Spray nozzle

An orifice disc for a spray nozzle, wherein the spray nozzle includes opposed upstream and downstream end portions, the upstream end portion including a fluid receiving section, the downstream end portion including a fluid discharge section and defining a spray opening for emitting a spray therefrom, the nozzle body defining a central bore which extends between the fluid receiving section and the fluid discharge section and delineates a central axis and delimits an interior locating surface for the orifice disc, the orifice disc comprising:

• axially opposed upstream and downstream surfaces defining a peripheral surface therebetween which is configured for slidable engagement with the interior locating surface of the nozzle body, the orifice disc further including a spray orifice that extends between the opposed upstream and downstream surfaces, and includes a straight length portion on the outlet side of the orifice disc, the downstream surface having a protuberance formed thereon for increasing the axial length of the spray orifice,
• wherein the protuberance associated with the downstream surface of the orifice disc has a beveled downstream edge for facilitating insertion of the protuberance into the spray opening of the nozzle body, and wherein the spray orifice of the orifice disc includes a tapered inlet formed in the upstream surface of the orifice disc so as to centrally direct fluid provided thereto, wherein the tapered inlet is chamfered and includes a curved surface to form a continuous curved transition into the straight length portion of the spray orifice.

A spray nozzle comprising:

• a) a nozzle body having opposed upstream and downstream end portions, the upstream end portion including a fluid receiving section, the downstream end portion including a fluid discharge section and defining a spray opening for emitting a spray therefrom, the nozzle body defining a central bore which extends between the fluid receiving section and the fluid discharge section and delineates a central axis and delimits at least one interior locating surface for the nozzle;
• b) a swirl element disposed within the central bore of the nozzle body and positioned adjacent to the fluid receiving section of the nozzle body, the swirl element having a peripheral surface and defining an interior swirl cavity, the peripheral surface having an upstream and a downstream portion, the downstream portion being configured for slidable engagement with the at least one interior locating surface of the nozzle body, the upstream portion having a fluid inlet formed therein to provide fluid communication between the fluid receiving section of the nozzle body and the interior swirl cavity of the swirl element, the interior swirl cavity being defined by an approximately curvilinear surface for imparting a spiral flow to the fluid passing therethrough and including a fluid outlet for discharging the spiral flow therefrom;
• c) an orifice disc disposed within the central bore of the nozzle body and positioned upstream of the fluid discharge section of the nozzle body, the orifice disc including axially opposed upstream and downstream surfaces defining a peripheral surface therebetween which is configured for slidable engagement with the at least one interior locating surface of the nozzle body, the orifice disc further including a spray orifice that extends between the opposed upstream and downstream surfaces and is in fluid communication with the fluid outlet of the swirl cavity and the discharge section of the nozzle body, the spray orifice emitting the spiral flow in an atomized manner;
• and
• d) locking means disposed within the central bore of the nozzle body and positioned upstream of the swirl element for holding the swirl element and the orifice disc in place, wherein the central bore has at least one groove formed therein in a plane perpendicular to the central axis of the central bore, and wherein the locking means is engaged with the at least one groove formed in the central bore of the nozzle body.

A spray nozzle comprising:

• a) a nozzle body having opposed upstream and downstream end portions, the upstream end portion including a fluid receiving section, the downstream end portion including a fluid discharge section and defining a spray opening for emitting a spray therefrom, the nozzle body defining a central bore which extends between the fluid receiving section and the fluid discharge section and delineates a central axis and delimits at least one interior locating surface for the nozzle, the central bore having at least one groove formed therein;
• b) a swirl element disposed within the central bore of the nozzle body and positioned adjacent to the fluid receiving section of the nozzle body, the swirl element having a peripheral surface and defining an interior swirl cavity, the peripheral surface having an upstream and a downstream portion, the downstream portion being configured for slidable engagement with the at least one interior locating surface of the nozzle body, the upstream portion having a fluid inlet formed therein to provide fluid communication between the fluid receiving section of the nozzle body and the interior swirl cavity of the swirl element, the interior swirl cavity being defined by an approximately curvilinear surface for imparting a spiral flow to the fluid passing therethrough and including a fluid outlet for discharging the spiral flow therefrom;
• c) an orifice disc disposed within the central bore of the nozzle body and positioned upstream of the fluid discharge section of the nozzle body, the orifice disc including axially opposed upstream and downstream surfaces defining a peripheral surface therebetween which is configured for slidable engagement with the at least one interior locating surface of the nozzle body, the orifice disc further including a spray orifice that extends between the opposed upstream and downstream surfaces and is in fluid communication with the fluid outlet of the swirl cavity and the discharge section of the nozzle body, the spray orifice emitting the spiral flow in an atomized manner;
• and
• d) locking means disposed within the central bore of the nozzle body and positioned upstream of the swirl element, the locking means engaged with the at least one groove formed in the central bore of the nozzle body, wherein the locking means includes a retainer element disposed within the central bore of the nozzle body and positioned upstream of the swirl element, the retaining element including:
• i) a retainer disc having opposed upstream and downstream planar surfaces and a peripheral surface extending therebetween, the peripheral surface having a recess formed therein;
• and
• ii) a seal member disposed within the recess formed in the peripheral surface of the retainer disc, the seal member engaging with the at least one groove formed in the central bore of the nozzle body.