Additive nebulising device

Abstract

An additive atomizing device and further means and a method for the atomization of a liquid additive in a gaseous pressure medium, more particularly compressed air, flowing through a pressure medium flow duct ( 10 ). The additive is conveyed from one inlet ( 26 ) of an additive passage duct ( 24 ) for supplying the additive from an additive supply means ( 27 and 28 ) to an outlet ( 25 ) opening into the pressure medium flow duct ( 10 ). A detecting means ( 17 and 18 ) detects at least one physical characteristic in the pressure medium flow duct ( 10 ) and signalizes same by way of a signalizing means ( 19 and 20 ) to a control means ( 21 ). The control means ( 21 ) controls a pressure producing device ( 43 and 47 ) in a manner dependent on the at least one physical characteristic found by the detecting means ( 17 and 18 ) by way of a control connection ( 23 . The pressure producing device ( 43 and 47 ) causes pressure pulses to act on the additive in the at least one additive passage duct ( 24 ) so that the drops of additive are expelled from the outlet ( 25 ).

1 . An additive atomizing device for the atomization of a liquid additive, and more particularly of a lubricant, in a gaseous pressure medium, more particularly compressed air, comprising at least one additive passage duct ( 24 ), which has an inlet ( 26 ) for the supply of the additive from an additive supply means ( 27  and  28 ) and whose outlet ( 25 ) opens into a pressure medium flow duct ( 10 ), through which the pressure medium flows, characterized in that the pressure medium passage duct ( 10 ) is provided with a detecting means ( 17  and  18 ) for determining at least one physical characteristic, which can be passed by the detecting means ( 17  and  18 ) by way of a signalizing means ( 19  and  20 ) to a control means ( 21 ) and that a pressure producing device ( 43  and  47 ) is provided in the at least one additive passage duct ( 24 ), it being possible for a pressure pulse to be exerted on the additive by the pressure producing device so that a drop of additive is expelled at the outlet ( 25 ), such pressure producing device being arranged to be controlled by the control means ( 21 ) in a manner dependent on the at least one physical characteristic as found by the detecting means ( 17  and  18 ).  
     
     
         2 . The additive atomizing device as set forth in  claim 1 , characterized in that the pressure producing device ( 43  and  47 ) comprises at least one piezoelectric and/or magnetostrictive and/or memory metallic ( 43 ) and/or a heating element ( 47 ) evaporating the additive or a separate working liquid, for the production of the pressure pulse.  
     
     
         3 . The additive atomizing device as set forth in  claim 1  or  claim 2 , characterized in that the detecting means ( 17  and  18 ) determines, as at least one physical characteristic, the instantaneous flow rate of the pressure medium through the pressure medium flow duct ( 10 ).  
     
     
         4 . The additive atomizing device as set forth in  claim 1 ,  claim 2  or  claim 3 , characterized in that the detecting means ( 17  and  18 ) as at least one physical characteristic determines the concentration of the additive in the pressure medium.  
     
     
         5 . The additive atomizing device as set forth in any one of the claims  1  through  4 , characterized by a heating device and/or cooling device ( 36 ), which conditions the additive, preferably at least in one section of the additive atomizing device ( 24 ) for viscosity conditioning.  
     
     
         6 . The additive atomizing device as set forth in any one of the claims  1  through  4 , characterized in that the additive supply means ( 27  and  28 ) is designed as a component of the additive atomizing device and possesses at least one releasable and cartridge-like container ( 27  and  28 ) provided to receive an additive supply.  
     
     
         7 . The additive atomizing device as set forth in any one of the claims  1  through  6 , characterized in that the additive passage duct ( 24 ) is formed in an injection head ( 22 ), which has an connection part for at least one detachable cartridge-like container ( 51 ), which is connected with the at least one inlet ( 26 ) of the additive passage duct ( 24 ).  
     
     
         8 . The additive atomizing device as set forth in any one of the claims  1  through  7 , characterized in that it comprises a connection duct ( 33 ) leading to the pressure medium flow duct ( 10 ) by way of which the additive supply means ( 27  and  28 ) may be so acted upon by the pressure medium that the additive is subjected to a pressure from the additive supply means ( 27  and  28 ) directed toward the additive passage duct ( 24 ).  
     
     
         9 . The additive atomizing device as set forth in any one of the claims  1  through  8 , characterized in that the additive passage duct ( 24 ) is in the form of a capillary in at least one a part thereof so that after expulsion of a drop ( 50 ) of additive from the outlet ( 25 ) additive is propelled by capillary action from the additive supply means ( 27  and  28 ) into the additive passage duct ( 24 ).  
     
     
         10 . The additive atomizing device as set forth in any one of the claims  1  through  9 , characterized in that at least one blade able to be operated by piezoelectric and/or magnetostrictive and/or memory metallic action is provided as a pressure producing device ( 43  and  47 ) in the additive passage duct ( 24 ).  
     
     
         11 . The additive atomizing device as set forth in  claim 10 , characterized in that the blade ( 43 ) able to be operated by piezoelectric and/or magnetostrictive and/or memory metallic action is so arranged that the blade closes the outlet ( 25 ) on the application of an electrical neutral voltage and/or a magnetic neutral field and/or a neutral temperature.  
     
     
         12 . The additive atomizing device as set forth in  claim 10 ,  10 , characterized in that the at least one blade ( 43 ) is biased into a position closing the outlet ( 25 ).  
     
     
         13 . The additive atomizing device as set forth in any one of the claims  1  through  12 , characterized in that in the pressure medium flow duct ( 10 ) a flow directing means ( 32 ) is provided, by which the drops of additive expelled at the at least one outlet ( 25 ) are directed out of their path of expulsion.  
     
     
         14 . The additive atomizing device as set forth in any one of the claims  1  through  13 , characterized in that the additive atomizing device comprises the control means ( 21 ).  
     
     
         15 . A fluid technology means, for example in the form of a valve or a drive, which is provided with at least one additive atomizing device as set forth in any one of the claims  1  through  14 , the pressure medium flow duct ( 10 ) being formed directly in the fluid technology means.  
     
     
         16 . The fluid technology as set forth in any one of the claims  1  through  14 , characterized in that the at least one additive atomizing device is in the form of a component of the fluid technology means.  
     
     
         17 . A material preparing unit, as for example an oiler, for a gaseous pressure medium, and more particularly for compressed air, characterized in that the material preparing unit comprises at least one additive atomizing device as set forth in any one of the claims  1  through  14 .  
     
     
         18 . An additive supply means ( 27  and  28 ) for an forth in  claim 15  or in  claim 16 , or for a material preparing unit as set forth in  claim 17 , characterized in that the additive supply means ( 27  and  28 ) comprises at least one injection head ( 22 ), in which the additive passage duct ( 24 ) is formed and which possesses a connection part for at least one replaceable cartridge-like container ( 51 ), adapted to recive a supply of additive, which container is connected with the at least one inlet ( 26 ) of the additive passage duct ( 24 ) and that the at least one injection head ( 22 ) possesses an injection head connection means ( 56 ), by way of which the injection head ( 22 ) may be joined with the pressure medium passage duct ( 10 ).  
     
     
         19 . A method for the atomization of a liquid additive, more particularly a lubricant, in a gaseous pressure medium, more especially compressed air, which pressure medium flows through a flow duct ( 10 ), the additive being conveyed from an inlet ( 16 ) of at least one additive passage duct ( 24 ) for supply of the additive from an additive supply means ( 27  and  28 ) to an outlet ( 25 ) opening into the pressure medium flow duct ( 10 ), characterized in that a detecting means ( 17  and  18 ) detects at least one physical characteristic in the pressure medium flow duct ( 10 ), that the detecting means ( 17  and  18 ) passes on the at least one physical characteristic by way of a signalizing means ( 19  and  20 ) to a control means ( 21 ), that in the at least one additive passage duct ( 24 ) a pressure producing device ( 43  and  47 ) exerts pressure pulses on the additive, and that the control means ( 21 ) controls the pressure producing device ( 43  and  47 ) in a manner dependent on the at least one physical characteristic as determined by the detecting means ( 17  and  18 ).