Dental apparatus

A dental apparatus for the generation and delivery of heated air to the oral cavity of a dental patient comprising:

• a handle having a first end, a second end, and a hollow medial portion therebetween, said first end being curved so as to facilitate insertion thereof into the oral cavity of a dental patient;
• inlet means at said second end for directing air from an external air source into said medial portion of said handle, said inlet means comprising an air intake conduit secured to an endpiece, said intake conduit communicating with a first bore through said endpiece for directing air into the medial portion of said handle, said endpiece being attached to said second end of said handle;
• air vortex generator means within said medial portion of said handle for receiving said air from said inlet means and generating a heated air fraction and cooled air fraction therefrom, said vortex generator means comprising an air conduit having a first threaded end, and a second end comprising an air inlet passageway for receiving air from said first bore in said endpiece, said air inlet passageway extending through said second end in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said handle, said second end of said vortex generator means further comprising an air outlet passageway extending therethrough in a direction perpendicular to that of said air inlet passageway in said second end;
• first outlet means at said first end of said handle for receiving said heated air fraction from said vortex generator means and delivering said heated air fraction out of said handle to said oral cavity of said dental patient;
• second outlet means in said second end of said handle for directing said cooled air fraction out of said handle, said second outlet means comprising an air exit conduit secured to said endpiece adjacent to and parallel with said air intake conduit, said air exit conduit communicating with a second bore in said endpiece, said second bore communicating with said air outlet passageway in said second end of said vortex generator means;
• and
• means within said vortex generator means for generating said heated air fraction and said cooled air fraction comprising an air flow control member at said first threaded end thereof for deflecting a portion of air within said vortex generator means toward said second end thereof, said portion representing said cooled air fraction, said air flow control member comprising a frusto conical body portion, and an air deflecting portion adjacent said frusto conical body portion, said deflecting portion having a substantially concave surface of revolution, said frusto conical body portion comprising at least one opening therethrough through which the portion of air not deflected by said deflecting portion can pass, said air representing said heated air fraction, said air flow control member being threadably engaged with said first threaded end of said vortex generator means so as to permit the movement of said air flow control member inward and outward relative to said air conduit of said vortex generator means to control the temperature of said heated air fraction, said outward movement of said air flow control member decreasing the temperature of said fraction, and said inward movement of said air flow control member increasing the temperature of said fraction.

Dental apparatus for the generation and delivery of heated air to the oral cavity of a dental patient comprising:

• a handle having a first end, second end, and hollow medial portion therebetween;
• inlet means in said second end for directing air from an external air source into said medial portion of said handle;
• air vortex generator means within said medial portion of said handle for receiving said air from said inlet means and generating a heated air fraction and cooled air fraction therefrom, said vortex generator means comprising a movable air flow control member, the movement of said air flow control member changing the temperature of said heated air fraction;
• first outlet means in said first end of said handle for receiving said heated air fraction from said vortex generator means and delivering said heated air fraction out of said handle to said oral cavity of said dental patient;
• second outlet means in said second end of said handle adjacent said inlet means for directing said cooled air fraction out of said handle;
• and
• wherein said vortex generator means further comprises an air conduit having a first threaded end, and a second end, said air flow control member being threadably engaged with said first threaded end so as to permit the movement of said air flow control member inward and outward relative to said air conduit of said vortex generator means to control the temperature of said heated air fraction, said outward movement of said air flow control member decreasing the temperature of said fraction, and said inward movement of said air flow control member increasing the temperature of said fraction.

A dental apparatus for the generation and delivery of heated air to the oral cavity of a dental patient comprising:

• a handle having a first end, a second end, and a hollow medial portion therebetween;
• inlet means in said second end for directing air from an external air source into said medial portion of said handle;
• outlet means for heated air in said first end;
• and
• air vortex generator means within said medial portion of said handle for receiving air from said inlet means and generating a heated air fraction and cooled air fraction therefrom, said vortex generator means comprising a tubular conduit and a flow control member mounted in one end of said conduit having a frusto conical body portion and an air deflecting portion adjacent said frusto conical body portion, said deflecting portion comprising a substantially concave surface of revolution, said frusto conical body portion comprising at least one opening therethrough communicating with said outlet means for conveying heated air thereto, said air flow control member mounted for axial movement relative to said conduit end.

A dental apparatus for the generation and delivery of heated air to the oral cavity of a dental patient comprising:

• a handle having a first end, second end, and hollow medial portion therebetween;
• inlet means in said second end for directing air from an external air source into said medial portion of said handle;
• air vortex generator means within said medial portion of said handle for receiving said air from said air inlet means and generating a heated air fraction and cooled air fraction therefrom, said vortex generator means comprising an air conduit communicating with said air inlet means and an air flow control member, said air flow control member comprising a portion having a diameter less than that of said air conduit, said portion of said air flow control member extending into said air conduit so as to form an annular orifice therebetween;
• means for adjusting the radial size of said annular orifice, said adjusting means regulating the temperature of the heated air fraction flowing through said orifice;
• first outlet means in said first end of said handle for receiving the heated air fraction flowing through said orifice and delivering said heated air fraction out of said handle to said oral cavity of said dental patient;
• second outlet means in said second end of said handle adjacent said inlet means for directing said cooled air fraction out of said handle;
• and
• said air flow control member being threadably engaged with said air conduit so as to permit the inward and outward axial movement of said air flow control member relative to said air conduit, said outward movement of said air flow control member increasing the radial size of said annular orifice which decreases the temperature of the heated air fraction flowing therethrough, said inward movement of said air flow control member decreasing the radial size of said annular orifice which increases the temperature of the heated air fraction flowing therethrough.