IP Library Granted Patent US 12702989
Granted Patent B2
US 12702989 · App. 17/834,745 · Granted Aug 11, 2026

Annular effervescent nozzle

Inventors: Kathryn F. Murphy (Redwood City, CA); David K. Biegelsen (Portola Valley, CA); Armand P. Neukermans (Portola Valley, CA); Gary F. Cooper (Los Altos, CA); Lee Kanne Galbraith (San Jose, CA); Sudhanshu Jain (Santa Clara, CA); Geordie Zapalac (Santa Clara, CA)
Assignee: GENESEE VALLEY INNOVATIONS, LLC
B05B7/0433
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12702989
App. No.
17/834,745
Granted
Aug 11, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A nozzle includes a housing having an inner chamber, a first opening connected to the inner chamber, and a second opening connected to the inner chamber, and a solid, partially conical, plug in the second opening, the solid plug configured to leave a slit around the plug connected to the inner chamber, and the plug extending beyond an end of the housing.

Claims (25)

1 . A nozzle, comprising:

a first pipe having a first portion having a first diameter, and a second portion having a second diameter wider than the first diameter having a step between the first portion and the second portion;

an inner pipe, the inner pipe having a lower portion having a lower diameter and a channel portion having a channel diameter wider than the lower diameter, the channel portion resting on the step;

an inner chamber;

a primary air channel formed by the inner pipe separate from the inner chamber;

an inlet opening on a side of the first pipe, the inlet opening connected to the inner chamber;

a top opening connected to the inner chamber;

one or more angled channels in the inner chamber configured to cause water to swirl within the inner chamber; and

at least one air opening structured to cause air to flow from the portion of the primary air channel separate from the inner chamber into the inner chamber; and

a solid, partially conical, plug in the top opening, the solid plug configured to leave a slit around the plug connected to the inner chamber for an exiting airflow, and the plug extending beyond an end of the first pipe.

2 . The nozzle as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the nozzle further comprising an impactor arranged adjacent the solid plug.

3 . The nozzle as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the impactor surrounds the solid plug adjacent the slit.

4 . The nozzle as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the impactor resides a distance offset from the slit.

5 . The nozzle as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising an electrical charging element adjacent the plug.

6 . The nozzle as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the charging element further comprises a ring surrounding the solid plug adjacent the slit.

7 . The nozzle as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the charging element adjacent the plug comprises the charging element being separated from the nozzle.

8 . The nozzle as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the charging element has a dielectric coating.

9 . The nozzle as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the dielectric coating comprises one of titanium dioxide, barium titanate, or lead zirconate titanate (PZT).

10 . The nozzle as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the plug has a hydrophobic coating.

11 . The nozzle as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the plug comprises a hydrophobic material.

12 . The nozzle as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the at least one air opening comprises a plurality of air openings.

13 . The nozzle as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the plurality of air openings are angled.

14 . The nozzle as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the inlet opening is structured to cause water to flow into the inner chamber at an angle.

15 . The nozzle as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising an annular air channel surrounding the primary air channel, the annular air channel separate from the primary air channel.

16 . The nozzle as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising additional air channels placed so that the exiting airflow directs across a flow of droplets as the droplets exit the slit.