An aperture plate (1) is attached at its rim (203) to a support washer (3) by adhesive. Anchor grooves (204) having a zig-zag pattern in plan are machined in the lower surface of the rim (203 of the aperture plate before application of the adhesive. The grooves (204) extend out to the edge of the aperture plate (1). The anchor grooves have a depth in the range of 10 μm to 40 μm, and a width in the range of 20 μm to 150 μm, and an angular pitch in the range of 2.5° to 12.5°. Excellent bonding strength is achieved for long term reliable attachment in an environment of high frequency vibration and moisture and chemical corrosion.

An aerosol-generating device is provided, including: a membrane having an aerosol-generation zone, in which the aerosol-generation zone includes a plurality of nozzles, the plurality of nozzles being the only nozzles in the aerosol-generation zone; and an actuator coupled to the membrane, in which the actuator is configured to excite the membrane to induce a vibration of the membrane at one or more predetermined modal frequencies of the membrane such that a liquid aerosol-forming substrate passing through the plurality of nozzles is aerosolised, in which more than 50% of the plurality of nozzles are located closer to antinodes than to nodes of the membrane, where the antinodes and the nodes correspond to the membrane being excited at the one or more predetermined modal frequencies of the membrane, and in which the membrane progressively changes in thickness from a centre of the membrane to a peripheral edge of the membrane.

An improvement to a roadside sprayer fixates spray nozzles on a registration plate. The registration plate may include integral tabs depending on the application. Inclination of the tabs is adjustable to place streams and droplets in a desired swath coverage. With the nozzles rigidly mounted onto the plate, the entire plate is notated. The use of the registration plate in a spray unit creates a uniform nutation among the nozzles, thereby reducing variability in droplet placement, and providing a more predictable spray from the nozzles. In other embodiments, the spray unit is utilized in a spray system adaptable to service vehicles, and may be utilized in conjunction with a vegetation engagement device, such as a cutter to engage multiple zones of a roadway right-of-way. Additionally, an improved spray unit includes an electromagnetic field and an attractor to generate plate motion.

In one arrangement, a vibration system includes a vibratable plate, a support member surrounding the vibratable plate, and a vibration-inducing member surrounding the support member. The vibration-inducing member is configured to radially expand and contract against the support member so as to produce axial vibration of the vibratable plate. In another arrangement, the vibratable plate has an outer circumference; a tubular member is concentrically disposed about the outer circumference of the plate, and an annular vibration-inducing member is concentrically disposed about the outer circumference of the tubular member. The vibration-inducing member is preferably a piezoelectric ring that is radially expandable and contractable against the wall of the tubular member to cause the plate to vibrate in the axial direction.

A nozzle for an atomizer includes a plate, a piezoelectric actuator, a body, and a connector. The plate defines an aperture. The actuator is configured to oscillate the plate. The body supports the plate. The connector is configured to reversibly mount the body to the atomizer in a first orientation and in a second orientation. In the first orientation, fluid exits the nozzle along a first axial direction through the aperture. In the second orientation, fluid exits the nozzle along an opposite axial direction through the aperture.

A nebulizer has an aerosol generator, a reservoir, and an aerosol outlet. A piezoelectric vibration generator is on a downstream side of a support washer, and power to the piezo is provided by a spring contact assembly. The assembly has upstanding electrical terminals for contact with electrical supply conductors. There are spring terminals extending around a rim of the spring contact assembly to engage an exposed underside of the washer, and a resilient ridge extending in the upstream direction to engage the underside of the piezo, which itself is on the downstream side of the washer.

A discharge apparatus for an aerial vehicle is provided which is capable of mounting an aerosol container by effectively utilizing a space outside an airframe.

The discharge apparatus for an aerial vehicle, in which a content is discharged through a nozzle from an aerosol container mounted on an airframe, is characterized in that the aerosol container is mounted outside the airframe, and is arranged so that a central axis of the aerosol container is along a pitch axis of the airframe, or arranged on an extension portion such as a small wing extending from a fuselage of the airframe, an arm portion provided with a rotor blade, a leg portion for taking off and landing, or the like, with the aerosol container and the nozzle being connected to each other through a tube.

An apparatus that includes at least one nebulizer that includes a mesh material having a plurality of pores, a vibrating actuator coupled to the nebulizer and configured to produce ultrasonic vibration when energized according to a set energy profile, and a reservoir receiver configured to receive a reservoir that holds a topical formulation, the reservoir being coupled to the nebulizer when received. When the nebulizer is placed in contact with the topical formulation, vibration of the mesh nebulizer by the vibrating actuator, according to the set energy profile, ejects droplets of the topical formulation from the plurality of pores, forming a spray.

An aerosol generator with electrical power conducting pins has a vibratable plate with apertures therein and an annular piezo. An annular support member supports the piezo and the vibratable plate. A first electrical power conducting pin engages directly with a first, top, surface of the piezo. A second electrical power conducting pin indirectly conducts electrical power to a second surface of the piezo, by contacting an extension tab. There is a film of cured epoxy adhesive on the tab. The aerosol generator avoids need for soldered joints for electrical contact, and the pins are conveniently mounted parallel to each on the same lateral and top side of the piezo and support member. The pins may have multi-point tips for particularly effective electrical contact.

An aerosol generating device includes an aerosol generator and a plug. The aerosol generator includes a container and an atomizing module arranged in the container. The container has a liquid chamber, an aerosol chamber, and an insertion slot defining an insertion direction. The liquid chamber and the aerosol chamber are respectively arranged at two opposite sides of the atomizing module, and are in spatial communication with each other through the atomizing module. The atomizing module includes two electrode regions having the same polarity and being electrically connected to each other. The plug is detachably inserted into the insertion slot of the container along the insertion direction, and a conductive terminal of the plug contacts the two electrode regions.