# US 2014/0151461 A1 · Ultrasonic atomizing unit

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- Number: US 2014/0151461 A1
- Document ID: US20140151461A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 13/883,840
- Filed: 2011-11-07
- Published: 2014-06-05
- Earliest claimed: 2010-11-09
- Assignees: Sumitomo Chemical Company, Limited
- Inventors: Takashi Sasaki; Daisuke Takahata
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140151461A1

## CPC

- B05B 17/06: using ultrasonic {or other kinds of} vibrations
- B05B 17/0646: {Vibrating plates, i.e. plates being directly subjected to the vibrations, e.g. having a piezoelectric transducer attached thereto}
- B05B 17/0684: {Wicks or the like}
- B05B: SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES (spray-mixers with nozzles B01F25/72; processes for applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces by spraying B05D)

## Abstract

An ultrasonic atomizing unit is provided which can spray fine particles of a liquid farther without greatly increasing a voltage applied to a piezoelectric vibrator and using a fan. An annular atomizing member (1) is provided and ultrasonically vibrates a vibrating plate (12) with a piezoelectric vibrator (11) to atomize a liquid. The atomizing member (1) is elastically sandwiched and held by a casing (3) through a pair of annular elastic rings (2) that are in contact with the atomizing member (1). A maximum facing width in a radial direction between each annular elastic member and one surface of the atomizing member (1) on one side in the radial direction from the center of the atomizing member (1) is 40% of a radial direction width of the piezoelectric vibrator (11) on one side in the radial direction from the center of the piezoelectric vibrator (11).

## Claims

### Claim 1

An ultrasonic atomizing unit comprising:
an atomizing member comprising a circular thin plate-shaped piezoelectric vibrator having an opening at a central part thereof, and a vibrating plate that has a large number of micropores extending therethrough in a thickness direction thereof and is arranged so as to face the opening and so as to extend along one surface of the piezoelectric vibrator, the atomizing member ultrasonically vibrating the vibrating plate with the piezoelectric vibrator to atomize a liquid;
a pair of annular elastic members arranged so as to extend along both surfaces, respectively, of the atomizing member and so as to be concentric with the atomizing member; and
a holding member elastically sandwiching and holding the atomizing member through the pair of elastic members, wherein
a maximum facing width in a radial direction between each annular elastic member and one surface of the atomizing member on one side in the radial direction from a center of the atomizing member is 40% of a radial direction width of the piezoelectric vibrator on one side in the radial direction from a center of the piezoelectric vibrator.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The ultrasonic atomizing unit according to claim 1, wherein the vibrating plate has, at a central part thereof, a convex portion projecting to a spray side.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The ultrasonic atomizing unit according to claim 2, wherein, where a diameter of a base end part of the convex portion is indicated by R1 and a diameter of the opening at the central part of the piezoelectric vibrator is indicated by R2, a relation between R1 and R2 is:
R1≦(4/5)·R2.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The ultrasonic atomizing unit according to claim 1, wherein the annular elastic members are O-rings.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The ultrasonic atomizing unit according to claim 4, wherein a cross-sectional diameter of each O-ring is 0.5 to 2.0 mm.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The ultrasonic atomizing unit according to claim 1, wherein a minimum facing width in the radial direction between each annular elastic member and one surface of the atomizing member on one side in the radial direction from the center of the atomizing member is 5% of the radial direction width of the piezoelectric vibrator on one side in the radial direction from the center of the piezoelectric vibrator.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The ultrasonic atomizing unit according to claim 1, wherein each annular elastic member has a hardness of 20 to 90 IRHD.