IP Library Granted Patent US 12,702,989
Granted Patent B2
US 12,702,989 · 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 12,702,989
App. No.
17/834,745
Filed
Jun 7, 2022
Granted
Aug 11, 2026
Kind
B2
Art Unit
3752
USPC
239/433
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.

Assignments (9)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 31, 2025
From: XEROX CORPORATION
To: GENESEE VALLEY INNOVATIONS, LLC
Reel/Frame 073225/0116 →
SECOND LIEN NOTES PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jul 2, 2025
From: XEROX CORPORATION
To: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 071785/0550 →
FIRST LIEN NOTES PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 11, 2025
From: XEROX CORPORATION
To: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 070824/0001 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 13, 2024
From: XEROX CORPORATION
To: CITIBANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 066741/0001 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 20, 2023
From: XEROX CORPORATION
To: JEFFERIES FINANCE LLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 065628/0019 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE REMOVAL OF US PATENTS 9356603, 10026651, 10626048 AND INCLUSION OF US PATENT 7167871 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 064038 FRAME 0001. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Jun 28, 2023
From: PALO ALTO RESEARCH CENTER INCORPORATED
To: XEROX CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 064161/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 20, 2023
From: PALO ALTO RESEARCH CENTER INCORPORATED
To: XEROX CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 064038/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 9, 2022
From: CHEN, YONGHUA; GU, HAO; XIA, YINGDONG; HUANG, WEI
To: NANJING TECH UNIVERSITY
Reel/Frame 060153/0836 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 8, 2022
From: MURPHY, KATHRYN; NEUKERMANS, ARMAND P.; COOPER, GARY F.
To: PALO ALTO RESEARCH CENTER INCORPORATED
Reel/Frame 060131/0662 →