Patent ID: 8826696

Claim:
A method for preventing gas from occupying a spray nozzle, comprising: providing a source of pressurized liquid, a main liquid supply line leading from said pressurized liquid source, a spray nozzle including a body having a nozzle passageway in communication with said main liquid supply line, and a tip connected to said nozzle body in communication with said nozzle passageway, said tip having an orifice adapted to release a jet of said liquid, and a gas removal device adapted to remove gas from said liquid; removing gas from said liquid using said gas removal device to prevent said gas from occupying said spray nozzle; spraying a jet of said liquid through said tip orifice without interruption in said jet, wherein said gas removal device comprises a purge opening at an upper location of said spray nozzle in fluid communication with said nozzle passageway; a purge line leading from said purge opening to a discharge location remote from said nozzle purging gas in said nozzle, a primary valve disposed in said main liquid supply line and a secondary valve disposed between said spray nozzle and said discharge location; said method further comprising removing said gas by opening said secondary valve and directing said liquid through said purge opening and along said purge line to said discharge location.