Patent ID: RE41864

Claim:
A swirl unit for a spray nozzle, wherein the spray nozzle includes a carrier defining a spray aperture on one end for emitting a spray, a first pair of locating surfaces formed on approximately opposite sides of the carrier relative to each other and axially spaced adjacent to the spray aperture for receiving an orifice plate, and a second pair of locating surfaces formed on approximately opposite sides of the carrier relative to each other and formed on an opposite side of the first pair of locating surfaces relative to the spray aperture for receiving the swirl unit, wherein the swirl unit comprises: a first end surface engageable with an orifice plate received within the carrier adjacent to the first locating surfaces; a second end surface axially spaced relative to the first end surface; a peripheral surface formed between the first and second end surfaces, wherein the peripheral surface defines at least two locating surfaces formed on approximately opposite sides of the swirl unit relative to each other and dimensioned for slidably contacting the second locating surfaces of the carrier upon inserting the swirl unit therein; at least one recessed surface spaced radially inwardly from the at least two locating surfaces of the swirl unit to thereby define a fluid passageway between the swirl unit and carrier; and a swirl chamber defined by an approximately curvilinear surface, and an inlet port formed in fluid communication between the swirl chamber and fluid passageway and defined at least in part by an inlet surface formed between the curvilinear surface and the recessed surface.