CN216025663U

CN216025663U - Liquid atomizing device

Info

Publication number: CN216025663U
Application number: CN202121950631.1U
Authority: CN
Inventors: 张承领; 高超
Original assignee: Candy Hoover Suzhou Co Ltd
Current assignee: Candy Hoover Suzhou Co Ltd
Priority date: 2021-08-19
Filing date: 2021-08-19
Publication date: 2022-03-15
Anticipated expiration: 2031-08-19

Abstract

The utility model discloses a liquid atomizing device, comprising a tubular body having a sleeve to engage a neck of a container, the sleeve comprising an end wall and a side wall, a venturi device mounted within the sleeve on the underside of the end wall, a tube extending downwardly from the venturi device to the container, the venturi device comprising a cap secured to the end wall and a nozzle mounted on the end wall, the nozzle comprising an inlet end connected to an air flow channel and an outlet end provided with a nozzle orifice coaxial with an outlet orifice in the cap, the nozzle orifice being separated from the outlet orifice by a gap provided between the nozzle and the cap, the upper end of the tube being fluidly connected to the gap, the nozzle sealing the cap around the nozzle orifice, forming a sealed channel extending between the nozzle orifice and the upper end of the air flow channel, preventing fluid flow to the nozzle bore except in a direction extending linearly from the upper end of the tube.

Description

Liquid atomizing device

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a liquid atomizer for liquids, and more particularly, to an atomizer, but not limited to, a liquid atomizer for dispensing liquid essential oils and/or fragrances only from a cleaning appliance, such as a vacuum cleaner or air cleaner.

Background

Chinese utility model patent No. CN211157534U discloses a liquid atomizing device (atomizer device), which comprises a cap-shaped main body and a container for containing liquid to be dispensed, the container being screwed onto the cap-shaped main body. Said cap-like body is provided with an inlet for connection to an external source of pressurized air and with a duct extending from venturi means on said cap-like body towards the bottom of said container. As explained in further detail below, pressurized air entering the cap-like body causes liquid to be drawn along the conduit by the venturi device, where it is atomized into a mist back into the container, and then into the atmosphere as the air stream passes through a dispensing outlet.

The atomizer disclosed in chinese utility model No. CN211157534U has the disadvantages that the amount of liquid sprayed in the form of mist is small, the noise is large, and it is not suitable for use with cleaning devices such as vacuum cleaner or air purifier.

SUMMERY OF THE UTILITY MODEL

The object of the present invention is to solve the above mentioned problems to produce an atomiser suitable for use in conjunction with a cleaning appliance.

In view of the above, the applicant has now devised an improved liquid atomizer device, and a cleaning appliance incorporating the same.

According to the present invention, viewed from a first aspect, there is provided a liquid atomizer device comprising a tubular body having a sleeve for engaging a neck of a container of the liquid atomizer device, wherein the sleeve comprises an end wall and an abutting tubular side wall; and a venturi device mounted on the underside of said end wall inside said sleeve, wherein a tube extends downwardly from said venturi device to said container, said venturi device comprising a cap secured to said end wall and a nozzle fixedly mounted on said end wall, said nozzle comprising an inlet end connected to an air flow passage and an outlet end provided with a nozzle orifice, said nozzle orifice being disposed coaxially with an outlet orifice in said cap and separated from said outlet orifice by a space provided between said nozzle and said cap, the upper end of said tube being fluidly connected to said space; wherein the nozzle is sealed to the cover around the nozzle aperture to form a sealing channel extending directly between the nozzle aperture and the upper end of the air flow channel to prevent fluid flow to the nozzle aperture except in a direction extending substantially linearly from the upper end of the body.

The present invention recognizes that the noise emitted by prior liquid atomization devices is caused by instability of the liquid flow within the venturi because the fluid is able to flow completely around the nozzle and in all directions to the nozzle orifice. Restricting the flow of fluid to channels of 90 degrees or less significantly alleviates this problem, thereby reducing the amount of noise emitted and increasing atomization efficiency.

An annular seal is disposed between the venturi assembly and the end wall of the sleeve.

The applicant has realised that sealing the venturi seal to the end wall prevents air from passing from the air flow passage into the space around the nozzle or the container, thereby reducing emitted noise and improving atomisation efficiency.

The annular seal is disposed between the nozzle of the venturi apparatus and the end wall of the sleeve.

The annular seal is disposed between the cap of the venturi apparatus and the end wall of the sleeve.

The spout may be sealed against the cap along the periphery of the dispensing orifice by at least 320 degrees or 340 degrees.

The restricted channel may have parallel sides along its length between the nozzle bore and the upper end of the body.

Also in accordance with the present invention, viewed from a second aspect, there is provided a liquid atomizer device comprising a tubular body having a sleeve for engaging a neck of a container of said liquid atomizer device, wherein said sleeve comprises an end wall and an abutting tubular side wall; and a venturi device mounted on the underside of said end wall inside said sleeve, wherein a tube extends downwardly from said venturi device to said container, said venturi device comprising a cap secured to said end wall and a nozzle fixedly mounted on said end wall, said nozzle comprising an inlet end connected to an air flow passage and an outlet end provided with a nozzle orifice disposed coaxially with an outlet orifice in said cap and separated from said outlet orifice by a space disposed between said nozzle and said cap, the upper end of said tube being fluidly connected to said space; wherein an annular seal is provided between the venturi apparatus and the end wall of the sleeve.

The nozzle may be sealed against the cap along the circumference of the nozzle bore for at least 270 degrees to form a closed channel extending between the nozzle bore and the upper end of the body and prevent fluid flow to the nozzle bore except from the closed channel.

The spout may be sealed against the lid along the periphery of the dispensing aperture for at least 320 degrees.

Drawings

Embodiments of the utility model are illustrated by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

fig. 1 is a sectional view of an upper end portion of a liquid atomizer according to chinese utility model patent No. CN 211157534U.

Fig. 2 is an isometric view from one side and above of the venturi cover portion of the liquid atomization device according to fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a liquid atomizer according to the present invention.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a body portion of the liquid atomization device according to fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an isometric view from one side and above of the venturi cover portion of the liquid atomization device according to fig. 3.

Detailed Description

Referring to fig. 1 and 2, there is shown a conventional liquid atomizer disclosed in chinese utility model patent No. CN 211157534U. The liquid atomizer device comprises a cap-shaped body 10 for containing a container 11 of the liquid to be dispensed, said container 11 being screwed onto said cap-shaped body 10. The cap-shaped body 10 is provided with an inlet 12 for connection to an external source of pressurised air (not shown). The cap-shaped body 10 comprises a tubular side wall 13 and a boundary wall 14, the boundary wall 14 being perpendicular to the tubular axis of the cap-shaped body 10 and extending through the interior of the cap-shaped body 10. The lower end wall of the cap-shaped body 10 is open and defines an internally threaded sleeve 26, the internally threaded sleeve 26 being adapted to receive an externally threaded neck 27 of the container 11. The upper end wall of the cap-shaped body 10 is engaged with a closure 15 to define an internal compartment 16 disposed inside the cap-shaped body 10 and above the boundary wall 14. The closure 15 includes a dispensing outlet 17 extending between the internal compartment 16 and the external atmosphere. A passage 18 extends through the boundary wall 14 to connect the internal compartment 16 with the interior of the container 11.

The inlet 12 communicates through a passage with a cavity 19 formed in an enlarged region at the center of the boundary wall 14. The cavity 19 has an open bottom facing the internally threaded sleeve 26. The venturi device 20 is mounted on the underside of the boundary wall 14 within said sleeve 26. The venturi device 20 includes a tubular nozzle 21, the tubular nozzle 21 having an enlarged open upper end which is aligned with the open lower end of the cavity 19. The lower end wall of the tubular nozzle 21 comprises a nozzle bore 28. The tubular nozzle 21 is secured against the underside of the boundary wall 14 by a circular-section cap 22 of the venturi device 20, which circular-section cap 22 extends around the tubular nozzle 21 and is journalled in the underside of the boundary wall 14.

The lower end of said tubular nozzle 21 extends into a dome-shaped recess formed axially in the venturi cover 22. A larger aperture 29 in the bottom of the cap 22 is disposed axially below the nozzle aperture 28 and in alignment with the nozzle aperture 28. The tubular spigot 23 depends from the venturi cover at a position radially offset from the cover aperture 29. An elongate tubular body 24 extends from the lower end of the tubular spigot 23 towards the bottom of the container 11. The upper end of the passage 33 of the tubular spigot 23 opens into a void 25 extending completely around the sides and bottom end of the tubular nozzle 21.

In use, the container 11 is filled with an essential oil, perfume or other liquid to be dispensed prior to attaching the container 11 to the cap-shaped body 10 of a liquid atomizer device. Pressurized air is then applied to the inlet 12 and then into the cavity 19 and is forced through the nozzle bore 28 of the tubular nozzle 21, through the gap 25 and into the container 11 via the cap bore 29. Such air flow through said interspace 25 causes a pressure reduction inside said interspace 25, according to the established venturi effect. The reduced pressure then draws liquid from the container 11 along the tubular body 24, wherein the air flow enters the voids 25 and is atomized into droplets by the air flow passing therethrough. These droplets then create a liquid mist within the container 11 which is carried to the atmosphere through the passage 18 and the dispensing outlet 17.

The atomisers defined above have a number of disadvantages which result in inefficient atomisation of the liquid and which also make it very noisy in use. According to the present invention, in order to overcome these problems, we have made some modifications to the apparatus as shown in fig. 3 to 5, in which like parts are given like reference numerals.

Referring to figures 3 to 5 of the drawings, a first significant difference with respect to the prior art liquid atomizer device of figures 1 and 2 is that an annular notch 34 is formed around the lower end of a cavity 19. An upper end of a nozzle 21 projects into the slot 34 and an elastic O-ring 35 is provided between the upper end face of the nozzle 21 and the lower surface of a boundary wall 14 inside the slot 34. Said O-ring 35 is intended to prevent the escape of pressurized air from said cavity 19 into a dome-shaped groove formed inside the venturi device 22. We have found that this arrangement allows the operation of the device to be quieter than the known devices of figures 1 and 2.

A second significant difference with respect to the known liquid atomizer device of fig. 1 and 2 is that the gap 25 formed between the nozzle 21 and the inner surface of the cap 22 does not extend completely around the nozzle 21 and is limited to defining a narrow channel 25a, which channel 25a extends radially outwardly from the nozzle orifice 28 to a point on the side wall of the cap 22 at which the upper end of the channel 33 in the tubular socket 23 enters the interior of the cap 22. Thus, the region where the liquid and gas streams meet inside the venturi device 20 is restricted, so that the atomisation process is in a more restricted space than that defined by the larger gap 25 of the known liquid atomisation devices of figures 1 and 2. In this way, the applicant has found that the operation of the liquid atomizer device is quieter than the known liquid atomizer device of fig. 1 and 2, since the liquid mixes with the air in a smoother and more stable manner.

In a further embodiment (not shown), the liquid atomizer device may additionally or alternatively comprise a seal arranged between an upper end of the cover 22 of the liquid atomizer device and the underside of the boundary wall 14.

Further less important modifications of the known liquid atomization device with respect to fig. 1 and 2 may include one or more of the following features:

a) a dispensing outlet 17, the cross-sectional area of which is narrower at a point intermediate the opposite ends than at the opposite ends thereof, the diameter tapering outwardly towards the opposite ends.

b) A seal 36 is provided between the inlet 12 and the sleeve in the body 10.

c) A seal (not shown) is provided between the closure 15 and the side wall 13 of the body 10.

d) A seal 37 is provided between the interior of the sleeve 26 and the upper end of the container 11.

The liquid atomizer device according to the present invention is not more complex in construction than the known liquid atomizer device of fig. 1 and 2, but provides significantly improved performance and quieter operation.

Claims

1. A liquid atomizer device, comprising: the liquid atomization device comprises:

a tubular body having a sleeve for engaging a neck of a container of the liquid atomizer, wherein the sleeve comprises an end wall and an abutting tubular side wall; and

a venturi assembly mounted on the underside of said end wall within said sleeve, wherein a tube extends downwardly from said venturi assembly to said container, said venturi assembly comprising a cap secured to said end wall and a nozzle fixedly mounted on said end wall, said nozzle comprising an inlet end connected to an air flow passage and an outlet end provided with a nozzle orifice, said nozzle orifice being disposed coaxially with an outlet orifice in said cap and separated from said outlet orifice by a space disposed between said nozzle and said cap, an upper end of said tube being fluidly connected to said space;

wherein the nozzle is sealed to the cover around the nozzle aperture to form a sealing channel extending directly between the nozzle aperture and the upper end of the air flow channel to prevent fluid flow to the nozzle aperture except in a direction extending substantially linearly from the upper end of the body.

2. A liquid atomizing device as set forth in claim 1, wherein: an annular seal is disposed between the venturi assembly and the end wall of the sleeve.

3. A liquid atomizing device as set forth in claim 2, wherein: the annular seal is disposed between the nozzle of the venturi apparatus and the end wall of the sleeve.

4. A liquid atomizing device as set forth in claim 2, wherein: the annular seal is disposed between the cap of the venturi apparatus and the end wall of the sleeve.

5. A liquid atomizing device as set forth in claim 1, wherein: the sealing channels are parallel to the side edges.

6. A liquid atomizer device, comprising: the liquid atomization device comprises:

a venturi assembly mounted on the underside of said end wall within said sleeve, wherein a tube extends downwardly from said venturi assembly to said container, said venturi assembly comprising a cap secured to said end wall and a nozzle fixedly mounted on said end wall, said nozzle comprising an inlet end connected to an air flow passage and an outlet end provided with a nozzle orifice disposed coaxially with and separated from an outlet orifice in said cap by a space disposed between said nozzle and said cap, the upper end of said tube being fluidly connected to said space;

wherein an annular seal is provided between the venturi apparatus and the end wall of the sleeve.

7. A liquid atomizer device according to claim 6 wherein: the annular seal is disposed between the nozzle of the venturi apparatus and the end wall of the sleeve.

8. A liquid atomizer device according to claim 6 wherein: the annular seal is disposed between the cap of the venturi apparatus and the end wall of the sleeve.

9. A liquid atomizer device according to claim 6 wherein: the nozzle is sealed to the cover around the nozzle orifice to form a sealed channel extending directly between the nozzle orifice and the upper end of the air flow channel to prevent fluid flow to the nozzle orifice except in a direction extending substantially linearly from the upper end of the body.

10. A liquid atomizing device as set forth in claim 9, wherein: the sealing channels are parallel to the side edges.