GB973458A - Improvements in or relating to methods and apparatus for atomising liquids - Google Patents

Abstract

973,458. Liquid feed atomizers. ESSO RESEARCH & ENGINEERING CO. Oct. 16, 1962, No. 39111/62. Heading F4T. [Also in Divisions B2 and H2] A method of atomizing liquids comprises the steps of intermittently impacting at least a part of a flexible screen member by the application of sonic energy thereto and applying liquid to be atomized on to that part of the screen member being impacted. In the apparatus shown in Fig. 1 for producing a spray 76 of fuel-oil, the oil is fed through a pipe 74 or 74<SP>1</SP> on to a circular mesh screen 34 vibrating through the agency of a transducer assembly comprising an aluminium conical sonic energy resonator 16 bonded to a disc-type piezo-electric element 14. The tip of the resonator touches the screen when the transducer is not operating and the sonic energy derives from a high frequency electronic generator 6 having connection to a low frequency voltage source. The transducer assembly is supported by a base element 18 on a three-point suspension comprising a ring 26 and three pointed screws 30 lying on a circumferential line on the resonator 16 coinciding with the node of vibrations in the resonator when the assembly is energized. The screen 34 is held in speced relation to the element 18 through a ring clamping arrangement of which the annular member 36 is adjustably bolted to a block 52 slidably mounted for adjustment purposes on the element 18. The block is secured to the element 18 through a rod 62, nut 64 and wing- nuts 66 and 68. A spring 72 located around the rod 62 acts against the block 52 tending to move it in a direction carrying the screen 34 away from the tip end of the resonator. In an alternative apparatus the circular screen is continuously rotated by an electric motor, the tip of the conical resonator 16 being located at a position off screen centre at the same radius as a wick arrangement which supplies the fuel oil. In yet another form the apparatus comprises a screen in the nature of an endless belt moving in a rectangular path over sprocket assemblies located at each corner. One such assembly is connected to an electric motor and the transducer assembly is disposed in the rectangle, the tip of the conical resonator and an oil-feed wick arrangement being associated with the same straight run of the screen. Fig. 4 illustrates a conical resonator 128 having an axially disposed oil-feed duct therethrough. In a modification of this type of resonator the axial duct only extends to the cross-sectional plane of the circumferential line coincidal with the node of vibrations, the oil being fed to the duct through another duct disposed radially of the resonator along the said plane.