AU2021240320B2

AU2021240320B2 - Bubble generating device

Info

Publication number: AU2021240320B2
Application number: AU2021240320A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Wen-Tsu SU
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2021-10-04
Filing date: 2021-10-04
Publication date: 2023-05-18
Anticipated expiration: 2041-10-04
Also published as: AU2021240320A1

Abstract

BUBBLE GENERATING DEVICE A bubble generating device includes a casing unit (3), a gas intake unit (4) and a liquid input unit (5). 5 The casing unit (3) includes a flow passage (33) converging from a first casing end (31) towards a second casing end (32). The gas intake unit (4) includes a mounting part (41) mounted to the first casing end (31), a protrusion (42) projecting and tapering from the 10 mounting part (41) into the flow passage (33), and a gas channel (44) extending through the mounting part (41) and protrusion (42) and communicates with the flow passage (33). The liquid input unit (5) includes a liquid channel (53) communicating with the flow passage 15 (33) and defines an axis (531) nonparallel to and radially offset from an axis (34) of the flow passage (33). (Fig. 2) (INA 000 0 0 00000 0 0 0 000 0 0 0 o 000 0 o 00 0 0004200 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 00 0 0 0 0 000 0 0 00 000 0 00 0\ 00000 N N CIA CIA r--

Description

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BUBBLE GENERATING DEVICE

The disclosure relates to a bubble generating

device.

Referring to figure 1, as disclosed in Taiwanese

Patent No. 366696, a jet type bubble generating machine

includes a casing 11, a motor 12 disposed on a rear end

of the casing 11, a jet tube unit 13 disposed on a front

end of the casing 11, multiple cutting webs 14 disposed

in the jet tube unit 13, and an air-conducting tube 15

disposed on a top end of the casing 11. The jet tube

unit 13 includes a flow passage 131 diverging away from

the casing 11. The water is pumped by the motor 12 and

flows into the flow passage 131 through the casing 11.

When the water is guided by the flow passage 131 to

generate a vortex, the air is sucked into the flow

passage 131 through the air-conducting tube 15 so as

to be mixed with the water for producing bubbles.

However, alengthof the jet tube unit13 is toolong.

The jet type bubble generating machine occupies a large

space. Further, because the cutting webs 14 are

disposed in the jet tube unit 13, impurities easily clog

up the cutting webs 14 andneed to be regularly cleaned.

In this specification where reference has been made

to patent specifications, other external documents, or

other sources of information, this is generally for the

purpose of providing a context for discussing the features of the invention. Unless specifically stated otherwise, reference to suchexternaldocuments or such sources of information is not to be construed as an admission that such documents or such sources of information, in any jurisdiction, are prior art or form part of the common general knowledge in the art.

Therefore, an object of the disclosure is to provide

a bubble generating device that can alleviate at least

one of the drawbacks of the prior art.

An additionalor alternative object of the invention

is to at least provide the public with a useful choice.

According to an aspect of the invention, there is

provided a bubble generating device for generating

bubbles by mixing a gas and a liquid, comprising: a

casing unit including a first casing end, a second

casing end opposite to said first casing end, and a flow

passage converging from said first casing end towards

said second casing end to allow a fluid to flow in a

streaming direction from said first casing end to said

second casing end; a gas intake unit including a

mounting part mounted to and closing said first casing

end, a protrusion projecting and tapering from said

mounting part into said flow passage, and a gas channel

extending through said mounting part and said

protrusion, said gas channel communicating with said

flow passage for introducing the gas into the flow

passage; and a liquid input unit connected to said casing unit and including a liquid channel communicating with said flow passage for introducing the liquid into the flow passage; wherein said flow passage has a converging section tapering from said first casing end toward said second casing end, and a constricted uniform width section extending from said converging section to said second casing end; wherein said liquid channel of said liquid input unit is directly connected to said converging section of said flow passage; wherein a liquid input direction in said liquid channel is inclined to the streaming direction; wherein said flow passage has a passage central axis extending along the streaming direction; and wherein said liquid channel has a channel central axis that is non-parallel and non-intersecting to said passage central axis of said flow passage.

Reference maybe made in the description to subject

matter whichis not in the scope of the appended claims.

That subject matter should be readily identifiable by

a person skilled in the art and may assist putting into

practice the invention as defined in the appended

claims.

Other features andadvantages of the disclosure will

become apparent in the following detailed description

of the embodiment with reference to the accompanying

drawings, of which:

Figure 1 is a sectioned view of a jet type bubble generating machine;

Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view

illustrating a bubble generating device according to

an embodiment of the disclosure;

Figure 3 is a top view of the embodiment;

Figure 4 is a sectioned view taken along line VI-VI

of Figure 3; and

Figure 5 is a front view of the embodiment

illustrating a perforated plate unit of the bubble

generating device.

Figures 2 to 4 illustrate a bubble generating device

according to an embodiment of the disclosure for

generating bubbles by mixing a gas 22 and a liquid 21.

The bubble generating device includes a casing unit 3,

a gas intake unit 4, a liquid input unit 5, a support

unit 6, and a perforated plate unit 7. The gas 22 may

be air, and the liquid 21 may be water.

The casing unit 3 includes a first casing end 31,

a second casing end 32 opposite to the first casing end

31, and a flow passage 33 converging from the first

casing end 31 towards the second casing end 32 to allow

a fluid to flow in a flowing direction (dl) from the

first casing end 31 to the second casing end 32.

The flow passage 33 has a converging section 35, a

constricted uniform width section 36, and a passage

central axis 34 passing through the converging section

35 and the constricted uniform width section 36 along the flowing direction (dl).

The converging section 35 has a substantially

frustoconical cross section and tapers from the first

casingend31toward the second casingend32. The length

(L11) thereof is 3 . 1cm. An angle (Al) of 23.7 degrees

is formed between a boundary wall of the converging

section 35 and the passage central axis 34. The

converging section 35 is the largest at the first casing

end 31 and opens at the first casing end 31. In this

embodiment, the diameter (D11) of the first casing end

31 is 3.8cm. The diameter (D12) at a smallest end of

the converging section 35 is 0.778cm. In other

embodiments, the angle (Al) may range between 18 and

30 degrees.

The constricted uniform width section 36 has a

substantially cylindrical cross section, and a length

(L12) of the constricted uniform width section 36 is

measured from a smallest end of the converging section

35 to the second casing end 32. In this embodiment, the

length (L12) is 1.0cm. The constricted uniform width

section 36 has a diameter (D21) of 0.778cm.

The gas intake unit 4 includes a mounting part 41,

a protrusion 42, a gas channel 44, and a connection tube

43. The mounting part 41 is mounted to and closes the

first casing end 31. The protrusion 42 projects and

tapers from the mounting part 41 into the flow passage

33. The gas channel44 extends through the mountingpart

41and the protrusion42, and communicates with the flow

passage 33 for introducing the gas 22 into the flow

passage 33. The connection tube 43 projects from the

mounting part 41 opposite to the first casing ends 31

and communicates with the gas channel 44. An air supply

tube 91 is sleeved on the connection tube 43.

As shown in Figure 4, the protrusion 42 has a

substantially frustoconincal shape and includes a

large diameter (D31) of 2.6cm proximate to the mounting

part 41 and a small diameter (D32) of 0.78cm opposite

to the mounting part 41. In this embodiment, the

protrusion has an outer frustoconical surface 421

inclined at an angle (A2) of 39.6 degrees relative to

the passage central axis 34. In other embodiments, the

angle (A2) may range between 34 and 42 degrees.

The liquid input unit 5 is tubular, and includes a

narrowed tube portion 52, a widened portion 51 and a

liquid channel 53. The narrowed tube portion 52 is

integrally connected to the casing unit 3. The widened

tube portion 51 is connected to the narrowed tube

portion 52 opposite to the casing unit 3. The liquid

channel 53 extends through the narrowed and widened

tube portions 52, 51 and communicates with the flow

passage 33 for introducing the liquid 21 into the flow

passage 33. The liquid channel 53 has an open end

proximate to the protrusion 42. In other embodiment,

the liquid input unit 5 may be snappingly engaged to the casing unit 3.

Referring back to Figures 3 and 4, a direction (d2)

of a liquid feed flow in the liquid channel 53 is

inclined to the flowing direction (dl) in the flow

passage 33. The liquid channel 53 has a channel central

axis 531 that is non-parallel to and radially offset

from the passage central axis 34 of the flow passage

33. The direction (d2) is inclined to the flowing

direction (dl) by an inclined angle (A3) of 81 degrees

therebetween. In other embodiments, the inclined angle

(A3) may range between 75 and 88 degrees.

The support unit 6 integrally connects and projects

outwardly from the second casing end 32 in the flowing

direction (d1) of the flow passage 33, and includes a

mounting ring 61, and a plurality of spaced apart ribs

621, specifically two ribs 621. The mounting ring 61

is spaced apart from the second casing end 32. The two

ribs 621 connect the mounting ring 61 to the second

casing end 32. In other embodiment, the support unit

6 may be snappingly engaged to the casing unit 3.

Referring back to Figures 2, 4 and 5, the perforated

plate unit 7 is mounted to the mounting ring 61 and

spaced apart from the second casing end 32. The

perforated plate unit 7 includes first and second

perforated plates 71, 72 stacked one over the other

along the flowing direction (D1). The first perforated

plate 71 has a plurality of first holes 711 equal in diameter. The second perforated plate 72 is downstream of the first perforated plate 71 and has a plurality of second holes 721 and a plurality of curved openings

722. The second holes 721 and the curved openings 722

are larger in size than the first holes 711. Some second

holes 721 are staggered with the first holes 711; some

second holes 721 overlap with the first holes 711. The

curved openings 722 are equiangularly spaced apart from

each other. Some curved openings 722 are aligned with

the first holes 711, and some curved openings 722 are

staggered with the first holes 711.

As shown in Figure 4, in use, a liquid conduit 92

is inserted into the widened portion 51 of the liquid

unit 5. When the liquid 21 is introduced through the

liquid conduit 92 into the flow passage 33 and when the

gas 22 is introduced into the flow passage 33 through

the gas channel 44, a pressure difference between the

converging section 35 and the constricteduniformwidth

section 36 is generated. The pressure difference draws

the gas 22 to mix with the liquid 21, thus forming

bubbles in the liquid 21.

The protrusion 42 serves as a guide to help whirling

of the liquid, thereby increasing the whirling effect

of the liquid 21. Therefore, although a total length

of the flow passage 33 is only 4.1cm, by virtue of the

protrusion 42, a sufficient fluid force can be

generated in the flow passage 33 to mix the gas 22 with the liquid 21 for producing sufficient bubbles. In this embodiment, the protrusion 42 has a frustoconical shape that has an excellent effect to produce a vortex flow.

However, the protrusion 42 may also have a pyramidal

shape with a polygonal base such as a three-sided,

four-sided or five-sided base.

Because the direction (d2) of the liquid in the

liquid channel 53 is inclined to the flowing direction

(d1) in the flow passage 33 and because the channel

central axis 531 of the liquid channel 53 is

eccentrically offset from the passage central axis 34

of the flow passage 33 , when the liquid 21is introduced

into the flow passage 33, avorticalforce of the liquid

21 and the gas 22 is increased in the flow passage 33

to enhance the outlet flow rate of the liquid 21 and

the gas 22 and the producing efficiency of bubbles.

Referring back to Figures 2, 4 and 5, the constricted

uniform section 36 enables the bubbles formed in the

converging section 35 to break into smaller bubbles.

Because the second holes 721 are staggered with and

different in size from the first holes 711, when the

bubbles from the constricted uniform section 36 pass

through the first and second perforated plates 71, 72,

they will hit the perforated plate unit 7 and the size

thereof will therefore be reduced further. Because the

perforated plate unit 7 is mounted to the support unit

6 andis spacedapart from the casingunit 3, impurities can be discharged between the perforated plate unit 7 and the casing unit 3 through gaps formed between the ribs 621 of the support unit 6. Thus, the perforated unit 7 is prevented frombeing cloggedby the impurities.

According to some other embodiments, the constricted

uniform section 36 may be omitted.

The term 'comprising' as used in this specification

and claimsmeans 'consistingat leastinpart of'. When

interpreting statements in this specification and

claims which include the term 'comprising', other

features besides the features prefaced by this term in

each statement can also be present. Related terms such

as 'comprise' and 'comprised' are to be interpreted in

a similar manner.

Claims

The Claims defining the invention are as follows:

1. A bubble generating device for generating bubbles

by mixing a gas and a liquid, comprising:

a casing unit including a first casing end, a

second casing end opposite to said first casing end,

and a flow passage converging from said first casing

end towards said second casing end to allow a fluid

to flow in a streaming direction from said first

casing end to said second casing end;

a gas intake unit including a mounting part

mounted to and closing said first casing end, a

protrusion projecting and tapering from said

mounting part into said flow passage, and a gas

channel extending through said mounting part and

said protrusion, said gas channel communicating

with said flow passage for introducing the gas into

said flow passage; and

aliquid input unit connected to said casingunit

and including a liquid channel communicating with

said flow passage for introducing the liquid into

said flow passage;

wherein said flow passage has a converging

section tapering from said first casing end toward

said second casing end, and a constricted uniform

width section extending from said converging

section to said second casing end;

wherein said liquid channel of said liquid input

1 2

unit is directly connected to said converging

section of said flow passage;

wherein a liquid input direction in said liquid

channel is inclined to the streaming direction;

wherein said flow passage has a passage central

axis extending along the streaming direction; and

wherein said liquid channel has a channel

central axis that is non-parallel and

non-intersecting to said passage central axis of

said flow passage.

2. The bubble generating device as claimed in Claim 1,

wherein said protrusion has a frustoconical shape.

3. The bubble generating device as claimed in Claim 1,

wherein said converging section is the largest at

said first casingend andopens at said first casing

end, said constricted uniform width section having

a length of uniform width that is measured from a

smallest end of said converging section to said

second casing end.

4. The bubble generating device as claimed in Claim 1,

further comprising a support unit and a perforated

plate unit, said support unit projecting outwardly

in the streaming direction from said second casing

end, said perforated plate unit being mounted on

1 3

said support unit and spaced apart from said second

casing end.

5. The bubble generating device as claimed in Claim 4,

wherein said support unit includes a mounting ring

spaced apart from said second casing end for mounting saidperforated plate unit, and aplurality of spaced apart ribs connecting said mounting ring to said second casing end.

6. The bubble generating device as claimed in Claim 5, wherein said perforated plate unit includes first and second perforated plates stacked one over the other along the streaming direction, said first perforated plate having a plurality of first holes, said second perforated plate having a plurality of second holes staggered with said first holes.

7. The bubble generating device as claimed in Claim 6, wherein said second holes are larger in size than said first holes.