Electrodischarge apparatus

• US 9,770,724 B2
• Filed: 05/12/2016
• Issued: 09/26/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: VLN Advanced Technologies Inc.
• Original Assignee: VLN Advanced Technologies Inc.
• Inventors: Vijay, Mohan
• Primary Examiner(s): Hall, Arthur O
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dandridge, Christopher R
• Application Number:
  US15/153,336
• Publication Number:
  US 20160250650A1
• Time in Patent Office: 502 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 1/08 of pulsating nature, e.g. delivering liquid in successive separate quantities ; Fluidic oscillators
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 12/06 for effecting pulsating flow nozzles, spray head or outlet with means for generating a discharge of pulsating nature B05B1/08
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 17/0676 Feeding means
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 5/025 Discharge apparatus, e.g. electrostatic spray guns
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 5/087 Arrangements of electrodes, e.g. of charging, shielding, collecting electrodes B05B5/12, B05B5/14 take precedence; arrangements of electrodes on the discharge apparatus B05B5/0533
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 5/1616 and the arrangement comprising means for insulating a grounded material source from high voltage applied to the material
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 2203/0288 Ultra or megasonic jets
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 3/02 Cleaning by the force of jets or sprays
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 3/10 with additional treatment of the liquid or of the object being cleaned, e.g. by heat, by electricity or by vibration
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 3/12 by sonic or ultrasonic vibrations washing or rinsing machines for crockery or tableware using sonic or ultrasonic waves A47L15/13; of natural teeth, of prostheses using ultrasonic techniques similar to those used for natural teeth A61C17/20; application of ultrasonic vibrations to chemical, physical or physico-chemical processes in general B01J19/10
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 9/00 Cleaning hollow articles by methods or apparatus specially adapted thereto B08B6/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 9/0813 by the force of jets or sprays
• CPC Class Codes: E21C 45/00 Methods of hydraulic mining; Hydraulic monitors E21C25/60 takes precedence

Abstract

An electrodischarge apparatus has a nozzle that includes a discharge chamber that has an inlet for receiving a liquid and an outlet. The apparatus has a first electrode extending into the discharge chamber that is electrically connected to one or more high-voltage capacitors. A second electrode is proximate to the first electrode to define a gap between the first and second electrodes. A switch causes the one or more capacitors to discharge across the gap between the electrodes to create a plasma bubble which expands to form a shockwave that escapes from the nozzle ahead of the plasma bubble.

Claims

1. An electrodischarge apparatus comprising:

a nozzle that includes a discharge chamber that has an inlet for receiving a liquid and an outlet for expelling the liquid, the nozzle further including an orthogonal mounting hole that is orthogonal to an inlet flow axis of the liquid in the inlet;

a high-voltage electrode extending into the discharge chamber;

a ground electrode proximate to the first electrode to define a gap between the high-voltage and ground electrodes; and

a switch to cause an electrical discharge across the gap between the high-voltage and ground electrodes to create a plasma bubble which expands to form a shockwave that exits from the outlet,

a detachable electrode assembly retaining both the high-voltage and ground electrodes, the detachable electrode assembly being disposed in the orthogonal mounting hole and fastened to the nozzle by a threaded connector, wherein the detachable nozzle assembly includes an electrically conductive return pathway for the ground electrode, wherein the detachable electrode assembly has an electrode holder that extends across the inlet providing part of the electrically conductive return path for the ground electrode, and wherein the holder receives a replaceable reflector.

2. The electrodischarge apparatus of claim 1 wherein the ground electrode is adjustable to vary the gap between the ground electrode and the high-voltage electrode.

3. The electrodischarge apparatus of claim 1 wherein the outlet comprises a converging section and wherein the high-voltage electrode and the ground electrode are upstream of the diverging section.

4. The electrodischarge apparatus of claim 1 wherein the detachable electrode assembly has a central bore into which the high-voltage electrode is disposed.

5. The electrodischarge apparatus of claim 1 comprising a sealing element disposed on an outer surface of the detachable electrode assembly to provide a liquid-tight seal.

6. The electrodischarge apparatus of claim 1 wherein the liquid is water.