Abstract: A spray nozzle comprises a hollow body having an inlet, an outlet and a fluid flow passage therebetween. The body contains a pressure-responsive or a pressure responsive and temperature responsive valving element that increases the effective area of the outlet in response to an increase in pressure or an increase in pressure and/or temperature. In a preferred embodiment, the outlet includes a restricted orifice and an unrestricted orifice, and the valving element is movable within the body between a first position in which the restricted orifice is open and the unrestricted orifice is closed, and a second position in which the unrestricted orifice is open. The valving element is biased in the first position by a spring which applies a selectable biasing force that defines a threshold pressure, so that the valving element is moved to the second position by a dynamic pressure of the fluid flowing through the flow passage that is greater than the threshold pressure.

Abstract: A spray nozzle comprises a hollow body having an inlet, an outlet and a fluid flow passage therebetween. The body contains a pressure-responsive or a pressure responsive and temperature responsive valving element that increases the effective area of the outlet in response to an increase in pressure or an increase in pressure and/or temperature. In a preferred embodiment, the outlet includes a restricted orifice and an unrestricted orifice, and the valving element is movable within the body between a first position in which the restricted orifice is open and the unrestricted orifice is closed, and a second position in which the unrestricted orifice is open. The valving element is biased in the first position by a spring which applies a selectable biasing force that defines a threshold pressure, so that the valving element is moved to the second position by a dynamic pressure of the fluid flowing through the flow passage that is greater than the threshold pressure.