Abstract:
The nebulisation venturi includes a liquid supply duct and compressed air supply duct, each duct having a nozzle opening in the nebulisation zone in which the air arriving under pressure from the supply duct nebulises the liquid coming from the liquid supply duct. The venturi includes a regulator for the relative position of the liquid supply duct nozzle with relation to the compressed air supply duct nozzle. The regulator can adjust at least the longitudinal position of the liquid supply nozzle and/or the angular position of the liquid supply nozzle. The venturi preferably includes a supply duct for free air with a nozzle in the nebulisation zone and an opening to the outside.

Description:
RELATED U.S. APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     Not applicable.  
       STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT  
       [0002]     Not applicable.  
       REFERENCE TO MICROFICHE APPENDIX  
       [0003]     Not applicable.  
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     This invention concerns a nebulization venturi and a device comprising same.  
         [0005]     It applies in particular to liquid diffusion devices, for example to the diffusion of perfumes, liquid fuels, etc.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     The first goal of this invention is to achieve fine particles of liquid scattered into the air.  
         [0007]     It is reminded that nebulization is meant when the size of the liquid particles is less than one micron, and atomization whenever their size is between 1 and 10 microns approximately, and fogging when their size is larger than approx. 10 microns.  
         [0008]     Nebulization venturi are known of in which a pressurized air jet sucks, through the Venturi effect, a liquid to be sprayed and produces the diffusion of said liquid in the form of liquid particles. Each of these venturi is made by machining one or more metallic parts making up the body of the venturi. These venturi show fabrication variations such that the orientation of the nebulized liquid particle stream and the nebulized liquid particle diffusion angle are not identical for the various venturi. In addition, there is no nebulization venturi that nebulizes with a constant size of nebulized liquid particles. Thus, in the venturi outgoing stream, a significant proportion of large particles is found, that requires the presence of specific means to trap them.  
         [0009]     Finally, the only adjustable parameter with such venturi is the pressure of the air injected into the venturi.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0010]     This invention intends to remedy these disadvantages.  
         [0011]     To that effect, this invention concerns, under a first aspect, a nebulization venturi comprising a liquid delivery conduit and a liquid intake conduit and a pressurized air intake conduit, both conduits each provided with at least one nozzle ending toward the nebulization zone in which the air under pressure coming from the air intake conduit nebulizes the liquid coming from the liquid delivery conduit, characterized in that it comprises an adjusting means of the position of the liquid delivery conduit in relation to the pressurized air intake conduit nozzle.  
         [0012]     Through these arrangements, good reproducibility of fabrication is achieved since the adjustment of the liquid delivery conduit makes it possible to compensate, at least partially, for the fabrication variations and to adapt the nebulized liquid particle flow to each use.  
         [0013]     According to special characteristics, the adjusting means is designed to adjust at least the longitudinal position of the liquid intake nozzle along the axis of the liquid delivery conduit.  
         [0014]     Through these arrangements, at least the average angle of diffusion of the nebulized liquid particles can be adjusted.  
         [0015]     According to special characteristics, the liquid intake nozzle does not have revolution symmetry in relation to the liquid delivery conduit axis and the adjusting means is designed to adjust at least the angular position of the liquid intake nozzle in relation to the liquid delivery conduit axis.  
         [0016]     Through these arrangements, the rotation of this conduit makes it possible to vary the venturi operation, venturi output and size of the nebulized particles.  
         [0017]     According to special characteristics, the venturi comprises a free air intake conduit provided with a nozzle in the nebulization zone and an open air opening.  
         [0018]     Through these arrangements, the quantity of air to be injected is reduced and the operation of the venturi is thus more economical. The inventor, indeed, discovered that in addition to the air injected by the nozzle on the air intake conduit, air coming from the free air intake conduit participated in the liquid nebulization or at least significantly increased the nebulisate output. The venturi under this invention can thus operate with a small size compressor, small power usage, supplying a small flow of pressurized air, said air flow being supplemented by the additional flow coming from the free air intake conduit.  
         [0019]     According to special characteristics, the venturi has a taper downstream of the nebulization zone.  
         [0020]     Through these arrangements, the flow of nebulized liquid particles is dispersed in the tapered nozzle.  
         [0021]     This invention concerns also a nebulization device comprising a venturi, such as the one briefly described above.  
         [0022]     According to special characteristics, the device comprises in addition a diaphragm placed at the outlet of the nebulization zone and designed to retain the nebulized liquid particles located in the lateral parts of the stream of particles coming out of the nebulization zone.  
         [0023]     Through these arrangements, the larger nebulized liquid particles located in the periphery of the flow of nebulized liquid particles are retained by the diaphragm and, possibly recovered in the container of liquid to be nebulized.  
         [0024]     According to special characteristics, the venturi comprises an air suction conduit provided with a nozzle in the nebulization zone and the device comprises at another opening of the air suction conduit, a negative pressure sensor and a processing means of a signal coming from said sensor and representative of the negative pressure inside the suction conduit.  
         [0025]     According to another characteristic of the invention, the negative pressure sensor totally blanks the air suction conduit, but as an alternative, the blanking can be only partial, with the body of the pressure sensor then creating a more or less significant loss of charge.  
         [0026]     Through these arrangements, the negative pressure sensor makes it possible to determine the absence of liquid at the liquid delivery conduit in the nebulization zone. To that effect, the inventor discovered that when there is no more liquid in this nozzle, the value of the negative pressure sensed by the pressure sensor is different from the value of the negative pressure when said nozzle contains liquid to be nebulized. It is to be noted that the air suction conduit and the free air intake conduit briefly described above can be confused.  
         [0027]     The signal processing means can then generate a sound, visual or wire/non-wire remotely transmitted alarm and/or cause power cutoff to the air compressor supplying pressurized air to the nozzle.  
         [0028]     According to special characteristics, the liquid suction conduit comprises also an open air opening. Thus, the liquid suction conduit offers the advantages of the free air intake conduit briefly described above. i.e., the quantity of air to be injected is reduced and the operation of the venturi thus more economical. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0029]     Other advantages, goals and characteristics of this invention will become apparent from the description to follow, done based on the attached drawings.  
         [0030]      FIG. 1  shows a cross-sectional view of a venturi according to a first special embodiment of a first aspect of this invention; and  FIG. 1   a  shows at an enlarged scale the details of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0031]      FIG. 2  shows a cross-sectional view of a venturi according to a second special embodiment of a first aspect of this invention.  
         [0032]      FIG. 3  shows a cross-sectional view of a venturi according to a third embodiment of a first aspect of this invention.  
         [0033]      FIG. 4  shows a cross-sectional view of a venturi according to a fourth special embodiment of a first aspect of this invention.  
         [0034]      FIG. 5  shows a partial perspective view of a venturi according to another special embodiment of the first aspect of this invention.  
         [0035]      FIGS. 6 and 7  show cross-sectional views of a special embodiment of a nebulization device according to another aspect of this invention.  
         [0036]      FIG. 8  is a detail sectional view of  FIG. 6 .  
         [0037]      FIG. 9  shows schematic view of a nebulization device comprising a means of alarm generation.  
         [0038]      FIG. 10  is a schematic view of a representation of a process flowchart of a nebulization device according to one special embodiment of a process that is the subject of one aspect of this invention.  
         [0039]      FIG. 11  is a schematic view of a representation of a shutter adaptable to the embodiments shown in  FIGS. 6 through 9 .  
         [0040]      FIG. 12  is a schematic view of a representation of an alternative shape for the liquid delivery conduit nozzle that can be used in each embodiment of this invention.  
         [0041]      FIGS. 13 and 14  are perspective views of an open ( FIG. 13 ) and closed ( FIG. 14 ) case intended to receive the device under the invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0042]     In each of  FIGS. 1 through 4 , a venturi  61  through  64  respectively can be seen, each comprising a venturi body, an air intake conduit  10 , a delivery conduit for the liquid to be nebulized  20 , a nebulization zone  30  in which are located a nozzle  15  of the air intake conduit  10  and a nozzle  25  of the liquid delivery conduit  20 , a free air conduit  40  provided with a nozzle  45  in the nebulization zone  30 , the nebulization zone being formed in the venturi body and the various conduits entering said body, more specifically said conduits fitting into borings made in the venturi body, proper sealing being achieved between the outside cylindrical faces of the conduits and the cylindrical faces of the corresponding borings. One can see that the conduit  20  enters into the nebulization zone  30  that is formed by a cylindrical chamber. One can see that the conduit  20  can be made of a containing part and of a contained part mounted in the containing part with a tight fit or slightly tight fit, the nozzle  25  being provided for at the end of the contained part. The type of fit can allow for the sliding of the contained part inside the containing part or prevent it.  
         [0043]     One can also see that the nozzle  45  is in a geometric plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the conduit  40  and that the nozzle  15  is arranged according to a geometric plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the conduit  10 . One can also see that the longitudinal axes of the conduits  10 ,  20  and  40  are secant, that the longitudinal axis of the conduit  10  is perpendicular to the longitudinal axes of the conduits  40  and  20 . One can also see that the conduits  40  and  20  are axially aligned.  
         [0044]     The air intake conduit  10  is connected to a compressor ( FIG. 9 ) that supplies air under pressure, e.g., equal to between one and ten times the atmospheric pressure. The liquid delivery conduit  20  is connected at one end to a container of liquid to be nebulized ( FIGS. 6, 7  and  9 ). In the nebulization zone  30 , the nozzle  15  of the air intake conduit  10  and the nozzle  25  of the liquid delivery conduit  20  are respectively positioned so that through Venturi effect, the liquid either is sucked into the nebulization zone  30  where the air flow coming out of the nozzle causes the generation of a flow of nebulized liquid particles, directed toward an outlet  50  of the nebulization zone  30 , in a well-known manner.  
         [0045]     It can be noted that the venturi  61  through  64  has an adjusting means  70  of the position of the nozzle  25  on the liquid delivery conduit  20 . Adjustment can be achieved through longitudinal sliding and/or rotation of the liquid delivery conduit  20  in the venturi  61  through  64 . To that effect, the liquid delivery conduit can be provided with a threaded section and the boring in the venturi body designed to receive said conduit shall be tapped, the conduit thread matching the boring tap. With such solution, the axial displacement of the conduit cannot be dissociated from its rotation. According to an alternative embodiment, the liquid suction conduit  20  and the corresponding boring are smooth, which allows for longitudinal adjustment of the conduit independently from its rotational adjustment.  
         [0046]     Adjustment of the position of the nozzle  25 , using the adjusting means  70 , permits to vary the operating parameters of the venturi  61  through  64 , to compensate at least partially for the fabrication variations and to adapt the stream of nebulized liquid particles to each use. By moving longitudinally the nozzle  25 , at least the average diffusion angle of the nebulized liquid particles is adjusted in relation to the air intake conduit axis  10 .  
         [0047]     In  FIG. 1 , the nozzles  15  and  25  touch, except for the thickness of conduit  25 . In  FIG. 2 , on the other hand, the nozzle  25  is apart from the nozzle  15  by a distance of the same order of magnitude as the diameter of the nozzle  25 , i.e., between half and three times this diameter.  
         [0048]     In  FIG. 3 , the same elements as in  FIG. 2  can be noted, plus a taper  75  extending axially the nebulization zone  30 . In  FIG. 4 , the same elements as in  FIG. 3  can be noted, plus an extension of the taper  75  in the form of a cylindrical chamber  80  acting as diaphragm, i.e., laterally retaining the stream of nebulized liquid particles. Thus, the larger particles that are generally located in the lateral parts of this stream, settle on the cylindrical lateral surface of the chamber  80  and flow under the effect of gravity to be recovered either in the nebulization zone, or in the container of the liquid to be nebulized (see  FIGS. 6 through 8 ).  
         [0049]     In  FIG. 1  through  3  it can be noted that the nozzles  25  and  45  are arranged according to parallel geometrical planes, and that the nozzle  25  is in a geometrical plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the conduit  20 , while in  FIG. 4 , it can be noted that the liquid delivery nozzle  25  is not provided with revolution symmetry in relation to the liquid delivery conduit axis: the plane of the nozzle  25  shows, in relation to the longitudinal axis of the conduit  25 , an angle different from 90 degrees. In alternative solutions, the absence of revolution symmetry is reflected by a non-circular shape of the conduit  20 . The adjusting means  70  is designed to adjust at least the angular position of the liquid delivery nozzle  25 , in relation to the liquid delivery conduit  20 . The rotation of this conduit  20  permits to vary the operation of the venturi  64 .  
         [0050]     Although not shown in the figures, alternatively, the adjusting means  70  of the position of the nozzle  25  also permits to adjust the distance between said nozzle  25  and the nozzle  15  along the axis of nozzle  15 , to adjust the distance between said nozzle  25  and the axis of the nozzle  15  and/or to adjust the angle between the axes of nozzles  15  and  25 , according to mechanical means known as such.  
         [0051]     In each of  FIGS. 1 through 4 , one can note the free air intake conduit  40  that ends in the nebulization zone  30 , through the nozzle  45  and for which another opening is in the open air, e.g., in the container of the liquid to be nebulized (see  FIGS. 6 through 8 ). The shape and/or position of nozzle  45  of the free air intake conduit in the nebulization zone  30  cause the suction of free air into this area, e.g., through the venturi effect, or through the effect of the negative pressure generated on the lateral parts of the nebulization zone  30  through the air flow injected by nozzle  15 . The inventor noted that the presence of the free air intake conduit  40  made it possible to increase the efficiency of each venturi  61  through  64 , compared to a similar venturi not provided with this free air intake conduit  40 .  
         [0052]     In  FIG. 5 , a venturi  65  can be noted that comprises an air intake conduit  10 , a cylindrical conduit  85  for delivery of the liquid to be nebulized on one hand, and intake of free air on the other hand, a nebulization zone  30  comprising a nozzle  15  of the air intake conduit  10  and two openings  86  and  87  of conduit  85 . The conduit  85  is designed to slide in a cylindrical boring made in the body of venturi  65 . In this manner, the adjusting means  70 , consisting of this boring, makes it possible to slide conduit  85  both in rotation in relation to its axis and in translation along its axis, which makes it possible to vary the position of openings  86  and  87  in relation to nozzle  15  and thus constitutes two adjusting parameters of the operation of venturi  65 . In addition to the openings  86  and  87 , conduits  85  has at one end an open air opening and at the other end an opening in a container of the liquid to be nebulized  
         [0053]     The openings  86  and  87  are circular and have diameters practically equal to the diameter of nozzle  15 . They are placed symmetrically in relation to the longitudinal axis of conduit  85 . They are thus diametrically opposite.  
         [0054]      FIGS. 6 through 8  show a container of the liquid to be nebulized  100 , a delivery conduit of the liquid to be nebulized  120  consisting of a hollow rod  121  plunging into the liquid contained in the container  100  and of a secondary conduit  122  inserted into a venturi  160 , said secondary conduit being in a communication relation with the conduit  120 . The venturi  160  rests on the rim of the container through a centering flange  161 , either independent or rooted in the venturi body. A pilferproof ring  162  is positioned around the upper part of the container and through a locking collar  163  in its upper part rests against the centering flange  161 . This pilferproof ring  162  is attached in a non-removable fashion on the container. In addition, the venturi  160  is covered with a cap  164  in which an air intake conduit  110   a  and a nebulisate discharge conduit  195  are formed.  
         [0055]     The air intake conduit  110   a  is appropriately extended by a fitting end  110   b  that is proof against a source of pressurized air, e.g., the compressed air output of a compressor. This fitting end  110   b  can be vertical as shown and extend either upward or downward, but said fitting end can also have a horizontal position.  
         [0056]     The cap  164  is attached to the centering flange  161  with screws and covers the locking collar  163  on the pilferproof ring  162 . Each screw is inserted into a boring through the flange  161  and into a blind tap made in the cap  164 . Because of this arrangement, the screw heads are in the inside volume of the container or opposite it and are therefore inaccessible.  
         [0057]     Thus, after the pilferproof ring  162  is secured on the container, it is no longer possible to remove the venturi, without destroying the ring and to access the content of the container.  
         [0058]     This device can then be single-use and disposable after depletion of the liquid contained in the container.  
         [0059]     To reinforce safety by precluding the introduction into the device, and especially into the container, of any foreign matter or liquid before or after complete depletion of the liquid initially contained in the container, the various conduits accessible from outside the device can be equipped with securement means such as check valves and alike.  
         [0060]     The venturi  160  comprises an air intake conduit  110  in communication relation with the conduit  110   a  provided in the cap, the secondary conduit  122 , a nebulization zone  130  in which there is a nozzle  115  of the air intake conduit  110  and a nozzle  125  of the liquid delivery conduit  120 , an outlet  150  of the nebulization zone  130 , an adjusting means  170  of the position of the secondary conduit  122 , a taper  175  extending outlet  150  of the nebulization zone and a cylindrical chamber  180  extending the taper. The adjusting means  170  consists of a micrometric pitch screw. The venturi  160  can also have a free air conduit  140  with a nozzle  145  in the nebulization zone  130 . This free air conduit will be in communication relation with a through-conduit  140   a  provided in the cap.  
         [0061]     In a preferred design, the conduit for the liquid to be nebulized  121  comprises at its lower end a filter  121   a . This filter plunges into the liquid present in the container.  
         [0062]     The free air conduit or suction conduit  140  also features:—an opening  142  designed to receive a negative pressure sensor (see  FIG. 9 ).  
         [0063]     In the nebulization zone  130 , the nozzle  115  of the air intake conduit  110  and the nozzle  125  of the liquid delivery conduit  120  are respectively positioned so that through Venturi effect, the liquid is sucked into the nebulization zone  130  where the air flow coming out of the nozzle  115  causes the generation of a stream of nebulized liquid particles, directed toward the outlet  150  of the nebulization zone  130 , in a well-known manner.  
         [0064]     The inventor noted that the presence of the free air intake conduit  140  made it possible to increase the output of the venturi  160  compared to an identical venturi not equipped with this free air intake conduit  140 . In addition, since the suction conduit sucks air in the chamber  180 , part of the stream from the venturi is reinjected into the nebulization zone, which makes it possible to increase the concentration of nebulized liquid particles in the stream leaving the chamber  180 .  
         [0065]     In a manner characteristic of one aspect of this invention, the escape opening  190  through which the flux coming out of the chamber  180  exits the venturi  160  ends into the liquid container  100  and the liquid container  100  comprises a nebulized liquid particle release opening  195  through which part of the nebulized liquid particles coming from the escape opening  190  exits the container  100  and the nebulization liquid to be diffused in the atmosphere surrounding this nebulization device.  
         [0066]     Thus, the larger nebulized liquid particles settle by the effect of gravity or because of their inertia in the container  100  where they join the liquid to be nebulized.  
         [0067]     In a preferred design, the escape opening  190  is directed toward the surface of the liquid contained in the container.  
         [0068]      FIG. 9  shows a nebulization device  200  comprising the container  100  and venturi  160 , a compressor  210 , a power supply  220  for the compressor  210 , a pressure sensor  230 , a processing means  240 , an alarm signal generator  250 , a sound transmitter  260 , an indicating light  270  and a computer network  280 .  
         [0069]     The pressure sensor  230  is positioned on the opening  142  of the conduit  140  and generates a signal representative of the pressure (or negative pressure) in the lateral parts of the nebulization zone  130 . The processing means  240 , for example an electronic board (possibly of the microprocessor type), a computer or a threshold circuit, receives the signal transmitted by the pressure sensor  230  and, based on predetermined variation criteria of this signal, causes the generation of alarm signals by the alarm signal generator  250  sent to the sound transmitter  260 , indicator  270  and/or computer network  280 .  
         [0070]     The predetermined criteria are for example: 
        drop of pressure measured below a threshold level or     drop of pressure by at least 10% measured in less than 5 minutes.        
 
         [0073]     The inventor indeed discovered that when there is no more liquid in the nozzle  125 , the value of the negative pressure sensed by the pressure sensor  230  is different from the value of the negative pressure when said nozzle contains liquid to be nebulized. In the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 6 through 9 , the value of the pressure measured is, when there is no more liquid in the nozzle  125 , lower than when there is still liquid to be nebulized in the nozzle  125 .  
         [0074]     The alarm signal generator  250  is designed to command: 
        the transmittal of sound signals by the sound transmitter  260 , consisting for example of a speaker,     the transmittal of visual signals by the indicating light  270 , consisting for example of a LED and/or     the transmission of alarm signals by the computer network  280 , consisting for example of a wire or non-wire connection connected to a capture board itself connected to a computer system.        
 
         [0078]     The processing means is also designed to cut off the power supply of the compressor  210  when it detects that there is no more liquid to be nebulized.  
         [0079]      FIG. 10  shows an initialization step  300  during which a venturi is connected to a container of liquid to be nebulized so that the projection by the venturi of nebulized liquid particles is done inside the container.  
         [0080]     Then, during step  310 , an air compressor is started to cause suction of the liquid to be nebulized into a container.  
         [0081]     For each part of the liquid sucked during step  310 , an injection step  320  into a nebulization zone then takes place and a projection step  330  of the nebulized liquid particles into said container.  
         [0082]     Part of the nebulized liquid particles then exits the container through a release opening during step  340 .  
         [0083]     In parallel to the steps  320  through  340 , part of the air in the container is sucked into a free air conduit, step  350 , and injected into the nebulization zone, step  360 .  
         [0084]     In parallel to the steps  320  through  360 , a measurement step  370  is carried out for the pressure in the nebulization zone and a processing step  380  of said measurement.  
         [0085]     According to a preferred design, during measurement step  370 , the pressure is measured in a suction conduit provided with a nozzle in the nebulization zone, and possibly with an open air opening, for example, in the container.  
         [0086]     During the processing step  380 , the compressor operation is stopped or an alarm signal is generated whenever the pressure meets predetermined variation criteria, as explained based on  FIG. 9 .  
         [0087]      FIG. 11  shows a circular component or diaphragm  196  with three lateral openings  197  that can be inserted into the escape opening  190  preferably in a shoulder provided at the end of this opening, i.e., opposite to the nebulization chamber (see  FIG. 6 ). The function of this circular component is to retain the largest particles of the nebulized liquid so that they form large size drops that fall under the gravity effect into the container  100 , which prevents the formation of an emulsion liable to cause oxidation of the liquid to be nebulized.  
         [0088]      FIG. 12  shows an alternative form  26  of the nozzle  25  (see  FIGS. 1 through 4 ).  
         [0089]     In this alternative, the opening of nozzle  25  has a non-plane shape formed by the intersection of the liquid delivery conduit  70  and of a cylinder surrounding the nozzle of the pressurized air intake  10 , with the pressurized intake air conduit as axis. The inventor noted that this particular shape  26  allows for good efficiency of the nebulization venturi  61  through  64 . Any other shape, for example, triangular can be provided for.  
         [0090]     The device as described will be appropriately arranged in a compartmented protective case as shown in  FIGS. 13 and 14 . As one can see, this case has a closing flap with a lock. One of the compartments of the case shall be designed to receive the device under the invention and another one of the compartments shall be designed to receive the compressed air compressor. The compressor compressed air outlet shall be connected through a flexible or rigid line to a socket secured in the first compartment and designed to receive the cap socket end of the nebulization device. Another compartment shall be provided to receive the device electronics.  
         [0091]     In a preferred design, to secure the device inside the case without altering the removability of the device, the latter is equipped with a locking lever designed to work together through pivoting with two anchoring studs mounted in the first compartment.  
         [0092]     It is understood that this invention can accommodate any fixtures and alternatives from the field of equivalent techniques without thereby going outside the scope of this invention.