Fluid sprinkling – spraying – and diffusing – Processes – Vibratory or magneto-strictive projecting
Patent
1998-01-27
1999-12-07
Shaver, Kevin P.
Fluid sprinkling, spraying, and diffusing
Processes
Vibratory or magneto-strictive projecting
239 4, 2391021, 2391022, 222409, B05B 1704
Patent
active
059969032
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to an atomizer and an atomizing method utilizing surface acoustic waves, and more particularly, it relates to an ultrasonic atomizer used for cure of asthma or pulmonary diseases.
BACKGROUND TECHNIQUE
An atomizer employing surface acoustic waves is described in "Surface Acoustic Wave Atomizer with Pumping Effect" of Proceedings of 8.sup.th IEEE International Workshop on Micro Electrictro Mechanical Systems 30 Jan.-2 February 1995 Amsterdam, The Netherlands, in detail. FIG. 1 illustrates the atomizer which has been described in this literature. The atomizer comprises an oscillator 3 having a pair of interdigital electrodes 5 and 5 on its surface for generating surface acoustic waves, a cover 4 arranged on the oscillating surface side of the oscillator 3, and a tube 1. A liquid 2 to be atomized passes through the tube 1 as shown by arrow A, to be supplied into a clearance between the oscillator 3 and the cover 4. The liquid 2 flowing out from the clearance between the oscillator 3 and the cover 4 is atomized and sprayed by surface acoustic wave vibration.
In the atomizer shown in FIG. 1, various problems arise when the liquid supply quantity and the atomization quantity are unbalanced. If the liquid supply quantity is excessive, an overflow takes place and the atomization may stop. If the liquid supply quantity is insufficient, on the other hand, the atomization becomes so intermittent that continuous and smooth atomization cannot be attained. Further, high electric energy is required for atomizing and spraying the liquid with only vibration of surface acoustic waves, and it is difficult to perform a desired operation with driving by a battery of small power.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide an atomizer and an atomizing method which can keep the balance between a liquid supply quantity and an atomization quantity excellent and perform stable atomization.
Another object of the present invention is to make it possible to perform stable atomization with small power of a battery or the like.
Still another object of the present invention is to make it possible to perform efficient atomization and spraying.
The atomizer according to the present invention comprises an oscillator generating surface acoustic waves, a porous thin plate having a number of through holes arranged on the oscillating surface of the oscillator with a small clearance, and means for supplying a liquid into the small clearance part between the oscillator and the porous thin plate. The liquid in the small clearance part is atomized by surface acoustic wave vibration propagated by the oscillator, and sprayed through the through holes of the porous thin plate.
According to the aforementioned invention, vibration by the surface acoustic waves is transmitted to the porous thin plate through the liquid in the small clearance part. Due to vibration of the porous thin plate, a small quantity of liquid penetrating into the through holes is atomized and sprayed. The atomizer shown in FIG. 1 is adapted to directly atomize and spray the liquid on the oscillator by vibration of the surface acoustic waves, and hence high electric energy is required. In the atomizing method according to the present invention, on the other hand, it becomes possible to perform atomization by battery driving with small power of about 2 W which is not more than 1/10 as compared with the apparatus shown in FIG. 1.
The porous thin plate has a number of through holes. As the material for the porous thin plate, ceramics of a hard material with small damping of amplitude by absorption of vibration is preferable. The ceramics is excellent in corrosion resistance, and the safety for the human body is also confirmed. Therefore, in a nebulizer atomizing various types of chemical solutions employed for asthma cure, for example, a porous thin plate (mesh) of ceramics is optimum.
In a preferred embodiment, the atomizer comprises a holder holding both of the oscillator and the porous thin plate w
REFERENCES:
patent: 5297734 (1994-03-01), Toda
patent: 5299739 (1994-04-01), Takahashi et al.
patent: 5657926 (1997-08-01), Toda
Surface Acoustic Wave Atomizer with Pumping Effect, Minoru Kurosawa et al., Proceedings of 8.sup.th IEEE International Workshop on Micro Electrictro Mechanical Systems, Jan. 30-Feb. 2, 1995, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, pp: 1-6.
Asai Kei
Yamauchi Takanobu
Deal David
Omron Corporation
Shaver Kevin P.
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