Method and apparatus for atomizing liquids having minimal droplet size
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of generating droplets of minimal diameter comprising the steps of:
- providing a reservoir containing a liquid to be atomized;
providing a vibratory atomization plate having multiple orifices formed therethrough wherein the liquid is ejected as droplets through the orifices;
providing a liquid delivery system including one of a wick and a capillary tube for transporting the liquid to be atomized from the reservoir to the vibratory atomization plate; and
treating a surface of said plate from which droplets of the liquid are ejected during atomization with at least one of a surfactant and a chemical containing a fluorinated group, to minimize liquid accumulation on the surface, wherein the liquid is supplied to said plate while vibrating said plate to atomize the liquid.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An orifice plate is vibrated up and down at high frequency while liquid is delivered to its lower surface so that the liquid is ejected up from the plate in the form of very small diameter droplets. The upper surface of the plate is constructed to resist wetting and buildup of a liquid film thereby to form smaller diameter liquid droplets which are ejected to greater heights. The upper surface of the plate may be treated with a surfactant such as a flurosurfactant.
53 Citations
19 Claims
-
1. A method of generating droplets of minimal diameter comprising the steps of:
-
providing a reservoir containing a liquid to be atomized;
providing a vibratory atomization plate having multiple orifices formed therethrough wherein the liquid is ejected as droplets through the orifices;
providing a liquid delivery system including one of a wick and a capillary tube for transporting the liquid to be atomized from the reservoir to the vibratory atomization plate; and
treating a surface of said plate from which droplets of the liquid are ejected during atomization with at least one of a surfactant and a chemical containing a fluorinated group, to minimize liquid accumulation on the surface, wherein the liquid is supplied to said plate while vibrating said plate to atomize the liquid. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
-
10. An atomization device for converting a liquid into droplets of minimum diameter, said device comprising:
-
a reservoir containing a liquid to be atomized;
an atomization plate coupled to an actuator to be vibrated thereby, said plate having (i) multiple orifices formed therethrough through which the liquid is ejected as droplets and (ii) a surface from which the droplets are ejected, said surface having been treated with at least one of a surfactant and a chemical containing a fluorinated group to minimize accumulation of liquid thereon; and
a liquid supply system, including one of a wick and a capillary tube for transporting the liquid to said atomization plate during vibration thereof. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
-
Specification