Housing For A Nozzle

A housing for a pneumatic nozzle, the housing comprising:

• a body including a first end and a second end opposite the first end, the body partially defining an interior space in which the nozzle is configured to be disposed, the body further defining a first aperture at the first end, and a second aperture at the second end, wherein the body is elongate along an axis that extends through both the first aperture and the second aperture;
• a cover assembly coupled to the first end of the body such that the cover assembly selectively blocks the first aperture and further defines the interior space;
• a piston disposed in the interior space and secured to the nozzle, the piston defining a gas inlet, a liquid inlet, and an outlet fluidly connected to both the gas inlet and the liquid inlet;
• and
• a biasing member attached to the piston, the biasing member configured to exert a biasing force on the piston in a first direction parallel to the axis so as to bias the nozzle to a retracted position in which the nozzle is entirely disposed within the interior space, the biasing member configured such that when pressurized gas flows through the second aperture of the body, the biasing force on the piston is overcome, thereby moving the piston in a second direction opposite the first direction to dispose the nozzle in an extended position in which at least a portion of the nozzle extends past the cover assembly and is positioned outside the interior space.

A method for protecting a pneumatic nozzle during non-operational periods using a housing configured to protect the pneumatic nozzle, wherein the housing comprises a body including a first end and a second end opposite the first end, the body partially defining an interior space in which the nozzle is configured to be disposed, the body further defining a first aperture at the first end, and a second aperture at the second end, wherein the body is elongate along an axis that extends through both the first aperture and the second aperture;

• a cover assembly coupled to the first end of the body such that the cover assembly selectively blocks the first aperture and further defines the interior space;
• a piston disposed in the interior space and secured to the pneumatic nozzle;
• and a biasing member attached to the piston, the method comprising:
• exerting a biasing force on the piston in a first direction parallel to the axis so as to bias the nozzle to a retracted position in which the nozzle is entirely disposed within the interior space;
• overcoming the biasing force on the piston by flowing pressurized gas through the second aperture of the body;
• and
• moving the piston in a second direction opposite the first direction to dispose the nozzle in an extended position in which at least a portion of the nozzle extends past the cover assembly and is positioned outside the interior space.