US3716190A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Atomizing method
Assignee: 3M Co
•
Filing: 1970-10-27
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Granted: 1973-02-13
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Expires: 1990-10-27
Abstract
Abstract A method for atomizing a liquid which comprises the steps of 1) forming a dispersion of minute gas bubbles in a flowing enclosed pressurized liquid, said liquid and gas being the continuous and dispersed phases respectively, and 2) subsequently forcibly expelling the dispersed system through an hydraulic atomizing nozzle into an ambient atmosphere to provide an expanding stream of minute droplets. The preferred apparatus for carrying out the method of the invention is a venturi tube fitted at one end with an hydraulic atomizing nozzle, the compressed gas being introduced into the liquid at the throat of the venturi.
Inventors
- 👤 J Lindlof
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 04:27
CPC Classifications
F; F25; F25C; F25C3/00; F25C3/04; F25C2303/00; F25C2303/048; F25C2303/0481
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
157 words
A method for atomizing a liquid which comprises: a. providing a tubular liquid-transmitting member having an area of reduced internal diameter, one end of said member being adapted to receive a conduit for a pressurized liquid, a hydraulic atomizing nozzle mounted in the opposite end of said liquid-transmitting member, and means for introducing compressed gas into a liquid flowing through the liquidtransmitting member at the point of minimum cross-sectional area of said reduced internal diameter, b. flowing a pressurized liquid through said liquid-transmitting member, c. introducing compressed gas into said flowing pressurized liquid at the point of minimum cross-sectional area of said reduced internal diameter of said liquid-transmitting member to form a dispersion of minute gas bubbles in said pressurized liquid, said liquid and gas being the continuous and dispersed phases respectively, and d. subsequently forcibly expelling the dispersed system through said hydraulic atomizing nozzle into an ambient atmosphere to provide an expanding stream of minute droplets.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
157 words
A method for atomizing a liquid which comprises: a. providing a tubular liquid-transmitting member having an area of reduced internal diameter, one end of said member being adapted to receive a conduit for a pressurized liquid, a hydraulic atomizing nozzle mounted in the opposite end of said liquid-transmitting member, and means for introducing compressed gas into a liquid flowing through the liquidtransmitting member at the point of minimum cross-sectional area of said reduced internal diameter, b. flowing a pressurized liquid through said liquid-transmitting member, c. introducing compressed gas into said flowing pressurized liquid at the point of minimum cross-sectional area of said reduced internal diameter of said liquid-transmitting member to form a dispersion of minute gas bubbles in said pressurized liquid, said liquid and gas being the continuous and dispersed phases respectively, and d. subsequently forcibly expelling the dispersed system through said hydraulic atomizing nozzle into an ambient atmosphere to provide an expanding stream of minute droplets.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
157 words
A method for atomizing a liquid which comprises: a. providing a tubular liquid-transmitting member having an area of reduced internal diameter, one end of said member being adapted to receive a conduit for a pressurized liquid, a hydraulic atomizing nozzle mounted in the opposite end of said liquid-transmitting member, and means for introducing compressed gas into a liquid flowing through the liquid-transmitting member at the point of minimum cross-sectional area of said reduced internal diameter, b. flowing a pressurized liquid through said liquid-transmitting member, c. introducing compressed gas into said flowing pressurized liquid at the point of minimum cross-sectional area of said reduced internal diameter of said liquid-transmitting member to form a dispersion of minute gas bubbles in said pressurized liquid, said liquid and gas being the continuous and dispersed phases respectively, and d. subsequently forcibly expelling the dispersed system through said hydraulic atomizing nozzle into an ambient atmosphere to provide an expanding stream of minute droplets.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
157 words
A method for atomizing a liquid which comprises: a. providing a tubular liquid-transmitting member having an area of reduced internal diameter, one end of said member being adapted to receive a conduit for a pressurized liquid, a hydraulic atomizing nozzle mounted in the opposite end of said liquid-transmitting member, and means for introducing compressed gas into a liquid flowing through the liquid-transmitting member at the point of minimum cross-sectional area of said reduced internal diameter, b. flowing a pressurized liquid through said liquid-transmitting member, c. introducing compressed gas into said flowing pressurized liquid at the point of minimum cross-sectional area of said reduced internal diameter of said liquid-transmitting member to form a dispersion of minute gas bubbles in said pressurized liquid, said liquid and gas being the continuous and dispersed phases respectively, and d. subsequently forcibly expelling the dispersed system through said hydraulic atomizing nozzle into an ambient atmosphere to provide an expanding stream of minute droplets.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the volume of the gas in said dispersion does not exceed the volume of liquid.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the dispersion has a ratio of about 1 part by volume of gas to about 3 parts by volume of liquid.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the volume of gas is at least 0.1 standard cubic foot per gallon of liquid.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
214 words
A method for producing frozen particles which comprises: a. providing a tubular liquid-transmitting member having an area of reduced internal diameter, one end of said member being adapted to receive a conduit for a pressurized liquid, a hydraulic atomizing nozzle mounted in the opposite end of said liquid-transmitting member, and means for introducing compressed gas into a liquid flowing through the liquid-transmitting member at the point of minimum cross-sectional area of said reduced internal diameter, b. flowing a pressurized liquid through said liquid-transmitting member, c. introducing compressed gas into said flowing pressurized liquid at the point of minimum cross-sectional area of said reduced internal diameter of said liquid-transmitting member to form a dispersion of minute gas bubbles in said pressurized liquid, said liquid and gas being the continuous and dispersed phases respectively, said compressed gas being sufficiently pressurized in relation to said liquid so as to provide a ratio of gas to liquid wherein the volume of gas does not exceed the volume of liquid and to prevent combination or coalescence of the bubbles, and d. forcibly discharging the dispersion of gas and water through said hydraulic atomizing nozzle in the form of an expanding stream of minute droplets into an atmosphere being at a temperature sufficiently low to cause freezing of said droplets.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
214 words
A method for producing frozen particles which comprises: a. providing a tubular liquid-transmitting member having an area of reduced internal diameter, one end of said member being adapted to receive a conduit for a pressurized liquid, a hydraulic atomizing nozzle mounted in the opposite end of said liquid-transmitting member, and means for introducing compressed gas into a liquid flowing through the liquid-transmitting member at the point of minimum cross-sectional area of said reduced internal diameter, b. flowing a pressurized liquid through said liquid-transmitting member, c. introducing compressed gas into said flowing pressurized liquid at the point of minimum cross-sectional area of said reduced internal diameter of said liquid-transmitting member to form a dispersion of minute gas bubbles in said pressurized liquid, said liquid and gas being the continuous and dispersed phases respectively, said compressed gas being sufficiently pressurized in relation to said liquid so as to provide a ratio of gas to liquid wherein the volume of gas does not exceed the volume of liquid and to prevent combination or coalescence of the bubbles, and d. forcibly discharging the dispersion of gas and water through said hydraulic atomizing nozzle in the form of an expanding stream of minute droplets into an atmosphere being at a temperature sufficiently low to cause freezing of said droplets.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 5 wherein the flowing stream of pressurized liquid is contained in a venturi tube and the gas is introduced at the throat of said venturi tube.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
10 words
The method of claim 6 wherein the liquid is water.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 7 wherein the volume of gas does not exceed the volume of water.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-02-13 | 1976-08-14 | 1977-02-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-02-13 | 1980-08-14 | 1981-02-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-02-13 | 1984-08-14 | 1985-02-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |