Atomizing nozzle assembly

An atomizing nozzle assembly comprising:

• (a) a frustum of a cone shaped, diflector core of a wear resistant ceramic material, said deflector having an outwardly diverging surface leading to a chamfered extremity, in a downstream direction for liquid-to-be-atomized, an outer portion of the diverging surface of the deflector core forming an outwardly deflecting surface for, in operation, an atomizing fluid jet to flow in an unobstructed manner along the whole length thereof,
• (b) a nozzle rim of a wear resistant ceramic material, the rim having a wedge-shaped inward protrusion with a downstream side of the wedge-shaped protrusion having an outwardly flared, inner surface which is substantially parallel to, and co-extensive with, a downstream portion of the outwardly diverging surface of the deflector core to form therewith a mixing zone leading to an atomizing nozzle orifice outlet so that, in operation, liquid-to-be-atomized will be held against the surfaces bounding the mixing zone, until it is substantially completely mixed, and atomized as it emerges from the orifice outlet,
• (c) a deflector core holder having a screw threaded upstream end and a flared socket portion at a downstream end, the flared socket portion having an outer, cylindrically shaped extremity, the flared socket having an upstream portion of the deflector core closely fitting and aligned therein, the flared socket portion, in operation, providing a smooth outer surface for guiding atomizing fluid towards and along the outwardly deflecting surface of the outer portion of the deflector core protruding from the flared socket portion,
• (d) securing means securing the deflector core in the flared socket portion,
• (e) an inner, cylindrical sleeve having a screw threaded, inner, upstream end portion, which is in close proximity to the mixing zone and is in threaded engagement in an adjustable manner with the screw threaded, upstream end portion of the deflector core holder, the inner cylindrical sleeve having a downstream end portion with an enlarged bore and terminating at a downstream end having inner and outer chamfers, the downstream end portion being around the flared socket portion to form a fluid passage around the cylindrically shaped extremity of the deflector core holder for, in operation, passing a substantially constant stream of atomizing fluid therealong to an atomizing fluid orifice formed between the inner chamfer and the outer deflecting surface of the flared socket so that, in operation, a jet of the atomizing fluid will issue from the atomizing fluid orifice and be directed along the outer portion of the outwardly deflecting surface of the deflector core,
• (f) an upstream collar forming a mounting means on the front end of the inner, cylindrical sleeve,
• (g) an outer, cylindrical sleeve sealed on, and secured against relative movement by the upstream collar on the front end of the inner sleeve and having a stepped, annular recessed portion at the downstream end with the nozzle rim mounted therein and protruding radially inwardly therefrom, a portion of the outer sleeve having a relatively larger bore diameter than the outside diameter of the inner sleeve and forming therearound an unobstructed, liquid passage for, in operation, conveying liquid-to-be-atomized towards the upstream side of, and inwardly around, the wedge-shaped protrusion of the nozzle rim,
• (h) means securing the nozzle rim in the stepped, annular recessed portion,
• (i) an adjustment means connected to the deflector core holder for adjusting the screw threaded engagement between the deflector core holder and the inner cylindrical sleeve to thereby adjust the width (W) of the mixing zone,
• (j) means for delivering atomizing fluid to the fluid passage,
• (k) means for delivering liquid-to-be-atomized to the liquid-to-be-atomized passage, and
• (l) a differential thermal expansion accommodating gland slidably mounting an intermediate portion of the inner, cylindrical sleeve in a rear end portion of the outer cylindrical sleeve.