Foam generating device

• US 6,042,089 A
• Filed: 02/26/1998
• Issued: 03/28/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Heurtaux SAS
• Original Assignee: Christophe Klein
• Inventors: Klein, Christophe
• Primary Examiner(s): Bushey, C. Scott
• Application Number:
  US09/029,417
• Time in Patent Office: 761 Days
• Field of Search: 261/76, 261/81, 261/DIG. 26, 261/DIG. 75
• US Class Current: 261/76
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/235 for making foam
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 25/31 in conduits or tubes through which the main component flows
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 25/3111 Devices specially adapted for generating foam, e.g. air foam
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 25/31241 the main flow being injected in the circumferential area of the venturi, creating an aspiration in the central part of the conduit
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 25/31243 Eductor or eductor-type venturi, i.e. the main flow being injected through the venturi with high speed in the form of a jet
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 25/312533 Constructional characteristics of the diverging discharge conduit or barrel, e.g. with zones of changing conicity
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 31/86 with vibration of the receptacle or part of it
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 17/06 using ultrasonic or other kinds of vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 7/0018 with devices for making foam
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 7/0425 without any source of compressed gas, e.g. the air being sucked by the pressurised liquid
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 7/0458 the gas and liquid flows being perpendicular just upstream the mixing chamber
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 7/2494 a liquid being supplied from a pressurized or compressible container to the discharge device
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 261/26 Foam
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 261/75 Flowing liquid aspirates gas

Abstract

A device for generating foam by the Venturi effect mixes liquid and gaseous phases. The device has a liquid insertion nozzle on the same axis as a Venturi stage having a converging portion disposed facing the nozzle, a throat of diameter "D", and a gas inlet coaxial with the nozzle and in communication with the converging portion. In operation, the gas is sucked in by the Venturi effect and directed towards a mixing chamber connected to a foam outlet. Mixing between the two phases takes place in a free jet, and the diverging portion of the Venturi has at least three zones of progressive cone angles, with discontinuities between the zones giving rise to a cavitation phenomenon, and opening out into a turbulent chamber.

Claims

1. A device for forming foam by the Venturi effect, mixing a substance in liquid phase and a substance in gas phase, the device comprising a liquid insertion nozzle on a same axis as a Venturi stage comprising a converging portion disposed facing the nozzle, the Venturi stave having a throat of diameter "D", and a gas inlet coaxial with the nozzle and in communication with the converging portion, a gas being sucked in by the Venturi effect and directed to a mixing chamber connected to a foam outlet, wherein a diverging portion of the Venturi stage comprises at least three zones of progressive cone angles, with discontinuities between the zones, co-operating with a geometry of the diverging portion to give rise to a cavitation phenomenon, and opening out into a turbulence area of the mixing chamber, mixing between the two phases taking place in a free jet.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the diverging portion has three zones of increasing cone angle, the first zone having a cone angle lying in a range of greater than 0°

to less than or equal to 10°

.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein a second zone of said at least three zones has a cone angle at least 5°

greater than the cone angle of the first zone of said at least three zones, wherein the second zone has an inlet located at a transition between the first zone and the second zone and an outlet located at a transition between the second zone and a third zone of said at least three zones, the second zone inlet having a diameter in a range 2D to 4D and the second zone outlet having a diameter in a range 5D to 8D.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the diverging portion includes surface discontinuities comprising one of groove lines and grids.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the angles of the conical zones increase continuously and are rounded.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein a distance between an outlet from the nozzle and an inlet of the Venturi stage lies in a range 2d to 20d, where d is a diameter of a nozzle duct of the nozzle, the diameter of the throat of the Venturi stage lying in a range 1d to 4d.

7. The device according to claim 1, including means for adjusting a length of the mixing chamber.

8. The device according to claim 1, wherein two ultrasound generators are disposed radially relative to the mixing chamber.

9. The device according to claim 1, wherein the Venturi stage has an inlet which is coupled to at least one of a mixer, flow rate regulator and pressure regulator.

10. The device according to claim 1, wherein the Venturi stage section has an inlet which is coupled to at least one mixer and at least one of a flow rate regulator and pressure regulator.

11. The device according to claim 9, wherein at least one mixer is connected to the inlet of each flow rate regulator and pressure regulator.

12. The device according to claim 10, wherein at least one flow rate regulator and pressure regulator is connected to the inlet of each mixer.

13. Apparatus for forming foam, including a device according to claim 1, said apparatus comprising an enclosure containing a liquid, in which an envelope is immersed that contains active substances, a pyrotechnic device causing the active substances to be dissolved in the liquid.