Fluid sprinkling – spraying – and diffusing – Including supply holder for material – Fluid pressure discharge means
Patent
1992-04-01
1994-04-12
Kashnikow, Andres
Fluid sprinkling, spraying, and diffusing
Including supply holder for material
Fluid pressure discharge means
239369, 2394245, A61M 1100
Patent
active
053018788
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention concerns a device for the production of a substantially uniform dispersion of droplets or particles from a fluid material such as a liquid or solids/liquids suspensions, or particulate free-flowing solids. Such aerosols or dispersions are widely used in the biological and medical research fields and in inhalation therapy, and are generated by the aerosolization of the liquid or other particulate substance by an air stream. The efficiency of the process is dependent upon the flow of the material through an orifice or jet.
In practice, when the material to disperse is or contains solid particles, the orifice or jet tends to block, thus restricting the use of such devices primarily to particle-free liquids.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a device which may be used to disperse materials containing solids in suspension or even dry particulate materials.
According to the present invention there is provided a device for producing a particulate dispersion, comprising at least one duct in which may be established and maintained a supply of a fluid material to be dispersed, a plurality of outlet apertures communicating with the or each duct and directed generally normal to the longitudinal axis of the or each duct, and a plurality of pressurised gas jets aligned or movable into alignment with the outlet apertures to force material through the latter from the or each duct thus to form a dispersion; characterised in that the cross-sectional area of each outlet aperture is not greater than the cross-sectional area of the duct communicating therewith.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 illustrates, partly in vertical cross-section a first form of device made in accordance with the invention;
FIG. 2 illustrates a modified form of part of the device illustrated in FIG. 1; and
FIG. 3 illustrates in vertical cross-section a further form of device made in accordance with the invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring now to FIG. 1, a device for producing a particulate dispersion comprises a vessel 10 for containing a reservoir 11 of liquid or a liquid/solids suspension. The vessel includes a wide outlet duct 12 which in this example is directed upwardly at the top of the vessel. A nebulizer assembly comprises an upright tubular duct 13 fixed centrally within the vessel 10 and aligned with the outlet 12, and having its lower open end submerged within the reservoir 11. Concentrically within the duct 13 is an air line 14 connected externally of the vessel 10 to a supply of pressurized air. At the top of the air line 14 is a body 15 defining a plurality of air jets 16 which communicate with the air line 14 each having a diverging mouth 17 opening into the column of liquid established within the duct 13. The assembly of duct 13 and body 15 is closed at its upper end by a sealed plug 18 and cap 19. These latter parts are removable for cleaning.
In the wall at the top of duct 13 a number of outlet apertures 20 are aligned with the air jets 16.
Some six to twelve aligned pairs of air jets 16 and apertures 20 may be provided at spaced positions around the circumference of duct 13.
In operation therefore the pressurized air issuing from jets 16 impinges upon the liquid at the top of the column within duct 13 and forms a dispersion of droplets of liquid as an aerosol which passes outwardly through apertures 20. The sizes of droplets of liquid within the aerosol vary and in the case of water may be between 0.5 .mu.m and 500 .mu.m. Thus it is possible to disperse a suspension of solids particles within a liquid provided that the particle size is less than the diameter of the apertures 20.
The dimensions of the parts of the assembly illustrated in FIG. 1 in this example , are such that the combined cross-sectional area of the apertures 20 is not greater than and preferably less than the cross-sectional ar
REFERENCES:
patent: 2789867 (1957-04-01), Bloom et al.
patent: 4588129 (1986-05-01), Shanks
patent: 4674491 (1987-06-01), Brugger et al.
Sinclair Colin S.
Tallentire Alan
Kashnikow Andres
Morris Lesley D.
The Victoria University of Manchester
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