Fluid sprinkling – spraying – and diffusing – Electrostatic type
Patent
1997-05-05
1998-09-22
Morris, Lesley D.
Fluid sprinkling, spraying, and diffusing
Electrostatic type
239 44, 239601, B05B 516
Patent
active
058102655
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an electrostatic spraying device and, in particular, to an electrostatic spraying device for dispensing liquid fragrances such as air fresheners or insecticides, or for other applications such as aromatherapy, air purification or for personal care applications, for example as an inhaler, or an aerosol applicator.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Air freshening devices in which there is a slow release of vapor from a container containing a liquid air freshener are well known in the art.
Electrostatic devices for spraying liquids are also well known in the art. In such electrostatic spraying devices a liquid is drawn out preponderantly by electrostatic forces into ligaments which break up into electrically charged droplets.
WO-A-93/06937 discloses an electrostatic spraying device for spraying liquids comprising a nozzle in the form of a wick which is contacted with a reservoir containing the liquid to be sprayed. The wick is fabricated from a sheet of a resiliently deformable polymeric foam material of open celled structure and an edge of the sheet is profiled to form a plurality of sites at which liquid ligaments can be produced.
EP-A-0486198 discloses an electrostatic spraying device incorporating a cartridge containing a liquid, such as a fragrance producing oil, which is to be sprayed via a vertically disposed capillary structure, electric potential being applied to the liquid so that it is drawn across the end face of the capillary structure and is sprayed as a plurality of ligaments which break up into droplets.
We have now developed an electrostatic spraying device for dispensing liquids such as air fresheners, insecticides, aromatherapy oils or liquids for air purification in which a particular type of wick is used in combination with liquids of defined characteristics in order to provide a controlled atomization of the liquid from the tip of the wick.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, the present invention provides an electrostatic spraying device which comprises:
(i) a reservoir of an electrostatically sprayable liquid;
(ii) a capillary structure which comprises a hollow tube having a convoluted inner surface and being formed of a polymeric material which is impermeable to the liquid, the capillary structure at one end contacting the reservoir of the liquid and at the other end terminating in an atomization tip, the capillary structure being such that when oriented substantially vertically and with the atomization tip uppermost, the capillary action is sufficient to transport the liquid to the outlet at the uppermost end of the tube; and
(iii) means for applying high voltage to the liquid in order to cause the liquid to be projected from the atomisation tip as one or more ligaments and thereafter to break up into a plurality of electrically charged droplets.
The present invention also provides a cartridge for the storage of a liquid suitable for electrostatic spraying which comprises a cartridge body containing a reservoir of a liquid as defined above, a capillary structure as defined above and means for providing an electrical connection to a high voltage source. The means for providing an electrical connection to a high voltage source may comprise an electrical contact, or alternatively the cartridge may be at least partly formed from an electrically conducting or semi-conducting material.
DETAILED DISCLOSURE
The electrostatically sprayable liquid which forms the reservoir preferably has a volume resistivity of from 2.5.times.10.sup.6 to 5.times.10.sup.8 ohm cm, more preferably a volume resistivity of from 2.5.times.10.sup.7 to 2.5.times.10.sup.8 ohm cm. The liquid typically has a viscosity measured at 20.degree. C. of 1 to 20 cst (1 to 20.times.10.sup.-6 m.sup.2 /s), preferably a viscosity of 1 to 10 cst (1 to 10.times.10.sup.-6 m.sup.2 /s), more preferably 1.5 to 4 cst (1.5 to 4 .times.10.sup.-6 m.sup.2 /s) and still more preferably 2 to 3 cst (2 to 3.times.10.sup.-6 m.sup.2 /s). The liquid is preferably an air-freshener which is
REFERENCES:
patent: 4341347 (1982-07-01), De Vittorio
patent: 5176321 (1993-01-01), Doherty
patent: 5196171 (1993-03-01), Peltier
patent: 5337963 (1994-08-01), Noakes
patent: 5382410 (1995-01-01), Peltier
Cornelius Gay Joyce
Green Michale Leslie
Jefferies Andrew
Noakes Timothy James
Prendergast Maurice Joseph
Morris Lesley D.
Reckitt & Colman Products Limited
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