US3769833A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Bubble generator
Assignee: United States Department of the Navy
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Filing: 1972-05-30
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Granted: 1973-11-06
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Expires: 1992-05-30
Abstract
Abstract A device for the rapid generation of massive quantities of gasfilled, neutrally buoyant bubbles is provided. The device consists of a plurality of parallel struts each streamlined like an airfoil and containing a gas manifold and a bubble film material (BFM) manifold. The generating elements comprise two concentric tubes with the inner tubes connected to the gas manifold and the outer tubes connected to the BFM manifold. The struts are disposed near the discharge end of a cylindrical housing through which an axial air flow is created by a motor and fan plus screens and flow straighteners. The bubbles are pulled off the tips of the outer tubes by the air flow, with the size of the bubbles governed principally by the velocity of the air flow.
Inventors
- 👤 D Ordway
- 👤 R Hale
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 19:50
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01M; G01M9/00; G01M9/02; G01M9/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 3
Claim 1
Independent Claim
187 words
A device for rapidly generating massive quantities of gasfilled neutrally buoyant bubbles for following complex laminar and turbulent airflows comprising: means for generating a straight, uniform flow of air at controlled flow rates, including flow straightening passages disposed in said device and turbulence removing screens disposed on opposite sides of said flow straightening passages, means for forming a multiplicity of streams of neutrally buoyant bubbles containing a lighter-than-air gas within said flow of air, said bubble forming means including a plurality of pairs of bubble film material manifolds and gas manifolds and a conduit connected to each of said manifolds, said gas manifolds disposed upstream of said bubble film material manifolds and the conduits connected to said gas manifolds extending through said bubble film manifolds concentrically into the conduits connected thereto and terminating a selected distance from the ends thereof to form bubbles at the ends of said conduits connected to said bubble film material manifolds, said bubble film material and gas manifolds arranged parallel to one another and said concentric pairs of conduits spaced equally from one another to uniformly dispense said bubbles into said airflows.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
187 words
A device for rapidly generating massive quantities of gasfilled neutrally buoyant bubbles for following complex laminar and turbulent airflows comprising: means for generating a straight, uniform flow of air at controlled flow rates, including flow straightening passages disposed in said device and turbulence removing screens disposed on opposite sides of said flow straightening passages, means for forming a multiplicity of streams of neutrally buoyant bubbles containing a lighter-than-air gas within said flow of air, said bubble forming means including a plurality of pairs of bubble film material manifolds and gas manifolds and a conduit connected to each of said manifolds, said gas manifolds disposed upstream of said bubble film material manifolds and the conduits connected to said gas manifolds extending through said bubble film manifolds concentrically into the conduits connected thereto and terminating a selected distance from the ends thereof to form bubbles at the ends of said conduits connected to said bubble film material manifolds, said bubble film material and gas manifolds arranged parallel to one another and said concentric pairs of conduits spaced equally from one another to uniformly dispense said bubbles into said airflows.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
61 words
The device as defined in claim 1 wherein said pairs of manifolds are disposed in struts having an airfoil configuration so as to introduce a minimum of turbulence into said flow of air; said struts disposed in parallel rows across said generating means so that said streams of bubbles are dispensed uniformly throughout a cross section of said flow of air.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-11-05 | 1977-05-07 | 1977-11-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-11-05 | 1981-05-07 | 1981-11-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-11-05 | 1985-05-07 | 1985-11-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |