US3768394A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Device for producing dynamic flow in fluids to form curtains of the fluid
Assignee: STONE CONWAY HUGHES & PARTNERS Inc
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Filing: 1971-06-18
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Granted: 1973-10-30
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Expires: 1991-06-18
Abstract
Abstract A fluid curtain generator according to the present invention comprising a generator for generating a high velocity stream of primary air and means for receiving the high velocity stream of air so as to mix the primary air with secondary air. The device also controls the rate of expansion of the thickness of the air curtain generated by mixing the primary and secondary air. The generator for generating the high velocity stream of primary air is preferably in the form of a conduit which is formed with a plurality of passageways opening outwardly therefrom. Mixing of primary and secondary air is achieved by passing the primary air through a venturi section and allowing it to expand in an expansion chamber while simultaneously inducing secondary air into the primary air stream. Preferably the primary air is directed between the venturi section formed at the inner end of a pair of guide plates arranged in a spaced relationship one on either side of the jet of primary air. The venturi section is spaced outwardly from the discharge of the primary air generator a distance sufficient to permit secondary air to be drawn in from the atmosphere on either side of the primary air stream. A closure plate may also be provided so that the atmosphere on one or other side of the venturi may be closed off to prevent secondary air being drawn into the venturi section from that side.
Inventors
- 👤 J Powlesland
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 23:11
CPC Classifications
F; F24; F24F; F24F13/00; F24F13/26; F24F9/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
102 words
An air curtain generator comprising means for generating a high velocity stream of primary air and venturi means for receiving high velocity curtain of air, said venturi means having a discharge axis extending perpendicularly from the throat of said venturi means, said venturi means being adapted to induce a sufficient quantity of secondary air into the primary air curtain from the surrounding atmosphere to provide an air curtain formed from a mixture of primary and secondary air, and guide means extending outwardly from said venturi means and diverging with respect to said discharge axis to provide controlled expansion of said air curtain.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
102 words
An air curtain generator comprising means for generating a high velocity stream of primary air and venturi means for receiving high velocity curtain of air, said venturi means having a discharge axis extending perpendicularly from the throat of said venturi means, said venturi means being adapted to induce a sufficient quantity of secondary air into the primary air curtain from the surrounding atmosphere to provide an air curtain formed from a mixture of primary and secondary air, and guide means extending outwardly from said venturi means and diverging with respect to said discharge axis to provide controlled expansion of said air curtain.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
144 words
An air curtain generator comprising, means for generating a high velocity stream of primary air, and venturi means having an input end and an output end and a discharge axis extending perpendicularly from the throat of said venturi means, said input end being disposed in alignment with said primary air stream so as to receive said primary air stream, said input end of said venturi means being spaced outwardly with respect to said means for generating said primary stream of air such that the flow of said primary air stream through said venturi means induces a sufficient quantity of secondary air from the surrounding atmosphere to provide an air curtain formed from a mixture of primary and secondary air, and guide means extending outwardly from said venturi means and diverging with respect to said discharge axis to provide controlled expansion of said air curtain.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
144 words
An air curtain generator comprising, means for generating a high velocity stream of primary air, and venturi means having an input end and an output end and a discharge axis extending perpendicularly from the throat of said venturi means, said input end being disposed in alignment with said primary air stream so as to receive said primary air stream, said input end of said venturi means being spaced outwardly with respect to said means for generating said primary stream of air such that the flow of said primary air stream through said venturi means induces a sufficient quantity of secondary air from the surrounding atmosphere to provide an air curtain formed from a mixture of primary and secondary air, and guide means extending outwardly from said venturi means and diverging with respect to said discharge axis to provide controlled expansion of said air curtain.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
60 words
An air curtain generator as claimed in claim 2 wherein said secondary air input Passage means includes a pair of passages disposed one on either side of the longitudinally extending discharge passage of said header whereby secondary air may be drawn into said venturi throat from either side of the plane in which the air curtain is to be formed.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
44 words
An air curtain generator as claimed in claim 3 including closure means for closing one or other of said secondary air input passages to prevent secondary air from being drawn in from one side or the other of said plane as required in use.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
An air curtain generator as claimed in claim 2 including means for preventing the induction of secondary air from the surrounding atmosphere on one side or the other of said primary air curtain.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
158 words
An air curtain generator comprising, means for generating a first high velocity curtain of primary air of a substantial length, a venturi throat forming means disposed in alignment with and spaced outwardly from said means for generating said first high velocity air curtain to receive a first curtain of air in use, said venturi means having a discharge axis extending perpendicularly from the throat of said venturi means, and secondary air passage means opening into said venturi throat forming means between said venturi throat and said means for generating said first air curtain whereby secondary air may be induced into said venturi throat by the passage of primary air through said venturi throat such that it discharges a curtain of air of substantial thickness consisting of a mixture of primary and secondary air, and guide means extending outwardly from said venturi means and diverging with respect to said discharge axis to provide controlled expansion of said air curtain.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
158 words
An air curtain generator comprising, means for generating a first high velocity curtain of primary air of a substantial length, a venturi throat forming means disposed in alignment with and spaced outwardly from said means for generating said first high velocity air curtain to receive a first curtain of air in use, said venturi means having a discharge axis extending perpendicularly from the throat of said venturi means, and secondary air passage means opening into said venturi throat forming means between said venturi throat and said means for generating said first air curtain whereby secondary air may be induced into said venturi throat by the passage of primary air through said venturi throat such that it discharges a curtain of air of substantial thickness consisting of a mixture of primary and secondary air, and guide means extending outwardly from said venturi means and diverging with respect to said discharge axis to provide controlled expansion of said air curtain.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
44 words
An air curtain generator as claimed in claim 6 wherein said guide means includes a pair of guide plates which form an expansion chamber extending outwardly from said venturi means whereby the rate of expansion of the thickness of the air curtain is controlled.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
33 words
An air curtain generator as claimed in claim 6 including means for preventing the induction of secondary air from the surrounding atmosphere on one side or the other of said primary air curtain.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
211 words
An air curtain generator comprising: a. primary air supply header means having a substantial length, b. primary air input passage means opening into said header for connection to a source of high pressure air, c. primary air discharge passage means opening outwardly from said header so as to permit a high velocity stream of air to discharge from said header over a predetermined length of said header, d. venturi throat forming means having an input end disposed in alignment with and in a spaced parallel relationship with respect to said primary air discharge passage means of said header to receive high velocity primary air discharging from said primary header in use, said venturi throat forming means having an output end disposed to discharge along an axis perpendicular to said throat, e. secondary air input passage means opening into said input end of said venturi throat forming means whereby secondary air may be drawn into said input end of said venturi throat by the passage of high pressure primary air therethrough to generate an air curtain which consists of a mixture of primary and secondary air, f. and guide means extending outwardly from said venturi means and diverging with respect to said discharge axis to provide controlled expansion of said air curtain.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
211 words
An air curtain generator comprising: a. primary air supply header means having a substantial length, b. primary air input passage means opening into said header for connection to a source of high pressure air, c. primary air discharge passage means opening outwardly from said header so as to permit a high velocity stream of air to discharge from said header over a predetermined length of said header, d. venturi throat forming means having an input end disposed in alignment with and in a spaced parallel relationship with respect to said primary air discharge passage means of said header to receive high velocity primary air discharging from said primary header in use, said venturi throat forming means having an output end disposed to discharge along an axis perpendicular to said throat, e. secondary air input passage means opening into said input end of said venturi throat forming means whereby secondary air may be drawn into said input end of said venturi throat by the passage of high pressure primary air therethrough to generate an air curtain which consists of a mixture of primary and secondary air, f. and guide means extending outwardly from said venturi means and diverging with respect to said discharge axis to provide controlled expansion of said air curtain.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
94 words
An air curtain generator as claimed in claim 9 wherein said guide means includes a pair of guide plates forming a pair of oppositely disposed outwardly diverging side walls extending longitudinally of said venturi throat and disposed one on either side thereof and a plurality of transverse vanes extending between said oppositely disposed walls in a spaced parallel relationship so as to subdivide said expansion chamber into a plurality of transverse compartments and thereby achieve a greater efficiency of induced flow of secondary air By increasing the ratio of induced air to primary air.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
205 words
An air curtain generator comprising: a. primary air supply header in the form of a conduit of substantial length, b. primary air input passage means opening into said conduit for connection to a source of high pressure air, c. primary air discharge passage means opening outwardly from and extending longitudinally of said conduit over a substantial portion of the length of said conduit to permit a high velocity stream of air to discharge from said header in a predetermined plane in use, d. venturi throat and expansion chamber forming means consisting of a pair of oppositely disposed wall forming members disposed one on either side of the plane of the stream of primary air from said primary air discharge passage, said wall forming members being disposed closely adjacent one another at one end thereof to form a venturi throat, said wall forming members diverging in a direction away from said throat to form said expansion chamber, said venturi throat end of said walls being disposed adjacent to and in a spaced parallel relationship with respect to said conduit to form a pair of secondary air input passages arranged one on either side of said stream of air discharging from said primary air discharge passage means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
205 words
An air curtain generator comprising: a. primary air supply header in the form of a conduit of substantial length, b. primary air input passage means opening into said conduit for connection to a source of high pressure air, c. primary air discharge passage means opening outwardly from and extending longitudinally of said conduit over a substantial portion of the length of said conduit to permit a high velocity stream of air to discharge from said header in a predetermined plane in use, d. venturi throat and expansion chamber forming means consisting of a pair of oppositely disposed wall forming members disposed one on either side of the plane of the stream of primary air from said primary air discharge passage, said wall forming members being disposed closely adjacent one another at one end thereof to form a venturi throat, said wall forming members diverging in a direction away from said throat to form said expansion chamber, said venturi throat end of said walls being disposed adjacent to and in a spaced parallel relationship with respect to said conduit to form a pair of secondary air input passages arranged one on either side of said stream of air discharging from said primary air discharge passage means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
41 words
An air curtain generator as claimed in claim 11 including closure means for closing one or other of said secondary air input passage means to prevent secondary air being drawn in from one side or the other of said air stream.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
46 words
An air curtain generator as claimed in claim 11 having a plurality of transverse vanes extending between said oppositely disposed wall forming members so as to subdivide said expansion chamber into a plurality of transverse compartments and thereby achieve an efficient induced flow of secondary air.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
22 words
An air curtain generator as claimed in claim 2 including a source of high pressure air for generating said primary air curtain.
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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) | 1976-10-29 | 1977-04-30 | 1977-10-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-10-29 | 1981-04-30 | 1981-10-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-10-29 | 1985-04-30 | 1985-10-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |