Spray tip
AssigneeGraco Minnesota Inc.
InventorsSamuel R. Stewart, Robert W. Kinne
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A spray tip is configured to atomize thick, viscous fluids. The spray tip includes a pre-orifice piece having an inlet orifice that defines a first restriction in a fluid path through the spray tip. The spray tip also includes a tip piece having an outlet orifice that defines a second restriction in the fluid path. The first and second restrictions are the portions of the fluid path having the smallest flow areas. A cross-sectional area of the outlet orifice is greater than a cross-sectional area of the inlet orifice.
Claims20
A spray tip for spraying fluid, the spray tip comprising:
- a body having a tip bore extending transversely through the body;
- a pre-orifice piece located within the tip bore, the pre-orifice piece having an inlet orifice;
- and
- a tip piece located within the tip bore, the tip piece spaced in a first axial direction along the tip bore relative to the pre-orifice piece, the tip piece having an outlet orifice configured to atomize fluid into a spray fan,
- wherein:
- the tip piece and the pre-orifice piece together form at least part of a fluid path extending through the tip bore;
- the inlet orifice defines a first smallest flow area portion of the fluid path and the outlet orifice define a second smallest flow area portion of the fluid path;
- and
- a cross-sectional area of the inlet orifice is less than a cross-sectional area of the outlet orifice.
A method of spraying, the method comprising:
- driving fluid in a downstream direction through a fluid path defined within a tip bore of a spray tip;
- restricting flow through the tip bore with an inlet orifice formed in a pre-orifice piece defining at least a portion of the fluid path, wherein the inlet orifice is disposed at a first axial location within the tip bore;
- and
- restricting flow through the tip bore with an outlet orifice formed in a tip piece defining at least a portion of the fluid path, wherein the outlet orifice is disposed at a second axial location within the tip bore;
- wherein the second axial location is spaced in the downstream direction from the first axial location;
- and
- wherein a cross-sectional area of the inlet orifice is less than a cross-sectional area of the outlet orifice.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.