the second flow.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to a water nozzle assembly for producing variable water patterns. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     There are several types of water nozzles that provide the ability to vary the pattern of the discharged water. For example, the typical fire hose nozzle provides the operator with ability to produce a discharge of water with a pattern that can be varied between a relatively thin stream of water and a wide conical spray. The operator controls the pattern by actuating a lever that, in turn, varies the position of a plug within the nozzle. 
     Another type of nozzle permits the pattern of the discharge pattern to be only one of either a relatively thin stream of water or a wide conical spray. The relatively thin stream of water is produced by supplying water to the first of two pairs of inlet ports to the nozzle, while not providing any water to the second pair of inlet ports. To produce the wide conical spray, water is provided to the second pair of inlet ports but not to the first pair of inlet ports. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to a nozzle assembly that permits the discharge pattern of the water to be varied between a relatively thin stream of water and a wide conical spray of water without the use of any moving parts within the nozzle. 
     In one embodiment, the nozzle assembly includes a hollow body for carrying a first stream of water in a straight or linear direction. A tangential injector is provided for carrying a second stream of water and directing the stream such that it has a spin or rotational component. The tangential injector is operatively connected to the hollow cylindrical body so that whatever first and second streams of water are present intersect and interact with one another to produce a third stream of water. A nozzle is provided for receiving the third stream of water and directing the stream of water to an exit orifice. 
     In operation, the pattern of the water produced at the orifice can be varied between a thin stream and a wide conical shape by varying the water supplied to the hollow body and the tangential injector. At one extreme, if a stream of water is supplied to the hollow body but no water is provided to the tangential injector, a relatively thin stream of water exits the orifice. If, however, a stream of water is supplied to the tangential injector but no water is provided to the hollow body, a wide conical spray is produced at the orifice. By providing streams of water to both the hollow body and the tangential injector, a discharge pattern that is between the thin stream of water and the wide conical spray is produced. By varying the characteristics of the streams, the resulting discharge pattern can be varied. More specifically, increasing the pressure of the first stream being provided to the hollow body increases the vertical or longitudinal component of the resulting discharge pattern. In contrast, increasing the pressure of the second stream of water being provided to the tangential diffuser increases the breadth or radial component of the resulting conical spray pattern. 
     In one embodiment, the hollow body includes a flow straightening device to insure that any spin or twist in the water received by the body is removed prior to interaction with any water provided by the tangential injector assembly. This insures that any twist or spin in the water discharged from the nozzle is substantially attributable to the effect of any water being provided by the tangential injector. If no water is provided by the tangential injector, the stream of water that is discharged from the nozzle assembly has a glass-like quality. Further, in one embodiment, the discharged stream of water is both glass-like and substantially solid. 
     In a further embodiment, the tangential injector includes a diffuser with a plurality of holes. The holes of the diffuser receive the second stream of water and constrain the path of the second stream of water such that the exiting stream has the desired rotational characteristics. Employing more than two holes aids in the reduction of any artifact in the discharge pattern that is indicative of the use of a rotating stream of water to achieve a conical discharge pattern. Equal spacing of the holes further reduces any such artifact. 
     In another embodiment, the tangential injector includes a housing that defines a plenum for the second stream of water. The housing includes an inlet port for receiving the second stream of water and a tangential diffuser that directs the second stream of water to interact with the first stream of water. The plenum is of sufficient size to assure that there is substantially equal pressure at the entry to each of the holes. Substantially equal pressure improves the quality of the spin or twist produced in the third stream of water that is discharged from the nozzle. 
     The housing, in one embodiment, has a torus shape and an inlet port that directs the second stream of water such that the stream has a tangential component relative to radius of the torus-shaped housing. The tangential orientation of the inlet port and the torus shape of the plenum enhance the spin or rotational quality of the second stream of water and thereby substantially prevent any random turbulence in the stream of water received at the inlet port from reaching the tangential diffuser. This, in turn, facilitates the equalization of the hydraulic conditions at the entry to each of the holes in the diffuser and the quality of the resulting discharge pattern. 
     Another embodiment employs a nozzle that is shaped to increase the centripetal velocity of any rotational or spin component in the third stream of water. In one embodiment, a nozzle with a U-shaped longitudinal cross-section is utilized to achieve this effect. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a plan view of one embodiment of the nozzle of the present invention with cross-sections of the tangential diffuser and nozzle tip; 
     FIG. 2 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of the tangential injector portion of the embodiment of the nozzle illustrated in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3A illustrates the relatively thin discharge pattern that is produced when water, at first pressure, is only applied to the first inlet port; 
     FIG. 3B illustrates the relatively thin discharge pattern that is produced when water, at a second pressure that is greater than the first pressure noted with respect to FIG. 3A , is only applied to the first inlet port; 
     FIG. 3C illustrates the wide conical spray pattern that is produced when water, at a first pressure, is only applied to the second inlet port; 
     FIG. 3D illustrates the wide conical spray pattern that is produced when water, at a second pressure that is greater than the first pressure noted with respect to FIG. 3C, is only applied to the second inlet port and; 
     FIG. 3E illustrates an intermediate conical spray pattern that is produced when water is applied to both the first and second inlet ports at first pressures. 
     FIG. 3F illustrates an intermediate conical spray pattern that is produced when water is applied to both the first and second inlet ports at second pressures that are greater than the first pressures noted with respect to FIG.  3 E. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Generally, the present invention is directed to a nozzle assembly that operates to mix a first stream of water that is flowing in a linear direction with a second stream of water that is rotating about an axis to produce a third stream of water for discharge to the exterior environment that has a pattern which is determined by the characteristics of the first and second streams of water. By varying the characteristics of the first and second streams of water, the pattern of the water discharged from the nozzle assembly can be varied. 
     With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, a nozzle assembly  10  is illustrated that represents an embodiment of the invention. Generally, the nozzle assembly  10  includes first section  12  for receiving a first stream of water and directing the first stream along a linear path; a tangential injector  14  for receiving a second stream of water and directing the second stream of water such that the stream turns about a rotational axis; a second section  16  for bringing together the first and second streams of water; and a third section  18  for providing the third stream of water to the exterior environment with a pattern that is dictated by characteristics associated with the first and second streams of water. 
     The first section  12  includes a cylindrical tube  22  with a longitudinal axis  24 . Attached to one end of the cylindrical tube  22  is a threaded coupler  26  for attaching the nozzle to the plumbing that is capable of providing the first stream of water. Other types of coupling devices are also feasible. Also associated with the first section  12  is a flow straightening device  28  that is located within the cylindrical tube  22  and operates to remove rotation or twist in the first stream of water. The flow straightening device  28  is an array of parallel tubes. However, other flow straightening devices are feasible. 
     The tangential injector  14  includes a torus-shaped housing  32  with a cylindrical outer wall  34 , a circular upper wall  36 , a circular lower wall  38  and a portion  39  of the cylindrical tube  22 . The circular upper wall  36  includes a first hole  40 , and the circular lower wall  38  includes a second hole  42  that is aligned with the first hole  40 . The first and second holes  40 ,  42  allow the circular upper wall  36  and the circular lower wall  38  of the housing  32  to be fitted or slid over the cylindrical tube  22  during assembly. The housing  32  defines a plenum chamber  44  for the second stream of water. The upper wall  36  and lower wall  38  are attached to the cylindrical tube  22  in a water-tight manner with first and second fasteners  46 ,  48 . When metal components are used, the first and second fasteners  46 ,  48  are typically welds. Adhesives are generally used to form the first and second fasteners  46 ,  48  when the components are plastic. Other types of fasteners are feasible. 
     The tangential injector  14  also includes an inlet port  50  for directing the second stream of water into the plenum chamber  44 . The inlet port  50  is located to direct the second stream of water into the plenum chamber  44  in a direction that is substantially tangential or perpendicular to the radius of the cylindrical outer wall of the chamber  34 . 
     Further included in the tangential injector  14  is a tangential diffuser  52  for directing the second stream of water, immediately before it is mixed with the first stream of water, so that the stream rotates about a rotational axis. In this embodiment, the rotational axis coincides with the longitudinal axis  24  along which the first stream of water is moving. The tangential diffuser  52  includes a collar  54  with holes  56 A- 56 D that direct the second stream of water to rotate about the rotational axis. Each of the holes  56 A- 56 D includes an entry port for receiving a portion of the second stream of water and an exit port that is aligned with a hole in the tube  22 . The tangential diffuser  52  is attached to the circular upper wall  36  of the chamber  32  by an appropriate fastener. 
     The second section  16  is the portion of the cylindrical tube  22  at which the first stream of water carried by the first section  12  and the second stream of water provided by the tangential injector  14  are mixed to form the third stream of water. The second portion  16  includes the portion of cylindrical tube  22  with holes  60 A- 60 D that are aligned with the holes  56 A- 56 D of the tangential diffuser. 
     The third section  18  receives the third stream of water produced by the mixing of the first and second streams of water by the second section  16 . The third section  18  includes a portion of the cylindrical tube  22  and a nozzle tip  64  that is joined to the cylindrical tube by an appropriate fastener. The nozzle tip  64  includes an inner surface  66  and an orifice  68  for directing the third stream of water into the exterior environment. The inner surface  66  has a longitudinal cross-section that tapers towards the orifice  68 . In the illustrated embodiment, the longitudinal cross-section is U-shaped or V-shaped. By having the inner surface  66  taper towards the orifice any rotational component in the third stream of water is accelerated to make the resulting spray pattern have a broader or wider conical shape than it would have otherwise. 
     With reference to FIGS. 3A-3F, the operation of the nozzle  10  is described. The nozzle  10  is capable of producing a spray that can be varied based upon the characteristics of the two streams of water that can be applied to the nozzle assembly  10 . When a first stream of water is applied to the first section  12  but no water is supplied to the tangential injector  14 , the third stream of water ejected from the orifice  68  is a relatively thin stream of water as shown in FIG.  3 A. In this case, the first stream of water is provided to the first section  12  initially passes through the flow straightening device  28  to remove rotation or twist in the stream. The first stream of water passes through the second section  16  of the assembly substantially unaffected due to the lack of a second stream of water. Due to the lack of any rotational component, the third stream of water exiting the second section  16  (which is equivalent to the first stream of water in this case) passes through the third section  18  substantially unaffected and exits the orifice  68  as a relatively thin stream of water. Due to the operation of the flow straightener  28 , the exiting stream of water is also highly laminar and, as a consequence, has a glass-like quality. Further, the exiting stream is a substantially solid stream of water. As illustrated in FIG. 3B, increasing the pressure of the first stream of water applied to the nozzle assembly  10  increases the height or length of the thin stream of water exiting the orifice  68 . 
     When a second stream of water is applied to the tangential injector  14  but no water is supplied to the first section  12 , the resulting third stream of water ejected from the orifice  68  has a broad conical pattern as shown in FIG.  3 C. In this case, the second stream of water is injected into the housing  32  by the inlet port  50 . The tangential injection of the second stream of water by the inlet port  50  and the cylindrical outer wall  34  cooperate to create a circular flow that reduces random turbulence in the water and aids in reducing any differences in the hydraulic conditions existing at the entry ports to each of the holes  56 A- 56 D of the tangential diffuser  52 . Further, the size of the plenum  44  is chosen so as to reduce differences in the water pressure present at the entry ports of each of the holes  56 A- 56 D of the tangential diffuser  52 . The second stream of water passes through the holes  56 A- 56 D and enters the second section  16  with a rotation or spin that is substantially centered about the longitudinal axis  24 . Since there is not a first stream of water, the third stream of water output by the second section  12  is composed solely of the second stream of water provided by the tangential diffuser  52 . The third stream of water is applied to the third section  18  of the assembly. Due to the rotational aspect of the third stream of water, the inner surface  66  of the nozzle  64  causes the rotational velocity of the third stream of water to increase as the water nears the orifice  68 . As a consequence, the spray output by the orifice  68  has a wider or broader conical pattern than it would otherwise. As shown in FIG. 3D, increasing the pressure of the second stream of water applied to the nozzle assembly  10  increases the width or breadth of the conical pattern. 
     When both first and second streams of water are applied to the nozzle assembly  10 , the resulting stream of water discharged from the orifice  68  has a height or length that is largely defined by the pressure associated with the first stream of water and a conical shape that is largely determined by the pressure associated with the second stream of water. By adjusting the pressures of the first and second streams of water an infinite number of spray patterns can be achieved that are roughly within a cylindrical envelope having a height defined by the maximum pressure that can be applied to the first stream and a conical breadth defined by the maximum pressure that can be applied to the second stream. Further, the water pumps providing the first and second stream of water can be controlled so as to produce a spray pattern that changes over time. Further, the water pumps that are supplying water to several of the nozzle assembly  10  can be controlled to produce a plurality of spray patterns that change over time. 
     Several variations in the design of the nozzle assembly  10  are possible. For example, instead of using a portion of the cylindrical tube  22  to define the first and second sections  12 ,  16 , the interior surface of a tangential diffuser can define the second section. In this case, separate tubes would be used in the first and third sections of the nozzle assembly  10 . Another possible modification is to implement the tangential injector with the tangential diffuser receiving the second stream of water from separate lines. Yet another possible modification is change the angle at which the tangential diffuser injects the second stream of water into the second section. In the illustrated embodiment, the second stream of water is injected substantially perpendicular to the radius of the cylindrical tube, i.e., in a tangential fashion. It is possible to inject the second stream of water into the second section at an angle that has a radial component, provided there is still a tangential component. Furthermore, the angle of injection can be tipped. To elaborate, the tangential diffuser  52  injects the second stream of water into the second section  16  through holes  56 A- 56 D that lie in a plane that is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis  24 . The second stream can be injected into the second section at an angle to the noted perpendicular plane, provided there is still a tangential or rotational component to the second stream. 
     The foregoing description of the invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. Further, the description is not intended to limit the invention to the form disclosed herein. Consequently, variation and modifications commensurate with the above teachings, and the skill or knowledge in the relevant art are within the scope of the present invention. The preferred embodiment described hereinabove is further intended to explain the best mode known of practicing the invention and to enable others skilled in the art to utilize the invention in various embodiments and with the various modifications required by their particular applications or uses of the invention. It is intended that the appended claims be construed to include alternate embodiments to the extent permitted by the prior art.