JPH0448824Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to improvement of an aerosol generating device.

[Prior Art] Originally, an aerosol (mist) is a dispersion of liquid or solid particles in a gas.
Liquid aerosols have generally been produced by atomization, such as by spraying a liquid. However, the particle size of the fine particles obtained by these methods was 50 microns, or at least several microns. However, recently there has been an increasing need for liquid ultrafine particles on the submicron scale. As a method for producing them, recent US literature has announced an aerosol generator that produces ultrafine particles by bursting bubbles. The structure of the aerosol generator will be briefly explained. Please refer to Figure 4. Inside the airtight container 42. External pressurized gas introduction pipe 4
A diffuser pipe 43 connected to the container 7 is provided, and the end of the diffuser pipe 43 opens as a blowhole 44 slightly above the bottom of the container. Further, a gas (aerosol) outlet 45 is provided in the upper part of the container, and the outlet is led to the outside through an exhaust pipe 46.

Next, its effect will be explained. First liquid L ₃
is placed in the container to a level slightly above the fumarole hole 44. Next, pressurized gas CA ₂ is force-fed from the outside, passes through the diffuser pipe 43, and is ejected into the liquid from the blowhole 44. The gas forms bubbles _B1 , rises upwards, and when they reach the liquid level _Le4 (Fig. 5), the bubbles
When B ₁ comes into contact with the outside air (Figure 6), it expands and bursts.
The bubble film L ₄ then scatters into the outside air (Figure 7). The liquid at that time consists of ultrafine particles (P1 ₁ ; particle size 1
~0.1 micron) and dispersed in the gas, producing so-called aerosol As ₁ (8th
figure).

Now, in the above-mentioned aerosol generator,
Conventionally, since the consumption amount of the liquid supplied into the same container is relatively small, replenishment operations have been relatively infrequent and have been carried out manually in batches. However, as the demand for this equipment has recently increased, efficient operation has been desired, and the need for automatic replenishment has increased.

[Problems to be Solved] The motivation for the present invention was to automate the quantitative supply of liquid to the aerosol generator described above.

Conventionally, there have been various methods for quantitatively replenishing liquids. The basic method involves sensing the liquid level and using some power to open and close the liquid supply valve accordingly. However, in these cases, it is desirable for the frequency of opening and closing to be low from both mechanical and energy standpoints. And the fact that it occurs less frequently means that the time interval between refills is long, which also increases the level difference in the liquid level. In other words, the level fluctuation becomes large. This was the conventional liquid replenishment method.

However, in the above-mentioned aerosol generator, ultrafine particles are generated by the force when the bubbles rise, reach the liquid surface, and burst, as described above, so the distance they rise is determined by the expansion of the bubbles. The degree of expansion also affects the bursting force of the bubbles, that is, the particle size of the ultrafine particles. That is, (first
(see figure), it is desirable that the distance h from the fumarole hole 4 to the level Le is always constant. Therefore, the conventional liquid replenishment system with large level differences as described above is not preferable.

Now, with the conventional liquid replenishment method using level detection, there were large differences in ratio and level as mentioned above, but with the float type, it was difficult to detect small steps.
Electric level detection and short-term intermittent on/off valves are expensive, difficult to maintain, and have a relatively short lifespan.

[Means for Solving the Problems] The gist of the present invention is that an inverted siphon-type liquid supply device is communicated with an aerosol generation device.

What is the above-mentioned inverted can type siphon type liquid supply device?
As shown by reference numeral 21 in FIG. 1, a can 23 filled with liquid is turned upside down, and the end of the opening 25 of the can is immersed slightly below the liquid level Le ₁ . This device, commonly found in poultry farms and pet water bowls, works to maintain water at a constant level.

[Operation] Please refer to the inverted siphon type liquid supply device shown in FIG. The balance of liquid pressure in an inverted state of a can containing liquid is as follows: At liquid level Le ₁ , P+Dρ=P ₁ +Hρ=P ₁ +(H ₁ +D)ρ=P ₁ +H ₁
ρ＋Dρ ∴P=P ₁ +H ₁ ρ ... (1) where P = atmospheric pressure P ₁ = air chamber pressure in the can H = height of liquid column in the can D = level at the mouth of the can
Height from Le ₂ to the liquid level Le ₁ H ₁ = Height of the liquid column in the chamber from the liquid level Le ₁ ρ = Density of the liquid When the liquid level Le ₁ falls (the liquid in the aerosol generator ), and when reaching the starting level Le ₂ , the above equation (1)... At P=P ₁ + H ₁ ρ, D→O, H ₁ →H ₂ (=H ₁ −D ₁ ), P ₁ → P ₁ ′ (=P ₁ −△P ₁ ) ∴P＞P ₁ ′＋H ₂ ρ ……(2) Air enters the inside of the can from the mouth of the can, and the same volume of liquid flows out of the can. And the liquid level is
Balance by increasing from Le ₂ to Le ₁ .

That is, P+Dρ=P ₂ +(H ₂ +D)ρ In this way, when the liquid L in the container 2 of the aerosol generator 1 is consumed and its level Le decreases, the inverted tube communicating with it will be reduced accordingly. Inverted cap 2 in the siphon type liquid supply device 21
When the level Le ₃ within 3 also falls and the air P ₁ inside the inverted can falls, as described above, air at atmospheric pressure P enters the inverted can little by little and replaces it. The liquid L ₁ flows downward from its mouth, pushes up the level Le ₂ in the tank 22 of the liquid supply device 21, and returns to the original level Le ₁ . In this way, the level Le ₁ of the liquid in the container can be kept constant in small steps.

This inverted can type siphon type liquid supply device has a simple structure, has no moving parts or electrically operated parts, and is therefore economical without failures, and is capable of automatically and continuously maintaining a constant liquid level in small steps. This is the most appropriate one.

In this way, if the liquid level Le ₁ of the inverted siphon type liquid supply device 21 is kept constant, the liquid level Le of the container 2 of the aerosol generator connected thereto will also be kept constant. It will be preserved. In this way, since the liquid level in the aerosol generator is constant, the distance h from the above-mentioned fumarole hole 4 to the liquid surface rising to the surface is constant, the bursting force of the bubbles is also constant, and the bubbles are scattered. The particle size of the ultrafine particles can also be kept constant.

[Example] In the structure of the above-mentioned inverted can type siphon type liquid supply device, when the liquid to be put inside is ordinary water, as in the conventional water drinking device for pets, water is not poured into the can. When the water runs out, the can can be refilled with water over a certain period of time and used repeatedly. If this cannot be applied, the simple method described above is inconvenient. In order to solve this problem, it is desirable that the inverted can used in the device of the present invention has the following structure. Please refer to the inverted can 23 in the inverted siphon type liquid supply device 21 in FIG.

The case 23 is set in an inverted position,
Before it is set, as shown in FIG. 3, it is prepared in the opposite position, that is, with the mouth 25 facing upward. The inverted bottle 23 is filled with the required liquid _L1 . The structure of the can is that a valve 27 is provided at the lower inside of the mouth 25, and the valve is closed by being in close contact with the valve seat 26 inside the can via a spring 28 and a spring holder 29. There is. In other words, the can is sealed. A requisite number of cans having such a structure is filled with liquid and prepared in advance.
When the can is needed, the can is taken out, turned upside down, and the opening 25 of the can is poured into the ejector rod 30 provided in the tank 22 of the inverted can-type siphon type liquid supply device 21 shown in FIG. 1, and set. The rod 30 pushes up the valve 27 in the inverted can 23, opening the valve and allowing the liquid in the inverted can to descend and flow into the tank 22. Then, as mentioned above, the siphon effect of the inverted pen is performed.

[Effect] According to the present invention, it is possible to automatically and continuously replenish liquid to a liquid aerosol generator while maintaining a constant level, and in a simple and inexpensive manner. This makes it possible to maintain a constant particle size of the liquid ultrafine particles in the generated aerosol.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a side sectional view of a connected aerosol generator of the inverted siphon type liquid supply device according to the present invention, Fig. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of the inverted siphon, and Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the inverted siphon. Figure 4 is a side sectional view of a conventional aerosol generator, Figures 5 to 7
The figure is an explanatory diagram of the state of floating bubbles in the same device until they burst on the liquid surface, and FIG. 8 is a diagram of the state in which ultrafine liquid particles are dispersed in the gas. Explanation of main symbols, 1...Aerosol generator, 2...Airtight container for same as above, 3...Diffuser pipe, 4...
... Fumarole, 21... Inverted conduit type siphon type liquid supply device, 22... Tank for same as above, 23... Inverted conduit.

Claims (1)

[Claims for Utility Model Registration] 1. In an aerosol generator 1 in which a blowhole 4 of a diffuser pipe 3 connected to a pressurized gas introduction pipe 12 from the outside is provided at the inner bottom of a sealed container 2, the above-mentioned An aerosol generator characterized in that the lower part of the container 2 is in communication with an inverted siphon-type liquid supply device 21, and the structure is such that the level of the liquid supplied to both devices can be maintained at the same level. 2. The inverted cap 23 installed inside the tank 22 of the inverted cap siphon type liquid supply device 21 has a valve 27 facing outward from the inside of its mouth 25 and a valve seat 26 corresponding to the valve 27. Further, the other end of the spring 28 attached to the back of the valve is fixed on a spring holder 29 fixed inside the mouth of the inverted can, and the tank to which the inverted can 23 is attached. 22. The aerosol generating device according to claim 1, wherein a protruding rod 30 for pushing up the valve 27 is fixed to the bottom of the valve 22.