Abstract:
A spray nozzle is attached onto a faucet. The spray nozzle has a discharge opening defined therein. Water is permitted to flow into the spray nozzle. The water is rotated in a vortex inside the spray nozzle. The rotating water is discharged through the discharge opening. The rotating water is flash evaporated into a mist.

Description:
PRIOR APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This is a US utility patent application that claims priority from U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/476,733, filed 18 Apr. 2011. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to a low water-consumption spray nozzle that has a housing and a washer that is received in the housing. The housing is equipped with a detachable device to connect the housing to a faucet or the like. The housing has a front portion that is provided with an orifice for discharge of water. The nozzle flash evaporates the water into a fine mist. 
       BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    A primary object of the present invention is to present a spray nozzle that will perform a water saving function when water is discharged from the faucet. 
         [0004]    A further object of the present invention is that the spray nozzle according to the present invention is extremely simple as regards the structural design. 
         [0005]    A spray nozzle of the present invention is attached onto a faucet. The spray nozzle has a discharge opening defined therein. Water is permitted to flow into the spray nozzle. The water is rotated in a vortex inside the spray nozzle. The rotating water is discharged through the discharge opening. The rotating water is flash evaporated into a mist. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]    A preferred embodiment of the spray nozzle according to the present invention will be described below, reference being made to the accompanying drawings where: 
           [0007]      FIG. 1  shows a perspective view from above of the spray nozzle according to the present invention; 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  shows a perspective view from beneath of the spray nozzle according to the present invention; 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  shows a side view of the spray nozzle according to the present invention; 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  shows the section A-A in  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  shows a top view of the spray nozzle according to the present invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 6  shows the section B-B in  FIG. 5 ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 7  shows a perspective view from beneath of a washer that forms a part of the spray nozzle according to the present invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 8  shows a top view from beneath of the washer that forms a part of the spray nozzle according to the present invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 9  shows a section through the orifice in an enlarged scale; 
           [0016]      FIG. 10  is a side view of a cleaning station including the spray nozzle of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0017]    The misting nozzle or spray nozzle  100  of the present invention is used to create a mist through a flash evaporation process with a minimum consumption of water. The nozzle  100  has a housing  1  that includes a front portion  2  (best seen in  FIG. 2 ) and a circular or peripheral outer wall portion  3  that preferably is integral with the front portion  2 . The wall portion  3  is on its inner side  102  provided with an internal thread  4  in order to detachably mount the spray nozzle  100  on a faucet  104  or the like. The internal thread  4  is then used to engage an external thread  106  of the faucet  104 . The housing  1  is provided with external grooves  5 , see  FIGS. 1  and, that extend in the axial direction of the housing  1 . The groove  5  enables a proper grip by a hand or tool when mounting or dismounting the spray nozzle on the faucet  104  or the like. 
         [0018]    As best seen in  FIG. 4 , the housing  1  is provided with an annular groove  6  in an inner side of the front portion  2 . The groove  6  is intended to perform a sealing function as described in more detail below. The housing  1  has a central orifice  7  defined therein that has a conical inlet portion  9  and a tubular outlet portion  10 . The tubular outlet portion  10  of the orifice  7  emerges in an exteriorly recessed central area of the housing  1 . 
         [0019]    The spray nozzle  100  also has a removable washer  11  disposed therein that is shown in  FIGS. 4-5  and  7 . The function of the washer is important, as described below, because it creates a vortex of the flowing water in a flash evaporation process. The washer  11  has openings  12  defined therein for receiving water flowing from the faucet  104 . The openings  12  are located diametrically in relation to the center of the washer  11 . Generally, the washer  11  is flat on the upper side, i.e. the side that is visible in  FIG. 5  and that faces the faucet  104 . On the lower side of the washer  11 , i.e. the side faces the orifice  7 , the washer  11  is provided with a centrally located, generally circular portion  13  that is somewhat elevated relative to the portion  14  that surrounds the generally circular portion  13 . In the circular portion  13 , channels  15  are defined therein to create a vortex flow of the water, as mentioned above, since the water flow from the two opposite openings  12  that flows in via the channels  15  is circulated in a vortex  132  in the portion  16 . The important feature is that the water is rotated which may be done in a way different from using two oppositely directed channels  15  that creates the vortex  132 . More particularly, the channels  15  extend from the openings  12  to a central sub-portion  16  that is recessed in the centrally located, generally circular portion  13 . The channels  15  are also recessed in the centrally located, generally circular portion  13 . This is best seen in  FIG. 7 . The central recessed sub-portion  16  has a generally circular contour. Preferably, the channels  15  and the central sub-portion  16  have the same depth in the generally circular portion  13 . 
         [0020]    The washer  11  is provided with an annular projection  17  that faces towards the front portion  2  of the housing  1 . The openings  12  are located inside the projection  17 . The openings  12  are located immediately adjacent the projection  17 . 
         [0021]    When the washer  11  is properly mounted in the housing  1 , as best seen in  FIG. 4 , the annular projection  17  is received in the annular groove  6 . The dimensions of the annular groove  6  and the annular projection  17  are mutually adapted to each other in order to have a proper sealing action when the annular projection  17  is received in the annular groove  6 . 
         [0022]    When the washer  11  is properly mounted in the housing  1 , the central sub-portion  16  is located opposite the conical inlet portion  9  of the orifice  7 . The channels  15  and the inner side of the front portion  2  define a water passage that transports water from the openings  12  to the central sub-portion  16  wherein the vortex is created. More particularly, the central sub-portion  16  together with the conical inlet portion  9  define a vortex chamber for the water emanating from the passages defined by the channels  15  and the inner side of the front portion  2 . 
         [0023]    In operation, the spray nozzle  100  is first properly mounted on the faucet  104  or the like. Water  106  emerging from the faucet flows through the openings  12  so that the openings  12  restrict the flow of the water, i.e. the openings  12  reduce the outgoing water pressure from the faucet when the water enters the water passages that are defined by the channels  15  and the inner side of the front portion  2 . A typical pressure of the water that is discharged from the faucet is about 2-3 bar. In the vortex chamber that is defined by the central sub-portion  16  and the inlet portion  9  there should be a water pressure of at least 1 bar but less than the original pressure such as 2-3 bar in order to make the spray nozzle function in a proper way. It is also possible that the pressure in the vortex chamber is about the same as the original pressure in the faucet i.e. about  2 - 3  bars. When the water  106  flows through the openings  12  and enters the water passages that are defined by the channels  15  and the inner side of the front portion  2  it is important that the sealing function between the groove  6  and the projections  17  is working properly in order to direct all water into the conical inlet portion  9 .  FIG. 8  shows that the channels  15  and thus the water passage emerge at the periphery of sub-portion  16 . Since the conical inlet portion  9  is opposite the sub-portion  16  the water also flows along the periphery of the conical inlet portion  9 . Thus, the water  106  flows in the vortex chamber that is defined by the conical inlet portion  9  and the central sub-portion  16 . The water  106  then descends towards the tubular outlet portion  10  and the water is discharged through the tubular outlet portion  10 . When the water  106  leaves the tubular outlet portion  10  the water  106  assumes a shape of a cone. Due to the relatively small area of the openings/restriction means  12  the water consumption is kept at a low level when the nozzle  100  is mounted on a faucet. 
         [0024]    In  FIG. 9  the central sub-portion  16  of the washer  11 , the conical inlet portion  9  of the front portion  2  and the tubular outlet portion  10  of the front portion  2  are disclosed in an enlarged scale. In  FIG. 9  a relationship is defined between parameters of the orifice in the front portion. 
         [0025]    In the embodiment disclosed above and in the accompanying drawings, the washer  11  is provided with a projection  17  and the inner side of the front portion  2  is provided with an annular groove  6  that cooperate to establish a sealing function. Within the scope of the present invention it is possible to have an alternative sealing arrangement, e.g. a loose sealing in the shape of an O-ring that is located between the washer and the inner side of the front portion  2 . 
         [0026]    In the embodiment disclosed above and in the accompanying drawings, the housing  1  is provided with an internal thread  4  to mount the housing  1  on a faucet or the like. It is possible to use alternative means, e.g. a bayonet coupling. 
         [0027]    One important application of the spray nozzle  100  is in a cleaning station  110  that includes the faucet  104 , a round shield  112  mounted on a wall  113  disposed above a sink container  114  connected to a drainage  116 . The cleaning station  110  is for improved hygiene by atomizing the water  106  flowing through the spray nozzle  100 . The user may insert the user&#39;s hands  130  under the faucet  104  inside the shield  112  to wash the hands. The water is atomized in the spray nozzle  100  so that a fine cone-shaped mist, fog or spray  108  (best seen in  FIG. 10 ) is ejected therefrom that includes almost an infinite number of water droplets. In other words, the spray nozzle  100  converts the water  106  into the fine mist  108  by using high pressure. The water droplets  111  released through the nozzle  100  are so small that they are measured in microns so that the surface area of the water is very large and it is possible to maximize the use of the surface area of each droplet. This is because the holes in the nozzle are exceptionally small. When the water passes through the nozzle  100 , it is effectively vaporized as a result of flash evaporation. As a result of flash evaporation, the mist  108  is formed. This mist  108  is particularly suitable for hand washing while reducing the water consumption without reduced efficiency or comfort. The water consumption could be as low as 50 milliliter for a normal hand-wash. One surprising effect is that it is possible to effectively wash the hands despite the extremely low consumption of water. The water may be disinfected during the washing by used a bacteria killing filter  118  such as a silver-oxide based filter or any other suitable filter. In other words, the water is subjected to a silver-based substance. It is also possible to use an ultraviolet light device  120  so that ultraviolet light  122  is directed towards the mist  108  while making the mist visible. The device  120  may also be placed on the faucet  104 . It is possible to use a sensor  124  that automatically activates the faucet  104  when hands are inserted under the shield  112 . It is also possible to automatically eject a suitable amount of soap from a soap source  126  before the mist  108  is turned on. The hand may then be automatically showered with alcohol from an alcohol source  128 . 
         [0028]    Because the amount of water used is so small, the drainage  116  may be very weak and made of a bendable and flexible material. It is also possible to make the cleaning station  110  very small and use small and/or narrow spaces that are normally too small for a cleaning station. It is also possible to simply screw on the spray nozzle  100  to a conventional faucet in an already existing sink. It is also possible to use a plurality of nozzles  100  into order to spray and disinfect the entire body of the user. A suitable perfume with a pleasant smell may be added to the water  106  since the consumption is so small. 
         [0029]    It is also possible to heat the water with an electric devise directly at the faucet and to use a multiple of spray nozzles together to form a shower. 
         [0030]    It is also possible to connect the spray nozzle to a container containing water and air where the air is compressed by the means of a pump or the like to force the water to exit from the container through a tube passing filters and silver/copper ions, or the like, to purify the water and ending with a spray nozzle connected to the tube creating a mist for economical use of the purified water. 
         [0031]    While the present invention has been described in accordance with preferred compositions and embodiments, it is to be understood that certain substitutions and alterations may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the following claims.