US5335860A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Rotary spray chamber device for conditioning aerosols
Assignee: Indiana University Research and Technology Corp
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Filing: 1993-01-08
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Granted: 1994-08-09
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Expires: 2013-01-08
Abstract
Abstract Described is a preferred rotary spray chamber device for conditioning an aerosol. The device has chamber walls defining an internal chamber and an inlet opening into the internal chamber. The inlet opening is located such that an aerosol directed into the chamber through the inlet opening tangentially contacts chamber wall areas adapted to impart a rotary motion to the aerosol within the chamber. An impact member extends inwardly into the chamber from a chamber wall location such that the member is impacted by the aerosol in its rotary motion so as to remove large droplets and thus form a conditioned aerosol. An exit opening is defined by the chamber walls through which the conditioned aerosol can exit the chamber, and a drain opening is also defined by the chamber walls through which liquid removed from the aerosol and collected in the chamber can exit the chamber.
Inventors
- 👤 Gary M. Hieftje
- 👤 Min Wu
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 23:31
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N21/00; G01N21/62; G01N21/71; G01N21/714
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
134 words
A rotary spray chamber device for conditioning an aerosol, comprising: chamber walls defining an internal chamber, an inlet opening through which aerosol can be directed into the internal chamber, an exit opening through which conditioned aerosol can exit the chamber, and a drain opening through which large droplets removed from the aerosol and collected as liquid in the chamber can exit therefrom; said inlet opening being located such that an aerosol directed into the chamber through the inlet opening tangentially contacts chamber wall areas for imparting a rotary motion to the aerosol within the chamber; an impact member extending inwardly into the chamber from a chamber wall location such that the impact member is impacted by the aerosol in its rotary motion, thereby removing large droplets from the aerosol and forming said conditioned aerosol.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
134 words
A rotary spray chamber device for conditioning an aerosol, comprising: chamber walls defining an internal chamber, an inlet opening through which aerosol can be directed into the internal chamber, an exit opening through which conditioned aerosol can exit the chamber, and a drain opening through which large droplets removed from the aerosol and collected as liquid in the chamber can exit therefrom; said inlet opening being located such that an aerosol directed into the chamber through the inlet opening tangentially contacts chamber wall areas for imparting a rotary motion to the aerosol within the chamber; an impact member extending inwardly into the chamber from a chamber wall location such that the impact member is impacted by the aerosol in its rotary motion, thereby removing large droplets from the aerosol and forming said conditioned aerosol.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
48 words
The rotary spray chamber device of claim 1 which also comprises an inlet tube at said inlet opening, an exit tube at said exit opening, and a drain tube at said drain opening, each said tube fluidly connecting its respective opening to a location exterior of said chamber.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The rotary spray chamber device of claim 2 wherein the internal chamber is generally cylindrical in shape.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
The rotary spray chamber device of claim 3 wherein said chamber walls include a side wall, and the impact member is formed by a dimple in said side wall.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
The rotary spray chamber device of claim 3 wherein the impact member is positioned such that the aerosol within the chamber rotates substantially about the impact member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
The rotary spray chamber of claim 5 wherein said chamber walls are formed from glass.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
The rotary spray chamber of claim 6 wherein said chamber walls are formed from a borosilicate glass.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
The rotary spray chamber of claim 6 wherein said inlet tube, exit tube and drain tube are glass and are integrally formed with the chamber walls.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
146 words
A rotary spray chamber for conditioning an aerosol, comprising: a hollow generally flattened spheroid member having a pair of opposed side walls and defining a generally cylindrical internal chamber; an inlet opening defined in the flattened spheroid member and positioned such that an aerosol directed into the inlet opening substantially tangentially contacts interior surfaces of the walls of the flattened spheroid member, causing the aerosol to rotate within the chamber; a dimple member extending inwardly from one of said side walls in a location such that large droplets are removed from the rotating aerosol, thereby forming a conditioned aerosol; an exit opening defined in the other of said side walls through which the conditioned aerosol can exit the chamber; a drain opening defined in the flattened spheroid member through which large droplets removed from the aerosol and collected as liquid in the chamber can be drained.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
146 words
A rotary spray chamber for conditioning an aerosol, comprising: a hollow generally flattened spheroid member having a pair of opposed side walls and defining a generally cylindrical internal chamber; an inlet opening defined in the flattened spheroid member and positioned such that an aerosol directed into the inlet opening substantially tangentially contacts interior surfaces of the walls of the flattened spheroid member, causing the aerosol to rotate within the chamber; a dimple member extending inwardly from one of said side walls in a location such that large droplets are removed from the rotating aerosol, thereby forming a conditioned aerosol; an exit opening defined in the other of said side walls through which the conditioned aerosol can exit the chamber; a drain opening defined in the flattened spheroid member through which large droplets removed from the aerosol and collected as liquid in the chamber can be drained.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
48 words
The rotary spray chamber device of claim 9 which also comprises an inlet tube at said inlet opening, an exit tube at said exit opening, and a drain tube at said drain opening, each said tube fluidly connecting its respective opening to a location exterior of said chamber.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
The rotary spray chamber of claim 10 wherein the dimple member is formed by a dimple in one of the side walls of the flattened spheroid member.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
The rotary spray chamber of claim 11 wherein the dimple member is positioned such that the aerosol within the chamber rotates substantially about the dimple member.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
The rotary spray chamber of claim 12 wherein said flattened spheroid member is formed from glass.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
The rotary spray chamber of claim 13 wherein said flattened spheroid member is formed from a borosilicate glass.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
The rotary spray chamber of claim 13 wherein said inlet tube, exit tube and drain tube are glass and are integrally formed with the prolate spheroid member.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
199 words
An apparatus for conditioning a liquid sample for analysis, comprising: (i) a nebulizer adapted to form an aerosol from the liquid sample; (ii) a rotary spray chamber for conditioning the aerosol, the rotary spray chamber including: chamber walls defining an internal chamber and an inlet opening into the internal chamber; said inlet opening being located such that an aerosol directed into the chamber through the inlet opening contacts chamber wall areas which impart a rotary motion to the aerosol within the chamber; an impact member extending inwardly into the chamber from a chamber wall location such that the impact member is impacted by the aerosol in its rotary motion., thereby removing large droplets therefrom and forming a conditioned aerosol; an exit opening defined by the chamber walls, spaced from said inlet opening, and through which the conditioned aerosol can exit the chamber; and a drain opening defined by the chamber walls, spaced from said inlet opening and said exit opening, and through which large droplets removed from the aerosol and collected as liquid in the chamber can exit the chamber; and (iii) means for directing the aerosol from the nebulizer into the inlet opening of the rotary spray chamber.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
199 words
An apparatus for conditioning a liquid sample for analysis, comprising: (i) a nebulizer adapted to form an aerosol from the liquid sample; (ii) a rotary spray chamber for conditioning the aerosol, the rotary spray chamber including: chamber walls defining an internal chamber and an inlet opening into the internal chamber; said inlet opening being located such that an aerosol directed into the chamber through the inlet opening contacts chamber wall areas which impart a rotary motion to the aerosol within the chamber; an impact member extending inwardly into the chamber from a chamber wall location such that the impact member is impacted by the aerosol in its rotary motion., thereby removing large droplets therefrom and forming a conditioned aerosol; an exit opening defined by the chamber walls, spaced from said inlet opening, and through which the conditioned aerosol can exit the chamber; and a drain opening defined by the chamber walls, spaced from said inlet opening and said exit opening, and through which large droplets removed from the aerosol and collected as liquid in the chamber can exit the chamber; and (iii) means for directing the aerosol from the nebulizer into the inlet opening of the rotary spray chamber.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
63 words
The apparatus of claim 16 comprising: a hollow generally flattened spheroid member having a pair of opposed side walls and defining said internal chamber; said inlet opening being defined in the flattened spheroid member and positioned such that an aerosol directed into the inlet opening substantially tangentially contacts interior surfaces of the walls of the flattened spheroid member, thereby imparting said rotary motion.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
49 words
The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the rotary spray chamber also comprises an inlet tube at said inlet opening, an exit tube at said exit opening, and a drain tube at said drain opening, each said tube fluidly connecting its respective opening to a location exterior of said chamber.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the impact member is formed by a dimple in one of the side walls of the flattened spheroid member.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the impact member is positioned such that the aerosol within the chamber rotates substantially about the impact member.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 20 wherein said flattened spheroid member is formed from glass.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 21 wherein said flattened spheroid member is formed from a borosilicate glass.
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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) | 1997-08-08 | 1998-02-07 | 1998-08-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-08-08 | 2002-02-07 | 2002-08-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-08-08 | 2006-02-07 | 2006-08-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |