Quick answer: This is a 71 g, 80 mm forged-aluminum drone cleaning nozzle that applies foam and then rinses with clean water using the same head. Switching modes only means shutting off the foam air line — no disassembly and no landing mid-job. It has been field-tested on a commercial glass curtain wall.
The Real Cost of a Mid-Job Nozzle Swap
On a facade job, foam pre-treatment does the heavy lifting: it loosens dust, mineral scale and light adhesive residue before the rinse pass gets a clean result. The problem is what it takes to get foam and water out of the same aircraft. A single-mode nozzle forces a choice — spray water only and accept weaker results on stubborn sections, or land the drone mid-job, swap to a different head, and relaunch.
Every one of those swaps adds ground time, battery cycles and handling risk to a job that is already billed by the hour. TethPower's dual-mode nozzle removes the trade-off: foam and water share one 71 g head, and the operator switches between them without ever bringing the aircraft down.
At a Glance: Field-Measured Specifications
The 71 g forged-aluminum dual-mode nozzle body.
| Property | Field-Measured Value | Why It Matters On the Job |
|---|---|---|
| Body material | Forged aluminum | Rigid housing without adding airborne weight |
| Diameter | 80 mm | Compact enough for standard cleaning-lance mounts |
| Total weight | 71 g | Leaves more payload margin for hose, lance and hardware |
| Interface | Standard threaded connection | Fits typical cleaning-drone plumbing without custom machining |
| Operating modes | Foam / clean water, same head | One tool covers pre-treatment and rinsing |
| Reference test surface | Commercial glass curtain wall | Validated on the surface type most facade jobs involve |
Inside the Dual-Mode Switch
The nozzle's foam circuit draws cleaning agent and compressed air through a vortex-style internal mixing structure, which breaks the mixture into dense, fine foam rather than a thin spray. That density is what lets foam cling to a vertical glass surface instead of sliding off before it can work.
To rinse, the operator simply shuts off the foam air supply. Clean water continues through the same body and exits the same outlet — there is no valve to remove, no second nozzle to carry, and no reconfiguration between the pre-treatment pass and the rinse pass.
Foam Mode vs. Clean-Water Mode
| Mode | What Happens Inside the Nozzle | Job It Does |
|---|---|---|
| Foam mode | Cleaning agent + compressed air mix upstream through the vortex structure | Coats and softens dust, mineral scale and light adhesive residue |
| Clean-water mode | Foam air line closed; water passes through the same outlet | Flushes foam and loosened residue off the surface |
What the Field Test Confirmed
Clean-water mode test of the lightweight airborne cleaning nozzle.
Foam generated through the vortex structure was dense enough to stay on a vertical glass surface rather than running off immediately.
Working distance and wind tolerance were sufficient for close-range facade passes under the tested conditions.
Foam held enough surface contact time to soften dust and light residue ahead of the rinse pass.
Mode switching required no tool changes and no descent between the foam and rinse passes.
Using foam as a pre-treatment step reduced the number of high-pressure rinse passes needed per section compared to a water-only approach; the actual reduction depends on contamination type, chemistry and operating technique.
Recommended Operating Sequence
Confirm the thread interface, pump pressure/flow range and cleaning-agent compatibility before mounting the nozzle.
Install the nozzle on the cleaning lance and pressure-test all hose connections on the ground.
Fly to the target section and apply foam, allowing dwell time appropriate to the cleaning agent in use.
Close the foam air supply to switch to clean-water mode — no landing required.
Rinse the treated section, then inspect and repeat only on areas that still show residue.
Where Operators Are Using It
| Application | Notes |
|---|---|
| Building curtain walls | Foam dwell time extends cleaning-agent contact on vertical glass ahead of the rinse pass |
| Exterior facades | Suited to routine washing that needs both a foam pre-treatment step and a water rinse |
| Photovoltaic panels | Gentle foam application with a water rinse; confirm operating pressure against panel tolerance before use |
| Outdoor advertising boards | Effective on general dust and surface residue on elevated signage |
| High-altitude maintenance contracts | Fewer mid-job equipment changes means simpler scheduling across multi-section jobs |
Before You Order: Integration Checklist
| Check | What to Confirm | What Gets Missed If You Skip It |
|---|---|---|
| Thread interface | Exact thread standard and mechanical clearance on your existing lance | Nozzle arrives and doesn't seat correctly |
| Pump output | Available pressure and flow at working height, including hose losses | Weak foam or inconsistent rinse at altitude |
| Payload margin | Combined weight of nozzle, lance, hose and any onboard valve/air components | Reduced flight time or unstable close-range handling |
| Foam chemistry | Agent dilution, viscosity and required dwell time | Foam runs off before it can soften contamination |
| Air supply | Compressed-air arrangement needed to generate and switch foam | Mode switching doesn't behave as expected |
| Surface compatibility | Material and pressure limits of the target surface | Risk of surface damage, especially on coated panels |
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to land the drone to switch between foam and water?
No. Mode switching is done by closing the foam air supply — the aircraft stays airborne and no head change is required.
What does the nozzle weigh, and what is it made of?
71 g, field-measured. The body is forged aluminum, chosen to keep the airborne accessory light while staying structurally rigid.
What surface has it actually been tested on?
A commercial glass curtain wall. It is applicable to other facade and panel surfaces, but pressure and chemistry compatibility should be confirmed for each material before use.
Will it fit the cleaning drone I already own?
In most cases, yes — the nozzle uses a standard threaded interface. Exact thread spec, pump output and payload margin should still be confirmed against your platform before ordering.
What cleaning agents can I use with it?
Standard foam-generating detergents are compatible; viscosity and dilution ratio affect foam density and dwell time, so confirm your specific agent with TethPower before your first job.
Can it be retrofitted onto a cleaning lance I already use?
Usually yes, provided the thread interface matches and your pump can support foam-air mixing. Confirm the exact thread spec with TethPower before ordering to avoid a mismatch on delivery.
Talk to TethPower About Your Configuration
Share your drone model, lance interface, pump pressure/flow, hose spec, target surface and cleaning agent, and TethPower will confirm whether this nozzle architecture fits before you change your airborne plumbing.