NOZZLE MECHANISM

The invention relates to a nozzle device for distributing or dispensing fluid and in particular to a nozzle device to distribute washer fluid on vehicle windows or lenses of vehicle headlights.

Vehicles windows in the sense of the invention are preferably, but not exclusively, vehicle windshields or rear windows.

Nozzle devices for discharging and distributing washer fluid, specifically water, usually with detergent and/or anti-freeze additives, are known in numerous embodiments. In particular, nozzle devices are also known whose nozzles or nozzle openings are formed by nozzle slits, specifically for generating a fan-shaped fluid jet (for example, DE 299 948 U1). The intent of a fan jet of this kind is to achieve the broadest possible distribution of the washer or cleaning fluid on the vehicle window for the purpose of increasing the cleaning effect.

In the known nozzle devices, the particular nozzle slit is positioned so that the fan jet makes contact with the vehicle window with its greater cross section horizontal, or more or less horizontal.

The object of the invention is to demonstrate a nozzle device for improved cleaning effect.

In the nozzle arrangement in accordance with the invention, the cleaning fluid is set in rotation after it enters the rotation chamber, and thereby a homogenization of the fan-shaped fluid jet exiting the nozzle slit is achieved in such fashion that the jet has an essentially constant jet thickness in the longitudinal extension of the nozzle slit.

For a better understanding and for the sake of simplification, the three spatial axes running perpendicular to each other are given in FIGS. 1 and 2 as X, Y and Z.

The nozzle device generally identified with the reference numeral 1 is produced as a molded part in the aspect shown, for example, as an injection molded part made from a suitable material, for example, plastic. The nozzle device 1 comprises a nozzle body 2 which forms a chamber 3 in its interior. The chamber 3 has a circular cylindrical inner surface 4 which runs concentrically with a center axis or axis of rotation M parallel to the Y-axis.

On each of its sides which are spaced apart in the direction of the Y-axis, the chamber 3 is closed off by a planar floor indicated in FIG. 1 by the broken line 5 or 6, where the plane of these floors lies perpendicular to the Y-axis in the embodiment shown.

The lower floor 6 in FIG. 1 is formed by the inner face of an end piece 7 which is inset into the nozzle bodies 2, or into the open side of a recess forming the chamber 3, and is affixed to the nozzle body 2 in a suitable manner.

A sleeve-like connection 8 is formed on the nozzle body 2, with which the nozzle device 1 can be connected to a supply, not shown, for example, to a hose for supplying a fluid, e.g. washer fluid (an example of which is water with detergent and/or anti-freeze additives). A passage is formed in the connection 8, the axis of which passage lies parallel to the X-axis and thus also parallel to the X-Z plane and which, referenced to the peripheral or inner surface of the chamber 3, opens tangentially into the chamber.

In the aspect shown, the configuration is further formed so that the distance between the two floors 5 and 6 is the same, or about the same, as the diameter of the passage 9, and the axis 10 of the passage 9 is at a distance from the center axis M which is equal to half the diameter of the chamber 9 minus half the diameter of the passage 9, so that the passage 9 lies with its right boundary in the sectional drawing 2 tangentially or more or less tangentially to the peripheral surface 4. The passage 9, whose axis 10 lies parallel to the X-axis in FIGS. 1 and 2, has a constant cross section over its entire length.

As FIG. 2 in particular shows, the diameter of the chamber 3 is considerably greater than the diameter of the passage 9 and thus also of the opening of this passage into the chamber 3.

Offset opposite the opening 11 around the center axis M in a circumferential direction A, provision is made for a continuous nozzle slit, that is, the slit passes from the outside of the nozzle body 2 into the chamber 3, which slit extends over a considerable angular range around the axis M, and in the aspect shown more or less over an angular range of 90°, and its longitudinal extent lies parallel to the X-Z plane. Referenced to their respective centers, the opening 11 and the nozzle slit 12 in the aspect shown are offset to each other over an angular range around the axis M, which angle is greater than the angular length of the nozzle slit 12 and in the aspect shown is about 180°.

In the aspect shown, the nozzle slit 12 is bounded on its long sides by surfaces which lie parallel to the X-Z plane and at both ends by surfaces 13 and 14 which lie on a plane which includes an angle with an imaginary plane running radially through the center axis M, specifically such that in the assumed circumferential direction A, the transition of each surface 13 and 14 to the inner circumferential surface 4 has a smaller angular distance from the opening 11 than the outer transition of each surface 13 and 14 to the outer surface 15 of the nozzle body 2.

In the area of the nozzle slit 12, a plate-like or segmental projection 16 is molded onto the nozzle body 2, which lies parallel to the X-Z plane with its surface sides and with one surface flush with one longitudinal side of the nozzle slit 12, specifically in the aspect shown flush with the longitudinal side of the nozzle slit 12 distal from the end piece 7. The projection 14 protruding beyond the outer surface 15 extends over the entire angular length of the nozzle slit 12, where the outer edge 17 of the projection 16 describes an arc around the center axis M, and each of the inward running edges 18 and 19 lies in a common plane with the boundary 13 (edge 18) or with the boundary 14 (edge 19). The width of the nozzle slit 12 in the aspect shown is smaller than the distance between the floors 5 and 6. In the aspect shown, the nozzle body 2 is also configured essentially on its outer surface 15 as a circular cylinder.

The projection 16 is profiled on the surface side facing the nozzle slit, meaning that in the aspect shown it is furnished with groove-like channels which extend from the nozzle slit 12 outward in a direction of the outer edge 17. This profiling serves to modify the fan-shaped fluid jet emerging from the nozzle slit. Other profiles to modify the jet are also conceivable.

When in use, the nozzle device 1 is supplied through the connection 8 with a fluid under pressure, for example, washer fluid, which then enters the chamber 3 through the passage 9 and finally emerges as a fan-shaped jet from the nozzle slit 12 radially to the center axis M. As a result of the tangential issuance of the passage 9 into the chamber with its circular cylindrical inner surface, a fluid stream or turbulence is generated inside the chamber, which stream rotates about the center axis M in the circumferential direction A. As a result of the pressure of the fluid supplied and specifically of the centrifugal forces exerted on the fluid particles by the turbulence, a homogenization of the fan-shaped fluid jet emerging from the nozzle slit 12 is achieved such that an essentially constant jet thickness is also achieved in the X-Z plane, that is in the plane of the longitudinal extension of the nozzle slit 12. The fan-shaped fluid jet can be modified additionally regarding its jet thickness by the wall section or projection 16 and its profiling 20, specifically by appropriate redirection, scattering, etc., of the fluid particles impacting this projection 16.

The invention was described in the preceding using one aspect as an example. It is evident that modifications and changes are possible without departing from the fundamental idea of the invention. For example, it is possible to furnish several nozzle openings in succession in the direction of arrow A in the place of one nozzle slit 12, which openings form an array of nozzle openings, the effect of which is the equivalent of the nozzle slit 12. It is furthermore possible to furnish several nozzle slits 12 in succession in the circumferential direction A or offset in the direction of the Y-axis or arrays of nozzle openings.

In the preceding it was assumed that the peripheral surface 4 of the chamber 3 is configured as a circular cylinder shape with a concave curvature. Other concave shapes for the inner peripheral surface of the chamber 3 are conceivable, specifically in the area between the opening 11 and the at least one nozzle slit 12 or a corresponding array of nozzle openings.

It is furthermore possible in at least one nozzle slit 12 or to dispose or configure a corresponding array of several nozzle openings in a helix with reference to the center axis M or to dispose them in a plane which is inclined with respect to the X-Z plane.