Control system for atomizing liquids with a piezoelectric vibrator
AssigneeS. C. Johnson & Son, Inc.
InventorsDennis J. Denen, Gary E. Myers, Leon M. Headings, George A. Clark, Eric R. Navin, Todd L. James
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Abstract
There is described a battery driven atomizer in which an alternating voltage is applied to a piezoelectric actuation element to cause it to expand and contract and vibrate an atomizing orifice plate. The alternating voltage is controlled to produce a high amplitude vibration during a first portion of a drive period, to initiate atomization, and thereafter to produce a lower amplitude vibration to sustain atomization during the remainder of the drive period. The frequency of the alternating voltage is swept repeatedly during each drive period.
Claims38
A method for operating a battery powered vibratory liquid atomizer of the type in which an orifice plate, to which liquid to be atomized is supplied, vibrates to drive the liquid from its surface in the form of a small liquid particles during drive periods which occur alternately with sleep periods, said method comprising:
- vibrating said orifice plate at the beginning of each drive period at a relatively high amplitude sufficient to clear a film of liquid from an outer surface of said orifice plate, to initiate atomization of the liquid;
- and
- thereafter vibrating said orifice plate at a relatively low amplitude sufficient to sustain the atomization during the remainder of the drive period.
A method of energizing a battery driven piezoelectric vibrating liquid atomizer of the type in which a piezoelectric actuating element with an alternating voltage to expand and contract and thereby to vibrate an orifice plate to which a liquid to be atomized is supplied, so that vibration of said orifice plate atomizes said liquid and ejects it from the orifice plate in the form of fine aerosolized particles during drive periods which occur alternately with sleep periods, said method comprising:
- during a drive period, first applying a high amplitude alternating voltage to said piezoelectric actuating element to cause it to vibrate said orifice plate at a high amplitude to clear from an outer surface thereof, a film of liquid which had accumulated thereon during a previous sleep period, to initiate atomization of the liquid;
- and
- thereafter, for the remainder of said drive period, applying a lower alternating voltage to said piezoelectric actuating element to sustain said atomization during said remainder of said drive period.
A vibratory liquid atomizer comprising:
- an orifice plate;
- a liquid conduit arranged to supply liquid to be atomized to said orifice plate;
- and
- a vibration actuator coupled to said orifice plate and connected to vibrate said orifice plate at a high amplitude at the beginning of a drive period to initiate atomization of the liquid and thereafter, for the remainder of said drive period, to vibrate said orifice plate at a lower amplitude sufficient to sustain the atomization.
A vibratory liquid atomizer comprising:
- an orifice plate mounted to be vibrated;
- a liquid supply conduit arranged to supply liquid to said orifice plate while it is vibrating;
- a piezoelectric actuating element coupled to said orifice plate to cause it to vibrate when said element expands and contracts;
- and
- an electric power supply system connected to supply an alternating voltage to said actuating element during a drive period to cause it to expand and contract and thereby to vibrate said orifice plate to atomize said liquid and eject it in the form of fine aerosolized liquid particles, said electric power supply system including circuits connected to apply a high alternating voltage to said piezoelectric actuating element at the beginning of said drive period to cause it to vibrate said orifice plate at a high amplitude sufficient to initiate atomization of the liquid and thereafter, for the remainder of said drive period, to apply a lower alternating voltage to said piezoelectric actuating element to sustain said atomization.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.