초록 ▼

A nozzle that produces an outlet velocity air, or other fluid jet, is provided with safety passages which achieve the safety requirement of automatically reducing the local exit pressure “dead end” limit to 30 psig or less when the nozzle outlet is partially or completely obstructed. The safety pass

A nozzle that produces an outlet velocity air, or other fluid jet, is provided with safety passages which achieve the safety requirement of automatically reducing the local exit pressure “dead end” limit to 30 psig or less when the nozzle outlet is partially or completely obstructed. The safety passages do not reduce the effectiveness of the normal function of the air, or other fluid, jet through the provision of a check valve to block undesirable reverse flow in the safety passage(s) thus avoiding ambient fluid flow to the nozzle exit that degrades the nozzle's normal operating air, or other fluid, jet. This is especially useful for supersonic air gun nozzles which have been adapted to digging in the ground, and other purposes, but it is also useful for sonic and subsonic nozzles that are used for other purposes such as cleaning, and other applications.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A fluid nozzle comprising: A nozzle entrance configured to receive fluid under pressure therein;A fluid conduit through the nozzle extending from the nozzle entrance;A final nozzle exit at an end of the fluid conduit and configured to produce an exit fluid stream which may be adapted to some usef

1. A fluid nozzle comprising: A nozzle entrance configured to receive fluid under pressure therein;A fluid conduit through the nozzle extending from the nozzle entrance;A final nozzle exit at an end of the fluid conduit and configured to produce an exit fluid stream which may be adapted to some useful purpose;at least one safety flow passage extending to the fluid conduit and providing for selective redirecting of the exit fluid stream away from the final nozzle exit flow path, when the final nozzle exit is at least substantially obstructed; andat least one check valve coupled to each safety flow passage configured to permit such redirected fluid stream to exit the nozzle when the final nozzle exit is at least substantially obstructed, and configured to permit an exit fluid stream through the final nozzle exit at least when the final nozzle exit is not substantially obstructed whereby the check valve is configured to prevent back flow of local ambient fluid from being drawn through the associated safety flow passage towards the fluid conduit. 2. The fluid nozzle of claim 1, wherein at least one check valve is a compliant member in the form of an o-ring, resting in a groove that receives at least one exit of a safety flow passage. 3. The fluid nozzle of claim 1, wherein at least one check valve is a compliant member in the shape of an axially disposed ring, resting in a groove that receives at least one the exit of a safety flow passage. 4. The fluid nozzle of claim 1, wherein at least one check valve is a compliant member in the shape of a flat gasket or ring which is rectangular in cross section and which is resting against at least one exit of a safety flow passage. 5. The fluid nozzle of claim 1, wherein each check valve is associated with at least two opposed safety flow passages and each check valve is formed of one of a flexible band, discrete, spring biased check valves, and circumferentially or axially arrayed cantilever springs. 6. The fluid nozzle of claim 1, further including a replaceable wear tip selectively attachable to a nozzle body, wherein the wear tip includes the final nozzle exit and the nozzle body includes the nozzle entrance. 7. The fluid nozzle of claim 6, wherein each check valve is associated with at least two opposed safety flow passages and each check valve and wherein the safety flow passages are located within the wear tip. 8. The fluid nozzle of claim 1, in which the discharge of redirected fluid through the at least one safety flow passage is directed generally in a radial direction and configured to provide a temporary safety shield to protect the operator. 9. The fluid nozzle of claim 1, wherein each check valve is associated with at least two opposed safety flow passages and each check valve and in which the nozzle is supersonic. 10. A fluid safety nozzle comprising: A nozzle body;A wear tip coupled to the nozzle body;A nozzle entrance formed in the nozzle body and configured to receive fluid under pressure therein;A fluid conduit through the nozzle body and the wear tip axially extending from the nozzle entrance;A final nozzle exit in the wear tip at an end of the fluid conduit and configured to produce an exit fluid stream which may be adapted to some useful purpose;A plurality of safety flow passages extending to the fluid conduit and providing for selective redirecting of the exit fluid stream away from the final nozzle exit flow path, when the final nozzle exit is at least substantially obstructed; andA check valve coupled to each safety flow passage configured to permit such redirected fluid stream to exit the nozzle when the final nozzle exit is at least substantially obstructed, and configured to permit an exit fluid stream through the final nozzle exit at least when the final nozzle exit is not substantially obstructed whereby the check valve is configured to prevent back flow of local ambient fluid from being drawn through the associated safety flow passage towards the fluid conduit. 11. The fluid safety nozzle of claim 10, wherein at least one check valve is a compliant member in the form of an o-ring, resting in a groove that receives exit openings of a plurality of safety flow passages. 12. The fluid safety nozzle of claim 10, wherein at least one check valve is a compliant member in the shape of an axially disposed ring, resting in a groove that receives exit openings of a plurality of safety flow passages. 13. The fluid safety nozzle of claim 10, wherein at least one check valve is a compliant member in the shape of a flat gasket or ring which is rectangular in cross section and which is resting against exit openings of a plurality of safety flow passages. 14. The fluid safety nozzle of claim 10, wherein each check valve is associated with at least two opposed safety flow passages and each check valve is formed of one of a flexible band, discrete, spring biased check valves, and circumferentially or axially arrayed cantilever springs. 15. The fluid safety nozzle of claim 10, wherein each check valve is associated with at least two opposed safety flow passages and the safety flow passages are located within the wear tip. 16. The fluid safety nozzle of claim 10, in which the discharge of redirected fluid through at least one safety flow passage is directed generally in a radial direction and configured to provide a temporary safety shield to protect the operator. 17. The fluid safety nozzle of claim 10, wherein each check valve is associated with at least two opposed safety flow passages and in which the nozzle is supersonic. 18. An air gun safety nozzle comprising: A nozzle body;A wear tip coupled to the nozzle body;A nozzle entrance formed in the nozzle body and configured to receive air under pressure therein;A fluid conduit through the nozzle body and the wear tip axially extending from the nozzle entrance;A final nozzle exit in the wear tip at an end of the fluid conduit and configured to produce an exit air stream which may be adapted to some useful purpose;A plurality of safety flow passages extending to the fluid conduit and providing for selective redirecting of the exit air stream away from the final nozzle exit flow path, when the final nozzle exit is at least substantially obstructed; andA check valve formed of a compliant member coupled to each safety flow passage configured to permit such redirected air stream to exit the nozzle when the final nozzle exit is at least substantially obstructed, and configured to permit an exit fluid stream through the final nozzle exit at least when the final nozzle exit is not substantially obstructed whereby the check valve is configured to prevent back flow of local ambient fluid from being drawn through the associated safety flow passage towards the fluid conduit. 19. The air gun safety nozzle of claim 18, wherein each check valve is associated with at least two opposed safety flow passages and in which the nozzle is supersonic. 20. The air gun safety nozzle of claim 18, wherein each check valve is associated with at least two opposed safety flow passages and the safety flow passages are located within the wear tip.