# US 7,611,071 B2 · Intermittently operable recirculating control module and dispensing nozzle having internally disposed fixed orifice > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,611,071 B2 - Document ID: US7611071B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/408,994 - Filed: 2006-04-24 - Published: 2007-10-25 - Granted: 2009-11-03 - Earliest claimed: 2006-04-24 - Assignees: Illinois Tool Works Inc. - Inventors: Edward W. Bolyard, Jr.; Mairi MacLean - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7611071B2 ## CPC - B05C 5/0225: {characterised by flow controlling means, e.g. valves, located proximate the outlet (B05C5/0258, B05C5/0275 take precedence; supply valves upstream the coating head B05C11/1036)} - B05C: APPARATUS FOR APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL (spraying apparatus, atomising apparatus, nozzles B05B; plant for applying liquids or other fluent materials to objects by electrostatic spraying B05B5/08) ## Abstract A hot melt adhesive material application system is disclosed wherein both the control module and the dispensing nozzle are effectively provided with internal alternative flow paths. A fixed orifice is internally incorporated within the dispensing nozzle such that when the hot melt adhesive material is not being supplied to the dispensing nozzle and its discharge orifice, the hot melt adhesive material can be recirculated through the dispensing nozzle and the control module in accordance with controlled backpressure parameters which correspond to the supply pressure which is characteristic of the hot melt adhesive material being supplied to the dispensing nozzle and its discharge orifice. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A dispensing nozzle for use in connection with a system for dispensing a fluid, and for recirculating the fluid when the fluid is not being dispensed, comprising: a dispensing nozzle block; a dispensing orifice disposed upon said dispensing nozzle block and defining predetermined supply pressure characteristics; a fluid supply path defined within said dispensing nozzle block for supplying a fluid, to be dispensed, to said dispensing orifice; a first fluid inlet port defined within said dispensing nozzle block and fluidically connected to said fluid supply path so as to conduct fluid from a fluid source into said fluid supply path; a fluid recirculation path defined within said dispensing nozzle block for recirculating the fluid, to be dispensed, when the fluid, to be dispensed, is not being dispensed; a second fluid inlet port, separate from said first fluid inlet port, defined within said dispensing nozzle block and fluidically connected said fluid recirculation path so as to conduct fluid from the fluid source into said fluid recirculation path; a fluid outlet port defined within said dispensing nozzle block and fluidically connected to said fluid recirculation path for conducting fluid from said recirculation path back to the fluid source; and a fixed orifice disposed within said fluid recirculation path defined within said dispensing nozzle block and defining pressure characteristics similar to said predetermined supply pressure characteristics defined by said dispensing orifice such that regardless of which one of said fluid supply and fluid recirculation paths along which the fluid is being conducted, similar pressure characteristics will be present and will prevail within said dispensing nozzle block. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The dispensing nozzle as set forth in claim 1, wherein: said fixed orifice comprises a nozzle structure. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The dispensing nozzle as set forth in claim 2, wherein: said nozzle structure comprises a Laval nozzle. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The dispensing nozzle as set forth in claim 1, wherein: said dispensing nozzle block comprises a dispensing nozzle block for dispensing hot melt adhesive material. ### Claim 5 A system for dispensing a fluid, and for circulating the fluid when the fluid is not being dispensed, comprising: a dispensing nozzle block; a dispensing orifice disposed upon said dispensing nozzle block and defining predetermined supply pressure characteristics; a fluid supply path defined within said dispensing nozzle block for supplying a fluid, to be dispensed, to said dispensing orifice; a first fluid inlet port defined within said dispensing nozzle block and fluidically connected to said fluid supply path so as to conduct fluid from a fluid source into said fluid supply path; a fluid recirculation path defined within said dispensing nozzle block for recirculating the fluid, to be dispensed, when the fluid, to be dispensed, is not being dispensed; a second fluid inlet port, separate from said first fluid inlet port, defined within said dispensing nozzle block and fluidically connected said fluid recirculation path so as to conduct fluid from the fluid source into said fluid recirculation path; a fluid outlet port defined within said dispensing nozzle block and fluidically connected to said fluid recirculation path for conducting fluid from said recirculation path back to the fluid source; a control module block operatively associated with said dispensing nozzle block for alternatively controlling the supply of the fluid to said first fluid inlet port of said fluid supply path and to said second fluid inlet port of said fluid recirculation path of said dispensing nozzle block; and a fixed orifice disposed within said fluid recirculation path defined within said dispensing nozzle block and defining pressure characteristics similar to said predetermined supply pressure characteristics defined by said dispensing orifice such that regardless of which one of said fluid supply and fluid recirculation paths along which the fluid is being conducted, similar pressure characteristics will be present and will prevail within said dispensing nozzle block. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The dispensing system as set forth in claim 5, wherein said control module block comprises: a fluid inlet supply port defined within said control module block for admitting the fluid, to be dispensed, into said control module block; first and second fluid outlet ports defined within said control module block and adapted to be respectively fluidically connected to said fluid supply and fluid recirculation paths defined within said dispensing nozzle block; and means movably disposed within said control module block for alternatively connecting said fluid inlet supply port of said control module block to one of said first and second fluid outlet ports defined within said control module block so as to alternatively permit the fluid to be fluidically conducted from said fluid inlet supply port of said control module block to one of said first and second fluid outlet ports defined within said control module block so as to, in turn, permit the fluid to be alternatively supplied to said fluid supply path and to said fluid recirculation path defined within said dispensing nozzle block. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The dispensing system as set forth in claim 5, wherein: said fixed orifice comprises a nozzle structure. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The dispensing system as set forth in claim 7, wherein: said nozzle structure comprises a Laval nozzle. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The dispensing system as set forth in claim 6, wherein: said means movably disposed within said control module block for alternatively connecting said fluid inlet supply port of said control module block to one of said first and second fluid outlet ports defined within said control module block comprises a two-position valve mechanism. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The dispensing system as set forth in claim 9, further comprising: actuating means operatively connected to said two-position valve mechanism for moving said two-position valve mechanism between first and second positions for alternatively connecting said fluid inlet supply port of said control module block to a first one of said first and second fluid outlet ports defined within said control module block so as to permit the fluid to be fluidically conducted from said fluid inlet supply port of said control module block to said fluid supply path defined within said dispensing nozzle block, and to a second one of said first and second fluid outlet ports defined within said control module block so as to permit the fluid to be fluidically conducted from said fluid inlet supply port of said control module block to said fluid recirculation path defined within said dispensing nozzle block. ### Claim 11 (depends on 5) The dispensing system as set forth in claim 5, wherein: said dispensing system comprises a dispensing system for dispensing hot melt adhesive material. ### Claim 12 A method for dispensing a fluid, and for recirculating the fluid when the fluid is not being dispensed, comprising the steps of: providing a dispensing nozzle block having a dispensing orifice disposed upon said dispensing nozzle block for defining predetermined supply pressure characteristics; defining a fluid supply path within said dispensing nozzle block for conducting a fluid, to be dispensed, to said dispensing orifice; defining a first fluid inlet port within said dispensing nozzle block and fluidically connected to said fluid supply path so as to conduct fluid from a fluid source into said fluid supply path; defining a fluid recirculation path within said dispensing nozzle block for recirculating the fluid, to be dispensed, when the fluid, to be dispensed, is not being dispensed; defining a second fluid inlet port, separate from said first fluid inlet port, within said dispensing nozzle block and fluidically connected said fluid recirculation path so as to conduct fluid from the fluid source into said fluid recirculation path; defining a fluid outlet port within said dispensing nozzle block and fluidically connected to said fluid recirculation path for conducting fluid from said recirculation path back to the fluid source; operatively associating a control module block with said dispensing nozzle block for alternatively controlling the supply of the fluid to said first fluid inlet port of said fluid supply path and to said second fluid inlet port of said fluid recirculation path defined within said dispensing nozzle block; and incorporating a fixed orifice within said fluid recirculation path defined within said dispensing nozzle block so as to define pressure characteristics similar to said predetermined supply pressure characteristics defined by said dispensing orifice such that regardless of which one of said fluid supply and fluid recirculation paths along which the fluid is being conducted, similar pressure characteristics will be present and will prevail within said dispensing nozzle block. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method as set forth in claim 12, further comprising the steps of: defining a fluid inlet supply port within said control module block for admitting the fluid, to be dispensed, into said control module block; defining first and second fluid outlet ports within said control module block so as to be configured to be respectively fluidically connected to said fluid supply and fluid recirculation paths defined within said dispensing nozzle block; and movably disposing means within said control module block for alternatively connecting said fluid inlet supply port of said control module block to one of said first and second fluid outlet ports defined within said control module block so as to alternatively permit the fluid to be fluidically conducted from said fluid inlet supply port of said control module block to one of said first and second fluid outlet ports defined within said control module block so as to permit the fluid to be alternatively supplied to said fluid supply path and to said fluid recirculation path defined within said dispensing nozzle block. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The method as set forth in claim 12, further comprising the step of: providing said fixed orifice as a nozzle structure. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method as set forth in claim 14, further comprising the step of: providing said nozzle structure as a Laval nozzle. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The method as set forth in claim 13, further comprising the step of: providing said means, movably disposed within said control module block for alternatively connecting said fluid inlet supply port of said control module block to one of said first and second fluid outlet ports defined within said control module block, as a two-position valve mechanism. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method as set forth in claim 16, further comprising the step of: actuating said two-position valve mechanism between first and second positions for alternatively connecting said fluid inlet supply port of said control module block to a first one of said first and second fluid outlet ports defined within said control module block so as to permit the fluid to be fluidically conducted from said fluid inlet supply port of said control module block to said fluid supply path defined within said dispensing nozzle block, and to a second one of said first and second fluid outlet ports defined within said control module block so as to permit the fluid to be fluidically conducted from said fluid inlet supply port of said control module block to said fluid recirculation path defined within said dispensing nozzle block. ### Claim 18 (depends on 12) The method as set forth in claim 12, further comprising the step of: dispensing hot melt adhesive material from said dispensing system.