Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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MECHANICAL VALVE ASSEMfBLY
Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to water spraying nozzles, and in particular, to
a
spray control mechanism for a water spraying nozzle.
Background of the Invention
Water spray nozzles for use with water hoses are well known. Various nozzles
are available including nozzles with multiple spray patterns and nozzles that
may be used
to mix various fluids or soluble powders with water supplied to the nozzle.
Generally,
these water spray nozzles include a trigger mechanism which is used to control
a valve
internal to the spray nozzle. When the trigger mechanism is not activated, the
internal
valve is shut (or closed) and no water is allowed to flow through the nozzle.
Conversely,
activation of the trigger mechanism opens the internal valve:, and water is
allowed to flow
through the water spray nozzle.
Closure of the internal valve is typically effected by the provision of a
biasing
mechanism that operates against the disc of the valve, forcing the disc into
sealing
engagement with the seat of the valve when the trigger is not activated.
Generally, the
biasing mechanism forces the disc in the same direction that water moves
through the
water spray nozzle. Thus, the pressure of the water supplied to the water
spray nozzle
assists in ensuring that the internal valve does not allow any water to flow
through the
water spray nozzle until the trigger mechanism is activated.
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To activate the trigger mechanism so as to allow water to flow through the
water
spray nozzle a trigger on the water spray nozzle is typically squeezed. This
causes the
disc of the internal valve to move directly away from the seat of the internal
valve and
toward the biasing mechanism and the source of the water. As the disc moves
away from
the seat of the internal valve, water is allowed to flow around the periphery
of the disc
and past the seat through the water spray nozzle.
While proving very effective in many respects, the above described internal
valve
design suffers certain limitations. As described above, the movement of the
disc is
directly away from the seat. Thus, the force applied to the disc must overcome
the entire
force of the water pressure and biasing mechanism acting against the disc. Of
course, as
the water pressure of the source increases, it becomes increasingly difficult
to operate the
trigger mechanism.
One approach used to overcome this limitation is to fashion the trigger
mechanism as a class "1" lever. A class "1" lever has a fulcrum located
between the load
and the location on the lever where a user applies force. Thus, application of
force in a
first direction causes the load to move in a direction opposite the first
direction. As
applied to a water spray nozzle, a class "1" lever is created by placing a
fulcrum on the
trigger between the portion of the trigger that is grasped by the user and the
portion of the
trigger that is operably connected to a stem that is used to move the disc. A
mechanical
advantage is thus achieved, allowing a user to open the internal valve while
using less
force to activate the trigger mechanism.
Fashioning the trigger mechanism as a lever is very useful in allowing for
opening
of the internal valve of a water spray nozzle with a reduced amount of force.
However, it
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is commonly desired to operate the water spray nozzle in a mode other than
fully open or
fully shut. Positioning of the internal valve to a position intermediate the
fully opened
and fully shut positions is frequently desired so as to govern the force
and/or volume of
the water exiting the water spray nozzle. Governing of the force of the
exiting water is
desired because a spray pattern at a given water pressure that provides a
gentle spray
when the spray is directed at a plant that is ten feet away from a user may
provide a
torrential blast of water when that same spray is directed at a plant that is
two feet away
from the user. The blast of water can result in damage to the plant and may
splash the
user. Similarly, when a specific amount of water is desired to be provided to
the plant, a
user may desire a slower flow of water to better determine when sufficient
water has been
supplied to the plant.
However, even in water spray nozzles having a trigger in the form of a class
"1"
lever, the stem that is used to move the disc away from the seat generally
operates to
move the disc off of the seat in a uniform fashion forming a. gap between the
disc and seat
around the entire periphery of the disc. Thus, when a user applies sufficient
force to the
trigger mechanism to move the disc off of the seat, a gap of a relatively
large area is
rapidly realized between the disc and the seat, allowing a large volume of
water to flow
through the water spray nozzle. This makes the volume of water passing through
the
water spray nozzle very difficult to manage. It would be beneficial if the
effective cross
section of the internal valve were reduced, particularly at lower flow rates.
Additionally, the generation of a large gap between the disc and the seat
results in
an abrupt drop in the pressure applied to the disc by the pressure of the
water source
acting against the disc. Thus, once the seal between the seat and disc is
broken, a user is
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typically not able to react quickly enough in reducing the pressure applied to
the trigger
mechanism to avoid fully opening the internal valve or at least opening the
internal valve
beyond the position desired. Accordingly, even when a user desires to place
the internal
valve in an intermediate position, the internal valve is typically opened
beyond the
desired position, and then the user attempts to adjust the force applied to
the trigger
mechanism to reduce the water flow to the desired amount. It would be
beneficial if the
reduction in pressure applied to the disc by the water sourcf; pressure and
biasing
mechanism were less severe.
What is needed is a water spray nozzle that allows a. user to easily open an
internal
valve so as to allow water to flow through the water spray nozzle, while
ensuring a tight
fit between the disc and seat of an internal valve when the trigger mechanism
of the water
spray nozzle is in the closed position. What is further needed is a water
spray nozzle with
an internal valve that is easily positioned to an intermediate position.
Summary of the Invention
A water spray nozzle in accordance with the present invention overcomes
limitations previously encountered with garden hose spray nozzles. The water
spray
nozzle of the present invention includes a trigger mechanism that tilts the
disc of a valve
internal to the water spray nozzle with respect to the seat of the internal
valve. The
leveraging action of the disc when the trigger mechanism is activated provides
ease of
operation and increased control over the movement of the disc away from the
seat.
In one embodiment, a spray nozzle in accordance with the present invention
includes a housing, an internal valve, a biasing mechanism and a trigger
mechanism. The
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valve includes a seat and a disc. The disc is biased toward sealing engagement
with the
seat by the biasing mechanism. The trigger mechanism is operable to tilt the
disc at least
partially off of the seat.
Advantageously, the trigger mechanism may include a plunger operable to act
against a stem attached to the disc to tilt the disc off of the seat. In one
embodiment, the
trigger mechanism is operable to tilt the disc to the extent that the disc is
completely off
of the seat.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a spray nozzle assembly
that
allows for ease of operation while maintaining a tight seal against leakage
when the spray
nozzle is not activated.
It is also an object of the present invention to provide a spray nozzle
assembly
with an internal valve that is easily manipulated into a position intermediate
a fully open
position and a fully closed position, so as to allow a reduced flow of water
through the
spray nozzle assembly.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a spray nozzle assembly
wherein
an internal valve is opened by using a Iever action to tilt the disc of the
seat at least
partially off of the seat of the valve.
These and other advantages and features of the present invention may be
discerned from reviewing the accompanying drawings and the detailed
description of the
preferred embodiment of the invention.
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Brief Description of the Drawings
The present invention may take form in various system and method components
and arrangement of system and method components. The drawings are only for
purposes
of illustrating exemplary embodiments and are not to be construed as limiting
the
invention.
FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a spray nozzle assembly incorporating
features of the present invention.
FIG. 2 shows an exploded perspective view of the components of the handle
portion of the spray nozzle assembly of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a trigger of the spray nozzle assembly of
FIG.
1.
FIG. 4 shows a cross sectional view of the handle housing of the handle
portion of
FIG. 2.
FIG. 5 shows a cross sectional view of the handle portion of FIG. 2 with the
internal valve in a closed position.
FIG. 6 shows a cross sectional view of the handle portion of FIG. 2 with the
internal valve in an intermediate position.
FIG. 7 shows a cross sectional view of the handle portion of FIG. 2 with the
internal valve in a fully open position.
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Description of the Invention
FIG. 1 shows a spray nozzle assembly 10 which in this embodiment of the
invention includes a spray control portion 12 and a handle laortion 14. The
handle portion
14 includes a handle housing 16, a trigger 18 and a handle portion water inlet
20. The
trigger 18 and handle housing 16 are preferably formed of plastic.
The spray control portion 12 includes spray controll portion housing 22, spray
head 24 and spray control knob 26.
Referring now to FIG. 2, the handle portion 14 of the spray nozzle assembly 10
is
shown in an exploded view. The handle portion 14 includes a lock 28, a seal
30, a disc
32, and a biasing mechanism 34. The spray control portion 12 also includes two
springs
36 and 38, two o-rings 40 and 42, a bushing 44 and a plunger 46. The o-rings
40 and 42
and the seal 30 are made of resilient materials.
The lock 28 includes locking stem 48 and spring ret:um stem 50. As shown more
clearly in FIG. 3, the trigger 18 includes an off notch 52 and an adjacent
lock-on notch
54. The off notch 52 is longer than the lock-on notch 54, and the off notch 52
and lock-
on notch 54 are open to each other along the entire length of the lock-on
notch 54. The
trigger 18 also includes two detent retention loops 56 and 58 and a lip 76.
Returning to
FIG. 2, the disc 32 in this embodiment includes a stem 64.
FIG. 4 shows a cross sectional view of the handle housing 16. The handle
housing 16 includes a trigger well 60 and a trigger detent mechanism 62. A
spring return
well 66 and a lock hole 68 are located at the forward portion of the handle
housing 16 and
a seal well 70 is located around an internal channel 72. An internal passage
74 is formed
between the internal channel 72 and the trigger well 60.
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FIG. 5 shows a cross sectional view of the handle housing 16 fully assembled
with the disc 32 sealingly engaging the seal 30. When assembled, the seal 30
is located
within the seal well 70 and the disc 32 is located within the internal chamber
72 with the
stem 64 of the disc 32 extending through the seal 30. The spring 34 is located
between
the disc 32 and the handle portion water inlet 20. The handle portion water
inlet 20 is
screwed into the handle housing 16. In a preferred embodiment, the handle
portion water
inlet 20 includes a swivel nut assembly as is known in the art.
The spring 34 is sized such that when the disc 32, the spring 34 and the
handle
portion water inlet 20 are assembled into the handle housing 16, the spring 34
is placed
into compression. The spring 34 thus acts as a biasing member urging the disc
32 into
sealing engagement with the seal 30. Accordingly, the seal 30 and the disc 32
form an
internal valve, with the seal 30 functioning as a seat.
The trigger mechanism is assembled with the o-ring; 40 and the bushing 44
inserted within the internal passage 74. The o-ring 42 and the plunger 46 are
inserted
within the bushing 44. The plunger 46 extends completely through the internal
passage
74 and abuts the stem 64 of the disc 32. The spring 38 is located between the
trigger 18
and the bottom of the trigger well 60. The detent retention loops S6 and 58
hold the
trigger 18 rotatably attached to the detent mechanism 62. The trigger 18 also
contacts the
plunger 46.
The lock 28 is rotatably attached to the forward portion of the handle housing
16,
with the locking stem 48 inserted though the locking hole 68 of the handle
housing 16
and into the off notch 52 of the trigger 18. The spring 36 is compressed
between the
spring return well 66 and the spring return stem 50.
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When the handle portion 14 is assembled as shown in FIG. 5, and the trigger
mechanism is not activated, the spring 38 pushes against the trigger 18.
Because the
locking stem 48 is within the off notch 52, the trigger 18 is free to move
away from the
trigger well 60 until the lip 76 on the trigger 18 abuts the locking stem 48.
When the
trigger 18 is in this position, the plunger 46 does not exert sufficient force
on the stem 64
to tilt the disc 32 off of the seal 30. More specifically, the spring 34 acts
against the disc
32 in the direction of the seal 30 causing the disc 32 to seal:ingly engage
the seal 30.
To operate the spray nozzle assembly 10, a user activates the trigger
mechanism
by grasping the handle portion 14 and squeezing. This forces the detent
retention loops
56 and 58 to rotate about the detent mechanism 62. The trigger 18 thus pivots
about the
detent mechanism 62 against the spring 38. As the spring 38 compresses, the
trigger is
allowed to move toward the trigger well 60 because the off notch S2 allows the
trigger 18
to move with respect to the locking stem 48. Movement of the trigger 18 forces
the
plunger 46 against the stem 64 of the disc 32. As the plunger 46 is forced
against the
stem 64 of the disc 32, the disc 32 is tilted partially off of the seal 30.
Initially, the disc
32 pivots about the seal 30 as shown in FIG: 6. As the disc 32 pivots, the
spring 34 is
compressed.
Accordingly, the internal valve formed by the disc 32 and the seal 30 is
placed
into the intermediate position shown in FIG. 6. In FIG. 6, the disc 32 is
tilted to a
position partially off of the seal 30. The lower portion of the disc 32 is
still in contact
with a portion of the seal 30. Thus, the seal 30 functions as a fulcrum as the
disc 32 is
tilted against the spring 34 and the water pressure from the position of the
disc 32 shown
in FIG. 5 to the position of the disc 32 shown in FIG. 6. The trigger 18 is
located
9
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partially within the trigger well 60, and the locking stem 48 is located at an
intermediate
position within the off notch 52.
Further opening of the internal valve of the spray nozzle assembly 10 is
accomplished by further squeezing of the trigger 18 in the manner discussed
above. This
eventually results in the internal valve of the spray nozzle assembly 10 being
positioned
in the fully open position shown in FIG. 7. In the fully open position of this
embodiment,
the disc 32 contacts a portion of the wall of the internal charmel 72. Thus, a
portion of
the wall of the internal channel 72 functions as a fulcrum as the disc 32 is
tilted against
the spring 34 and the water pressure after the disc 32 is tilted off of the
seal 30 to the
position of the disc 32 shown in FIG. 6. This allows for the disc 32 to be
positioned
completely off of the seal 30.
Additionally, the locking stem 48 is located within the offnotch 52 at a
position
wherein the off notch 52 and the lock-on notch 54 are open to each other.
Accordingly, a
user may rotate the lock 28 so as to position the locking stern 48 within the
lock-on notch
54. In this position, the trigger mechanism may be released., and the trigger
18 will be
maintained in position by the locking stem 48 contacting the edge of the lock-
on notch
54. Thus, the internal valve formed by the disc 32 and the seal 30 is
maintained in an
open position.
Those of skill in the art will appreciate that the above described water spray
nozzle offers a number of advantages over prior art water spray nozzles. In
addition to
the additional control provided by a tiltable disc 32, the trigger 18 is
configured to act as
either a class "2" or a class "3" lever. In a class "2" lever, tl~e load is
between the fulcrum
io
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and the point at which force is applied. In a class "3" lever, the force is
applied at a
location between the load and the fulcrum.
With reference to FIG. 5, the effective load point on the trigger 18 is
determined
by combining the load applied to the trigger 18 by the spring 38, the spring
34, and the
pressure of water applied on the disc 32. The force of the springs 38 and 34
is a function
of the respective spring constants. The force applied by the water is a
function of the
source water pressure and the size and shape of the disc 32. The force of the
spring 38 is
applied to the trigger 18 at the location where the spring 38 contacts the
trigger 18. The
force from the spring 34 and the water pressure is applied to the trigger 1$
at the location
where the plunger 46 contacts the trigger 18. Thus, the effective load point
on the trigger
18 will be at a point between the location where the spring 38 contacts the
trigger 18 and
the location where the plunger 46 contacts the trigger 18.
Accordingly, the trigger 18 may be used as a class "2" lever by applying force
to
the trigger 18 at a point farther away from the detent mechanism 62 than the
effective
load point. Alternatively, the trigger 18 may be used as a class "3" lever by
applying
force to the trigger 18 at a point between the effective load point and the
detent
mechanism 62 which in either case acts as the fulcrum. Accordingly, a user can
obtain
the benefits of using trigger 18 either as a class "2" or class "3" lever,
merely by adjusting
the placement of the spray water nozzle assembly 10 within the user's grasp.
While the present invention has been illustrated by the description of
exemplary
processes and system components, and while the various processes and
components have
been described in considerable detail, applicant does not intend to restrict
or in any limit
the scope of the appended claims to such detail. Additional advantages and
modifications
11
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will also readily appear to those skilled in the art. The invention in its
broadest aspects is
therefore not limited to the specific details, implementations, or
illustrative examples
shown and described. Accordingly, departures may be made from such details
without
departing from the spirit or scope of applicant's general inventive concept.
I2
