Adjustable Elongated Spray Nozzle

Abstract

Two concentric, longitudinally slotted tubes form an adjustable elongated spray nozzle. When the nozzle becomes clogged, it can be flushed by manipulating an adjusting handle external to the apparatus.

Description

This invention relates to a nozzle for spraying liquids across a wide surface.

Although our invention is not thus limited, it is especially useful in the spraying of steel strip in electrolytic tinning lines. Previous spray nozzles for electrolyte tinning lines are unreliable and tend to become clogged. The use of filters in spray lines has reduced but not completely eliminated clogging of the sprays. In order to obtain the spray pattern necessary for complete rinsing of tinplate, nozzles having small orifices are required. A nozzle having an orifice less than five sixty-fourths of an inch wide usually is equipped with a screen to prevent clogging of the nozzle. Ironically, it is the clogging of the screen which renders the nozzle useless. Clogged sprays cause poor product quality, as well as high spray nozzle maintenance costs. Nozzle failure can cause dull tinplate, a streaky appearance, poor corrosion performance, poor tin adhesion, and can adversely affect soldering properties. When spray nozzles become clogged, operators of tinplate lines are driven to merely drilling holes in the spray header to provide some semblance of spray water and to keep the line operating. Previous elongated spray nozzles are not adjustable. Spray heads or nozzles must be changed to adjust the volumetric flow of liquid.

It is an object of our invention to provide an elongated spray nozzle capable of being cleaned without interrupting operation of a production line.

It is a further object of our invention to provide an elongated spray which is capable of adjustment during operation.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway front elevation view of the assembled nozzle of our invention.

FIG. 2 is an end elevation view of the nozzle of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross section view taken along the line III--III of FIG. 1 but showing the nozzle parts in their "cleanout" position.

FIG. 4 is a cross section view taken along the line IV--IV of FIG. 1 showing the nozzle parts in their operating position.

Referring now to FIG. 1, our invented spray nozzle comprises two round tubular sections 10 and 12 disposed one within the other. Outer tube 12 is rotatably secured on tube 10 by fixed collar 13 and removable collar 14, the latter being secured to tube 10 by setscrews 15. A slot 17 is milled substantially the length of tube 10. A recess 18 (FIG. 3) is milled along slot 17 to provide a seat for bar 19. Bar 19, which is attached in recess 18 by screws 20, forms the upper lip of a spray orifice 21. Both ends of the bar are milled to fit under collars 13 and 14. The lower lip of the spray orifice is formed by the lower edge of slot 22 which extends the length of tube 12. Tubes 10 and 12 are sealed against leakage by nylon rods 24 disposed in grooves 25 and 26 milled in tube 10. If necessary, means such as setscrews 28 can be provided to maintain the concentric relationship of the tubes. Setscrews 28 are preferably nylon or other relatively friction-free material to facilitate rotation of tube 12. One end of tube 10 has internal threads 29 to receive a pipe connection from the treating liquid supply line (not shown).

Collar 14 carries a C-shaped stop member 34 which is attached to the treating apparatus (not shown). A rod 38 is rotatable in bore 39 of the collar, which rod 38 extends into tube 10. Leakage of treating solution around rod 38 is prevented by sealing rings 40 in annular grooves 41. Rod 38 has an actuating handle 42 which is held in place by a tapered pin 43. Rod 38 carries a radially extending arm 45 (FIG. 4) which projects through openings 49 and 50 in tubes 10 and 12 respectively. Ears 46 are fixed to the outer end of this arm and are joined to tube 12 with screws 51. The width of orifice 21 is regulated by rotation of tube 12, which is controlled by manipulation of handle 42. Clockwise rotation of handle 42, as shown in FIG. 2, is limited by setscrew 53, the position of which can be fixed by locknut 54. Counterclockwise rotation of the handle is limited by the protruding portion of stop member 34. Consequently, the lips of orifice 21 cannot be damaged by closing them too tightly.

Liquid spray solution is introduced into the nozzle through the end containing threads 29. Proper adjustment of the orifice 21 assures uniformity of the resultant spray throughout the length of the nozzle. Whenever the spray nozzle becomes clogged, the nozzle orifice is cleaned by flushing, which is accomplished by opening orifice 21 to the position shown in FIG. 3. The orifice can then be immediately closed to its original setting by rotating the handle in the opposite direction.

From the foregoing description, it is readily apparent that our invention affords a simple nozzle construction capable of being cleaned and adjusted quickly and without interrupting the operation of an electrolytic tinning line.

Claims

We claim:

1. A nozzle comprising inner and outer elongated concentrically arranged tubes, said inner tube having a fluid inlet in one end, said outer tube having means sealing the end opposite said fluid inlet, said tubes having respective lengthwise slots in their walls, a lip fixed to said inner tube along one edge of the slot thereof and projecting into the slot of said outer tube, said lip and one edge of the slot of said outer tube defining an elongated orifice, and means for rotating one of said tubes relative to the other to vary the width of said orifice.

2. A nozzle as defined in claim 1 in which said means includes a rod rotatably mounted in said inner tube, and an arm carried by said rod and fixed to said outer tube, said inner tube having an enlarged opening through which said arm projects.

3. A nozzle as defined in claim 2 including an actuating handle attached to said rod and a stop member into which said handle extends, which stop member limits angular rotation of said handle.