US2176642A - Atomizer or sprayer - Google Patents

Description

Patented Oct. 17, 1939 ATOMIZER B SPRAYER Rome 0. Seyforth, Shelby, Ohio, asslgnor to Shelby Metal Products Company. Shelby, Ohio Application March 21, N38, Serial No. 197,111

4 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in atomizer or sprayer.

The main objects of this invention are: First, to provide an atomizer or sprayer which is well adapted for embodiment in small sprayers such as perfume sprayers or sprayers adapted for spraying fluids such as are used for cleaning Windshields and the like.

Second, to provide a sprayer or atomizer which is adapted for use for actuation with one hand and when held in any position-that is, upright, upside down or sidewise as maybe convenient.

Third, to provide a sprayer having these ad-- vantages which does not leak when in any position of non-use.

Fourth; to provide a sprayer having these advantages which may be very economically produced and at the same time is very strong and durable.

Objects relating .to details and economies of the invention will appear from the description to follow. The invention is defined and pointed out in the claims.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a sprayer embodying the features of my invention of such dimensions that it may be used as a perfume sprayer, atomizer, or the like.

Fig. 2 is a view illustrating one of the small sprayers grasped by a hand and in actuated position.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged longitudinal section on line 3-3 of Figs. 4 and 5..

Fig. 4 is a transverse section on the broken line 41-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a transverse section on Fig. 2.

In the accompanying drawing I have not attempted to show the parts in their relative proportionand thickness of wall material and it will be understood that this will be varied accordin to the material used but in general the gauge of material shown in the drawing is much thicker than in actual practice where metal is employed.

In the embodiment of my invention illustrated, the casing l is of cylindrical cross section provided with an integral top 2 and a detachable bottom 3, the bottom being threaded to the side wall casing for convenience in assembling the parts. A gasket 5 is employed to provide an airtight 'joint. The casing has a longitudinally elongated side wall opening 5' and a central top opening 6. The bottom portion of the casingline 5-5 of (Cl. 299-48) I that is, the portion of the casing below the opening 5 constitutes a pump cylinder I.

The cylindrical plunger 8 is hollow toprovide a liquid receptacle chamber 9, the plunger being preferably provided with a suitable cup packing 6 at its lower end. v r

The air tube H is disposed centrally, opening through the head I2 of the plunger to the cylinder 1 so that air compressed within the cylinder is forced through the air tube to the discharge 10 port E3 of the air tube. The air tube projects through the opening 6 in the top of the casing and is closed at its upper end, its upper end constituting a finger piece it for manipulating the plunger, the spring 55 within the cylinder acting 15 a to return the plunger to its initial position.

The liquid or eduction. tube it depends into the liquid chamber and is open at its lower end as shown at H for the entrance of liquid thereto.

At its upper end, the eduction tube is provided so with a tapered nozzle it having a restricteddelivery orifice or passage it, this restricted delivery oriflce being relatively short and of substantially less diameter than the internal diameter of the eduction tube. The eduction tube 25 is provided with a vent opening 20 opening to the liquid chamber above the normal liquid level thereof.

It will be noted that the nozzle i8 is disposed in alignment with the air discharge port It so 30 that the air is discharged across the nozzle thus creating an aspirating efiect or action, pulling up the liquid from the liquid chamber and atomizing it. The nozzle is arranged in alignment with the opening 5 when finger piece I4 is depressed to so that the atomized liquid is discharged through the opening.

In the upper end of the casing I seat an annular gasket-like closure member 2| of rubber or other resilient material against which the nozzle 40 impinges when the plunger is in its elevated or initial position. In this embodiment illustrated, the port I3 is also covered by the closure member when the parts are in initial position as shown in Fig. 3. This member M is retained in position ifi by means of indentations 22 in the wall of the casing below the closure member and these indentations also serve as stops limiting the upward movement of the plunger and consequently the extent of embedding the nozzle in the resil- 50 lent closure.

The liquid chamber is provided with a filler neck 23 which projects through the opening 5 in the casing and is provided with a threaded closure 24. This filler neck is of very considerable ad- 66 in its entrance to the chamber by the escaping air. In the embodiment illustrated, the filler neck 23 is notched at 25 to receive the eduction tube and thusconstitutes a supporting element .for the eduction tube.

With the arrangement of parts in accordance with my invention, they may be very economically produced and assembled; at the same time are not likely to get out of repair. By forming the eduction tube as I have described with the short restricted nozzle orifice and the vent 20, there is an inrush of air at each stroke to compensate for the liquid ejected and this serves to prevent the nozzle orifice from becoming clogged as is likely to be the case where long passages 'of small diameter such as is required in the nozzle are provided. It'will be observed that little material of any obstruction is required in order to carry it into the large bore of the eduction tube and when it is considered that the parts are shown very substantially enlarged so far as thickness of material is concerned, the point will be more readily understood. The vent 20 increases this action and also minimizes any tendency oi the liquid to escape by capillarity. Furthermore, vent 2! enables the device to be manipulated in either upright or upside down position to produce an eifective atomized discharge without undesirable leakage of the liquid from the liquid chamber.

When the device is held in upright position and the finger piece I4 depressed the sub-atmospheric pressure created in eduction tube It by the air blast cutting across the point oi discharge thereof is greater than canbe compensated by the air in the liquid chamber passing through vent 20. Consequently, since the inside 01' the eduction tube is moist with the liquid, the liquid is drawn up with the air in the tube, aided greatly by the capillary action of the liquids, in a sort of an emulsified state, giving a very fine and desirable break-up or atomization of the liquid at the point of discharge. At the end of the pressure stroke, the air passes back through the eduction tube and out through, the vent therein to the liquid chamber to equalize the pressure in the liquid chamber. In doing this, the point of discharge of the eduction tube, i. e. nozzle opening I9, is cleaned by the inrushing air. This is a very desirable feature.

Should the device be operated bottom side up,

an entirely different action takes place. Liquid then enters the eduction tube from the liquid chamber 9 through vent 20 and is sprayed out at the discharge nozzle. At the end of the pressure stroke, the air enters the discharge end of the eduction tube and travels the full length of that tube to join the remaining air at the top of the liquid chamber to equalize the pressure there in. In doing so, the liquid is prevented from escaping through the eduction tube at the end of the stroke by the inrushing air. This inrush of air is caused by the partial vacuum produced by the blast of air across the discharge end of the eduction tube drawing out the contents of the liquid chamber. When this blast is discontinued, the partial vacuum produced draws the air back into the chamber.

My device is exceedingly simple and compact in nature. The gasket member 21 insures closure of the nozzle and opening l3 when the device is in inoperative position and there are no relatively sliding parts through which leakage of fluid can occur. The closure members 2| are very economical and can be quickly seated and secured in position as by indenting at 22 and the indentations do constitute a stop means for the plunger.

I have illustrated and described my impr0ve ments in a very practical embodiment thereof. I have not attempted to illustrate certain modifications and adaptations which I contemplate as it is believed that this disclosure will enable those skilled in the art to embody or adapt my improvements as may bedesired. 4

Having thus described my invention, what 1 claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In an atomizer, the combination of a cylindrical casing having a longitudinally elongated side opening adjacent its top, and a central opening in its top, the bottom portion of the casing constituting a pump cylinder, a cylindrical plunger slidablein said casing and provided with a liquid chamber, said plunger being provided with a central air tube open at its lower end to said cylinder and having a portion projecting through the top of said casing to provide a finger piece for actuating the plunger, a spring arranged within said cylinder and acting to urge said plunger upwardly, an eduction tube depending within said liquid chamber and provided with a nozzle at its upper end, said air tube being provided with an air delivery port disposed to discharge across said nozzle, said nozzle being aligned with said opening in said casing so that the atomized liquid is discharged through said opening when the plunger is actuated, and a resilientannular gasket-like closure member arranged in the upper end of said casing and with which the nozzle impinges when the parts are in initial position, the wall of said .casing being indented below said closure memdrical casing having a longitudinally elongated side opening adjacent its top, and a central opening in its top, the bottom portion of the casing constituting a pump cylinder, a cylindrical plunger slidable in said casing and provided with a liquid chamber; said plunger being provided with a central air tube open at its lower-end to said cylinder and having a' portion projecting through the top of said casing to provide a fing'er piece for actuating the plunger, a spring arranged within said cylinder and acting to urge said plunger upwardly, and an eduction tube depending within said liquid chamber and provided with a nozzle at its upper end, said air tube being provided with an air delivery port disposed to discharge across said nozzle, said nozzle being aligned with said opening in said casing so that the atomized liquid is discharged through said opening when the plunger is actuated.

3. In an atomizer, the combination of acylindrical casing having a longitudinally elongated side opening adjacent its top, and a central opening in its top, the bottom portion of the casing constituting a pump cylinder, a cylindrical plunger slidable in said casing and provided with a liquid chamber, said plunger being provided with a central air tube open at its lower end to said cylinder and having a portion projecting through the top of said casing to provide a finger piece for actuating the plunger, said liquid chamber being provided with a filler neck projecting substantially through said opening in said casing and provided with a closure cap, a spring arranged within said cylinder and acting to urge said plunger upwardly, and an eduction tube depending within said liquid chamber and provided A with a nozzle at its upper end, said air tube being provided with an air delivery port disposed to discharge across said nozzle, said nozzle being aligned with said opening in said casing so that the atomized liquid is discharged through said opening when the plunger is actuated.

4. In an atomizer, the combination of a casing having a side opening and a top opening, the bottom portion of the casing constituting a pump cylinder, a. plunger slidabie in said casing and provided with a liquid chamber, said plunger bein provided with an air tube closed at its upper end and open at its lower end to said cylinder and in the top of said casing to provide a finger piece for actuating the plunger; a spring acting to urge said plunger to its initial position, a liquid eduction tube depending within said liquid chamber and provided with a nozzle, said air tubebeing provided with an air delivery port disposed to discharge across said nozzle, and a. resilient annular nozzle closure member seated in the upper end of said casing to close the nozzle when the parts are in initial position, the wall of the casing having indentations therein below said closure member for retaining it in position and to provide stops for said plunger.

' ROME C. SEYFORTH.

having a portion projecting through the opening

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