Abstract: A fluidic circuit configured to spray an oscillating pattern of fluid droplets, having an inlet in fluid communication with a source and including a power nozzle with an oscillation chamber having a fluid jet steering section in fluid communication with the power nozzle and having either (a) a first fluid pressure accumulating volume opposite a second fluid pressure accumulating volume or (b) a first fluid jet attachment feature opposing a second fluid jet attachment feature. The fluid jet steering section is in fluid communication with and emits a fluid jet into an oscillation inducing interaction region with opposing first and second side wall ears or features which define an oscillation inducing interaction region in the oscillation chamber for causing the jet of fluid to rhythmically sweep back and forth between the sidewalls in the oscillation chamber and create a distally projecting oscillating spray.

Abstract: An automatically alignable conformal, cup-shaped fluidic nozzle engineered to generate an oscillating spray is configured as a cylindrical cup having a substantially open proximal end and a substantially closed distal end wall with a centrally located power nozzle defined therein and between first and second distally projecting alignment tabs or wall segments. Optionally, the fluidic circuit's oscillation inducing geometry is molded directly into the sealing post's distal surface and a one-piece cup provides the discharge orifice.

Abstract: A vehicle speed, ambient temperature or surface-condition responsive wash system 89 has a control system configured to adapt the wash system's operation to sensed operating conditions. The adaptive system and method selectively controlling aimed windshield washer fluid sprays comprises a multi (e.g., two) mode system with a washer fluid driving pump 80 having an impeller 121 that is activated to supply fluid under pressure to a multi-mode nozzle assembly 98. Selectable first, or low pressure, and second, or high pressure, modes are provided by controlling the pump's polarity and impeller spin direction, hi an exemplary embodiment, a two-mode pump 80 is initially operated in the second mode, or reverse direction, producing a lower pressure flow.

Abstract: A filtering nozzle assembly or spray head has a conformal nozzle component engineered to generate a filtered spray and configured as a small cylindrical member having a substantially open proximal end and a substantially closed distal end wall with a centrally located discharge orifice defined therein. Optionally, cup-shaped filtered orifice defining member also includes a fluidic circuit's oscillation inducing geometry molded into the cup or directly into the distal surface of a sealing post and the one-piece filter cup provides the fluidic circuit's discharge orifice.

Abstract: An oscillating or pulsing fluid stream, or flow, is produced from a flow of pressurized air by fluidic apparatus in a device configured for use in surface cleaning, sweeping, lawn care applications, and the like. A converging nozzle assembly defining a tapered internal lumen having a smooth narrowing profile is configured to generate at a power nozzle a high velocity stream with minimal pressure drop. Downstream of the power nozzle, first and second control ports are in fluid communication with the high velocity stream and with each other via an inertance loop having a lumen of selected cross sectional area and length. The varying air flow is directed through an outlet chamber shaped to produce an oscillating or a pulsating flow.

Abstract: A filtering nozzle assembly or spray head has a conformal nozzle component engineered to generate a filtered spray and configured as a small cylindrical member having a substantially open proximal end and a substantially closed distal end wall with a centrally located discharge orifice defined therein. Optionally, cup-shaped filtered orifice defining member also includes a fluidic circuit's oscillation inducing geometry molded into the cup or directly into the distal surface of a sealing post and the one-piece filter cup provides the fluidic circuit's discharge orifice.

Abstract: An automatically alignable conformal, cup-shaped fluidic nozzle engineered to generate an oscillating spray is configured as a cylindrical cup having a substantially open proximal end and a substantially closed distal end wall with a centrally located power nozzle defined therein and between first and second distally projecting alignment tabs or wall segments. Optionally, the fluidic circuit's oscillation inducing geometry is molded directly into the sealing post's distal surface and a one-piece cup provides the discharge orifice.

Abstract: A fluidic device which produces fluid pulses having a selected pulse repetition frequency, pulse duration, pulse peak pressure and pulse peak flow rate includes first, second and third fluid flow controlling channels or lumens which converge in a junction, defining a “Y” configuration having a base leg and right and left diverging arms. The first leg portion has a fluid input and terminates downstream at the Y junction of the base and the two diverging arms. The first leg has converging walls which reduce the cross sectional area of the flow to thereby increase the fluid velocity to make a fluid jet. The second or right leg, begins at the Y junction and terminates distally in an enclosed, fluid-tight container having a selected blind volume. The third, or left leg, begins at the Y junction and terminates distally in a fluid outlet passage having a selected cross-sectional area.

Abstract: A fluid spraying or nozzle system adapted for use with cold fluids, viscous fluids or fluids under light pressure includes a fluidic oscillator having a power nozzle and an oscillation chamber coupled to the power nozzle for issuing a jet of fluid into the oscillation chamber and an outlet aperture spraying a jet of fluid into ambient space. The oscillator's walls define an oscillation inducing interaction region causing the jet of fluid to rhythmically sweep back and forth between the sidewalls in the oscillation chamber. The oscillation inducing interaction region defines an outlet throat width which is adapted to work with the power nozzle's width and an a bell-shaped feed that spreads the fluid jet as it leaves the power nozzle, so that the interaction region and feedback channels are quickly filled with fluid at a low pressure and the fluidic oscillator is activated to generate a desired fan pattern of fluid spray.

Abstract: An improved automotive pump assembly includes a volute pumping chamber configured to operably contain a rotatable impeller which, when driven, draws fluid into a fluid inlet and pumps the fluid to and through a fluid outlet. The volute chamber has an exterior sidewall with a constant internal first radius over a first sidewall portion and transitions to a second sidewall portion of increasing radius. The chamber's second sidewall portion defines a first end at a sidewall transition point tangent to the constant radius sidewall segment to define a second end which is tangent to the volute chamber's fluid outlet with a second radius that is greater than the first radius.

Abstract: An improved fluidic spray device that includes: (a) a base having boundary surfaces including top, bottom and side edge surfaces, (b) a plurality of projections extending from a base boundary surface chosen from the group consisting of its top and bottom surfaces, wherein these projections are configured and spaced so as to provide the interior geometry of the flow passages for a fluidic circuit having a power nozzle and an interaction region located downstream of the power nozzle, and (c) wherein the flow passages that are proximate the base edges having no sidewalls to form edge boundaries for these flow passages.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a microflush urinal that includes a piece of chinaware in fluid communication with a pre-existing water supply and a waste removal conduit. A valve means in electrical communication with each of a sensor means and a fluid manifold effects delivery of incoming fluid to a water delivery means. The water delivery means is desirably a nozzle means selected from one of a plurality of fluidic nozzles that delivers pressurized water through an ingress defined in a rear wall of the chinaware. The nozzle desirably oscillates water for full coverage of the urinal's rear and side walls. A tarp portion that aesthetically obstructs the ingress assumes a generally scalloped shape to optimize the water distribution along the urinal's rear and side walls. At least one trough is integrated into one or more urinal sidewalls to guide water from the nozzle toward the waste removal conduit.

Abstract: An improved automotive pump assembly includes a volute pumping chamber configured to operably contain a rotatable impeller which, when driven, draws fluid into a fluid inlet and pumps the fluid to and through a fluid outlet. The volute chamber has an exterior sidewall with a constant internal first radius over a first sidewall portion and transitions to a second sidewall portion of increasing radius. The chamber's second sidewall portion defines a first end at a sidewall transition point tangent to the constant radius sidewall segment to define a second end which is tangent to the volute chamber's fluid outlet with a second radius that is greater than the first radius.

Abstract: An improved fluidic device that operates on a pressurized liquid flowing through it at a specified flow rate to generate an oscillating spray of liquid droplets having desired properties (e.g.

Abstract: A fluidic oscillator adapted for use in a showerhead or nozzle assembly includes an eddy filter structure which reduces the adverse effects of fluid supply turbulence on the fluidic oscillator's spraying performance. A nozzle or rain can style showerhead assembly includes a water chamber or manifold which receives water via a central inlet fitting. Water entering the water chamber or manifold flows turbulently into and through the manifold and is expelled under pressure through a plurality of nozzles which are configured as specially adapted fluidic inserts.

Abstract: An improved spa nozzle that is capable of entraining high air flow rates from the surrounding environment, said nozzle of the type having a water input conduit of diameter D, a flow output conduit having entry and diameter of DID, a transition conduit having a diameter of ID and a length of PL, and an air entrainment conduit, and wherein the following ratios are defined to describe the relative geometry of the nozzle: ?=PL/(DID?ID), ?=DID/ID and ?=D/ID, the improvement comprising: the water input, transition and output conduits being configured such that ? is in the range of 1.3-5 and ? is>1.9.

Abstract: A drug inhaler of the type having an air jet entraining liquid medicine at an entrainment region from a medicine reservoir and nebulize or atomize entrained liquid by impacting a liquid medicine-laden air jet on a flat surface, and deliver the atomized medicine to a patient via a medicine delivery channel. A breath-activated fluidic switch has a power nozzle coupled to a source of air under pressure. The fluidic breath-activated switch has a pair of diverging legs, one of the diverging legs has a control port connected to sense inhalation of the patient, the other of the legs is coupled to the medicine entrainment region, whereby the entrainment of medicine at the medicine entrainment region is prevented by air supplied to the medicine entrainment region from the other of the legs in the absence of sensed patient inhalation at the control port. The fluidic control port is located downstream of the power nozzle a predetermined distance downstream of the wall attachment point.

Abstract: A fluidic device, that operates on a pressurized liquid flowing through it to generate an oscillating spray having desired three-dimensional flow characteristics, includes a member that has fabricated within it at least two liquid flow channels that are configured in the form of a fluidic circuit having an inlet and an outlet and a centerline therebetween. These flow channels are further configured so that the straight line projections of their centerlines, that extend from their outlets, intersect at a prescribed intersection angle, ?, and the outlets are separated by a characteristic separation distance, “w.” We have found that the values of the intersection angle, ?, and separation distance, “w,” can be are chosen so as to yield the desired three-dimensional flow characteristics of the spray.

Abstract: A compact, molded liquid oscillator nozzle having a longitudinal axis and a power nozzle, an interaction region having diverging sidewalls, top and bottom walls, and a pair of control ports at opposing sides of the interaction region, and an inertance loop connecting the control ports, characterized in that the inertance loop is molded in a plane that is transverse to the longitudinal axis.