JP4664278B2 - Atomization method and equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

The device has a liquid reservoir (100) and a liquid supply pipe that is in a spraying zone. A flow of sprayed liquid escapes from the spraying zone through an exhaust opening in the spraying zone. The exhaust opening opens in the liquid reservoir above the level of liquid. The reservoir has a release opening through which a part of sprayed liquid particles arising from the exhaust opening leaves the reservoir. An independent claim is also included for a spraying process.

Description

  The present invention relates to a fine atomization method and a fine atomization apparatus having a fine atomization venturi tube. The micronebulized Venturi tube may be the subject of a patent application entitled “Micronebulized Venturi tube and device having the same” filed today by the applicant.

  The invention applies in particular to devices for liquid diffusion, for example for the diffusion of perfumes, liquid fuels and the like.

  The first object of the present invention is to realize liquid fine particles that scatter in the air.

  Currently known atomization devices are characterized in that they comprise an atomization zone that opens in the direction of the atomization liquid particles outlet of the device. As a result, relatively large particles must escape from the device or the device must be provided with means for recovering these large particles. The present invention is intended to remedy these drawbacks.

In a second aspect, the present invention is a micronebulization device, wherein a liquid container , a delivery tube for delivering liquid to the nebulization region, and the atomized liquid particle stream escape from the nebulization region. a fine atomization device having a escape opening of the spray region passing in said escape aperture is in the liquid container, to form a termination on the liquid surface, the liquid container, Yat from escaping the opening some of the atomized liquid particles out have a discharge opening of the atomized liquid particles through which to escape the container, the atomization apparatus is provided with a fine atomization venturi tube, the finely atomized venturi Comprises a compressed air introduction tube, each of the compressed air introduction tube and the liquid delivery tube forming at least one nozzle end towards the atomization region, where the additive entering from the air introduction tube is formed. Liquid entering from the liquid delivery pipe is atomized by pressurized air It is, and to a spray apparatus characterized by have a venturi tube with an adjustment means for adjusting the position of the liquid delivery pipe nozzle to the compressed air introduction pipe nozzle.

  Due to the arrangement as described above, the relatively large atomized liquid particles add to the liquid to be atomized by gravity action or due to inertia in the container.

  The micronebulization device is a micronebulization Venturi tube having a compressed air introduction tube, an air introduction tube, and a liquid delivery tube, each said tube having at least one nozzle that terminates toward the atomization region In the atomization region, the pressurized air flowing from the air introduction pipe atomizes the liquid flowing from the liquid delivery pipe, and the positions of the fine atomization venturi pipe and the liquid delivery pipe nozzle are Adjusting means for adjusting. In this way, the device provides the advantages outlined in the first aspect of the invention.

  The apparatus has an air inlet tube with a nozzle in the atomization region and an open air opening in the liquid container. Due to the arrangement as described above, a portion of the atomized liquid particle stream returns to the atomization region through the free air inlet tube, thus increasing the particle concentration of the stream.

  The apparatus includes an air suction pipe having a nozzle in an atomization region, a negative pressure sensor at another opening of the air suction pipe, and a processing unit for processing a signal that comes from the sensor and represents the negative pressure inside the suction pipe. Have.

  The suction tube further has an open air opening in the liquid container.

  Other advantages of each of these attributes have been described above and will not be repeated here.

  The present invention is also a fine atomization method, in which a liquid to be atomized is sucked into a container, an injection process in which the liquid to be atomized is injected into the atomization area, and the atomized liquid particles from the atomization area In a fine atomization method including a step of putting the liquid into the container on the liquid level of the container and a step of allowing the atomized liquid particles to escape from the container.

  The method further includes sucking air into the container and injecting sucked air in the container into the atomization region.

  The method further includes the steps of measuring the pressure during atomization and processing the measured values.

  During the processing process, if the pressure measurement meets the specified variation criteria, the operation of the air compressor is stopped or a warning signal is issued.

  The measuring step is carried out by a negative pressure sensor arranged in the suction tube with an open air opening and a nozzle in the atomization area.

  The advantages and objectives of the method are consistent with those of the nebulizer outlined above and will not be repeated here.

  Other advantages, objects and characteristics of the present invention will become apparent by referring to the following description based on the attached drawings.

  In each of FIGS. 1 to 4, venturi tubes 61 to 64 can be seen respectively. Each venturi tube includes a venturi tube body, an air introduction tube 10, a liquid delivery tube 20 to be atomized, and a nozzle 15 of the air introduction tube 10. The atomization region 30 in which the nozzle 25 of the liquid delivery tube 20 is disposed, and the free air introduction tube 40 having the nozzle 45 in the atomization region 30 are included. The atomization region includes a venturi tube main body and various types of fluid flowing into the main body. Formed inside a conduit, and more specifically, the conduit fits into a hole formed in the Venturi tube and provides proper sealing between the cylindrical outer surface of the conduit and the cylindrical surface of the corresponding hole. Is a Venturi tube characterized in that It can be seen that the conduit 20 enters the atomization region 30 formed by the cylindrical chamber. The conduit 20 includes a storage portion and a storage portion, and the storage portion is attached to the storage portion by fitting with no gap or by fitting with almost no gap, and the nozzle 25 is attached to the end of the storage portion. You can see that it is arranged. Depending on the type of fitting, it becomes possible for the receiving portion to slide inside the receiving portion or to prevent it.

  It can be seen that the nozzle 45 is in a geometric plane perpendicular to the long axis of the conduit 40 and that the nozzle 15 is arranged according to a geometric plane perpendicular to the long axis of the conduit 10. It can also be seen that the long axes of the conduits 10, 20 and 40 are orthogonal to one another, ie the long axis of the conduit 10 is perpendicular to the long axes of the conduits 40 and 20. It can also be seen that conduits 40 and 20 are axially aligned.

  The air introduction pipe 10 is connected to a compressor (FIG. 9) that supplies pressurized air, for example, air to which a pressure of 1 to 10 times equal to atmospheric pressure is applied. One end of the liquid delivery tube 20 is connected to a container of liquid to be atomized (FIGS. 6, 7 and 9). In the atomization region 30, the nozzle 15 of the air introduction tube 10 and the nozzle 25 of the liquid delivery tube 20 are respectively sucked into the atomization region 30 through the venturi effect, and the airflow flowing out from the nozzle is sprayed by a known method. It is arranged to produce a flow of atomized liquid particles towards the outlet 50 of the atomization region 30.

  It should be noted that the venturi tubes 61 to 64 have adjusting means 70 relating to the position of the nozzle 25 of the liquid delivery tube 20. In the Venturi tubes 61 to 64, the adjustment is achieved by sliding and / or rotating the liquid delivery tube 20 in the longitudinal direction. To accomplish this, the liquid delivery tube is provided with a threaded groove, the venturi tube body is tapped into a through-hole designed to receive the conduit, and the conduit thread is tapped into the through-hole. It may be adapted to. In this solution, the axial displacement of the conduit is inextricably linked with its rotation. According to another embodiment, the liquid suction tube 20 and the corresponding through hole are smooth, so that the longitudinal adjustment of the conduit can be independent of its rotational adjustment.

  Adjusting the position of the nozzle 25 by the adjusting means 70 changes the operating parameters of the Venturi tubes 61 to 64, at least partially compensates for manufacturing variations, and adjusts the atomized liquid particle flow for each application. It becomes possible. By moving the nozzle 25 in the major axis direction, at least the average diffusion angle of the atomized liquid particles with respect to the air introduction tube axis 10 is adjusted.

  In FIG. 1, nozzles 15 and 25 are in contact with each other except for the thickness of conduit 25. On the other hand, in FIG. 2, the nozzle 25 is separated from the nozzle 15 by a distance as large as the diameter of the nozzle 25, that is, by a distance that is half to three times the diameter of the nozzle 25.

  In FIG. 3, in addition to the same elements as in FIG. 2, a taper 75 extending axially toward the atomization region 30 is noted. In FIG. 4, in addition to the same elements as in FIG. 3, an extension of the taper 75 in the form of a cylindrical chamber 80 acting as a diaphragm, ie holding the flow of atomized liquid particles from the side, is noted. Overall, therefore, the relatively large particles located on the sides of this flow fall to the cylindrical side of the chamber 80 and flow down by gravity to the nebulized region or liquid to be atomized. It is collected in one of the containers (see FIGS. 6 to 8).

  In FIGS. 1 to 3, it is noted that nozzles 25 and 45 are arranged according to parallel geometric planes, and nozzle 25 is in a geometric plane perpendicular to the long axis of conduit 20. On the other hand, in FIG. 4, the liquid delivery nozzle 25 is not provided in rotational symmetry with respect to the liquid delivery tube axis, that is, the plane of the nozzle 25 is 90 degrees with respect to the long axis of the conduit 25. It is noted that different angles are shown. In another solution, the lack of rotational symmetry is reflected in the non-circular shape of the conduit 20. The adjusting means 70 is designed to adjust at least the angular position of the liquid delivery nozzle 25 relative to the liquid delivery tube 20. This rotation of the conduit 20 makes it possible to change the operation of the Venturi tube 64.

  Although not shown in the drawing, as an alternative, the means for adjusting the position of the nozzle 25 may be a distance between the nozzle 25 and the nozzle 15 along the axis of the nozzle 15 based on known mechanical means. It is also possible to adjust the distance between the nozzle 25 and the axis of the nozzle 15, and / or to adjust the angle between the axis of the nozzle 15 and the axis of the nozzle 25.

  In each of FIGS. 1 to 4, a termination is formed in the atomization region 30 via a nozzle 45 and a further opening is provided in the open air, for example in the liquid air to be atomized. The free air inlet tube 40 is noted (see FIGS. 6 to 8). The negative pressure formed in the lateral part of the atomization region 30 by the shape and / or position of the nozzle 45 of the free air inlet tube of the atomization region 30, for example by the venturi effect or by the air flow injected by the nozzle 15 By action, free air (atmosphere) is sucked into this area. The present inventor can increase the efficiency of each of the Venturi pipes 61 to 64 due to the presence of the free air introduction pipe 40 as compared to a similar Venturi pipe without the free air introduction pipe 40. I paid attention to it.

  In FIG. 5, two air pipes 10 are provided, one for conveying the liquid to be atomized on the one hand and the other for a cylindrical pipe 85 for introducing free air on the other hand, the nozzle 15 of the air inlet pipe 10, and the pipe 85. Of note are venturi tubes 65 having an atomization region 30 having openings 86 and 87. The conduit 85 is designed to slide through a cylindrical through hole formed in the Venturi tube 65 body. In this way, the adjusting means 70 consisting of this through-hole allows the conduit 85 to slide both with respect to rotation and movement along the axis. This makes it possible to change the position of the openings 86 and 87 with respect to the nozzle 15, and thus these openings constitute two adjustment parameters of the Venturi tube 65 operation. In addition to the openings 86 and 87, the conduit 85 has a free air opening at one end and an opening in the container of the liquid to be atomized at the other end.

  The openings 86 and 87 are circular and have a diameter that is substantially equal to the diameter of the nozzle 15. The two openings are arranged at symmetrical positions with respect to the long axis of the conduit 85. Accordingly, the two openings are in opposite positions.

  FIGS. 6 to 8 show a container 100 of the liquid to be atomized, and the liquid delivery pipe 120 to be atomized includes a hollow rod 121 and a venturi pipe 160 that are put into the liquid contained in the container 100. A secondary conduit 122 is inserted, which is in communication with the conduit 120. The Venturi tube 160 is mounted on the edge of the container via the center flange 161, either independently or while forming the basis of the Venturi tube body. A security ring 162 is arranged around the upper part of the container, and is in close contact with the center flange 161 via a sealing collar 163 at the upper part. The security ring 162 is attached to the container in a non-removable manner. Further, the venturi tube 160 is covered by a cap 164 in which an air introduction tube 110a and a spray body discharge tube 195 are formed.

  The air introduction pipe 110a is suitably extended by a mounting end 110b that is attached without gap to a compressed air supply source, for example, a compressed air output of a compressor. The attachment end 110b may be vertical as shown, or may extend upward or downward, but the attachment end may also take a horizontal position.

  The cap 164 is screwed to the center flange 161 and covers the sealing collar 163 on the security ring 162. Each screw is inserted into a hole through the flange 161 and then into a blind hole tap formed in the cap 164. Due to such an arrangement, the screw head will be in the interior space of the container, or in the opposite position, and therefore inaccessible.

  Thus, after the security ring 162 is secured to the container, it is impossible to remove the Venturi tube and access the contents of the container without destroying the ring.

  Furthermore, the apparatus may be disposable, limited to single use and discarded after the liquid contained in the container is lost.

  To prevent any foreign substance or liquid from being introduced into the device, especially the container, before or after the complete disappearance of the liquid originally contained in the container, thereby enhancing safety, Safety means such as check valves may be provided on various conduits that allow access from the outside to the inside of the device.

  The venturi tube 160 is an atomization in which an air introduction tube 110 and a secondary conduit 122, which are in communication with a conduit 110a provided in the cap, include a nozzle 115 of the air introduction tube 110 and a nozzle 125 of the liquid delivery tube 120. It has a region 130, an outlet 150 of the atomization region 130, a means 170 for adjusting the position of the secondary conduit 122, an extension outlet 150 of the taper 175 in the atomization region, and a cylindrical chamber 180 extending in a taper. The adjusting means 170 is composed of a micrometer pitch screw. The Venturi tube 160 may also have a free air inlet tube 140 with a nozzle 145 in the atomization region 130. The free air introduction pipe is in communication with a through conduit 140a provided in the cap.

  In a preferred design, the liquid conduit 121 to be atomized has a filter 121a at its lower end. This filter is put into the liquid in the container.

The free air inlet tube or suction tube 140 is also
It features an opening 142 designed to receive a negative pressure sensor (see FIG. 9).

  In the atomization region 130, the nozzle 115 of the air introduction tube 110 and the nozzle 125 of the liquid delivery tube 120 respectively suck the liquid into the atomization region 130 through the Venturi effect, and the airflow flowing out from the nozzle 115 is generated by a known method. It is arranged to form a flow of atomized liquid particles towards the outlet 150 of the atomization region 130.

  The inventor has noted that the output of the venturi tube 160 can be increased by the presence of the free air introduction tube 140 as compared to the same venturi tube without the free air introduction tube 140. In addition, the suction conduit draws air into the chamber 180 so that a portion of the flow from the venturi tube is injected into the atomization region, thereby increasing the concentration of atomized liquid particles in the flow exiting the chamber 180. It becomes possible to make it.

  As a characteristic feature of one aspect of the present invention, the escape opening 190 through which the flow exiting the chamber 180 passes as it exits the venturi tube 160 terminates in the liquid container 100 and the liquid container 100. Has an atomized liquid particle outlet 195 through which some of the atomized liquid particles exiting the escape opening 190 escape from the container 100 and an atomized liquid that is diffused into the atmosphere surrounding the apparatus. .

  In this way, relatively large liquid particles fall by gravity or by their inertia in the container 100 and join the liquid that is atomized there.

  In a preferred design, the escape opening 190 is directed to the surface of the liquid contained in the container.

  FIG. 9 includes a container 100 and a venturi tube 160, a compressor 210, a power source 220 for the compressor 210, a pressure sensor 230, a processing means 240, a warning signal generator 250, a sound transmitter 260, an indicator light 270, and a computer network 280. An atomization apparatus 200 is shown.

  A pressure sensor 230 is disposed in the opening 142 of the conduit 140 and generates a signal representative of the pressure (or negative pressure) at the side of the nebulization region 130. The processing means 240, for example an electronic board (possibly of the microprocessor type), computer, or threshold circuit receives the signal transmitted by the pressure sensor 230 and based on a specified variation criterion for this signal, a warning signal Generator 250 generates a warning signal that is sent to sound transmitter 260, indicator 270, and / or computer network 280.

  The specified criterion is, for example, a decrease in measured pressure below a threshold level, or a pressure decrease of at least 10% measured in a time shorter than 5 minutes.

  The present inventor has discovered that the negative pressure value sensed by the pressure sensor 230 when the liquid is no longer in the nozzle 125 is actually different from the negative pressure value when the nozzle contains liquid to be atomized. . In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 6-9, the measured pressure value is lower when there is no liquid in the nozzle 125 than when there is still liquid to be atomized in the nozzle 125.

  The warning signal generator 250 is designed to issue the following commands. That is, for example, transmission of a sound signal by a sound transmitter 260 made of a speaker, transmission of a visual signal by an indicator light 270 made of an LED, and / or a capture board itself connected to a computer system, for example, wired or wirelessly Is a warning signal transmitted by the computer network 280 connected to.

  The processing means is also designed to turn off the compressor 210 when it detects that there is no longer any liquid to be atomized.

  FIG. 10 shows an initialization process in which the Venturi tube is connected to a liquid container to be atomized, and the atomization liquid particles are injected by the Venturi pipe into the container. Show.

  Next, in step 310, the air compressor is activated and the liquid to be atomized is sucked into the container.

  Next, for each portion of the liquid aspirated in step 310, an injection step 320 into the atomization region is performed, resulting in an injection step 330 of the atomized liquid particles into the container.

  Next, some of the atomized liquid particles exit the container through the discharge opening during step 340.

  In parallel with steps 320 to 340, a portion of the air in the container is drawn into the free air inlet tube at step 350 and injected into the atomization region at step 360.

  In parallel with steps 320 to 360, a measurement step 370 is performed for the atomization zone pressure and a processing step 380 is performed for the measured value.

  According to a preferred design, in the measuring step 370, the pressure is measured in a suction conduit with a nozzle in the nebulization area and possibly with a free air opening in the container, for example.

  In process step 380, as described with reference to FIG. 9, the compressor operation is stopped or a warning signal is issued whenever the pressure meets a specified variation criterion.

  FIG. 11 shows a circle with three lateral openings 197 that can be inserted into the escape opening 190, preferably at the shoulder provided at the end of the opening, ie opposite the atomization chamber (see FIG. 6). A formation or diaphragm 196 is shown. The function of this circular component is to hold the largest particles of nebulized liquid, thereby allowing the particles to form large diameter drops and fall into the container 100 under the action of gravity. This prevents the formation of emulsions that tend to oxidize the atomized liquid.

  FIG. 12 shows another form 26 of the nozzle 25 (see FIGS. 1 to 4).

  In this alternative embodiment, the opening of the nozzle 25 is a non-planar shape about the pressurized air inlet tube formed by the intersection of the cylinder of the liquid delivery tube 70 and the cylinder surrounding the nozzle of the pressurized air inlet tube 10. have.

  The inventors have noted that this particular configuration 26 achieves good efficiency in the atomizing venturi tubes 61-64. Any other form, for example, a triangular shape, may be provided.

  As shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, the above-described apparatus is appropriately disposed in a protective case partitioned into compartments. As can be seen from the figure, this case has a closed lid with a lock. One of the compartments of the case is designed to receive the device of the present invention, and another one of the compartments is designed to receive a compressed air compressor. The air outlet compressed by the compressor is fixed to the first compartment and connected through a flexible or rigid line to a socket designed to receive the cap socket end of the nebulizer. Another compartment is provided for receiving the electronic components of the device.

  In a preferred design, the device is designed to cooperate via two fixed studs and hinges attached to the first compartment in order to secure the device inside the case without changing the free detachability of the device. Provide a lever.

  It should be understood that the present invention can accept any improvements and alternatives made from equivalent technical fields without departing from the scope of the present invention.

1 is a cross-sectional view of a Venturi tube according to a first special embodiment of the first aspect of the present invention. Details of FIG. 1A are shown on an enlarged scale. FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of a venturi tube according to a second special embodiment of the first aspect of the invention. FIG. 6 shows a sectional view of a Venturi tube according to a third embodiment of the first aspect of the present invention. FIG. 6 shows a sectional view of a Venturi tube according to a fourth special embodiment of the first aspect of the present invention. FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional perspective view of a Venturi tube according to another special embodiment of the first aspect of the present invention. FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional view of a special embodiment of a micronebulization device according to another aspect of the present invention. FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional view of a special embodiment of a micronebulization device according to another aspect of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a detailed view of FIG. 6. The atomization apparatus which has a warning generation | occurrence | production means is shown. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a process flow chart of a micro-nebulization device according to a special embodiment of processing that is the subject of one aspect of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of a shutter applicable to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 6 to 9. It is a schematic diagram of another form of the liquid delivery pipe nozzle which can be used for each embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the case when it is opened, designed to receive the device of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the case when closed, designed to receive the device of the present invention.

Claims (8)

A fine atomization device (200), and a liquid container (100), delivery line for delivering liquids in the spray region (130) and (120), atomized liquid particles flow from the spray region a spray apparatus having a escape opening of the spray region (180) to pass when escaping, it said escape opening (180) is the liquid container, to form a terminal on the liquid surface, liquid container, have a opening (195) releasing the nebulized liquid particles through which a portion of the nebulized liquid particles escaping from the escape opening to escape the container, the atomization apparatus may atomization Venturi tube (160), the atomized venturi tube (160) includes a compressed air introduction tube (110), and the compressed air introduction tube (110) and the liquid delivery tube (120) are each at least 1 Shape the nozzle ends towards the atomization area In the atomization region, the liquid entering from the liquid delivery pipe (120) is atomized by the pressurized air entering from the air introduction pipe (110), and the liquid delivery pipe nozzle with respect to the compressed air introduction pipe nozzle (115) atomization apparatus characterized by have a venturi tube with an adjustment means for adjusting the position of (125) (170). The atomization apparatus is provided with a nozzle (145) to the atomization region, possess free air inlet with an open air opening (141) toward the liquid material container (100) to (140), said liquid container ( 100) is partially sucked into the free air introduction pipe (140) through the open air opening (141), and the nozzle (145) from the free air introduction pipe (140). The atomizing device according to claim 1 , wherein the atomizing device is injected into the atomizing region via a . The device is fed from an air suction tube (140) with a nozzle (145) in the atomization region (130), a negative pressure sensor (230) to another opening (142) of the air suction tube, and the sensor, 3. The atomizing device according to claim 1, further comprising a processing means (240) for a signal indicating a negative pressure inside the suction pipe. The atomizing device according to claim 3 , characterized in that the suction tube further comprises an open air opening (141) in the liquid container (100). A suction step for sucking liquid to be injection atomized in a container (310), an implantation step (320) and fine atomization method comprising injecting the liquid to be atomized into a spray region (130), said The method includes a radiation step (330) in which atomized liquid particles are emitted from the atomization region into the container on the liquid level of the container, and an escape step in which a part of the atomized liquid particles is escaped from the container ( 340), measuring step (370 for measuring the pressure of the atomization region), and fine atomization method characterized by further including Mukoto processing step for processing said measurements (380). The method further comprises an air suction step (350) for sucking air into the container and an injection step (360) for injecting air sucked into the container into the atomization region. 5. The atomization method according to 5. In the processing step (380), the operation of the air compressor (210) is stopped or a warning signal is issued if the pressure measurement value meets a specified variation criterion. 7. A fine atomization method according to 5 or 6 . The measuring step (370) is performed by an open air opening (141) and a negative pressure sensor (230) disposed in a suction pipe (140) having a nozzle (145) in the atomization region (130). The atomization method according to any one of claims 5 to 7 .

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