WO2007131533A1

WO2007131533A1 - Flexible, oscillating nozzle for ejecting a fluid

Info

Publication number: WO2007131533A1
Application number: PCT/EP2006/004669
Authority: WO
Inventors: Anton Jäger
Original assignee: Jaeger Anton
Priority date: 2006-05-17
Filing date: 2006-05-17
Publication date: 2007-11-22

Abstract

The invention relates to a nozzle for ejecting a fluid, in particular for preparing or cleaning surfaces, comprising at least one ejection organ which can be attached to a fluid supply line and is configured for carrying out ejection movements, wherein a gas, in particular vapor or compressed air, is provided as a fluid, and the ejection organ comprises a hose whose connecting end, which faces towards the feed line, is firmly fixed in a holding, such that a free end of the loop can execute rotating and/or pendulous movements relative to the holder under the influence of the fluid flowing through the ejection line and due to latter's high flexibility and/or elasticity.

Description

Anton Jäger

Nozzle for ejecting a fluid

The invention relates to a nozzle for ejecting a fluid, in particular for processing or cleaning of surfaces, with at least one ejection member which can be connected to a fluid supply line and is designed to carry out ejection movements.

Such nozzles are known in principle. As a treatment or cleaning fluid both liquids and steam are used. For certain applications, a vaporous machining or cleaning fluid is preferred. Known devices that work with steam often do not achieve the desired processing or cleaning effect or are cumbersome to handle or complicated structure.

The object of the invention is to provide a nozzle of the type mentioned, which allows the simplest possible structure and ease of handling the most efficient processing and cleaning operation.

The solution of this object is achieved by the features of claim 1 and in particular by the fact that the fluid is a gas, in particular steam - for example, steam or compressed air, is provided and the ejection member an elongated highly flexible and / or highly elastic discharge line, in particular in the form of a hose includes, whose

Supply line facing terminal end is held in a holder, so that at least in certain working positions freely movable, the (eg designed as a nozzle tip) free end of the discharge line comprehensive working section of the discharge line under the influence of the flowing through the discharge line fluid and due to its ner high flexibility or elasticity in particular rotating or pendulum-like ejection movements can perform relative to the holder.

It has surprisingly been found that, even when using non-liquid fluids, e.g. Steam or compressed air is possible, recoil effects, as in principle z. B. of not detained garden hoses are known to use for generating special movements of the discharge line or the hose when the discharge line is designed to be sufficiently flexible or elastic.

It has been found, surprisingly, that tubing movements which are advantageous in practice also occur precisely when tubes or work sections of the tube are used with relatively small dimensions, ie. H. relatively thin and short tubes. Preferably, the working portion of the hose has an outer diameter in the range of about 2.5 to 10 mm. The length of the working section is preferably about 30 to 120 mm. Generally, it has been found that optimum work results can be achieved when the ratio of outside diameter to length of the working section of the hose is about 1 to at least 12. Another parameter for influencing the working behavior of the hose is its wall thickness. A plastic tube with an outer diameter of 4 mm and a wall thickness of 1 mm has proven to be very well suited for both a pendulum and a rotation system.

In particular, a relatively soft material is used for the ejection line, which is also referred to below simply as a tube, or a material which is soft in comparison with lines designed for liquids in devices operating according to the recoil principle. Thus, it has been found that a very good work results supplying movement sequence of the hose can be achieved if the material of the hose does not exceed a hardness of about 60 Shore A, depending on the other parameters but also harder hoses especially good work results, when the effective length of the working section is increased accordingly. Up to an upper limit of about 90 Shore A, optimum hose movements can be achieved at relatively low pressures and comparatively small hose dimensions. As a material for the hose, for example, silicone or a rubber material in question, in which it is ensured that it can withstand the occurring steam temperatures in practice. In principle, other plastics or elastomers can also be used according to the invention. It has also been found that for the achievement of pendulum movements, the hose tends to have a higher hardness than for rotational movements; for the latter so rather softer hoses are required.

Both for pendulum-like and also rotating hose movements, a specific buckling behavior was found as a further, alternative or additional criterion for a particularly good suitability of a hose. Thus, it has been found that good working results are obtained when the triggering or buckling force required to initiate kinking of the hose is at most about 1.5 N, preferably 1.0 N and especially 0.5 N, at a working portion of the hose whose length is at least 12 times its outer diameter. Good results can be achieved, for example, with a hose whose outer diameter is 4 mm and thus has a length of at least 48 mm. Furthermore, it is preferred if the tube has no fabric layers, as they are typically used in water hoses or generally high-pressure hoses. In particular, the tube according to the invention is completely free of interfering stiffening elements, which are often mesh-like in known hoses. Investigations that have been carried out seem to confirm the assumption that it is precisely the lack of any measures to reinforce the hose that is responsible, at least to a significant extent, for rotational movements of the hose or of the free working section to take place.

The nozzle according to the invention therefore differs from the prior art in particular in that a gaseous working medium can be used at low pressure in conjunction with simple plastic hoses that are soft and have small dimensions. With such a system can be both pendulum-like and rotating ejection movements of the hose or the freely movable working section of the hose can be achieved.

Previously known pendulum systems were designed exclusively for relatively high liquid pressures of more than 5 bar. Here, a tube was used, which was provided with fabric inserts to withstand this high pressure can. Alternatively, a hose with a comparatively high hardness of more than 90 Shore A was used. So it took a lot of energy to cause the pendulum movement of the hose. Furthermore, a relatively large housing was required to give the hose the necessary dynamics. Another disadvantage was an unpleasant noise, which was caused by a "hammering" striking the pendulum hose to the housing. Furthermore, it has been shown in practice that mostly after relatively short operating time of the pendulum tube developed a momentum and took a preferred orientation in the housing, whereby a reliable starting behavior was no longer given, for example, the hose moved predominantly transversely to the desired pendulum plane.

These problems can be avoided by the invention. By a particularly preferred development of the invention, which has surprisingly proven to be extremely practical, the specific problems of a pendulum system can be avoided. In fact, it has been found that an optimum performance of the hose can be achieved if the nozzle is designed as a rotating nozzle with a working section of the hose that essentially carries out a rotational movement during operation. For this purpose, the working section of the hose is preferably surrounded, at least in some areas, by a housing which, at least in areas cooperating with the working section, has an at least approximately circular inner cross-sectional area. The shape of the case may vary. For example, the housing may simply be designed as a straight hollow cylinder. Alternatively, the housing z. B. widen funnel, kelch or trumpet-like.

It has thus been found that, at least when a suitably dimensioned and shaped housing is present, the recoil effects of the exiting vapor can be used not only to maintain a pendulum movement, but also as a "drive" for a rotational movement of the tube. An advantage of such rotation systems is that they allow a smaller construction than pendulum systems. It is also advantageous that a more uniform work is made possible, since no time losses occur at reversal points as in the pendulum systems. The stable running properties of the rotating tube can be explained, inter alia, by the observation that the tube also moves to some extent around its own axis and is thus twisted. This torsion is maintained more or less uninterrupted by the recoil effects and appears to be essential for a stable rotary drive. It can therefore be said that the tube rotation is maintained in a rotation system according to the invention due to a recoil torsional twist.

Particularly good work results and in particular a perfect start-up behavior can be achieved if, according to a further preferred embodiment, the hose or the working section of the hose is made top-heavy. For this purpose, a separate head piece can be arranged at the free end of the working section, which effectively acts as a "sling mass". Such an additional head weight has the particular advantage that the user at work start after switching on the steam supply by rotating the entire nozzle, the work section of the hose to a certain extent "shake" can.

In a further, particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, an adjusting device is provided, by means of which the freely movable length of the working section is adjustable.

By means of such an adjustment device, the steam nozzle according to the invention between a position with maximum amplitude on the one hand and a zero position with a spot beam resulting minimum length of the working section on the other hand, in particular continuously be switched. The invention also relates to a device for processing or cleaning by means of a fluid, in particular by means of steam or compressed air, with a device for generating the fluid, with at least one fluid supply line and with at least one connected to the supply line or nozzle according to the invention.

Preferred embodiments of the invention are also set forth in the dependent claims, the description and the drawings.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the drawings. Show it:

1 to 3 different embodiments of rotary nozzles according to the invention with circular inner cross-sectioned housings,

4 and 5 each in a sectional side view

Embodiment of a pendulum nozzle according to the invention in different operating positions, and

6 shows various perspective views of the pendulum nozzle of FIGS. 4 and 5.

The rotary nozzles according to the invention as shown in FIG. 1 to 3 each comprise a coupling piece 23, on which an elongate housing 19 is pushed. In a formed on the coupling piece 23 recess 33 projects into a housing 19 mounted guide pin 31st The coupling piece 23 is provided with a feed channel extending in the axial direction, which terminates within the housing 19 in a connecting piece, onto which a tube 11 serving as ejection element or discharge line is attached with one end. In this way, the connecting piece of the coupling piece 23 serves as a holder 15 for the hose 11. At its other end, the hose 11 is provided with a nozzle tip 29 which is formed as a separate nozzle insert, which is inserted into the front end of the tube 11.

The freely movable within the housing 19 part of the tube 11 is referred to below as the working section 17. In the embodiments of FIGS. 1 to 3, the length of the working portion 17 is unchangeable. Alternatively, an adjusting device could be provided for adjusting the freely movable length of the working portion 17, as described below, for example, in conjunction with FIGS. 4 to 6.

In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the housing 19 is formed as a straight hollow circular cylinder with a constant free inner cross-sectional area. A displacement of the housing 19 relative to the coupling piece 23 within the predetermined area by the recess 33 thus results in no change in the inner diameter of the housing 19 in the cooperating with the tube 11 areas. This is different in the exemplary embodiments of FIGS. 2 and 3. According to FIG. 2, the free inner cross-sectional area of the housing 19 increases continuously in the direction of the open end. By displacing the housing 19 from the forward position shown in FIG. 2, the working section 17 of the hose 11 consequently has a larger inner diameter of the housing 19 over its entire length than in the position according to FIG. 2. In the embodiment of FIG. 3, the housing 19, which moreover is designed as a straight hollow cylinder, is widened in a funnel shape only in the area of its free end. A displacement of the housing 19 relative to the coupling piece 23 consequently has an effect on the free end region of the hose 11, which surrounds the nozzle tip 29, with regard to the increase in cross-section.

The rotational behavior of the working portion 17 of the hose 11 is influenced by the working pressure of the supplied steam, the hardness of the hose 11, the dimensions of the hose and the dimensions and shape of the housing 19. Preferred values of these parameters are discussed in detail elsewhere.

In addition, the rotational behavior of the working portion 17 also depends on the material pairing hose <-> housing inner wall, since the working portion 17 during rotation at least over part of its length - in the cases studied with an area near the free front end - on the Inner wall of the housing 19 is supported and thus frictional forces play a role. Consequently, this results in further possibilities for influencing the movement behavior of the tube 11.

Furthermore, in the variants according to FIGS. 2 and 3, the rotational behavior and in particular the rotational speed of the working section 17 can be changed by the position of the axially displaceable housing 19 relative to the coupling piece 23.

In the exemplary embodiments of FIGS. 1 to 3, the tube 11 inserted onto the coupling piece 23 is not freely rotatable about its own axis. Alternatively, the holder 15 may be formed such that a free rotatability is given. The rotational behavior of the tube 11 can consequently also be influenced by the manner of the design of the holder 15.

A connectable to the other end of the coupling piece 23 supply line through which the nozzle head according to the invention is connected to a steam cleaner is not shown here. In this regard, reference is made to the comments on Figs. 4 to 6.

The weight of the provided at the front end of the hose 11 nozzle tip 29 can be tailored to the other parameters of the nozzle according to the invention and in particular to the hardness and the dimensions of the tube 11 to realize a certain top-heaviness of the working portion 17, which is also on the Operating behavior of the hose 11 and also it enables the user at start-up, the tube 11 by "shaking" to put in rotation, as already mentioned in the introduction part.

The oscillating nozzle according to the invention according to FIGS. 4 and 5 comprises a piece 23 mounted on a coupling piece or screwed to the coupling piece 23. The housing 19 is funnel-shaped or cup-shaped at its end open in the working direction and has lateral planes lying in the working plane Extension 27 provided.

On the housing 19, a pot-shaped or cap-shaped slide 21 is mounted so as to be displaceable in the axial direction, which can be displaced by a user within the housing 19 relative to the latter via a vertically projecting actuating section projecting from an opening of the housing 19. For this purpose, the slider 21 is mounted on a hollow cylindrical carrier. gerabschnitt 25 of the housing inserted, which in turn is arranged on the coupling piece 23 mentioned.

The cylindrical coupling piece 23, through which extends a feed channel extending in the axial direction, carries at its end pointing into the interior of the housing 19 a holder 15 to which one end of a pendulum tube 11 serving as ejection element or discharge line is fastened. At the other end of the coupling piece 23 a bent in this embodiment, supply line 13 is connected, which forms the connection piece for connecting the nozzle head according to the invention with a steam cleaner, not shown. The connection between coupling piece 23 on the one hand and supply line or connector 13 on the other hand, in particular by attaching or screwing. The coupling piece 23 or the other end of the connecting piece 13 may be formed as an adapter portion or be coupled with a separate adapter, in order to create a way to connect to the terminals of the steam cleaner available in the market.

The highly elastic pendulum tube 11, which in particular comprises a relatively soft material having a hardness in the range of about 60 to 90 Shore A, and is preferably made of silicone or a rubber material, extends through a central opening in the bottom of the pot or capsule. penförmigen slider 21. By moving the slider 21 in the axial direction relative to the housing 19 and thus connected to the coupling piece 23 holder 15 consequently the length of a freely movable working portion 17 of the shuttle tube 11 can be changed and thus its movement behavior can be influenced. Depending on the other total selected for the nozzle according to the invention Parameter values for the tube 11 other than the aforementioned hardness values in question.

To stabilize the pendulum movement in the working plane, the tube 11 may be provided with stiffeners or reinforcements extending along the so-called neutral line, e.g. be provided in the form of deposits or formations. These stabilizing elements are preferably provided "neutrally" on the hose 11 insofar as hose movements taking place in the pendulum or working plane result in no or minimal length changes of the stabilizing elements, ie in the representation of FIGS. 4 and 5 on the one facing the viewer / or side of the hose 11 facing away from the observer.

FIG. 4 shows the pendulum hose nozzle according to the invention with the slide 21 pushed back to the maximum extent and thus with the maximum length of the free working section 17 of the pendulum tube 11. During operation, the pendulum tube 11 can thus execute pendulum movements of maximum amplitude in this working position.

In Fig. 5, the nozzle according to the invention is shown with a maximum far advanced slide 21. The working portion 17 located outside of the slide 21 including the nozzle tip of the pendulum tube 11 is so short in this working position that it can perform virtually no movements relative to the housing 19. In the position shown in FIG. 5, thus at least approximately a spot beam operation takes place.

Consequently, the working length of the pendulum tube 11 can be varied steplessly by means of the slider 21 in order to determine the optimum movement behavior of the pendulum tube 11 and, in particular, for the particular application. special to set a respective desired spray pattern and / or a respective desired pendulum frequency.

It has proven to be particularly advantageous if the free end of the hose 11 is designed as a nozzle tip 29 forming at least one local constriction of the free flow cross section. Research has shown that by varying the size of the constriction, the effects and / or the strength of the rebound effects responsible for the tube movement can be influenced particularly well. In particular, it has been found that the tube 11 behaves with a constricting nozzle tip 29 clearly more flexible than without constriction, i. the constriction at the nozzle tip 29 can be called in a sense "motor" for the recoil effect and thus the hose movement.

The holder 15 may be formed so that it allows in a given frame lasting movements of the detained end of the hose relative to the housing 19. Thus, e.g. be provided that the tube 11 can rotate in or together with the holder 15 about the central axis.

6 shows the illustration at the top right in particular the megaphone-like shape of the housing 19. The lower illustration shows in particular that the working opening of the housing 19 is provided with diametrically opposed lateral recesses corresponding to the above-mentioned lateral extensions 27 which with the working plane of the nozzle, in which the pendulum movement of the pen- delschlauchs 11 at least mainly takes place, are aligned. As a pendulum tube 11 according to the invention, for example, a commercially available soft silicone tube with an inner diameter of less than 4 mm, in particular less than 3 mm can be used. The active length of the pendulum tube 11 according to the invention, ie the length of the working section 17, is preferably less than 150 mm, in particular less than 100 mm, when the slide 21 is pushed backwards. The hose 11 is also preferably made of a single material. In particular, the tube 11 is integrally formed.

The upper limit for the working pressure of the nozzle according to the invention is preferably a value in the range of 5 to 10 bar. Working pressures in the range of about 1 to 2 bar gave perfect results. It should be emphasized that even relatively low fluid pressures in the range of about 1 bar allow easy operation of both pendulum and rotation systems. In pendulum systems are sought pendulum frequencies of at least 2 to 6 Hz, which can be achieved easily by means of the nozzle according to the invention, as investigations have shown. In rotary systems, it has been found that good running performance can be obtained when the nozzle is designed to provide rotational speeds of about 200 to 500 revolutions per minute.

According to the invention, the movement behavior of the pendulum tube 11 and in particular the pendulum frequency can be predetermined by a deliberately selected combination of values for the parameters discussed above.

Embodiments made for the exemplary embodiments of FIGS. 1 to 3 also apply to the embodiments of FIGS. 4 to 6, insofar as no contradictions arise, and vice versa. Not daxgestellt is a special variant of the invention, in which an adjustment is given such that can be set either a rotation, a pendulum or a spot beam mode. For this purpose, for example, an axially displaceable housing may be provided, which has a circular inner cross-section in the region of its free front end and, for example, is funnel-, kelch- or trumpet-like widening to give the working portion of the hose enough space, so that a rotational operation established. By moving forward, the rotation of a non-obstructing housing portion is effective, which limits the freedom of movement of the working portion in one direction, thus forcing the working section to a pendulum motion. By further advancing the housing, finally, a further housing portion is effective, which fixes the working portion corresponding to the slider 21 of FIG. 4 to 6, so that there is a spot beam operation. Such a combination nozzle opens up a variety of possible uses for the user.

Investigations have given the following preferred parameters:

The hardness of the tube 11 is in the range of 60 to 90 Shore A.

The outer diameter of the tube 11 is in the range of about 2.5 to 10 mm.

The length of the freely movable working portion 17 of the tube 11 is at least about 12 times the outer diameter of the tube eleventh The smallest inner diameter of the housing 19 is at least about 3.5 times the outer diameter of the tube 11th

As a preferred minimum size for the nozzle according to the invention thus results in an outer diameter of the tube 11 of about 2.5 mm, a length of the freely movable working portion 17 of the tube 11 of about 30 mm and an inner diameter of the housing 19 of about 9 mm.

The nozzle according to the invention can be realized in the form of a set of different nozzle sizes. The dimensions can be chosen such that result in the three smallest sizes housing 19 with an inner diameter of 9, 11 and 15 mm.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

11 Ejector, discharge line, hose 13 supply line, connection piece

15 bracket

17 working section of the hose

19 housing

21 slide 23 coupling piece

25 carrier section

27 extension

29 head piece, nozzle tip

31 guide pin 33 recess

Claims

19Ansprüche

A nozzle for ejecting a fluid, in particular for processing or cleaning surfaces, having at least one ejection member (11) connected to a fluid supply line

(13) can be connected and designed to carry out ejection movements, wherein a gas, in particular steam or compressed air, is provided as the fluid and the ejection member comprises an elongate highly flexible and / or highly elastic ejection line (11), in particular in the form of a hose, of which the supply line ( 13) facing the connection end is held in a holder (15) so that a working section (17) of the discharge line (11) which is freely movable at least in certain working positions and which encompasses the free end of the discharge line (11) under the influence of the discharge line (11) ) flowing fluid and due to its high

Flexibility or elasticity in particular rotating or pendulum-like ejection movements relative to the holder (15) can perform.

2. A nozzle according to claim 1, characterized in that the working portion (17) has an outer diameter in the range of about 2.5 to 10 mm.

3. Nozzle according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the working portion (17) has a length in the range of about 30 to 120 mm. 20

4. A nozzle according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the ratio of outer diameter to length of the working portion (17) is at least about 1 to 12.

5. Nozzle according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the material of the working portion (17) has a hardness of at most 90, in particular 80, preferably 70 and particularly preferably 60 Shore A.

6. Nozzle according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a triggering force necessary for the initiation of a bending movement of the working section (17) is at most about 1.5 N, preferably

1.0 N, and particularly preferably about 0.5 N.

7. Nozzle according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it e e e c e s e s that it as a rotary nozzle with a substantially in operation

Rotational movement exporting working portion (17) is formed.

8. Nozzle according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that it is designed as a pendulum nozzle with a substantially operating during operation a pendulum movement working portion (17). 21

9. Nozzle according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it e e n e c e s e s that the working portion (17) at least partially surrounded by a housing (19).

10. A nozzle according to claim 9, characterized in that the housing (19) has an at least approximately circular inner cross-sectional area at least in regions which interact with the working section (17).

11. Nozzle according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that it e e n e c e s e s that the housing (19) is formed as a straight hollow cylinder.

12. Nozzle according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that it e e n e c e s e s that the housing (19) widened at least in some areas, in particular funnel, kelch- or trumpet-like.

13. Nozzle according to one of claims 9 to 12, characterized in that the ratio of the outer diameter of the working portion (17) to the inner diameter of the housing (19) is at least about 1 to 3.5. 22

14. Nozzle according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the working section (17) is designed to be top-heavy, in particular by means of a separate head piece (29) arranged at the free end of the working section (17).

15. Nozzle according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a setting device (21) is provided by means of which the freely movable length of the working section (17) is adjustable.

16. Nozzle according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the discharge line (11) has at least one flow cross-section reducing constriction, wherein preferably the flow cross-section of the discharge line (11) at its particular free end is smaller than in one before the free End lying area.

17. Nozzle according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the free end of the discharge line (11) is designed as a nozzle tip (29), which is preferably provided in the form of a separate component.

18. Device for processing or cleaning by means of a fluid, in particular by means of steam or compressed air, with a device for generating the fluid, with at least one fluid supply line (13) and with at least one to the supply line (13) connected or connectable nozzle after a of the preceding claims.