Fog machine

Abstract

A fog machine supplies air to a fog liquid reservoir to force the fog liquid into a heater, wherein the fog liquid vaporizes to produce fog. The fog liquid supply to the heater can be halted, and the air supply can then be used to purge the heater of residual fog liquid. Within the heater, the fog liquid travels from outer passages further from the heating element(s) to inner passages closer to the heating element(s), whereby the fog liquid is preheated prior to vaporization, resulting in a higher degree of vaporization and drier fog with finer vapor particles. The fog machine may draw fog liquid from an offboard fog liquid reservoir, such as an off-the-shelf jug of liquid, and is preferably remote-controllable via a user's smartphone.

Claims

1. A fog machine including: a. an air supply configured to supply pressurized air to a fog liquid reservoir, b. a heater having: (1) a heating element, and (2) a vaporizing passage, wherein heat from the heating element vaporizes any fog liquid within the vaporizing passage, c. a housing at least substantially enclosing the air supply and heater, d. an air supply conduit: (1) connected to the air supply within the housing, and (2) having a length: (a) extending from the exterior of the housing, and (b) which is at least as great as the major dimension of the housing, e. a liquid supply conduit configured to supply liquid from the fog liquid reservoir to the vaporizing passage of the heater, wherein an external portion of the liquid supply conduit: (1) extends from the exterior of the housing, and (2) has a length at least as great as the major dimension of the housing.

2. The fog machine of claim 1 further including a purging conduit extending between the air supply and the liquid supply conduit.

3. The fog machine of claim 2 further including a liquid check valve situated along the liquid supply conduit upstream from the purging conduit.

4. The fog machine of claim 3 further including an actuatable liquid supply valve situated along the liquid supply conduit upstream from the liquid check valve.

5. The fog machine of claim 2 further including an air check valve situated along the purging conduit upstream from the liquid supply conduit.

6. The fog machine of claim 5 further including an actuatable air supply valve situated along the purging conduit upstream from the air check valve.

7. The fog machine of claim 1 further including: a. an actuatable liquid supply valve situated along the liquid supply conduit upstream from the vaporizing passage, b. a purging conduit extending between the air supply and the vaporizing passage, c. an actuatable air supply valve situated along the purging conduit upstream from the vaporizing passage, d. a controller configured to: (1) close the liquid supply valve following supply of liquid from the fog liquid reservoir to the vaporizing passage, then (2) open the air supply valve, whereby pressurized air is supplied through the purging conduit to the vaporizing passage.

8. The fog machine of claim 7 further including: a. a liquid check valve situated along the liquid supply conduit upstream from the vaporizing passage, and b. an air check valve situated along the purging conduit upstream from the vaporizing passage.

9. The fog machine of claim 7 wherein the vaporizing passage includes: a. a sinuous path within the heater, and b. a preheating path: (1) on or within the heater, (2) extending at least substantially perpendicularly to at least a major portion of the sinuous path, and (3) being spaced further from the heating element than the sinuous path.

10. The fog machine of claim 1 further including: a. the fog liquid reservoir, wherein the liquid supply conduit has an inlet opening situated closer to the bottom of the fog liquid reservoir than the top of the fog liquid reservoir, b. an air supply conduit: (1) connected to the air supply, and (2) having a length opening onto the fog liquid reservoir at a location closer to the top of the fog liquid reservoir than the bottom of the fog liquid reservoir.

11. The fog machine of claim 1 wherein the fog liquid reservoir has a top opening which: a. receives the pressurized air from the air supply, and b. bears external threading.

12. The fog machine of claim 11 wherein the liquid supply conduit: a. extends through the top opening of the fog liquid reservoir, and b. has an inlet opening situated closer to the bottom of the fog liquid reservoir than the top of the fog liquid reservoir.

13. The fog machine of claim 1 wherein the fog liquid reservoir has a top opening which: a. bears external threading, and a. has the external portion of the liquid supply conduit extending therein.

14. A fog machine including: a. an air supply configured to supply pressurized air to a fog liquid reservoir, b. a heater having: (1) a heating element, and (2) a vaporizing passage, wherein heat from the heating element vaporizes any fog liquid within the vaporizing passage, c. a liquid supply conduit configured to supply liquid from the fog liquid reservoir to the vaporizing passage of the heater, wherein the heater includes a thermally conductive mass in which: a. the heating element is inserted, and b. the vaporizing passage is defined, the vaporizing passage: (1) being spaced from the heating element within the conductive mass, and (2) having a sinuous path through the conductive mass, and wherein the vaporizing passage further includes a preheating path: a. in series with the sinuous path, b. spaced further from the heating element than the sinuous path, c. extending: (1) on or within the conductive mass, and (2) at least substantially perpendicularly to at least a major portion of the sinuous path.

15. The fog machine of claim 14 further including: a. a liquid check valve situated along the liquid supply conduit upstream from the vaporizing passage, b. an actuatable liquid supply valve situated along the liquid supply conduit upstream from the liquid check valve, c. a purging conduit extending between the air supply and the vaporizing passage, d. an air check valve situated along the purging conduit upstream from the vaporizing passage, and e. an actuatable air supply valve situated along the purging conduit upstream from the air check valve.

16. The fog machine of claim 15 further including a controller configured to: a. close the liquid supply valve following supply of liquid from the fog liquid reservoir to the vaporizing passage, then b. open the air supply valve, whereby pressurized air is supplied through the purging conduit to the vaporizing passage.

17. A fog machine including: a. a fog liquid reservoir, b. an air supply configured to supply pressurized air, c. a heater having: (1) a heating element, (2) a vaporizing passage defining a sinuous path within the heater, wherein heat from the heating element vaporizes any fog liquid within the vaporizing passage, and (3) a preheating path: (a) in series with the sinuous path, (b) spaced further from the heating element than the sinuous path, and (c) extending: i. on or within the conductive mass, and ii. at least substantially perpendicularly to at least a major portion of the sinuous path, d. an air supply conduit: (1) connected to the air supply, and (2) having a length opening onto the fog liquid reservoir at a location closer to the top of the fog liquid reservoir than the bottom of the fog liquid reservoir, e. a liquid supply conduit configured to supply liquid from the fog liquid reservoir to the vaporizing passage of the heater, wherein the liquid supply conduit has an inlet opening situated closer to the bottom of the fog liquid reservoir than the top of the fog liquid reservoir, f. a purging conduit extending between the air supply and the vaporizing passage, g. an actuatable liquid supply valve situated along the liquid supply conduit upstream from the vaporizing passage, h. an actuatable air supply valve situated along the purging conduit upstream from the vaporizing passage, i. a liquid check valve situated along the liquid supply conduit between the vaporizing passage and the liquid supply valve, j. an air check valve situated along the purging conduit between the vaporizing passage and the air supply valve, k. a controller configured to: (1) close the liquid supply valve following supply of liquid from the fog liquid reservoir to the vaporizing passage, then (2) open the air supply valve, whereby pressurized air is supplied through the purging conduit to the vaporizing passage.

18. The fog machine of claim 17: a. further including a housing at least substantially enclosing the air supply and heater, b. wherein the fog liquid reservoir is outside of, and spaced from, the housing, c. wherein the liquid supply conduit includes an external portion: (1) extending from the exterior of the housing to terminate in the inlet opening, and (2) having a length at least as great as the major dimension of the housing, d. wherein the air supply conduit includes an external portion: (1) extending from the exterior of the housing to open onto the fog liquid reservoir, and (2) having a length at least as great as the major dimension of the housing.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of an exemplary fog machine 100.

(2) FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the fog machine 100 of FIG. 1.

(3) FIG. 3 is a simplified schematic depiction of components of the fog machine 100 of FIGS. 1-2 shown connected to a separate external fog liquid reservoir 200.

(4) FIGS. 4A and 4B are respectively plan views of the inner faces 128L and 128U of the first heater section 104L (FIG. 4A) and second heater section 104U (FIG. 4B) of the heater 104 of FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY VERSIONS OF THE INVENTION

(5) Expanding on the discussion above, the exemplary fog machine 100more particularly, its electronics 106 (FIG. 3)is electrically powered via a power cord (with a power jack 140 for installation of an external electrical cord being shown in FIG. 1), and/or via onboard batteries, and may be activated/deactivated) by an on/off switch 142. The electronics 106 may include conventional components which are not depicted individually in the drawings, such as an AC-to-DC power converter or other power conditioners, one or more fuses, etc. as needed. Components which are not individually depicted, but which are particularly preferred, include one or more temperature sensors (e.g., thermocouples, thermistors, etc.) provided in or on the heater 104 for purpose of temperature measurement, and a controller in communication with the temperature sensor(s) which is configured to control the heating element(s) 114 in response to the sensors' temperature measurements. As will be discussed at greater length below, the controller is preferably capable of wireless remote control, allowing a user to control operation of the fog machine 100 via a smartphone or other device capable of communication with the controller.

(6) As seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the housing 138 has a generally cylindrical housing body 144 with circular housing ends 146F and 146R, with the housing body 144 bearing a top handle 148T and the front housing end 146F bearing a front handle 148F. As partially seen in FIG. 2, the interior of the housing 138 is horizontally bisected by a platform 150 extending between the ends 146F and 146R, whereupon the air supply 102, electronics 106, and heater 104 are mounted. By removing screws, undoing clips, or otherwise detaching the housing ends 146F and 146R from the housing body 144, the housing ends 146F and 146R and platform 150 (and associated components) can be pulled from the housing body 144 in the manner of a drawer for inspection and maintenance. While not shown in the drawings, the heater 104 (and air supply 102 and electronics 106) may be mounted spaced from the platform 150, with layers of thermal insulation being situated in the resulting space, thereby better protecting the air supply 102 and electronics 106 from the heater 104. Flexible insulation (e.g., fiberglass batt) is also preferably wrapped around/draped over the heater 104.

(7) Referring to FIG. 3, the air supply 102 pumps or otherwise supplies air through the rigid portion of the air supply conduit 108 to the air connection nozzle 108N located on the outer surface of the housing 138, where a flexible tube 108F defines the remainder of the air supply conduit 108. A check valve 152 is preferably situated in or upstream the nozzle 108N so that only outward airflow is permitted. The flexible portion 108F of the air supply conduit 108 extends through a frustoconical elastomeric stopper 204 installed atop the fog liquid reservoir 200depicted as a conventional off-the-shelf jug of fog liquidto preferably terminate at or near the inserted bottom surface of the stopper 204. The stopper 204 need not have the depicted form, and could instead be a cap which is internally threaded or otherwise configured to seal atop the fog liquid reservoir 200, and which bears or is otherwise configured to receive the conduits 108 and 110 in air-tight fashion. The flexible portion 110F of the liquid supply conduit 110 similarly extends through the stopper 204 to a location at or near the bottom of the fog liquid reservoir 200, such that pressurization of the air at the top of the fog liquid reservoir 200 urges fog liquid into and through the liquid supply conduit 110. The fog liquid flows through the flexible portion 110F of the liquid supply conduit 110 to the liquid connection nozzle 110N located on the front end 146F of the housing 138, at which point the fog liquid enters the rigid portion of the liquid supply conduit 110. The fog liquid then encounters the liquid supply valve 120, which prevents liquid flow until the controller 106 determines (via the temperature sensors associated with the heater 104) that the heater 104 has reached a desired temperature (as discussed below, preferably a user-defined temperature). When the liquid supply valve 120 opens, the fog liquid moves through the liquid check valve 124, which helps to isolate the liquid supply from the fog liquid reservoir 200 from the effects of downstream pressure from vaporizing fog liquid.

(8) The fog liquid then flows into the preheating portion 134U of the vaporizing passage within the second (upper) section 104U of the heater 104, preferably to a temperature near, but not in excess of, the fog liquid's boiling temperature. The preheated fog liquid then enters the vaporizing passage 134L within the first section 104L of the heater 104, wherein it vaporizes and exits the fog outlet 116 as fog. The generated fog is dryer than in conventional fog machines (that is, it is more highly vaporized, with less wet atomized fog liquid), and it has lower output pressure and less output noise.

(9) As noted above, the controller 106 is preferably capable of wireless remote control, e.g., via commands received by a Bluetooth receiver connected in communication with the controller 106. Most preferably, the commands are provided via an application running on the user's smartphone, whereby the user can program the operation of the fog machine 100 via the application. Alternatively or additionally, the fog machine 100 could be controlled via a dedicated remote control (as well as via onboard controls), and/or via cabled connection to a remote control (e.g., via DMX or CAT-5 controls). Programming options preferably include:

(10) a. System temperature: the user may set the desired heater 104 temperature, thereby customizing the fog machine 100 for the fog liquid being used.

(11) b. Continuous versus intermittent operation: the user may set the fog machine 100 for continuous fog generation, or alternatively for intermittent operation, preferably with user-defined periods of fog generation and/or user-defined rest periods between fog generation periods;
c. Manual burst: by pressing a button or otherwise generating an appropriate signal, the fog machine 100 may immediately generate a burst of fog for the duration of the signal.

(12) When the fog machine 100 is shut off (as by sending a command to the controller 106, or terminating power to the fog machine 100 at the on/off switch 142), the heating elements 114 are turned off and the liquid supply valve 120 closes. The air supply valve 122 is then opened, with the purging conduit 118 delivering air from the air supply 102 to the vaporizing passage 134 and fog outlet 116. The air delivery is maintained for a short period (e.g., ten seconds), effectively removing most or all residual fog liquid from the vaporizing passage 134, and simultaneously cooling the heater 104.

(13) The fog machine 100 can be varied in numerous respects other than any variations noted above. As an example, a heating/cooling system could be provided near the fog outlet 116 to condition the fog, that is, heat or cool the fog to vary its height once emitted (with cooled fog being denser and lower, and heated fog being less dense and higher). A temperature sensor can monitor the ambient air temperature to determine the appropriate heating/cooling setting for the desired fog height.

(14) The fog machine 100 can be sized and configured for vehicle mounting, including on robotic/drone vehicles, so that it may be placed as desired for police/military training or for tactical attack/defense use.

(15) Motion detectors or other presence sensors could be incorporated on or in association with the fog machine 100 such that the machine's operation can be triggered by motion or presence. For example, the fog machine 100 could be programmed to generate fog (or stop generating fog) when motion is detected.

(16) Lighting (e.g., LEDs and/or lasers) could be situated on the fog machine 100 to illuminate the fog, with the illumination's characteristics (e.g., duration, direction, etc.) preferably being user-programmable.

(17) As FIG. 3 is a simplified schematic view of an exemplary arrangement of the fog machine's components, it should be understood that some components (e.g., wiring or other signal-transmitting means between the liquid supply valve 120 and air supply valve 122 to the controller 106) are not shown. Further, the sizes/configurations and locations of components may not correspond to actual and/or preferred arrangements; for example, the liquid check valve 124 is preferably situated along the liquid supply conduit 110 immediately adjacent the purging conduit 118, such that air from the purging conduit 118 more fully purges the liquid supply conduit 110 and the vaporizing passage 134 of leftover fog liquid. Similarly, the air check valve 126 is preferably situated along the purging conduit 118 immediately adjacent the liquid supply conduit 110, such that there is little or no length of purging conduit 118 to receive fog liquid during fog generation (thereby minimizing the need for later purging of fog liquid from the purging conduit 118).

(18) Various terms referring to orientation and position used throughout this documente.g., top (as in top handle) and front (as in front housing end)are relative terms rather than absolute ones. In other words, it should be understood (for example) that the top handle being referred to may in fact be located at the side or bottom of the machine depending on the overall orientation of the machine. Thus, such terms should be regarded as words of convenience, rather than limiting terms.

(19) The major dimension of an object (e.g., the major dimension of the housing) is the greatest distance between opposing sides of the object, as measured through an axis extending through the geometric center of the object.

(20) The term pressurized air should be understood to mean air at greater than ambient pressure.

(21) A controller can be any device suitable for executing instructions, such as a microprocessor, a microcontroller, a digital signal processor (DSP), an ASIC (Application-Specific Integrated Circuit), a PLD (Programmable Logic Device), an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), or any other suitable processing device.

(22) When a conduit or other passage is said to extend between a pair of components (such as valves or other conduits/passages), this indicates that the passage is configured to provide fluid between the components (and possibly through other intervening components). When a conduit or other passage is said to be sinuous, this indicates that a liquid traveling along the passage reverses its direction at least twice along a plane, as along a sinusoidal/serpentine, zig-zag, or similar path.

(23) When a component (such as a valve) is stated to be along a conduit, this indicates that the component is between the ends of the conduit, or at one of the conduit's ends. When a first component (such as a valve) is stated to be along a conduit upstream from a second component, this indicates that the first component precedes the second along the path conventionally taken by the fluid carried by the conduit. Conversely, when a first component is stated to be along a conduit downstream from a second component, this indicates that the first component follows the second along the path conventionally taken by the conduit's fluid.

(24) When a valve is stated to be a check valve (also known as a one-way valve, non-return valve, retention valve, reflux valve, or clack valve), this indicates that the valve is designed to only allow fluid flow in the direction conventionally taken within the conduit along which the valve is situated. When a valve is stated to be an actuatable valve, this indicates that the valve is activated to open and/or close (either wholly or partially) from application of an external force, and/or receipt of an external signal. For example, a solenoid-actuated valve is an actuable valve, as the solenoid opens and/or closes the valve upon the solenoid's receipt of an appropriate signal.

(25) It should be understood that the versions of the invention described above are merely exemplary, and the invention is not intended to be limited to these versions. Rather, the scope of rights to the invention is limited only by the claims set out below, and the invention encompasses all different versions that fall literally or equivalently within the scope of these claims.