US 12,303,921 B2
Mechanical breakup actuator with disruptive vortex chamber
John B. Fore, Travelers Rest, SC (US)
Assigned to Precision Valve Corporation, Greenville, SC (US)
Filed by PRECISION VALVE CORPORATION, Greenville, SC (US)
Filed on Nov. 2, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/516,852.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/108,669, filed on Nov. 2, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0134363 A1, May 5, 2022
Int. Cl. B05B 1/30 (2006.01); B05B 1/34 (2006.01)
CPC B05B 1/30 (2013.01) [B05B 1/341 (2013.01)] 25 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A one-piece molded actuator for a valve, the actuator comprising:
a ramp structure providing a linear sloping passageway communicating with the valve, the ramp structure having an opening at an end opposite the valve;
a chamber having a forward face adjacent to the ramp structure, the chamber communicating with the ramp structure at the opening, the chamber having an interior planar surface that receives a product flow from the ramp structure,
wherein the opening is sized not to restrict product flow from the ramp to the chamber and the opening is configured to direct product flow from the ramp to strike the interior planar surface of the chamber to cause an initial mechanical breakup of product in the chamber,
wherein the chamber is configured to generate a vortex and cause further mechanical breakup of the product; and
a nozzle communicating with the chamber to dispense and cause further mechanical breakup of the product upon actuation of the valve,
wherein the ramp structure is angled 28° to 50° relative to the forward face of the chamber as measured from a top-down vertical view and sloped at an angle from 20° to 30°.