Fluid sprinkling – spraying – and diffusing – Container for non-fluid material – and scattering means
Patent
1998-08-13
2000-01-25
Huson, Gregory L.
Fluid sprinkling, spraying, and diffusing
Container for non-fluid material, and scattering means
239DIG1, 434300, A01C 306
Patent
active
060169788
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The invention relates to a device for producing a stationary particle cloud in a space, particularly in a space where an underpressure prevails, as is the case, e.g., in experiments in outer space.
Particle clouds are of interest particularly for quality checks and for research purposes. In both applications, it is desirable to generate controlled clouds from the small particles. Particularly under vacuum conditions or--put in broader terms--in underpressure spaces (outer space), this is not a trivial task because, with the gas/air portion in such spaces being small, the frictional forces between the particles and the gas/air cannot contribute to the cloud formation.
Known from practice is a particle spraying device wherein the dust to be discharged is arranged in a cylindrical container for solid matter and is conveyed upward in a uniform manner by means of a piston. A rotating brush made from stainless steel is arranged to remove a defined quantity of the thus lifted dust and to convey the same into a rapid air jet where the dust is fragmented by shearing forces into separate particles for further conveyence. Thus, in the above known device, a continuous air (gas) jet is required.
As known from the state of the art (cf. for instance DE-A 31 36 507), the spraying of a powdery coating material onto a surface to be coated can be effected by igniting a gas mixture (coating by high-temperature spraying). However, this technique for the spraying of powder is not suited for generating a stationary particle cloud (for experimental purposes).
It is an object of the invention to provide a device for the controlled producing of a particle cloud from a charge of existing particles and for conveying the particle cloud into a space.
According to the invention, the above object is solved by a device for producing a particle cloud in a space, particularly in a space where an underpressure prevails, wherein said device comprises particle chamber for generating a pressure wave entering said chamber through said inlet aperture and discharging the particles through said outlet aperture, and wave passing through said outlet aperture of said particle chamber and arranged opposite to said outlet aperture of said particle chamber, for reflecting the pressure wave in the direction of said outlet aperture of said particle chamber.
According to the invention, a charge of existing particles is disagglomerated by ejecting the particles from the accommodating compartment of a particle chamber. According to the invention, this is performed by means of a pressure wave entering the accommodating compartment of the particle chamber through the inlet aperture, acting on the charge of particles contained therein and ejecting them through the outlet aperture. In the process, the gas portion which is introduced into the particle chamber by the pressure wave and then is discharged through the outlet aperture, is so small that the equilibrium pressure in the space accommodating the particle cloud is not substantially changed and remains virtually the same. For this purpose, the strength of the pressure wave is suitably adjusted in dependence on the size of the space into which the particle cloud is to be introduced.
In the invention, the geometry of at least a part of the space into which the particle cloud is introduced is designed to reflect the pressure/shock wave discharged through the outlet aperture in such a manner that the reflected shock waves will smooth the movements of the particles of the cloud. This is of advantage particularly when using the device of the invention in an underpressure space (particularly in a vacuum). The space is limited--inter alia--by a reflection face arranged opposite to the outlet aperture of said particle chamber and in the direction of propagation of the pressure/shock wave passing through said outlet aperture. This reflection face is configured to reflect the pressure/shock wave back toward the outlet aperture of the particle chamber. Suitably, this reflection face is substantially of a semispherical sh
REFERENCES:
patent: 4725294 (1988-02-01), Berger
patent: 4848656 (1989-07-01), Magill
patent: 4872786 (1989-10-01), Braden
patent: 5173274 (1992-12-01), Owen
Deutsche Forschungscanstalt fuer Luft- ung Raumfahrt e.V.
Huson Gregory L.
LandOfFree
Device for producing a stationary particle cloud in a space part does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Device for producing a stationary particle cloud in a space part, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Device for producing a stationary particle cloud in a space part will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2310935