Patent Description:
Example embodiments of the present invention relate to a venturi nozzle apparatus.

In general, a venturi nozzle apparatus provided in a microbubble generation system that generates microbubbles refers to an apparatus that uses the venturi effect to mix water and gas and, in the mixing process, dissolves the gas in the water.

The venturi nozzle apparatus includes an injector unit configured to receive water and gas from the outside and dissolve the gas in the water and a bypass pipe connected to the injector unit.

In this case, when at least a portion of the water provided to the injector unit from the outside is bypassed through the bypass pipe, and the water is bypassed to the bypass pipe, pressure of the water introduced into the injector unit is changed and thus the amount of gas supplied to the injector unit is controlled. Accordingly, solubility of the gas in the water may be controlled in the injector unit.

However, in this case, since the bypass pipe should be provided separately, there are problems in that a manufacturing process for manufacturing the venturi nozzle apparatus becomes complex and the manufacturing costs increase.

Also, there is a risk that at least one of the water, gas, and water in which the gas is dissolved may leak through a portion where the injector unit and the bypass pipe are connected.

Furthermore, since the injector unit is designed to correspond only to a preset amount of flow, there is a problem in that it is not possible to correspond to a change in the amount of flow.

<CIT> discloses a mixer-injector device for introducing incrementally controllable amounts of active chemical reagent into a carrier fluid for delivery to a preselected location.

<CIT> discloses a combination venturi check valve for introducing a composition, such as ozone, into the fluid circulation line of a swimming pool, spa, and/or other recreational body of water.

<CIT> discloses a mixer-injector having a carrier stream inlet, an additive stream inlet and an outlet. Between the carrier stream inlet and the outlet there is a throat means having an axis of flow, a constricting portion of decreasing diameter, an expanding portion of increasing diameter, and a throat portion interconnecting them. Port means discharges from the additive stream inlet into the throat portion adjacent to the constricting portion.

Accordingly, example embodiments of the present invention are provided to substantially obviate one or more problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art.

Example embodiments of the present invention provide a venturi nozzle apparatus capable of simplifying a manufacturing process, reducing manufacturing costs, and corresponding to a change in the amount of flow.

The present invention is defined in claim <NUM> and various aspects of the invention are disclosed in the dependent claims, the description, and the drawings.

Example embodiments of the present invention will become more apparent by describing example embodiments of the present invention in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:.

Hereinafter, specific embodiments for implementing the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Further, in describing the present invention, when detailed description of a known configuration or function related to the present invention is determined as having the possibility of obscuring the gist of the present invention, the detailed description thereof will be omitted.

Also, when a certain element is described as being "connected" or "coupled" to another element, it should be understood that the element may be directly connected or coupled to the other element, but another element may also be present therebetween.

Terms used herein are for describing specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the present invention. A singular expression includes a plural expression unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

Also, note that expressions such as "one side" and "the other side" used herein are based on the drawings and may be changed when a direction of the corresponding object is changed. Likewise, some elements in the accompanying drawings may have been exaggerated, omitted, or schematically illustrated, and the size of each element does not necessarily reflect the actual size.

Also, terms including ordinals such as first and second may be used to describe various elements, but the corresponding elements are not limited by such terms. The terms are only used to distinguish one element from another.

The terms "comprises", "comprising", "includes", and/or "including", when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, areas, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, areas, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

Hereinafter, a specific configuration of a venturi nozzle apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Referring to <FIG>, a venturi nozzle apparatus <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present invention may include a housing <NUM>, an injector unit <NUM>, a valve member <NUM>, a stopper member <NUM>, and a gas supply member <NUM>.

The housing <NUM> is a member formed in the shape of a hollow quadrangular box, and a flow pipe <NUM>, through which at least one of water and water in which a gas is dissolved selectively flows, and a bypass pipe <NUM>, which communicates with the flow pipe <NUM> to selectively bypass at least one of the water and water in which the gas is dissolved flowing through the flow pipe <NUM>, may be disposed in the housing <NUM>.

The flow pipe <NUM> may be a pipe member provided to cause at least one of the water and water in which the gas is dissolved to flow. The flow pipe <NUM> may be formed to extend in one direction.

In this case, the flow pipe <NUM> may include a supply end portion <NUM> which is open to allow the water to be selectively supplied, a discharge end portion <NUM> which is disposed at a position opposite to the supply end portion <NUM> and which is open to allow the water in which the gas is dissolved to be discharged, and a flow pipe side flow path portion <NUM> which is provided between the supply end portion <NUM> and the discharge end portion <NUM> and through which at least one of the water and water in which the gas is dissolved selectively flows.

Meanwhile, a diameter D1 of the supply end portion <NUM> may be substantially the same as a diameter D2 of the discharge end portion <NUM>. The injector unit <NUM> may be inserted through the supply end portion <NUM>.

Meanwhile, to prevent the injector unit <NUM> inserted through the supply end portion <NUM> from being detached through the discharge end portion <NUM>, a step <NUM> may be disposed in the flow pipe side flow path portion <NUM>. The step <NUM> may be formed due to at least a portion of an inner side surface of the flow pipe side flow path portion <NUM> protruding. In this case, the step <NUM> comes in contact with an end portion of the injector unit <NUM> inserted through the supply end portion <NUM>, thus not only preventing the injector unit <NUM> from being detached through the discharge end portion <NUM> but also blocking the insertion of the injector unit <NUM> through the discharge end portion <NUM>.

The bypass pipe <NUM> may be a pipe member provided to bypass at least one of the water and water in which the gas is dissolved flowing through the flow pipe <NUM>. In this case, the bypass pipe <NUM> may be connected to communicate with the flow pipe <NUM> through at least one connecting portion and may be disposed to be spaced a predetermined distance apart from the flow pipe <NUM> in a direction perpendicular to a direction in which the flow pipe <NUM> extends.

Specifically, the bypass pipe <NUM> may include an insertion end portion <NUM> which is open to allow the valve member <NUM> to be inserted, a closed end portion <NUM> which is disposed at a position opposite to the insertion end portion <NUM> and closed, and a bypass pipe side flow path portion <NUM> which is provided between the insertion end portion <NUM> and the closed end portion <NUM> and through which at least one of the water and water in which the gas is dissolved selectively flows.

In this case, when the valve member <NUM> is completely inserted into the insertion end portion <NUM>, an amount of flow in the flow pipe side flow path portion <NUM> of the flow pipe <NUM> is not able to be bypassed to the bypass pipe side flow path portion <NUM> of the bypass pipe <NUM>, and when the valve member <NUM> completely inserted into the insertion end portion <NUM> is separated from the insertion end portion <NUM> to an extent that the valve member <NUM> is not completely separated from the insertion end portion <NUM>, at least a portion of the amount of flow in the flow pipe side flow path portion <NUM> may be bypassed to the bypass pipe side flow path portion <NUM>. In this way, as pressure of the water supplied to the injector unit <NUM> is changed and pressure of the gas injected from a plurality of injection members <NUM> of the injector unit <NUM>, which will be described below, varies, a concentration at which the gas is dissolved in the water in the injector unit <NUM> may be controlled.

The injector unit <NUM> may mix the water and gas to dissolve the gas in the water. To this end, the injector unit <NUM> may be detachably inserted into the flow pipe <NUM> of the housing <NUM>. In this case, the injector unit <NUM> may include a main body <NUM> which forms an exterior and is replaceably inserted into the flow pipe <NUM>, a venturi member <NUM> which is disposed inside the main body <NUM> and has a venturi flow path <NUM> through which the gas and water are able to be mixed and flow, and the plurality of injection members <NUM> which have one end portion connected to the main body <NUM> and the other end portion connected to the venturi member <NUM> and which are disposed to be spaced apart in a circumferential direction of the venturi member <NUM>.

The main body <NUM> may include an O-ring insertion portion <NUM> which has at least a portion of an outer side surface protruding radially inward from the main body <NUM>. The O-ring insertion portion <NUM> may be formed to extend in a circumferential direction of the main body <NUM> and may be provided as a plurality of O-ring insertion portions <NUM>. The plurality of O-ring insertion portions <NUM> may be disposed to be spaced apart at predetermined intervals in a longitudinal direction of the main body <NUM>. In this case, an O-ring member <NUM> may be fitted to the O-ring insertion portion <NUM>, and due to the O-ring member <NUM>, airtightness between the flow pipe <NUM> of the housing <NUM> and the main body <NUM> may be maintained. Here, the terms relating to directions will be defined. A direction that is radially inward from the main body <NUM> refers to a direction from an inner side surface of the main body <NUM> toward a central portion of the main body <NUM>, the circumferential direction of the main body <NUM> refers to a direction rotating along an outer circumferential surface of the main body <NUM>, and the longitudinal direction of the main body <NUM> refers to the x-axis direction of <FIG>. In this case, the circumferential direction of the main body <NUM> may be any one of clockwise and counter-clockwise when viewed from a side of the main body <NUM>, and unless described otherwise, all of the above directions encompass both positive and negative directions.

Meanwhile, the main body <NUM> may include a protruding portion <NUM> which has at least a portion of an outer side surface protruding radially inward from the main body <NUM>. Here, a degree to which the protruding portion <NUM> protrudes radially inward from the main body <NUM> may be higher than a degree to which the O-ring insertion portion <NUM> protrudes radially inward from the main body <NUM>. In this case, the protruding portion <NUM> may extend in the circumferential direction of the main body <NUM> and may be disposed between two O-ring insertion portions <NUM> adjacent to each other in the longitudinal direction of the main body <NUM>.

Meanwhile, the other end portion of the injection member <NUM> may be connected to communicate with an inner side surface of the protruding portion <NUM>. As the protruding portion <NUM> protrudes radially inward from the main body <NUM>, an outer side surface of the protruding portion <NUM> and an inner side surface of the flow pipe side flow path portion <NUM> may be spaced apart from each other, and thus a predetermined space <NUM> may be formed. The space <NUM> may be used as a space in which a gas supplied from the gas supply member <NUM> flows, and the gas flowing in the space <NUM> may be supplied to the venturi member <NUM> through the other end portion of the injection member <NUM> connected to the inner side surface of the protruding portion <NUM>.

The venturi member <NUM> may serve to use the venturi effect to form a vortex of water supplied from the outside. To this end, the venturi member <NUM> may include the venturi flow path <NUM> in which the gas and water are able to be mixed and flow.

Specifically, the venturi member <NUM> may include a first downward inclined portion <NUM> which is inclined downward from one end portion toward the other end portion, a second downward inclined portion <NUM> which is inclined downward from the other end portion toward one end portion, and a neck portion <NUM> connected between the first downward inclined portion <NUM> and the second downward inclined portion <NUM>. Here, a cross-sectional area of the first downward inclined portion <NUM> may gradually decrease from the one end portion toward the other end portion, and a cross-sectional area of the second downward inclined portion <NUM> may gradually decrease from the other end portion toward the one end portion. In this case, the one end portion of the injection member <NUM> may be connected to communicate with the neck portion <NUM>. In this way, since the injection member <NUM> is connected to communicate with the neck portion <NUM> in which a flow velocity increases, the water and gas may be smoothly mixed in the venturi flow path <NUM>.

Meanwhile, the amount of flow passing through the venturi flow path <NUM> of the venturi member <NUM> may be determined according to a diameter of one end portion and the other end portion of the venturi member <NUM>. Due to being coupled to an inner portion of a pipe, the conventional venturi member only handles an amount of flow according to a preset diameter of the venturi member. However, since the venturi member <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present invention is coupled to an inner portion of the main body <NUM> and the main body <NUM> is detachably coupled to the flow pipe <NUM>, when it is necessary for the venturi member <NUM> to correspond to a change in the amount of flow, the main body <NUM> to which the venturi member <NUM> having a diameter suitable for the changed amount of flow is coupled is selected and then coupled to the flow pipe <NUM>. In this way, unlike the related art, it is possible to correspond to a change in the amount of flow.

The plurality of injection members <NUM> may deliver the gas provided from the gas supply member <NUM> to the venturi member <NUM>. Also, the plurality of injection members <NUM> may increase a contact area between the water flowing in the venturi member <NUM> and the gas provided from the gas supply member <NUM>.

To this end, one end portion of the injection member <NUM> may be connected to communicate with the protruding portion <NUM> of the main body <NUM>, and the other end portion of the injection member <NUM> may be connected to communicate with the neck portion <NUM> of the venturi member <NUM>. Also, the plurality of injection members <NUM> may be disposed to be spaced apart from each other in the circumferential direction of the venturi member <NUM> and may inject the gas provided from the gas supply member <NUM> radially inward from the venturi flow path <NUM> of the venturi member <NUM>. Thus, the water forming a vortex in the venturi flow path <NUM> and the gas injected radially inward from the venturi flow path <NUM> collide with each other. In this way, the gas may be efficiently dissolved in the water.

The valve member <NUM> may control the concentration at which the gas is dissolved in the water in the injector unit <NUM>. To this end, the valve member <NUM> may be inserted into the bypass pipe <NUM> of the housing <NUM>. In this way, the valve member <NUM> may cause at least one of the water and water in which the gas is dissolved to flow to at least one of the flow pipe <NUM> of the housing <NUM> and the bypass pipe <NUM> of the housing <NUM>.

Meanwhile, the valve member <NUM> may be inserted into the insertion end portion <NUM> of the bypass pipe <NUM> of the housing <NUM>, and according to a degree to which the valve member <NUM> is inserted into the insertion end portion <NUM>, at least one of the water and water in which the gas is dissolved may flow to at least one of the flow pipe <NUM> of the housing <NUM> and the bypass pipe <NUM> of the housing <NUM>. For example, the valve member <NUM> may be provided as a plug valve, but this is only an example, and the present invention is not limited thereby.

In this case, the valve member <NUM> may include an O-ring insertion portion <NUM> which has at least a portion of an outer side surface protruding radially inward from the valve member <NUM>. The O-ring insertion portion <NUM> may be formed to extend in a circumferential direction of the valve member <NUM>. In this case, an O-ring member <NUM> may be fitted to the O-ring insertion portion <NUM>, and due to the O-ring member <NUM>, airtightness between the bypass pipe <NUM> of the housing <NUM> and the valve member <NUM> may be maintained.

Meanwhile, in the present embodiment, the case in which the valve member <NUM> is coupled by being fitted and coupled to the insertion end portion <NUM> of the bypass pipe <NUM> has been described as an example, but this is for convenience of description, and the present invention is not limited thereby. For example, male screw threads may be formed on at least a portion of an outer side surface of the valve member <NUM>, female screw threads may be formed on at least a portion of an inner side surface of the insertion end portion <NUM>, and the valve member <NUM> and the insertion end portion <NUM> may be screw-coupled to each other.

The stopper member <NUM> may prevent the injector unit <NUM>, which is inserted through the supply end portion <NUM> of the flow pipe <NUM>, from being detached through the supply end portion <NUM> of the flow pipe <NUM>.

To this end, the stopper member <NUM> may be selectively inserted into the housing <NUM>. In this case, at least a portion of the stopper member <NUM> may be inserted into a stopper member insertion hole <NUM> formed in the housing <NUM>.

In this case, for example, the stopper member <NUM> may be provided in the shape of a column that extends in one direction. For example, the stopper member <NUM> may be inserted into the stopper member insertion hole <NUM> after the injector unit <NUM> is inserted through the supply end portion <NUM> of the flow pipe <NUM>. On the other hand, when it is necessary to replace the injector unit <NUM>, the stopper member <NUM> inserted into the stopper member insertion hole <NUM> may be separated from the stopper member insertion hole <NUM> first, and then the injector unit <NUM> inserted into the supply end portion <NUM> may be separated from the supply end portion <NUM>.

Meanwhile, in the present embodiment, the case in which the stopper member <NUM> is coupled by being fitted and coupled to the stopper member insertion hole <NUM> of the housing <NUM> has been described as an example, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, male screw threads may be formed on at least a portion of an outer side surface of the stopper member <NUM>, female screw threads may be formed on at least a portion of an inner side surface of the stopper member insertion hole <NUM>, and the stopper member <NUM> may be coupled to the stopper member insertion hole <NUM> by a screw-coupling method.

The gas supply member <NUM> may selectively supply the gas from the outside to the injector unit <NUM>. To this end, the gas supply member <NUM> may be provided to be connectable to the housing <NUM>, and in this case, an end portion of the gas supply member <NUM> may be inserted into a gas supply member insertion hole <NUM> disposed in the housing <NUM>.

Meanwhile, the gas supply member <NUM> may be connected to communicate with the injection member <NUM> of the injector unit <NUM>. The external gas provided through the gas supply member <NUM> may flow in the space <NUM> formed due to the inner side surface of the flow pipe side flow path portion <NUM> and the outer side surface of the protruding portion <NUM> being spaced apart from each other, and the gas flowing in the space <NUM> may be supplied to the plurality of injection members <NUM> and injected into the venturi member <NUM>.

Hereinafter, the operation and effects of the venturi nozzle apparatus <NUM> having the above-described configuration will be described with reference to <FIG> and <FIG>.

Referring to <FIG>, the injector unit <NUM> is inserted through the supply end portion <NUM> of the flow pipe <NUM> disposed in the housing <NUM>. When insertion of the injector unit <NUM> is completed, the stopper member <NUM> is inserted into the stopper member insertion hole <NUM>, which is pre-installed in the housing <NUM>, to prevent the injector unit <NUM> from being detached from the flow pipe <NUM>. In this way, installation of the injector unit <NUM> in the housing <NUM> is completed.

Next, the gas supply member <NUM> is connected to the gas supply member insertion hole <NUM> which is pre-installed in the housing <NUM>.

Then, water is supplied from the outside through the supply end portion <NUM> of the flow pipe <NUM>. In this case, since the valve member <NUM> is completely inserted into the insertion end portion <NUM> of the bypass pipe <NUM> disposed in the housing <NUM>, the water supplied from the outside can only be supplied to the flow pipe <NUM> without being bypassed to the bypass pipe <NUM>.

Meanwhile, the water supplied as above flows along the venturi flow path <NUM> disposed in the venturi member <NUM> of the injector unit <NUM> and forms a vortex. In this case, the gas provided from the gas supply member <NUM> is supplied to the venturi flow path <NUM> through the plurality of injection members <NUM> and is dissolved in the water due to colliding with the vortex of the water. The water in which the gas is dissolved passes through the venturi flow path <NUM> and is discharged through the discharge end portion <NUM> of the flow pipe <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, as the degree of insertion of the valve member <NUM> which is completely inserted into the insertion end portion <NUM> of the bypass pipe <NUM> is controlled, at least a portion of the water supplied from the outside may be bypassed to the bypass pipe <NUM>. Due to the water bypassed to the bypass pipe <NUM> in this way, pressure of the water supplied to the venturi flow path <NUM> of the venturi member <NUM> may be decreased, and as the amount of gas ejected to the venturi flow path <NUM> is increased, a concentration at which the gas is dissolved in the water in the venturi flow path <NUM> may be increased.

Claim 1:
A venturi nozzle apparatus (<NUM>) which is configured to mix water and a gas to dissolve the gas in the water, the venturi nozzle apparatus comprising:
a housing (<NUM>) in which a flow pipe (<NUM>), through which at least one of the water and the water in which the gas is dissolved selectively flows, and a bypass pipe (<NUM>), which communicates with the flow pipe (<NUM>) to selectively bypass at least one of the water and the water in which the gas is dissolved flowing through the flow pipe (<NUM>), are disposed;
an injector unit (<NUM>) which is detachably inserted into the flow pipe (<NUM>) of the housing (<NUM>) and configured to selectively receive the gas and the water to dissolve the gas in the water; and
a valve member (<NUM>) which is inserted into the bypass pipe (<NUM>) of the housing (<NUM>) and configured to cause at least one of the water and the water in which the gas is dissolved to flow to at least one of the flow pipe (<NUM>) of the housing (<NUM>) and the bypass pipe (<NUM>) of the housing (<NUM>),
wherein the flow pipe (<NUM>) includes:
a supply end portion (<NUM>) which is open to allow the water to be selectively supplied;
a discharge end portion (<NUM>) which is disposed at a position opposite to the supply end portion (<NUM>) and which is open to allow the water in which the gas is dissolved to be discharged; and
a flow pipe side flow path portion (<NUM>) which is provided between the supply end portion (<NUM>) and the discharge end portion (<NUM>) and through which at least one of the water and the water in which the gas is dissolved selectively flows,
wherein the flow pipe side flow path portion (<NUM>) includes a step (<NUM>) which is formed due to at least a portion of an inner side surface protruding, and wherein, as the injector unit (<NUM>) inserted through the supply end portion (<NUM>) of the flow pipe (<NUM>) is caught at the step (<NUM>), the injector unit (<NUM>) is prevented from being detached through the discharge end portion (<NUM>) of the flow pipe (<NUM>),
characterised in that
the venturi nozzle apparatus further comprises a stopper member (<NUM>) which is configured to be selectively inserted into the housing (<NUM>) to prevent the injector unit (<NUM>) inserted through the supply end portion (<NUM>) of the flow pipe (<NUM>) from being detached through the supply end portion (<NUM>) of the flow pipe (<NUM>).