Patent US3918640A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3918640A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Mist generator
Assignee: STERN FRERES
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Filing: 1974-06-18
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Granted: 1975-11-11
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Expires: 1994-06-18
Abstract
Abstract A mist generator comprises a generally closed vessel formed with an elastically deflectable wall and with an aperture in its side. An inverted-bottle filler is provided to maintain a liquid level in the vessel below the wall and below the aperture and a piezoelectric transducer having a concave upper surface focused on the liquid level is provided in the vessel below the liquid level so as to vaporize this liquid and form a cloud of mist in the vessel. A motor is provided to periodically deflect the vessel wall and expell the cloud of mist from the vessel. This motor can have a lever actuated by a cam arrangement or can be a simple solenoid.
Inventors
- 👤 Pierre-Michel Piccino
- 👤 Anthony Stephen Ringrose
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 20:55
CPC Classifications
B; B05; B05B; B05B17/00; B05B17/04; B05B17/06; B05B17/0607; B05B17/0615
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
139 words
A mist generator comprising: a generally closed vessel; means for supplying a liquid to said vessel; means for maintaining in said vessel a predetermined liquid level, said vessel being formed above said level with a throughgoing outwardly open aperture and having at least one deflectible wall; means including a transducer below said level in said vessel for generating and focusing ultrasonic vibration on a location in said liquid at substantially said level to generate a homogeneous body of mist above said level, said aperture communicating with said vessel by a passage opening within said body of mist; and means for deflecting said wall inwardly into said vessel to reduce the volume enclosed by said wall at most by the volume of said body for expelling a cloud of mist above said liquid out of said vessel through said aperture.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
139 words
A mist generator comprising: a generally closed vessel; means for supplying a liquid to said vessel; means for maintaining in said vessel a predetermined liquid level, said vessel being formed above said level with a throughgoing outwardly open aperture and having at least one deflectible wall; means including a transducer below said level in said vessel for generating and focusing ultrasonic vibration on a location in said liquid at substantially said level to generate a homogeneous body of mist above said level, said aperture communicating with said vessel by a passage opening within said body of mist; and means for deflecting said wall inwardly into said vessel to reduce the volume enclosed by said wall at most by the volume of said body for expelling a cloud of mist above said liquid out of said vessel through said aperture.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
The generator defined in claim 1, further comprising control means connected to said transducer and to said means for deflecting for operating said transducer for a predetermined length of time and thereafter deflecting said wall.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The generator defined in claim 2 wherein said control means includes a motor and at least one cam mounted on and rotatable by said motor.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
64 words
The generator defined in claim 1, further comprising a partition across said vessel between said level and said deflectable wall, said vessel being provided with a first check valve permitting air flow into the region between said partition and said wall and a second check valve permitting air flow from said region through said partition to the region between said partition and said level.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
The generator defined in claim 1 wherein said deflectable wall is formed of a deformable membrane.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
41 words
The generator defined in claim 5, further comprising a spring urging said membrane into a position wherein said vessel contains a predetermined volume, said membrane being deflectable inwardly from said position into a position wherein said vessel contains a lesser volume.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
130 words
A method of generating mist comprising the steps of: filling a generally closed chamber having a predetermined volume with a liquid to a predetermined level; focusing ultrasonic vibration on said liquid at said level to form in said chamber above said level a body of mist; inwardly deflecting a wall of said chamber to force said body of mist out a hole in said chamber above said level; and maintaining said level at a predetermined height in said chamber, said ultrasonic vibration being focused on said level for a time sufficient to form a mist body having a predetermined volume, and said wall being deflected inwardly to an extent that reduces said predetermined volume of said chamber by a volume at most equal to the volume of said mist body.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
130 words
A method of generating mist comprising the steps of: filling a generally closed chamber having a predetermined volume with a liquid to a predetermined level; focusing ultrasonic vibration on said liquid at said level to form in said chamber above said level a body of mist; inwardly deflecting a wall of said chamber to force said body of mist out a hole in said chamber above said level; and maintaining said level at a predetermined height in said chamber, said ultrasonic vibration being focused on said level for a time sufficient to form a mist body having a predetermined volume, and said wall being deflected inwardly to an extent that reduces said predetermined volume of said chamber by a volume at most equal to the volume of said mist body.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method defined in claim 7 wherein said wall is deflected inwardly by a lever in turn operated by a rotating cam.
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) | 1978-11-10 | 1979-05-12 | 1979-11-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-11-10 | 1983-05-12 | 1983-11-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-11-10 | 1987-05-12 | 1987-11-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |