RU2374965C1 - Method for ultrasonic drying of hair - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: personal demand items.

SUBSTANCE: method for ultrasonic drying of hair consists in simultaneous exposure of air to heated air and ultrasonic oscillations. Ultrasonic action is effected in a contact-free manner at the frequency of 22…35 kHz with intensity of at least 135 dB with the help of flat radiator, which flexurally oscillates at frequency that is multiple to the main one. Flexural oscillations of radiator are generated by longitudinally oscillating piezoelectric oscillator connected to it and supplied by electronic generator of ultrasonic frequency. Hair is simultaneously exposed to oscillations generated by surface of radiator inverted to hair from distance that exceeds longitudinal size of radiator, and oscillations generated by back side of radiator, which are directed to hair after reflection and passage of distance that exceeds longitudinal size of radiator by value that is multiple to half of length of ultrasonic oscillations wave in air.

EFFECT: suggested method for hair drying provides for even drying of hair along the whole surface of head and increased speed of drying.

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Description

The invention relates to the field of household appliances related to the implementation of hair drying processes using acoustic vibrations without increasing temperature and destroying their structure. It can be used in institutions of human services (baths, pools, hairdressers, beauty salons, etc.)

In order for the hair to remain healthy and beautiful for a long time, it is necessary to take proper care of it, the main element of which is drying (due to its layered structure, the hair is hygroscopic and can retain moisture up to 50% of its weight). The best way to dry your hair is, of course, natural, outdoors. The most acceptable method of artificial drying, which injures hair a little, is drying with heated towels, but do not forget that you should not rub your hair with towels, they can only be gently wet or wrapped. This method is very long.

Currently, a convective method is used to dry hair, which means that dry air is heated using the built-in heating element, heated air is sent to a human or animal hair with a fan, passes through a material to be dried, moistened and removed. The process lasts as long as it takes to dry the hair [1]. The process is implemented using hairdryers of various designs. Thermal drying in the technological design of the various hairdryers used is characterized by the following disadvantages:

- the process is extremely energy intensive and time consuming;

- hairdryers cannot be small-sized, as this reduces the temperature and volume of drying air, which, on the one hand, limits the speed of the process, and on the other, increases its cost;

- high temperature leads to drying out and destruction of hair. To eliminate this point, it is necessary to equip the dryer with a “smart” and expensive electronic temperature control system for the dried hair, which significantly increases the cost of the hairdryer and increases the duration of the process.

These shortcomings are explained not by the low level of sophistication of design solutions, but by the shortcomings of the method used in the basis - convection drying.

A promising option for replacing or supplementing the convective drying method is drying using ultrasonic vibrations.

To eliminate the disadvantages of the known devices (hair dryers), a method was developed for the implementation of hair drying, pleasant for the prototype [2]. The method of drying the hair according to the prototype consists in simultaneously exposing the hair to heated air and ultrasonic vibrations.

In this case, the ultrasonic effect is carried out by contact using the emitter of acoustic vibrations of ultrasonic frequency emerging from the device body (hair dryer).

When implementing the hair drying process using the device according to [2], the emitter of acoustic vibrations of ultrasonic frequency touches individual sections of the hairline, transmits ultrasonic vibrations to individual hairs, which begin to oscillate with ultrasonic frequency. Thanks to these vibrations, the drying speed is increased.

However, the device adopted for the prototype has the following significant disadvantages:

restriction on the permissible intensity of ultrasonic radiation, due to possible contact with the scalp and to prevent overheating of the hair in the place of mechanical contact. This drawback necessitates limiting the intensity of ultrasound radiation with therapeutic doses (not more than 0.1 ... 0.8 W / cm) with direct contact of the metal emitter with the skin, which reduces the drying speed due to ultrasound;

- simultaneous exposure to a limited number of hairs, which does not significantly increase the drying speed;

- in places of contact with the hairs, on the side surface of the emitter, the amplitude of the oscillations is much smaller than the amplitude on the end surface of the emitter. This does not allow affecting the hair with maximum efficiency.

Thus, the method of drying hair, adopted as a prototype, does not allow to use all the advantages of ultrasonic exposure and to realize the drying process with maximum efficiency.

The proposed method of ultrasonic drying of hair is the simultaneous exposure of the hair to heated air and ultrasonic vibrations. Ultrasonic exposure is carried out non-contact, at a frequency of 22 ... 35 kHz with a radiation intensity of at least 135 dB using a flat emitter, flexibly oscillating at a frequency that is a multiple of the main one, excited by a longitudinally oscillating piezoelectric transducer acoustically connected to it, fed by an ultrasonic frequency electronic generator. The impact on the hair is carried out simultaneously by vibrations created by the surface of the emitter facing the hair from a distance exceeding the longitudinal size of the emitter, and by vibrations created by the other side of the emitter, which are sent to the hair after reflection and passage of a distance exceeding the longitudinal size of the emitter by an amount multiple of half the length waves of ultrasonic vibrations in the air.

In the proposed device for ultrasonic drying, the task of increasing the efficiency of acoustic exposure and increasing the drying speed is solved by:

- use as a source of ultrasonic vibrations of a piezoelectric ultrasonic oscillatory system with an emitter in the form of a bending-oscillating disk, which allows to form uniformly ultrasonic radiation over a large area [3];

- the use of a drying chamber of a special form, which ensures the formation of an optimal acoustic field throughout the scalp;

- providing ultrasonic exposure at a frequency of more than 22 kHz, since fluctuations of such a frequency by a person are not perceived as sound exposure;

- providing ultrasonic exposure with an intensity of ultrasonic exposure of more than 135 dB, since fluctuations of this intensity begin to significantly intensify the drying process in comparison with blowing with warm air [3].

The essence of the proposed technical solution is illustrated in the drawing, which schematically explains the proposed method of ultrasonic hair drying

The proposed device consists of an emitter of ultrasonic vibrations in the form of a flexurally oscillating disk 1 connected to a piezoelectric transducer 2 installed in a special reflector 3. The piezoelectric transducer is powered by an ultrasonic frequency oscillation generator (not shown). From a person’s head (dried hair), the disk is located at a distance exceeding its diameter. At this distance, a uniform radiation field is formed of the disk emitter (far radiation zone).

In the proposed method of ultrasonic drying, the process is as follows. The reflector is located above the head of a person in such a way that the area of the head that has hairline is inside the reflector. They carry out exposure to ultrasonic vibrations until the necessary amount of moisture is removed (the required degree of dryness of the hair). When a plane wave is generated by a flexurally oscillating disk, the distribution of ultrasonic vibrations inside the drying chamber will take the form shown by arrows in the drawing. A flexurally oscillating disk emits ultrasonic vibrations in both directions relative to its plane.

The impact on the hair is carried out simultaneously by vibrations created by the surface of the emitter facing the hair from a distance exceeding the longitudinal size of the emitter, and by vibrations created by the other side of the emitter, which are sent to the hair after reflection from the reflector and the distance exceeding the longitudinal size of the emitter by a multiple of half wavelengths of ultrasonic vibrations in air.

As a result of ultrasonic exposure with the distribution shown in the drawing, uniformity of hair drying over the entire surface of the head will be ensured.

To increase the efficiency of electro-acoustic conversion, the piezoelectric transducer is made in the form of a three-wave ultrasonic oscillatory system with a hub 4 [3].

Developed to implement the proposed method, the device has the following technical characteristics: the intensity of the generated acoustic vibrations is not less than 140 dB; the oscillation frequency generated by a flexurally oscillating disk emitter - 22 kHz; maximum amplitude (amplitude swing) of oscillations of a disk radiator of 100 microns; the diameter of the radiating disk of the oscillatory system is not more than 250 mm; the material of the disk emitter and hub is a titanium alloy; reflector diameter 600 mm; reflector material - metal.

To determine the effectiveness of the created design of the drying chamber, experimental studies were conducted in which a disk radiator with a consumed electric power of 200 W was used. The temperature in the drying chamber was maintained at a level of 23-26 ° C, humidity 50-65%. Additional supply and exhaust of drying air were not used, i.e. To confirm the effectiveness, the most irrational drying method was used. Drying time did not exceed 10 minutes

The given values show the effectiveness of the proposed technical solution and the prospects of its application.

Small-scale production of the developed device for ultrasonic drying is planned to begin in 2009.

List of literature used in the preparation of the application

1. RF patent No. 2278606.

2. Japan patent No. Р2004-298483А from 2004.10.28 - prototype.

3. Khmelev, V.N. Ultrasonic multifunctional and specialized devices for the intensification of technological processes in industry [Text] / V.N. Khmelev, A.V. Shalunov [and others]. - Barnaul: AltSTU, 2007 .-- 416 p.

Claims (1)

The method of ultrasonic drying of hair, which consists in simultaneous exposure of the hair to heated air and ultrasonic vibrations, characterized in that the ultrasonic treatment is carried out non-contact at a frequency of 22 ... 35 kHz with a radiation intensity of at least 135 dB using a flat emitter, flexibly vibrating at a frequency multiple of the main excited by a longitudinally oscillating piezoelectric transducer acoustically connected with it, fed by an ultrasonic frequency electronic generator, the effect on the wave The systems are simultaneously carried out by vibrations created by the surface of the emitter facing the hair from a distance exceeding the longitudinal size of the emitter, and by vibrations created by the other side of the emitter, which are sent to the hair after reflection and passage of a distance exceeding the longitudinal size of the emitter by an amount multiple of half the wavelength of ultrasonic vibrations in the air.

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