Dispensing nozzle having a tubular exit zone comprising vanes

A process for dispensing foamable products with a nozzle comprising a tubular exit zone having an inlet and an outlet, and a length, wherein the tubular exit zone of the nozzle consists of a tubular passageway having an inlet end and an outlet end, with a plurality of vanes in the outlet end;

• comprising the steps of:
• a) supplying a liquid foamable product comprising at least one blowing agent to the inlet of the tubular exit zone,
• the tubular exit zone having an inner wall surface defining a hollow passageway for dispensing through the tubular exit zone, the passageway for dispensing having a centerline axis;
• the tubular exit zone further having the plurality of vanes attached to the inner wall surface parallel to the centerline axis with the vanes extending radially into the passageway for dispensing;
• the vanes having a length having a length dimension, a thickness having a thickness dimension, and a width having a width dimension,
• the thickness dimension being smaller than the width dimension, and the width dimension being smaller than the length dimension;
• the length dimension being a distance the vane contacts the inner wall surface parallel to the centerline axis, the thickness dimension being an effective thickness of the vane at the inner wall surface perpendicular to the centerline axis, and
• the width dimension being a distance from the inner wall surface that the vane extends into the passageway for dispensing;
• and
• wherein the vanes do not connect or touch at the centerline axis of the passageway for dispensing, and wherein the vanes extend in from the outlet into the tubular exit zone a distance parallel to the centerline that is no more than one third the length of the tubular exit zone,
• wherein the width dimension of each vane has a maximum value at the outlet for the tubular exit zone and linearly decreases along the entire length of the vane, and the outlet for the tubular exit zone is an exit face of the nozzle;
• and
• b) dispensing the liquid foamable product from the outlet of the tubular exit zone.