Method and apparatus for atomizing liquids having minimal droplet size
AssigneeS. C. Johnson & Son, Inc.
InventorsPadma P. Varanasi, David C. Bronson, Guy D. Daley
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Abstract
An orifice plate is vibrated up and down at high frequency while liquid is delivered to its lower surface so that the liquid is ejected up from the plate in the form of very small diameter droplets. The upper surface of the plate is constructed to resist wetting and buildup of a liquid film thereby to form smaller diameter liquid droplets which are ejected to greater heights. The upper surface of the plate may be treated with a surfactant such as a flurosurfactant.
Claims19
A method of generating droplets of minimal diameter by means of a vibratory atomization plate to which a liquid is delivered, said method comprising the steps of:
- treating a surface of said plate from which droplets of said liquid are ejected during atomization to minimize liquid accumulation on said surface;
- and
- supplying said liquid to said plate while vibrating said plate to atomize said liquid.
A method according to clam 1, wherein said surface of said plate is treated with a chemical which contains a fluorinated group.
An atomization device for converting a liquid into droplets of minimum diameter and ejecting said droplets into the atmosphere, said device comprising:
- an atomization plate coupled to an actuator to be vibrated thereby, said plate having a surface from which droplets of an atomized liquid are ejected, said surface having been treated to minimize accumulation of liquid thereon;
- and
- a liquid supply system arranged to supply said liquid to said atomization plate during vibration thereof.
A method according to clam 10, wherein said surface of said plate has been treated with a chemical which contains a fluorinated group.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.