US2420223A - Atomizer - Google Patents

Description

W. BREWER ay 6, m7.

ATOMIZER Filed March 21, 1944 F/GZ,

F/GB.

Inventor .BREWER WALL /AM Patented May 6, 1 947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ATOLIIZER' a British company Application March 21, 1944, Serial No. 521,420

' In Great Britain January 20, 1944 1 Claim. 1

The present inventionrelates to means for producing a spray of atomised liquid.

Various types of apparatus are known for P ducing a spray of atomised liquid to effect disinfection, disinfestation, and vermin destruction, or for odorising or deodorising purposes. Such an- I ratus are as a rule somewhat cumbersome, having been fitted with valves or other moving parts requiring periodic overhaul or replacement. Manually operable spraying apparatus or syringes used hitherto have suffered from the further disadvantage that they are diiilcult to operate in confined spaces and in many cases are of little use unless the operator can approach close to the area tobe sprayed. I

An object of this invention is the provision of a light, compact device for producing an atomised spray from a body of liquid under pressure for the purpose of disinfection, disinfestation, vermin destruction, or for odorising or deodorising purposes.

Another object is to provide such a device which is free from mechanically movable parts, is foolproof in operation, and will withstand rough han- A further object is to provide such a device which has a small salvage value so that the device can be thrown away after use.

According to this invention means for producing a spray of atomised liquid comprise in combination a vessel adapted to contain under ressure the liquid to be atomised, the vessel having a filling opening and a closure member in fluid-tight connection with the opening, a fluid delivery tube extending inwardly from the closure member and terminating close to the bottom of the container. and a frangible projection to the closure member, the frangible projection having a hollow part communicating with the delivery tube. the arrangement being such that flexure of the frangible projection causes fracture at the hollow part to release the liquid from the container in the form of an atomised spray.

The fluid delivery tube preferably extends at the delivery end through the closure member into said frangible projection to terminate close to the intended line of fracture and the bore of the delivery tube may have imparted to it, as by counterborlng, an outwardly diverging conical form for ensuring the production of a spray having a broad angle of dispersal.

The degree of atomisation varies considerably in relation to the viscosity of the liquid. A relatively wide bored delivery tube suitable for the production of a finely atomised spray from a liquid having high viscosity is likely to result in ejection of a liquid of low viscosity in the form of a relatively highly concentrated jet. To reduce production costs it is of advantage to use standard components, and in accordance with another feature of this invention a, delivery tube having a wide bore suitable for the production of a finely atomised spray from a liquid of high viscosity is used, and when the liquid charge has a lower vis cosity the free cross sectional area of the delivery tube is reduced by the insertion of a baflle rod.

A fluid-tight connection between the filling opening and the closure member may be established by clamping the closure member between an abutment provided Within the filling opening and a, sealing member of yielding material held under compression against the closure member by constricting the lip of the filling opening,

For ejecting the liquid from the vessel upon fracture of the hollow part of the frangible projection, a gaseous propellant such as carbon dioxide is introduced into thevessel after it has been partially filled with the liquid to be atomised.

The invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a view of a spraying device in central longitudinal section,

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view on the same section as Fig. l but on an enlarged scale,

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view in central longitudinal section of an alternative embodiment, and

Fig. 4 is a similar view to Fig. 3 showing another embodiment.

The device comprises a vessel I for the liquid to be sprayed, the vessel being constituted by a solid drawn steel bulb or capsule having a neck 2 defining a filling opening. The wall of the neck 2 is reduced in thickness by removal of metal from the interior surface as shown so as to form a thinwalled pliable lip 3 and an internal abutment 4 on which is seated a closure member 5 which, after the vessel has been charged with the liquid and a gaseous propellant, is firmly clamped against the abutment 4 by bending the pliable lip 3 inwardly, a sealing member 6 of yielding material, such as rubber, being interposed between the closure member 5 and the inturned lip 3 to form a fluidtight joint. The closure member 5 has a central bore 1 extending outwardly from its inner face to terminate in an outwardly extending projection 8. The inner end of the bore 1 is enlarged to accommodate the upper end of a delivery tube 9 which reaches nearly to the bottom of the vessel I.

Efllcient atomisation is largely dependent upon a proper correlation between the free cross-sectional area of the delivery tube and the viscosity of the liquid to be atomised: the higher the viscosity, the wider the bore. In order that standard components may be used, a delivery tube having a relatively wide bore suitable for the discharge of high viscosity liquids is mounted in the container and the free cross-sectional area is adjusted to suit liquids of lower viscosity by inserting a baiiie rod II. This may be made from a length of wire having the appropriate gauge, the wire being slightly curved or bent intermediate its ends so as frictionally to engage the wall of the delivery tube 9. By this means, the wire can readily be held in position within the delivery tube and the lower end of the wire may be looped as shown to prevent the wire being ejected with the discharged liquid.

After the requisite quantity of liquid has been placed in the vessel i a propellant in the form of a measured quantity of CO: under a pressure of about 800 lbs. per square inch is charged on to the top of the liquid: the vessel l is then sealed by turning over the lip 3 on to the sealing member 6 in a press of known and suitable design,

when it is desired to liberate the liquid in the vessel as a fine spray, the projection I is flexed and, being hollow, it is thereby readily broken, whereupon the liquid is forced out by the gaseous propellant through the delivery tube 9 in the form of a fine spray.

To ensure easy fiexure of the projection 8, a ferrule Ii may be attached thereto, as by screwing, whereby the bending moment is increased.

For eflicient disinfestation generally. it has been found desirable to use a spray having a broad angle. A spray having this characteristic may be obtained by imparting to the delivery tube at the delivery end an outwardly diverging conical form [2. A conical angle of about 35 will in most cases be found suitable.

Instead of using a solid drawn steel bulb or capsule, the vessel I may be formed from a length of tubing which at each end is reduced in diameter to form a neck having a thin-walled pliable lip. At the upper end the tube is sealed with a closure member having a central bore and a frangible projection as shown in Fig. 1, whilst at the other end the opening s sealed as shown in Fig. 3 to which reference will now bemade.

The terminal portion ll of the vessel i, which is of reduced diameter, is provided with a thinwalled pliable lip i4 and an internal shoulder I5 by removal of metal from the interior surface. Within the recess thus formed is mounted a cap I8 abutting against the shoulder II against which it is firmly clamped by bending the pliable lip i4 inwardly, a sealing member I! of yielding material, such as rubber, being interposed between the cap I and the inturned lip H to form a fluid-tight joint. 4

An alternative method of closing the lower end of the tube is shown in Fig. 4, where a plug I! having an internal recess ii is secured, as 55 by flash butt welding, to the end of the reduced terminal portion it of the tube which constitutes the vessel i.

Both these methods of closing the lower end advantage that a ll itself in Fig. 3 and the provided into which the delivery 9 can enter, therethat the maximum amount of liquid by the gaseous propellant.

Devices for Producing a spray of atomised liquid constructed as hereinbefore described are suiliciently light and compact to enable a person to carry several in a pocket, pouch or handbag. For example, when troops are away from their base camp, each may be provided with several such devices for use in bell tents, foxholes, native huts and so fourth: the usual apparatus for spraying insecticides would under such conditions prove too cumbersome and expensive.

By mounting the device upon one end of an elongated support, the spray may be directed against otherwise inaccessible places such as the ceilings or rafters of buildings, or the leaves or branches of tall trees.

I claim:

Means for producing a spray of atomized liquid comprising in combination a container adapted to contain under pressure the liquid to be atomized, and provided with a relatively wide filling opening to permit the container to be initially charged with said liquid, an abutment in said filling opening, a closure member adapted to be mounted in said filling opening so as to permit the container to be charged with a gaseous propellant and means for securing said clmure member in fluid-tight connection with said opening after said container has been charged with the gaseous propellant, said means comprising an inwardly-directed lip comprising the inturned end of said filling opening whereby said closure member is clamped in fluid-tight manner against said abutment, a fluid delivery tube extending inwardly from said closure member and terminating close to the bottom of said container, and a frangible projection extending outwardly from said closure member as an integral part thereof, and having an internal bore normally closed at its outer end and communicating with said delivery tube, said frangible projection having a weakened section to enable it to be readily fiexed and fractured whereby said. delivery tube is opened to release the liquid from the container in the form of an atomized spray.

WILLIAM BREWER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the

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