US 5,957,382 AGranted

Fog generator

OwnerClarence O. Thomasinventor

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Abstract

A fog generator comprising a pump which delivers under hitch pressure a volatilizable chemical into a centrifuge-heater component which centrifuges and heats the chemical efficiently. The centrifuge forces heavier particles of the volatilizable chemical against highly heated areas of the centrifuge member to provide added pressure to the volatilizable chemical passing through the centrifuge resulting in increased production of ultra-fine fog. One embodiment describes a fog generator which includes an ice chamber through which some of the volatilized chemical may be directed to cool the volatilized chemical passing through ice particles therein and make more effective the production of low-lying fog. To make the use of the ice chamber even more efficient, the ice chamber includes means for efficient removal of water which has accumulated from melted ice.

Claims28

Dependent claims

An artificial fog generator, comprising:

a source of volatilizable chemical;
a pump;
a centrifuge member having an inlet connected to the pump to receive pressurized volatilizable chemical;
a separate heating member coupled to the centrifuge member to provide high heat to the centrifuge member;
temperature control means connected to the heating member for closely controlling the heating temperature of the heating member;
said centrifuge member having a helical passageway defined by a wall and defining a helical path from the inlet thereof to an outlet thereof for the passage of the volatilizable pressurized chemical from the inlet to the outlet and to centrifuge heavier particles of the volatilizable chemical toward the wall and against more highly heated areas of the centrifuge member to increase the pressure of the volatilizable chemical passing through the centrifuge member;
insulating housing means enclosing the centrifuge member and the heating member;
and
orifice means connected to the outlet of the centrifuge member for providing passage of volatilizable chemical to the exterior of the fog generator as a fog, and for maintaining the volatilizable chemical under pressure in the passageway but preventing excessive back pressure connected with the conditions of the operation of the fog generator.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.