초록 ▼

A spray head for a fluid distribution system may include first and second deflector inner surfaces defining a fluid outlet. A piston may define a variable orifice communicating with the fluid outlet to control fluid flow through the spray head. An inner surface of the second deflector may define a g

A spray head for a fluid distribution system may include first and second deflector inner surfaces defining a fluid outlet. A piston may define a variable orifice communicating with the fluid outlet to control fluid flow through the spray head. An inner surface of the second deflector may define a grooveless deflector central region disposed between first and second deflector lateral regions. Each of the first and second deflector lateral regions may include at least a first deflector groove extending along a first deflector groove path oriented substantially radially relative to the inlet passage, so that the spray head generates a spray pattern having more uniform fluid distribution across the spray pattern.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A spray head for a fluid distribution system comprising: a base defining a fluid inlet passage extending along an inlet axis;a barrel coupled to the base and defining a barrel chamber extending along a barrel axis;a first deflector extending outwardly from the barrel and defining a first deflecto

1. A spray head for a fluid distribution system comprising: a base defining a fluid inlet passage extending along an inlet axis;a barrel coupled to the base and defining a barrel chamber extending along a barrel axis;a first deflector extending outwardly from the barrel and defining a first deflector inner surface;a second deflector extending outwardly from the base and defining a second deflector inner surface, wherein the first and second deflector inner surfaces are disposed in opposed, spaced relation to define a fluid outlet passage;a piston slidably disposed in the barrel chamber and having a bottom surface;an orifice defined between the piston bottom surface the second deflector inner surface having a cross-sectional area that varies with piston position to control fluid flow from the fluid inlet passage to the fluid outlet passage;the second deflector inner surface defining a grooveless deflector central region disposed between first and second deflector lateral regions, each of the first and second deflector lateral regions including at least a first deflector groove extending along a first deflector groove path oriented substantially radially relative to the inlet passage. 2. The spray head of claim 1, further including: a deflector centerline oriented to intersect the inlet axis and to divide the second deflector inner surface into two substantially equal halves; anda deflector vertex point disposed on the deflector centerline. 3. The spray head of claim 2, in which each first deflector groove path is oriented to intersect the deflector vertex point and form a first deflector groove path angle relative to the deflector centerline, and the first deflector groove path angle is at least approximately 25 degrees. 4. The spray head of claim 3, in which each of the first and second deflector lateral regions further includes a second deflector groove extending along a second deflector groove path oriented to intersect the deflector vertex point and form a second deflector groove path angle relative to the deflector centerline, and the second deflector groove path angle is different from the first deflector groove path angle. 5. The spray head of claim 4, in which each of the first and second deflector lateral regions further includes a third deflector groove extending along a third deflector groove path oriented to intersect the deflector vertex point and form a third deflector groove path angle relative to the deflector centerline, and the third deflector groove path angle is different from the first and second deflector groove path angles. 6. The spray head of claim 5, in which each of the first and second deflector lateral regions further includes a fourth deflector groove extending along a fourth deflector groove path oriented to intersect the deflector vertex point and form a fourth deflector groove path angle relative to the deflector centerline, and the fourth deflector groove path angle is different from the first, second, and third deflector groove path angles. 7. The spray head of claim 6, in which the first and second deflector groove paths in each of the first and second deflector lateral regions are adjacent and define therebetween a first deflector adjacent angle, in which the second and third deflector groove paths in each of the first and second deflector lateral regions are adjacent and define therebetween a second deflector adjacent angle, in which the third and fourth deflector groove paths in each of the first and second deflector lateral regions are adjacent and define therebetween a third deflector adjacent angle, and in which the first, second, and third deflector adjacent angles are substantially equal. 8. The spray head of claim 2, in which the deflector central region is bounded by first and second deflector central region boundary lines disposed on opposite sides of the deflector centerline, wherein the first central region deflector boundary line extends radially from the deflector vertex point and forms a first deflector boundary angle relative to the deflector centerline, the second central region deflector boundary line extends radially from the deflector vertex point and forms a second deflector boundary angle relative to the deflector centerline, and in which the first and second deflector boundary angles are substantially equal. 9. The spray head of claim 8, in which each of the first and second deflector boundary angles are at least approximately 20 degrees. 10. The spray head of claim 1, further including a weir disposed on the second deflector inner surface, the weir having an inner weir surface spaced from and opposing the orifice, in which each of the first deflector grooves traverses the weir. 11. The spray head of claim 10, in which each of the first deflector grooves has a first deflector groove depth, and in which the first deflector groove depth is different as the first deflector groove traverses the weir. 12. The spray head of claim 1, in which: the piston defines a piston axis substantially parallel to the inlet axis;a piston centerline oriented to intersect the piston axis and to divide the piston bottom surface into two substantially equal halves;a piston vertex point disposed on the piston centerline; andthe piston bottom surface including a grooveless piston central region disposed between first and second piston lateral regions, each of the first and second piston lateral regions including at least a first piston groove extending along a first piston groove path oriented substantially radially relative to the piston vertex point. 13. The spray head of claim 1, in which the inlet axis is substantially parallel to the barrel axis, and in which the fluid outlet passage extends substantially perpendicular to inlet axis. 14. A deflector assembly for use with a fluid distributing spray head having a fluid inlet passage extending along an inlet axis, the deflector assembly comprising: a first deflector extending outwardly from the inlet axis and defining a first deflector inner surface;a second deflector extending outwardly from the inlet axis and defining a second deflector inner surface, wherein the first and second deflector inner surfaces are disposed in opposed, spaced relation to define a fluid outlet passage, the second deflector inner surface further including: a grooveless deflector central region;first and second deflector lateral regions disposed on opposite sides of the deflector central region;at least a first deflector groove disposed in each of the first and second deflector lateral regions, each of the first deflector grooves extending along a first deflector groove path oriented substantially radially relative to the inlet passage of the spray head. 15. The deflector assembly of claim 14, in which the second deflector inner surface further includes: a deflector centerline oriented to intersect the inlet axis and to divide the second deflector inner surface into two substantially equal halves; anda deflector vertex point disposed on the deflector centerline, wherein each first deflector groove path is oriented to intersect the deflector vertex point and form a first deflector groove path angle relative to the deflector centerline. 16. The deflector assembly of claim 15, in which each of the first and second deflector lateral regions further includes: a second deflector groove extending along a second deflector groove path oriented to intersect the deflector vertex point and form a second deflector groove path angle relative to the deflector centerline, in which the second deflector groove path angle is different from the first deflector groove path angle;a third deflector groove extending along a third deflector groove path oriented to intersect the deflector vertex point and form a third deflector groove path angle relative to the deflector centerline, in which the third deflector groove path is different from the first and second deflector groove path angles; anda fourth deflector groove extending along a fourth deflector groove path oriented to intersect the deflector vertex point and form a fourth deflector groove path angle relative to the deflector centerline, in which the fourth deflector groove path angle is different from the first, second, and third deflector groove path angles. 17. The deflector assembly of claim 16, in which the first and second deflector groove paths in each of the first and second deflector lateral regions are adjacent and define therebetween a first deflector adjacent angle, in which the second and third deflector groove paths in each of the first and second deflector lateral regions are adjacent and define therebetween a second deflector adjacent angle, in which the third and fourth deflector groove paths in each of the first and second deflector lateral regions are adjacent and define therebetween a third deflector adjacent angle, and in which the first, second, and third deflector adjacent angles are substantially equal. 18. The deflector assembly of claim 15, in which the deflector central region is bounded by first and second deflector central region boundary lines disposed on opposite sides of the deflector centerline, wherein the first central region deflector boundary line extends radially from the deflector vertex point and forms a first deflector boundary angle relative to the deflector centerline, the second central region deflector boundary line extends radially from the deflector vertex point and forms a second deflector boundary angle relative to the deflector centerline, and in which the first and second deflector boundary angles are substantially equal. 19. A spray head for a fluid distribution system comprising: a base defining a fluid inlet passage extending along an inlet axis;a barrel coupled to the base and defining a barrel chamber extending along a barrel axis;a first deflector extending outwardly from the barrel and defining a first deflector inner surface;a second deflector extending outwardly from the base and defining a second deflector inner surface, wherein the first and second deflector inner surfaces are disposed in opposed, spaced relation to define a fluid outlet passage;a piston slidably disposed in the barrel chamber and having a bottom surface;an orifice defined between the piston bottom surface the second deflector inner surface having a cross-sectional area that varies with piston position to control fluid flow from the fluid inlet passage to the fluid outlet passage; andthe second deflector inner surface defining a grooveless deflector central region disposed between first and second deflector lateral regions, each of the first and second deflector lateral regions including at least a first deflector groove extending along a first deflector groove path oriented substantially radially relative to the inlet passage;wherein a fluid spray pattern defined by the spray head includes a central distribution zone associated with the deflector central region and having a central distribution zone flow index, a first lateral distribution zone associated with the first deflector lateral region and having a first deflector distribution zone flow index, and a second lateral distribution zone associated with the second deflector lateral region and having a second deflector distribution zone flow index, in which a maximum distribution variance between the central distribution zone flow index and the first and second deflector distribution zone flow indices is less than approximately 10%. 20. The spray head of claim 19, further including: a deflector centerline oriented to intersect the inlet axis and to divide the deflector inner surface into two substantially equal halves; anda deflector vertex point disposed on the deflector centerline;in which each first deflector groove path is oriented to intersect the deflector vertex point and form a first deflector groove path angle relative to the deflector centerline, the first deflector groove path angle being at least approximately 25 degrees.