Ultrasonic atomizer, ultrasonic inhaler and method of controlling same

• US 6,901,926 B2
• Filed: 07/23/2003
• Issued: 06/07/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Omron Healthcare Company Limited (Omron Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Omron Corporation
• Inventors: Yamamoto, Hirohito, Asai, Kei
• Primary Examiner(s): Lewis, Aaron J.
• Application Number:
  US10/624,539
• Publication Number:
  US 20040045547A1
• Time in Patent Office: 685 Days
• Field of Search: 128/200.16, 128/200.18, 239/102.2
• US Class Current: 128/200.16
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0083 Timers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0085 using ultrasonics spraying or atomising liquids using ultrasonic vibrations in general B05B17/06
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 17/0623 coupled with a vibrating horn
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 17/063 having an internal channel for supplying the liquid or other fluent material
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 17/0638 spray being produced by discharging the liquid or other fluent material through a plate comprising a plurality of orifices
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 9/03 characterised by means for supplying liquid or other fluent material B05B9/002 takes precedence

Abstract

A bush (31) is fitted into a housing (10) and an ultrasonic pump (12) is supported liquid tightly by the bush (31). The ultrasonic pump (12) is constituted by a pump shaft (21) formed to include a pump bore (22) passing through it axially and having upper and lower ends which are open, and an ultrasonic vibrator (23) mounted on the pump shaft (21) in the vicinity of the midpoint thereof in terms of the axial direction. A liquid vessel.(16) is mounted in the housing (10) in a freely attachable and detachable manner, and the lower end portion of the pump shaft (21) is received inside the liquid vessel (16). A cap (15) is freely detachably attached to the upper end portion of the housing (10) so as to cover the upper end portion of the pump shaft (21). The top side of the cap (15) is provided with a spray port (51), and a step portion (57) is formed for supporting a mesh plate (14) at the periphery thereof at a position below the spray port (51). A compression spring (42) is provided between a portion of the top side of the cap and the mesh plate. The mesh plate (14) is formed to have a multiplicity of minute holes (14a) and is held in pressured contact with the upper end face of the pump shaft (21) by the compression spring (42).

Claims

1. An ultrasonic atomizer comprising:

an ultrasonic pump comprising a pump shaft formed to have a pump bore passing through it axially and having open upper and lower ends, and an ultrasonic vibrator mounted on the pump shaft in the vicinity of the midpoint thereof with respect to the axial direction;

a liquid vessel provided at a position at which it is penetrated by a lower end of said pump shaft;

a mesh plate placed on an upper end face of said pump shaft and formed to have a multiplicity of minute holes; and

a biasing resilient member for biasing said mesh plate toward the upper end face of said pump shaft,

wherein the upper end face of said pump shaft is formed to have a protuberance which projects in an area that includes the opening in the upper end of said pump bore.

2. An ultrasonic atomizer comprising:

an ultrasonic pump comprising a pump shaft formed to have a pump bore passing through it axially and having open upper and lower ends, and an ultrasonic vibrator mounted on the pump shaft in the vicinity of the midpoint thereof with respect to the axial direction;

a liquid vessel provided at a position at which it is penetrated by a lower end of said pump shaft;

a mesh plate placed on an upper end face of said pump shaft and formed to have a multiplicity of minute holes; and

a biasing resilient member for biasing said mesh plate toward the upper end face of said pump shaft,

wherein said mesh plate is formed to have a shape in which the central portion thereof is bent or curved slightly so as to point downward.

3. An ultrasonic atomizer comprising:

an ultrasonic pump comprising a pump shaft formed to have a pump bore passing through it axially and having open upper and lower ends, and an ultrasonic vibrator mounted on the pump shaft in the vicinity of the midpoint thereof with respect to the axial direction;

a liquid vessel provided at a position at which it is penetrated by a lower end of said pump shaft;

a mesh plate placed on an upper end face of said pump shaft and formed to have a multiplicity of minute holes; and

a biasing resilient member for biasing said mesh plate toward the upper end face of said pump shaft,

wherein said biasing resilient member is a compression coil spring having a coil diameter which becomes progressively smaller as said mesh plate is approached, in such a manner that said mesh plate is biased at a position thereof situated on the upper end face of said pump shaft.

4. A mesh plate used to produce an ultrasonic atomizing action, comprising a single plate-shaped body having two surfaces overall and formed to include a multiplicity of minute holes passing through the plate-shaped body from one surface to the other surface, said plate-shaped body being curved over its entire surface or folded and continuously deformed at the location of each minute hole in such a manner that each minute hole flares in a direction from the one surface to the other surface and a groove or recess is formed in said one surface between mutually adjacent ones of the minute holes.

5. An ultrasonic atomizer according to claim 4, wherein cut-outs of different size are formed in the periphery of said mesh plate at least at two locations other than locations having point symmetry about the center of said mesh plate.

6. An ultrasonic atomizer according to claim 4, wherein said minute holes are formed at equal intervals along sides of a multiplicity of regular hexagons whose diagonals vary at fixed distances.

7. An ultrasonic atomizer according to claim 4, wherein a small area devoid of formation of minute holes is present in an area surrounded by said minute holes.

8. An ultrasonic atomizer according to claim 4, wherein an area devoid of said minute holes is present at a central portion.