# US 11,077,411 B2 · Bubble generating device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,077,411 B2 - Document ID: US11077411B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/301,890 - Filed: 2017-07-25 - Published: 2019-06-13 - Granted: 2021-08-03 - Earliest claimed: 2016-07-25 - Assignees: Shibata Corporation - Applicants: Shibata Corporation - Inventors: Yoshiki Shibata; Kouji Hanamura; Yoshitaka Sakamoto - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11077411B2 ## CPC - B01F 23/23105: {Arrangement or manipulation of the gas bubbling devices} - B01F 25/441: characterised by the configuration of the surfaces forming the slits - B01F 23/20: Mixing gases with liquids - B01F 23/2323: {by circulating the flow in guiding constructions or conduits} - B01F 23/2373: for obtaining fine bubbles, i.e. bubbles with a size below 100 µm - B01F 25/40: Static mixers (colloid-mills B02C; mixing valves F16K11/00) - B01F 25/4421: {the surfaces being maintained in a fixed position, spaced from each other, therefore maintaining the slit always open} - B01F 23/23112: {comprising the use of flow guiding elements adjacent or above the gas stream} - B01F 25/4316: {the baffles being flat pieces of material, e.g. intermeshing, fixed to the wall or fixed on a central rod} - B01F 25/4323: {using elements provided with a plurality of channels or using a plurality of tubes which can either be placed between common spaces or collectors} - B01F 25/4335: {Mixers with a converging-diverging cross-section} - F15D 1/025: {by means of orifice or throttle elements} - B01F: MIXING, e.g. DISSOLVING, EMULSIFYING OR DISPERSING (mixing paints B44D3/06) - F15D: FLUID DYNAMICS, i.e. METHODS OR MEANS FOR INFLUENCING THE FLOW OF GASES OR LIQUIDS ## Abstract The purpose of the present disclosure is, in a bubble generating device provided with a bubble generating unit for generating minute bubbles in water flowing through the inside of the cylindrical main body unit, to improve the bubble generating efficiency of the bubble generating unit. Provided is a bubble generating device provided with a cylindrical main body unit and a bubble generating unit disposed within the main body, wherein: the bubble generating unit is provided with slits extending radially centered on one point within the main body unit in a cross-sectional plane of the main body unit, and a column part protruding from the inner peripheral surface of main body unit and formed on the peripheral edge of the slits; and the amount of protrusion of the column part is gradually reduced toward the upstream side from the peripheral edges of the slits, and the column part has a recessed part formed on the downstream surface. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A bubble generator comprising: a tubular main body; and a bubble generating part provided in the main body, wherein the bubble generating part includes a plurality of slits that extend radially from a center that is a point on a cross section of the main body, and a plurality of columns that protrude from an inner peripheral surface of the main body to form a periphery of the slits, and an amount of protrusion of the columns gradually reduces from the periphery of the slits toward an upstream side, and a recess is provided in a downstream-side surface of each of the columns. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The bubble generator according to claim 1, wherein the center is located on a central axis of the main body. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The bubble generator according to claim 1, wherein a surface defined by edges of the adjacent slits is defined as the downstream-side surface, a cross-sectional area of each of the columns gradually reduces toward the upstream side and becomes substantially zero at an upstream end of the main body. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The bubble generator according to claim 1, wherein each of the columns has a conical shape having, as a bottom surface, a surface defined by edges of the adjacent slits, and a ridgeline of each of the columns connects an intersection point of edges of the adjacent slits and a point that is on the inner peripheral surface of the main body and that intersects with a plane which bisects the edges of the adjacent slits. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The bubble generator according to claim 1, wherein the recesses provided in the downstream-side surfaces of the columns are radially arranged around the center. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The bubble generator according to claim 1, wherein the recesses pass through the inner peripheral surface of the main body to form cavities in a peripheral wall of the main body. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A bubble generating unit comprising: at least one bubble generator according to claim 1; and a housing that has an orifice whose small-diameter portion accommodates the bubble generator, wherein the main body of the bubble generator is embedded in the housing, and the columns are exposed in the small-diameter portion of the orifice. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The bubble generating unit according to claim 7, wherein the housing is divided into pieces in a radial direction in the small-diameter portion, and the main body of the bubble generator is sandwiched between the divided pieces. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The bubble generating unit according to claim 7, wherein the housing is divided into pieces in a radial direction in the small-diameter portion, and the bubble generator is integrally molded with one of the divided pieces. ### Claim 10 A bubble generator comprising: a tubular main body; and a bubble generating part provided in the main body, wherein the bubble generating part includes a plurality of columns protruding from an inner peripheral surface of the main body, each of the columns has a structure obtained by cutting a trigonal pyramid into halves, a bottom surface of each of the columns coincides with a downstream-side surface of the main body, a top of each of the columns coincides with an upstream-side surface of the main body, and a ridgeline of each of the columns extends toward a central axis of the main body, and a plurality of slits are provided each of which is located between edges of the bottom surfaces of the columns, wherein the slits extend radially from the central axis of the main body and pass through from the upstream-side surface of the main body to the downstream-side surface of the main body. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The bubble generator according to claim 10, wherein each of the columns has a recess formed in the bottom surface of each of the columns. ### Claim 12 A bubble generator comprising: a tubular main body; and a bubble generating part provided in the main body, wherein the bubble generating part includes a plurality of slits that extend radially from a center that is a point on a cross section of the main body, and a plurality of columns that protrude from an inner peripheral surface of the main body to form a periphery of the slits, and wherein an amount of protrusion of the columns gradually reduces from the periphery of the slits toward an upstream side, and the slits pass through from the upstream side of the bubble generator to a downstream side of the bubble generator.