Sonic dispersing apparatus

Claim 2

A sonic dispersing apparatus comprising: an elongated vibration transmitting member dimensioned to oscillate when excited with vibrations of predetermined frequency along its longitudinal axis as a half wavelength resonator and exhibiting a pair of nodal regions And a medially disposed loop region of longitudinal motion; a sleeve surrounding said loop region and providing with said vibration transmitting member an annular chamber for treating a liquid to be emulsified; means for causing liquid to be treated to be admitted to said chamber and withdrawn therefrom, and said chamber in said loop region being of restricted crosssectional area to cause said liquid to form a film subjected to shear forces.

Claim 3

A sonic dispersing apparatus as set forth in claim 1, said member being dimensioned for oscillation in the ultrasonic frequency range.

Claim 4

A sonic dispersing apparatus as set forth in claim 1 and including a set of axially spaced liquid inlet and outlet ports for admitting liquid to said chamber and withdrawing it therefrom.

Claim 5

A sonic dispersing apparatus as set forth in claim 3, said chamber comprising a first annular space disposed for receiving said liquid and distributing it radially around the periphery of said member, a second narrower annular space for guiding the liquid through said loop region, and a third annular space for receiving and collecting the treated liquid from said second space.

Claim 6

A sonic dispersing apparatus as set forth in claim 4, one of said surfaces forming said second space being provided with protrusions to increase the turbulence of the liquid.

Claim 7

A sonic dispersing apparatus as set forth in claim 5, said protrusions being disposed radially about the circumference of said vibration transmitting member.

Claim 8

A sonic dispersing apparatus as set forth in claim 1, and electroacoustic transducer means adapted to be coupled to said elongated vibration-transmitting member at one end thereof.

Claim 9

A sonic dispersing apparatus comprising: an elongated vibration transmitting member adapted to oscillate along its longitudinal axis as a half-wavelength resonator at an ultrasonic frequency; said member having a length substantially corresponding to one wavelength of sound travelling longitudinally through the material forming said member and thereby providing a centrally located loop region of longitudinal motion, two nodal regions of longitudinal motion straddling said loop region and opposite ends of said member being disposed substantially at respective loop regions of longitudinal motion; electroacoustic converter means coupled to one of said ends for causing said member to resonate; a sleeve closely surrounding said centrally disposed loop region and providing with the exterior surface of said member an annular chamber for treating a liquid film to be emulsified; resilient means in engagement with said member at said respective nodal regions and said sleeve for supporting said sleeve around said member and forming a liquid tight seal therewith, and means for causing liquid to be treated to flow through said chamber whereby to cause said liquid film to be exposed to the effects of ultrasonic shear forces.

Claim 10

A sonic dispersing apparatus comprising: an elongated vibration transmitting member adapted to oscillate along its longitudinal axis as a half-wavelength resonator at an ultrasonic frequency; said member having a length substantially corresponding to one wavelength of sound travelling longitudinally through the material forming said member and thereby providing a centrally located loop region of longitudinal motion, two nodal regions of longitudinal motion straddling said loop region and opposite ends of said member being disposed substantially at respective loop regions of longitudinal motion; electroacoustic converter means coupled to one of said ends for causing said member to resonate; a sleeve closely surrounding said centrally disposed loop region and providing with the exterior surface of said member an annular chamber for treating a liquid film to be emulsified; resilient means in engagement with said member at said respective nodal regions and said sleeve for supporting said sleeve around said member and forming a liquid tight seal therewith, and means for causing liquid to be treated to flow through said chamber whereby to cause said liquid film to be exposed to the effects of ultrasonic shear forces.

Claim 11

A sonic dispersing apparatus comprising: an elongated vibration transmitting member adapted to oscillate along its longitudinal axis as a half-wavelength resonator at an ultrasonic frequency; said member having a length substantially corresponding to one wavelength of sound travelling longitudinally through the material forming said member and thereby providing a centrally located loop region of longitudinal motion, two nodal regions of longitudinal motion straddling said loop region, and opposite ends of said member being disposed substantially at respective loop regions of longitudinal motion; electroacoustic converter means coupled to one of said ends for causing said member to resonate; a cylindrical sleeve surrounding said centrally disposed loop region and providing with the exterior surface of said member an annular chamber for treating a liquid to be emulsified; resilient means in engagement with said member at said respective nodal regions and said sleeve for supporting said sleeve around said member and forming a Liquid tight seal therewith; a collar having axially spaced liquid inlet and outlet port means disposed about said sleeve; further resilient means in engagement with said collar and said sleeve for supporting said collar about said sleeve and providing liquidtight seals; aperture means for causing liquid to be treated to flow from said inlet port means through said sleeve to said chamber for causing said liquid to be exposed to the effects of ultrasonic shear forces, and causing the exposed liquid to be withdrawn from said chamber through said sleeve and outlet port means, and said chamber in the loop region being of restricted cross-sectional area to cause the liquid therein to be in film form.

Claim 12

A sonic dispersing apparatus comprising: an elongated vibration transmitting member adapted to oscillate along its longitudinal axis as a half-wavelength resonator at an ultrasonic frequency; said member having a length substantially corresponding to one wavelength of sound travelling longitudinally through the material forming said member and thereby providing a centrally located loop region of longitudinal motion, two nodal regions of longitudinal motion straddling said loop region, and opposite ends of said member being disposed substantially at respective loop regions of longitudinal motion; electroacoustic converter means coupled to one of said ends for causing said member to resonate; a cylindrical sleeve surrounding said centrally disposed loop region and providing with the exterior surface of said member an annular chamber for treating a liquid to be emulsified; resilient means in engagement with said member at said respective nodal regions and said sleeve for supporting said sleeve around said member and forming a Liquid tight seal therewith; a collar having axially spaced liquid inlet and outlet port means disposed about said sleeve; further resilient means in engagement with said collar and said sleeve for supporting said collar about said sleeve and providing liquidtight seals; aperture means for causing liquid to be treated to flow from said inlet port means through said sleeve to said chamber for causing said liquid to be exposed to the effects of ultrasonic shear forces, and causing the exposed liquid to be withdrawn from said chamber through said sleeve and outlet port means, and said chamber in the loop region being of restricted cross-sectional area to cause the liquid therein to be in film form.