Abstract
A jet shaper for shaping, from a liquid, a jet consisting of multiple subjets of the liquid, and to a spray shaper and an associated method. The jet shaper includes a spray former and a spray distributor. The spray former is arranged to generate from the liquid a spray of the liquid in a shape of a spray cone under ambient conditions. The spray distributor is arranged to shape, from the spray of the liquid, the jet of the liquid, wherein the jet of the liquid consists of multiple subjets of the liquid being free of mutual overlap. The spray former includes a spray former outlet and a flight chamber. The flight chamber is arranged to allow droplets of the spray to follow a flight path from the spray former outlet in an essentially straight line towards the spray distributor.
Claims
1. A jet shaper for shaping from a liquid a jet consisting of multiple subjects of the liquid, the jet shaper comprising a spray former and a spray distributor, wherein the spray former is arranged to generate from the liquid a spray of the liquid in a shape of a spray cone under ambient condition, and wherein the spray distributor is arranged to shape from the spray of the liquid the jet of the liquid, the jet of the liquid consisting of multiple subjets of the liquid being free of mutual overlap, wherein the spray former comprises a spray former outlet and a flight chamber, the spray former outlet being arranged as an exit point for the spray being generated, and the flight chamber being arranged to allow droplets of the spray to follow a flight path from the spray former outlet in an essentially straight line towards the spray distributor.
2. The jet shaper according to claim 1, wherein the spray former comprises at least one guiding element for the liquid inducing a rotational movement of the liquid around one swirling axis of the spray former, the rotational movement generating a spray wherein a cone axis of the spray cone is parallel to the swirling axis of the spray former.
3. The jet shaper according to claim 2, wherein the number n of subjets of the liquid is equal or an integer multiple of the number m of guiding elements for the liquid, such that n=x*m where x is an integer number greater or equal to 1.
4. The jet shaper according to claim 2, wherein the guiding element for the liquid comprises a liquid passage for inducing the rotational movement of the liquid passing through the liquid passage, the liquid passage being arranged in form of a circumferentially enclosed opening in the spray former, the opening extending with a component along the swirling axis as well as a component around the swirling axis.
5. The jet shaper according to claim 2, wherein the swirling axis of the spray former is coincident with the cone axis of the spray cone.
6. The jet shaper according to claim 2, wherein, in orthogonal projection on the swirling axis of the spray former, the most distant point of the least one guiding element is maximally 5 millimeters away from the spray former outlet.
7. The jet shaper according to claim 5, wherein the spray former outlet features a diameter which lies in a range beginning with 0.3 millimeters and ending with 5 millimeters.
8. The jet shaper according to claim 1, wherein the number of subjets lies in a range beginning with 2 subjets and ending with 20 subjets.
9. The jet shaper according to claim 1, wherein subjets exit the spray distributor at subjet duct exits that are all arranged in only one linear line or in only one substantially round line on the spray distributor.
10. The jet shaper according to claim 1, wherein the spray former comprises an air inlet.
11. The jet shaper according to claim 1, wherein the jet shaper is arranged for a liquid flow of the liquid through the jet shaper equal to or less than 2 liters per minute.
12. The jet shaper according to claim 1, wherein the jet shaper comprises a droplet size limiter positioned downstream of the spray former, the droplet size limiter being arranged to allow passage of the spray droplets free of a backflow.
13. The jet shaper according to claim 1, wherein the jet shaper is arranged for a liquid entry direction of the liquid entering the jet shaper being substantially parallel to a subjet exit direction.
14. An installation comprising a jet shaper according to claim 1, wherein the jet shaper is mounted in the installation and arranged for the subjets exiting the jet shaper to follow a trajectory through air essentially along the direction of gravity.
15. A method for shaping from a liquid a jet of the liquid comprising a) generating a spray cone of the liquid from the liquid, the liquid droplets inside the spray cone following an essentially straight flight path in the spray cone, and b) shaping the jet of the liquid from the spray cone of the liquid at an end of the spray cone, the jet of the liquid consisting of multiple subjets of the liquid being free of mutual overlap.
Description
[0178] The subject matter of the invention will be explained in more detail in the following text with reference to exemplary embodiments which are illustrated in the attached drawings, in which:
[0179] FIG. 1 shows a principle sketch of a cut through a jet shaper in side view;
[0180] FIG. 2 schematically shows components of a first embodiment of a jet shaper in side view;
[0181] FIG. 3 schematically shows the jet shaper of FIG. 2 in an assembled state;
[0182] FIG. 4 schematically shows components of a second embodiment of a jet shaper in side view;
[0183] FIG. 5 schematically shows the jet shaper of FIG. 4 in an assembled state;
[0184] FIG. 6 schematically shows components of a third embodiment of a jet shaper in side view;
[0185] FIG. 7 schematically shows the jet shaper of FIG. 6 in an assembled state;
[0186] FIG. 8 schematically shows a guiding element unit of the jet shaper of FIG. 7 in bottom view;
[0187] FIG. 9 schematically shows the guiding element unit of FIG. 8 in top view;
[0188] FIG. 10 schematically shows the guiding element unit of FIG. 8 in bottom view with elements from the top view as interrupted lines;
[0189] FIG. 11 schematically shows a cut through the guiding element unit of FIG. 8 in side view;
[0190] FIG. 12 schematically shows a jet distributor for six subjets;
[0191] FIG. 13 schematically shows a jet distributor for five subjets;
[0192] FIG. 14 schematically shows a jet distributor for three subjets
[0193] FIG. 15 schematically shows a second variant of a guiding element unit in bottom view;
[0194] FIG. 16 schematically shows the second guiding element unit variant in top view;
[0195] FIG. 17 schematically shows the second guiding element unit variant in perspective view;
[0196] FIG. 18 schematically shows a cut through the second guiding element unit variant in side view;
[0197] FIG. 19 schematically shows a third variant of a guiding element unit in bottom view;
[0198] FIG. 20 schematically shows the third guiding element unit variant in top view;
[0199] FIG. 21 schematically shows the third guiding element unit variant in perspective view;
[0200] FIG. 22 schematically shows a cut through the third guiding element unit variant in side view;
[0201] FIG. 23 schematically shows a spray shaper according to the second aspect of the invention in perspective view;
[0202] FIG. 24 schematically shows the spray shaper of FIG. 23 in exploded perspective view;
[0203] FIG. 25 schematically shows the spray shaper of FIG. 23 in bottom view;
[0204] FIG. 26 schematically shows a cut through the spray shaper of FIG. 23 in side view;
[0205] FIG. 27 schematically shows the spray shaper of FIG. 23 in top view.
[0206] In principle, identical parts are provided with the same reference symbols in the figures.
[0207] FIG. 1 shows a principle sketch of a cut through one example of an embodiment of a jet shaper 1 in side view. A direction of gravitation g runs from a top of FIG. 1 (i.e. a top edge of the drawing plane of FIG. 1) to a bottom of FIG. 1 (i.e. a bottom edge of the drawing plane of FIG. 1). The jet shaper 1 comprises a spray former 2, arranged on top of the jet shaper 1 and a spray distributor 3, arranged at the bottom of the jet shaper 1. A liquid 6 enters the jet shaper 1 in a liquid entry direction 22 which is parallel to the direction of gravity g.
[0208] The liquid 6 enters the spray former 2 and a guiding element 14a arranged in the spray former 2. The guiding element 14a generates a rotational movement of the liquid 6 around a swirling axis 21. Due to the rotational movement of the liquid 6, the liquid 6 is dispersed into droplets of a spray at a spray former outlet 11. The droplets of spray span up a spray cone 5 with an opening angle and a cone axis 20. The cone axis 20 is in this embodiment coincident with the swirling axis 21. The spray cone 5 is free of contact with a flight chamber 10 which comprises the spray cone 5. An air inlet 15 provides air to the flight chamber 10. The droplets in the spray cone 5 follow a straight flight path from the spray former outlet through the flight chamber 10 towards the spray distributor 3.
[0209] In the spray distributor 3, spray distributor ducts 12 in the shape of a narrowing cone deflect and collect the droplet from the spray cone 5 into subjets 4. The subjets 4 leave the spray distributor 3 through subjet duct exits 13 in a subjet exit direction 23. The subjet exit direction 23 is parallel to the liquid entry direction 22.
[0210] FIG. 2 schematically shows some components of a first embodiment of a jet shaper 1 in side view. And FIG. 3 schematically shows the same embodiment of the jet shaper 1 like in FIG. 2 in an assembled state with all components. This first embodiment of the jet shaper 1 comprises a flow limiter 17 arranged in a top region of the spray former 2. The flow limiter 17 on one hand limits the flow and keeps the flow of the liquid 6 entering the spray former 2 constant. On the other hand, the flow limiter 17 also keeps a pressure of the liquid 6 on the jet shaper 1 constant a 1 bar or below, i.e. the liquid 6 has a pressure of 1 bar or below before it enters the spray former 2. In this first embodiment, the swirling axis 21 is offset in relation to the cone axis 20. The rotational movement of the liquid 6 is therefore eccentric with regard to the cone axis 20.
[0211] FIG. 4 schematically shows in an analogue manner some components of a second embodiment of a jet shaper 1 in side view. And FIG. 5 shows the same embodiment of the jet shaper 1 like in FIG. 4 in an assembled state with all components. The second embodiment in FIGS. 4 and 5 features a spray distributor 3 with a shape different from a shape of the spray distributor 3 of the first embodiment in FIGS. 2 and 3. But both the first and the second embodiment feature a swirling axis 21 which is arranged with an offset from the cone axis 20, and both embodiments feature a flow limiter 17 in a top region of the spray former 2. But the second embodiment of the jet shaper 1 in FIGS. 4 and 5 comprises furthermore a droplet size limiter 16. The droplet size limiter 16 is arranged at a bottom end of the spray former 2 and at a bottom end of the spray cone 5, just on top of the spray distributor 3. The droplet size limiter 16 allows droplets small enough to pass and reduces a size of droplets too large while essentially keeping the direction of flight of the droplets.
[0212] FIG. 6 schematically shows some components of a third embodiment of the jet shaper 1 in side view. And FIG. 7 schematically shows the same third embodiment of the jet shaper 1 of FIG. 6 in an assembled state. In the third embodiment, the cone axis 20 is coincident with the swirling axis 21. The third embodiment comprises a flow limiter 17 as well as a droplet size limiter 16 in form of a mesh. Furthermore, the third embodiment of the jet shaper 1 comprises a guiding element unit 14b which is detachable from the spray former 2 and which features liquid passages. The liquid passages feature a shape of small tubes arranged helicoidally around the swirling axis 21. All liquid 6 passing the jet shaper 1 passes the liquid passages and exits the liquid passages with a rotational movement induced by the liquid passages.
[0213] FIG. 8 schematically shows a guiding element unit 14b of the jet shaper of FIG. 7 in bottom view. This guiding element unit 14b features liquid passages 18. FIGS. 9 and 11 show the same guiding element unit 14b of FIG. 8 in top view respectively as a cut in side view. FIG. 10 on the other hand schematically shows the same guiding element unit 14b of FIG. 8 in bottom view with elements from the top view as interrupted lines for better illustration at the relative position of the openings of the liquid passages 18. The four liquid passages 18 feature a cross section in form of a annular sector (a sector of a two-dimensional ring) or in other words in form of a trapezoid with two curved sides (like an area on a dartboard besides the bulls eye).
[0214] The cross section of the four liquid passages 18 keep their shape while getting smaller along a flow direction of the fluid. Moreover, the liquid passages 18 extend with a component along the swirling axis 21 and a component around the swirling axis 21, resulting in a helicoidal opening around the swirling axis 21.
[0215] In other words, the guiding element unit 14b features four individual guiding elements which here are shaped to form the four liquid passages 18. This means that the number m of guiding elements in the guiding element unit 14b is equal to four.
[0216] FIG. 12 schematically shows a spray distributor 3 for six subjets 4, FIG. 13 schematically shows a spray distributor 3 for five subjets 4, and FIG. 14 schematically shows a spray distributor 3 for three subjets 4. Each of the FIGS. 12, 13 and 14 shows on top of the figure a figure of the spray distributor 3 in top view, below the top view then a side view and at the lower end of the figure a bottom view. The subjets 4 are exiting the subjet duct exits 13. For a better overview, only one spray distributor exit 13 per spray distributor 3 is referenced by a reference sign. All distributor duct exits 13 in the FIGS. 12, 13 and 14 are arranged in a circular line in an equidistant distribution along the circular line.
[0217] FIGS. 15 to 18 show a second variant 14c of a guiding element unit. A third variant 14d of a guiding element unit is shown in FIGS. 19 to 22.
[0218] FIG. 15 schematically shows the second variant 14c of a guiding element unit in bottom view, FIG. 16 in top view. FIG. 17 schematically shows the second guiding element unit variant 14c in perspective view, and FIG. 18 schematically shows a cut through the second guiding element unit variant 14c in side view. As seen in FIG. 18, the height of the guiding element unit 14c is small compared to its width. The height of the spray former part from the first point of the highest guiding element (i.e. the beginning of the liquid passages 18) down to the end of the guiding element unit 14c is 2 millimeters. In the assembled jet shaper 1, the height of the spray former part from the first point of the highest guiding element (i.e. the beginning of the liquid passages 18) down to the end of the spray former outlet results in 3.8 millimeters.
[0219] FIG. 19 schematically shows the third variant 14d of a guiding element unit in bottom view, and FIG. 20 in top view. FIG. 21 schematically shows the third guiding element unit variant 14d in perspective view, and FIG. 22 schematically shows a cut through the third guiding element unit variant 14d in side view. The second and third guiding element unit variants 14c, 14d both are of the same height, and both are arranged to feature a height of the spray former part from the first point of the highest guiding element (i.e. the beginning of the liquid passages 18) down to the end of the spray former outlet of 3.8 millimeters, once assembled in the jet shaper 1.
[0220] The second and third guiding element unit variants 14c, 14d both feature four individual guiding elements which are shaped to form the four liquid passages 18. This means that the number m of guiding elements in the second and third guiding element unit variants 14c, 14d is equal to four.
[0221] FIG. 23 schematically shows a spray shaper 30 according to the second aspect of the invention in perspective view, and FIG. 24 shows the same but in exploded perspective view. The spray shaper 30 comprises a spray shaper body which comprises two separate parts: a guiding element unit 31 and an outlet unit 32. In FIG. 24, the concentric and symmetric shape of the spray shaper 30 (and therefore also its components: the guiding element unit 31 and an outlet unit 32) around the swirling axis of the spray shaper 35 is shown. In the variant of the spray shaper shown in the FIGS. 23 to 27, the swirling axis 35 of the spray shaper 30 is not only parallel to the cone axis of the spray cone 36, the even are congruent.
[0222] FIG. 25 schematically shows the spray shaper of FIG. 23 in bottom view, FIG. 26 side view and FIG. 27 in top view. The guiding element unit 31 comprises five guiding elements 33 in symmetric arrangement around the swirling axis 35. The outlet unit 32 features the circular spray shaper outlet 34, arranged concentrically to the swirling axis 35. The inclination angle of the rotational movement of the liquid relative to a plane perpendicular to the swirling axis 35 of the spray shaper 30 is 20 degrees. The height of the spray shaper 30 is 3.8 millimeters and is equal to the height of the highest part of a guiding element 33 down to the most distant part of the spray shaper outlet 34. In other words: in orthogonal projection on the swirling axis 35 of the spray shaper 30, the most distant point of the least one guiding element 33 is 3.8 millimeters away from the most distant point of the spray shaper outlet 34.
[0223] While the invention has been described in present embodiments, it is distinctly understood that the invention is not limited thereto, but may be otherwise variously embodied and practised within the scope of the claims.
