US 4,978,069 AGranted

Method and apparatus for the formation of droplets

OwnerRalf Andersson, Alf Anderssoninventors

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Abstract

A method and an apparatus for dividing a liquid into droplets is disclosed. One or several disks (35) rotate about an axis (A) and are provided, at their outer peripheral edges, with circumferentially equidistant, uniform cusps. A distributing device (20) is adapted to distribute the liquid uniformly and circumferentially on the disks (35), whereby the liquid discharged onto the disks (35) is formed into a uniform thickness film which spreads radially outwardly towards the cusps (36) and is divided thereby into uniform size droplets. The distributing device (20) may comprise a dosing container (21) which is rotationally independent of the disks (30) and from which the liquid is dosed through one or several dosing openings (26) onto the disk or disks (35), the disks (35) preferably being rotated relative to the dosing openings (26).

Claims15

Dependent claims

A method of dividing a liquid into droplets, the liquid being transferred via a stationary liquid-receiving means (10;

110) to a slinger rotor (30;
130) which is rotated relative to said receiving means (10;
110) about a stationary geometrical axis (A), said slinger rotor (30;
130) having at least one disk (35;
135) extended radially to said axis (A) and having at a radially outer peripheral edge circumferentially equidistant, uniform and radially projecting portions (36) designated cusps hereinbelow, such that the liquid received on the disk (35;
135) is formed into a uniform thickness film which, by centrifugal action, grows radially outwardly toward said cusps (36) and is divided thereby into uniform size droplets, characterised in that the liquid is transferred in a first step from said stationary receiving means (10;
110) to a distribution rotor (20;
120) rotationally independent of said receiving means (10;
110) and said slinger rotor (30;
130);
that the liquid in a second step is transferred by the centrifugal force produced by said distribution rotor (20;
120) from said distribution rotor (20;
120) to the disk (35;
135) of said slinger rotor (30;
130) via at least one distribution opening (26;
126) provided in said distribution rotor (20;
120) and located at a radial distance from the axis (A);
and that said distribution rotor (20;
120) is rotated about the axis (A) at an angular velocity different from the angular velocity of said slinger rotor (30;
130), in order to uniformly and, relative to the axis (A), circumferentially distribute the liquid transferred through said distribution opening (26;
126) on the disk (35;
135) of said slinger rotor (30;
130).

20 more elements

An apparatus for dividing a liquid into droplets, from which apparatus the droplets are slung by centrifugal action, said apparatus comprising

a stationary liquid-receiving means (10;
110) adapted to receive the liquid to be divided into droplets;
a slinger rotor (30;
130) rotatable about a stationary geometrical axis (A) and provided with at least one disk (35;
135) projecting radially to said axis (A), said disk being provided at a radially outer peripheral edge with circumferentially equidistant, uniform and radially projecting portions (36) designated cusps hereinbelow;
and
drive means operatively connected with said slinger rotor (30;
130) and adapted to cause said slinger rotor (30;
130) to rotate about the axis (A) during transfer of the liquid from said receiving means (10;
110) to the disk (35;
135) of said slinger rotor, such that the liquid transferred to said disk (35;
135) is formed into a uniform thickness film which spreads radially towards said cusps (36) and is divided thereby into uniform size droplets, characterised in that
said apparatus further comprises a distribution rotor (20;
120) rotationally independent of said receiving means (10;
110) and said slinger rotor (30;
130) for transferring liquid from said receiving means (10;
110) to said slinger rotor (30;
130), said distribution rotor (20;
120) being provided for this purpose with an inner space for receiving liquid transferred from said receiving means (10;
110) and with at least one distribution opening (26;
126) which is in liquid communication with said space and disposed at a radial distance from the axis (A), said distribution opening serving to transfer the liquid within said inner space to the disk (35;
135) of said slinger rotor (30;
130);
and
said driving means further are adapted to cause said distribution means (20;
120) to rotate about the axis (A) at an angular velocity different from the angular velocity of said slinger rotor (30;
130), such that the liquid within the inner space of said distribution rotor (20;
120) is discharged by centrifugal action through the distribution opening (26;
126) and via said opening is distributed uniformly and, relative to said axis (A), circumferentially on the disk (35;
135) of said slinger rotor (30;
130).

28 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 07/411,478Filed 16 Oct 1989
Priority: SE 870127427 Mar 1987
Granted: 18 Dec 1990
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification5 codes

B05B 3/001
Spraying or sprinkling apparatus with moving outlet elements or moving deflecting elements: incorporating means for heating or cooling, e.g. the…
B05B 3/1007
Discharging over substantially the whole periphery of the rotating member: characterised by the rotating member
B05B 3/1071
Discharging over substantially the whole periphery of the rotating member: with two rotating members rotating at different speeds
B05B 3/1078
With two rotating members rotating at different speeds: the rotating members rotating in opposite directions