Aerosol device and method for providing an aerosol

Abstract

In order to provide an aerosol device (100) that makes it possible to provide an aerosol having an optimised composition, in particular optimised droplet size distribution, it is proposed that the aerosol device (100) should include the following: an aerosol casing (102); one or more aerosol nozzles (104) for generating an aerosol stream from a carrier gas and a liquid, wherein the one or more aerosol nozzles (104) are directed into an interior (106) of the aerosol casing (102) and/or are arranged in the aerosol casing (102); one or more carrier duct connection points (156) for connecting one or more carrier ducts (158), by means of which the aerosol is guidable away from the interior (106) of the aerosol casing (102).

Claims

1. An aerosol device, including: an aerosol casing; one or more aerosol nozzles for generating an aerosol stream from a carrier gas and a liquid, wherein the one or more aerosol nozzles are directed into an interior of the aerosol casing and are arranged in the aerosol casing; one or more carrier duct connection points for connecting one or more carrier ducts, by means of which the aerosol is guidable away from the interior of the aerosol casing, wherein the interior of the aerosol casing includes an annular flow region and a central region, wherein the annular flow region surrounds the central region in a ring, the one or more aerosol nozzles are directed into the annular flow region, and wherein the one or more carrier duct connection points directly adjoin the central region, the annular flow region and the central region are spatially divided from one another by a hollow-cylindrical dividing wall, wherein the aerosol device includes a supply device for supplying an additive to the interior of the aerosol casing, and wherein the supply device is arranged directly below a central region of the interior of the aerosol casing, as seen in the direction of gravity, and directed into the central region.

2. An aerosol device according to claim 1, wherein the aerosol device includes a separating device for separating liquid droplets from the aerosol, wherein the separating device is arranged between the one or more aerosol nozzles on the one hand and the one or more carrier ducts on the other, as seen in a direction of flow of the aerosol.

3. An aerosol device according to claim 2, wherein the separating device includes a centrifugal separator or a deflecting separator.

4. An aerosol device according to claim 2, wherein the separating device includes one or more through-flow elements or a brush-type separator or one or more perforated plate elements.

5. An aerosol device according to claim 1, wherein the interior of the aerosol casing takes an at least approximately rotationally symmetrical form, and/or wherein the one or more aerosol nozzles are directed at least approximately tangentially into the interior such that an aerosol gas stream that rotates in a ring or a spiral or a helix is producible in the interior of the aerosol casing.

6. An aerosol device according to claim 1, wherein the aerosol device includes an additional aerosol nozzle or a spray nozzle for spraying a liquid or a drop generator for the purpose of introducing liquid drops.

7. An aerosol device according to claim 1, wherein the supply device is arranged in an aerosol chamber base that divides an aerosol region of the interior of the aerosol casing that serves to guide aerosol from a collecting region of the interior that serves to receive liquid.

8. An aerosol device according to claim 1, wherein an aerosol chamber base, which downwardly terminates an aerosol region of the interior of the aerosol casing serving to guide aerosol, is in the shape of a cone or a truncated cone, wherein a cone tip of the cone shape or truncated cone shape points downwards.

9. An aerosol device according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of carrier duct connection points and/or carrier ducts have mutually different diameters, such that different aerosol variants having different droplet size distributions are configured to be discharged and/or conveyed.

10. An aerosol device according to claim 1, wherein the aerosol device includes a control device by means of which a droplet size distribution and/or a volumetric flow of the generated and/or provided aerosol is adjustable in targeted manner by: a) varying the volumetric flows and/or pressures of the carrier gas and/or the liquid for the one or more aerosol nozzles; and/or b) varying a volumetric flow and/or pressure of an additional gas stream that is introduced into the interior in addition to the carrier gas; and/or c) varying a volumetric flow and/or pressure of the additive that is additionally supplied by way of the supply device; and/or d) selecting individual or a plurality of carrier duct connection points and/or carrier ducts for guiding away the aerosol.

11. An aerosol device according to claim 1, wherein a removal region of the aerosol casing that is adjoined by one or more carrier ducts or includes or forms one or more carrier duct connection points includes one or more funnel-like outlet openings.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 shows a schematic illustration of an aerosol device;

(2) FIG. 2 shows a schematic perspective illustration of an aerosol casing of the aerosol device from FIG. 1;

(3) FIG. 3 shows a schematic vertical longitudinal section through the aerosol casing from FIG. 2;

(4) FIG. 4 shows a further schematic vertical longitudinal section through the aerosol casing from FIG. 2;

(5) FIG. 5 shows a schematic horizontal section through the aerosol casing from FIG. 2;

(6) FIG. 6 shows a schematic vertical longitudinal section, corresponding to FIG. 4, through an alternative embodiment of the aerosol device;

(7) FIG. 7 shows a schematic, partly transparent illustration of a removal element of the aerosol casing;

(8) FIG. 8 shows a schematic plan view of an underside of the removal element from FIG. 7; and

(9) FIG. 9 shows a schematic vertical longitudinal section, corresponding to FIG. 4, through a further alternative embodiment of the aerosol device.

(10) Like or functionally equivalent elements are provided with the same reference numerals in all the Figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(11) An embodiment, illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 5, of an aerosol device, which is designated 100 as a whole, is for example a constituent part of a minimum quantity lubrication system for the lubrication of tools.

(12) The aerosol device 100 may for example be provided as a constituent part of a machine tool.

(13) The aerosol device 100 includes an aerosol casing 102 in which an aerosol that is to be provided is generated.

(14) The aerosol device 100 further includes a plurality of aerosol nozzles 104 that are directed into an interior 106 of the aerosol casing 102.

(15) Here, the aerosol nozzles 104 are arranged in particular in an upper region of the aerosol casing 102, as seen in the direction of gravity 107.

(16) As can be seen in particular from FIG. 5, the aerosol nozzles 104 are arranged substantially tangentially to an outer wall 108 of the aerosol casing 102.

(17) The aerosol nozzles 104 thus enable in particular annular flow to be formed within the interior 106 of the aerosol casing 102.

(18) The interior 106 of the aerosol casing 102 is subdivided into a plurality of regions.

(19) In particular, the interior 106 includes an annular flow region 110 into which the aerosol nozzles 104 are discharged.

(20) The annular flow region 110 surrounds a central region 112 of the interior 106.

(21) In particular, the annular flow region 110 and the central region 112 are divided from one another by a dividing wall 114.

(22) The dividing wall 114 is in particular a dividing cylinder 116.

(23) The dividing wall 114 is arranged in particular on a top wall 118 of the aerosol casing 102 and extends downwards from the top wall 118, as seen in the direction of gravity.

(24) The interior 106 of the aerosol casing 102 further includes a collecting region 120 in which liquid, in particular oil, that is separated off from the aerosol can collect.

(25) The annular flow region 110 and the central region 112 are preferably a constituent part of an aerosol chamber or aerosol region 122 of the interior 106.

(26) The aerosol region 122 and the collecting region 120 are divided from one another in particular by an aerosol chamber base 124.

(27) The aerosol chamber base 124 is in particular a horizontal dividing wall that upwardly delimits the collecting region 120.

(28) The aerosol chamber base 124 is in particular permeable, such that liquid separated off in the aerosol region 122 can pass downwards into the collecting region 120.

(29) For example, an annular gap is formed between the outer wall 108 of the aerosol casing 102 and the aerosol chamber base 124.

(30) The annular gap is in particular a drainage gap 126.

(31) The collecting region 120 in particular forms a liquid reservoir 128. Liquid is supplied to the aerosol nozzles 104 from the liquid reservoir 128, in particular by way of one or more liquid conduits 130.

(32) Further, the aerosol device 100 preferably includes a carrier gas source 132 by means of which a carrier gas, in particular compressed air, is provided.

(33) One or more valve devices 134 serve to supply the carrier gas to the aerosol nozzles 104.

(34) These valve devices 134 are in particular aerosol valves 136.

(35) The connections between the aerosol valves 136 and the aerosol nozzles 104 are formed in particular by gas conduits 138.

(36) Further, an additive gas supply line 140 of the aerosol device 100 may be provided.

(37) The additive gas supply line 140 in particular enables the supply of additional carrier gas from the carrier gas source 132 to the central region 112 of the interior 106.

(38) For the purpose of varying a volumetric flow of the carrier gas supplied by way of the additive gas supply line 140, in particular a proportional valve 142 may be provided in a gas conduit 138 of the additive gas supply line 140.

(39) Finally, one or more manometers 144 also serve to monitor and/or control the aerosol device 100.

(40) Moreover, the aerosol device 100 preferably includes a control device 146 by means of which in particular the entire aerosol device 100 is controllable by closed and/or open loop control.

(41) The aerosol device 100 moreover preferably includes a supply device 148 for supplying an additive to the aerosol generated in the aerosol casing 102.

(42) The supply device 148 is in particular arranged in the aerosol chamber base 124 and/or directed into the central region 112 of the interior 106.

(43) The supply device 148 preferably includes an aerosol nozzle 150 and/or a spray nozzle 152.

(44) By means of an aerosol nozzle 150, it is in particular possible to meter a finely misted liquid into the central region 112 and the aerosol therein.

(45) By means of the spray nozzle 152, it is preferably possible to introduce a liquid in drop form, having drop sizes that are large by comparison with the aerosol, into the central region 112 and the aerosol and/or carrier gas guided therein.

(46) By means of a valve device 134 taking the form of a wall-supported oil valve 154, the quantity of additive supplied by way of the supply device 148 may preferably be controlled by closed and/or open loop control. Further, preferably a droplet size of an aerosol or spray supplied by way of the supply device 148 is adjustable in this way.

(47) Further, the aerosol device 100 includes one or more carrier duct connection points 156 for connecting one or more carrier ducts 158.

(48) In particular, the aerosol generated in the interior 106 of the aerosol casing 102 can be guided away by way of these carrier duct connection points 156 and the carrier ducts 158, and supplied to a providing location (not illustrated).

(49) As can be seen in particular from FIG. 4, the carrier duct connection points 156 and/or the carrier ducts 158 may have one or more outlet connectors 159 that in particular project into the interior 106 of the aerosol casing 102.

(50) As a result, aerosol can in particular be directly received in and guided away from the central region 112.

(51) The embodiment of the aerosol device 100 illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 5 functions as follows:

(52) An aerosol is generated using the aerosol nozzles 104 from a carrier gas and a liquid, in particular oil, and is introduced into the annular flow region 110 of the interior 106 of the aerosol casing 102.

(53) As a result of the tangential arrangement and/or orientation of the aerosol nozzles 104, preferably an annular or helical or spiral aerosol stream is produced in the annular flow region 110.

(54) Here, the aerosol flows in particular around the dividing wall 114 and down, as seen in the direction of gravity.

(55) Because of the flow that is established, a centrifugal force is produced, and this forces the relatively large droplets in the aerosol radially outwards until they come into contact with the outer wall 108 and are separated off there.

(56) The separated-off liquid then flows along the outer wall 108, through the drainage gap 126 and into the collecting region 120.

(57) Then, a proportion of the droplets of relatively small diameter remains in the aerosol.

(58) This aerosol then flows through under the dividing wall 114 and into the central region 112.

(59) During this, an additive is supplied to the aerosol by way of the supply device 148.

(60) This additive is in particular the same liquid as that already used in the aerosol nozzles 104 to generate the aerosol.

(61) During this, however, the supply device 148 preferably generates drops of comparatively large diameter. In particular, the drops generated by the supply device 148 are larger than the liquid droplets of aerosol first generated by the aerosol nozzles 104 and separated off at the outer wall 108.

(62) The aerosol device 100 thus includes a separating device 160, which takes the form in particular of a centrifugal separator 162 and/or a deflecting separator 164, in order to separate off liquid droplets first generated by the aerosol nozzles 104 that are in an undesirable size range.

(63) Then, the supply device 148 is used to supply for example liquid drops that are preferably larger, in particular at least an order of magnitude larger, than the liquid droplets separated off by the separating device 160.

(64) It is thus possible, using the combination of aerosol nozzles 104 and supply device 148, to generate a very specific droplet size distribution in the central region 112.

(65) Here, the aerosol nozzles 104 and the supply device 148 are switchable on and/or off, selectively alternately or together, in order ultimately to be able selectively to generate different droplet size distributions in the central region 112.

(66) Finally, the aerosol in the central region 112 may be guided, by way of the carrier duct connection points 156 and the carrier ducts 158, to one or more providing locations.

(67) In particular if differently sized carrier ducts 158 are provided, this carrying of the aerosol to the providing location may be adapted to the droplet size distribution in order ultimately to ensure a desired aerosol composition at the providing location as well.

(68) An alternative embodiment of an aerosol device 100, illustrated in FIGS. 6 to 8, differs from the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 5 substantially in that the separating device 160 includes, as an alternative or in addition to the above-mentioned features of the separating device 160 according to the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 5, one or more through-flow elements 166.

(69) The through-flow elements 166 are in particular arranged in the interior 106 of the aerosol casing 102 and are preferably surrounded by the dividing wall 114, in particular the dividing cylinder 116.

(70) The through-flow elements 166 are preferably arranged successively, as seen in relation to a direction of flow of the aerosol in the interior 106, such that aerosol flows through the through-flow elements 166 successively.

(71) Each through-flow element 166 takes the form for example of a perforated plate element 168, in particular a perforated metal sheet 170.

(72) Preferably, each through-flow element 166 takes substantially the shape of a cone and/or a truncated cone, wherein a tip (cone tip) preferably points downwards, as seen in the direction of gravity.

(73) The through-flow elements 166 are preferably fixed in the interior 106 and/or are fixed in relation to one another by one or more bearing elements 172.

(74) The through-flow elements 166 preferably have a multiplicity of passage openings through which the aerosol flows, as a result of which ultimately liquid can be separated off.

(75) Suitable selection of the diameters of the perforations preferably results in a desired influence on and/or selection of the (liquid) droplet size distribution.

(76) In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 6 to 8, it is further provided for the aerosol chamber base 124 to take substantially the shape of a truncated cone or the outer surface of a truncated cone, wherein a cone tip 174 of the aerosol chamber base 124 preferably points downwards, as seen in the direction of gravity.

(77) Preferably, as a result of the aerosol chamber base 124 a cyclonic action can be generated and/or strengthened within the interior 106 of the aerosol casing 102.

(78) A drainage gap 126 or a drainage opening is in that case preferably arranged at a radially inner region of the aerosol chamber base 124, facing the cone tip 174.

(79) Further, the embodiment of the aerosol device 100 illustrated in FIGS. 6 to 8 differs in respect of alternative guiding away of the aerosol.

(80) In particular, in this case a top wall 118 of the aerosol casing 102 is preferably optimised for flow by one or more additional components or by suitable shaping.

(81) Preferably, the aerosol device 100 includes a removal element 176 by means of which the aerosol can be guided away from the interior 106 of the aerosol casing 102, in particular while avoiding air turbulence and/or flow diversion to the greatest possible extent.

(82) The removal element 176, which is illustrated separately in FIGS. 7 and 8, is for this purpose in particular a substantially cylindrical component that includes a receiving region 178 for receiving the dividing wall 114 and/or can be fixed to the top wall 118 of the aerosol casing 102 by means of one or more securing points 180.

(83) The removal element 176 includes in particular a plurality of funnel-like inflow regions 182, for example four, which are a constituent part of outlet openings 184 for guiding aerosol away from the interior 106.

(84) The outlet openings 184 in particular adjoin carrier duct connection points 156 and/or carrier ducts 158.

(85) Preferably, an outlet opening 184 having a separate inflow region 182 is associated with each carrier duct 158 and/or each carrier duct connection point 156.

(86) The removal element 176 has in particular rounded inflow regions 182, in particular having no edges, corners or other sections that affect flow.

(87) It is thus possible, by means of the inflow regions 182 of the removal element 176, for the aerosol to be guided away from the interior 106 to the carrier ducts 158 with particular efficiency and low turbulence.

(88) The inflow regions 182 may be discharged, on their side facing the interior 106, into a recess in the removal element 176 that is in the shape of a cone portion.

(89) As a result, turbulence or other disturbance of flow may likewise be reduced or completely avoided.

(90) Otherwise, the embodiment of the aerosol device 100 that is illustrated in FIGS. 6 to 8 corresponds, as regards its structure and functioning, to the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 5, so in this respect reference is made to the description thereof above.

(91) A further alternative embodiment of an aerosol device 100, illustrated in FIG. 9, differs from the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 6 to 8 substantially in that, instead of perforated plate elements 168, a through-flow element 166 taking the form of a brush-type separator 186 is provided.

(92) The brush-type separator 186 includes in particular a multiplicity of rod-shaped projections connected to one another in particular centrally.

(93) The rod-shaped projections, in particular bristles, are preferably oriented obliquely in relation to the direction of gravity. This preferably enables separated-off liquid to simply flow down. In particular, the liquid flows converging on the centre in the radial direction and along the bearing element 172 for mounting of the brush-type separator 186, down in the direction of the aerosol chamber base 124, and finally into the collecting region 120.

(94) Otherwise, the embodiment of the aerosol device 100 that is illustrated in FIG. 9 corresponds, as regards its structure and functioning, to the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 6 to 8, so in this respect reference is made to the description thereof above.

(95) In further embodiments (not illustrated), any combinations of features of the aerosol devices 100 described above may be provided.

(96) For example, the brush-type separator 186 from the embodiment according to FIG. 9 may also be provided in the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 5.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

(97) 100 Aerosol device 102 Aerosol casing 104 Aerosol nozzle 106 Interior 108 Outer wall 110 Annular flow region 112 Central region 114 Dividing wall 116 Dividing cylinder 118 Top wall 120 Collecting region 122 Aerosol region 124 Aerosol chamber base 126 Drainage gap 128 Liquid reservoir 130 Liquid conduit 132 Carrier gas source 134 Valve device 136 Aerosol valve 138 Gas conduit 140 Additional gas supply line 142 Proportional valve 144 Manometer 146 Control device 148 Supply device 150 Aerosol nozzle 152 Spray nozzle 154 Wall-supported oil valve 156 Carrier duct connection point 158 Carrier duct 159 Outlet connector 160 Separating device 162 Centrifugal separator 164 Deflecting separator 166 Through-flow element 168 Perforated plate element 170 Perforated metal sheet 172 Bearing element 174 Cone tip 176 Removal element 178 Receiving region 180 Securing point 182 Inflow region 184 Outlet opening 186 Brush-type separator