US 7,160,391 B2Granted

Electrostatic nozzle apparatus

AssigneeThe Procter & Gamble Company

InventorsAlan David Willey, Vladimir Gartstein, Chinto Benjamin Gaw, Jean Angela Jefferson, Krista Beth Comstock

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Abstract

A nozzle spray head is provided for use in a dynamic electrostatic air filter, in which the nozzle spray head assembly exhibits multiple nozzle orifices as outlet ports, which extend from the bottom of the nozzle body such that the distances between the outlet ports and a target member are not constant. The charged multiple outlet ports exhibit a more uniform electric field at their tips, thereby enabling a better and more uniform spray pattern to be emitted by each of the individual outlet ports. In one embodiment, the outlet ports are grouped in concentric circles, in which the innermost circle comprises outlet ports of the greatest lengths, and the outermost circle comprises outlet ports of the smallest lengths.

Claims20

Dependent claims

An electrostatic nozzle apparatus, comprising:

a nozzle spray head having:
a nozzle body, a fluid inlet at a first surface of the nozzle body, a plurality of fluid outlets at a second surface of the nozzle body, said plurality of fluid outlets comprising a plurality of individual nozzle outlet ports, an internal fluid channel between said fluid inlet and fluid outlets, and an electrode that is electrically charged to a predetermined first voltage magnitude, wherein said electrode is positioned proximal to said fluid channel and imparts an electrical charge to at least a portion of a fluid moving through said fluid channel;
and
a target member that is spaced-apart from said plurality of individual nozzle outlet ports, said target member exhibiting a proximal surface that faces said plurality of individual nozzle outlet ports;
wherein:
said plurality of individual nozzle outlet ports extend at predetermined lengths from said second surface of the nozzle body to a plurality of outlet orifices, such that a plurality of predetermined distances are created between said plurality of outlet orifices and said proximal surface of the target member, and
said predetermined distances between said proximal surface and the plurality of outlet orifices are not substantially constant, for one of the plurality of individual nozzle outlet ports as compared to at least another one of the plurality of individual nozzle outlet ports, and wherein the predetermined lengths between said second surface and the plurality of outlet orifices exhibit at least one slope, taken along a radial line that extends outward from a central point of said second surface.

4 more elements

An electrostatic nozzle apparatus, comprising:

a nozzle spray head having:
a nozzle body, a fluid inlet at a first surface of the nozzle body, a plurality of fluid outlets at a second surface of the nozzle body, said plurality of fluid outlets comprising a plurality of individual nozzle outlet ports that extend at predetermined lengths from said second surface of the nozzle body to one of a plurality of outlet orifices, an internal fluid channel between said fluid inlet and fluid outlets, and an electrode that is electrically charged to a predetermined first voltage magnitude, wherein said electrode is positioned proximal to said fluid channel and imparts an electrical charge to at least a portion of a fluid moving through said fluid channel;
and
a target member that is spaced-apart from said plurality of individual nozzle outlet ports, said target member exhibiting a proximal surface that faces said plurality of individual nozzle outlet ports;
wherein said plurality of individual nozzle outlet ports are sized and positioned in a manner that tends to minimize a gradient in an electric field magnitude between one of said plurality of outlet orifices and another one of said plurality of outlet orifices, wherein said predetermined lengths between said second surface and each of the plurality of outlet orifices are not substantially constant for one of the plurality of individual nozzle outlet ports as compared to at least another one of the plurality of individual nozzle outlet ports, and wherein the proximal surface of said target member is substantially planar.

2 more elements

An electrostatic nozzle apparatus, comprising:

a nozzle spray head having:
a nozzle body, a fluid inlet at a first surface of the nozzle body, a plurality of fluid outlets at a second surface of the nozzle body, said plurality of fluid outlets comprising a plurality of individual nozzle outlet ports, an internal fluid channel between said fluid inlet and fluid outlets, and an electrode that is electrically charged to a predetermined first voltage magnitude, wherein said electrode is positioned proximal to said fluid channel and imparts an electrical charge to at least a portion of a fluid moving through said fluid channel;
wherein said nozzle spray head exhibits:
(a) a first spacing dimension, taken along a radial line of said second surface, between a first of said at least two concentric circles and a second of said at least two concentric circles, and (b) a second spacing dimension, taken along a radial line of said second surface, between said second of said at least two concentric circles and a third of said at least two concentric circles;
and
wherein said first spacing dimension is not equal in distance to said second spacing dimension;
and
a target member that is spaced-apart from said plurality of individual nozzle outlet ports, said target member exhibiting a proximal surface that faces said plurality of individual nozzle outlet ports, wherein said plurality of individual nozzle outlet ports extend at predetermined lengths from said second surface of the nozzle body to a plurality of outlet orifices, such that a plurality of predetermined distances are created between said plurality of outlet orifices and said proximal surface of the target member, wherein said plurality of individual nozzle outlet ports is arranged in a pattern of at least two concentric circles;
and
said predetermined distances between said proximal surface and the plurality of outlet orifices are not substantially constant, for one of the plurality of individual nozzle outlet ports as compared to at least another one of the plurality of individual nozzle outlet ports.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 10/969,668Filed 20 Oct 2004
Published: US 2006/0081178 A120 Apr 2006
Granted: 9 Jan 2007
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification8 codes

B05B 5/025
Electrostatic spraying apparatus; Spraying apparatus with means for charging the spray electrically; Apparatus for spraying liquids or other…:…
B03C 3/16
Plant or installations having external electricity supply: wet type
B03C 3/38
Constructional details or accessories or operation thereof: particle charging or ionising stations, e.g. using electric discharge, radioactive…
B05B 1/1423
The multiple outlet openings arranged in plural groups or rows: comprising concentric or coaxial groups