Fog Nozzle Adapter

Abstract

A nozzle adapter for connecting corrugated tubing to a fog nozzle housing. The nozzle adapter comprises a channel body and a clamp, the channel body having a connector section and defining a flow channel extending through the channel body. The connector section comprises an outlet opening of the flow channel and is adapted and configured to removably connect to a piece of corrugated tubing. The clamp is operatively connected to the channel body and operable to clamp a fog nozzle housing so that an outlet end of the fog nozzle housing faces downstream toward the flow channel.

1 . A nozzle adapter for connecting corrugated tubing to a fog nozzle housing, the nozzle adapter comprising:
 a channel body, the channel body defining a flow channel that extends through the channel body, the flow channel having an inlet opening formed in the channel body and an outlet opening formed in the channel body, the flow channel having an axis, the flow channel axis extending from the inlet opening to the outlet opening in a downstream direction and from the outlet opening to the inlet opening in a upstream direction, the flow channel axis defining longitudinal directions parallel to the flow channel axis and radial directions emanating perpendicularly from the flow channel axis;   the channel body having a connector section, the outlet opening being comprised in the connector section, the connector section being adapted and configured to removably connect alternately to a first piece of corrugated tubing having a first diameter and to a second piece of corrugated tubing having a second diameter;   a clamp, the clamp being operatively connected to the channel body and operable to clamp a fog nozzle housing so that an outlet end of the fog nozzle housing faces downstream toward the flow channel;   the connector section comprising a first stage and a second stage, the first stage comprising a first surface extending around the flow channel axis, the first surface having a first annular ridge formed thereon, the second stage comprising a second surface extending around the flow channel axis, the second surface having a second annular ridge formed thereon, the first annular ridge and the second annular ridge protruding radially from the first surface and the second surface, respectively, each of the annular ridges surrounding a respective cross section of the flow channel, the first annular ridge having a first ridge diameter, the second annular ridge having a second ridge diameter, the first ridge diameter being smaller than the second ridge diameter, and the first annular ridge being spaced from the second annular ridge in the downstream direction;   the first annular ridge being adapted and configured to snap fit into an annular groove of the first piece of corrugated tubing when an open end of the first piece of corrugated tubing is aligned with the outlet opening and the first piece of corrugated tubing is pushed in the upstream direction into engagement with the first stage of the connector section;   the second annular ridge being adapted and configured to snap fit into an annular groove of a second piece of corrugated tubing when an open end of the second piece of corrugated tubing is aligned with the outlet opening and the second piece of corrugated tubing is pushed in the upstream direction into engagement with the second stage of the connector section.   
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . The nozzle adapter of  claim 1 , further comprising the clamp being operable to clamp the fog nozzle housing so that the channel body is spaced from the fog nozzle housing by a clearance, to permit a mixture of surrounding air and fog emitted from the fog nozzle housing outlet end to flow into the flow channel. 
     
     
         4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . The nozzle adapter of  claim 1 , wherein the flow channel axis is comprised in a straight line. 
     
     
         6 . The nozzle adapter of  claim 1  wherein the first and second annular ridges are external to the connector section. 
     
     
         7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . The nozzle adapter of  claim 1  wherein each of the first surface surface and the second surface of the connector section opens at an angle no greater than about 5°. 
     
     
         9 . The nozzle adapter of  claim 8 , wherein each of the first surface surface and the second surface of the connector section is a conical surface having an aperture angle no greater than about 4°. 
     
     
         10 . The nozzle adapter of  claim 1  wherein the first ridge protrudes about 1/32 inch radially from the first surface. 
     
     
         11 . The nozzle adapter of  claim 1  wherein the channel body is of one-piece molded construction. 
     
     
         12 . The nozzle adapter of  claim 4  wherein the first clamp element is pivotally connected to the channel body. 
     
     
         13 . The nozzle adapter of  claim 12  wherein the first clamp element comprises a clamp arm and a clamp grip, the clamp grip comprising the first contact portion and being pivotally connected to the clamp arm for pivotal movement about a clamp grip pivot axis, the clamp arm being pivotally connected to the channel body about a clamp arm pivot axis parallel to the clamp grip pivot axis, the clamp arm being biased about the clamp arm pivot axis so as to move the clamp grip pivot axis inwardly, so as to move the first contact portion inwardly. 
     
     
         14 . The nozzle adapter of  claim 4 , the contact portions comprising a resilient and heat resistant grip material. 
     
     
         15 . The nozzle adapter of  claim 1 , the flow channel inlet opening having an area perpendicular to the flow channel axis, the inlet opening area being larger than that of each of the respective flow channel cross sections surrounded by a respective one of the annular ridges. 
     
     
         16 . The nozzle adapter of  claim 15 , the channel body having an inlet funnel defining an inlet portion of the flow channel comprising the inlet opening, the inlet portion being tapered inwardly in the downstream direction from the inlet opening. 
     
     
         17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . (canceled)