GB2047571A

GB2047571A - A water spray nozzle

Info

Publication number: GB2047571A
Application number: GB8006629A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Hall and Pickles Ltd
Current assignee: Hall and Pickles Ltd
Priority date: 1979-03-02
Filing date: 1980-02-27
Publication date: 1980-12-03
Also published as: DE3007659A1; ZA801186B; AU5605880A

Abstract

A water spray nozzle, particularly for use with mine equipment, is of a construction that discourages blockage by dirt etc. entrained in the water supply, and comprises a circular section body member 5 having an inner end 7 and a spray discharge end 8, a nose 9 having an external diameter substantially less than that of the body member 5 and projecting from the inner end 7, the cross-section of the nose 9 decreasing towards a terminal end 12 thereof remote from the inner end 7 and being co-axial with the body member 5, and a bore 15 passing co-axially through the nose 9 and providing an inlet for the water supply at the terminal end 12 of the nose 9. Dirt 24 can collect in the annular region 11 surrounding the nose. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A water spray nozzle This invention relates to a water spray nozzle, particularly for use in mining or other applications where the water may not be particularly free of dirt. The invention also includes mine equipment such as a rotary, mineral cutting head, a shearer drum, a trepanner, a crusher, provided with such spray nozzles.

In prior art proposals it is not uncommon for the water conveying bores of water spray nozzles to become blocked by dirt entrained in the water supply or by other debris e.g. swarf.

The blockage is basically due to the inlet end of a nozzle i.e. the end that is inserted into a water supply pipe or passage, being flat or alternatively recessed in most prior art proposals, while in other prior art proposals having a male inlet end, the intake of water supply has been effected from a debris collecting zone.

The object of the present invention is the provision of a water spray nozzle adapted to discourage blockage by dirt, or other debris, entrained in the water supply.

According to the present invention, a water spray nozzle comprises a circular section body member having an inner end and a spray discharge end, a nose having an external diameter substantially less than that of the body member and projecting from the inner end and the cross-section of the nose decreasing towards a terminal end thereof remote from the inner end and being co-axial with the body member, and a bore passing co-axially through the nose and providing an inlet for the water supply at the terminal end of the nose.

In use, the nozzle is secured in the outlet end of a water supply pipe or passage, so that firstly any dirt entrained in the water supply collects in the annular region defined between the nose and the adjacent inner wall of the pipe or passage, thus reducing the risk of bore blockage, instead of being carried into the bore of the nozzle as often occurs with prior art nozzles, and secondly the decreasing cross-section of the nose tends to deflect dirt into the annular region and enables a construction to be provided in which no surface normal to the direction of water flow in the water supply pipe or passage is present, on which surface dirt could otherwise seat.

The decrease in cross-section can be provided by one or more chamfers or bevels or by making the nose of frusto-conical crosssection. Although the nose could be a separate element, preferably it is integral with the body member. The nose preferably terminates in one or more diagonal grooves intersecting the bore, so that any dirt particle which might come to rest over the water inlet end is unable to prevent water from continuing to flow into the bore. Also, the nose is preferably blended into the body member by a radiussed annular shoulder.

The body member is conveniently provided with an external screwthread, which is preferably slightly tapered towards the nose, for screwing into an internal screwthread in the outlet end of a water supply pipe or passage.

The bore may pass completely through both the nose and body member or may pass partly through the body member and intersect an enlargement in the body member of hexagonal cross-section, conveniently forming a recess for a socket-key, whereby the nozzle may be screwed into place. Alternatively, a slot to receive a screwdriver blade may be provided in the discharge end of the body member. Yet again, the body member may be provided with a hexagonal head or spanner flats for insertion and removal purposes. The bore may be of constant diameter or may taper outwardly from the bore end at the terminal end of the nose. With any such tapered portion guide vanes may be provided within the tapered portion to develop a rotary spray.

The nozzle may be formed wholly of metal, ceramic material or plastics e.g. polyurethane, rubber, nylon, or alternatively, the nose may be of one material and the body member of a different material, the two parts being bonded or otherwise secured together.

The invention will now be further described, by way of examples, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a first embodiment of nozzle in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is an end elevation of Fig. 1 in the direction of arrow A of Fig. 1; Figure 3 is an end elevation of Fig. 1 in the direction of arrow B of Fig. 1; Figure 4 is an axial section through Fig. 1; Figure 5 is a side elevation of a second embodiment of nozzle in accordance with the present invention; Figure 6 is an end elevation of Fig. 5 in the direction of arrow C of Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is an end elevation of Fig. 5 in the direction of arrow D of Fig. 5; Figure 8 is an axial section through Fig. 5; Figure 9 is an axial section through a third embodiment of nozzle in accordance with the invention;; Figure 10 is an end elevation of Fig. 9 in the direction of arrow E of Fig. 9; Figure 11 is an axial section through a fourth embodiment of nozzle in accordance with the invention; Figure 12 is an end elevation of Fig. 11 in the direction of arrow F of Fig. 11; Figure 13 is an axial section through a fifth embodiment of nozzle in accordance with the invention; Figure 14 is an end elevation of Fig. 1 3 in the direction of arrow G of Fig. 13; Figure 15 is an axial section through a sixth embodiment of nozzle in accordance with the invention; and Figure 16 is an end elevation of Fig. 15 in the direction of arrow H of Fig. 1 5.

In the drawings, like parts are accorded like reference numerals.

In Fig. 1, a water spray nozzle 1 is shown secured in an outlet end 2 of a water supply passage 3 of a rotary, mineral cutting head 4.

The latter is provided, in the well known manner with a plurality of pick boxes each housing a replaceable cutter pick, irrespective of whether the cutter head is for mineral winning purposes, e.g. by being mounted on a coal cutting machine, or for underground roadway or tunnel driving purposes e.g. by being mounted on a roadway driving or tunnelling machine.

The spray nozzle 1 comprises a body member 5 of circular section as can be appreciated from Figs. 2, 3, 6 and 7. In the first embodiment, the body member 5 has an integrated securing means constituted by external screw threads 6 by which it is screwed into the outlet end 2 which is appropriately internally threaded while in the second embodiment the nozzle 1 is basically a washer and is secured in the supply passage 3 by additional means e.g. an externally screw threaded nut, a circlip etc. The body member 5 has a water inner end 7 and a spray discharge end 8. A nose 9 having an external diameter substantially less than that of the body member 5 and a decreasing cross-sectional area projects from the inner end 7 and together with an adjacent inner wall 10 of the supply passage 3, defines an annular region 11.The nose 9 is both coaxial and integral with the body portion 5 and from a terminal end 1 2 remote from the inner end 7, the nose 9 decreases in crosssection by being provided with an external bevel 13, and the nose 9 also blends into the body member 3 by a radiussed, annular shoulder 14.

In the first embodiment (Figs. 1 to 4), a bore 1 5 passes co-axially through the nose 9, from the terminal end 1 2 thereof, and partially through the body member 5 until the bore 1 5 intersects a hexagonal enlargement 1 6 to receive a key (not shown) for screwing the nozzle 1 into, and out of, the discharge end 8 of the water passage. Indicated in chain dotted line in Fig. 2 is a slot 1 7 to receive a screwdriver blade, the slot 1 7 being an alternative or addition to the hexagonal enlargement 16.

In the second embodiment (Figs. 5 to 8), the body member 5 incorporates no enlargement and is of relatively short length compared with the first embodiment, while its bore 1 5 is of larger diameter.

In both the first and second embodiments, a diagonal groove 1 8 is provided in the terminal end 1 2 so as to intersect the bore 15.

In the third embodiment (Figs. 9 and 10) the spray nozzle 1 is moulded from synthetic plastics material and corresponds generally to the embodiment of Figs. 1 to 4. However, the bore 1 5 has an outwardly tapered portion 1 9 and is provided with guide vanes 20 to develop a rotary spray.

In the fourth embodiment (Figs. 11 and 12) the spray nozzle 1 is again moulded from synthetic plastics material and corresponds generally to the embodiment of Figs. 5 to 8.

However, the bore 5 is again outwardly tapered at 1 9 and provided with guide vanes 20 to develop a rotary spray, four different vane configurations 20A to 20D being indicated in Fig. 12.

In the fifth embodiment (Figs. 1 3 and 14) the spray nozzle 1 is provided with a hexagonal head 21 by which it may be screwed into or from the supply passage 3. The nozzle 1 is again a one-piece moulding but the outwardly tapered portion 1 9 of the bore 1 5 is not provided with guide vanes.

The sixth embodiment (Figs. 1 5 and 16) is very similar to the fifth embodiment but the bore 1 5 is of constant diameter.

In use, the spray nozzle 1 is screwed into place as indicated in Figs. 1 and 13. Water is supplied in the direction of arrows 22 and, after passage along the bore 15, issues as a spray, indicated by arrows 23 from the discharge end 8 of the nozzle 1. Dirt entrained in the water supply tends to collect in the annular region 11 and is indicated at 24. Any relatively large dirt particle that might come to rest over the inlet end of the bore 1 5 at the terminal end 1 2 of the nose 9 is unable to block the flow of water to and through the bore 1 5, due to the water flow path provided by the diagonal groove 1 8. In the embodiments of Figs. 9 to 12, the presence of the guide vanes 20, 20A to 20D ensures that a swirling action is developed in the spray 23.

Claims

1. A water spray nozzle comprising a circular section body member having an inner end and a spray discharge end, a nose having an external diameter substantially less than that of the body member and projecting from the inner end and the cross-section of the nose decreasing towards a terminal end thereof remote from the inner end and being co-axial with the body member, and a bore passing co-axially through the nose and providing an inlet for the water supply at the terminal end of the nose.

2. A nozzle as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the decrease in cross-section of the nose is provided by one or more chamfers or bevels.

3. A nozzle as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the decrease in cross-section of the nose is provided by making the nose of frusto conical cross-section.

4. A nozzle as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein the nose is a separate element from the body member.

5. A nozzle as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein the nose is integral with the body member.

6. A nozzle as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein the nose terminates in one or more diagonal grooves intersecting the bore.

7. A nozzle as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein the nose is blended into the body member by a radiussed annular shoulder.

8. A nozzle as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein the body portion is provided with an external screwthread.

9. A nozzle as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein the bore passes completely through both the nose and body member.

10. A nozzle as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 8, wherein the bore passes partly through the body member and intersects an enlargement in the body member of hexagonal cross-section.

11. A nozzle as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 8, wherein a slot to receive a screwdriver blade is provided in the discharge end of the body member.

1 2. A nozzle as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 8, wherein the body member is provided with a hexagonal head or spanner flats.

1 3. A nozzle as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein the bore is of constant diameter.

14. A nozzle as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 12, wherein the bore tapers outwardly from the bore end at the terminal end of the nose.

15. A nozzle as claimed in Claim 14, wherein guide vanes are provided within the tapered portion.

1 6. A nozzle as claimed in any preceding Claim, formed wholly of metal.

1 7. A nozzle as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 15, formed wholly of ceramic material.

18. A nozzle as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 15, formed wholly of plastics.

1 9. A nozzle as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 15, formed wholly of polyurethane.

20. A nozzle as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 15, formed wholly of nylon.

21. A nozzle as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 15, wherein the nose is of one material and the body member of a different material, the two parts being bonded or otherwise secured together.

22. A water spray nozzle substantially as herein before described with reference to Figs.

1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings.

23. A water spray nozzle substantially as herein before described with reference to Figs.

5 to 8 of the accompanying drawings.

24. A water spray nozzle substantially as herein before described with reference to Figs.

9 and 10 of the accompanying drawings.

25. A water spray nozzle substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs.

11 and 1 2 of the accompanying drawings.

26. A water spray nozzle substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs.

1 3 and 14 of the accompanying drawings.

27. A water spray nozzle substantially as herein before described with reference to Figs.

1 5 and 1 6 of the accompanying drawings.

28. Mine equipment provided with a plurality of nozzles as defined in any preceding Claim.