Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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FLUIDIC OSCILLATOR
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a fluidic oscillator.
Description of the Prior Art
A conventional fluidic oscillator disclosed in US 4,151,955 includes an
interacting cavity or oscillating cavity, and the interacting cavity includes
an
inlet, an outlet, and a triangle stopping member located at the interacting
cavity,
wherein the stopping member is used to form a vortex street so that when fluid
flows into the interacting cavity, the vortex street causes a flow change
alternately and the fluid further flows out of the outlet, thus generating
oscillatory spray fluid.
However, the oscillatory spray fluid is determined by the size and shape
of the inlet, the outlet relative to the stopping member, a spaced space
between
the stopping member and the outlet, a range of the outlet, and a Reynolds
number so that the fluid flows or sprays in different modes.
Therefore, when the number, shape, and position of the stopping
member are changed, different vortex streets or flow paths occur to obtain
various flowing modes and spraying function.
Another conventional fluidic oscillator disclosed in US 4,151,955
includes two stopping members disposed in a cavity to form an interacting zone
between the two stopping members and two control channels on outer sides of
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the two stopping members individually, and a size-decreased power nozzle is
fixed in the inlet to accelerate the fluid to flow into the cavity.
Thereby, above-mentioned fluidic oscillators are widely used in many
products, such as various spraying devices and cleaning devices of a shower,
faucet, sprinkling truck, windshield glass, and head light. For example, a
multiple spray device disclosed in US 7,014,131 is applied to clean a
windshield
glass of an automotive, and enclosures for fluidic oscillators disclosed in
W02007/044354 is applicable for a shower head.
Nevertheless, after the fluidic oscillator is decreased 1/3 to 2/3 of size
to meet with miniaturization demand, the flow amount of the fluid is lowered.
For example, after the fluidic oscillator is decreased 1/3 of size, its flow
amount
is diminished to lower power, so that a swirl effect can not be created to
have
normal oscillatory spray fluid.
The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the
afore-described disadvantages.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
One aspect of the present invention provides a fluidic oscillator that is
capable of overcoming the shortcomings of the conventional fluidic oscillator.
A further aspect of the present invention provides a fluidic oscillator of
which at least one turbulent flow passage of the fluidic oscillator allows to
guide
the fluid to flow into at least one interacting cavity of the channel so that
the
fluid interacts with another flows which flows into the interacting cavity
form
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the first inlet to generate a swirl effect, such that even though a size of
the fluidic
oscillator is decreased 1/3 to 2/3 times smaller than a conventional size of
the
fluidic oscillator, the size-decreased fluidic oscillator still allows to
generate
oscillatory spray fluid.
Another aspect of the present invention provides a fluidic oscillator that
is capable of generating horizontally and vertically oscillatory spray fluid,
accordingly a three-dimensional fluid spray is viewed outside the fluidic
oscillator.
To obtain this, a fluidic oscillator provided by the present invention
contains:
at least one channel including an interacting cavity disposed therein, at
least one first inlet communicating with the interacting cavity to flow fluid
inward, and at least one first outlet communicating with the interacting
cavity to
spray the fluid flowing through the interacting cavity outward, characterized
in
that:
at least one turbulent flow passage is used to guide a fluid in the at least
one turbulent flow passage to flow into the interacting cavity or cavities so
as to
interact with the fluid from the first inlet(s) from one of two opposite first
longitudinal walls of the interacting cavity or cavities se, such that a
turbulent
flow effect is generated in the interacting cavity or cavities, and then the
fluid in
the interacting cavity flows out of the first outlet(s) to generate
oscillatory spray;
the fluidic oscillator includes one channel, and the at least one turbulent
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flow passage is fixed in a second longitudinal wall of the channel;
the at least one turbulent flow passage includes a second inlet fixed
therein to flow the fluid inward and a second outlet to guide the fluid in the
at
least one turbulent flow passage to the first outlet of the interacting cavity
of the
channel individually;
the second outlet is located at a middle portion of the interacting cavity;
the interacting cavity or cavities are defmed between middle sections of
two symmetrical stopping members attached on the first outlet, and each
stopping member includes one control passageway disposed on an outer side
thereof;
a connection of the at least one turbulent flow passage and the
interacting cavity or cavities are located at the middle portion of the
interacting
cavity;
a diameter of the interacting cavity of the fluidic oscillator is within
5mm to 20nun, and a range of a flowing path of the fluid in the interacting
cavity is within 5mm to 20mm.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the assembly of a fluidic oscillator
according to a first embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional perspective view showing the assembly of the
fluidic oscillator according to the first embodiment of the present invention;
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Fig. 3 is another cross-sectional perspective view showing the assembly
of the fluidic oscillator according to the first embodiment of the present
invention;
Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view showing the operation of the fluidic
oscillator according to the first embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 5 is another cross sectional view showing the operation of the
fluidic oscillator according to the first embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing the assembly of a fluidic oscillator
according to a second embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing the exploded components of the
fluidic oscillator according to the second embodiment of the present
invention;
Fig. 8 is a perspective view showing the assembly of a fluidic oscillator
according to a third embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 9 is a perspective view showing the exploded components of the
fluidic oscillator according to the third embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 10 is a perspective view showing the assembly of a fluidic
oscillator according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 11 is a cross sectional view showing the operation of the fluidic
oscillator according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 12 is a cross sectional view showing the operation of a fluidic
oscillator according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 13 is a cross sectional view showing the operation of a fluidic
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oscillator according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 14 is a cross-sectional perspective view showing the assembly of a
fluidic oscillator according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 15 is a cross sectional view showing the assembly of the fluidic
oscillator according to the seventh embodiment of the present invention.
Picture 1 shows the fluidic oscillator of the first embodiment of the
present invention generating horizontally and vertically oscillatory spray
fluid
under a test, hence a three-dimensional fluid spray is viewed outside the
fluidic
oscillator.
Picture 2 also shows the fluidic oscillator of the first embodiment of the
present invention generating the horizontally and vertically oscillatory spray
fluid under the test so that the three-dimensional fluid spray is viewed
outside
the fluidic oscillator.
Picture 3 shows a turbulent flow passage of the fluidic oscillator of the
first embodiment of the present invention being jammed to form a column-shape
fluid spray.
Picture 4 also shows the turbulent flow passage of the fluidic oscillator
of the first embodiment of the present invention being jammed to form the
column-shape fluid spray.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The present invention will be clearer from the following description
when viewed together with the accompanying drawings, which show, for
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purpose of illustrations only, the preferred embodiment in accordance with the
present invention.
Referring to Figs. 1-3, a fluidic oscillator 1 according to a first
embodiment of the present invention comprises two channels 10 disposed on a
vertical upper and a vertical lower portions thereof respectively and being
symmetrical to each other, each channel 10 includes an interacting cavity 11,
a
first inlet 12 communicating with the interacting cavity 11 to flow fluid
inward,
and a first outlet 13 communicating with the interacting cavity 11 to spray
the
fluid flowing through the interacting cavity 11 outward. An improvement of the
fluidic oscillator 1 of the first embodiment is described as follows.
A turbulent flow passage 14 is mounted in a first longitudinal wall 111
between the interacting cavities 11, and includes a second inlet 141 fixed
therein
to flow the fluid inward, and includes two second outlets 142 to guide the
fluid
in the turbulent flow passage 14 to the interacting cavities 11 of the two
channels 10 individually. In this embodiment, the turbulent flow passage 14
includes a tunnel segment axially extending therealong and two vertical holes
communicating with the tunnel segment, the second inlet 141 is formed in the
tunnel segment, and the second outlets 142 are arranged on connections of the
vertical holes and the interacting cavities 11, wherein the second outlets 142
are
located at middle portions of the interacting cavities 11 individually.
The turbulent flow passage 14 is used to guide the fluid to flow into the
interacting cavities 11 as shown in Figs. 4 and 5 so that the fluid further
interacts
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with another fluid flowing into the interacting cavities 11 from the first
inlets 12
of the channels 10 to generate a turbulent flow effect, hence the fluid
flowing
out of the first outlets 13 generates circular and oscillatory spray.
The interacting cavity 11 of the channel 10 is defined between middle
sections of two symmetrical stopping members 15 attached on the first outlet
13,
and each stopping member 15 includes one control passageway 151 disposed on
an outer side thereof. Due to the stopping member 15 is well-known prior art,
further remarks are omitted.
With reference to Figs. 6 and 7, a difference of a fluidic oscillator la of
a second embodiment of the present invention from that of the first embodiment
comprises a first body 101 and two covers 102, wherein the first body 101 is
applied to form a main part of the fluidic oscillator la, and the two covers
102
are connected with a vertically upper and a vertically lower ends of the first
body 101, each cover 102 serves to form a second longitudinal wall 112 to be
located at a longitudinally outer side of the interacting cavity 11 so as to
facilitate specific working and manufacturing method.
As illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9, a difference of a fluidic oscillator lb of a
third embodiment of the present invention from that of the second embodiment
comprises a second body 103 and a housing 104, wherein the second body 103
is used to form a main part of the fluidic oscillator lb, the housing 104
includes
a groove 105 mounted therein to receive the second body 103 and serves to form
a second longitudinal wall 112 located at a longitudinally outer side of the
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interacting cavity 11 so as to facilitate specific working and manufacturing
method.
With reference to Figs. 10 and 11, a difference of a fluidic oscillator 1 c
of a fourth embodiment of the present invention from that of the first
embodiment comprises one channel 10, therefore a turbulent flow passage 14 is
fixed on a second longitudinal wall 112 which is located at a longitudinal
bottom
side of the interacting cavity 11. Of course, the turbulent flow passage 14 is
capable of being fixed on another second longitudinal wall 112 which is
located
at a longitudinal top side of the interacting cavity 11.
Referring to Fig. 12, a difference of a fluidic oscillator id of a fifth
embodiment of the present invention from that of the first embodiment
comprises two channels 10, each channel 10 including one turbulent flow
passage 14 arranged on a second longitudinal wall 112 of an outer side of the
channel 10 so that an interacting cavity 11 of the channel 10 is provided with
the
turbulent flow passage 14 to generate an turbulent flow effect when fluid in
the
interacting cavity 11 flows through the turbulent flow passage 14.
Referring to Fig. 13, a difference of a fluidic oscillator le of a sixth
embodiment of the present invention from that of the first embodiment
comprises a turbulent flow controlling device 20 secured on an axially outer
side
of a turbulent flow passage 14 to control a flow amount of a fluid which flows
into an interacting cavity 11 through the turbulent flow passage 14. In this
embodiment, the turbulent flow controlling device 20 is a rod-shaped screwing
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element screwed in the fluidic oscillator 1 e, includes a rotary adjusting
portion
21 disposed on an outer side thereof, and includes a stop portion 22 mounted
on
an inner side thereof, the stop portion 22 being arranged to retract into the
turbulent flow passage 14 by rotating the rotary adjusting portion 21 so that
fluid
flow in an area of the turbulent flow passage 14 is adjusted, especially for
the
area of the cross section in the turbulent flow passage 14 to flow the fluid
which
flows into two vertical holes of the turbulent flow passage 14 from an axial
tunnel segment of the turbulent flow passage 14.
The turbulent flow controlling device 20 is not limited to be embodied
in a screwing manner, e.g., any components allowing to adjust the flow amount
of the fluid which flows into the interacting cavity 11 through the turbulent
flow
passage 14 is provided in this embodiment, and the turbulent flow controlling
device 20 is applicable for the fluidic oscillators of above-mentioned
embodiments of the present invention.
As shown in to Figs. 14 and 15, a difference of a fluidic oscillator lf of
a seventh embodiment of the present invention from that of the first
embodiment
comprises two stopping members 15 to form an interacting cavity 11 including
two axially outer edges extending toward an outermost side of the interacting
cavity 11 respectively so that distal ends of two control passageways 151
fixed
on outer sides of the stopping members 15 are capable of defining two third
outlets 152 individually, and each third outlet 152 is spaced apart from a
first
outlet 13 of a channel 10 such that an oscillating range of the fluid on a
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area of the channel 10 is enhanced.
Thereby, at least one turbulent flow passage 14 of the fluidic oscillator
of the present invention allows to guide the fluid to flow into at least one
interacting cavity 11 of the channel 10 so that the fluid interacts with
another
flows which flows into the interacting cavity 11 form the first inlet 12 to
generate a swirl effect, such that even though a size of the fluidic
oscillator is
decreased 1/3 to 2/3 times smaller than a conventional size of the fluidic
oscillator, the size-decreased fluidic oscillator still allows to generate
oscillatory
spray fluid. For example, a diameter of the interacting cavity of the fluidic
oscillator is within 5mm to 20mm, and a range of a flowing path of the fluid
in
the interacting cavity is within 5mm to 20mm.
As illustrated in Pictures 1 and 2, the fluidic oscillator 1 of the first
embodiment of the present invention is tested, wherein the fluid flowing out
of
the first outlets 13 generates the circular and oscillatory spray and
horizontally
and vertically oscillatory spray fluid is formed as well, hence a
three-dimensional fluid spray is viewed outside the fluidic oscillator.
In addition, after the turbulent flow passage 14 of the fluidic oscillator 1
of the first embodiment is jammed under the test, the fluid flowing out of the
first outlets 13 generates a column-shaped spray as shown in Pictures 3 and 4
but not form three-dimensional and oscillatory spray fluid spray, therefore
the
turbulent flow passage 14 of the fluidic oscillator 1 is provided to stop the
oscillatory spray.
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