Mist generator and mist emission rendering apparatus

• US 7,934,703 B2
• Filed: 03/09/2006
• Issued: 05/03/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Akira Tomono
• Original Assignee: Akira Tomono
• Inventors: Uehara, Akio, Tomono, Akira
• Primary Examiner(s): Chiesa; Richard L
• Application Number:
  US11/886,020
• Publication Number:
  US 20080223953A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,881 Days
• Field of Search: 261/18.1, 261/26, 261/81, 261/127, 261/152, 261/DIG.48, 261/DIG.65, 239/4, 239/102.1, 239/102.2, 128/200.16
• US Class Current: 261/18.1
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 1/205 using vibrations, e.g. ultrasonic or piezoelectric atomizers
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/145 air-liquid contact processes, e.g. scrubbing
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/001 Particle size control
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/005 using ultrasonics spraying or atomising liquids using ultrasonic vibrations in general B05B17/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/042 electrical
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/045 using another liquid as heat exchanger, e.g. bain-marie
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/048 with a flame, e.g. using a burner
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/164 including a liquid inlet valve system
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/0016 by the smell sense
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/0027 by the hearing sense
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/0044 by the sight sense
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 21/02 for inducing sleep or relaxation, e.g. by direct nerve stimulation, hypnosis, analgesia for massage A61H; electrotherapy A61N, e.g. applying alternating or intermittent electric currents for producing anaesthesia A61N1/36021
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/331 used as turbidity change detectors, e.g. for priming-blood or plasma-hemoglubine-interface detection
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3368 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3375 Acoustical, e.g. ultrasonic, measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3379 Masses, volumes, levels of fluids in reservoirs, flow rates
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3382 Upper level detectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3386 Low level detectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3389 Continuous level detection A61M2205/3393 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3569 sublocal, e.g. between console and disposable
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3592 : using telemetric means, e.g. radio or optical transmission
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3653 : by Joule effect, i.e. electric resistance
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/502 : User interfaces, e.g. screens or keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/52 : with memories providing a history of measured variating parameters of apparatus or patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/60 : with identification means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6018 : providing set-up signals for the apparatus configuration
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 1/002 : designed to reduce the generation or the transmission of noise or to produce a particular sound; associated with noise monitoring means
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 12/081 : responsive to the weight of a reservoir or container for liquid or other fluent material; responsive to level or volume of liquid or other fluent material in a reservoir or container
• 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: F24F 6/12 : by forming water dispersions in the air
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 30/70 : Efficient control or regulation technologies, e.g. for control of refrigerant flow, motor or heating
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 261/48 : Sonic vibrators
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 261/65 : Vaporizers

Abstract

An apparatus includes an ultrasonic transducer; an ultrasonic propagation medium disposed so as to fill a plane of vibration of the transducer; liquid retaining means disposed so as to be in contact with an end face of the medium; and an ultrasonic focusing reflecting mechanism disposed in an ultrasonic propagation path, thereby the apparatus attains discharging into air and atomization of the liquid by use of ultrasonic waves. Atomization efficiency is enhanced by the use of an ultrasonic reflection tube, and mist emission is carried out. Use is made of a compact liquid container equipped at its bottom with an ultrasonic transmission membrane. Various types of liquids can be atomized by changing the direction of ultrasonic course.

Claims

1. A mist generator comprising:

an ultrasonic transducer;

an ultrasonic propagation medium (Liq1) or a liquid for atomization (Liq2) provided so as to fill a plane of vibration of the ultrasonic transducer;

an ultrasonic convergence and reflection mechanism provided in the ultrasonic propagation medium or the liquid for atomization; and

means for discharging a mist outside,

wherein the means for discharging the mist outside uses at least the ultrasonic convergence and reflection mechanism and an ultrasonic reflection tube as components, and the ultrasonic convergence and reflection mechanism has a function for pushing up the liquid for atomization (Liq2) to locally disperse an end thereof, and

wherein the ultrasonic reflection tube is composed of an ultrasonic reflecting material with tube length of 3 cm or more, the tube is kept at a predetermined height from a liquid level of the liquid for atomization so that a lower part of the tube may surround the end of the liquid and a local liquid dispersing portion, and air may enter from the lower part of the tube, and the tube has a mist/liquid separating function for introducing most of ultrasonic waves scattering around the dispersing portion into the tube to convert them into traveling waves in a tube axial direction, the tube carrying the mist by the traveling wave in the axial direction until it passes through the tube, and dropping a droplet liquid from the lower part of the tube.

3. The mist generator according to anyone of claims 1 and 2, wherein the means for discharging the mist outside includes means for detecting a concentration of the mist provided in a mist discharging passage, and instant air flow generating means that is driven upon detecting that the mist concentration becomes higher than a predetermined concentration.

4. The mist generator according to anyone of claims 1 and 2, wherein the means for discharging the mist outside includes means for heating an inside of the ultrasonic reflection tube, or a mist discharging passage coupled with the tube.

2. A mist generator comprising:

an ultrasonic transducer;

an ultrasonic propagation medium (Liq1) provided so as to fill a plane of vibration of the ultrasonic transducer;

means for holding a liquid for atomization (Liq2) so that it may contact with the ultrasonic propagation medium;

an ultrasonic convergence and reflection mechanism provided in the ultrasonic propagation medium or the liquid for atomization; and

means for discharging a mist outside, wherein

the means for holding the liquid for atomization is composed of a small liquid container with an ultrasonic transparent film,

the means for discharging the mist outside uses at least the ultrasonic convergence and reflection mechanism and an ultrasonic reflection tube as components, and the ultrasonic reflection tube has a function for carrying the mist in an axial direction of the tube by ultrasonic traveling waves generated within the tube until it passes through the tube, and

the small liquid container with the ultrasonic transparent film and the ultrasonic reflection tube are integrally composed, and the integrated structure is detachably and attachably held so that the ultrasonic transparent film may contact with the ultrasonic propagation medium (Liq1).

5. A mist discharge producing apparatus comprising:

a mist generator including an ultrasonic transducer,

an ultrasonic propagation medium (Liq1) and a liquid for atomization (Liq2) provided so as to fill a plane of vibration of the ultrasonic transducer, wherein ultrasonic waves produced by the ultrasonic transducer travel through the ultrasonic propagation medium to reach the liquid for atomization,

an ultrasonic convergence and reflection mechanism provided in the ultrasonic propagation medium or the liquid for atomization, the ultrasonic convergence and reflection mechanism provided at a slant proximate the ultrasonic transducer,

means for discharging a mist outside, and

means for containing chemicals in the mist, the means is equipped with memory means, and the memory means stores information for producing the mist to be discharged.

6. The mist discharge producing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the ultrasonic convergence and reflection mechanism is a concave mirror.