Device, system, and method for atomizer nozzle assembly with adjustable impingement
10035154 ยท 2018-07-31
Inventors
Cpc classification
B05B1/26
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B05B7/0846
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B05B7/2494
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B05B7/164
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
International classification
B05B1/26
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B05B15/652
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B05B15/65
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
Abstract
An adjustable atomizer nozzle assembly includes an assembly body; first and second side nozzle components, including compressed air tubes, liquid tubes, liquid heater, air heater, atomizer nozzles, which are mounted with an impingement angle to create a combined aerosol stream with reduced droplet size. An adjustable atomizer nozzle system includes a nozzle assembly; a mast assembly; a self-coiling line assembly, including a compressed air line, a pressurized liquid line, and a power line; a pressure tank; a compressor; a power supply; a mounting base; and wheels. A nozzle assembly can include one atomizer nozzle with a liquid heater. A method of use includes providing an adjustable atomizer nozzle system, configuring impingement for spraying, spraying a room, configuring impingement for fogging, and fogging the room.
Claims
1. An adjustable atomizer nozzle assembly, comprising: a) an assembly body, which further comprises: an internal liquid tube; and a liquid heater; b) a first side nozzle component, comprising: a first compressed air tube; a first liquid tube; and a first atomizer nozzle, which further comprises a first nozzle outlet; and c) a second side nozzle component, comprising: a second compressed air tube; a second liquid tube; and a second atomizer nozzle, which further comprises a second nozzle outlet; wherein the first liquid tube is connected in a first end to the assembly body, and is rotationally connected in a second end, via a first horizontal rotational connection, to a rear of the first atomizer nozzle, such that the first atomizer nozzle is configured to rotate in a horizontal plane; wherein the first compressed air tube is flexibly connected between the assembly body and the first atomizer nozzle; in order to allow free rotation of the first horizontal rotational connection between the first atomizer nozzle and the first compressed air tube; wherein the first atomizer nozzle is configured to mix air in the first compressed air tube with a liquid in the first liquid tube, such that the air and liquid is emitted by the nozzle outlet in the form of a first aerosol stream in the direction of a first elongated axis; wherein the second liquid tube is connected in a first end to the assembly body, and is rotationally connected in a second end, via a second horizontal rotational connection, to a rear of the second atomizer nozzle, such that the second atomizer nozzle is configured to rotate in the horizontal plane; wherein the second compressed air tube is flexibly connected between the assembly body and the second atomizer nozzle; in order to allow free rotation of the second horizontal rotational connection between the second atomizer nozzle and the second compressed air tube; wherein the second atomizer nozzle is configured to mix air in the second compressed air tube with the liquid in the first liquid tube, such that the air and the liquid is emitted by the second nozzle outlet in the form of a second aerosol stream in the direction of a second elongated axis in the horizontal plane; wherein the first and second aerosol streams intersect at an impingement angle between the first elongated axis and the second elongated axis; wherein the impingement angle is configured to be adjustable by a configuration of a first rotational position of the first horizontal rotational connection and a configuration of a second rotational position of the second horizontal rotational connection; wherein the first and second liquid tubes are in fluid connection with the internal liquid tube; wherein the liquid heater is configured to heat the fluid in the internal liquid tube, before the fluid flows to the first and second atomizer nozzles; whereby the first and second aerosol streams intersect and combine to form a combined aerosol stream, and whereby adjustment of the impingement angle adjusts the average droplet size and distribution of the combined aerosol stream.
2. The adjustable atomizer nozzle assembly of claim 1, wherein the impingement angle is configurable in a range of 90 degrees to 180 degrees.
3. The adjustable atomizer nozzle assembly of claim 1, wherein the impingement angle is configurable to be substantially zero degrees.
4. The adjustable atomizer nozzle assembly of claim 1, wherein the impingement angle is configurable to be substantially 135 degrees.
5. The adjustable atomizer nozzle assembly of claim 1, wherein the assembly body further comprises: an internal compressed air tube; wherein the first and second compressed air tubes are in fluid connection with the internal compressed air tube.
6. The adjustable atomizer nozzle assembly of claim 5, wherein the assembly body further comprises: an air heater; wherein the air heater is configured to heat the air in the internal compressed air tube.
7. An adjustable atomizer nozzle assembly, comprising: a) an assembly body, which further comprises: an internal compressed air tube; and an air heater; b) a first side nozzle component, comprising: a first compressed air tube; a first liquid tube; and a first atomizer nozzle, which further comprises a first nozzle outlet; and c) a second side nozzle component, comprising: a second compressed air tube; a second liquid tube; and a second atomizer nozzle, which further comprises a second nozzle outlet; wherein the first liquid tube is connected in a first end to the assembly body, and is rotationally connected in a second end, via a first horizontal rotational connection, to a rear of the first atomizer nozzle, such that the first atomizer nozzle is configured to rotate in a horizontal plane; wherein the first compressed air tube is flexibly connected between the assembly body and the first atomizer nozzle; in order to allow free rotation of the first horizontal rotational connection between the first atomizer nozzle and the first compressed air tube; wherein the first atomizer nozzle is configured to mix air in the first compressed air tube with a liquid in the first liquid tube, such that the air and liquid is emitted by the nozzle outlet in the form of a first aerosol stream in the direction of a first elongated axis; wherein the second liquid tube is connected in a first end to the assembly body, and is rotationally connected in a second end, via a second horizontal rotational connection, to a rear of the second atomizer nozzle, such that the second atomizer nozzle is configured to rotate in the horizontal plane; wherein the second compressed air tube is flexibly connected between the assembly body and the second atomizer nozzle; in order to allow free rotation of the second horizontal rotational connection between the second atomizer nozzle and the second compressed air tube; wherein the second atomizer nozzle is configured to mix air in the second compressed air tube with the liquid in the first liquid tube, such that the air and the liquid is emitted by the second nozzle outlet in the form of a second aerosol stream in the direction of a second elongated axis in the horizontal plane; wherein the first and second aerosol streams intersect at an impingement angle between the first elongated axis and the second elongated axis; wherein the impingement angle is configured to be adjustable by a configuration of a first rotational position of the first horizontal rotational connection and a configuration of a second rotational position of the second horizontal rotational connection; wherein the first and second compressed air tubes are in fluid connection with the internal compressed air tube; wherein the air heater is configured to heat the air in the internal compressed air tube, before the air flows to the first and second atomizer nozzles; whereby the first and second aerosol streams intersect and combine to form a combined aerosol stream, and whereby adjustment of the impingement angle adjusts the average droplet size and distribution of the combined aerosol stream.
8. The adjustable atomizer nozzle assembly of claim 1, wherein the impingement angle is configurable in a range of 90 degrees to 180 degrees.
9. The adjustable atomizer nozzle assembly of claim 7, wherein the impingement angle is configurable to be substantially zero degrees.
10. The adjustable atomizer nozzle assembly of claim 7, wherein the impingement angle is configurable to be substantially 135 degrees.
11. The adjustable atomizer nozzle assembly of claim 7, wherein the assembly body further comprises: an internal liquid tube; wherein the first and second liquid tubes are in fluid connection with the internal liquid tube.
12. The adjustable atomizer nozzle assembly of claim 11, wherein the assembly body further comprises: a liquid heater; wherein the liquid heater is configured to heat the fluid in the internal liquid tube.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION
(10) Before describing the invention in detail, it should be observed that the present invention resides primarily in a novel and non-obvious combination of elements and process steps. So as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will readily be apparent to those skilled in the art, certain conventional elements and steps have been presented with lesser detail, while the drawings and specification describe in greater detail other elements and steps pertinent to understanding the invention.
(11) The following embodiments are not intended to define limits as to the structure or method of the invention, but only to provide exemplary constructions. The embodiments are permissive rather than mandatory and illustrative rather than exhaustive.
(12) In the following, we describe the structure of an embodiment of an adjustable atomizer nozzle assembly 100 with reference to
(13) In an embodiment, an adjustable atomizer nozzle assembly 100 can include:
(14) a) An assembly body 110;
(15) b) A first side nozzle component 120, including: i. A first compressed air tube 122; ii. A first liquid tube 124; iii. A first atomizer nozzle 126, which further comprises: 1. a first nozzle outlet 128;
(16) c) A second side nozzle component 130, including: i. A second compressed air tube 132; ii. A second liquid tube 134; iii. A second atomizer nozzle 136, which further comprises: 1. a second nozzle outlet 138; wherein the first liquid tube 124 is connected in a first end to the assembly body 110, and is rotationally connected in a second end, via a first horizontal rotational connection 224, to a rear of the first atomizer nozzle 126, such that the first atomizer nozzle 126 can rotate in a horizontal plane 250, as shown in
(17) In a related embodiment, the liquid tubes 124, 134 and the compressed air tubes 122, 132 can be interchanged such that the compressed air is instead carried in a tube with a rotatable connection, and the liquid is carried in a flexibly connected tube.
(18) In a related embodiment, the adjustable atomizer nozzle assembly 100 can be configured with separate rotatable connections between the assembly body 110 and the nozzles 126, 136 such that the liquid tubes 124, 134 and the compressed air tubes 122, 132 are flexibly connected tubes.
(19) In a related embodiment,
(20) In a related embodiment,
(21) In a related embodiment,
(22) In a related embodiment, the impingement angle 240 can be negative, which indicates that the first and second aerosol streams are diverging to a right and left side, and will not intersect, such that a wider area can be covered by separated aerosol streams. A negative 90 degree impingement angle 240 provides optimal substantially non-intersecting coverage of an 180 degree span in front of the nozzle assembly 100.
(23) In a related embodiment, a smaller droplet size can be desirable for automated fogging and a larger droplet can be desirable for manual spraying.
(24) In a related embodiment,
(25) In a related embodiment,
(26) In a related embodiment, as shown in
(27) In a related embodiment, as shown in
(28) In related embodiments, an aerosol stream or combined aerosol stream from the atomizer nozzle assembly 100 can be heated with a heating source mounted in the nozzle assembly, such as a plasma heater; a flame source, a high voltage arc, or infrared lamp.
(29) In an embodiment, as shown in
(30) In an embodiment, as shown in
(31) It should be noted that reference to the horizontal plane 250 and the vertical plane is relative to orientation of the adjustable atomizer nozzle assembly 100, such that the horizontal plane 250 and the vertical plane can also be referred to as respectively the first plane 250 and the second plane.
(32) In an embodiment,
(33) In an embodiment,
(34) In an embodiment, as shown in
(35) In a related embodiment, the mast assembly 610, in a telescoping configuration, can include a mast lock 714, to lock the mast assembly 610 at a predetermined extracted length. The lock can, as shown, be a lever type lock, or it can be a screw collar, or other well-known locking design for telescoping masts.
(36) In a related embodiment, as shown in
(37) In a related embodiment, the power supply 660 can be extended to an external power source, such as a building power circuit. The power supply 660 can be direct wiring from an external power source, or it can contain transformer components to adapt to specific power needs of components in the adjustable atomizer nozzle system 600, according to well-known methods and design principles for power supplies.
(38) In a related embodiment, the adjustable atomizer nozzle system 600 can include: a. A main switch 602 for deactivating or activating the compressor 650. This can also activate a ventilation fan; b. A rotation switch 604 for deactivating or activating the motor 630. The motor 630 can be manually configured with a predetermined span of side-to-side rotation; c. A heating switch 606 for deactivating or activating the liquid heater 540.
(39) In a related embodiment, the pressure tank 640 can further include: a. A manual pressure relief valve 746; b. A pressure safety valve 744, for automatic pressure reduction when pressure is at a predetermined maximum pressure.
(40) In a related embodiment, the adjustable atomizer nozzle system 600 can include a liquid flow gauge and control valve 608, to configure precision adjustment of liquid flow through the liquid line 724.
(41) In a related embodiment, the adjustable atomizer nozzle system 600 can include a tank air valve 609, to enable or disable air pressure to the tank 640. Typically, the tank air valve 609 will be an on/off valve, but it can also be adjustable to control air flow to the tank.
(42) In a related embodiment, external power can be supplied with a timer power outlet or extension cord. In a further related embodiment, the timer power outlet or extension cord can be remote controlled, for example via RF, Bluetooth, or WIFI.
(43) In a related embodiment, the rotating telescopic mast assembly 610 can be configured to rotate up to 350 degrees at approximately 8 degree adjustable increments. This can further enhance dispersion and coverage of the disinfectant during automated fogging.
(44) In a related embodiment, the adjustable atomizer nozzle system 600 can be configured to limit the maximum liquid flow in the system based on length and diameter of tubing and system air pressure.
(45) In a further related example embodiment, the pressurized liquid line 724 can have a length of 23 feet and an internal diameter of 1/16, whereby if the compressor is delivering a pressure of 20 PSI, the liquid flow in the pressurized liquid line 724 can be limited to a maximum flow of approximately 100 ml/minute, which can be further reduced by adjustment of the control valve 608.
(46) In a related embodiment, the adjustable atomizer nozzle system 600 can be configured with weight of less than 50 lbs. and with a size that permits shipping by express courier or as checked baggage.
(47) In a related embodiment, the liquid 742 can be a hydrogen peroxide solution, in a concentration range of 1-12%.
(48) In related embodiments, the adjustable atomizer nozzle system 600 can further include feedback control systems to control pressure and temperature, according to well-known methods, known to those with ordinary skill in the art of design of systems containing pressurized air and liquid.
(49) In related embodiments, the first and second atomizer nozzles 126, 136 can use well known existing atomizer nozzle designs. This can include air atomizing nozzles made by Spraying Systems Co, including models in model series 1/8J, 1/4J, 1/8JJ Compact Series, Variable Spray Series, 1/2J, 1J, and Special Purpose Series.
(50) In related embodiments, the adjustable atomizer nozzle system 600 can be used for: a. Fogging, wherein the system 600 is left activated in a central, wall or corner position of a room, such that the room is fogged; b. Spraying, wherein the system 600 is used manually by an operator who removes the nozzle assembly from the mast assembly 610 and manually sprays selected parts of the room, and can move the system around as needed.
(51) In various related embodiments and associated methods of use: a. The intent of both fogging and spraying can be the same, to create a micro thin layer of disinfectant on all surfaces requiring decontamination. The surface being treated should look like a bathroom mirror after a hot shower. A light frosting is all that is needed on a pre-cleaned surface. b. Spraying is a focused treatment. It allows the operator to selectively place the disinfectant in target areas and perform spot treatment for known contamination or difficult to reach areas. c. Fogging allows the general treatment of an area. It is also more effective in knocking down airborne contamination. As the fogged disinfectant settles in the room most of the disinfectant settles to the floor. Over-fogging of a room will result in wet floors and horizontal surfaces. Wet floors require longer aeration times before the area can be entered without respiratory protection. Wetting also increases material compatibility issues. There is an art to fogging. That art is about finding the balance between under-fogging and over-fogging. d. The adjustable atomizer nozzle system 600 enables the operator to combine the spray and the fog approach. A room can be first spot treated and then fogged for general treatment leaving a thicker layer of disinfectant on target items and areas. When using this technique the recommended fog dose times can be significantly reduced. e. To optimize the creation of small aerosol droplets, the adjustable atomizer nozzle system 600 device can be precisely tuned for impingement as follows: i. The tank valve 609 is used to pressurize the liquid tank and expel the two liquid streams through the nozzle; ii. To pressurize the tank turn on the system with the tank valve 609 in the open position; iii. Allow the system to come to operating pressure; iv. Close the tank valve 609 and then turn off the main switch; v. The retained pressure in the tank will force liquid to flow from each nozzle; vi. The nozzles should be angled on an approximate 120 240 and the streams should intersect to form a balanced cohesion impact lens; vii. If the streams don't intersect, pivot the nozzle bodies as needed to achieve alignment; viii. To relieve pressure from the tank open the ball valve and the air stream will shear the liquid streams into an aerosol or bleed off the pressure with the pressure relief valve. f. When treating small areas by spray or by fog, the liquid flow can be reduced to as low as 10 ml/min (with heat off) using the control valve 608 and the air flow can also be reduced by bleeding off the pressure with the manual pressure relief valve 746. This will reduce the aerosol plume without significantly increasing droplet size and wetting of small areas or assets.
(52) In an embodiment, as illustrated in
(53) In an embodiment, two sets of first side nozzle component 120, 130 can be mounted such that one set is above the other set, whereby four atomizer nozzles can be configured with intersecting atomizer streams.
(54) In an embodiment, as shown in
(55) Here has thus been described a multitude of embodiments of the adjustable atomizer nozzle system 600, and methods related thereto, which can be employed in numerous modes of usage.
(56) The many features and advantages of the invention are apparent from the detailed specification, and thus, it is intended by the appended claims to cover all such features and advantages of the invention, which fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.
(57) Many such alternative configurations are readily apparent, and should be considered fully included in this specification and the claims appended hereto. Accordingly, since numerous modifications and variations will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation illustrated and described, and thus, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.