Atomising nozzle and filter and spray generation device
AssigneesBoehringer Ingelheim International GmbH, DMW (Technology) Limited
InventorsFrank Bartels, Wulf Bachtler, Stephen T. Dunne, Joachim Eicher, Bernhard Freund, William B. Hart, Christoph Lessmoellmann
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Abstract
A nozzle assembly for use in atomizing and generating sprays from a fluid. The nozzle assembly includes two members joined together. In one of the two members are formed one or more nozzle outlets, one or more fluid inlets, and a plurality of channels that form filter passageways. The nozzle outlets discharge fluid jets that impinge on one another to thereby atomize the fluid. Alternatively, an impact element or a vortex-generating structure can be used in the nozzle outlet to atomize the fluid.
Claims44
A nozzle assembly for atomizing a flow of fluid supplied at a pressure into fine droplets, comprising:
- a first member having a first generally planar surface;
- a second member having a second generally planar surface, said first and said second generally planar surfaces being joined together;
- a first set of channels formed in said first generally planar surface to form, in cooperation with said second generally planar surface, a first plurality of filter passageways;
- a plenum chamber formed in said first member, said plenum chamber in fluid communication with and downstream of said first plurality of filter passageways;
- a second set of channels formed in said first generally planar surface to form, in cooperation with said second generally planar surface, a plurality of nozzle outlet passageways, said plurality of nozzle outlet passageways being in fluid communication with said plenum chamber;
- and
- wherein said plurality of nozzle outlet passageways includes a plurality of nozzle outlets that has a total cross-sectional area of approximately 25 to 500 square micrometers, wherein each of said plurality of nozzle outlet passageways has a cross-sectional area at least as large as that of each of said first plurality of filter passageways, said plurality of nozzle outlets adapted to discharge a plurality of fluid jets that impinge on one another to thereby atomize said flow of fluid.
A nozzle assembly for atomizing a flow of fluid supplied at a pressure into fine droplets, comprising:
- a first member having a first generally planar surface;
- a second member having a second generally planar surface, said first and said second generally planar surfaces being joined together;
- a first set of channels formed in said first generally planar surface to form, in cooperation with said second generally planar surface, a first plurality of filter passageways;
- a plenum chamber formed in said first member, said plenum chamber in fluid communication with and downstream of said first plurality of filter passageways;
- an outlet channel formed in said first generally planar surface to form, in cooperation with said second generally planar surface, a nozzle outlet passageway, wherein said nozzle outlet passageway includes a nozzle outlet and said nozzle outlet passageway is in fluid communication with said plenum chamber;
- and
- means for inducing secondary flow in said flow of fluid as it exits said nozzle outlet to thereby facilitate atomization, wherein said nozzle outlet has a cross-sectional area of approximately 25 to 500 square micrometers, and wherein said nozzle outlet passageway has a cross-sectional area at least as large as that of each of said first plurality of filter passageways.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.