EP3638389A1

EP3638389A1 - Device for producing special effect fog

Info

Publication number: EP3638389A1
Application number: EP18737140.6A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Mario Gerard TOMAZETICH
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2017-06-16
Filing date: 2018-06-13
Publication date: 2020-04-22
Anticipated expiration: 2038-06-13
Also published as: AT519865B1; EA202090021A1; US11154791B2; US20210162312A1; EA037458B1; EP3638389B1; WO2018227225A1; CA3067187A1; ES2898702T3; AT519865A4

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for producing special effect fog, in particular in the field of stage technology, comprising a fog generator (1) which is equipped with a heating element, wherein a fog fluid is evaporated by means of the heating element, and at least one ultrasonic vaporizer (5) which is arranged in a housing (2) on the bottom (3) of a main mixing chamber (4), wherein the fog which is generated by the fog generator (1) can be conducted into the main mixing chamber (4), and wherein, furthermore, a baffle wall (7) is provided in the main mixing chamber (4) close to an outlet opening (6). In addition, a pre-mixing chamber (8) is provided, into which an air stream which is generated by a fan (9) and the fog which is generated by the fog generator (1) can be introduced via respective access openings (14, 15). The pre-mixing chamber (8) is connected by means of a transfer opening (10) to the main mixing chamber (4), wherein the transfer opening (10) is arranged in the main mixing chamber (4) so as to lie opposite the baffle wall (7).

Description

DEVICE FOR PRODUCING EFFECT MIST

Technisches GebietTechnical area

The invention relates to a device for producing effect spray, in particular in the field of stage technology, comprising a fog generator equipped with a heating element, wherein a fog fluid is evaporated by means of the heating element, and at least one arranged in a housing at the bottom of a main mixing chamber ultrasonic atomizer, wherein the fog generator generated fog in the main mixing chamber is conductive, and further wherein in the main mixing chamber near an outlet opening, a baffle wall is provided.

Stand der TechnikState of the art

Such a device is for example in the AT 517497 A described. Here, a fog fluid evaporated in a fog generator by means of a heating element is enriched in a mixing chamber with a fine aerosol from an ultrasonic nebulizer in order to obtain a well controllable effect fog for the stage technique with numerous positive properties.
Conventional effect nebulae are based in most cases either on fog fluids evaporated by means of heating elements or on dry ice, which produces a dense near-ground mist by rapid sublimation. Both principles have many disadvantages. Vaporizable fog fluids are sometimes harmful or flammable. The effect nebula created with it rises rapidly in the stage area and spreads, making it difficult to control. Condensate often forms around the fog generator, covering surrounding equipment and the stage floor with an oily layer of condensed fog fluid, which is undesirable and can lead to accidents or damage. The vaporized fluids are perceived as disturbing by singers and musicians because they dry out the air in the stage area and are therefore a hindrance to singing and making music.
The same applies to systems based on dry ice. Apart from the fact that their operation is costly due to the required dry ice, this mist can in turn be kept only near the ground and does not rise in higher layers. Here, too, the air is massively dried out or enriched with CO 2 , which can lead to massive problems for example in orchestra trenches or requires the use of additional venting systems.
Already in the DE 3442905 A or the EP 0158038 A The idea was to aerosolize a vaporized smoke fluid with an atomized water-air. However, the cited documents are concerned only with the structure of a conventional ultrasonic atomizer, as it is used for humidifiers and merely refer to the fact that a mist generator, which vaporizes a fog fluid associated with this, ie it is placed next to it. A mixing of the mist and the aerosol is done here so downstream of the two machines, which has been shown in practice that this does not lead to a satisfactory result. The two nebulae created in this way do not connect, but behave essentially like every single nebula in this arrangement. The nebulized mist from the ultrasonic nebuliser is less stable and settles down quickly, releasing a lot of moisture around the machine. The evaporated fog fluid has the disadvantages described above.
For this reason, a device was created, as well as in the AT 517497 A is described. Here, on the one hand, the droplet size of the ultrasonic nebulizer is adjusted to the mist particle size of the vaporized mist fluid and on the other hand, the two mist streams are merged and mixed at the origin of Ultraschallaerosols by a forced air jet, whereby an adhesion of the water droplets takes place on the mist particles and a more stable and adjustable in height effect nebula can be generated. In one embodiment, it is also suggested that the vaporized mist fluid be directed into the intake area of a forced air flow fan, but this leads to condensate deposits on the rotor blades of the fan and thus problems in operating the machine and a poorer end result.

Darstellung der ErfindungPresentation of the invention

It is an object of the present invention to provide the device according to the AT 517497 A be improved so that the generated effect fog again significantly improved properties in terms of its stability and can be produced in different user-selectable quantities and at different altitudes. In this case, a condensation in the region of the outlet should be avoided. At the same time the stage fog should not dry the stage air additionally but be perceived by the present artists, such as singers and musicians, as pleasant or not disturbing. In order to cover a wide range of applications with different stage sizes and different climatic conditions, the machine should have a variety of adjustment options, but at the same time be inexpensive to manufacture and cost-effective operation.
This object is achieved in that in addition a premixing chamber is provided, in which an air flow generated by a fan and the fog generated by the mist generator can be introduced via respective access openings, and that the premixing chamber is connected by means of a transfer opening with the main mixing chamber, wherein the transfer opening in the main mixing chamber opposite the baffle is arranged. By providing a premixing chamber, the fog fluid vaporized by the heating element is dried in the airflow of the fan and homogenized by swirling so that it is passed into the main mixing chamber with uniform mist particle size, where it is forced by the pressure of the airflow from the fan to the aerosol origin above the water surface the ultrasonic atomizer is passed. The frequency of the ultrasonic atomizers is chosen so that the droplet size is adapted to the size of the mist particle and an optimal deposition takes place. An ideal droplet size is in the range of 2 microns and 10 microns. Excess aerosol is deposited as condensate via the baffle wall located in the main mixing chamber and an optimally stable effect mist can be ejected via the outlet opening. The baffle can be installed depending on structural conditions in the device vertically, horizontally or at an oblique angle. The effect spray produced in this way has positive effects on the humidity in the stage area, which is particularly beneficial for the artists working there. Furthermore, this effect mist can be kept stable at different altitudes on the stage for longer periods and also does not lead to condensate deposits in the area around the device.
It is a further advantageous feature that the premixing chamber and / or the transfer opening are aligned with the main mixing chamber in such a way that the air-mist stream coming from the premixing chamber impinges at an oblique angle on the water surface located above the ultrasonic atomizer. The adhesion of the water droplets from the aerosol is particularly effective when the homogenized air-mist stream is directed directly at the water surface above the ultrasonic atomizers. Due to the thus forced air flow, this adhesion is achieved directly in the formation of the individual aerosol droplets.
According to a further advantageous feature, it is provided that the baffle wall is designed as an insertable into the main mixing chamber element having a recess for the passage of the effect nebula in the direction of an outlet opening, wherein the recess is arranged in the vertical direction at the end of the baffle wall, which is remote from the ultrasonic atomizer, and / or is arranged in the horizontal direction at the end of the baffle wall remote from the outlet opening. In a particularly simple embodiment, the baffle can be formed by two telescopically telescoping plates, wherein one of the two plates has the recess on one end face. The baffle can be very easily used in the main mixing chamber in corresponding grooves. It is advantageous if the recess is both facing away from the water surface, as well as from the outlet opening of the device, so that the generated effect fog passes as large a surface of the baffle before it exits the device, whereby excess condensate can be effectively separated.
A further advantageous feature is that a nozzle is provided at the access opening from the mist generator to the premixing chamber, wherein the inner diameter of the outlet opening of the nozzle is smaller than the inner diameter of an evaporator tube wound around the heating element, in which the fog fluid to the heating element and subsequently vaporizable to the access opening is conveyed. It has been found to be advantageous to create a dense nebula in the heating element, which is achieved by the restriction in the nozzle at the access opening. This measure also leads to further improvement in the adhesion of the aerosol to the mist.
It is furthermore an advantageous feature that several, preferably between 1 and 120, ultrasonic atomizers are arranged at the bottom of the main mixing chamber, wherein the ultrasonic atomizers can be controlled individually and / or independently of one another in switching groups. By providing a plurality of ultrasonic atomisers or groups of ultrasonic atomizers, on the one hand, a large spectrum of different ejection quantities of effect mist can be achieved; on the other hand, adjusting the ratio of generated aerosol by the atomizer to generated fog by the mist generator can also influence the altitude of the exiting effect nebulizer ,
It is a further advantageous feature that a control unit is provided, by means of which the number and power of the active ultrasonic atomizers, the speed of the fan and the output of the fog generator are regulated, whereby different effects due to different mixing conditions between vaporized fog fluid and atomized water as well different total amounts of generated effect nebula are adjustable. The more water droplets are adhered to the mist generated by the heating element, the heavier the exiting effect mist, which leaves it closer to the ground. If this ratio is shifted to a lower aerosol content, then effect fog layers can also be produced at higher altitudes. If a higher output is needed, all parameters can be regulated accordingly. For example, the ejection output of the fog generator and the speed of the fan can be increased while at the same time more individual ultrasonic atomisers or ultrasonic atomizer switching groups are switched on.
It is an additional advantageous feature that the frequency of the ultrasonic atomizer is additionally regulated by the control unit. In addition to the regulation of the number of active ultrasonic atomizers, it may also be advantageous to adjust the frequency of the individual atomizers in order to produce different droplet sizes in the aerosol and thus to influence the effectiveness of the adhesion to the mist particles. This may also be necessary, for example, if the air flow through the fan is increased and the mixing of aerosol and air-mist flow takes place with greater turbulence. A possibly incomplete adhesion can be counteracted for example by increasing the frequency of the ultrasonic atomizer. The individual ideal setting conditions are to be selected by the respective stage technician in coordination with the place of operation and the desired effect.
As a further preferred feature, it may be provided that the control unit has a programmable memory in which presettings for the individual controllable parameters can be stored. In the simplest case, all the parameters of the device mentioned above are set manually by the user via individual controllers. But it can also be provided to deposit certain presettings already in a memory of a control unit, so that the user only has to select, for example, a certain amount of effect nebulization or a discharge quantity, and the control unit regulates the individual setting parameters in accordance with the stored specifications.
Another advantageous feature is that an air humidity sensor is provided which is coupled to the control unit, whereby the parameters regulated by the control unit can be corrected for compensation factors stored in the memory on the basis of the data received from the air humidity sensor, so that a constant effect mist can be generated independently of the environment is. As a result, the device can be further automated, as a result of which different places of use can also be detected by the device, and the correspondingly selected presettings can be adjusted by compensating factors. In a very dry operating environment, such as an open-air event in a rather dry climate, a higher output of the aerosol is expected to be needed than in a small basement meeting room in a temperate climatic zone. The most important factor for the operation of the device is the humidity present in the environment. This affects most strongly the behavior of the exiting effect nebula. It will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that still other sensors may be involved in determining appropriate compensation factors, if necessary in a particular application.
Another preferred feature is that the fog generator equipped with a heating element is arranged in a common housing with the ultrasonic atomizer, the fan and the two mixing chambers, or that the fog generator is designed as a separate module and can be coupled with its outlet opening to the access opening of the premixing chamber is. As the most compact form, the entire device can be arranged in a common housing. Depending on the application, the device can also be used as a retrofit kit for existing conventional fog generators, if they are already in use, for example, at the site. The mist generator already present as a separate module can then be connected with its outlet opening simply at the access opening of the premixing chamber.
Finally, it is an advantageous feature that a UV light source is provided in the main mixing chamber, which serves to sterilize the generated effect nebula. In principle, both the evaporated fog fluid and the aerosol are germ-free due to the high temperature at their respective points of origin. In addition, however, it may be advantageous during the mixing process in the main mixing chamber to sterilize the resulting effect mist again before exiting the device by means of a UV light source.

Kurze Beschreibung der ZeichnungenBrief description of the drawings

The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to an embodiment and the accompanying drawings, wherein
Fig. 1 shows a schematic plan view of a device according to the invention with the housing cover removed and
Fig. 2 shows a side sectional view of the device of Fig. 1.

Weg(e) zur Ausführung der ErfindungWay (s) for carrying out the invention

The embodiment of a device according to the invention shown schematically in FIG. 1 comprises a housing 2, in which a mist generator 1 is accommodated with a heating element. In the mist generator 1, a fog fluid is conducted via a hose to the heating element, where the fog fluid is vaporized and subsequently introduced via an access opening 14 in the form of a nozzle 13 into a premixing chamber 8. At a further access opening 15 of the premixing chamber 8, a fan 9 is arranged, which introduces a forced air flow into the premixing chamber 8. The mist generated by the fog generator 1 is thereby already swirled in the premixing chamber 8 and thus homogenized and dried.
Through a transfer opening 10, the resulting mist-air mixture is introduced into the main mixing chamber 4, and passed over the liquid-covered at the bottom 3 of the main mixing chamber 4 arranged ultrasonic atomizer 5. The ultrasonic atomizers 5 are summarized in the example shown to switch groups 16 of ten ultrasonic atomizers 5 and can be switched on or off individually depending on the application. In the main mixing chamber 4, therefore, the mist-air mixture is mixed with the aerosol droplets generated by the ultrasonic atomizers 5, whereby the aerosol droplets adhere to the mist particles. For this adhesion to be particularly effective, it is necessary to tune the frequency and power of the ultrasonic atomizers 5 to the power and temperature of the heating element of the fog generator 1. Only with similar sizes between aerosol particles and mist particles it comes to the desired adhesion and due to the proportions between mist-air mixture and aerosol the desired severity and thus height of the exiting effect nebulas can be adjusted.
After mixing in the main mixing chamber 4, the generated effect mist is directed against a baffle 7. Here, excess condensate can settle before the effect mist is passed through a recess 12 in the baffle 7 in the direction of the outlet opening 6. The recess in the baffle 7 is placed so that it is arranged at the upper end in the vertical direction and at the end remote from the outlet 6 end in the horizontal direction, so that the effect nebula has to go through a maximum path and thus a maximum contact surface with the baffle 7 before exiting the device.
In Fig. 2, the device of Fig. 1 is shown in a side sectional view. Here it is readily apparent that the entire premixing chamber is inclined towards the bottom surface 3 of the main mixing chamber 4, so that the generated air-mist flow hits the water surface 11 above the ultrasonic atomizer 5 precisely. The water surface 11 is always kept constant, so that the ultrasonic atomizer 5 can work optimally. This means, of course, that depending on the number of active switching groups, the appropriate amount of liquid must be introduced into the main mixing chamber, which is achieved by controlling a feed pump coupled with corresponding liquid level indicators in a known manner. If, due to an error of the feed pump, an excessively high liquid level is established via the ultrasonic atomizers 5, a corresponding alarm can be triggered. Further, a pumping unit (not shown) may be provided which conveys excess liquid into a separation tank. In principle, any water can be used as the liquid for the ultrasonic atomizers, but distilled and / or demineralized water is preferably used since this makes it possible to implement the desired effects particularly well and the device is less contaminated by deposits.

Claims

Device for producing effect spray, in particular in the field of stage technology, comprising a fog generator (1) equipped with a heating element, wherein a fog fluid is vaporized by means of the heating element, and at least one in a housing (2) at the bottom (3) of a main mixing chamber (4 Ultrasonic atomizer (5), wherein the fog generated by the mist generator (1) is in the main mixing chamber (4) can be conducted, and further wherein in the main mixing chamber (4) near an outlet opening (6) a baffle (7) is provided, characterized in that additionally a premixing chamber (8) is provided into which an airflow generated by a ventilator (9) and the mist generated by the mist generator (1) can be introduced via respective access openings (14, 15), and in that the premixing chamber (8) a transfer opening (10) is connected to the main mixing chamber (4), wherein the transfer opening (10) in the main mixing chamber (4) opposite the Pral lwand (7) is arranged.
Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the premixing chamber (8) and / or the transfer opening (10) are aligned to the main mixing chamber (4), that of the premixing chamber (8) coming air-mist stream at an oblique angle the water surface (11) located above the ultrasonic atomizer (5) strikes.
Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the baffle wall (7) is designed as an insertable into the main mixing chamber (4) element which has a recess (12) for the passage of the effect nebula in the direction of an outlet opening (6) the recess (12) is arranged in the vertical direction at the end of the baffle (7) which is remote from the ultrasonic atomizer (5), and / or in the horizontal direction at the end of the baffle (7) remote from the outlet opening (6) is.
Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that at the access opening (14) from the mist generator (1) to the premixing chamber (8) a nozzle (13) is provided, wherein the inner diameter of the outlet opening of the nozzle (13) is less than the inner diameter of an evaporator hose wound around the heating element, in which the mist fluid can be conveyed to the heating element and subsequently to the access opening (14) after evaporation.
Device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that at the bottom (3) of the main mixing chamber (4) a plurality, preferably between 1 and 120 Ultraschallzerstäuber (5) are arranged, wherein the Ultraschallzerstäuber (5) individually and / or in switching groups (16) are independently controllable.
Apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that a control unit is provided, by means of which the number and power of the active ultrasonic atomizer (5), the speed of the fan (9) and the output power of the fog generator (1) are adjustable, whereby different effects due to various Mixing conditions between vaporized mist fluid and atomized water as well as different total amounts of generated effect nebula are adjustable.
Apparatus according to claim 6, characterized in that additionally by the control unit, the frequency of the ultrasonic atomizer (5) is adjustable.
Apparatus according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the control unit has a programmable memory in which default settings for the individual controllable parameters can be stored.
Apparatus according to claim 8, characterized in that an air humidity sensor is provided which is coupled to the control unit, wherein the parameters regulated by the control unit due to the data received from the humidity sensor can be corrected by stored in memory compensation factors, thus independent of the environment, a constant effect nebula can be generated.
Device according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the equipped with a heating element fog generator (1) in a common housing (9) with the Ultraschallzerstäuber (5), the fan (9) and the two mixing chambers (4,8) is arranged, or that the fog generator (1) is designed as a separate module and with its output opening to the access opening (14) of the premixing chamber (8) can be coupled.
Device according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that in the main mixing chamber (4), a UV light source is provided, which serves for the sterilization of the generated effect nebula.