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US 4,261,511 AGranted
Nebulizer and method
OwnerElisha W. Erb, Darrel R. Reschinventors
Life of this patent
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OwnerElisha W. Erb, Darrel R. Reschinventors
Estimating the term…
Pneumatic nebulizer and method for uniformly introducing variable small amounts of flowable liquid into a gas flow to form a stable dispersion having the appearance of a natural fog and consisting essentially of microscopic liquid particles of said liquid dispersed in said gas. The nebulizer comprises a mixing element for introducing the liquid in uniformly fine amounts into the gas flow. The mixing element, which preferably is a replaceable unitary element comprises two contacting members having conforming surfaces which supportingly contact each other over a substantial portion of the surfaces of each to prevent compression therebetween. At least one shallow liquid passage is provided between the members of the mixing element said passage having an entrance in communication with a liquid supply chamber and having an exit orifice in communication with a gas passage to provide at least one stable liquid orifice for metering uniform predetermined amounts of liquid into a gas flowing through said gas passage. Said shallow liquid passage is formed between the said members by providing the surface of one or both members with at least one scratch, grind, etch, impression or the like, or by interposing a discontinuous inert coating or series of spaced shims or other means, to form at least one recess having a depth of about 0.01 inch or less to provide at least one stable, liquid passage for introducing uniform fine amounts of liquid from a liquid supply into the gas passage for admixture with the gas flowing from a gas supply.
A nebulizer device capable of reducing a flowable liquid to an ultrafine dispersion of liquid particles in a propellant gas, comprising a mixing element comprising two superposed members having adjacent surfaces which are supportingly-engaged by each other over a substantial portion of the adjoining surface areas of each, at least one of said members being a flexible member which is pressed into intimate surface contact with a substantial portion of the adjoining surface of the other said members, said contacting members being provided therebetween with at least one shallow passage having a depth of about 0.01 inch or less to form at least one thin liquid conduit between said contacting members, each said passage having an entrance adapted to receive a supply of flowable liquid and having a small liquid orifice which exits into a gas orifice, each said passage being adapted to permit said liquid to pass therethrough and out its liquid orifice to said gas orifice as a thin liquid stream, at least one gas orifice adapted to direct gas flowing therethrough into communication with the liquid flowing from at least one said liquid orifice whereby said flowable liquid which flows through each said thin passage and out of each said small liquid orifice is adapted to form a very thin stream of said liquid which contacts said flowing gas as said gas passes a said gas orifice to form said ultrafine dispersion.
A nebulizer device capable of reducing a flowable combustible liquid such as fuel oil or gasoline to an ultrafine dispersion of liquid particles in a gas flow, such as air, comprising a mixing element comprising two superposed members having adjacent surfaces which are supportingly-engaged by each other over a substantial portion of the adjoining surface areas of each, at least one of said members being a flexible member which is pressed into intimate surface contact with a substantial portion of the adjoining surface of the other of said members, said contacting members being provided therebetween with at least one shallow passage having a depth of about 0.01 inch or less to form at least one thin liquid conduit between said contacting members, each said passage having an entrance adapted to receive a supply of flowable combustible liquid and having a small liquid orifice which exits into a gas orifice, each said passage being adapted to permit said combustible liquid to pass therethrough and out its liquid orifice to said gas orifice as a thin liquid stream, each said gas orifice being adapted to direct a flow of gas therethrough into communication with the thin liquid stream flowing from at least one said liquid orifice to form said ultrafine dispersion, and a combustion compartment adapted to receive said ultrafine dispersion for combustion therein.
Method for reducing a flowable liquid to an ultrafine dispersion of liquid particles in a propellant gas comprising the steps of:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.