Removable cartridge for liquid diffusion device and cartridge insert thereof

• US 9,745,976 B2
• Filed: 08/25/2015
• Issued: 08/29/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Prolitec Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Prolitec Incorporated
• Inventors: Ansley, Matthew, Sward, Nathan
• Primary Examiner(s): Hopkins, Robert A
• Application Number:
  US14/835,519
• Publication Number:
  US 20160175474A1
• Time in Patent Office: 735 Days
• Field of Search: 261 76, 261 782, 2611191, 261DIG 88
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2209/134 Distributing means, e.g. baffles, valves, manifolds, nozzles
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/14 using sprayed or atomised substances including air-liquid contact processes
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/145 air-liquid contact processes, e.g. scrubbing
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/02 operated by air or other gas pressure applied to the liquid or other product to be sprayed or atomised sprayers for horticulture A01G, A01H; killing insects A01M; air humidifying by nozzles F24F6/14, F24F6/18; cooling by spraying F28B, F28C
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 2101/54 Mixing liquid fragrances with air
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/21 by introducing liquids into gaseous media
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/213 by spraying or atomising of the liquids
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/232 using flow-mixing means for introducing the gases, e.g. baffles
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 25/312 with Venturi elements; Details thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 25/312533 Constructional characteristics of the diverging discharge conduit or barrel, e.g. with zones of changing conicity
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/71761 Membrane pumps
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 1/26 with means for mechanically breaking-up or deflecting the jet after discharge, e.g. with fixed deflectors; Breaking-up the discharged liquid or other fluent material by impinging jets
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 7/0012 Apparatus for achieving spraying before discharge from the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 7/24 with means, e.g. a container, for supplying liquid or other fluent material to a discharge device B05B7/14, B05B7/16, B05B11/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 7/2489 an atomising fluid, e.g. a gas, being supplied to the discharge device B05B7/2402, B05B7/2483, B05B7/262 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 7/265 the liquid being fed by gravity, or sucked into the gas
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 39/0044 with vibration damping supports
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 39/121 Casings
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 39/127 Mounting of a cylinder block in a casing
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 45/047 Pumps having electric drive
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 53/003 : by damping supports
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 53/16 : Casings; Cylinders; Cylinder liners or heads; Fluid connections
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 8/50 : by odorisation

Abstract

An insert of a cartridge for use with a liquid diffusing device is provided. The insert includes a body, an inlet provided in the body to receive diffused liquid generated within the cartridge during operation of the liquid diffusing device, an outlet zone defined at least in part by the body through which to discharge the diffused liquid toward an external environment, and a tortuous passage extending between the inlet and the outlet zone to aid in further reducing an average particle size of the diffused liquid as the diffused liquid moves through the tortuous passage. Removable cartridges for use with a diffusion device are also provided which include such an insert.

Claims

1. A cartridge for use with a liquid diffusing device, the cartridge comprising:

a cartridge housing defining an internal housing cavity partially filled with a liquid;

a venturi device for generating a diffused liquid from the liquid contained in the internal housing cavity; and

an insert provided downstream of the venturi device, the insert including;

a body;

an inlet provided in the body to receive diffused liquid generated within the cartridge during operation of the liquid diffusing device;

an outlet zone defined at least in part by the body through which to discharge the diffused liquid toward an external environment; and

a tortuous passage extending between the inlet and the outlet zone to aid in further reducing an average particle size of the diffused liquid as the diffused liquid moves through the tortuous passage, the tortuous passage being open in an upward direction.

2. The cartridge of claim 1 wherein the inlet of the insert is located at a periphery of the body, the outlet zone is located at a central region of the body, and the tortuous passage spirals between the inlet and the outlet zone.

3. The cartridge of claim 1 wherein the body of the insert is formed as a single, unitary piece that includes the tortuous passage.

4. The cartridge of claim 1 wherein a lower portion of the body of the insert includes an indentation having an impact surface to be impinged upon by diffused liquid during operation of the liquid diffusing device.

5. The cartridge of claim 4 wherein the impact surface diverges in a downward direction to direct liquid condensed thereon radially outward and downward.

6. The cartridge of claim 1 wherein the tortuous passage of the insert is at least partially defined by a vertical sidewall of the body.

7. The cartridge of claim 1 wherein the tortuous passage of the insert follows a non-linear path that assists in preventing liquid from leaking from the cartridge when the cartridge is upended.

8. The cartridge of claim 1 wherein a cross-sectional profile of at least a portion of the tortuous passage of the insert narrows in a downstream direction.

9. A cartridge for use with a liquid diffusing device, the cartridge comprising:

a cartridge housing defining an internal housing cavity partially filled with a liquid to be diffused;

a venturi device for generating a diffused liquid from the liquid contained in the internal housing cavity; and

an insert positioned downstream of the venturi device, the insert including an inlet to receive the diffused liquid generated by the venturi device, an outlet zone through which to discharge the diffused liquid toward an external environment, and a tortuous passage extending between the inlet and the outlet zone, the tortuous passage being partially capped by the cartridge housing to enclose a portion of the tortuous passage and to define an aerosol outlet at a remaining uncovered portion.

10. The cartridge of claim 9 wherein the tortuous passage of the insert is configured to aid in further reducing an average particle size of the diffused liquid as the diffused liquid moves through the tortuous passage.

11. The cartridge of claim 9 wherein the inlet of the insert is located at a periphery thereof, the outlet zone is located at a central region of the insert, and the tortuous passage spirals between the inlet and the outlet zone.

12. The cartridge of claim 9 wherein the insert is formed as a single, unitary piece that includes the tortuous passage.

13. The cartridge of claim 9 wherein a lower portion of the insert includes an indentation having an impact surface to be impinged upon by the diffused liquid generated by the venturi device during operation of the liquid diffusing device.

14. The cartridge of claim 13 wherein the impact surface diverges in a downward direction to direct liquid condensed thereon radially outward and downward.

15. The cartridge of claim 9 wherein the tortuous passage is at least partially defined by a vertical sidewall of the insert.

16. The cartridge of claim 9 wherein the tortuous passage follows a non-linear path that assists in preventing liquid from leaking from the cartridge when the cartridge is upended.

17. The cartridge of claim 9 wherein the insert is provided between the cartridge housing and the venturi device.

18. The cartridge of claim 9, further comprising:

a diffusion head which comprises the venturi device, and

wherein an upper portion of the diffusion head and a lower portion of the insert define a primary expansion chamber immediately above the venturi device, wherein a secondary chamber is provided external of the diffusion head and the insert, and wherein a tertiary chamber is provided by the tortuous passage of the insert.

19. The cartridge of claim 9, further comprising:

a diffusion head which comprises the venturi device, and

wherein an upper portion of the diffusion head and a lower portion of the insert define a primary expansion chamber immediately above the venturi device, and wherein the primary expansion chamber is in fluid communication with the internal housing cavity external of the diffusion head via a plurality of apertures provided in the upper portion of the diffusion head.

20. The cartridge of claim 19 wherein the upper portion of the diffusion head defines a bulkhead that impedes the diffused liquid generated by the venturi device from exiting the primary expansion chamber other than through the plurality of apertures.

21. The cartridge of claim 9 wherein the tortuous passage of the insert provides the sole passage for the diffused liquid generated by the venturi device to exit the cartridge.

22. The cartridge of claim 9 wherein the tortuous passage of the insert is configured to provide a convoluted flow path that retards a flow of the liquid to be diffused through the insert when the cartridge is temporarily held upside-down.

23. The cartridge of claim 9 wherein an initial fill level of the liquid to be diffused is below the venturi device when the removable cartridge is upright and below a central axis of the cartridge housing when the removable cartridge is upended and rests sideways, and wherein the tortuous passage of the insert is configured to provide a convoluted flow path that includes a portion above the central axis when the cartridge is upended and rests sideways to prevent the liquid to be diffused from traversing the entirety of the tortuous passage.

24. A cartridge for use with a liquid diffusing device, the cartridge comprising:

a cartridge housing defining an internal housing cavity partially filled with a liquid;

a venturi device for generating a diffused liquid from the liquid contained in the internal housing cavity; and

an insert provided downstream of the venturi device, the insert including;

a body;

an inlet provided in the body to receive diffused liquid generated within the cartridge during operation of the liquid diffusing device;

an outlet zone defined at least in part by the body through which to discharge the diffused liquid toward an external environment; and

a tortuous passage extending between the inlet and the outlet zone to aid in further reducing an average particle size of the diffused liquid as the diffused liquid moves through the tortuous passage, and

wherein any diffused liquid that exits the cartridge must pass through the tortuous passage.

25. A cartridge for use with a liquid diffusing device, the cartridge comprising:

a cartridge housing defining an internal housing cavity partially filled with a liquid to be diffused;

a venturi device for generating a diffused liquid from the liquid contained in the internal housing cavity; and

an insert positioned downstream of the venturi device, the insert including an inlet to receive the diffused liquid generated by the venturi device, an outlet zone through which to discharge the diffused liquid toward an external environment, and a tortuous passage extending between the inlet and the outlet zone, and

wherein any diffused liquid that exits the cartridge must pass through the tortuous passage.