US532878A - Atomizer - Google Patents

Description

(NOM-klel.)

-T. J. HOLMES. ATOMIZBR.

No. 882,878.` Patented Jan; 22, 1895.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

lTHOMAS JQHOLMES, OF LEXINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS. I'

ATOM'IZER.`

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 532,878, dated January 22, 1895.

' Application tiled August 23,1893. Serial No. 483,865. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: r .e

Beit known that I, THOMAS J. HOLMES, of Lexington, Middlesex county, Massachusetts, have invented certain Improvements inAtomizers, dac., of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this speci'lication, in which- Figure 1 represents a Vertical section through the center of an atomizer having my improvements applied thereto, and screwed into the metal cap thereof. Fig. 2 shows the application of my invention to a cork or other stopper which may be of such size as to lit into the mouth of any bottle and can be utilized with other forms of atomizers than that represented in Fig. l; Fig. 3, my improvements applied to a metal cap screwed'over or outside of the top of a bottle having a screw thread formed integral with the glass of which it is composed. Fig. at represents, turned down on its side, the atomizer shown in Fig. 1 having my invention applied thereto; Fig. 5, detail, representing my improvements enlarged.

When atomizers of the present constructiony (whether of the vacuum or pressure class) are inverted by accident or otherwise so as to occupy other than a normal position, the liquid contents of their receptacles are free to escape therefrom, as there is an open passage through which it can flow either to the out side of the receptacles away from the atomizers, or into the air-tube or air-bulb, all of which are well known serious objections. To provide an atomizer of such construction that will contain a sufticient quantity of liquid for general use, and from which atomizer, when inverted, the contents of the liquid receptacle proper are prevented from escaping; 11. e., to prevent the escape of all of the liquid except the very small quantity which, previous to the inversion of the atomizer may be located in the liquid or atomizing tube and also the small quantity which may be located in an atomizer nozzle (should a nasal tube be employed) is the object of this invention which consists in a tube which surrounds the ordinary liquid or atomizing tube and extends down into the bottle; said outer or inclosingtube being of such length that its base will not project down into the bottle below the mathematical center or center of gravity of the liquid contents which the bottle is capable of holding; the predetermined maximum quantity of liquid, however to be supplied to the bottle (for conversion into spray) when in its normal position-never rising as high as thelevel of the base of the said outer tube, and therefore never standing as high as said base in any position of the bottle; said outer tube being denominated by me a liquid guard tube which `also lforms a peculiarly simple and .necessary vent, which, during the manipulation of the air bulb permits of the desired ejection of the liquid spray, as well as a return passage into the bottle (when in its normal position) for the minute quantity of surplus liquid which would be formed in a nozzle, were one employed, and which liquid may not have been discharged therefrom during the manipulation of the air bulb, although ejected from the liquid atomizing point.

In Fig. l of the said drawings A represents the bottle in which is located the liquid to be converted into'spray; d, a metal cap secured around its mouth.

b is a tapering nasal tube provided with a screw thread c of smaller diameter at its base, and by which it isy turned down within a thread in the cap and is seated on an annular shoulder d formed within and near its top, a washer e being interposed to insure a liquid tight joint. Beneath the screw thread c and connected with the base of the nasal tube b is a downwardly projecting tube B which is the principal feature of my invention and which for reasons hereinafter explained I designate a liquid guard tube. This guard tube B surrounds the ordinary liquid atomizing tube h and between them is formed aspace 1l (circular in cross section) extending from the base of the guard tube to its top where it unites with the base of the nasal tube.. This turbe h extends down to near the bottom of the bottle and is tapered and reduced in diameter at its top, being screwed into a boss or plug c' located inside the base of the nozzle b and projecting a little above the annular shoulder Z (in the base of the nozzle) surrounding it'; the diameter of this boss at the top of the liquid tube being less than-that of the surrounding portion of the nasal tube, thus formn g a space l2 (circular in cross section); the two spaces 11 and 12 constituting a continuous passagewhich answers the very necessary purpose of a vent to permit of the ejection of the liquid from the bottle when it is to be converted into spray by the manipulation of an air bulb; and also serves as a return passage for the surplus liquid whichl is discharged in the nasal tube after being ejected from the atomizing point. The top of the boss is provided with a central orifice m which constitutes said spray forming or atomizing point.

n is an air tube, the inner end of which passes through the nasal tube (substantially at right angles thereto) and screws into the boss 'i and opens into a chamber 19 between its interior and the outside of the tapering portion of the liquid tube h, by which construction the liquid tube is supported in position by the air tube, the latter having at its outer end an ordinary air-forcing bulb C, the air tube being formed of the usual straight and curved portions for convenience in manipulation.

The construction of the boss fz, liquid tube h and air tube n being readily understood from the drawings (see Fig. 5), Iwill now explain the manner of putting them together to properly locate the atomizing point relative to the top of the liquid tube and inner end of the air tube.

The central opening in the top of the boss i forming said atomizing point m communicates with the larger opening or air chamber p below it and surrounds the top of the contracted end of the `liquid tube h, whereby when air is forced into the chamber p it is caused to escape upward around the top of the liquid tube and to impinge upon the liquid j ets ascending therein, converting them into spray as desired. Before either the air tube or the liquid tube is bent, the boss is screwed upon the latter and both are then dropped into the base of the nozzle (nasal tube) b. The air tube is then passed through the hole in the side of the nozzle and turned tightly into the boss fi, which operation forces the latter against the opposite wall of the air and return passage 12, after which the boss is conducted back into the center of said passage, and the air tube is soldered to the nasal tube b, which thus preserves itin its normal or working position. The length of this guard tube B and the exact location of its bottom within a receptacle must be carefully determined by experiment and consequently it is particularly necessary that the precise location of the mathematical liquid center or center of gravity of the full quantity of the liquid which each bottle will accommodate, should be correctly ascertained, for in bottles of different sizes or of same capacity but of difterent forms this central or balancing point varies, being higher up in a bottle larger at its top than at its bottom, and lower down in a bottle larger at its bottom. After having determined this point of equilibrium or center of gravity of all of the liquid which can be poured into a bottle, the guard tube employed therein must be of such length as to project down to said point, while the quantity of liquid to be supplied thereto for conversion into spray must not occupy a position above said point or in other words not above the bottom of the guard tube when the atomizer is ready for use and in `an upright position. Consequently no liquid can escape from the bottle after ithas been inverted for the reason that the liquid never stands above the open base in the guard tube.

My guard tube is applicable to other forms of atomizers than those provided with nasal tubes, and with equally good results.

I am aware that atomizers of the general character herein described and shown, are old and well known. I am also aware that an atomizer attachment has been made com; prising an interior tube for conveying the liquid, and an exterior tube for receiving the air, the latter covering the former throughout its entire length, essentially for the purpose of protecting the same from breakage; and being provided besides with side openings near its top for the escape of air laterally, as illustrated, for instance, in Patent No. 483,546, to which inventionAhowever, I make no claim; but

What I do claim as new wit-h me, and which I desire to protect by Letters Patent, is

l. In an atomizer of the character specified, the combination with the liquid conveying tube h, -of the imperforate guard tube B, loosely surrounding the same, and extending downward into close proximity to the center of gravity of the space of the interior of the liquid holding receptacle, substantially as described and shown, and for the purpose set forth.

2. In an atomizer of the character specified, the combination with the tube h, with its atomizing point m, and the boss i, of the loosely surrounding imperforate guard tube B, with its nasal tube extension b, forming together the passage ways 11-12 the latter named constituting respectivelya passage IOC IIC

for air to aid in the ejection and conversion e passage Ways, 1l-12 and extending doWntentional, inversion or overturning of the Io ward into close proximity to the center of bottle, all as specified.

gravity of the interior space of the bottle, sub- Witness my hand this 17 th day of August, stantiallyas described and shown; whereby 1893. v

the liquid not converted into spray is event- 1 muy returned to the bott1e,and, the liquid rlHOMAS J' HOLMES' originally placed in the same or any portion In presence ofof it remaining therein, absolutely prevented N. W. STEARNS,

from leakage, either by the accidental, or in- EDWARD J. JONES.

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