METHOD FOR A LIQUID JET FORMATION AND EJECTION AND DEVICES FOR USE IN SAID METHOD

Abstract

The invention is the complex technical solution covering the method for the continuous liquid jet formation and ejection, the generator for ejection such jet and the special shutter for blocking the jet in the generator and designed for use in the method. A distinctive feature is the switching between the two jets, which causes neither a stop of the liquid flow in the generator nor fluctuations in the liquid pressure in it, when one jet is drained to the source of liquid. The invention is intended for organizing the process of metered ejection of free continuous liquid jets, for example, liquid chemical treatment agents, without loss of liquid outside its trajectory.

Claims

1-32. (canceled)

33. A method for a continuous liquid jet formation and ejection, the method comprising: providing continuous jet formation and ejection into air via a jet ejection generator comprising a chamber with an outlet surface distanced from a liquid inlet; placing and orienting the chamber on its supporting basis; providing the generator with liquid from a source of liquid; reducing turbulence and/or aligning liquid flow within the generator between liquid input into the chamber from the liquid inlet and a jet output from the outlet on the outlet surface of the chamber with forming a continuous jet; blocking the outlet by moving a liquid output shutter from the position of the completely open outlet to the position of the completely closed outlet; providing a possibility of forming a second continuous jet by equipping the outlet surface (3) of the chamber (2) with two adjacent and geometrically equal round outlets (4,5); defining positions of the shutter (11) in such a way that two end positions and a sequence of transitional positions are provided for the shutter (11), wherein in any end position the lumen of one outlet is completely open, and the lumen of another outlet is completely closed; while in any transitional position the lumens of both outlets are partially open with the total area of both open lumens of the first (4) and the second (5) outlets being constant and equal to the lumen area of one of the completely open outlets; configuring the shutter in the form of a streamlined flat shutter (11) adjacent to the outlet surface (3) of the chamber (2), wherein the flat shutter (11) is comprising two overlapping areas (18,19), directly partially or completely overlapping the corresponding outlets (4,5), one overlapping area for each outlet, wherein each overlapping area (18 or 19) is corresponding to a blind region on the shutter (11), providing a completely open lumen of the corresponding outlet in one end position of the shutter (11) and completely closed lumen of the same outlet in the other end position of the shutter (11); ensuring rapid sliding of the flat shutter (11) from one end position to another one through a sequence of transitional positions by a controlled drive (12) together with the coupler (13) when a control signal is given or its supply is stopped; providing rapid sliding of the flat shutter (11) along the outlet surface (3) of the chamber (2) from the inside, and a constant volume of its part immersed in the liquid; wherein rapid sliding is such as to ensure maintenance of the continuity of the ejected liquid jet (6); and placing the chamber (2) by exposing at least its outlet surface (3) to the open air, ensuring ejection of continuous liquid jets into the air.

34. The method according to claim 33, further comprising placing the chamber (2), providing positions in which the outlets (4,5) are located below the level of the liquid inlet (8), when the chamber (2) is directed outlets downwards.

35. The method according to claim 33, further comprising: positioning the outlet surface (3) of the chamber (2) perpendicular to the liquid flow within the chamber (2) and providing the outlet surface (3) of the chamber (2) in the form of a removable lid, optionally, with the controlled drive (12) and/or the coupler (13) installed on the lid; and locating the outlets (4,5) in the central area of the outlet surface (3) of the chamber (2) and making them, conically expanding towards the jet ejection, wherein the conical narrowing facing inside the chamber (2) is forming a sharp edge (14) of the outlet, and forming jets (6) without interference.

36. The method according to claim 33, further comprising: equipping the outlet surface (3) of the chamber (2) from the outer side with a pipe for draining liquid, ejected from the second outlet (5) in the open or any transitional position, in direction, other than direction of the liquid jet ejection from the first outlet (4) in open position, wherein the pipe is in the form of a junction pipe (15), the inner section of which is completely enclosing a section of the second outlet (5), and which is hermetically connected to the second outlet (5) from the outer side of the outlet surface (3) of the chamber (2), wherein the drained liquid and the junction pipe are not interfering with the liquid jet ejected from the first outlet (4) in open position.

37. The method according to claim 33, further comprising locating the outlets for draining the liquid to the source (9) of liquid, wherefrom the liquid is supplied to the chamber inlet (8), above the maximum operating level of the liquid (7) in the source (9) of liquid at any placement of the chamber (2).

38. The method according to claim 33, further comprising providing reduction of turbulence and/or aligning liquid flow being ensured by installing special means (10) in such a way, that any path of the liquid from the inlet (8) to each outlet (4,5) is passing the means, optionally, configured with the possibility of replacing them and/or cleaning them from liquid residues.

39. The method according to claim 33, further comprising: configuring the flat shutter (11) for moving from one end position to another one by translational motion in such a way that the overlapping areas (18,19) form a special shape of two complementary fragments of a continuous strip (25) with rounded corners (28); or configuring the flat shutter (11) in order to transit it from one end position to the another one by pivoting about the axis, equidistant from outlets (4,5) centers, in such a way, that overlapping areas (18,19) form a special shape of two complementary fragments of a ring segment (20) with rounded corners (28), wherein the ring segment (20) is circumscribed around the projections of both outlets (4,5).

40. The method according to claim 33, further comprising configuring the flat shutter (11) from geometrically intersecting overlapping areas (18,19) formed from complementing each other fragments (18,19) of a dissected by a secant continuous strip or an annular segment, superimposing the overlapping areas (18,19) and advancing them relative to each other to a position in which the edges formed by the secant become lateral.

41. A generator for a continuous liquid jets formation and ejection into air, comprising a chamber, wherein: a liquid inlet is distanced from the outlet surface with the outlet located on it; a means for reducing turbulence and/or aligning liquid flow are located inside the chamber between the liquid inlet and the outlet surface; an outlet surface is provided with the shutter for the outlet, wherein in closed position of the shutter the lumen of the outlet is completely closed, while in open positionthe lumen of the outlet is completely open; a controlled drive is connected by the coupler with the shutter; and a chamber inlet is hydraulically connected to the source of liquid, the outlet surface (3) of the chamber (2) is equipped with two adjacent and geometrically equal outlets (4, 5), which are round openings, wherein the outlets (4, 5) are located in central area of the outlet surface (3), and configured for forming the jets (6) without interference and, optionally, laminar jets; the shutter (11) is made in form of the streamlined flat shutter (11) adjoined to the outlet surface (3) of the chamber (2) and configured for transition from one end position to another one through a sequence of transitional positions, providing minimal fluctuations in the liquid pressure in the chamber (2) during the transition, in any end position the lumen of one outlet (4 or 5) is completely open, while the lumen of another outlet (5 or 4) is completely closed, in each transitional position, the lumens of both outlets (4,5) are partially open, ensuring the total area of both open lumens of the first (4) and the second (5) outlets being constant and equal to the lumen area of one of completely open outlets, and the controlled drive (12) together with the coupler (13) are configured to ensure rapid sliding of the flat shutter (11) from one end position to another one when the control signal is given and/or stopped, wherein rapid sliding is such as to ensure maintenance of the continuity of the ejected liquid jet (6).

42. The generator according to claim 41, wherein the chamber (2) has a cylindrical shape with diameter at least 8 times more than diameter of any of the outlets (4, 5); the outlet surface (3) is one of the end faces of the chamber (2), and the inlet (8) is located on the opposite end face or on the side surface adjacent to it; wherein the outlet surface (3) of the chamber (2) is perpendicular to the liquid flow within the chamber (2) and is made in the form of a removable lid, optionally with the controlled drive (12) and/or the coupler (13) installed on the lid; and wherein the outlets (4, 5), forming jets (6), are made conically expanding in the direction of the jet ejection, wherein the conical narrowing facing inside the chamber (2) forms a sharp edge (14) of the outlet.

43. The generator according to claim 41, wherein the outlet surface (3) of the chamber (2) is equipped from the outside with the means (15) for draining liquid, ejected from the second outlet (5) in the open or each transitional position, in direction other than direction of the liquid jet ejection from the first outlet (4) in the open position, in such a way, that the drained liquid does not interfere with liquid jet (6) ejected from the first outlet (4) in open position, wherein the means (15) for draining are made as the junction pipe (15) hermetically coupled with second outlet (5) from the outer side of the outlet surface (3) of chamber (2), the inner section of which is completely enclosing the section of the second outlet (5); wherein the drained liquid and the junction pipe (15) do not interfere with the liquid jet (6) ejected from the first outlet (4) in the open position.

44. The generator according to claim 41, wherein the means (10) for reducing turbulence and/or aligning liquid flow are installed in such a way, that any path of the liquid (7) from the inlet (8) to each of the outlets (4, 5) is passing the means, optionally, configured with the possibility of their replacement and/or cleaning from liquid residues.

45. The generator according to claim 41, wherein the flat shutter (11) is adjoining the outlet surface (3) of the chamber (2) from the inside and having a constant volume of the part immersed into the liquid, and wherein streamlined flat shutter (11) is comprising two overlapping areas (18, 19), directly partially or completely overlapping the corresponding outlets (4, 5), one overlapping area for each outlet, wherein each overlapping area is corresponding to a blind region on the shutter (11), providing completely open lumen of the corresponding outlet at one end position of the shutter (11) and completely closed lumen of the same outlet at the another end position of the shutter (11).

46. The generator according to claim 41, wherein the flat shutter (11) is made of a thin plate of waterproof tough material, preferably, stainless steel.

47. The generator according to claim 41, wherein the overlapping areas (18, 19) of the flat shutter (11), configured for transition from one end position to another one by translational motion, are comprising a special shape of two complementary fragments of the continuous strip (25) segment (24) with rounded corners (28), wherein when the radius of the corner rounding of the segment (24) is defined as R, the segment (24) length is at least 4R.

48. The generator according to claim 41, wherein the overlapping areas (18, 19) of the flat shutter (11), configured for transition from one end position to another one by pivoting around an axis (23), equidistant from the outlets (4, 5) centers, are comprising a special shape of two complementary fragments of the ring segment (20) with rounded corners (28), wherein the ring segment (20) is circumscribed around the projections of both outlets (4, 5), and wherein the radius of the corner rounding of the ring segment is defined as R, and the center line (22) of the ring segment is located on an imaginary circle passing through the outlets (4, 5) centers and centered on the pivoting axis (23) of the shutter (11).

49. The generator according to claim 41, wherein the junction (16) of the flat shutter (11) with the coupler (13) is brought out from the overlapping areas not closer than distance of 4R to the nearest outlet.

50. The generator according to claim 41, wherein the flat shutter (11) is configured on the basis of geometrically intersecting overlapping areas.

51. The generator according to claim 41, wherein the overlapping areas (18, 19) of the flat shutter (11) are superimposed when at their geometric intersection and are further movable forward relative to each other to a position wherein the edges, formed by a secant of the segment (24) of the continuous strip (25) or the ring segment (20), become lateral.

52. The generator according to claim 51, wherein the secant of the flat shutter (11) is the circle (27), which center lies on the central line (26) of the strip (25), which diameter is at least 2R, and which is intersecting the center line (26) not closer than 2R from each end of the central line of the strip segment (29).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0063] The technical solution as proposed is explained by drawings illustrating the spirit of invention, but not limiting the scope of protection of the invention.

[0064] FIG. 1 shows a general view of the generator 1 ejecting continuous jet 6 from the first outlet 4. The shutter 11 is in the open position.

[0065] FIG. 2 shows a general view of the generator 1 ejecting continuous jet 6 from the second outlet 5. The shutter 11 is in the closed position.

[0066] FIG. 3 shows a general view of the generator 1 ejecting a continuous jet 6 from the first outlet 4 with a drainage junction pipe 15 opposite the outlet 5. The shutter 11 is in the open position.

[0067] FIG. 4 shows a general view of the generator 1 ejecting a jet into the drainage junction pipe 15 opposite the outlet 5. The shutter 11 is in the closed position.

[0068] FIG. 5. Isometric view of the hollow chamber 2 and the corresponding components of the generator 1. The sharp edges 14 of outlets 4 and 5 are shown. The hollow chamber 2 is shown with a partially removed side surface.

[0069] FIG. 6. Isometric view of the hollow chamber 2 and the corresponding components of the generator 1. Shutter 11 and coupler 13 are shown. The hollow chamber 2 is shown with a partially removed side surface.

[0070] FIG. 7. View of the outlet surface from the side of the shutter 11, which is in the open position.

[0071] FIG. 8. View of the outlet surface from the side of the shutter 11, which is in a transitional position.

[0072] FIG. 9. View of the outlet surface from the side of the shutter 11, which is in the closed position.

[0073] FIG. 10 shows an example of configuring the overlapping areas 18 and 19 for the shutter 11, which are rotated from one end position to another one around the axis with a projection at point 23.

[0074] Figs. from 11 to 12. An example of configuration of the shutter 11, using the overlapping areas 18 and 19, configured according to FIG. 10. In FIG. 11, the shutter 11 is in the closed position, and in FIG. 12in the open position.

[0075] Figs. from 13 to 14. An example of the alternative configuration of shutter 11, using the overlapping areas 18 and 19, configured according to FIG. 10. In FIG. 13, the shutter 11 is in the closed position, and in FIG. 14in the open position.

[0076] FIG. 15 shows an example of configuring the overlapping areas 18 and 19 for the shutter 11, which makes a translational movement when moving from one end position to another one.

[0077] Figs. from 16 to 18. An example of the shutter 11 configuration, using the overlapping areas 18 and 19, configured according to FIG. 15. In FIG. 16, the shutter 11 is in the closed position, in FIG. 18in the open position, and in FIG. 17in a transitional position.

[0078] Figs. from 19 to 21. An example of the alternative shutter 11 configuration, using the overlapping areas 18 and 19, configured according to FIG. 15. In FIG. 19, the shutter 11 is in the opened position, in FIG. 21in the closed position, and in FIG. 17in a transitional position.

[0079] FIG. 22 shows an effective embodiment for configuring the working areas for a shutter that makes a translational movement when moving from one end position to another one.

[0080] FIG. 23 shows an effective embodiment for configuring the shutter 11 using overlapping areas configured according to FIG. 22.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION AND MODES OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0081] The embodiments of the invention are examples illustrating the invention, but not limiting the scope of protection.

[0082] FIG. 1 shows generator 1 consisting of hollow chamber 2, optimally, of cylindrical shape, with outlet surface 3, optimally, flat, and geometrically equal the first outlet 4 and the second outlet 5 located on said outlet surface adjacent to each other. In the state shown in FIG. 1, the generator ejects a continuous, optimally, laminar, jet 6 of liquid from the first outlet 4. Liquid 7 is supplied to the inlet 8 of the generator 1 from the liquid source 9.

[0083] FIG. 6 shows the generator 1 with the side surface partially removed for clarity. Between the inlet 8 and the outlet surface 3, means 10 for reducing liquid turbulence and/or aligning liquid flow along the course of its flow from the liquid inlet 8 to the outlet 4 or 5 are located. In the optimal embodiment, the means 10 for reducing liquid turbulence and/or aligning liquid flow are located inside the hollow chamber 2 so that any path of the liquid from the inlet 8 to the outlets 4 and 5 passes through these means, and the means themselves are replaceable and adapted for washing (cleaning) from liquid residues. An example of means 10 for reducing liquid turbulence and/or aligning liquid flow is a stack of hemispherical filters made of a grid with small cells concave respective to the outlets 4 and 5. The outlet surface 3 is provided with the shutter 11 for outlets 4 and 5. The shutter 11 is connected to the controlled drive 12 by the coupler 13. The shutter 11 is provided with the end open position, end closed position and a sequence of transitional positions between the end positions, and in the end open position, the lumen of the first outlet 4 is completely open, and the lumen of the second outlet 5 is completely closed, and in the end closed position, on the contrary, the lumen of the first outlet 4 is completely closed, and the lumen of the second outlet 5 is completely open; in each transitional position, the lumens of both outlets 4 and 5 are partially open, and the total area of the open lumen of the first and second outlets 4 and 5 is constant and equal to the lumen area of one of the fully open outlets 4 or 5. The constancy of the total area of lumens ensures a constant flow of liquid in the generator 1 with minimal fluctuations in liquid pressure during switching. The non-stop flow of liquid in the generator 1, regardless of the position of the shutter 11, is a distinctive feature of this solution and allows almost instantly form the continuous liquid jet 6 on an outlet 4 or 5 with stable characteristics, when quickly switching from one end position to another one, which allows ejecting the free, optimally, laminar, liquid jet 6 along a given ballistic trajectory with almost no losses outside the trajectory.

[0084] Accordingly, the shutter 11 is configured with the possibility of alternately overlapping one of the two outlets 4 or 5 in their end positions; and the controlled drive 12 together with the coupler 13 are configured to ensure a rapid movement of the shutter 11 from one end position to another one through a sequence of transitional states when the control signal is given or released.

[0085] The generator 1 can be directed in any spatial direction, for example, with the inlet 8 above the levels of the outlets 4 and 5. For optimal operation, the generator 1 is positioned in space so that the outlets 4 and 5 are above the working level of the liquid 7 in the liquid source 9.

[0086] In the standard embodiment, the outlets 4 and 5 are located in the central area of the outlet surface, they are round and are made conically expanding towards the jet 6 outlet, and the narrowing of each of the outlet facing into the hollow chamber 2 forms a sharp edge 14, as shown in FIG. 5.

[0087] Since the outlets 4 and 5 are geometrically identical and located close to each other, the jets 6 formed on them in different end positions of the shutter 11 (see FIG. 1 and FIG. 2) will have geometrically identical ballistic trajectories shifted relative to each other by a vector connecting the centers of the outlets 4 and 5. In embodiments using two jets 6, the generator 1 is located and direct in space so that the jets 6 do not interfere (do not intersect) with each other at least during the transition of the shutter 11 from one end position to another one. For other practical applications, one of the jets 6 is drained to the side and, optimally, returned to the liquid source 9. For example, a jet 6 is ejected through the second outlet 5. To drainage the jet 6 ejecting by the outlet 5, the outlet surface 3 of the hollow chamber 2 is provided with means 15 of liquid drainage ejected from the second outlet 5 in the open or transitional position, in a direction different from the direction of the liquid jet 6 ejection from the first outlet 4 in the open position, so that the drained liquid does not interfere with the liquid jet 6 ejected from the first outlet 4 in the open position. The optimal embodiment for the means for liquid drainage is the junction pipe 15, which is hermetically connected to the second outlet 5 from the outside of the outlet surface 3 of the chamber. The internal section of the junction pipe 15 completely includes the section of the second outlet 5, and the junction pipe 15 does not interfere with the liquid jet 6 ejected from the first outlet 4 in the open position. Optimally, the junction pipe drains the liquid to the liquid source 9. That is why it is optimal to position the generator 1 in space and orient it so that the outlets 4 and 5 are above the working level of the liquid in the liquid source 9.

[0088] In the standard embodiment of the generator 1, its chamber 2 is a hollow cylinder with a diameter at least 8 times larger than the diameter of the fully open lumen of one of the outlets 4 or 5, the outlet surface 3 is the end of the chamber 2 and is perpendicular to the flow of liquid in it, and the inlet 8 is located on the opposite end or on the side surface next to it. For ease of maintenance, the outlet surface 3 is made in the form of a removable lid with an optional controlled drive 12 and/or a coupler 13 installed on it.

[0089] The controlled drive 12 can be of any suitable type, for example, one or more electromagnetic solenoids, servo, pneumatic drives or electric motors. The controlled drives 12, which cause minimal mechanical vibrations of the generator, are optimal. The controlled drive 12 can be installed on the hollow chamber 2 either inside it or outside it, including installation on the outlet surface 3, as well as outside the generator 1.

[0090] The controlled drive 12 can provide the end fully closed position of the shutter 11 in its inactive state and transfer the shutter 11 to the end fully open state in its active state when an opening control signal is given to it, at least for the time necessary to transfer the shutter 11 from the end fully closed position to the end fully open position.

[0091] After the opening control signal to the controlled drive 12 is released, the controlled drive 12 automatically (independently) returns to the inactive state, transferring the shutter 11 from the end fully open position to the end fully closed position. In an alternative embodiment, in order to transfer the shutter 11 from the end fully open position to the end fully closed position, a closing control signal must be given to the controlled drive 12 for at least the time necessary to transfer the shutter 11 from the open position to the closed one. The controlled drive 12 can have one universal input for control signals, or two separate ones. The drives 12 based on electromagnetic solenoids, electric motors or electric servo drives are controlled by electrical signals, and pneumatic drives are controlled by compressed gas, usually air. The duration of the activation time can be adjusted or determined by the sensors of the end positions of the shutter 11, connected either to the shutter 11, coupler 13 or the controlled drive 12. End position sensors can be of any type, but non-contact sensors are optimal, for example, optical interrupters, induction sensors or Hall effect sensors.

[0092] The coupler 13 is designed to transfer the mechanical action from the controlled drive 12 to the shutter 11 in order to quickly move it from one end position to another one. The coupler 13 can convert the translational motion of the controlled drive 12 into the pivoting motion of the shutter 11 or the pivoting motion of the controlled drive 12 into the translational motion of the shutter 11, or transmit the action without converting it.

[0093] The junction 16 of the coupler 13 with the shutter 11, located on the inner side of the outlet surface 3, is optimally located no closer than at a distance of 2-3 diameters of the fully open lumen of one of the outlets 4 or 5 from the nearest outlet 4 or 5.

[0094] In the standard embodiment, the shutter 11 is made in the form of a streamlined shutter 11 adjacent to the outlet surface 3 of the hollow chamber 2. For example, FIG. 6 shows the shutter 11 located on the inside of the outlet surface 3. In some embodiments, the shutter 11 is made of a thin plate of waterproof tough material, optimally, stainless steel. The generator 1 may also include possible means for attaching the shutter 11 to the outlet surface 3, means for pressing the shutter 11 to the outlet surface 3 and/or means for ensuring sealing of the shutter 11 to the outlet surface 3 at least in the end positions of the shutter 11. These means can have a different design that meets the purpose of the generator 1 in specific applications.

[0095] The shutter 11 can be located both on the inside and on the outside of the outlet surface 3. With an internal location, the liquid pressure inside the hollow chamber 2 can be used to ensure or strengthen the tightness of the shutter 11 to the outlet surface 3; in this case, the shutter is optimally configured so that the volume of its part immersed in the liquid is constant. With the external location of the shutter 11, neither it nor the associated components and mechanisms of the generator 1 affect the characteristics of the liquid flow inside the hollow chamber 2. The choice of the internal or external location of the shutter 11 on the outlet surface 3 is made taking into account the specifics of a particular implementation or application.

[0096] On the shutter 11, two continuous overlapping areas 17 are distinguished by directly partially or completely overlapping the corresponding outlets 4 and 5. The overlapping area 17 of the shutter 11 directly provides a fully open lumen of the corresponding outlet 4 or 5 in one end position of the shutter 11 and a fully closed lumen of this outlet in the other end position of the shutter 11. Overlapping areas 17 may intersect or overlap one another. The overlapping areas 17 is a real continuous area on the shutter 11 and is characterized by size R equal to the radius of the fully open lumen of one of the outlets.

[0097] For the shutter 11, which performs only pivoting motion when moving from one end position to another, the overlapping areas 17 have special shapes that exactly complement each other to a ring segment with a width equal to 2R, with rounded corners 28 with a radius of R, where two circles with radii R can be placed on the ring segment without intersection, and the central line is an arc of a circle passing through the axes of the outlets and centered on the pivot axis of the shutter 11, which is equidistant from the centers of the outlets 4 and 5. An example is shown in FIGS. 10 to 14.

[0098] FIG. 10 shows an example of configuration of overlapping areas 18 and 19 for the outlets 4 and 5, which complement each other up to the ring 21 segment 20 having width equal to 2R. The central line 22 of the ring passes through the projections of the centers of the outlets 4 and 5, and the center of the ring coincides with the projection of the pivot axis of the shutter 11, not shown in this figure.

[0099] FIG. 11 shows an example of the configuration of the shutter 11 with the projection of the pivot axis at point 23. The shutter 11 includes two overlapping areas 18 and 19, the formation of which is shown in FIG. 10 and which correspond to the outlets 4 and 5, and are in a closed position, since the overlapping areas 18 completely covers the lumen of the corresponding outlet 4. In FIG. 12, the same shutter 11 is in the open position, since the overlapping area 19 completely covers the lumen of the corresponding outlet 5.

[0100] FIG. 13 shows an example of an alternative configuration of the shutter 11 with the projection of the pivot axis at point 23. The shutter 11 includes same two overlapping areas 18 and 19, the formation of which is shown in FIG. 10 and which now correspond to the outlets 5 and 4, and are in a closed position, since the overlapping areas 19 completely covers the lumen of the corresponding outlet 4. In FIG. 14, the same shutter 11 is in the open position, since the overlapping area 18 completely covers the lumen of the corresponding outlet 5.

[0101] For the shutter 11, which performs only translational movement when moving from one end position to another one, the overlapping areas 17 have special shapes that exactly complement each other up to the strip 25 segment 24 with a width equal to 2R, a length of at least 4R, and the radius of rounded corners 28 of the segment 24 is equal to R.

[0102] FIG. 15 shows an example of configuration of overlapping areas 18 and 19 for the outlets 4 and 5, which complement each other up to the strip 25 segment 24 having width equal to 2R.

[0103] FIG. 16 shows an example of the configuration of the shutter 11, including two overlapping areas 18 and 19, the formation of which is shown in FIG. 15 and which correspond to the outlets 5 and 4, where the shutter is in the closed position, since the overlapping area 19 completely covers the lumen of the corresponding outlet 4. FIG. 18 shows the same shutter 11 in the open position, since the overlapping area 18 completely covers the lumen of the corresponding outlet 5, and FIG. 17 shows the intermediate position of the shutter 11.

[0104] FIGS. 19 to 21 shows an alternative configuration example of the shutter 11, including the same two overlapping areas 18 and 19, the formation of which is shown in FIG. 15 and which now correspond to the outlets 4 and 5. In FIG. 19, the shutter 11 is in the open position, as the overlapping area 19 completely covers the lumen of the corresponding outlet 5, in FIG. 21, the same shutter 11 is in the closed position, since the overlapping area 18 completely covers the lumen of the corresponding outlet 4, and FIG. 20 shows an intermediate position of the shutter 11.

[0105] FIG. 22 shows an effective embodiment of configuration of working areas 18 and 19 for the shutter that makes a translational movement when moving from one end position to another one. The strip 25 segment 24 as described above is cut by a secant circle 27, the center of which lies on the central line 26 of the strip 25, the diameter of the secant circle 27 is not less than 2R, the secant arc passes through the central line 26 no closer than 2R from each end of the central line of the segment 29. FIG. 23 shows an effective embodiment of configuration of shutter 11 with the overlapping areas 18 and 19, configured according to FIG. 22.

[0106] The generator 1 as described above is a device necessary for use in said method for a liquid jet formation and ejection, in which: [0107] the hollow chamber 2 is made with outlet surface 3 distanced from the inlet 8 of the liquid 7, which, optimally, is made in the form of a flat removable lid;
a possibility is provided for forming two continuous jets 6, for which: [0108] the hollow chamber 2 is provided with liquid 7 from a liquid source 9; [0109] the outlet 3 of the hollow chamber 2 is equipped with two geometrically equal outlets 4 and 5, located adjacent to each other, optimally, in the central area of the outlet surface 3, and they are made round, conically expanding towards the outlet of the jet 6, and the conical narrowing of each of them facing into the chamber 2 forms a sharp edge 14 of the outlet; [0110] the liquid turbulence is reduced and/or liquid flow is aligned inside the generator 1 between the liquid 7 inlet 8 into the chamber 2 and the jet 6 outlet from the outlets 4 and 5 on the outlet surface 3 of the chamber 2 by installing special means so that any path of the liquid 7 from the inlet 8 to each outlet 4 and 5 passes said means, optionally configured with the possibility of replacing them and/or cleaning from liquid residues, [0111] continuous, optimally, laminar, non-interfering jets 6 are formed at the outlets 4 and 5. [0112] the chamber 2 is placed and oriented on its supporting basis, providing for positions in which the outlets 4 and 5 are located below the level of the liquid 7 inlet 8, for example, when the chamber 2 is oriented downwards with the outlets 4 and 5, and in the optimal embodiment, to drainage the liquid 7 to the liquid source 9, the outlets 4 and 5 are located above the maximum working level of the liquid 7 in the liquid source 9 with any placement and orientation of the chamber 2. [0113] the outlet surface 3 of the hollow chamber 2 is equipped with the shutter 11, for which a rapid movement is provided from the end open position to the end closed position and back through a sequence of transitional positions in such a way that in the end open position a fully open lumen of the first outlet 4 and a fully closed lumen of the second outlet 5 is provided, in the end closed position a fully closed lumen of the first outlet 4 and a fully open lumen of the second outlet 5 is provided, and in each transitional position the lumens of both outlets 4 and 5 are partially open, and the total area of open lumens of the first 4 and second 5 outlets, which is equal to the lumen area of one of the fully open outlets 4 or 5; [0114] the controlled drive 12 together with the coupler 13, each of which is optionally installed on the outlet surface 3, ensure the rapid movement of the shutter 11 from one end position to another through a sequence of transitional positions when the control signal the controlled drive 12 is given or stopped to.

[0115] The outlet surface 3 of the chamber 2, which in some embodiments of the method is performed perpendicular to the liquid flow in the hollow chamber 2, is equipped from the outside with the means 15 of liquid drainage ejected from the second outlet 5 in an open or any transitional position, in a direction other than the direction of liquid jet 6 ejection from the first outlet 4 in an open position, which, in the optimal embodiment, are performed in the form of a junction pipe 15, the internal section of which completely includes the section of the second outlet 5, and which is hermetically connected to the second outlet 5 from the outside of the outlet surface 3 of the chamber 2; wherein the drained liquid and the junction pipe 15 do not interfere with the ejected liquid jet 6 from the first outlet 4 in the open position.

[0116] In one of the optimal embodiments, the shutter 11, which ensures the constancy of the total area of the open lumens of the outlets 4 and 5, is performed in the form of a streamlined flat shutter 11 adjacent to and sliding along the inner side of the outlet surface of the chamber with a constant volume of its part immersed in liquid with two overlapping areas 18 and 19, directly partially or completely overlapping the corresponding outlets, one overlapping area 18 and 19 for each outlet 4 and 5, respectively, and each overlapping area 18 (19) corresponds to a continuous area on the shutter 11, providing a completely open lumen of the corresponding outlet 4 (5) in one end position of the shutter and the fully closed lumen of the same outlet 4 (5) in the other end position of the shutter.

[0117] The shutter 11 for the transition from one end position to another one is configured by translational motion in such a way that the overlapping areas 18 and 19 form a special shape of two complementary fragments of the segment 24 of a continuous strip 25 with rounded corners 28.

[0118] The shutter 11 for the transition from one end position to another one by pivoting around the axis 23 equidistant from the centers of the outlets 4 and 5 is configured in such a way that the overlapping areas 18 and 19 form a special shape of two complementary fragments of the ring segment 20 of the ring 21 with rounded corners 28, where the ring segment 20 is circumscribed around the projections of both outlets 4 and 5.

[0119] The shutter 11 is configured on the basis of geometrically intersecting overlapping areas 18 and 19, and these overlapping areas 18 and 19 are superimposed at their geometric intersection and further moved forward relative to each other to a position in which the edges formed by a secant, for example, the circle 28, as in FIG. 22 and FIG. 23, forming complementary fragments of the segment 24 of the continuous strip 25, as shown in FIG. 15, or the ring segment 20 of the ring 21, as shown in FIG. 10, are lateral.

[0120] The simulation showed that when using the latter type of shutter, the liquid jet remains continuous when more than 50% of the lumen area is overlapped, which was an unexpected result. Since when overlapping with the shutter with a straight edge (such as the letter D or a rectangle ?), the jet loses continuity (ceases to be continuous) already when 30-35% of the area is overlapped, which requires a corresponding increase in the switching speed.

[0121] It should be noted that the proposed technical solution is designed to be well combined with the invention Method for delivering liquid by ejecting a continuous jet and system for implementing said method, which is the subject of separate parallel application by the same Applicant (Lithuanian priority application LT2021 511).

[0122] Specific examples of the embodiments of above disclosed method and both devices explain the invention, but do not limit the scope of protection.

Example 1

[0123] As the chamber 2 a hollow cylinder is used, for example, made of a carbon fiber composite, with diameter from 80 mm to 150 mm, optimally 100 mm, and length from 100 mm to 200 mm, optimally 150 mm. The outlet surface 3 is made of stainless steel sheet with thickness of 0.2 mm to 0.5 mm, optimally 0.3 mm. The outlet surface 3 corresponds to the inner surface of the removable lid, and the liquid inlet is made tangential on the side surface near the end face opposite to the removable lid. The means 10 for reducing liquid turbulence include two partsa sponge material with open pores from 20 mm to 40 mm thick, optimally 30 mm, filling the entire section of the chamber immediately after the inlet, and a sequence of 3 to 5, optimally 4 mesh filters with small cells (from 0.1 mm to 0.5 mm, optimally 0.2 mm), curved by a hemisphere axially towards the liquid inlet, spaced 15 mm apart and with diameter equal to the inner section of the cylinder. The outlets 4, 5 have diameter from 6.5 mm to 10 mm, optimally, 7 mm, and allow to generate high-quality laminar jets. The shutter 11 is adjacent to the inner side of the outlet surface 3 and is made of stainless steel sheet with thickness of 0.05 to 0.5 mm, optimally, 0.1 mm and has a configuration as shown in FIGS. 7 to 9, 22 and 23. The shutter is driven by a single solenoid, the core of which includes a permanent neodymium magnet, and controlled by passing a direct current through it, and the direction of the current determines the direction of the transition of the shutter. The generator 1 is made with a drainage pipe 15. This design of the generator provides throughput capacity of up to 9 L/min and accurate ejection of liquid doses from 5 ml.

Example 2

[0124] An alternative working embodiment of the generator 1 for ejection of continuous, but not laminar jets is based on a hollow cylindrical chamber 2, with diameter from 5 mm to 20 mm, optimally 15 mm, and length from 40 mm to 100 mm, optimally 50 mm. The outlet surface 3 is made of stainless steel sheet with thickness of 0.2 mm to 0.5 mm, optimally 0.3 mm. The outlet surface corresponds to the inner surface of the removable lid, and the liquid inlet 8 is made axial on the opposite end of the removable lid. The means 10 for aligning liquid flow include a honeycomb tubular structure filling ? of the cylinder height, with a free area in front of the outlet surface 3 with height of ? of the cylinder height. The outlets 4, 5 have diameter from 1 mm to 4 mm, optimally, 3 mm, and allow to generate high-quality continuous jets. The shutter 11 is adjacent to the inner side of the outlet surface 3 and is made of stainless steel sheet with thickness of 0.05 to 0.5 mm, optimally, 0.1 mm and has a configuration as shown in FIGS. 7 to 9, 22 and 23. The shutter 11 is driven by a single solenoid, the core of which includes a permanent neodymium magnet, and controlled by passing a direct current through it, and the direction of the current determines the direction of the transition of the shutter. This design of the generator 1 provides throughput capacity of up to 6 L/min and accurate ejection of liquid doses from 2 ml.

[0125] The advantages of the method and devices as described are: [0126] ejection of jet with the specified characteristics without transient process; [0127] minimal fluctuations of liquid pressure during a transit of the shutter from one end position to another ensure the integrity of the ends of the continuous jet; [0128] accurate ejection of small doses of liquid; [0129] minimal or no losses of liquid outside its ballistic trajectory; [0130] easy maintenance; and [0131] high compatibility of the solution with various specific applications.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

[0132] The proposed technical solution can be used in agriculture, animal husbandry, and in other industrial fields where there is a demand on targeted delivery of doses of any liquid products without the formation of aerosols or sprays, namely by the ejection of directed free continuous jets.

[0133] The main application is the use of devices, according to the proposed solution, as a controlled generator of continuous, for example laminar, jets in systems of targeted delivery of liquid doses in agriculture and animal husbandry. Also, the proposed method and device can be used in public water and entertainment installations, for example, fountains, active games and amusement parks.

LIST OF POSITIONS

[0134] 1 Generator for formation and controlled ejection of liquid jet [0135] 2 Hollow chamber [0136] 3 Outlet surface [0137] 4 First outlet [0138] 5 Second outlet [0139] 6 Continuous liquid jet [0140] 7 Liquid [0141] 8 Liquid inlet into generator chamber [0142] 9 Source of liquid [0143] 10 Means for reducing turbulence and/or aligning liquid flow [0144] 11 Shut-off means/Shutter [0145] 12 Controlled drive [0146] 13 Coupler [0147] 14 Sharp edge of the outlet [0148] 15 Means for liquid drainage, such as junction pipe [0149] 16 Junction of the coupler with the shutter [0150] 17 Shutter's overlapping area [0151] 18 Overlapping area for one outlet [0152] 19 Overlapping area for another outlet [0153] 20 Ring segment formed by overlapping areas [0154] 21 Ring [0155] 22 Ring center line going through the centers of outlets [0156] 23 Projection of shutter pivot axis coinciding with the center of the ring [0157] 24 Strip segment [0158] 25 Strip [0159] 26 Strip center line [0160] 27 Secant circle [0161] 28 Rounded corner of strip segment or ring segment [0162] 29 End of strip segment center line or ring segment center line