Importance

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Abstract

A self-cleaning nozzle includes a piston with a cleaning tip slidably mounted in the interior of a cylinder having two ends and a side wall, the cylinder having first, second and third openings into its interior, the second opening being intermediate the first and third openings. First and second sources of fluid are provided, the former communicating in fluid-flow relationship with the piston and the interior of the cylinder via the second opening. The second source communicates in fluid-flow relationship with the piston and the interior of the cylinder via the third opening. When the force exerted by the pressure of the second source is greater than the force exerted by the pressure of the first source, the piston moves to the cleaning position where the cleaning tip is passed into the first opening, cleaning out any foreign object therein. When the force exerted by the pressure of the first source is greater than the force exerted by the pressure of the second source, the piston is moved out of the cleaning position, and fluid from the first source flows into the interior of the cylinder and out of the nozzle via the first opening. The piston blocks the flow of fluid between the two sources in either of its positions.

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First Claim