[0001] This patent application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/632,673, filed February 20, 2018, which is incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates to liquid spray nozzle assemblies, and more particularly, to spray nozzle assemblies that require frequent or periodic cleaning for sanitary or other purposes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] In the food industry, by way of example, hot liquids at temperatures of 140°

Fahrenheit and more are sprayed at high pressures, such as 350 PSI or more, onto food products for various purposes. Liquid spray nozzles for such purpose often are designed to direct in oscillating high pressure liquid discharge for greater impact. Such nozzles commonly have a complex internal geometry needed to establish and maintain a predictable oscillation cycle that includes orifices and passages having a multiplicity of surfaces that cannot be easily or effectively cleaned. Flushing with chemicals may achieve acceptable levels of sanitation, but may not remove buildup of debris that may render the oscillating fluid discharge less effective.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] It is an object of the invention to provide a liquid spray nozzle assembly that is adapted for easier and more effective cleaning.

[0005] Another object is to provide a liquid spray nozzle assembly as characterized above that has a relatively complex internal geometry, such as necessary, for example, in generating a high pressure oscillating liquid discharge.

[0006] A further object is to provide a liquid spray nozzle assembly of the above kind that is nevertheless relatively simple in design and economical to manufacture.

[0007] Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description and upon reference to the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] Figure l is a longitudinal section of an illustrative spray nozzle assembly in accordance with the invention, with parts of the nozzle body highlighted differently for purposes of illustration; [0009] Fig. 2 is a downstream end view of the spray nozzle assembly shown in Fig. 1;

[0010] Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary section of the illustrated spray nozzle assembly showing an oscillated spray discharge directed in one direction;

[0011] Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary section, similar to Fig. 3, but showing the oscillating spray directed in an opposite direction; and

[0012] Fig. 5 is an exploded perspective of the multipart illustrated nozzle body in separated relation to each other.

[0013] While the invention is susceptible of various modifications and alternative constructions, a certain illustrative embodiment thereof has been shown in the drawings and will be described below in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intention to limit the invention to the specific form disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0014] Referring now more particularly to the drawings, there is shown an illustrative spray nozzle assembly 10 in accordance with the invention. The illustrated spray nozzle assembly 10 basically comprises a liquid inlet body 11 having a liquid passage 12 connectable to a liquid supply, a nozzle body 14 mounted at a downstream end of the liquid inlet body 11, and an annular retaining cap 15 for securing the nozzle body 14 to the liquid inlet body 11.

[0015] The illustrated spray nozzle assembly 10, by way of example, is a fluidic spray nozzle assembly for discharging a high pressure oscillating spray discharge. For this purpose, the nozzle body 14 has an intricate internal liquid passageway system for acting on liquid directed through the nozzle body 14. The illustrated nozzle body 14 has a liquid inlet passage 18 that communicates with the inlet body passage 12 and which converges by way of an inwardly converging conical section 19 that defines a liquid inlet orifice 20. The liquid inlet orifice 20 communicates with a downstream expansion chamber 21, which in turn communicates with an axially aligned exit orifice 22. The exit orifice 22 in this instance is slightly smaller in diameter than the inlet orifice 20 and communicates through an outwardly flared section 24 with a nozzle body discharge orifice 25, which in this case has an elongated narrow rectangular configuration, as viewed in Fig. 2. [0016] In order to produce a fluidic oscillating liquid discharge, the nozzle body 14 has a pair of longitudinal veins or ribs 28a, 28b which define the central expansion chamber 21 and a pair of outwardly disposed feedback passages 30a, 30b. The veins 28a, 28b define respective downstream orifices 3 la, 3 lb adjacent the exit orifice 22 and upstream orifices 32a, 32b adjacent the inlet orifice 20. The veins 28a, 28b in this case each have an enlarged upstream end portion 34a, 34b that defines a curved right angle passage section 35a, 35b of each feedback passage 30a, 30b in communication with the inlet orifice 20. When liquid is directed through the nozzle body inlet orifice 20, and is guided downwardly against the lower vein 28a, as viewed in Fig. 3, it is redirected upwardly through the exit and discharge orifices 22, 25, creating a high pressure at the downstream feedback orifice 3 la. That high pressure condition is communicated through the feedback passage 30a to the upstream orifice 32a, forcing liquid discharging from the inlet orifice 20 upwardly against the upper vein 28b, as viewed in Fig. 4, and in turn, downwardly through the exit discharge orifices 22, 25. This redirection of liquid creates a high pressure in the downstream feedback orifice 3 lb, which communicates with the upstream orifice 32b again forcing liquid discharging form the inlet orifice 20 in a downward direction against the lower vein 28a, as depicted in Fig. 3. The liquid flow stream through the nozzle body 14 is thereby influenced by the pressures at the orifices 3 la, 32a and 3 lb, 32b for establishing a repeatable oscillation cycle, causing the exiting spray to oscillate up and down from the discharge orifices 22, 25.

[0017] In accordance with the invention, the nozzle body has a multipart separable construction that lends itself to economical manufacture and easy assembly, disassembly, and cleaning. The multiple nozzle body parts are separable along mating planes about a central axis of the nozzle body such that upon separation of the nozzle body parts, the internal geometry of the intricate passageway system of the nozzle body is fully exposed for easy and effective cleaning. In the illustrated embodiment, as depicted in Fig. 5, the nozzle body 14 comprises two identical nozzle parts 40 which have multiplane separating surfaces. The illustrated nozzle body parts 40 have two planar separating surfaces 41, 42. One of the planar surfaces 41 of each nozzle body part 40, being in raised elevation to the other or recessed planar surface 42 of the body part, defines a portion of the internal geometry of the nozzle body, and the other or recessed planar surface 42 of the body part 40 supports one of the elongated veins 28a, 28b outwardly therefrom to the level of the raised planar surface 41. [0018] While the nozzle body parts 40 are identically formed, when assembled, the longitudinal vein 28a, 28b of each part mates with the recessed planar surface 42 of the other part so as to define the expansion chamber 21 therebetween and the feedback passages 30a, 30b outwardly thereof. The raised nozzle body surfaces 41 in this case each further define a respective downstream lip 44a, 44b extending radially inwardly, such that upon mating of the nozzle body parts 40 the discharge orifices 22, 25 are defined between the recess surfaces 42.

[0019] The nozzle body parts 40 preferably are machined of stainless steel, and as will be appreciated, since they are identical in form, they lend themselves to economical production. Because the parting planes of the nozzle parts 40 extend through the inlet passage 18, expansion chamber 21, feedback passages 30a, 30b and various orifices 20, 22, 25, 3 la, 3 lb, 32a, and 32b, upon separation of the parts 40, the surfaces of those passage sections and orifices are easily accessible for efficient and thorough cleaning.

[0020] In carrying out a further feature of the invention, parts of the nozzle assembly are easily assembled with the nozzle body parts 40 retained in close fitting liquid tight relation so as to prevent leakage even during high pressure spraying. To this end, the nozzle body parts 40 when in assembled relation to each other are secured to a downstream end of the inlet body 11 by the retaining cap 15 threadably secured to the nozzle body inlet 11. To that end, the nozzle body parts 40 have a frustoconical downstream end portion 45 (Fig. 4) that is as received within a complementary frustoconical retention recess 46 in the cap 15 (Fig. 1). With conical slope of the conical body portions 45 preferably between 7° and 30° to the horizontal, upon tightening of the retention cap 15 onto the inlet body 14 the mating conical surfaces force and clamp the nozzle body parts 40 into close fitting liquid tight relation to each other. To facilitate such securement the internal conical surface of the retention cap 15 preferably has a fine surface finish of 16 micro-inches or better. The retention cap 15 in this case has a wrench engageable external hex configuration.

[0021] From the foregoing, it can be seen that a spray nozzle assembly is provided that has a nozzle body constructed of a plurality of separable parts that allows for easy assembly, disassembly and cleaning. Each half of the spray nozzle incorporates half of the geometry necessary to form the orifices and critical passages required for the desired spray discharge. The geometry of the halves is designed such that when separated from the opposing half, obstructions to the passages are removed. Removal of the obstructions allows for better cleaning and sanitizing required for food processing and other sanitary spray applications where cleanness is critical. The spray nozzle assembly further includes a retaining cap for mounting the nozzle to the fluid source and in a manner that secures the opposing flat surfaces together in tight fitting relation and maintains the critical orifices and passages free of leakage even during high pressure spraying.