Multistage vaporizers, such as for use in medical treatment systems, as well as related methods are described. In one example, a multistage vaporizer includes a first reservoir configured to hold a liquid and one or more pumping transducers positioned in the first reservoir. The multistage vaporizer also includes a second reservoir and one or more vaporizing transducers positioned in the second reservoir. The one or more pumping transducers positioned in the first reservoir are configured to generate and move droplets of a liquid in the first reservoir to the second reservoir, and the one or more vaporizing transducers positioned in the second reservoir are configured to create a vapor of the liquid in the second reservoir.

Disclosed are an ultrasonic atomization control system and an electronic cigarette. The system includes: a current feedback circuit and/or a voltage feedback circuit, a microcontroller unit, a push-pull circuit, and an oscillator driving circuit; wherein the push-pull circuit is coupled between the microcontroller unit and the oscillator driving circuit, the current feedback circuit and/or the voltage feedback circuit are/is coupled between the oscillator driving circuit and the microcontroller unit; and the oscillator driving circuit is configured to be connected with a load; wherein the microcontroller unit is configured to output a pulse width modulation signal with a predetermined frequency and voltage to the push-pull circuit, judge a current and/or a voltage fluctuation fed back by the current feedback circuit and/or the voltage feedback circuit are/is greater than a threshold, and stop operation of the load if the fluctuation is greater than the threshold.

A powdery-material mixing and feeding system is configured to feed a machine configured to execute a post process with mixed-powdery materials obtained by mixing a first powdery material and a second powdery material discharged from powdery-material feeding devices at a required ratio, wherein when a flow rate of the first powdery material discharged from the first powdery-material feeding device departs from a target value by a predetermined amount or more, a controller increases or decreases the flow rate of the second powdery material discharged from the second powdery-material feeding device such that the ratio of the first powdery material to the second powdery material contained in the mixed-powdery materials is kept within a desired range.

A wastewater spray distribution apparatus is operative to distribute wastewater produced by a sewage treatment system (10) onto a ground level (22) through operation of sprayers (118, 260). The exemplary sprayers include a manifold (142, 262) that includes outlet nozzles (158, 264) that can be readily removed and replaced. The exemplary manifold further includes interior areas bounded by surfaces that slope continuously downward from the outlet nozzles to the manifold inlet to assure the draining of water therefrom. Each of the nozzles include a base (140) which includes brake (207). A brake is provided in each nozzle and is adjustable to provide brake force to limit rotational movement produced by the thrust of water passing from the outlet nozzles to assure that the sprayer operates at the appropriate rotational speed. Alternative arrangements include manifolds including fixed or adjustable flaps and radially outwardly adjustable arms to adjust rotational properties.

Spraying apparatus enabling large-volume generation of particles minute to a Brownian-motion engendering level. The spraying apparatus includes an atomization tank, an atomizing device, a blower, an atomization unit furnished with a liquid-level sensor for measuring liquid level in the atomization tank, a tank unit for supplying liquid formulation to the atomization tank, and a control unit for controlling supply of the liquid formulation from the tank unit to the atomization tank. If the liquid level measured by the liquid-level sensor falls below a predetermined first level h.sub.1, the control unit starts supply of the liquid formulation from the tank unit to the atomization tank, and if the liquid level measured by the liquid-level sensor reaches a predetermined second level h.sub.2 higher than the first level h.sub.1, the control unit halts supply of the liquid formulation from the tank unit to the atomization tank.

A nebulizer has an aperture plate, a mounting, an actuator, and an aperture plate drive circuit (2-4). A controller measures an electrical drive parameter at each of a plurality of measuring points, each measuring point having a drive frequency; and based on the values of the parameter at the measuring points makes a determination of optimum drive frequency and also an end-of-dose prediction. The controller performs a short scan at regular sub-second intervals at which drive current is measured at two measuring points with different drive frequencies. According to drive parameter measurements at these points the controller determines if a full scan sweeping across a larger number of measuring points should be performed. The full scan provides the optimum drive frequency for the device and also an end of dose indication.

Novel, lubricious antimicrobial coatings for medical devices are disclosed. The coatings provide improved lubricity and durability and are readily applied in coating processes at low temperatures that do not deform the device and preserves the antimicrobial effectiveness of the antimicrobial agent. The present invention is also directed to a novel platinum catalyst for use in such coatings. The catalyst provides for rapid curing, while inhibiting cross-linking at ambient temperatures, thereby improving the production pot life of the coatings.

Afforded is a spray apparatus that enables the large-volume generation of fine particles having particle diameters minute to a level that can give rise to Brownian motion. A spray apparatus of the present invention is furnished with: an atomization tank 11; an atomizing device 12; a blower 13 that blows air through a blow port 11b; and send-out port 11c; a first baffle plate 14a and a second baffle plate 14b, connected to an inner side of a top panel of the atomization tank. The first baffle plate 14a is furnished with a first edge piece 14ae disposed spaced apart at a predetermined spacing from an inner face of the atomization tank 11 along one widthwise end thereof, and the blow port 11b is arranged to the one widthwise end of a connection piece 14ac between the first baffle plate 14a and the atomization tank 11. The second baffle plate 14b is furnished with a second edge piece 14be disposed spaced apart at a predetermined spacing from the inner face of the atomization tank 11 along the other widthwise end thereof, and the blow port 11c is arranged to the other widthwise end of a connection piece 14bc between the second baffle plate 14b and the atomization tank 11.

Afforded is a spraying apparatus that enables the large-volume generation of fine particles having particle diameters minute to a level that can give rise to Brownian motion. A spraying apparatus of the present invention is furnished with: an atomization tank 11 enabled for storing a liquid formulation; an atomizing device 12 being ultrasonic vibration elements arranged in the atomization tank interior, for atomizing the liquid formulation to generate fine particles; a blower 13 furnished with a blower element enabled for maintaining predetermined rpm, for blasting into the atomization tank interior, through a blow port 11b provided in the atomization tank, conveyance air that is for conveying the fine particles of the liquid formulation; a send-out port 11c, provided in the atomization tank, through which the fine particles are sent out together with the conveyance air; and a baffle plate 14a arranged in the atomization tank interior; wherein with one end part of the baffle plate 14a being spaced apart at a predetermined spacing from the inner surface of the atomization tank, the other end part is connected to the inner side of the atomization tank, and meanwhile, the baffle plate 14a is arranged so as to receive, at a surface on one side thereof, conveyance air through the blow port, and to receive, at a surface on the other side thereof, liquid columns of the liquid formulation, generated by the ultrasonic vibration elements.

A spray fluid operation system for an agricultural sprayer and method for operating same is disclosed. The method comprising: providing a spray fluid in a reservoir; and conveying at least one of the spray fluid and an additional fluid into a fluid flow system by a pump and control system (PCS). The fluid flow system comprising a dispensing device configured to dispense a first pumped fluid from the PCS to a field, and a backflow system configured to pipe second pumped fluid from the PCS back to the reservoir. The method further comprises: determining a fluid level in the reservoir; receiving the fluid level in a control device; generating the second pumped fluid by the PCS; and controlling allocation of the second pumped fluid according to an allocation ratio to: a first return device and a second return device configured to return the second pumped fluid to the reservoir.