US 2022/0305504 A1 · SPRAY ARM SPEED REGULATOR

Abstract

Rotational speed of a spray arm is regulated based on centrifugal force and a liquid jet to create a variable angle corner spray nozzle. The regulator includes a weight on a pivot and a fluid jet, the weight having a curved surface to produce a variable angle corner spray nozzle depending on the weight angle. Centrifugal force created during rotation pushes the weight outward, which increases as the spray arm rotation speed increases. The liquid jet is located out from a pivot point and tends to push the weight inward. The pushing force of the liquid jet is maximum when the weight is most inward and minimum when the weight is most outward. The regulator stabilizes the arm speed at a specific speed independent from center pivot friction and the spray arm nozzle's orientation tolerance. Speed stabilizes when centrifugal force on the weight is equal to the pushing force of the fluid jet.

Claims8

Dependent claims

A method for regulating a speed of a spray arm about an axis, wherein the spray arm includes at least one deflector pivotably attached to the spray arm and having a curved surface, and at least one nozzle arranged relative to the curved surface, the method comprising:

emitting fluid from the at least one nozzle to strike the curved surface and cause
i) a first force that tends to pivot the at least one deflector toward the spray arm, and
ii) a second force that tends to rotate the spray arm about the axis,
wherein rotation of the spray arm about the axis causes a third force that tends to pivot the at least one deflector away from the spray arm,
whereby a balance between the first force and the third force is achieved at a predefined rotational speed.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Spray arm speed regulator

Life of this patent

Spray arm speed regulator

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims8