Swirl unit, orifice plate, and spray nozzle including same

A swirl unit for a spray nozzle, wherein the spray nozzle includes a carrier defining a spray aperture on one end for emitting a spray, a first locating bore axially spaced adjacent to the spray aperture for receiving an orifice plate, and a second locating bore formed on an opposite side of the first locating bore relative to the spray aperture for receiving the swirl unit, wherein the swirl unit comprises:

• a first end surface engageable with an orifice plate received within the first locating bore;
• a second end surface axially spaced relative to the first end surface;
• a peripheral surface formed between the first and second end surfaces;
• first means for slidably contacting a surface forming the second locating bore upon inserting the swirl unit therein and aligning the swirl unit with the spray aperture;
• second means for receiving fluid through the swirl unit, and discharging fluid in a swirling pattern therefrom;
• and third means spaced radially inwardly relative to the first means for defining a fluid passageway between the swirl unit and carrier coupled in fluid communication with the second means to direct fluid into the second means and, in turn, discharge the fluid in a swirling pattern therefrom.

A spray nozzle, comprising:

• a carrier defining a spray aperture on one end for emitting a spray, at least two first locating surfaces spaced on approximately opposite sides of the carrier relative to each other and axially spaced adjacent to the spray aperture for receiving an orifice plate, and at least two second locating surfaces spaced on approximately opposite sides of the carrier relative to each other and formed on an opposite side of the first locating surfaces relative to the spray aperture for receiving a swirl unit;
• an orifice plate defining a first end surface engageable with the carrier, a second end surface axially spaced relative to the first end surface, a spray orifice formed through the orifice plate, and a peripheral surface formed between the first and second end surfaces and dimensioned for slidably contacting the first locating surfaces upon insertion of the orifice plate into the carrier;
• and
• a swirl unit including a first end surface engageable with the orifice plate received within the carrier adjacent to the first locating surfaces, a second end surface axially spaced relative to the first end surface, a peripheral surface formed between the first and second end surfaces and defining at least two locating surfaces formed on approximately opposite sides of the swirl unit relative to each other and dimensioned for slidably contacting the second locating surfaces of the carrier upon insertion of the swirl unit therein, at least one recessed surface spaced radially inwardly from the at least two locating surfaces of the swirl unit to thereby define a fluid passageway between the swirl unit and carrier;
• a swirl chamber defined by at least one curvilinear surface formed within the swirl unit, and an inlet port formed in fluid communication between the swirl chamber and fluid passageway and defined at least in part by an inlet surface formed between the at least one curvilinear surface and the recessed surface.

A swirl unit for a spray nozzle, wherein the spray nozzle includes a carrier defining a spray aperture on one end for emitting a spray, a first locating surface section for contacting and aligning an orifice plate within the carrier, and a second locating surface section for contacting and aligning the swirl unit within the carrier, wherein the swirl unit comprises:

• a first end surface engageable with an orifice plate received within the carrier adjacent to the first locating surface section;
• a second end surface axially spaced relative to the first end surface;
• a peripheral surface formed between the first and second end surfaces, wherein the peripheral surface defines a locating surface section dimensioned for contacting the second locating surface section of the carrier upon inserting the swirl unit therein;
• at least one recessed surface spaced radially inwardly from the peripheral surface of the swirl unit to thereby define a fluid passageway between the swirl unit and carrier;
• and a swirl chamber defined by an approximately curvilinear surface, and an inlet port formed in fluid communication between the swirl chamber and fluid passageway and defined at least in part by an inlet surface formed between the curvilinear surface and the recessed surface.

A swirl unit for a spray nozzle, wherein the spray nozzle includes a carrier defining a spray aperture on one end for emitting a spray, at least one locating bore defining a first locating surface section for receiving an orifice plate and a second locating surface section for receiving a swirl unit, wherein the swirl unit comprises:

• a first end surface engageable with an orifice plate received within the locating bore and contacting the first locating surface section;
• a second end surface axially spaced relative to the first end surface;
• a peripheral surface formed between the first and second end surfaces;
• first means for contacting the second locating surface section of the bore upon inserting the swirl unit therein and aligning the swirl unit with the spray aperture;
• second means for receiving fluid through the swirl unit, and discharging fluid in a swirling pattern therefrom;
• and third means spaced radially inwardly relative to the first means for defining a fluid passageway between the swirl unit and carrier coupled in fluid communication with the second means to direct fluid into the second means and, in turn, discharge the fluid in a swirling pattern therefrom.

A spray nozzle, comprising:

• a carrier defining a spray aperture on one end for emitting a spray, a first locating surface section formed on the carrier for contacting and aligning the orifice plate within the carrier, and a second locating surface section formed on the carrier for contacting and aligning a swirl unit within the carrier;
• an orifice plate defining a first surface engageable with the carrier, a second surface axially spaced relative to the first surface, a spray orifice formed through the orifice plate, and a peripheral surface formed between the first and second surfaces and dimensioned for contacting the first locating surface section upon insertion of the orifice plate into the carrier;
• and
• a swirl unit including a first end surface engageable with the orifice plate received within the carrier adjacent to the first locating surface section, a second end surface axially spaced relative to the first end surface, a peripheral surface formed between the first and second end surfaces and defining a locating surface section dimensioned for contacting the second locating surface section of the carrier upon insertion of the swirl unit therein, at least one recessed surface spaced radially inwardly from the locating surface section of the swirl unit to thereby define a fluid passageway between the swirl unit and carrier;
• a swirl chamber defined by at least one curvilinear surface formed within the swirl unit, and an inlet port formed in fluid communication between the swirl chamber and fluid passageway and defined at least in part by an inlet surface formed between the at least one curvilinear surface and the recessed surface.