JPS5867326A - Ultrasonic emulsifier - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To stabilize drive of an ultrasonic horn by immersing the end face of the horn shallowly in a liquid in an emulsifying vessel. CONSTITUTION:A power source for an ultrasonic wave oscillator 9 is switched on to actuate its vibrator 2, and a liquid mixture to be emulsified is fed into an emulsifying vessel 6 through feed pipes 7a, 7b. During this emulsifying operation, the ultrasonic wave horn 1 is shallowly immersed in the liquid, reducing load impedance due to liquid viscosity resistance liquid pressure greatly. Since the end face 5 of the horn 1 is inclined to the liquid surface at an angle theta, the liquid in the vessel 6 is agitated so as to be recirculated along the arrow (a) direction near the face 5, resulting in executing efficient and uniform emulsification.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an ultrasonic emulsifying device, and particularly to a compact ultrasonic emulsifying device that has a highly efficient and stable emulsifying function.

An ultrasonic emulsifier uses ultrasonic energy to mix and emulsify two or more liquids, such as water and oil, which are inherently immiscible.A conventional ultrasonic emulsifier is configured, for example, as shown in Figure 1. ing. That is, the ultrasonic horn 1 is
The ultrasonic transducer 2 is sandwiched between metal blocks 3 and 4, and these are configured as a resonant system, and the end portion of one metal block 4 is made smaller in diameter than the other portion in order to concentrate the ultrasonic energy.
The tip surface 5 is designed to be the maximum amplitude surface.

Note that the tip surface 5 is perpendicular to the axis of the ultrasonic horn.

On the other hand, the emulsification tank 6 protrudes from the outer tank 6a and its bottom surface.
The emulsification tank has a concentric double cylinder shape with an inner tank 6b having an axial length smaller than that of a, and a supply pipe 7 for supplying both liquids A and B is connected to the center of the bottom of the emulsification tank. Further, a discharge pipe 8 for discharging the emulsified liquid E is connected to the lower part of the side wall of the outer tank 6a.

The ultrasonic horn 1 is installed with its tip immersed in the liquid in the inner tank 6b, and is excited by the ultrasonic oscillator 9 with two ultrasonic oscillators.

In the conventional device with the above configuration, the A supplied to the inner tank 6b
, B are guided to the vicinity of the tip surface 5 of the ultrasonic horn 1, where they are made into a complete emulsion E by the cavitation effect in the liquid due to the ultrasonic waves. Since the mixed liquids A and B are continuously supplied with O at the bottom of the inner tank, this emulsified liquid E overflows from the upper edge of the inner tank and flows out from the discharge pipe 8. In, ultrasonic horn 1
Since the tip surface 5 of the ultrasonic horn is deeply immersed in the liquid to be emulsified, the viscosity of the liquid, compressive elasticity, liquid pressure acting on the tip surface of the ultrasonic horn, etc. act as resistance, and the ultrasonic energy is considerably reduced. If the size is not large, no cavitation effect will occur and the emulsification efficiency will be low.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an ultrasonic emulsifying device that has a highly efficient and stable emulsifying function and is also consecrated. An emulsifying tank is connected to the supply pipe and the emulsified liquid discharge pipe, and the inside is communicated with the atmosphere, a horn cylinder is integrally connected to the upper part of the emulsifying tank with its axis inclined, and an opening is provided to the horn cylinder. It is characterized by having an ultrasonic horn that is partially housed and immersed shallowly below the liquid level with its tip surface inclined with respect to the liquid level of the emulsification tank.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3.

In FIG. 2, numeral 6 indicates an emulsification tank, and this emulsification +11
On the side of y6, there is a supply pipe 7a for one of the liquids to be emulsified, for example, liquid A, and on the bottom side there is a supply pipe 7b for the other liquid B. Discharge tubes 111 and 8 for emulsified liquid E are connected to the sacrum surface on the opposite side of tube 7a, respectively.

A horn cylinder 10/lK is integrally connected to the upper part of the emulsifying tank 6. This horn tube 10 has its axis 11
is connected to the emulsifying tank in such a way that the axis 11 and the liquid level in the emulsifying tank 6 obliquely intersect with each other at an angle θ. If the diameters of the tank 6 and the horn cylinder IO are made the same, both will look like bent cylinders.

Note that a vent hole 12 is opened in the side surface of the horn tube 10, and the inside of the emulsification tank 6 communicates with the atmosphere through the vent hole 12.

On the other hand, the ultrasonic horn 1 is housed coaxially in the horn tube IO with the tip end face 5 facing downward. That is, the ultrasonic horn 1 is supported on a flange 15 formed at the open end of the horn tube 10 via a support plate 13 held between the ultrasonic vibrators 2, 2 and an insulating ring 14, It is fixed to the flange 15 by another insulating ring 14 provided on the opposite side of the insulating ring in contact with the flange 15 and by a fixing ring 16.

The ultrasonic vibrator 2 of the ultrasonic horn has an electrode plate 17
The ultrasonic horn 1, which is connected to the ultrasonic oscillator 9 via a lead wire, is provided coaxially with the horn cylinder 10 as described above, so that its tip surface 5 is connected to the liquid level of the emulsification tank. It will be tilted at 90°-θ with respect to.

Further, the length of the horn tube 10 is determined so that the tip of the ultrasonic horn 1 is immersed shallowly under the liquid surface.

Furthermore, the connection position in the emulsification tank is determined so that the inner end of the supply pipe 7a for the liquid to be emulsified opens close to the tip surface 5 of the ultrasonic horn.

In addition, in FIG. 2, reference numeral 18 indicates a drain pipe, and reference numeral 19 indicates a drain pipe.
2 respectively indicate drain cocks, and in FIG. 2, parts with the same reference numerals as in FIG. 1 indicate equivalent parts to those in FIG. 1.

The ultrasonic emulsifier according to the embodiment of the present invention configured as described above emulsifies from the supply pipes 7a and 7b while the ultrasonic oscillator 9 is powered on and the ultrasonic vibrator 2 is excited. The liquid is continuously or intermittently supplied into the emulsification tank 6 and emulsified. At this time, the ultrasonic horn 1 operates while being shallowly immersed in the liquid, and the load impedance due to the viscous resistance of the liquid or the liquid pressure is extremely small. In the case of the device, the cavitation effect in the liquid due to ultrasonic waves is similar to that of conventional devices, but in the present invention, the tip surface 5 is inclined with respect to the liquid surface, so that the vibration energy from the ultrasonic horn is directed downward. The liquid in the emulsifying tank 6 is stirred so as to circulate near the tip surface 5 along the direction of the arrow a in FIG. Side 5
Coupled with the fact that the opening is close to the opening and unemulsified liquid is always supplied near the opening, emulsification is performed efficiently and uniformly. The emulsified liquid is sucked by, for example, a pump (not shown) and discharged from the discharge pipe 8.

The relationship between the inclination angle θ of the ultrasonic horn 1 with respect to the liquid level and the emulsification time was experimentally determined and is shown in FIG. 3. From this figure, it can be seen that the range of θ=about ~60° (7) is optimal.

As is clear from the above description, in the present invention, the tip surface of the ultrasonic horn is shallowly immersed in the liquid level of the emulsification tank, so the area of the ultrasonic horn that is exposed to the liquid is small, and therefore the ultrasonic horn Since the load impedance of the horn and its rate of change are reduced, impedance matching with the ultrasonic oscillator becomes easier, and the driving of the ultrasonic horn becomes stable.

Because the tip of the ultrasonic horn is tilted with respect to the liquid level in the emulsification tank, the ultrasonic horn can also be given the function of keeping the liquid to be emulsified, making it efficient and uniform. emulsification can be performed.

Furthermore, the emulsification tank and the horn tube are obliquely connected and integrally connected, and the ultrasonic horn is housed coaxially in the horn tube. It is not necessary to increase the diameter of the emulsifying tank and the horn tube to accommodate the sonic horn, and the entire apparatus can be made into a consecte structure without any unnecessary waves.

(Scarce: ) One! In addition, the inside of the emulsification tank is communicated with the atmosphere through ventilation holes, and the inside of the emulsification tank is always maintained at atmospheric pressure, so submerged cavitation, which decreases when the pressure becomes high, is stably generated and the emulsification effect is enhanced. can be stabilized.

Note that a large number of bubbles are generated in the liquid in the emulsification tank due to cavitation and the intense stirring and flow of the liquid, and these bubbles have a negative effect on the emulsion discharge pump, but these bubbles are difficult to eliminate under high pressure. In the emulsification tank of the device of the present invention, which is kept at atmospheric pressure by the vent, it is efficiently removed.
It has the same effect as stabilizing not only the discharge of the emulsion but also the occurrence of cavitation.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 2 is a schematic sectional view showing an example of the structure of a conventional ultrasonic emulsifying device, Fig. 2 is a schematic sectional view of a footstep θ emulsifying device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 3 is a schematic sectional view showing an example of the structure of a conventional ultrasonic emulsifying device. It is a graph showing the relationship between the inclination angle θ of the sonic horn with respect to the liquid level and the emulsification time. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Ultrasonic horn, 5... Tip surface, 6... Emulsification tank, 7... 1 common supply pipe, 8... Discharge pipe, 9... Ultrasonic oscillation (diagnosis, 10. ...Horn tube, 12...Vent hole. Applicant's representative Kiyoshi Inomata

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] (1) An emulsification tank in which a supply pipe for a liquid to be emulsified and a discharge pipe for an emulsified liquid are connected to each other, and the inside is communicated with the atmosphere; and an ultrasonic horn that is coaxially housed in the horn tube and immersed shallowly under the liquid surface with its tip surface inclined with respect to the liquid surface of the emulsifying tank. 2. The ultrasonic emulsification device according to claim 1, characterized in that the inside of the emulsification tank communicates with the atmosphere through a vent opening in the horn tube. Device. 3. At least one of the supply pipes for the liquid to be emulsified is
3. The ultrasonic emulsifying device according to claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic emulsifying device has an opening near the tip surface of the ultrasonic horn.