Fuel burner with improved ultrasonic atomizer

Claim 2

In an ultrasonic atomizer that includes a transducer sandwiched between a pair of resonator sections, an atomizing surface at the tip of one of said sections and fuel delivery means to said atomizing surface, the improvement which comprises; clamping means for holding said resonator sections in compression against said transducer for good acoustical coupling and uniform compression; said clamping means including a cylindrical casing enclosing said resonator sections and said transducer and engaging said resonator sections at approximate nodal planes; and, sealing means positioned between said casing and said one of said resonator sections for preventing fuel contamination of said transducer.

Claim 3

The invention defined by claim 1 wherein said one of said resonator sections has a large diameter segment and a small diameter segment terminating in said atomizing surface, the interface between said large diameter and small diameter segments constituting a step for amplification of vibratory motion at said atomizing surface, and said resonator sections being of titanium.

Claim 4

The invention defined by claim 1 wherein said transducer includes a pair of piezoelectric discs having electrically similar essentially parallel contact faces and a high voltage electrode positioned therebetween, said electrode comprising a titanium tab.

Claim 5

The invention defined by claim 1 wherein said casing is of a material having different acoustical properties from the material of said resonator sections.

Claim 6

The invention defined by claim 2 wherein the small diameter segment of said one of said resonator sections terminates in a flanged portion acting as said atomizing surface.

Claim 7

A fuel burner comprising the combination of: the ultrasonic fuel atomizer of claim 1; means for delivering air for combustion of said fuel; means for imparting rotary motion to a portion of said Combustion air; means for delivering fuel to said atomizer; ignition means operable adjacent the atomizing surface of said atomizer; and, means for confining flame in a cone of proper dimensions.

Claim 8

An ultrasonic fuel atomizer comprising: an active resonator section having a large diameter segment, a small diameter segment extending therefrom having an atomizing surface at its terminating end, and a fuel passage therethrough to an orifice in said terminating end for fuel delivery to said atomizing surface, the interface between said large diameter and small diameter segments constituting a step for amplification of vibratory motion at said atomizing surface; a dummy resonator section for providing counteractive forces to said active resonator section having a flanged portion; a transducer for delivering mechanical energy to said resonator sections sandwiched between the large diameter end of said active resonator section and said dummy resonator section, said transducer including a pair of piezoelectric discs having electrically similar essentially parallel contact faces and a high voltage electrode positioned therebetween; clamping means for holding said resonator sections in compression against said transducer for good acoustical coupling and uniform compression of said piezoelectric discs over their entire contact faces; said clamping means including an electrically conductive cylindrical casing enclosing said resonator sections and said transducer and engaging said resonator sections at approximate nodal planes; an insulating sleeve surrounding said resonator sections and said transducer, spacing same from said casing and electrically isolating said casing from said piezoelectric discs and centering said transducer and said resonator sections along a common axis; means mounted on said casing for delivering electrical energy to one of said electrically similar contact faces of said piezoelectric discs through said high voltage electrode and to the other of said faces of said piezoelectric discs through said casing and said resonator sections; means mounted on said casing for delivering fuel to said fuel passage within said resonator section; and, sealing means positioned between said casing and active resonator section for preventing fuel contamination of said transducer.

Claim 9

An ultrasonic fuel atomizer comprising: an active resonator section having a large diameter segment, a small diameter segment extending therefrom having an atomizing surface at its terminating end, and a fuel passage therethrough to an orifice in said terminating end for fuel delivery to said atomizing surface, the interface between said large diameter and small diameter segments constituting a step for amplification of vibratory motion at said atomizing surface; a dummy resonator section for providing counteractive forces to said active resonator section having a flanged portion; a transducer for delivering mechanical energy to said resonator sections sandwiched between the large diameter end of said active resonator section and said dummy resonator section, said transducer including a pair of piezoelectric discs having electrically similar essentially parallel contact faces and a high voltage electrode positioned therebetween; clamping means for holding said resonator sections in compression against said transducer for good acoustical coupling and uniform compression of said piezoelectric discs over their entire contact faces; said clamping means including an electrically conductive cylindrical casing enclosing said resonator sections and said transducer and engaging said resonator sections at approximate nodal planes; an insulating sleeve surrounding said resonator sections and said transducer, spacing same from said casing and electrically isolating said casing from said piezoelectric discs and centering said transducer and said resonator sections along a common axis; means mounted on said casing for delivering electrical energy to one of said electrically similar contact faces of said piezoelectric discs through said high voltage electrode and to the other of said faces of said piezoelectric discs through said casing and said resonator sections; means mounted on said casing for delivering fuel to said fuel passage within said resonator section; and, sealing means positioned between said casing and active resonator section for preventing fuel contamination of said transducer.

Claim 10

The invention defined by claim 7 wherein said clamping means bears against said active and said dummy resonator section flanged portion.

Claim 11

The invention defined by claim 7 wherein said resonator sections are of titanium.

Claim 12

The invention defined by claim 7 wherein said high voltage transducer electrode is a titanium tab.

Claim 13

The invention defined by claim 7 wherein said casing is of a material having different acoustical properties from the material of said resonator sections.

Claim 14

The invention defined by claim 7 hwerein the small diameter segment of said active resonator section cerminates in a flanged portion acting as said atomizing surface.

Claim 15

A fuel burner comprising the combination of: the ultrasonic fuel atomizer of claim 7; means for delivering air for combustion of said fuel; means for imparting rotary motion to a portion of said combustion air; means for delivering fuel to said atomizer; ignition means operable adjacent the atomizing surface of said atomizer; and, means for confining flame in a cone of proper dimensions.