JP3186333B2 - Ultrasonic atomizer liquid supply structure - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a liquid supply structure for supplying an atomizing liquid to an ultrasonic spray device used in a humidifier for adjusting the humidity in a room.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An ultrasonic atomizer having a structure in which a perforated vibration plate is fixed to a rectangular plate-shaped piezoelectric vibrator and having an ultrasonic exciter has been applied for a patent by Japanese Patent Application No. 2-273001.
In addition, a simple structure for supplying a liquid to the ultrasonic atomizer was filed on April 22, 1991 under the name of "ultrasonic color organ" (Japanese Patent Application No. Hei 3-11919).
1). When supplying liquid to the ultrasonic atomizer in the “ultrasonic color organ” filed on April 22, 1991, a liquid retaining material such as a sponge is used as a means for supplying liquid to the diaphragm. Used. That is, a liquid holding material containing a liquid is brought into contact with a diaphragm, and the diaphragm is vibrated to atomize the liquid. This liquid retention material is used in a form where the lower part is immersed in a liquid and the upper part is exposed to the air, and since the water-repellent substance is floating in the air, it can be used for a long time. The water-repellent substance adheres to the surface of the material, and the liquid-sucking ability of the liquid retaining material is reduced. When the liquid retaining material is new and has excellent liquid sucking ability, a liquid film is formed on the upper end of the liquid retaining material, and the liquid is atomized by the vibration plate contacting the liquid film. However, when the liquid suction capacity of the liquid retaining material is reduced, a liquid film is hardly formed on the upper end of the liquid retaining material, and the amount of atomization is significantly reduced.
Minimize the surface area of the liquid retention material exposed to air,
In order to make it difficult for water-repellent substances in the air to adhere to the surface of the liquid retaining material, a structure that covers the main part of the liquid retaining material with a case was provided, but the liquid supply capacity of the liquid retaining material itself is limited. There was a difficulty in further increasing the amount of atomization. In addition, a liquid supply means having a structure in which capillaries made of glass, stainless steel, or the like are bundled in place of the liquid retaining material has been provided. However, since the liquid supply means is made of a hard material such as glass, it comes into contact with the diaphragm. Wear and abnormal noise occurred. As described above, the conventional structure for supplying the liquid to the ultrasonic atomizer has a problem in maintaining the liquid sucking ability. In addition, the diaphragm may be worn or generate an abnormal sound.

[0003]

The conventional structure for supplying a liquid to an ultrasonic atomizer has problems not only in maintaining the liquid suction capacity and in supplying a large amount of liquid, but also in durability of the diaphragm. Was also affecting.

[0004] It is an object of the present invention to maintain the ability to suck up liquid,
It is an object of the present invention to provide an ultrasonic spraying device liquid supply structure capable of improving a large amount of liquid supply capability and improving durability of the ultrasonic spraying device.

[0005]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a liquid supply structure for an ultrasonic spraying device which supplies a liquid for atomization to an ultrasonic spraying device in which a perforated diaphragm is fixed to a piezoelectric vibrator. In the structure, a sponge, a fiber bundle and other auxiliary liquid supply parts made of a hydrophilic liquid retaining material, and a main bundle made of stainless steel, glass and other hard materials and formed in a pipe bundle or slit shape, The liquid part is composed of a liquid absorption end A and an atomization end B, and the main liquid supply part is substantially adjacent to the sub liquid supply part and is composed of a liquid absorption end C and an atomization end D. C
Is immersed in the liquid supply source, the atomizing end B contacts the diaphragm, the atomizing end D faces the diaphragm with a small gap, and is sucked up from the liquid absorbing end A. The liquid reaches the atomizing end B and comes into contact with the diaphragm, and the liquid sucked up from the liquid absorbing end C reaches the minute gap between the atomizing end D and the diaphragm to cause the vibration. It is characterized by being in contact with a plate.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the liquid supply structure is made of stainless steel, glass, or other hard material, and the main liquid supply portion is provided at some of at least two auxiliary pipes adjacent to each other on a side surface. The auxiliary liquid supply section is inserted into the remaining auxiliary pipe except for the auxiliary pipe into which the main liquid supply section is inserted.

[0007]

The ultrasonic sprayer liquid supply structure of the present invention comprises a sub-liquid supply section and a main liquid supply section. The auxiliary liquid supply part is made of a sponge, a fiber bundle or other hydrophilic liquid retaining material, and the liquid supply part is made of stainless steel, glass or another hard material, and has a pipe bundle shape or a slit shape. The main liquid supply part and the auxiliary liquid supply part are adjacent to each other. The sub-supply portion includes a liquid suction end A and an atomization end B, and the atomization end B is in contact with a vibration plate of an ultrasonic spray device including a piezoelectric vibrator and a vibration plate. The liquid supply section includes a liquid suction end C and an atomization end D, and the atomization end D faces the diaphragm with a small gap. The liquid suction ends A and C are immersed in a liquid supply source, and the liquid sucked up by the respective liquid suction ends A and C reaches the respective atomization ends B and D. The liquid that has reached the atomization end B is atomized by contacting the diaphragm. Further, the liquid that has reached the atomization end D is filled in a minute gap between the atomization end D and the diaphragm, and contacts the diaphragm to be atomized. At this time, the liquid supply rate to the diaphragm is small, but the liquid supply speed is faster than that of the main liquid supply section. Therefore, when the ultrasonic spraying device is driven, first, the liquid is supplied by the sub liquid supply section. Liquid is atomized. Subsequently, the sprayed back of the atomized mist and the liquid supplied by the main liquid supply unit are atomized. In this liquid supply unit, the liquid supply amount to the diaphragm is larger than that of the sub liquid supply unit, so that a stable liquid supply environment to the diaphragm is always obtained. As described above, the ultrasonic spraying device liquid supply structure of the present invention can be said to be a structure having both the quick liquid supply capability of the sub-liquid supply portion and the large liquid supply capability of the main liquid supply portion. In addition, by adjusting the ratio between the sub liquid supply section and the main liquid supply section, it is possible to minimize wear on the diaphragm while maintaining atomization efficiency, and generate abnormal noise due to contact with the diaphragm. Can also be prevented. Further, since the contact resistance between the diaphragm and the sub-supply unit is small, the contact area between the diaphragm and the sub-supply unit can be increased, so that a large amount of atomization is promoted without lowering the atomization function. be able to. Regarding the improvement of the liquid sucking height, which was impossible with the structure using only the main liquid supply unit, the main liquid supply structure of the present invention including the main liquid supply unit and the sub liquid supply unit has the main liquid supply unit. 45 almost twice as compared to the structure of the liquid portion alone
mm. In other words, the capacity of the liquid storage tank can be increased, and moreover, the liquid filled in the liquid storage tank can be completely used.

[0008]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a first embodiment of an ultrasonic spraying device provided with a liquid supply structure for an ultrasonic spraying device according to the present invention. The liquid supply structure of the ultrasonic spraying device of this embodiment is
The ultrasonic spray device includes a piezoelectric vibrator 3 and a vibration plate 4. This liquid supply part 1 has an inner diameter of 0.7
mm, 20 mm long stainless steel pipes are arranged in 8 rows and 20 rows, and the auxiliary liquid supply section 2 is made of an acetate fiber bundle and is fixed to both sides of the main liquid supply section. . The upper end of the auxiliary liquid supply unit 2 is in contact with the diaphragm 4. Main liquid supply unit 1
Is facing the diaphragm 4 with a gap of 1 mm. The piezoelectric vibrator 3 has a rectangular plate-shaped piezoelectric ceramic 5, and the material of the piezoelectric ceramic 5 is TDK72A (product name), its length is 20 mm, its width is 17 mm, and its thickness is 1 mm. TD
The K72A material has a large electromechanical coupling coefficient, and is used in the examples here. The direction of the polarization axis of the piezoelectric ceramic 5 coincides with the thickness direction, and Au electrodes 6 and 7 are formed on both end surfaces perpendicular to the thickness direction. The Au electrode 6 covers one surface of the piezoelectric ceramic 5, and the Au electrode 7
Covering the other side of the The diaphragm 4 is made of nickel and has a length of 20 mm, a width of 17 mm, and a thickness of 50 μm.
It has a rectangular plate-like structure having a large number of through holes 8 (not shown in FIG. 1). The through-hole 8 is provided in a direction perpendicular to the plate surface, has a mortar shape, an opening area on one plate surface is larger than an opening area on the other plate surface, the diameter of one opening is 100 μm, and the other Is 10 μm. The through holes 8 are arranged at an equal pitch at intervals of 140 μm. The vibration plate 4 is fixed to one end face of the piezoelectric vibrator 3 via the Au electrode 6 so as to be integrally connected to the piezoelectric vibrator 3.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the ultrasonic spraying device provided with the liquid supply structure of the ultrasonic spraying device of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a plan view when the liquid supply structure of the ultrasonic spraying device of FIG. 1 is viewed from above.

When an ultrasonic signal having a frequency substantially equal to the resonance frequency of the composite of the piezoelectric vibrator 3 and the vibration plate 4 is applied to the piezoelectric vibrator 3 when the ultrasonic spraying device shown in FIG. Is excited. At this time, the frequency of the AC signal substantially matches one of the resonance frequencies of the piezoelectric vibrator 3 alone. Since the vibrating plate 4 has a structure in which the vibrating plate 4 is integrally connected and fixed to at least one end face of the piezoelectric vibrator 3, the vibrating plate 4 vibrates with the piezoelectric vibrator 3 with the excitation of the piezoelectric vibrator 3. Vibration is performed in such a manner that the fixed portion with the plate 4 is a fixed end.

FIG. 4 is a side view showing an initial atomization operation by the ultrasonic atomizer shown in FIG. The lower half of the liquid supply structure of the ultrasonic spraying device composed of the main liquid supply section 1 and the sub liquid supply section 2 is immersed in liquid. Since the liquid suction speed of the sub-supply unit 2 is higher than that of the main liquid-supply unit 1, first, the liquid sucked up by the sub-supply unit 2 reaches the upper end of the sub-supply unit 2. When the ultrasonic spray device is driven, the liquid supplied to the diaphragm 4 by the sub-liquid supply unit 2 is guided to the through hole 8 provided in the diaphragm 4 by a capillary phenomenon. The liquid becomes fine and uniform particles, flows out to the outlet side of the through hole 8, and is efficiently atomized.

FIG. 5 is a side view showing a mid-term atomization operation by the ultrasonic atomizer shown in FIG. The liquid sucked up by the main liquid supply unit 1 so as to follow the sub liquid supply unit 2 reaches the minute gap between the main liquid supply unit 1 and the diaphragm 4, and is caused by the initial atomization operation shown in FIG. A liquid film is formed in the minute gap including the part where the mist is blown back. At this time, since the liquid suction volume of the main liquid supply unit 1 is larger than that of the sub liquid supply unit 2, a sufficient volume of liquid is always supplied to the minute gap to maintain the atomization efficiency.

FIG. 6 is a side view showing a later-stage atomizing operation by the ultrasonic atomizer shown in FIG. The liquid film formed by the mid-term atomization operation shown in FIG. 5 is guided to the through hole 8 provided in the diaphragm 4 and atomized. In this way, according to the liquid supply structure of the ultrasonic spraying device of the present invention, quick atomization is realized by the sub liquid supply unit 2 and a large amount of atomization is realized by the main liquid supply unit 1.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a second embodiment of an ultrasonic spraying device provided with the ultrasonic spraying device liquid supply structure of the present invention. The liquid supply structure of the ultrasonic spray device of this embodiment includes six main liquid supply sections 9 and two sub liquid supply sections 10. The ultrasonic spray device is the same as that shown in FIG. 1 and is housed inside the main body together with the ultrasonic spray device liquid supply structure. The liquid supply section 9 has a shape in which a stainless steel pipe having an inner diameter of 0.7 mm is closely inserted into a stainless steel pipe having an inner diameter of 4 mm and a length of 18 mm. The auxiliary liquid supply unit 10 has a shape in which an acetate fiber bundle is inserted into a stainless steel tube having an inner diameter of 4 mm and a length of 18 mm. The acetate fiber bundle is inserted into the stainless steel tube at a density that maximizes the atomization efficiency. The stainless steel tubes into which the main liquid supply section 9 and the sub liquid supply section 10 are inserted are fixed to each other. The upper end of the sub-supply unit 10 is in contact with the diaphragm 4. The upper end of the main liquid supply section 9 is provided with diaphragms 4 and 1
They face each other with a gap of mm.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the liquid supply structure of the ultrasonic spraying device shown in FIG.

FIG. 9 is a side view of the liquid supply structure of the ultrasonic spraying device shown in FIG. However, a side view when viewed from the sub-supply unit 10 is shown. The auxiliary liquid supply section 10 is 1 m higher than the main liquid supply section 9
m higher.

[0018]

According to the ultrasonic spray device liquid supply structure of the present invention, since the sub liquid supply portion has a quick liquid supply performance and the main liquid supply portion has a large amount of liquid supply capability, the liquid supply structure is quick. A large amount of atomization is possible. In addition, by adjusting the ratio between the sub liquid supply section and the main liquid supply section, it is possible to minimize wear on the diaphragm while maintaining atomization efficiency, and generate abnormal noise due to contact with the diaphragm. Can also be prevented. Further, since the contact resistance between the diaphragm and the sub-supply unit is small, the contact area between the diaphragm and the sub-supply unit can be increased, so that a large amount of atomization is promoted without lowering the atomization function. be able to. Regarding the improvement of the liquid suction height, which was not possible with the structure using only the main liquid supply section, the ultrasonic spray device liquid supply structure of the present invention including the main liquid supply section and the sub liquid supply section has the problem. It reached to approximately twice the 45 mm compared to the structure of only the liquid supply unit. That is, the capacity of the storage tank can be increased,
In addition, it is possible to use the liquid filled in the liquid tank without leaving it until the end.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a first embodiment of an ultrasonic spraying device provided with an ultrasonic spraying device liquid supply structure of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the ultrasonic spray device provided with the ultrasonic spray device liquid supply structure of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan view when the liquid supply structure of the ultrasonic spray device in FIG. 1 is viewed from above.

FIG. 4 is a side view showing an initial atomization operation by the ultrasonic spray device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a side view showing a mid-term atomization operation by the ultrasonic spray device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a side view showing a later-stage atomizing operation by the ultrasonic spraying device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a second embodiment of the ultrasonic spray device provided with the ultrasonic spray device liquid supply structure of the present invention.

8 is a cross-sectional view of the ultrasonic spray device liquid supply structure shown in FIG.

9 is a side view of the ultrasonic spray device liquid supply structure shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Main liquid supply part 2 Sub liquid supply part 3 Piezoelectric vibrator 4 Vibration plate 5 Piezoelectric ceramic 6 Au electrode 7 Au electrode 8 Through hole 9 Main liquid supply part 10 Sub liquid supply part

────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Koji Toda 1-49-18, Futaba, Yokosuka City, Kanagawa Prefecture (56) References JP-A 59-133228 (JP, U) JP-A 59-171775 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B05B 17/06 B06B 1/00-3/04 F23D 11/24-11/34

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A structure in which a liquid for atomization is supplied to an ultrasonic spraying device in which a perforated diaphragm is fixed to a piezoelectric vibrator, comprising a sponge, a fiber bundle, and another hydrophilic liquid retaining material. And a main liquid supply part formed of a bundle of pipes or slits made of stainless steel, glass or other hard material, and the sub liquid supply part includes a liquid absorption end A and an atomization end B, and the main liquid supply. The part is substantially adjacent to the sub-liquid supply part and comprises a liquid absorbing end C and an atomizing end D. The liquid absorbing ends A and C are immersed in a supply source of the liquid. The liquid is sucked from the liquid-absorbing end A and reaches the atomizing end B to contact the vibrating plate. The liquid sucked up from the liquid suction end C is the minute gap between the atomization end D and the diaphragm. Ultrasonic spray device liquid supply structure being in contact with the diaphragm to reach. 2. The main liquid supply part is inserted into some of at least two auxiliary pipes made of stainless steel, glass, or another hard material and adjacent to each other on a side surface, and the main liquid supply part is inserted. 2. The auxiliary liquid supply part is inserted into the remaining auxiliary pipes except the auxiliary pipes.
4. The liquid supply structure of the ultrasonic spraying device according to item 1.