Device for spraying, in particular water in the form of microdroplets, capable of functioning in a nonstationary environment

• US 5,624,608 A
• Filed: 06/30/1995
• Issued: 04/29/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 07/04/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Imra Europe S.A.S. (Aisin Corp.), Etablissements Actis
• Original Assignee: Imra Europe S.A.S. (Aisin Corp.)
• Inventors: Giovanini, Anne, Sauzade, Jean-Denis, Ching, Gil, Gschwind, Michel, Fonzes, Georges, Guyomar, Daniel, Lauretti, Jean
• Primary Examiner(s): MILES, TIM
• Application Number:
  US08/497,476
• Time in Patent Office: 669 Days
• Field of Search: 261/DIG. 48, 261/81, 261/30, 239/102.2
• US Class Current: 261/30
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 15/58 preventing deposits, drying-out or blockage by recirculating the fluid to be sprayed from upstream of the discharge opening back to the supplying means B05B1/3093 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 17/0607 generated by electrical means, e.g. piezoelectric transducers
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 17/0615 spray being produced at the free surface of the liquid or other fluent material in a container and subjected to the vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 7/0012 Apparatus for achieving spraying before discharge from the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 3/022 for only humidifying the air
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 261/48 Sonic vibrators

Abstract

The invention relates to a spraying device including a tank which is open at its upper part, capable of containing a liquid to be sprayed, such as water, while being filled up to its opening, a piozoelectric element capable of emitting waves into the liquid and fan means for creating a circulation of air in the vicinity of the surface of the liquid. The waves are focused in the vicinity of the opening of the tank, and the cross-section of the tank (1) has a progressive constriction towards the opening (2) of the tank (1).

Claims

1. A spraying device comprising:

a tank that has an opening at an upper part thereof, the tank being configured to contain a liquid to be sprayed while being filled up to the opening and wherein the cross-section of the tank has a progressive constriction toward the opening;

a piezoelectric element configured to emit waves into the liquid, the waves being focused adjacent the opening of the tank;

a fan configured to circulate air in the vicinity of the surface of the liquid;

a collection container in which the tank is located;

a pump connected to the collection container and to the tank and configured to circulate liquid continuously between the tank from which the liquid overspills and the collection container where the liquid is collected; and

a liquid reservoir connected to the pump for keeping a quantity of liquid circulating in the spraying device substantially constant.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein walls of the tank are made of a hard material configured to reflect the waves and to focus the waves at a point located in the vicinity of a central part of the opening of the tank.

3. A device according to claim 1, wherein the opening of the tank is dimensioned to substantially correspond to an acoustic fountain that would be formed naturally by the waves in the absence of a pump.

4. A device according to claim 1, further comprising a deflector extending adjacent the opening of the tank in order to retain coarse drops of liquid which are recovered in the collection container.