WO2017000020A1

WO2017000020A1 - A dispenser

Info

Publication number: WO2017000020A1
Application number: PCT/AU2016/000236
Authority: WO
Inventors: Shane Michael DAY
Original assignee: Nebular Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2015-07-02
Filing date: 2016-07-01
Publication date: 2017-01-05
Also published as: AU2016287771A1

Abstract

A dispenser (10) to deliver an airstream (11) to a space, with the device (10) operable to deliver liquid droplets of a reduced particle size to the airstream.

Description

A DISPENSER

FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to dispensers to dispense particles and to disperse the particles in an airstream, with the particles, as an example, being a fragrance, disinfectant, antimicrobial, or insecticide.

BACKGROUND

[0002] There are dispensers that deliver substances such as fragrances, disinfectants, antimicrobials, substances and insecticides to large spaces such as factories, retail areas including shopping malls, and transport terminals. However it is a disadvantage of these devices that they are reasonably large and do not efficiently distribute the substances to be delivered to the space.

[0003] There are available aerosol dispensers that are battery operated. However, they require a propellant gas. A disadvantage of these dispensers is that they are environmentally undesirable.

OBJECT OF INVENTION

[0004] It is the object of the present invention to overcome or substantially ameliorate at least one of the above disadvantages.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

[0005] There is disclosed herein a dispenser to deliver particles to an air stream, the dispenser including:

a body having a passage with an inlet opening and an outlet opening;

a fan mounted in the body and located between the inlet opening and the outlet opening and operable to engage air in the passage to cause the air in the passage to move from the inlet opening to the outlet opening;

a pump to provide a liquid under pressure; and a nozzle to receive the liquid under pressure and to deliver a spray stream of said liquid into said passage downstream of said fan to provi de for reduction of droplets of the spray stream to be divided into particles by impact.

[0006] Preferable, the fan, pump and nozzle are configured so that liquid droplets of the spray stream are directed at the fan so that the droplets are divided into particles.

[0007] Preferably, the passage has a longitudinal axis, and the nozzle directs the spray stream generally transverse of the passage, so that the liquid travels angularly and axially of the passage relative to said axis.

[0008] Preferably, further including at least one flange located downstream of the fan and before the outlet against which the droplets of the spray stream impact so that the droplets divide into particles.

[0009] Preferably, each flange extends longitudinally of the passage and projects into the airstream.

[0010] Preferably, the passage has a transverse cross-section that diminishes from said inlet to the fan.

[001 1] Preferably, the passage has a transverse cross-section that increases from the fan to said outlet.

[0012] Preferably, the dispenser includes a motor to drive the fan, and said dispenser further includes a controller operatively associate with the pump and motor, with the controller being programmable to cause operation of the pump and the motor over desired time sequences.

[0013] Preferably, said pump produces the liquid at a pressure of approximately 35psi to l OOpsi.

[0014] Preferably, said fan rotates about a central longitudinal rotational axis at approximately 2,700rpm to l l,500rpm.

[0015] Preferably, in the passage between the fan and outlet at least one projection is located to engage the air stream to gather drops of said liquid that are not dispersed in the air stream. [0016] Preferably, the gathered liquid is delivered to a reservoir connected to the pump.

[0017] Preferably, the dispenser includes a valve assembly between the pump and nozzle, with the valve being operable to deliver the liquid under pressure from the pump to the nozzle, with the valve being connected to the controller.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING

[0018] Preferred forms of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

[0019] Figure 1 is a schematic illustration of a dispenser to deliver particles to an airstream; and [0020] Figure 2 is a schematic illustration of a further dispenser.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT

[0021] In Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings there is schematically depicted a dispenser 10. Preferably the dispenser 10 is to deliver an air stream 1 1 to a space, such as an enclosed space that is occupied. As particular examples, the space may be a factory, a retail area such as a shop or shopping mall, or transportation hubs such as railway stations and airports, or club entrances, or sporting facilities or hospitals.

[0022] The dispenser 10 includes a body 12 within which there is located a tube 13 providing a passage 14. Mounted in the tube 13 is a fan (turbine) 15 that is driven about a rotational axis 16 by a motor 17.

[0023] The passage 14 has an upstream passage portion 18 between the inlet opening 19 of the passage 14 and the fan 15, and a downstream passage portion 20 between the fan 15 and an outlet opening 21 of the passage 14. The axis 16 is also the longitudinal axis of the passage 14.

[0024] Preferably, the passage 14 is circular in transverse cross-section, with the passage portion 18 diminishing in transverse cross-section from the inlet 19 to a fan 15, while the passage portion 20, in transverse cross-section, increases from the fan 15 to the outlet opening 21. [0025] The dispenser 10 further includes a reservoir 22 that receives a liquid to be delivered to the air stream 1 1. The liquid may be fragrances, disinfectants, antimicrobials, substances and insecticides. The reservoir 22 delivers the liquid to a pump 23 that includes an electric motor 24. The pump 23 delivers the liquid under pressure to an electronically controlled valve 25. The valve 25 is operable to deliver the liquid under pressure to a nozzle 26 having a nozzle outlet 27. The liquid under pressure upon leaving the nozzle outlet 27 provides a spray stream 28 directed at the fan 15, so as to be delivered to the passage 14.

[0026] Mounted on the body 12 is a controller 29 that is electrically connected to the pump motor 24, valve 25 and motor 17. The controller 29 is programmable so that the pump 23, valve 25 and motor 17 are coordinated in their operation, with the controller 27 also being

programmable so that the spray stream 28 is produced at desired time intervals and over desired time lengths.

[0027] Preferably, the liquid delivered to the nozzle 26 is at approximately l OOpsi.

[0028] Preferably, the fan 15 has fan blades that have a rotational speed of about 6,000 to 7,000 preferably about 6,500rpm.

[0029] Preferably the fan 15 has a blade diameter of about 30 to 35mm, most preferably about 33mm. The fan 15, with this diameter and when operated at the above described rotational speed, is particularly advantageous for dividing droplets of pyrethrum into particles to be suspended in the air stream 1 1. Preferably, each blade has an axial depth of about 12mm.

[0030] In operation of the above described dispenser 10, the liquid delivered to the nozzle 26 is atomized to provide the stream 28, with liquid droplets being directed at the fan 15 so as to be reduced in size (divided) to provide particles dispersed and suspended in the air stream 1 1.

[0031] Mounted in the tube 13 and downstream of the fan 15 there is provided elongated projections (flanges) 30 that collect liquid droplets that have not been reduced to particle size, with the projections 30 collecting the liquid droplets to be delivered to the reservoir 22.

[0032] In the embodiment of Figure 2, the nozzle 27 directs the spray stream 28 transverse of the passage 20, so that the liquid droppers move angularly and longitudinally of the passage 20, and impact against the flange or flanges 30. During movement of the liquid particles, the particles collide, reducing their size, with collision of the particles with the flange or flanges 30 further reducing the particle size. Each flange 30 extends longitudinally of the passage 30, and extends into the passage 30 from the tube 13.

[0033] Preferably the fan 15 rotates at approximately 1 l ,500rpm, with the valve 25 delivering liquid to the nozzle at a pressure of 35psi to 1 OOpsi. Preferably the fan 15 has blades so that the fan has a diameter of about 33mm.

[0034] The above described preferred embodiment has the advantage of delivering small particles to the air stream 1 1 to be distributed to a room or enclosed space. The preferred embodiment is particularly advantageous in that the dispenser 10 is relative small compared to previous dispensers.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A dispenser to deliver particles to an air stream, the dispenser including:

a body having a passage with an inlet opening and an outlet opening;

a pump to provide a liquid under pressure; and

a nozzle to receive the liquid under pressure and to deliver a spray stream of said liquid into said passage downstream of said fan to provi de for reduction of droplets of the spray stream to be divided into particles by impact.

2. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the fan, pump and nozzle are configured so that liquid droplets of the spray stream are directed at the fan so that the droplets are divided into particles.

3. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the passage has a longitudinal axis, and the nozzle directs the spray stream generally transverse of the passage, so that the liquid travels angularly and axially of the passage relative to said axis.

4. The dispenser of claim 3, further including at least one flange located downstream of the fan and before the outlet against which the droplets of the spray stream impact so that the droplets divide into particles.

5. The dispenser of claim 4, wherein each flange extends longitudinally of the passage and projects into the airstream.

6. The dispenser of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the passage has a transverse cross- section that diminishes from said inlet to the fan.

7. The dispenser of any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the passage has a transverse cross- section that increases from the fan to said outlet.

8. The dispenser of any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the dispenser includes a motor to drive the fan, and said dispenser further includes a controller operatively associate with the pump and motor, with the controller being programmable to cause operation of the pump and the motor over desired time sequences.

9. The dispenser of any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein said pump produces the liquid at a pressure of approximately 35psi to lOOpsi.

10. The dispenser of any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein said fan rotates about a central longitudinal rotational axis at approximately 2,700rpm to 11 ,500rpm.

11. The dispenser of any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein in the passage between the fan and outlet at least one projection is located to engage the air stream to gather drops of said liquid that are not dispersed in the air stream.

12. The dispenser of claim 1 1, wherein the gathered liquid is delivered to a reservoir connected to the pump.

13. The dispenser of any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the dispenser includes a valve assembly between the pump and nozzle, with the valve being operable to deliver the liquid under pressure from the pump to the nozzle, with the valve being connected to the controller.