Abstract: An ultrasonic spray nozzle includes a piezoelectric transducer which develops mechanical vibrations in response to an applied periodic electrical potential. The vibrations are mechanically amplified and propagate to an atomizing surface over which fluid to be atomized is discharged by an internal fluid passage. Maximum vibrational amplitude of the atomizing surface is achieved when the frequency of the applied electrical potential equals the natural resonant frequency of the nozzle. A parameter of the applied electrical potential, such as frequency, is periodically varied such that the vibrational amplitude of the atomizing surface is periodically increased and decreased. Fluid atomization is reduced during periods of reduced vibrational amplitude permitting fluid to be distributed with greater uniformity onto the atomizing surface. Such uniform distribution results in a significant improvement in the definition of the spray pattern produced by the nozzle during periods of increased vibrational amplitude.

Abstract: A metal spray tip for a fluid spray nozzle and a method of making such tip includes adhering a colored coating so as to cover at least a portion of the exterior surface of the spray tip adjacent the spray orifice in the tip. In one embodiment, the entire tip blank is first coated and then the orifice is formed in the coated blank to free the orifice of the coating and expose the metal of the tip at the orifice. In another embodiment, the orifice is first formed in a face of the tip and the tip face containing the orifice is then printed with the coating. In the latter embodiment, preferably only a portion of the exterior surface of the tip is coated to leave the metal exposed on some portions of the exterior surface. In still another embodiment of tip, a substantially flat exterior face of the tip which does not contain the orifice may be coated.

Abstract: In an orifice and nozzle for the passage of fluid which may contain solid particulates as contaminants, the orifice and nozzle includes an opening which is rectangular in a cross-sectional plane perpendicular to the axis of the fluid flow. The rectangular opening has a ratio of minimum width to minimum depth, or vice versa, of less than approximately 1.5, and preferably 1.0, and a ratio of the length of the opening to the lesser of minimum width and minimum depth of the opening of less than approximately 2.0, and preferably 1.0. The rectangular cross section together with these ratios prevents plugging by the solid contaminants.

Abstract: A nozzle and method for generating a flat spray discharge having substantially large droplets of liquid therein, wherein the liquid is jetted from an orifice against an impingement partition plate to cause it to become extremely turbulent in a gas free turbulence chamber defined between the orifice and the partition plate. This substantially gas free, turbulent liquid is then flowed around the impingement partition plate to a second chamber and is discharged from an elliptical discharge orifice at the end of the second chamber to produce a flat spray discharge having substantially large droplets of liquid therein.

Abstract: In low drift spray nozzles and a method of applying low drift sprays, liquid is formed in large droplets by imparting a swirling motion to the liquid in a chamber of the nozzle, passing the swirling liquid through a first orifice into another chamber of the nozzle which is larger in cross section than the orifice, and discharging the swirling liquid from the last mentioned chamber through a second orifice which is at least as large in cross section as the first orifice, whereby the discharged liquid forms a hollow geometric shape having large droplets of the liquid therein.

Abstract: In low drift spray nozzles and a method of applying low drift sprays, liquid is formed in large droplets by imparting a swirling motion to the liquid in a chamber of the nozzle, passing the swirling liquid through a first orifice into another chamber of the nozzle which is larger in cross section than the orifice, and discharging the swirling liquid from the last mentioned chamber through a second orifice which is at least as large in cross section as the first orifice, whereby the discharged liquid forms a hollow geometric shape having large droplets of the liquid therein.