US2479895A - Atomizer - Google Patents

Description

Aug- 23, 1949. A. H. BAHNsoN, JR 2,479,895

ATOMIZER Filed Oct. 19. 1945 Patented Aug. 23, 1949 ATOMIZER Agnew H. Bahnson, Jr., Winston-Salem, N. C.,

assignor to Katharine King Bahnson, Winston- Salem, N. C.

Application october 19, 1945, serial No. .623,227

7 Claims.

This invention relates to atomizers of the type commonly employed for adding moisture in air conditioning systems. y

An object of the invention is to provide an atomizer of simple andv Arelatively inexpensive construction which is reliable in operation and requires a minimum of service to maintain it in operation. Another object of the invention is to provide an atomizer in which the flow of water is automatically controlled, i. e., whi-ch may be connected at all times to a supply of water at a predetermined pressure but which will not function to atomize the water unless and until air at a pressure within a range corresponding to the water pressure is supplied.

The atomizer oi the present invention is so designed that the air orice through which air alone or the mixture of air and atomized water passes is open at al1 times and the water valve leading to the water orifice normally is held closed or seated by a spring of sucient strength to resist the water pressure which tends to open the valve. The spring may be made strong enough to hold all water pressures which are likely to be applied to the atomizer. The strength of the spring may vary within a wide range but must, as stated, be strong enough to close the water valve in the absence oi suicient air pressure to atomize the water and must not be so strong that it cannot be overcome by the air pressure applied to the atomizer. The relationships ofthe strength of the spring, the air pressure, the water pressure and the sizes of the air and water diaphragms will be understood from the following detailed description of the atomizer and its operation.

Referring to the accompanying drawings which illustrate an embodiment of the invention:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section through the atomizer on the line I-I of Figure 2 showing the parts of the atomizer in rest position with the water valve closed.

Figure 2 is a transverse section through the atomizer on line '2--2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a section similar to that of Figure 1 but showing the parts of the atomizer in operating position with the water valve open.

Referring to the drawings the atomizer consists of a housing formed of the three parts A, B and C threaded together. The front part A has the central opening I surrounded internally by the sleeve 2 which serves to position the spring 3. Part A also has the shoulder or ridge 4 which provides a seat for the outer edge of the air diaphragm 5. Between the sleeve 2 and the shoulder 4 is an open space permitting free movement of the spring 3 and the diaphragm 5. The front side of the middle part B of the housing has the ridge 6 of the same diameter as ridge 4, which also provides a seat for the diaphragm 5,

that is to say, the outer edge of the diaphragm 5 is held between the ridges 4 and 6 when parts A and B are screwed tightly together. The rear side of the middle part B of the housing is provided with a ridge 1 for engaging the outer edge of the water diaphragm 8. Part B has a central opening through which the valve mechanism extends and which forms an air chamber deiined by the wall of the opening, the valve mechanism and the two diaphragms. A passageway 9 extends through the wall of part B from the air chamber therein to the pipe connection I0 adapted to be connected to a source of air under pressure (not shown).

The rear part C of the housing has a ridge `II on its front face of the same diameter as the ridge I and adapted to cooperate therewith when parts B and C are screwed tightly together to grip and hold the outer edge of the water diaphragm 8. Rear part C has the rearwardly projecting screw threaded projection I2 adapted to be connected to a source of water under pressure (not shown). Projection I2 has an axial screw threaded bore I3. The valve rod I4 is screw threaded into this bore. The valve rod I4 has a central bore I5 extending through that portion thereof within the bore I3 and laterally extending connecting bores I6 through which water may pass into the chamber formed by the inner wall of the part C and the diaphragm 8. Within the part C and in front of the bores I6 is a fine Screen or lter II for preventing dirt from passing with the water into the valve mechanism.

The valve mechanism comprises the stem I4 referred to above, the sleeve I8 and the sleeve I9. The valve stem is provided at its front end with the cleaning pin 20 around which is the shoulder 2| constituting the valve disc or seat. The sleeve I8 slidably iits over the valve stem I4 with suiiicient clearance between them for the passage of suflicient water to supply the valve oriilce. The rear end of the sleeve I8 has screw threaded projection 22 which extends through a central opening in the diaphragm 8. In front of the screw threaded end 22 is the shoulder 23. Diaphragm 8 is secured to the sleeve I8 between the shoulder 23 and a washer 24 by the nut 25. The front end of the sleeve I8 is closed by the screw plug 26 having the central opening or water jet orifice 21 which receives the cleaning pin '20 when the valve is closed as shown in Figure 1. Washer means 28 provides a water tight joint between the rear face of the plug 26 and the shoulder 2| when the valve is closed.

As will be seen from the foregoing description the valve stem I4 is stationary and the sleeve I8 may move with the diaphragm 8 longitudinally with respect to the stem I4 to open or close the water valve.

3 Sleeve I9 is slidable within the opening I in the :frontpart -A @and `is alsosslidable ,over the sleeve I 8,.;the1e beingvsuicientv clearance'between the sleeves I8 and I9 for the passage of the quantity of air required for the atomization of the.

stream of water passing through the jet orifice 21. Sleeve I9 is closed at its front end excepting the orifice 29 through which air orthe mX-.

ture of air and atomized waterpasses.. Slt-geve..y

I9 is screw threaded at its rear end and extends through the diaphragm to which it is secured between the shoulder 3d and` the'nut 3|;L Nut-3|;

wardly against the spring 3 will not cause the water.valyeto open. The `ailxprcssure must vtherefore-.be within 1imts,'1wliich may be determined by correlation of the relative eiective `areas of the diaphragms 5 and 8 and the strength y'sure' which islessathan the water pressure and extends rearwardly to engage the shoulderv 23pm; the sleeve IS and deter-mines the spacing between thediaphragms 5 ands. Diaphragnis 5 and 8 and, sleeves i8 and i9 move together asrwlll` appearinthe descriptionof the operation of the atomizer. tk isto be noted, however, lthatthe nutu3IY does not seat fluid' tight on the shoulder 23. 10utis apertured as shown at-32to permit the passageof air vfrom the chamber within the middle'partB to the clearancer or passageway 3vbe tween the sleeves i8 and i9 (see Figure 2). The springe is mounted between Ythe inner wall of the `front, partAand the shoulder l3l! andlis supported in position concentric to theA sleeve i9" by the sleeve 2. Spring 3 is compressed and tends to force the diaphragm 5, sleeve lfsleeve I8 and diaphragmn rearwardlyand to hold the plugvjZ on,t he seat 2Ijto close the water valve.

The operation .of the atomizer is Aas follows: Assumingthat,V a; waterepressure oi say rpounds perv squareI in ch is maintainedffrorn the source therep` through the bores i5 and it, 'the screen I'I andthe passage between the stein If-l andthe sleeve IB` to the water valve EI., 25, v2S, this pressurewill be applied to therear f ace of the diaphragme and will tendto force it and its associated parts, i. e., sleeves ,I8 and `E9; forwardly against th'epressure of the Spring 3. M4,Spring 3 'L must .there-lore be strong enough Ato hold the water valveclosed against the waterpressure employed.. New When air-under a pressure. 0f, Say 20,y pounds per square inch, is admitted through passageway 9 it will ,press en the rear surface of'lthe diaphragm 5 andon the front surface lof theA diaphragm 8 and will move the diaphragm 5 and its associated parts, i. e., sleeve i9 forwardly against the pressure of the spring 3. The pressure of the air tends to hold diaphragmu and its sleeve I3 in their rearward position but rsince sleeve IS'has now been freed ofl the pressure of spring 3 and since the ywater pressure-on the rear surface of the diaphragm 8. is ,greater than the air pressure on its .front surface, it and the ,sleeve I8; will lmove forwardly opening the water valve 2h26', 23:'` Actually sleeve I8 willollow sleeve I9 inits ,forward movement Imaintaining the nut 3l'ahd`the shoulder 23 in Contact; vIf the water pressure falls, the diaphragm` 8 willl be moved rearwardly by the airpressure andthe water valve will close and air will escapethrough the orifice ZQ'harmlessly. If the air pressurev is re.-

duced or cutoff the spring 3 will force sleeves VI9 and I8V rearwardly and close the water valve. Thus failure or either the air Vpressure or the water pressure or such variation thereof lwl'iioh would give inferior operation of the atorniaenwill stopits operation. As stated above an air vprefsg sure greater thanthe water pressure, Aalthougl1' it may Aforce sleeve i8 forwardly against the spring 3. will also force sleeve I8V rearwardly against the water pressurer and prevent the opening of the water valve. On the other hand aniairprlessure which is insuiicient to force sleeve I9'forwhichvtherefore will permit the water pressure to open the water valvefto overcome the pressure of the spring 3. n

1 -The-above-descriptionofthe operation of the atomizer -only takesinto accounta f complete opening or a complete closing of the-water' valve. Itiis noted-howevert-hatthe water valve doesvnot necessarily movev-toy-completely opener' completelyclosed position. Witha water pressure of z'pounds and no air pressure thevalve-will becompletely closed land with a water pressure of 25 pounds-and an air-pressure of .20-pounds it will be completelyopen,assuming that the effective area, of the diaphragm 5 ,is materially -greaterthan the effective area, of the diaphragm Bysay a ratio of 2 12o-Land that the spring 3 is of-the proper strength to hold the Water pressure and to yield freelyl tothear-pressure I have noted that at intermediate-,water and air'pressures which-are insuicient tov completely'ppen the-water valve, for insta-nce at a water pressure of- 25 -pounds and an, air pressure of about 151- pounds, the water valve, opens Onlypartiallyand permitsonly a limited flow of 'water correspond.- ing to the reduced air pressure. ,This isa very desirable action Vsince a full supply'of water with a diminished airpressure would tend to. overload the-stream of air and give an effect known as wetting down 4which -is due. to'4` incomplete atomization and vaporization oi?.l the water. LThe pin- {il}` also serves, due toits close proximity Ato the-opening 2fto'c'ause turbulence irl-the stream of/ water'passing throughv the Opening, 27" `and 'thusto break iup Nthe stream and improve, the atomization thereof. This eliect Yincreases as the pin 2U' approaches the ,opening, 21ji. ge. asthe valve Vapproaches closed"V position, dueto., a fall, 4in Water pressure or airfpressure andwhnthere is greater, need for ilhismeiect. 4.'Ihe,pin, ZILalso serves to clean the openirigZI,

I claim: ,l i

1. An atomizerY comprising a hollow shell-enclosing a' chamber,- a frontand a vrear., flexible diaphragm dividing said`chanjiber. in to.v .a iront compartments middle..c0mpartmentand a tear compartment; a waterinlet to sailrzear` compartment yand atgthe rea-.1"V ,Oisaid i rearA .diaphragm-,4 an air inlettolsaid middle compartmentandaoutlet for atomiziel mixture of lair lantimater. inVL that portionofuthe shellenolosing saidiront compartment, Y a stationary. valve stern' supported by .that portion ofthe shell enclosngsaidreaiqcoinpartf ment, `a valve sleeve secured toand4 extending through said rear diaphragm -and Surrounding said valve stern, means including said sleeveand stem constituting a valve controlling the passage of Awater from said' rearAcompartmeiit through said sleeve, a second sleevesecuredtoand extendinsthroush Said front. diaphrasmendsurround.- ingsaid valve sleeve; oooperatingtgpmeans,on said sleeves to Vlimit the minimum, separation there@ .when .disulacedbv fluidpressuresexerted upon their respective supporting diaphragms and a spring within said front compartment positioned to urge said sleeves rearwardly to close said valve, the force exerted by said spring being greater than the pressure of the water in said rear compartment on said rear diaphragm, and said front diaphragm presenting a substantially greater area than said rear diaphragm to the interior of said middle compartment.

2. An atomizer comprising a shell enclosing a chamber, said shell having an inlet for water, an inlet for air and an outlet for mixture of air and atomized water, a valve including relatively movable elements controlling the flow of water from said water inlet to said outlet, a first diaphragm within said chamber and carrying a movable element of said valve, said first diaphragm being positioned to be subjected on one side to the pressure of the water supplied through said water inlet and on the other side to the pressure of the air supplied through sai-f. air inlet, a second diaphragm within said chamber positioned to be sub- `iected on one side to the pressure of the air supplied through said air inlet, and a valve-closing spring within said chamber positioned to urge said second diaphragm in opposition to said air pressure and to act with said air pressure to urge said rst diaphragm in opposition to said water pressure to close said valve, said second diaphragm presenting a greater area than the rst diaphragm to the air pressure.

3. An atomizer comprising a shell enclosing a chamber, two parallel spaced apart exible diaphragms extending across said chamber and dividing the same into a front compartment, a middle compartment and a rear compartment, said diaphragm forming parts of the front and rear walls of said middle compartment, an air conduit open to and extending forwardly from said middle compartment through one of said diaphragms into said front compartment and having an orice in its front end, a water conduit open to said rear compartment and extending forwardly therefrom through the other of said diaphragms into said air conduit and having an orice in its front end, a stationary valve member supported by said shell and extending forwardly through said water conduit, valve means carried by Said wate;1 conduit and cooperating with said stationary valve member to prevent iiow of water through the orice when said diaphragms are in rearward position, a water inlet to said rear compartment, an air inlet to said middle compartment, an opening in said front compartment for the discharge of atomized water and air, and resilient means in said front compartment tensioned to urge said air conduit and Water conduit rearwardly to close said water orice.

4. An atomizer as defined in claim 3 in which the orice in said water conduit has rearwardly outwardly sloping side walls and said stationary valve member has a forwardly projecting pin adapted to extend through said orice when said diaphragms are in rearward position.

5. An atomizer comprising a hollow shell, a front and a rear iiexible diaphragm dividing the interior of said shell into a front compartment and a rear compartment separated by an intermediate compartment, an inlet to the intermediate compartment for connection to a source of gas under pressure, an inlet to the rear compartment for connection to a source of liquid under a higher pressure than that of said gas source, said iront compartment having an outlet for an atomized mixture of gas and liquid, a stationary valve stem supported by that portion of the shell enclosing the rear compartment, a valve sleeve secured to and extending through said rear diaphragm, said valve sleeve being radially spaced from said valve stem to provide a passage for liquid and having a liquid orifice at its forward end, valve means carried by said valve sleeve and cooperating with said stationary valve stem to prevent iiow through said liquid orice when said valve sleeve is in rearward position, a second sleeve secured to and extending through said front diaphragm, said second sleeve being radially spaced from said first sleeve to provide a gas passage and having at its front end an orifice for the discharge of a mixture of gas and liquid, spring means in the iront compartment tending to retain said second sleeve in rearward position, and cooperating stop means on said sleeves to force said valve sleeve rearwardly into valve-closing position when said second sleeve is moved into rearward position by said spring means, the areas of the diaphragms forming walls of the intermediate chamber being so related to the gas and liquid pressures that gas pressure within the intermediate chamber overcomes said spring means to move said second sleeve forwardly and is insuiiicient to prevent forward movement of said valve sleeve by liquid pressure exerted upon the rear surface of the rear diaphragm.

6. An atomizer as recited in claim 5, in combination with a pin mounted on said valve stem for cleaning the orifice of said valve sleeve when the latter is in valve-closed position.

7. An atomizer for operation from a pressure source of liquid and a gas source under a lower pressure, said atomizer comprising an elongated hollow shell and axially spaced pressure-responsive means dividing the interior space of said shell into a front compartment and a rear compartment separated by an intermediate compartment, a liquid inlet to the rear compartment and at the rear of the pressure-responsive means forming a wall of said rear compartment, a gas inlet to the intermediate compartment, valve means for controlling the iiow of liquid through said atomizer and comprising a stationary valve stem cooperating with a valve sleeve supported by and movable with the rear pressure-responsive means, and spring means preventing opening movement of said valve means by liquid pressure exerted on said rear pressure-responsive means, the dimensions of said front pressure-responsive means being such that gas pressure within said intermediate chamber relieves said rear pressureresponsive means from the force of said spring means, whereby said valve means may be opened by liquid pressure in the rear compartment.

AGNEW H. BAHNSON, JR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 724,685 Evans Apr. '7, 1903 1 363470 Knudson Dec. 28, 1920 1,879,363 Loepsinger Sept. 27, 1932 2,097,696 MacDonald Nov. 2, 1937 2,186,214 Simon Jan. 9, 1940 2 311,018 Bahnson Feb. 16, 1943 2 348 248 Elliott May 9, 1944 2,362,102 Simon Nov. 7, 1944 2,384,679 Holtzclaw Sept. 11, 1945

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