Atomizer

Abstract

An atomizer including a gas exit, an outlet adjacent the gas exit, and a deflector for deflecting gas issuing from the gas exit over the outlet for drawing a substance to be atomized out from one outlet and atomizing the substance in the gas issuing from the gas exit characterised in that the deflector is movable between a first position in the path of the gas issuing from the gas exit for atomization and a second and non-atomizing position.

1. An atomizer comprising:
 a head having a gas exit and at least one outlet adjacent said gas exit;   a deflector for deflecting gas issuing from said gas exit over at least one of said outlets, for drawing a substance to be atomized out from at least one of said outlets and atomizing the substance in the gas issuing from said gas exit; and   said deflector mounted with respect to said head so that said deflector is movable between a first position in which said deflector is adjacent said gas exit and directly in the path of gas issuing from said gas exit so that atomization of the substance takes place, and a second position spaced from said gas exit so that no atomizing takes place.   
     
     
       2. An atomizer as recited in  claim 1  further comprising condition responsive means for automatically moving said deflector between said first and second positions in response to a condition. 
     
     
       3. An atomizer as recited in  claim 2  wherein said condition responsive means comprises a vane connected to said deflector and effecting movement of said deflector in response to air pressure conditions acting on said vane. 
     
     
       4. An atomizer as recited in  claim 1  wherein said deflector is mounted with respect to said jet head by a pivot, so that said deflector pivots between said first and second positions. 
     
     
       5. An atomizer as recited in  claim 1  further comprising a vane for moving said deflector between said first and second positions. 
     
     
       6. An atomizer as recited in  claim 5  wherein said deflector comprises a bar connected to said vane. 
     
     
       7. An atomizer as recited in  claim 1  further comprising an air inlet and an air outlet providing for the flow of air toward and past said head, said outlet permitting flow of atomized substance to a human. 
     
     
       8. An atomizer as recited in  claim 7  wherein said deflector moves into said first position when air flows from said air inlet to said air outlet. 
     
     
       9. An atomizer as recited in  claim 7  wherein said deflector moves into said second position when air is not flowing from said air inlet to said air outlet. 
     
     
       10. An atomizer as recited in  claim 3  further comprising an air inlet and an air outlet for providing the flow of air to and past said head; and wherein said deflector is biased to said second position and wherein said vane is biased to a position closing said air inlet. 
     
     
       11. An atomizer as recited in  claim 10  wherein said vane is positioned to direct a flow of air toward said gas exit when air flows from said air inlet to said air outlet. 
     
     
       12. An atomizer as recited in  claim 10  wherein said vane is mounted to allow air flow from said air outlet directly through said air inlet, without passing past said head. 
     
     
       13. An atomizer as recited in  claim 10  wherein said vane is mounted so as to allow a proportion of the air flowing from said air inlet to said air outlet to by-pass said head when the air flow rate exceeds a predetermined value. 
     
     
       14. An atomizer as recited in  claim 4  wherein said deflector comprises a bar with an arcuate surface. 
     
     
       15. An atomizer as recited in  claim 2  wherein said condition is a human inhaling and exhaling during breathing. 
     
     
       16. An atomizer as recited in  claim 15  wherein said deflector is positioned so that during exhaling, exhaled air does not entrain the substance to be atomized. 
     
     
       17. An atomizer as recited in  claim 1  further comprising a baffle extending outwardly and downwardly about said gas exit; and wherein said deflector is mounted within said baffle and movable with respect to said baffle. 
     
     
       18. An atomizer comprising:
 a head having a gas exit and at least one outlet adjacent said gas exit;   a deflector for deflecting gas issuing from said gas exit over at least one of said outlets, for drawing a substance to be atomized out from at least one of said outlets and atomizing the substance in the gas issuing from said gas exit;   said deflector mounted with respect to said head so that said deflector is movable between a first position in the path of gas issuing from said gas exit for atomization, and a second, non-atomizing, position; and   a vane for moving said deflector between said first and second positions.   
     
     
       19. An atomizer as recited in  claim 18  wherein said deflector is mounted with respect to said head by a pivot, so that said deflector pivots between said first and second positions. 
     
     
       20. An atomizer as recited in  claim 18  wherein said vane is integral with said deflector. 
     
     
       21. An atomizer as recited in  claim 18  wherein said deflector comprises a surface elongated in a first dimension and having a first width; and wherein said vane comprises a surface elongated in a second dimension substantially perpendicular to said first dimension and has a second width much greater than said first width so that said vane moves, and effects movement of said deflector, in response to breathing action by a human. 
     
     
       22. An atomizer as recited in  claim 21  further comprising a baffle extending outwardly and downwardly about said gas exit; and wherein said deflector is mounted within said baffle and movable with respect to said baffle. 
     
     
       23. An atomizer comprising:
 a head having a gas exit and at least one outlet adjacent said gas exit;   a deflector for deflecting gas issuing from said gas exit over at least one of said outlets, for drawing a substance to be atomized out from at least one of said outlets and atomizing the substance in the gas issuing from said gas exit; and   said deflector pivotally mounted with respect to said head so that said deflector is pivotally movable between a first position in the path of gas issuing from said gas exit for atomization, and a second, non-atomizing, position.   
     
     
       24. An atomizer as recited in  claim 23  further comprising a baffle extending outwardly and downwardly about said gas exit; and wherein said deflector is mounted within said baffle and movable with respect to said baffle. 
     
     
       25. Spray forming apparatus comprising:
 a housing having an outlet for a spray of atomized substance;   a head mounted within said housing and including a pressurized gas exit, and at least one outlet adjacent said gas exit;   a deflector for deflecting gas issuing from said gas exit over at least one of said outlets, for drawing a substance to be atomized out from at least one of said outlets and atomizing the substance in the gas issuing from said gas exit; and   said deflector mounted with respect to said head so that said deflector is movable between a first position in which said deflector is adjacent said gas exit and directly in the path of gas issuing from said gas exit so that atomization of the substance takes place, and the atomized substance is sprayed out of said housing outlet, and a second position in which said deflector is spaced from said gas exit so that no atomized substance is sprayed out of said spray outlet.   
     
     
       26. An atomizer comprising:
 an atomizing chamber;   a pressurized gas outlet leading to the atomizing chamber;   an air outlet for enabling a flow of air and atomized substance out of the atomizing chamber to a patient;   a reservoir;   a substance passage having a substance inlet in fluid communication with the reservoir, and a substance outlet that opens into the atomizing chamber; and   a deflector arranged to deflect gas issuing from the pressurized gas outlet,   wherein a variable distance between the substance outlet and the deflector is variable between an atomizing distance and a non-atomizing distance,   wherein the pressurized gas outlet, deflector, and substance outlet are positioned relative to each other such that when the deflector and substance outlet are spaced apart by the atomizing distance and a substance is in the reservoir, a flow of gas through the pressurized gas outlet draws the substance from the reservoir through the substance passage and out of the substance outlet and atomizes the substance, and   the pressurized gas outlet, deflector, and substance outlet are positioned relative to each other such that when the deflector and substance outlet are spaced apart by the non-atomizing distance and the substance is in the reservoir, the flow of gas through the pressurized gas outlet does not draw the substance from the reservoir through the substance passage and out of the substance outlet or atomize the substance.   
     
     
       27. The atomizer of claim 26, wherein the deflector is movable relative to the pressurized gas outlet. 
     
     
       28. The atomizer of claim 26, wherein the substance outlet and pressurized gas outlet are in fixed positions relative to each other. 
     
     
       29. The atomizer of claim 26, further comprising:
 an air inlet for enabling a flow of ambient air into the atomizing chamber;   an air passage extending between the air inlet and air outlet; and   a valve in the air passage, the valve having a variable-sized opening therethrough, the size of the opening being cyclically variable in response to cyclical inhalations by the patient through the air outlet.   
     
     
       30. The atomizer of claim 29, wherein the variable distance is cyclically variable between the atomizing and non-atomizing distances in response to the cyclical inhalations. 
     
     
       31. The atomizer of claim 30, wherein:
 the valve is movable between a first position that at least substantially seals the air inlet from the atomizing chamber, and a second position that permits air flow from the air inlet to the atomizing chamber,   the atomizer is constructed and arrange to make the variable distance become the atomizing distance in response to each inhalation of the cyclical inhalations;   the atomizer is constructed and arrange to make the variable distance become the non-atomizing distance in response to the completion of each inhalation of the cyclical inhalations;   the atomizer is constructed and arranged to, in response to each inhalation of the cyclical inhalations, move the valve into its second position after making the variable distance become the atomizing distance,   the atomizer is constructed and arranged to move the valve into its first position in response to the completion of each inhalation of the cyclical inhalations.   
     
     
       32. An atomizer comprising:
 an atomizing chamber;   a pressurized gas outlet leading to the atomizing chamber;   an air inlet for enabling a flow of ambient air into the atomizing chamber;   an air outlet for enabling a flow of air and atomized substance out of the atomizing chamber to a patient;   an air passage extending between the air inlet and air outlet;   a valve in the air passage, the valve having a variable-sized opening therethrough, the size of the opening being cyclically variable in response to cyclical inhalations by a patient through the air outlet;   a reservoir;   a substance passage having a substance inlet in fluid communication with the reservoir, and a substance outlet that opens into the atomizing chamber; and   a deflector arranged to deflect gas issuing from the pressurized gas outlet,   wherein a distance between the deflector and the substance outlet is cyclically variable in response to the cyclical inhalations.   
     
     
       33. The atomizer of claim 32, wherein the valve comprises a movable flap disposed in the air passage. 
     
     
       34. The atomizer of claim 32, wherein the valve comprises a pressure-responsive valve that is constructed and arranged to increase the size of the opening in the valve in response to negative pressure in the air passage. 
     
     
       35. The atomizer of claim 32, wherein:
 the valve is constructed and arranged to increase the size of the opening in response to an inhalation, and   the valve is constructed and arranged to decrease the size of the opening in response to completion of the inhalation.   
     
     
       36. The atomizer of claim 35, wherein:
 the valve is movable between a first position that at least substantially seals the air inlet from the atomizing chamber, and a second position that permits air flow from the air inlet to the atomizing chamber, and   the valve is constructed and arranged to move into its second position in response to the inhalation,   the valve is constructed and arranged to move into its first position in response to completion of the inhalation.   
     
     
       37. The atomizer of claim 32, wherein:
 the distance is variable between an atomizing distance and a non-atomizing distance:   the pressurized gas outlet, deflector, and substance outlet are positioned relative to each other such that when the deflector and substance outlet are spaced apart by the atomizing distance and a substance is in the reservoir, a flow of gas through the pressurized gas outlet draws the substance from the reservoir through the substance passage and out of the substance outlet and atomizes the substance, and   the pressurized gas outlet, deflector, and substance outlet are positioned relative to each other such that when the deflector and substance outlet are spaced apart by the non-atomizing distance and the substance is in the reservoir, the flow of gas through the pressurized gas outlet does not draw the substance from the reservoir through the substance passage and out of the substance outlet or atomize the substance.   
     
     
       38. The atomizer of claim 26, wherein the substance outlet is in a fixed position relative to the pressurized gas outlet. 
     
     
       39. An atomizer comprising:
 an atomizing chamber;   a pressurized gas outlet leading to the atomizing chamber;   an air outlet for enabling a flow of air and atomized substance out of the atomizing chamber to a patient;   a reservoir;   a substance passage having a substance inlet in fluid communication with the reservoir, and a substance outlet that opens into the atomizing chamber; and   a deflector arranged to deflect gas issuing from the pressurized gas outlet,   wherein the deflector is movable relative to the substance outlet between an atomizing position and a non-atomizing position,   wherein the pressurized gas outlet, deflector, and substance outlet are positioned relative to each other such that when the deflector is in the atomizing position relative to the substance outlet and a substance is in the reservoir, a flow of gas through the pressurized gas outlet draws the substance from the reservoir through the substance passage and out of the substance outlet and atomizes the substance, and   the pressurized gas outlet, deflector, and substance outlet are positioned relative to each other such that when the deflector is in the non-atomizing position relative to the substance outlet and the substance is in the reservoir, the flow of gas through the pressurized gas outlet does not draw the substance from the reservoir through the substance passage and out of the substance outlet or atomize the substance.   
     
     
       40. An atomizer comprising:
 an atomizing chamber;   a pressurized gas outlet leading to the atomizing chamber;   an air inlet for enabling a flow of ambient air into the atomizing chamber;   an air outlet for enabling a flow of air and atomized substance out of the atomizing chamber to a patient;   an air passage extending between the air inlet and air outlet;   a valve in the air passage, the valve having a variable-sized opening therethrough, the size of the opening being cyclically variable in response to cyclical inhalations by a patient through the air outlet;   a reservoir;   a substance passage having a substance inlet in fluid communication with the reservoir, and a substance outlet that opens into the atomizing chamber; and   a deflector arranged to deflect gas issuing from the pressurized gas outlet,   wherein the deflector is cyclically movable relative to the substance outlet in response to the cyclical inhalations.