Integrated, essential-oil atomizer
DC CAFCFirst Claim
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1. A method of aroma therapy comprising;
- providing an atomizer comprising an eductor and a separator, the atomizer being connected directly to a reservoir and to a pump anchoring the atomizer to a supporting surface;
the providing an atomizer wherein the eductor comprises a nozzle having a minimum effective diameter discharging the flow therethrough and into an aperture spaced therefrom a distance of from about one to about 10 times the minimum effective diameter;
adjusting an electronic controller to control at least one of a duration of operation and a duration of a delay between periods of operation of the pump;
operating the pump to pressurize ambient air into a flow through the atomizer;
educting a liquid directly from the reservoir into the flow;
atomizing the liquid into droplets by the educting and by colliding against a wall of the separator;
separating the droplets by size;
recovering comparatively larger droplets into the reservoir;
passing comparatively smaller droplets from the atomizer out through the separator with the flow; and
simultaneously limiting net outflow of the liquid and decreasing mean droplet size by selectively controlling by a user the duty cycle of the pump.
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Abstract
An atomizer provides a control of duty cycle or a motor driving a diaphragm pump. By providing precise, high-speed flow through an eductor nozzle, improved atomization occurs. However, to control the total volume of atomized liquid discharged, the delay time between operational time periods may also be controlled. Thus, a very effective atomizer provides economical use of essential oils by control duty cycle. Precision modeling provides highly integrated subsystems providing superior performance and reliability.
54 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method of aroma therapy comprising;
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providing an atomizer comprising an eductor and a separator, the atomizer being connected directly to a reservoir and to a pump anchoring the atomizer to a supporting surface; the providing an atomizer wherein the eductor comprises a nozzle having a minimum effective diameter discharging the flow therethrough and into an aperture spaced therefrom a distance of from about one to about 10 times the minimum effective diameter; adjusting an electronic controller to control at least one of a duration of operation and a duration of a delay between periods of operation of the pump; operating the pump to pressurize ambient air into a flow through the atomizer; educting a liquid directly from the reservoir into the flow; atomizing the liquid into droplets by the educting and by colliding against a wall of the separator; separating the droplets by size; recovering comparatively larger droplets into the reservoir; passing comparatively smaller droplets from the atomizer out through the separator with the flow; and simultaneously limiting net outflow of the liquid and decreasing mean droplet size by selectively controlling by a user the duty cycle of the pump. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method of aroma therapy comprising;
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providing an atomizer, homogeneously molded and comprising an eductor, separator, pump, and first, second, and third connectors; the providing the atomizer, wherein the atomizer is connected by the first connector directly to the pump, by the second connector directly to the reservoir, and by the third connector directly to a distributor, the pump anchoring the atomizer to a supporting surface; adjusting an electronic controller to control the duty cycle by at least one a duration of operation, a duration of a delay between periods of operation of the pump, and a ratio corresponding thereto; operating the pump to pressurize ambient air into a flow through the atomizer; educting a liquid directly from the reservoir into the flow; atomizing the liquid into droplets by the educting and by colliding against a wall of the separator; separating the droplets by size; recovering comparatively larger droplets into the reservoir; passing comparatively smaller droplets from the atomizer out through the separator with the flow; simultaneously limiting net outflow of the liquid and decreasing mean droplet size by selectively controlling by a user the duty cycle of the pump; and providing a housing, a motor inside the housing and electrically powered to drive the pump, the housing further comprising a lock securing the atomizer to the pump. - View Dependent Claims (6)
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7. A method of aroma therapy comprising:
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providing an atomizer comprising an eductor and a separator, the atomizer being connected directly to a reservoir and to a pump anchoring the atomizer to a supporting surface; adjusting an electronic controller to control at least one of a duration of operation and a duration of a delay between periods of operation of the pump; operating the pump to pressurize ambient air into a flow through the atomizer; educting a liquid directly from the reservoir into the flow; atomizing the liquid into droplets by the educting and by colliding against a wall of the separator; separating the droplets by size; recovering comparatively larger droplets into the reservoir; passing comparatively smaller droplets from the atomizer out through the separator with the flow; and simultaneously limiting net outflow of the liquid and decreasing mean droplet size by selectively controlling by a user the duty cycle of the pump; the atomizer, wherein the pump comprises a pump body fitted with a valve plate captured in a pinch slot to support pressure between the pump body and valve plate. - View Dependent Claims (8)
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9. A method of atomizing, the method comprising:
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providing a pump disposed within a housing, driven by a motor, and comprising a diaphragm compressing air and providing a flow thereof at a pressure greater than ambient pressure, the motor comprising a coil and a first magnet operably connected to reciprocate the first magnet back and forth to drive the diaphragm; providing a separator plate controlling outflow, separating the comparatively larger droplets from the comparatively smaller droplets prior to exit of the comparatively smaller droplets from the atomization; providing an eductor comprising a nozzle having a minimum effective diameter discharging the flow therethrough and into an aperture spaced therefrom a distance of from about one to about 10 times the minimum effective diameter; providing a control system infinitely variable between extremes by a user to arbitrarily select at least one of a duration of operation and a duration of deactivation between periods of operation of the motor; providing a bottle containing a liquid comprising a scent; connecting an atomizer directly to the bottle, securing the atomizer directly to the pump anchoring the atomizer to a supporting surface; drawing from the bottle a portion of the liquid by eduction; atomizing the portion into droplets; spraying the droplets into a separator removing droplets insufficiently small to be carried indefinitely by ambient air movement. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An apparatus comprising:
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a housing; a pump disposed within the housing and comprising a diaphragm compressing air to a pressure greater than ambient pressure; a motor comprising a coil and a first magnet the motor, wherein the coil is operably connected to reciprocate an electric field to activate the first magnet; the motor, wherein the first magnet drives a second magnet back and forth to oscillate the diaphragm; a control system operably connected to the coil to control electricity flowing to the coil; an atomizer, integrated with the pump, the atomizer being anchored by the pump and receiving directly therefrom a flow of pressurized air; the atomizer further comprising a first fitting directly receiving and securing a bottle containing an aromatic scent thereto, a second fitting containing an eductor, and a third fitting containing a distributor releasing the pressurized air into the ambient; a separating chamber and a separator plate controlling outflow from the separator chamber, separating comparatively larger droplets from comparatively smaller droplets prior to exit of the comparatively smaller droplets from the atomizer; and an eductor comprising a nozzle having a minimum effective diameter discharging the flow therethrough and into an aperture spaced therefrom a distance of from about one to about 10 times the minimum effective diameter. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification