Spray nozzle

A spray nozzle comprising:

• a first tubular member adapted to be connected to a source of compressed gas;
• a second tubular member extending into one end of said first tubular member and having at least one tangential aperture therein and adapted to be connected to a source of liquid to be sprayed;
• a head mounted on said second tubular member at the other end of said first tubular member;
• said first tubular member, said second tubular member and said head defining an annular passage through said first tubular member having a converging portion, a straight portion and a diverging portion and liquid supplied to said second tubular member is supplied to said annular passage through said tangential aperture;
• said tangential aperture in said second tubular member being positioned to supply liquid into the converging portion of said annular passage;
• and
• a gas orifice plate mounted on said one end of the first tubular member surrounding said second tubular member and having at least one passage therethrough at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the annular passage through the first tubular member for supplying compressed gas from the source to the converging portion of said annular passage in a swirling pattern and for accelerating the compressed gas to sonic velocity for breaking into droplets and mixing with the liquid to be sprayed within the converging portion and the mixed liquid droplets and compressed gas pass through the straight portion and are discharged from the diverging portion in a swirling conical pattern.