SWITCHER NOZZLE HIGH EFFICIENCY FLOW INSERT

Abstract

A nozzle assembly includes a hollow nozzle body having a central bore and a plurality of ports extending through the body from the central bore; a switching valve assembly disposed in the central bore that directs fluid flow to ports upon application of fluid flow above a predetermined threshold to the inlet and direct fluid flow to different ports upon fluid flow having subsequently dropped below the predetermined threshold and then exceeding the predetermined threshold; and a flow insert configured to replace the switching valve assembly for directing flow through all of the ports when switching functionality is not needed. This flow insert may be made of a low pressure material such as a polymer.

Claims

1. A flow insert for use in a switcher valve nozzle assembly including a plurality of ports extending through a nozzle body from a central bore, the flow insert comprising: a generally cylindrical body configured to be disposed within the central bore; and a rear chamber portion within the generally cylindrical body which separates into a plurality of through passages each configured to communicate with only a respective one of the ports.

2. The flow insert according to claim 1, wherein the rear chamber portion is a converging rear chamber portion with a decreasing cross-sectional area in a direction of fluid flow.

3. The flow insert according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of through passages has equal dimensions.

4. The flow insert according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of through passages includes four through passages.

5. The flow insert according to claim 4, wherein water entering an inlet end of the rear chamber portion divides equally into each of the four through passages.

6. The flow insert according to claim 4, wherein two of the through passages align with ports exiting a front-end portion of the nozzle body and two of the through passages align with ports exiting laterally from the nozzle body.

7. The flow insert according to claim 1, further comprising one or more grooves axially extending along an exterior of the generally cylindrical flow insert body.

8. The flow insert according to claim 7, wherein the one or more grooves is sized to receive one or more guide pins extending radially inward into the central bore of the switcher valve nozzle assembly.

9. The flow insert according to claim 9, wherein the one or more grooves includes four grooves evenly spaced about the exterior of the generally cylindrical flow insert body.

10. The flow insert according to claim 1, wherein the flow insert is formed from a polymer material.

11. A method of operating a switcher valve nozzle assembly, the method comprising: determining that switching fluid flow between a first set of ports a second set of ports is not needed, wherein the first set of ports and the second set of ports extend through a nozzle body from a central bore of the switcher valve nozzle assembly; installing a flow insert into the central bore of the switcher valve nozzle assembly, wherein the flow insert includes a rear chamber portion that separates into a plurality of through passages, each configured to communicate with only a respective one of the ports; and conveying a fluid through the rear chamber portion and into each of the plurality of through passages.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein installing the flow insert further comprises: removing a switcher valve assembly from the central bore before installing the flow insert into the central bore.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein installing the flow insert into the central bore further comprises: aligning one or more grooves axially extending along an exterior of a generally cylindrical flow insert body of the flow insert with one or more guide pins extending radially inwardly into the central bore; slidably inserting the flow insert into the central bore to permit the one or more grooves to mate with the one or more guide pins.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein conveying the fluid through the rear chamber portion and into each of the plurality of through passages further comprises conveying equal portions of the fluid through each of the plurality of through passages.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the reach chamber portion is a converging rear chamber portion with a decreasing cross-sectional area in a direction of fluid flow, and wherein conveying the fluid through the rear chamber portion further comprises increasing a pressure of the fluid.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a switching nozzle head assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0015] FIG. 2 an exploded view of the switching nozzle head assembly shown in FIG. 1 with a high efficiency flow insert replacing the switching poppet for use in the head assembly in accordance with the present disclosure.

[0016] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the assembly shown in FIG. 2 with a portion sectioned.

[0017] FIG. 4 is an axial cross sectional view through the nozzle assembly as in FIG. 2, showing the insert directing flow to the tractor ports.

[0018] FIG. 5 is an axial cross sectional view through the nozzle assembly as in FIG. 2 but rotated 90 degrees, showing the passages through the insert to the cleaning ports.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0019] An exemplary first embodiment of a nozzle assembly 200 incorporating a switching valve assembly is shown in FIG. 1. The nozzle assembly 200 has a generally cylindrical solid nozzle body 202 with a front portion 204 which typically has a rounded nose and a generally cylindrical rear portion 206 that can be threadably fastened to an inlet nut 208, which is, in turn, fastened to a rotary shaft and thence to a high pressure fluid hose (not shown). This nozzle body 202 is typically made of metal such as steel and can withstand fluid pressures in excess of 20k-40k psi. The nozzle body 202 has a central bore 210 through at least the rear portion 206 of the nozzle body 202 and a plurality of ports 212 drilled through the body 202 each leading from the central bore 210 to a nozzle tip 214 that is threaded into each of the ports 212.

[0020] Captured in the central bore 210 between the front portion 204 and the inlet nut 208 in this embodiment is a switching valve assembly 216. This switching valve assembly 216 includes a cylindrical poppet 220 slidably disposed in the central bore 210, a bias member 222 compressed between the poppet 220 and the front portion 204, and a guide 224 between the poppet 220 and the nozzle body 202.

[0021] In this embodiment of the nozzle assembly 200, the guide 224 comprises a groove in the poppet 220 that engages a plurality of guide pins 226 that are threaded into the body 202 and extend into the central bore 210. The groove 224 is a peripheral zig-zag groove formed in the outer cylindrical surface of the poppet 220. There are four guide pins 226 spaced at 90 degrees apart around the central bore 210. When fluid flow is applied to the assembled nozzle 200, the poppet 220 slides within the bore 210 forward toward the front portion 204 of the nozzle body 202, being rotated as it moves via the guide 224 until its front end face 238 abuts against the rear face of the front portion 204 at the end of the central bore 210.

[0022] The poppet 220 is a short cylindrical body that has four axially extending bores 230 symmetrically arranged around its central axis. Two oppositely arranged bores 230 carry floating valve pins 232. These valve pins 232 are used to close corresponding aligned passages 228 through the front portion 204 of the nozzle body 202. Each valve pin 232 has a stem 234 and an enlarged plug portion 236 extend from a front face 238 of the poppet 220 giving the valve pin an external shape like an Erlenmeyer flask. The valve pins 232 are each captured within its bore 230 via a snap ring 240 fastened to the stem 234 of the valve pin 232 such that the valve pin 232 floats within its bore through the poppet 220. This floating configuration with an enlarged plug or lug end portion 236 accommodates for tolerance stacking of the nozzle switching valve 216 components. Further, an O-ring seal (not shown) may be installed between the chamfer of the enlarged plug portion 236 and the front portion 204 of the nozzle body 202 to provide a positive seal.

[0023] FIG. 2 shows a switching nozzle 200 as above described, except that the switching cartridge 216 is replaced with a flow insert 500. This flow insert 500 is a solid cylindrical body that has four axial grooves 502 in its exterior surface that are aligned to receive the tips of guide pins 226 when the insert 500 is installed within the rear portion 206 of the nozzle body 202.

[0024] FIG. 3 is perspective view of the assembled nozzle 200 in FIG. 2 with the insert 500 installed and partially shown in section, showing the tips of the pins 226 engaging the slots 502. Since the insert 500 is essentially cylindrical these pins 226 ensure that the insert 500 remains properly aligned with the ports 212. The insert 500 is captured within the rear portion 206 between the inlet nut 208 and the front end portion 204 of the nozzle body 202. The insert 500 has a convergent rear chamber portion 504 that divides preferably equally into four passages that smoothly direct flow to the tractor ports 212.

[0025] FIG. 4 is an axial cross-sectional view through the nozzle 200 with insert 500 installed and directed through the rear chamber portion 504 into two passages 506 to the tractor ports 212.

[0026] FIG. 5 is an axial cross sectional view through the nozzle 200 with insert 500 installed, but rotated 90 degrees, showing the other two passages 508 that smoothly direct flow from the inlet nut 208, through the convergent chamber portion 504, through the other two passages 508 to the lateral and front cleaning ports 212. When the flow insert 500 is installed in the nozzle body 202, the flow into the head 202 is directed to all of the ports without restriction so as to minimize flow losses and thus the fluid flow is ejected from the ports 212 with maximum force.

[0027] The flow insert 500 may be made from a metal or a polymeric material or a composite, and may be 3D printed, as this component does not have to withstand or contain the applied fluid pressure exerted on the nozzle 200. That function is carried out by the nozzle head 202 itself into which the insert 500 is installed. Typically nozzles 200 are designed to handle fluid pressures in ranges of 10k psi, 20k psi and 40k psi and more. The advantage of the flow insert 500 in accordance with the present disclosure is that it does not need to withstand such pressures. It can be made of a much softer, more pliable or even brittle material that is easy to manufacture, since it is constrained in the nozzle body 202.

[0028] Other arrangements of the insert 500 may be made. For example, the convergent portion 504 may be reduced or enlarged, depending on the flow characteristics desired. Similarly, the passages 506 and 508 may be shaped other than with straight as shown. Also, the passages 506 may be smaller in cross section than the passages 508. All such changes, alternatives and equivalents in accordance with the features and benefits described herein, are within the scope of the present disclosure. Such changes and alternatives may be introduced without departing from the spirit and broad scope of my invention as defined by the claims below and their equivalents.