Spraying devices, in particular nebulizing devices

Abstract

A relatively simple air or air-oxygen powered device utilizing the principles disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,421,692 and 3,421,699 comprises means for feeding liquid to the atomizing sphere and the combination of multiple spray producing sources and treatment of atomized particles by various techniques to produce extremely dense mists or fogs adapted for inhalation by human subjects.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A nebulizing unit comprising in combination, a base flask having an open top; a closure member for said flask, said closure member including at least one vertical chimney having a flaring lower end; a collar surrounding the lower end of the chimney and defining first, a support for the chimney and, secondly, with the chimney end, an annular holding reservoir; a first conduit opening into said reservoir and having a lower terminal end disposed beneath the reservoir at a point closely adjacent the bottom of the base flask; at least a second conduit opening into said holding reservoir and having one end disposed in the lowermost point thereof and the opposite end disposed below the bottom of the holding reservoir and projecting into the base flask adjacent its mouth; at least one plenum chamber having a spherical end with an aperture therein disposed within the base flask and beneath the terinal end of said second mentioned conduit; and its opposite end disposed outside of the side wall of said base flask; a branch line in communication with said plenum chamber and having a terminal end disposed adjacent the bottom of said base flask and in registry with said first mentioned conduit opening into said holding reservoir and discharging therein. 
     
     
       2. The combination defined in claim 1, wherein the base flask is provided with apertures through its side wall, said apertures being positioned in a plane slightly above the plane of said plenum chamber. 
     
     
       3. The combination defined in claim 1 including a dome-shaped cap having a central opening telescoped over said chimney and having its peripheral edge-seated on said collar. 
     
     
       4. The combination defined in claim 1 wherein said flask, said collar and chimney assembly and said plenum chamber are integral units removably assembled to form a nebulizing unit. 
     
     
       5. A nebulizer as defined in claim 1 including further heating means disposed in said base flask closely adjacent the bottom thereof. 
     
     
       6. A nebulizer as defined in claim 1 including, further, an adjustable valve means at the point of communication with said branch line for regulation of flow through said branch line. 
     
     
       7. A nebulizer defined in claim 1 including further a pair of tubular, elbow shaped connector transcending the side wall of the base flask and disposed with their vertical branches just beneath the lower portion of said spherical plenum chamber, one conduit terminating at a point spaced above the terminal end of the vertical branch of the other conduit. 
     
     
       8. A nebulizer as defined in claim 1 wherein all of said parts are fabricated of a non-corrosive, non-rusting, non-permeable material having the characteristic of resistance to high temperature. 
     
     
       9. A nebulizer as defined in claim 1 wherein said material is glass. 
     
     
       10. A nebulizer as defined in claim 1 wherein said material is metal. 
     
     
       11. A nebulizer as defined in claim 1 wherein said matrerial is a plastic. 
     
     
       12. A nebulizing device comprising a base receptacle; a .[.pump.]. .Iadd.pumping means .Iaddend.in said base receptacle for raising liquid from said receptacle; said .[.pump.]. .Iadd.pumping means .Iaddend.having an outlet; a reservoir above .Iadd.the liquid level in .Iaddend.said base receptacle and in communication with the .[.pump.]. outlet .Iadd.of said pump means .Iaddend.to receive the output of said .[.pump.]. .Iadd.pumping means .Iaddend.and having .Iadd.first .Iaddend.outlet means; at least one .[.spherical.]. .Iadd.hollow .Iaddend.plenum chamber having an aperture therein being disposed adjacent the .Iadd.said first .Iaddend.output let means from said reservoir, said .[.spherical.]. plenum .Iadd.chamber .Iaddend.receiving the output from said .Iadd.first .Iaddend.outlet means on its outer surface, .Iadd.said plenum chamber having a smooth convex curved surface over at least the portion thereof over which flows the liquid from its impingement on said outer surface towards and past said aperture, .Iaddend.whereby .Iadd.said .Iaddend.liquid discharged .[.thereon.]. .Iadd.onto said outer surface .Iaddend.will spread out in a thin, stressed film before passing over the aperture in said plenum .Iadd.chamber.Iaddend.; a source of gas under pressure communicating with the interior of said .[.spherical.]. plenum .Iadd.chamber.Iaddend., said gas issuing from the aperture therein, and .[.an.]. .Iadd.a second .Iaddend.outlet means .[.from.]. .Iadd.for .Iaddend.said base receptacle positioned in the direction of the gas exiting through said aperture, said .Iadd.second .Iaddend.outlet means being sized .[.and ported.]. to define .[.and.]. .Iadd.an .Iaddend.ejector .[.to draw.]..Iadd., and porting means for drawing .Iaddend.ambient air .[.through.]. .Iadd.into .Iaddend.said .[.outlet.]. .Iadd.receptacle .Iaddend.to comingle same with the nebulized liquid exiting from said .Iadd.second .Iaddend.outlet. 
     
     
       13. The combination defined in claim 12, including heater means for heating the liquid in said base receptacle. 
     
     
       14. The combination defined in claim 12 including a liquid supply source for automatically replenishing the liquid in said base .[.flask.]. .Iadd.receptacle. .Iaddend. 
     
     
       15. The combination defined in claim 12 including a pair of plenum chambers having apertures discharging toward said .Iadd.second .Iaddend.outlet means. 
     
     
       16. The combination defined in claim 15 including plural .Iadd.first .Iaddend.outlet means for said reservoir. 
     
     
       17. A nebulizer comprising at least one .[.spherical.]. .Iadd.hollow .Iaddend.plenum chamber having an opening therein, .Iadd.said plenum chamber having a smooth convex curved outer surface over at least a portion thereof, .Iaddend.means to flood the .Iadd.outer .Iaddend.surface of the .[.sphere.]. .Iadd.plenum .Iaddend.with liquid to be nebulized, means .[.to introduce.]. .Iadd.for producing a fine mist of spheroid-like particles of the liquid flowing over said outer surface without a transitional ligament phase by introducing .Iaddend.air above ambient pressure into the interior of the .[.sphere.]. .Iadd.plenum .Iaddend.for discharge through said opening, impactor means positioned in the path of said air discharge whereby particles of the nebulized liquid are further reduced in size by contact with said impactor.Iadd., said impactor being positioned at a distance sufficiently close to said opening of said plenum as to ensure impingement of liquid droplets with high kinetic energy upon the outer surface of said impactor, said distance being such that, if used in a conventional atomizer, the liquid would impinge upon the impactor while still in the ligament phase. .Iaddend. 
     
     
       18. A nebulizer as defined in claim 17 wherein said impactor means comprises a second .[.spherical.]. .Iadd.hollow .Iaddend.plenum chamber having .Iadd.a smooth convex curved outer surface over at least a portion thereof and .Iaddend.an opening therein discharging so as to cause impact between the particles of nebulized liquid in the opposed air stream from said first .[.spherical.]. plenum chamber. 
     
     
       19. A nebulizer as defined in claim 17 wherein said .[.spherical.]. plenum chamber is provided with a pair of openings lying in a common plane passing through the center of the .[.spherical.]. chamber and wherein the spacing between the openings is defined by an angle α. 
     
     
       20. A nebulizer as defined in claim 18 wherein α is 75°. 
     
     
       21. A nebulizer as defined in claim 12 wherein a second .[.spherical.]. plenum chamber is disposed in alignment with the behind said first mentioned .[.spherical.]. chamber and said second plenum chamber is provided with multiple openings. 
     
     
       22. A nebulizer comprising a source of liquid to be nebulized and an outlet for said nebulized liquid comprising a hollow .[.spherical.]. plenum chamber axially aligned with said outlet .Iadd.having a smooth convex curved outer surface over at least a portion thereof .Iaddend.and .[.having.]. apertures therein, one of said apertures facing said outlet, the other of said apertures being diametrically opposed to discharge in the opposite direction, a hollow tubular conduit aligned with said outlet and surrounding said .[.sphere.]. .Iadd.plenum chamber .Iaddend.a closed chamber surrounding but spaced from said tubular conduit, said chamber having air passages therein adjacent to but behind the outlet end of said tubular conduit, means for introducing liquid from said source to the outer surface of said .[.spherical.]. plenum chamber and means for introducing air above ambient pressure into the interior of said plenum chamber. 
     
     
       23. A nebulizer as defined in claim 22 wherein all of said parts are fabricated of a non-corrosive, non-rusting, non-permeable material having the characteristic of resistance to high temperature. 
     
     
       24. A nebulizer as defined in claim 22 wherein said material is glass. 
     
     
       25. A nebulizer as defined in claim 22 wherein said material is metal. 
     
     
       26. A nebulizer as defined in claim 22 wherein said material is a plastic.