US2449927A - Atomizer - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 21, 1948.. 1 QHECKQN 2,449,927

AToMIzER Filed Jan. 24, 1945 l 2 sheets-sheet 1 J. CHECKON Sept. 21, 1948.

ATOMIZER 2 Sheets-Sheetl 2 Filed Jan. 24, 1945, v

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f MH@ J /f 0 I7 CC 0/7 ATTORN Patented Sept. 2l, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE applicanmgucszeivo.` maarV 1 This invention relates to an atomizer for atomizingfliquids and semi-liquids.

Amongthe objects of the invention is the provision of a simple, dependable atomizer which will operate in` a constant condition over'long periods of time. l Another object is the provision of Yan atomizenhaving a self-cleaning aperture through which the substance to be atomized passes intothe atomizing fluid. A further object is the provision of an atomizer which requires less atomizing fluid to break up thermaterial to be atomized and thus operates more efficiently. These and further objects of the invention will become apparent in the following description.

Although the atomizer of the present invention is capable of application in numerous fields where liquids or semi-liquids must be brokenup and dispersed'in an atomiz'ing fluid, and it is not intended to limit the invention to any particular one of `such applications, vfor purposes of illustrationv it will be described ln'connection with a burner for a furnace, such as an Vopen hearth furnace. Many present day furnaces, such as open hearth furnaces, employ burners using liquid "or semi-liquid fuels, such as oils and tars. Such fuels are particularly advantageous in open hearth furnaces because of their high heat content and because they produce a long flame which can be easily directed in the desired direction over the bath of metal being treated. Forv the eiiicient burning of oils and tars, however, it is necessary to atomize or break up the fuelinto very small globules so that it can be uniformly mixed with combustion air. If the atomization is not properly done, it is impossible to -get an intimate mixture of air and fuel and-dense smoke will result witha consequent low efliciency andthe creation v of a nuisance. Many different types of atomizers have been used in the past for atomizing such fluid fuelsin furnace burners. Most, if not all. of these, :employ orlflcesout of which the material", to be atomized is forced under pressure, such orifice being 'so located relative tothe stream of atomizing fluid that the stream of fuel issuing from the orifice is subjected to currents and cross currents of the atomizing fiuid, which break upthe fuel and'produce anfintimate mixture of fuel globules and atomizing fluid. Such mixture is then fed to the burner where it'is' mx'e'dfwith combustion air, the finalmixture then being burned at the'nozzle of the burner. e In Aatomizers of Ysuch design much Ydii'liculty hasVV been vexperienced throughthe tendency of 4 Claims. (CI. 261-78) the orice through which the fuel entersyinto the'atomizing stream to clog. In'spite of the relatively high speed of issuance` of the fuel from such orifice, which is offairly small diameter relative to the volume'of fuel'supplied the'burner, fuel particles gradually build up on the orifice, probably starting on: the tapered-inner surfaces of the fuel supply pipe adjacentV the :orifice where the stream: of fuel-is 'forced to'change direction. In' any event, it has been found that vaftergextended periods of operation the orifices'have become so narrowed due to their gradually becoming clogged that the volume of fuel which can be supplied to the burner vis markedly cut down. Such. change requires alterationsin the amount of atomizing fluid and combustion air from the original ideal adjustment,` and eventually requires the complete shutting down of the burner andthe cleaning of the atomizer. Furnace operators tend to put off such shut-down for cleaning ofthe burner kas long as possible', sinceusuallyf. the atomizeris located in 'such position inside kthe conduit supplying the atomizing fluid as'to. make it very inaccessible. The disadvantages in such prior art atomizers therefore haveresulted in an overall decreased operating eiiiciency of' the `burner and consequently ofthe furnace.

'The atomizer of the present invention over-` comes the diiilculties due to the inherent tendency of the material being atomized or of foreign particles therein 'to be deposited upon the walls of the orifice' from which it issues and consequently gradually to change the characteristics of the atomizen Broadly, such object is accomplished by the 'employment of avibrating element located in`r such orifice, the vibrating element Vbeing so'designed that it repeatedly and continuously contacts various portions ofthe Walls ofthe orifice during operation of the atomizer, 4thereby accomplishing the dislodging`v of particles from the walls lof thebriiice and the maintenance of the original size of the opening;

The invention will be more rreadily understood byreference to the accompanying drawings. in which? Y' Y Figure 1 is avlew in'plan of one modification of the atomizer of the present invention attached toaburner; Y Figure-2 is a view in longitudinal section taken through the line 2-2 in Figure 1; e

`Figure 3'is` a' .view vin cross section aken through the line 3-3 of' Figure l; 'Figui-e4 isa view likewise'in cross section, taken throughv` thellne4-4 in Figure I; andV f Figure is a View in longitudinal cross section of a second modification of the atomizer of the present invention.

The atomizer shown in Figures 1 to 4, inclusive, consists of a casing 4, in this instance in the form of a pipe, which is connected by union t to pipe il which supplies a stream of atomizing uid under pressure longitudinally through the casing. `The atomizer is supplied with fluid fuel through the pipe lil, which in this instance is of smaller diameter than casing 4, extends transversely through the casing, and is welded thereto to form a fluid-tight connection. One end of pipe IB extending a substantial distance outside casing 4 is provided with a conventional pipe cap II screwed to the end thereof, such cap being removable for inspection purposes. The opposite end of pipe Ill extending on the other side of casing 4 is connected to pipe I2 which supplies fluid fuel to the atomizer. Connection between pipe I2 and pipe I0 is effected by union I4. The atomizer'm'ay thus be easily removed, if necessary, simply by 'disconnecting' unions 6 and I4 and by unscrewing it from the rear of the burner I6, the rear of which is Shown schematically in Figure 1,` or yother elements lto which it maylbeconnected. It is to4 beunderstood that burner IG .incorporates therein means (not shown) for ysupplying and mixing :combustion air with the atomized vfuel fed theretofrom the atomizer.v

`Pipe Ii), through which the fuel to be atomized is supplied, is provided with an orifice I1 located, as shown, on therside of pipe Ill opposite the direction-from which'the atomizing 'fluid is fed i and, for purposes of operating eiciency and convenience, on the axis of casing '4. Fluid fuel supplied under pressure from pipeIZ to pipe I!! issues as a stream from orifice I-1, as indicated bythe arrow in 4Figure 2, and is immediately subjected'to'the action Vvof thevatomizingfluid, which may be air, stea'rn,` or the lik'e,-which is traveling throu'ghthe casing-4 toward the leftl in Figure 2, The presence of thev transverse pipe I-Il in the casing causes a narrowing of the path with a consequent speeding up .of the atomizing fluid, as well as a splitting lof such iiuid into twov streams which flow about pipe Ill and unitewith numerouseddies, at ajpointslightly to the left '(in Figure 2) of orice I'I. Such impingement of the atomizing fluidupon the V'stream of fluid fuel issuing from thel orifice effects avery efficient breaking up of such fuel intosmall globules and their distribution yunif ormly throughout the atomizing medium. The mixture ofatomized fluid and atomizing medium mixture continues to progressto the left, "passing twist plate-28, which is in the form of a small portion of` a spiral and iswelded to the inner surface of casing 4 `at a position adjacentythe burnerl Such twist plate still further'agitates the mixture, breaking ythe fuel globules up into still'ner particles andpreventing their settling in the progress of the mixture vinto and through the burner.

'In accordance with the present invention, aperture I'I is provided with a vibrating member It projecting into the orifice, such vibrator being so mounted as to allow-its free vibration or oscillation with an amplitude sufficient to allowit to touch all 'points on the periphery of the orifice. In the modiiication shown inY Figures 1 to 4,'inclusive, the' vibrating member I8, which'consist's of a cylindrical stem having a -zone'IS-external of the pipe ID, a Zone Within the boundaries 'of the orifice I'I, and a zone 2| "within thepipe I0, is

4 supported from a point in front of the orice, that is, at a point where the fluid fuel has already been atomized. As shown, the support for vibrator I8 consists of a pin 24, extending transversely through the axis of casing 4, to which vibrator I8 is attached by the eye portion 22 on the rear thereof. The vibrator is centered by means of spacer sleeves 25 on either side of the eye portion 22. Pin 24 is welded to the casing 4 to make a fluid-tight assembly. The internal diameter of the eye portion 22 is sufficiently larger than the diameter of the pin 24, and the spacer sleeves 25 are sufciently short relative to the internal diameter of the casing and the width of eye 22,

to allow the vibrator member I8 to oscillate freely so vas to be able to contact every point on the .periphery ofthe orifice.

`In order to allow the passage of a desired amount of fuel to be atomized, orice I'I must be made of such area relative to the cross-sectional area of the vibrator I8 that the difference in their areas Yprovides suflicient passage for the fuel required. ABoth the orice and the vibrator are preferablymade cylindrical, since such configurations allow repeated contacts between the vibrator and the-walls of .the orice with a minimum or wear and allow easy .calculation of the sizesof both necessaryfor. a given ,fuel requirement `in a `particular application. Itis .to be understood, however, thatother shapes of orifice and vibrator may be employed, so long as the effectivel area through which the fluid passes is correct for'the job'inhandand the vibrator is of suchshape that it may ,contact all or substantially .all of the orifice wall.

lin-the modication shown in Figures l to 4, inclusive, vibration of member I8 is accomplished by the `passage through .the atomizer of theuid to be iatomized. and rof the atomized fluid. Itis obvious that element` I8 isvibrated or oscillated primarily throughthe impingementupon zone yI 9 thereof vof .the mixture of atomized fluid and atomizing medium, ysince `such Z'one `has vthe greatest effective area and is subjected to eddying currents of high velocity. superimposed uponsuoh .,effect,.however, are the` tendencies of the-fluid fuelin pipe It vto thrust the vibrator I8 in the `direction in which the fuel travels Ain the pipe by its action against zone 2 I and the action of the fluid flowing through the orifice between it .and the innerzone of the vibrator, which action probably vtends to center the vibrator in the orifice. As a result of .such three coacting forces, the vibrator `oscillates rapidly during use of the atomizer, .apparently ydescribing random paths and effectively contacting all points on the inner surface of the orice. The orifice is therefore continuously.,maintained at its original size, and deposits of'fuel or foreign matter are effectively prevented -frombuilding up in the orifice or on the, inner approaches-thereto, as well, due tothe agitation in the fuel produced by oscillation of portion 2| of the vibrator.

.Inthe rmodification of the atomizer shown in Figure 5, the relationshipof the parts is in general the same as .that in thenrst modication, the maindifference lying .in the manner, in which the vibrator -issuspended The atomizeril consists of=a casing-.32, connectedby union-34 to .the pipe 36 which supplies the atomizing'medium. Pipe 38, which carries .the fuel, extends transversely of the casingS-Z, as shown, and is welded thereto to provide a duid-,tight structure. One end vof pipe 38-isfprovided with cap 4i), whereas the opposite end is'fconnected by union -42 -to-fuel supply pipe 44.A v,Asili the case ,of the first modification, the atomizer is shown connected to a burner, the rear end of which, 'designated 46,Y is shown schematically in Figure 5.v Theend of the atomizer adjacent the burner is provided with a twist plate 41 similar to that employed in the firstV modification, to aid in promoting and preserving uniformity "of distribution loff "the fuel,- inthe atmizing medium, l d .f

Fuel pipe '38 is provided'with an orifice 48 which is preferably located, as" shown', on the longitudinal axis .of casing 32 andon the side of pipe 38,to-.

ward the discharge end ofthe atomizer. A.Ahole 50 is provided in the pipe 38 at Ya', location diametrically opposite the orifice 48, and into such hole, which is threaded, there is screwed the pipe 52, Cap 54 on the opposite end of pipe 52 provides a fluid-tight structure, said cap also serving as a support for the elongated hook member 56 which is held in place through a centrally 1ocated Ihole in the cap by means of nuts 58.

-The vibrator member 60 is provided with an elongated stem 62 having an eye member 64 on the rear thereof, said eye member being threaded over the hook on member 56. Such construction allows sufficient freedom of movement of the vibrator member 6l) that it can oscillate or vibrate so as to touch the periphery of the orifice 48 at every point. The bottom portion of the Vibrator in the vicinity of the orifice 48 is shown as having a somewhat larger diameter than the stem. Such enlarged portion may be considered to oonsist of three zones, each subjected to different forces during the operation of the oscillator. `The zone 68, below and outside the orifice 48, is subjected to the eddying currents of the atomizing fiuid and of the mixture of such fiuid and atomized fuel. The action of such fluids on zone 68 of the vibrator tends to vibrate it like a musical reed: such action undoubtedly contributes the greatest effect in vibrating the element B0. As in the case of the first modification, however, added to the effect of such outer portion of the vibrator are the effects of the fluid fuel upon the zone 10 of the element, which lies within pipe 38 and above the upper edge of the orifice, and the effect of the fiuid fuel in flowing downwardly between the boundaries of the orifice 48 and the zone 12 of the vibrator 60, which confronts the orifice. Asa consequence of such forces, element 60 vibrates during operation of the atomizer, contacting every portion of the orice apparently at random, thereby keeping of the orifice free from any deposits and of a constant effective area. The modification of the atomizer shown in Figure 5 is particularly advantageous because of the fact that the supporting means for the vibrator is readily accessible when the atomizing iiuid supply pipe is disconnected from the atomizing casing. Thus, inspection and renewal of the vibrator element or any of its parts, may be readily carried out merely by disconnecting union 34 and swinging-pipe 36 away, thereby exposing the rear end of the pipe 52 and the cap 54. The atomizer shown in both modifications is adapted for quick removal as a whole and for replacement by another atomizer, when necessary, thereby requiring the burner with which it is used to be out of service for a minimum of time.

Where as I have shown and described particular preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that such embodiments are illustrative only and that numerous variations obvious to those skilled in the art may be made 6. within therspe of theinvention. vI'tiierefm-e claim asfn'ew the following:

' 1.An atomi'zer comprlsinganzelongated casing-,f said casingv having anv open passage o'fsubduit having an orifice therein onthe `side thereof opposite the direction from which'the atomizin'gfluid fiows whereby astream of material issuingffrom theorifice is subjected to the atomizing action of :streams of vatomizing fluid fiowing around the conduit, an elongated memberI having a stem of less diameter thanthe orifice projecting at-'allftirn'es a substantial distance from a point outside the conduit through the orifice and into the conduit, said member being so located that its axis substantially coincides with the axis of the orifice, a cylindrical member positioned across the casing at a point a substantial distance from the orifice in the direction of fiow of the atomizing fluid, an eye member on the end of the elongated member fitting loosely about the cross member, and spacer sleeves on each side of the eye member for holding the elongated member in general alignment with the orifice, the cross member and spacing members holding the elongated member loosely so as to allow it to oscillate into contact with the entire periphery of the orifice when subjected to the action of the streams of the atomizing fluid, the material to be atomized, and the mixture of atomizing fiuid and atomized material.

2. An atomizer comprising a casing having an inlet for introducing atomizing fluid under pressure and an outlet, a transverse conduit entering said casing between said inlet and said outlet and having a discharge orifice within said casing directed toward said outlet for introducing fiuid to be atomized, mounting means within said casing, and a stem loosely carried by said mounting means and having a free end portion extending through said orifice, said stem having a centered position in said orifice in which its axis is perpendicular to the plane of said orifice and when subjected to the action of the stream of atomizing fluid vibrating freely and continuously from said centered position into contact with the orifice walls throughout the periphery of the orifice for preventing clogging of the orifice.

3. An atomizer comprising a casing having an inlet for introducing atomizing fiuid under pressure and an outlet, a transverse conduit entering said casing between said inlet and said outlet and having a discharge orifice within said casing directed toward said outlet for introducing fluid to be atomized, mounting means supported in said casing between said orifice and said outlet, and a stem loosely carried by said mounting means and having a free end portion extending through said orifice, said stem having a centered position in which it is spaced equidistantly from the orifice walls and its axis is perpendicular to the plane of said orifice, said stem when subjected to the action of the stream of atomizing fluid vibrating freely and continuously from said centered position into contact with the orifice walls throughout the periphery of the orifice for preventing clogging of the orifice.

4. An atomizer comprising a casing having an portion of uniform diameter extending ahead 10 2297736 through Aseid or-ice, ,sei-d .stem having` .a centered position in said .orioe yin which its axis I1s perpendicular to the ,plane of said orce :and when subjected to the stream of atomizingfluid vibrating Vfreely and continuously from said centered position into Contact with the orifice walls throughout the periphery -of the orice for preventing clogging of the orifice.

JOHN CHECKON.

maFEImNGES CITED The rfollowing .references are. of record in 'the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Naine Datev 155364,942 Hallgarth Ju1y3.1934 2,127,444 Emerson Aug, ,16.1938

lAymar Oct. y6, `194:2

FGREIGN PATENTS Number Country 'Date 120.968 Great .Britain 'NOV'. y,26, '1918

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