Fluid spray apparatus
View Patent ↗An improved spray head that is more effective and efficient at providing a wider range of desired spray distributions includes the following elements: (a) a plurality of fluidic oscillators, each oscillator having a fluidic circuit embedded in its top surface, with this circuit forming a path in which a fluid may flow through the oscillator, wherein these oscillators are stacked one on top of the other, with the sides of the oscillators being configured so that they stack such that the flow of fluid from adjoining oscillators in the stack have an angle of divergence between the centerlines of the planes defined by the flows from the outlets of the adjoining oscillators that is in the range of 2–5 degrees, (b) a plurality of cover plates, with each cover plate being proximate the top surface of one of the fluidic oscillators and attached to the oscillator so as to provide a seal against the flow of fluid from the oscillator's fluidic circuit, (c) a carrier assembly having a front and a rear surface and a cavity extending between these surfaces, with this cavity being configured so to receive and hold the stack of fluidic oscillators in the spray head, and (d) a stopper unit that attaches to the assembly's rear surface and seals it against leakage from the assembly's rear surface.
1. A spray head comprising:
a plurality of fluidic oscillators, each oscillator having a body member with top, bottom, side, front and rear outer surfaces, each oscillator having a fluidic circuit embedded in said top surface, said circuit forming a path in which a fluid may flow through said oscillator, each said fluidic circuit having a fluid inlet, a power nozzle, an interaction chamber and an outlet in said front surface from which a fluid may exit said oscillator,
wherein said oscillators being stacked one on top of the other,
wherein said body member being configured so that said oscillators stack such that the flow of fluid from adjoining oscillators in said stack have an angle of divergence between the centerlines of the planes defined by the flows from the outlets of said adjoining oscillators.
2. A spray head as recited in claim 1 further comprising a plurality of cover plates, wherein each said cover plate is configured, and is proximate the top surface of one of said fluidic oscillators, and is attached to said oscillator so as to provide a seal against the leakage of fluid from the top surface of said oscillator.
3. A spray head as recited in claim 2 further comprising a carrier assembly having a front and a rear surface and a cavity extending between said assembly surfaces, wherein said cavity configured so to receive and hold said stack of fluidic oscillators.
4. A spray head as recited in claim 3 further comprising a stopper unit that attaches to the rear surface of said assembly so as to provide a seal against the leakage of fluid from said assembly rear surface.
5. A spray head as recited in claim 1 wherein said angle of divergence is in the range of 2–5 degrees.
6. A spray head as recited in claim 2 wherein said angle of divergence is in the range of 2–5 degrees.
7. A spray head as recited in claim 3 wherein said angle of divergence is in the range of 2–5 degrees.
8. A spray head as recited in claim 1 , wherein:
said fluidic circuits are configured to operate with a specified flow rate and to exhibit sweeping frequencies chosen from the group consisting of frequencies in the range of 10–60 cps or greater than 60 cps.
9. A spray head as recited in claim 8 , wherein:
said flow rate is chosen from the group consisting of flow rates of 1.2–1.9 gpm or 2.0–2.5 gpm.
10. A spray head as recited in claim 3 , wherein:
said fluidic circuits are configured to operate with a specified flow rate and to exhibit sweeping frequencies chosen from the group consisting of frequencies in the range of 10–60 cps or greater than 60 cps.
11. A spray head as recited in claim 10 , wherein:
said flow rate is chosen from the group consisting of flow rates of 1.2–1.9 gpm or 2.0–2.5 gpm.
12. A spray head as recited in claim 7 , wherein:
said fluidic circuits are configured to operate with a specified flow rate and to exhibit sweeping frequencies chosen from the group consisting of frequencies in the range of 10–60 cps or greater than 60 cps.
13. A spray head as recited in claim 12 , wherein:
said flow rate is chosen from the group consisting of flow rates of 1.2–1.9 gpm or 2.0–2.5 gpm.