Vibratory Or Magneto-strictive Projecting Patents (Class 239/4)
  • Patent number: 11872504
    Abstract: An atomizing spray dryer employs one or more stages defined by ultrasonic transducers in close proximity to a liquid feed opening forming a path of an atomization flow for producing uniform droplets from a close tolerance with the transducer. The atomization flow exits a gap between the transducer and an outer edge of the opening, such that the passed liquid is responsive to an oscillation of the transducer for forming the droplets. A conical or other suitably shaped transducer engages a substantially round liquid feed opening. Subsequent stages may include a circular, ring, or other suitable shape aligned to receive the atomization flow from a circumference of the conical base, or may also take any suitable shape, preferably to receive droplets directed by the first stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: Worcester Polytechnic Institute
    Inventors: Jamal S. Yagoobi, Mengqiao Yang, Mehrnoush F. Dardashti
  • Patent number: 11872580
    Abstract: A method of controlling application of at least one material onto a substrate includes configuring a material applicator having an array plate with an applicator array. The applicator array has a plurality of micro-applicators with a first subset of micro-applicators and a second subset of micro-applicators. Each of the plurality of micro-applicators has a plurality of apertures through which fluid is ejected. The first subset of micro-applicators and the second subset of micro-applicators are individually addressable, and a liquid flows through the first subset of micro-applicators and a shaping gas, e.g., air, flows through the second subset of micro-applicators. The flow of shaping gas shapes the flow of the liquid from the first subset of micro-applicators to the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Christopher Michael Seubert, Mark Edward Nichols, Kevin Richard John Ellwood, Wanjiao Liu, Aaron M. Fiala
  • Patent number: 11679209
    Abstract: A photo-resist (21) is applied in a pattern or vertical columns having the dimensions of holes or pores of the aperture plate to be produced. This mask pattern provides the apertures which define the aerosol particle size, having up to 2500 holes per square mm. There is electro-deposition of metal (22) into the spaces around the columns (21). There is further application of a second photo-resist mask (25) of much larger (wider and taller) columns, encompassing the area of a number of first columns (21). The hole diameter in the second plating layer is chosen according to a desired flow rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: Stamford Devices Limited
    Inventor: Brendan Hogan
  • Patent number: 11642941
    Abstract: A nebulizer system for a motor vehicle may include a tank for a liquid, a nebulizer chamber, and a filter system capable of filtering the liquid contained in the tank for the liquid before it passes into the nebulizer chamber. The nebulizer chamber may have a nebulizer nozzle provided with an acoustic wave output device such that the liquid from the tank forms a mist of droplets of the liquid. The mist is intended to pass into a passenger compartment of the motor vehicle. Additionally, the nebulizer system may have an input module for air. The inlet module may have an air injection volute capable of channeling the air in the direction of the internal volume of the nebulizer chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: Valeo Systemes Thermiques
    Inventors: Nicolas Decorde, Michel Gschwind, Frédéric Richard, Stéphane Petit, Yves Rousseau, Vincent Feuillard
  • Patent number: 11340147
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are a sonic homogenizing module (100, 200, 300) and a biological sample preparation system (500) containing the same. The sonic homogenizing module (100, 200, 300) comprises a rod made of a magnetic material (120, 220, 320); a piezoelectric conductor (130, 230,330); a driver (140, 340); and a sleeve-coupling member (110, 210, 310) having a first portion defining a space (112, 212, 312) for coupling with a gripper module of a biological sample preparation system, and for accommodating the piezoelectric conductor and the driver therein; and a second portion having a conduit (114, 214, 314) for receiving the rod therethrough; wherein the driver (140, 340) is electrically coupled with the piezoelectric conductor (130, 230,330) and is configured to drive the piezoelectric conductor (130, 230, 330) to generate a sonic vibration at a frequency of 100 KHz-1 MHz.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: ZINEXTS LIFE SCIENCE CORP.
    Inventor: Chun-Chao Wang
  • Patent number: 11325377
    Abstract: A digital printing system (10) includes a print head (622) and a processor (20). The print head is configured to jet droplets of ink. The processor is further configured to translate a required shade of a color, to be printed at a given location on a substrate by tire print head, into a sequence of pulses (625, 630), the sequence including: (a) up to a predefined maximum number of driving pulses (625) that cause the print head to jet respective droplets, and (b) a tickling pulse (630), which has a smaller amplitude than the driving pulses and which causes the print head to jet a droplet smaller than the droplets jetted in response to the driving pulses. The processor is additionally configured to apply the sequence of pulses to the print head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: LANDA CORPORATION LTD.
    Inventors: Haggai Karlinski, Yishai Castel
  • Patent number: 11252992
    Abstract: Disclosed is an article for use with apparatus for heating smokable material to volatilize at least one component of the smokable material. The article includes a mass of smokable material. An exterior of the article has a length (L), a width (W) perpendicular to the length (L), and a depth (D) perpendicular to each of the length (L) and the width (W). The length (L) is greater than or equal to the width (W), and the width (W) is greater than the depth (D).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: NICOVENTURES TRADING LIMITED
    Inventors: Thomas P. Blandino, Andrew P. Wilke, James J. Frater, Benjamin J. Paprocki, Duane A. Kaufman, Raymond J. Robey, John Miller
  • Patent number: 11213600
    Abstract: An electric plug type fragrance liquid heating and diffusing device includes an aroma bottle with a carrier having capillary pores for absorbing an aroma liquid, and a heater for heating the aroma liquid in the capillary pores of the carrier to dissipate the aromatic molecules into the outside air. When the aroma liquid is used up, the aroma bottle can be easily and rapidly detached for replacement. The aroma liquid absorbed by the carrier will not flow out of the carrier even if the aroma bottle is tilted or dumped during use or movement, ensuring safe use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: DONGGUAN YIH TEH ELECTRIC PRODUCTS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Ming Jen Hsiao
  • Patent number: 11192124
    Abstract: A fluidic nozzle of the scanner type has its outlet spray pattern skewed from its chamber axis (A) by an amount determined by the asymmetry of its outlet orifice (23, 33) about that axis. A spray assembly (70, 90) of such nozzles, such as a showerhead, can be designed using nozzles with selected pattern skew angles to achieve desired spray coverage. Indexing tabs (97) and slots (96) are used to angularly position the nozzles in the showerhead. A portion of each nozzle may be formed with the showerhead faceplate (71) as an integral piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: DLHBOWLES, INC.
    Inventors: Gregory A. Russell, Russell Hester
  • Patent number: 11174010
    Abstract: A flying device includes a plurality of rotary vanes, a motor element serving as a driving source for each of the plurality of rotary vanes, the motor element driving and rotating a main shaft of the rotary vanes, and a drive circuit. The motor element includes a stator, a rotor, and a pair of bearings. The stator includes a stator core having an annular yoke and a plurality of teeth projecting inward from the annular yoke, and stator windings wound respectively around the plurality of teeth of the stator core. The rotor includes a permanent magnet of a cylindrical shape located inside the stator core via a gap, the permanent magnet being positioned counter to the plurality of teeth, a rotor yoke in contact with a cylindrical inner wall surface of the permanent magnet, and a shaft pivotally supported at an axis of the rotor yoke, the shaft being connected to the main shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shinichi Tsutsumi, Yuichi Yoshikawa, Sho Koyama, Keiichiro Nukada, Hiroshi Ueda, Yuki Nakade
  • Patent number: 11173258
    Abstract: Microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) mesh-membrane nebulizers are described. The MEMS mesh-membrane nebulizers may include a piezoelectric MEMS mesh membrane. The piezoelectric MEMS mesh membrane may include a piezoelectric active layer patterned with openings for making droplets. One electrode of the piezoelectric MEMS mesh membrane may serve as an electrode for electroplating. Activation of the piezoelectric MEMS mesh membrane may generate droplets suitable for delivery of medicines or other uses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: Analog Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Gabriele Vigevani, Xin Zhang
  • Patent number: 11040341
    Abstract: A method that allows a user to dispense a desired volume of solution from an acoustic dispensing apparatus by allowing the user to select the drop volume to be dispensed. A typical drop volume is in the range of one to twenty-five nanoliters. The method comprises the steps of creating two or more burst curves that give the relationship between liquid level and burst value, using data from the burst curves to create two or more calibration functions, and using data from the calibration functions to create a dispensing data set that is used to set the burst parameter required to dispense the selected drop volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: Labcyte Inc.
    Inventor: Michael James Forbush
  • Patent number: 10864541
    Abstract: An apparatus for applying a coating to a substrate includes a base, an applicator, and a quick-connect connector. The base includes a fluid conduit. The applicator includes at least one actuator and an array of nozzle plates. Each nozzle plate defines at least one aperture. The at least one actuator is configured to oscillate the nozzle plates to eject fluid from the apertures. The quick-connect connector couples the fluid conduit to the applicator for fluid communication therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Scott Adams, Kevin Richard John Ellwood, Wanjiao Liu, Christopher Michael Seubert, Mark Edward Nichols
  • Patent number: 10524505
    Abstract: An electronic vaping device includes a cartomizer and a battery section. The cartomizer includes a housing, a liquid supply reservoir in the housing, a vaporizer connected to the liquid supply reservoir, a channel adjacent to the liquid supply reservoir. The liquid supply reservoir being is to store vapor precursor. The vaporizer includes a fluid-transport structure that is configured to transport the vapor precursor from the liquid supply reservoir to the channel. The battery section is configured to provide power to the vaporizer. The battery section includes a control circuit that is configured to determine a saturation level of the vapor precursor on the fluid-transport structure based on an electrical resistance of the fluid-transport structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC.
    Inventor: Jarrett Keen
  • Patent number: 10334867
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a comestible is provided including providing at least one manufacturing instrument configured to contact the comestible. A releasing agent is atomized and expelled from an expelling device. Application of pressure to the releasing agent is unnecessary to achieve the atomizing. The atomized releasing agent is applied to either a surface of the at least one manufacturing instrument configured to contact the comestible or to a surface of the comestible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: INTERCONTINENTAL GREAT BRANDS LLC
    Inventors: Ann E. Buck, Bharat Jani
  • Patent number: 10258714
    Abstract: A reservoir containing an essential oil feeds to an eductor injecting a jet forming a plume of air entraining oil droplets. A series of drift chambers act as velocity reducers to alternately slow the flow droplets with entry, and then reaccelerate them upon exit through an exit channel. A micro cyclone separator operates between at least two of the drift chambers, exposing the flow to circumferential direction and centripetal acceleration driving comparatively larger droplets out of the flow away from comparatively finer droplets sufficiently small to remain with the flow of air. Separation of comparatively larger droplets, effectively eliminates “spitting” of liquids that might or rapid drift onto surrounding surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Inventor: Earl Vaughn Sevy
  • Patent number: 9895464
    Abstract: A reservoir containing an essential oil feeds to an eductor injecting a jet forming a plume of air entraining oil droplets. A series of drift chambers act as velocity reducers to alternately slow the flow droplets with entry, and then reaccelerate them upon exit through an exit channel. A micro cyclone separator operates between at least two of the drift chambers, exposing the flow to circumferential direction and centripetal acceleration driving comparatively larger droplets out of the flow away from comparatively finer droplets sufficiently small to remain with the flow of air. Separation of comparatively larger droplets, effectively eliminates “spitting” of liquids that might or rapid drift onto surrounding surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Inventor: Earl Vaughn Sevy
  • Patent number: 9776195
    Abstract: A long throw Pop-Up Irrigation Nozzle assembly has no oscillating or rotating parts and includes a cylindrical body having a fluid inlet and a sidewall defining at least one fluidic circuit configured to generate a selected spray pattern when irrigation fluid flows through the body. In order to throw long distance, droplet velocity, droplet size and droplet initial aim angle determine the throw to provide a low precipitation rate (“PR”) for fluidic sprays. The nozzle assembly and method of the present invention achieve a PR of 1 in/hr or less and good spray distribution with a scheduling coefficient (“SC”) of about 1.5 without utilizing any moving components to provide a significantly more cost effective nozzle assembly, as compared to prior art rotator nozzles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: dlhBowles Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory Russell, Shridar Gopalan, Chris South, Russell Hester, Eric Koehler, Kerrie Allen, Srinivasaiah Sridhara
  • Patent number: 9474871
    Abstract: A respiratory treatment device comprising a self-sensing respiratory treatment device comprising: power supply means; a liquid dispensing element comprising an actuator and a dispensing aperture; electronic control means operable to control said actuator; liquid supply means; valving means; wherein said actuator is operable to execute in itself at least a dispensing function and a detecting function, the detecting function detecting at least characteristics external to the self-sensing respiratory treatment device and causing said actuator to generate a command signal, and wherein said electronic control means is operable to control said valving means and said actuator based on the reception of said command signal, wherein said actuator is a piezoelectric actuator, and the respiratory treatment degvice further comprising: a mouthpiece, and a fluidic interface, wherein said electronic control means and said piezoelectric actuator being arranged to detect a breathing pattern of a user through said mouthpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: APTAR FRANCE SAS
    Inventors: Amir Feriani, Cedric Zaugg, Jean-Paul Sandoz, Joseph Hess
  • Patent number: 9468047
    Abstract: Lighting systems having unique configurations are provided. For instance, the lighting system may include a light source, a thermal management system and driver electronics, each contained within a housing structure. The light source is configured to provide illumination visible through an opening in the housing structure. The thermal management system is configured to provide an air flow, such as a unidirectional air flow, through the housing structure in order to cool the light source. The driver electronics are configured to provide power to each of the light source and the thermal management system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Mehmet Arik, Stanton Earl Weaver, Thomas Elliot Stecher, Charles Erklin Seeley, Glenn Howard Kuenzler, Charles Franklin Wolfe, Jr., Yogen Vishwas Utturkar, Rajdeep Sharma, Satish Prabhakaran, Tunc Icoz
  • Patent number: 9423120
    Abstract: An LED candle lamp having the humidifying and flavoring function comprising a shell, a light emitting device mounted on the shell, a control system and a power supply unit, wherein the shell is provided inside with a humidifying device that includes a water storage tank, a sealing cover, an atomizing sheet and water absorbent cotton, the water storage tank and the sealing cover forming a sealed water storage space by being screwed together, the sealing cover being provided with an accommodating chamber provided inside with the atomizing sheet, the sealing cover being provided with a mist outlet exposed to the shell, the water storage tank being fixedly provided inside with the water absorbent cotton, wherein the control system may be a PCB control panel provided with an elastic contact conductive wire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Inventor: Jian Fang
  • Patent number: 9269962
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method of printing catalyst on an electrolyte membrane are disclosed. The apparatus may include: a printer head provided with an ink chamber formed in the printer head so as to store an ink, an injecting hole formed at a first side of the printer head so as to inject the ink in the ink chamber, and a piezoelectric element mounted at a second side opposite to the one side of the printer head thereby injecting the ink through the injecting hole; and a vibrator generating ultrasonic energy through vibration and applying the ultrasonic energy to the ink injected through the injecting hole so as to disperse the ink uniformly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Hoseung Lee
  • Patent number: 9141010
    Abstract: A particulate material production apparatus is disclosed. The particulate material production apparatus includes a droplet ejector to eject droplets of a particulate material composition liquid or a melted particulate material composition in a droplet ejection direction from nozzles; a solidifying device to solidify the droplets; a first airflow forming device to form a first airflow to feed the ejected droplets to the solidifying device with the first airflow; and a second airflow forming device to form a second airflow to apply the second airflow the droplets before the droplets are fed by the first airflow. The second airflow forming device forms the second airflow by supplying a pressed gas from a slit, and the traveling direction of the first airflow is substantially perpendicular to the droplet ejection direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kiyotada Katoh, Yoshihiro Norikane, Yasutada Shitara, Shinji Aoki, Minoru Masuda, Satoshi Takahashi
  • Patent number: 9119246
    Abstract: Lighting systems having unique configurations are provided. For instance, the lighting system may include a light source, a thermal management system and driver electronics, each contained within a housing structure. The light source is configured to provide illumination visible through an opening in the housing structure. The thermal management system is configured to provide an air flow, such as a unidirectional air flow, through the housing structure in order to cool the light source. The driver electronics are configured to provide power to each of the light source and the thermal management system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Mehmet Arik, Stanton Earl Weaver, Thomas Elliot Stecher, Charles Erklin Seeley, Glenn Howard Kuenzler, Charles Franklin Wolfe, Jr., Yogen Vishwas Utturkar, Rajdeep Sharma, Satish Prabhakaran, Tunc Icoz
  • Patent number: 9096313
    Abstract: An actuator configured to rapidly vary the throat geometry of a microjet nozzle. Varying the throat geometry rapidly changes the characteristics of the microjet produced by the microjet nozzle. The inventive device is capable of producing pulsed flow. In some embodiments it is also capable of producing rapidly variable flow in order to provide active control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: The Florida State University Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: William S. Oates, Jonathan E. Clark, Farrukh S. Alvi
  • Publication number: 20150097047
    Abstract: A method for controlling and managing a smart atomizer involves automatically frequency tracing to rapidly optimize an operating frequency of a piezoelectric element of a spray nozzle when the spray nozzle is assembled to a main machine of the smart atomizer. The main machine performs spray-dosage setting, so that each spray session can operate according a preset spray dosage, so as to provide consistent spray of liquid easily. While the liquid is sprayed, the frequency-abnormality detecting means keeps detecting whether there is any abnormality of the operating frequency of the piezoelectric element. Thereby, whether the spray nozzle works normally can be easily confirmed by whether a frequency-tracing prompter gives out a prompt and what maintenance message is contained in the prompt. The method also includes event recording and external record reading for storing, exporting and leveraging data about usage of the atomizer for improved usage of the atomizer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2014
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Inventors: Chin Chien Hu, Jih Wen Wang, Ting-Kuo Chen, Jey Jey Huang
  • Publication number: 20150076245
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device (100) for nebulizing a liquid, comprising: a vessel (110) that is open at the top portion thereof and configured so as to contain the liquid to be nebulized; at least two ultrasonic-wave generators (120, 130) for emitting at least two ultrasonic-wave fronts (122, 132) into the liquid; and at least two means (134, 124) for focusing the ultrasonic waves, each of which engages with one of said generators (120, 130) in order to concentrate ultrasonic waves at a single point P less than ten millimetres from the free surface of the liquid, wherein the vibration frequencies of the two wave fronts (122, 132) are different.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2013
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Applicant: ADLYNX SARL
    Inventors: Gil Ching, Henri Renggli, Charles Pallanca
  • Patent number: 8979000
    Abstract: In the ultrasonic atomization method, a liquid is ultrasonically oscillated in an atomization chamber 4 and a liquid column P is projected in carrier gas to thus atomize the liquid into mists, the carrier gas carrying the atomized mists outwardly of the atomization chamber 4; the carrier gas is forcibly sucked from a lateral point being away at a distance (d1) of 5 cm or less from a center axis m of the liquid column P and thereby a gas flow is blown across the liquid column P; the mists are separated away from the liquid column P by means of the blown gas flow; and such separated mists are transferred outwardly of the atomization chamber 4 by means of the carrier gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Honke Matsuura Brewery Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuo Matsuura
  • Publication number: 20150060563
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to fuel injectors that provide efficient injection, ignition, and combustion of various types of fuels. One example of such an injector can include a sensor that detects one or more conditions in the combustion chamber. The injector can also include an acoustical force generator or modifier that is responsive to the sensor and can be configured to (a) induce vibrations in the fuel in the injector body and/or in the combustion chamber, (b) induce vibrations in air in the combustion chamber, (c) induce vibrations in a valve driver or other injector component to actuate a flow valve, and/or (d) control patterning of fuel injected into the combustion chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2014
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Applicant: McAlister Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Roy Edward McAlister
  • Patent number: 8925832
    Abstract: The device for diffusing sprayed liquid in a reception zone includes a vessel suitable for containing a liquid for spraying and at least one diffuser of sprayed liquid that is arranged in the vessel. The diffuser includes in particular an ultrasound emitter. The cleaning method is such that during a stage of operation of the device in which the device is not diffusing liquid in the reception zone, the following steps are performed: heating a liquid in the vessel up to a predetermined temperature, preferably higher than 60° C., in particular lying in the range 65° C. to 80° C.; and draining the liquid from the vessel via a pipe of the device that is situated outside a circuit for diffusing sprayed liquid in the reception zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Areco Finances et Technologie—Arfitec
    Inventors: Michel Gschwind, Fabien Guerrin, Frederic Richard
  • Publication number: 20140374501
    Abstract: An apparatus for maintaining produce stored in a transportation container is disclosed. The apparatus includes a housing of the shape and size of at least one crate storing the produce, the housing having at least one opening therein; and at least one ultrasonic nebulizer for generating fog from a liquid pesticide, the fog rising through the opening to generate a cloud of micro droplets of the pesticide in the container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2013
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Inventor: Amnon SIVAN
  • Publication number: 20140361095
    Abstract: The subject matter discloses an apparatus, comprising an array of micro-valves for dispersing mist, each micro valve of the array of micro-valve comprises a needle and a case; an ultrasonic vibrating element for vibrating the array of micro-valves; a mechanical connector for connecting the needles and cases of the array of micro-valves, thus enabling generation of a secondary movement of the needles relative to the cases while the array of micro-valves vibrates, said secondary movement is generated by the vibration of the ultrasonic vibrating element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2013
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Inventor: Yossi Haran
  • Publication number: 20140346244
    Abstract: A control method for a fuel injection valve for an internal combustion engine is disclosed, wherein at least one control signal for actuating a drive of the injection valve is generated in recurring injection cycles and as a function of a target stroke height of a closing element of the injection valve, wherein the drive is actuated by the control signal to lift the closing element to the target stroke height and the closing element is lifted to an actual stroke height by means of the drive, wherein at least one measured parameter correlated with the actual stroke height is captured and the actual stroke height is determined as a function of said at least one measured parameter, wherein the control signal is generated in at least one of the subsequent injection cycles as a function of a deviation of the actual stroke height from the target stroke height.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2012
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Inventors: Peter Matthias Russe, Anselm Schwarte, Hans-Jörg Wiehoff
  • Publication number: 20140346245
    Abstract: There is provided a control unit for controlling the operation of a nebulizer, the nebulizer comprising a reservoir chamber for storing a liquid to be nebulised, an actuator, and a nebulizing element comprising a plurality of nozzles arranged to nebulize the liquid upon operation of the actuator; wherein the control unit is configured to obtain an indication of the size of the nozzles in the nebulizing element; and control the operation of the actuator based on the obtained indication to provide nebulised liquid at a required output rate and/or with droplets of a required size.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Paul Van Der Sluis, Alwin Rogier Martijn Verschueren, Markus Hijlkema, Jeroen Herman Lammers
  • Publication number: 20140319237
    Abstract: A process for generating droplets with a modulatable droplet size distribution, comprises: making a stream of liquid strike a support with a given relative impact velocity; making said support vibrate at at least one vibration frequency; heating said support to a impact temperature such that the liquid film formed by the impact and made to vibrate is heated to a principal temperature to form in combination what are called principal droplets from said film; and transporting said droplets via a transfer/braking/sorting system to a liquid for precipitating the principal droplets, said transportation being carried out at a transportation temperature, all of these parameters, namely the relative impact velocity, the vibration frequency, the principal temperature and the transportation temperature allowing the droplet size of said formed principal droplets and the velocity of the latter to be modulated. A device allowing the process to be implemented is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2011
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Applicant: COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES AL TERNATIVES
    Inventors: Méryl Brothier, Dominique Moulinier
  • Publication number: 20140263695
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for atomizing and vaporizing liquid is described. An apparatus having an ejector configured to eject one or more droplets of liquid may be inserted into a reservoir containing liquid. The ejector may have a vibrating device that vibrates the ejector and causes liquid to move from the reservoir up through the ejector and out through an orifice located on the top of the ejector. The one or more droplets of liquid ejected from the ejector may be heated and vaporized into the air.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: KING ABDULLAH UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Amit Lal, Abdulilah M. Mayet
  • Publication number: 20140263696
    Abstract: An apparatus for configuring dispersing equipment for applying liquid solutions to vegetation, comprising: a plurality of nozzles for dispersing liquid in the form of liquid droplets; a plurality of magnets for applying a magnetic field to the liquid droplets; where the nozzles are configured to produce liquid droplets sized less than 400 microns and preferably less than 150 microns and more preferably within the range of 10 microns to 50 microns; where each magnet in the plurality of magnets has a magnetic remanence of at least 0.9 and preferably at least 1.25; where the plurality of magnets are moveably mountable on the spray equipment to vary the field strength and polar orientation to adapt for application conditions and purposes; where the liquid solution includes at least water, and where the nozzles are positionable to produce air turbulence and a spray cloud consisting of liquid droplets impacting target vegetation during spraying.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventor: Theodore F. LENHARDT
  • Publication number: 20140252106
    Abstract: An electronically controlled scent producing element (800) constituted of: a plate (860) exhibiting a plurality of perforations extending from a first face of the plate to a second face of the plate opposing the first face; a plurality of micro-plugs (870) juxtaposed with the plate (860), each of the plurality of micro-plugs (870) extending longitudinally from a base end to a tip end, and arranged to mate with one of the plurality of perforations; a translation mechanism in communication with one of the (820, 860) and the plurality of micro-plugs (870); and a vibrator in communication with at least one of the plate (820, 860) and the plurality of micro-plugs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2014
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: SCENTCOM LTD.
    Inventor: Yossi HARAN
  • Publication number: 20140252107
    Abstract: A method of prepping a cylindrical inner surface of a bore using a high-frequency forced pulsed waterjet apparatus entails generating a pressurized waterjet using a high-pressure water pump, generating a high-frequency signal using a high-frequency signal generator, applying the high-frequency signal to a transducer having a microtip to cause the microtip to vibrate to thereby generate the high-frequency forced pulsed waterjet, and rotating the rotatable ultrasonic nozzle inside the bore to prep the inner cylindrical surface of the bore using the high-frequency forced pulsed waterjets exiting from the angled exit orifices of the rotatable ultrasonic nozzle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2014
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: VLN Advanced Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Mohan M. Vijay, Andrew Hung Tieu, Wenzhuo Yan, Bruce R. Daniels
  • Publication number: 20140203099
    Abstract: An ultrasonic dispersion system for dispersing fluid collected from a wellbore during hydrocarbon production is disclosed. The system comprises a holding tank for containing a fluid collection; a fluid intake in communication with the holding tank for input of fluid collected from a wellbore; and an air intake in communication with the holding tank. An ultrasonic generator bank positioned in the holding tank for contact with the fluid collection is used for particlizing the fluid collection to generate an air/particle mixture with the air input into the holding tank. The ultrasonic generator bank comprises an ultrasonic source positioned below the surface of the fluid collection for particlizing at least a portion of the fluid collection; a power source for providing power to the ultrasonic generator bank; and an outlet in an upper region of the holding tank for exhausting the air/particle mixture from the holding tank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2014
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: Cenovus Energy Inc.
    Inventors: Cindy Wolfe, Ken Lowe
  • Patent number: 8746586
    Abstract: A device for spraying a cosmetic or dermatological composition may comprise an ultrasound or electrostatic spray head, an airflow generator for entraining a spray of composition particles atomized by the spray head and a conditioning device, the conditioning device arranged to modify the temperature of the outgoing stream of air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: L'Oreal
    Inventors: Nicolas Duru, Marion Prunier
  • Publication number: 20140151457
    Abstract: In a piezoelectric ejector assembly, a piezoelectric actuator is attached to an ejector mechanism, while a drive signal generator and a controller are coupled to the actuator. The drive signal generator is configured to generate a drive signal for driving the actuator to oscillate the ejector assembly. The controller is configured to control the drive signal generator to drive the actuator at a resonant frequency of the ejector assembly, and an auto-tuning circuit is provided to define the optimum drive signal frequency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2013
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Inventors: Jonathan Ryan Wilkerson, Iyam Lynch, Jeffrey Parrott, Charles Eric Hunter
  • Publication number: 20140151458
    Abstract: Fuel injectors of varying modes, shear or thickness, and megahertz are used to reduce the size of fuel droplets. The fuel injector has an expansion chamber and an orifice-containing face plate with a porous PZT material arranged adjacent to the face plate. The fuel passes through the porous PZT material as the PZT material is energized to realize reduced fuel particle size.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2013
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Applicant: RIVERSIDE RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventor: Daniel Gross
  • Patent number: 8740107
    Abstract: A liquid atomizer (1) with battery-powered (1) piezoelectric vibration device (4), of the type timed to occur between alternate activation cycles and rest cycles and including a first electronic supply circuit (2) with an impulse current generator (9) at a relatively high voltage and a second supply circuit (5a) of the piezoelectric vibration device (4) at a relatively low voltage, as well as a switch device (10, 11) apt to connect in alternate phases the supply of the piezoelectric vibration device (4)—in a same actuation cycle—to the first circuit and to the second circuit. An actuation method of the atomizer is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Zobele Holding S.p.A.
    Inventors: Fabio Marchetti, Daniel Mosconi
  • Patent number: 8727234
    Abstract: An electronically controlled scent producing element (800) constituted of: a plate (860) exhibiting a plurality of perforations extending from a first face of the plate to a second face of the plate opposing the first face; a plurality of micro-plugs (870) juxtaposed with the plate (860), each of the plurality of micro-plugs (870) extending longitudinally from a base end to a tip end, and arranged to mate with one of the plurality of perforations; a translation mechanism in communication with one of the plate (820, 860) and the plurality of micro-plugs (870); and a vibrator in communication with at least one of the plate (820, 860) and the plurality of micro-plugs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Scentcom Ltd.
    Inventor: Yossi Haran
  • Publication number: 20140124589
    Abstract: Apparatus and method are provided for reducing acoustical noise when cooling a device, such as a lamp system. The apparatus includes at least a set of a first synthetic jet and a second synthetic jet. The first and second synthetic jets are responsive to respective actuating signals having a phase difference (e.g., 180°) between one another chosen to reduce acoustic noise produced by the first and second synthetic jets when cooling the device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2013
    Publication date: May 8, 2014
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Fei Han, Mehmet Arik, Trevor Wood, Charles Franklin Wolfe, JR.
  • Publication number: 20140091155
    Abstract: There is disclosed a piezoelectric droplet maker that is driven at high frequency and energized with high power and high frequency Operational Amplifier (OP-AMP) electronics. The droplet maker implements a method of producing jets of uniform droplets of solution precursors (or any other homogeneous liquids). The formation of droplets results from stream break up due to the disturbance of liquid jets by the piezo actuator as they leave an orifice. This disturbance can be electronically tuned to produce uniform droplets with high repeatability. In another aspect, the droplet maker can be used to inject axially uniform diameter solution precursor droplets into process gas flow of a microwave plasma apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicants: AMASTAN LLC, UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT
    Inventors: Eric JORDAN, Makhlouf RADJDAL, Kamal HADIDI
  • Patent number: 8658248
    Abstract: A method for atomizing a liquid including providing an atomizer having a liquid supply conduit having an outlet at one end, a gas supply conduit opening into a port in the liquid supply conduit upstream of the outlet, and a means for imparting vibrational energy to the atomizer. In an embodiment, the liquid supply conduit and gas supply conduit are coaxially displaced relative to one another. The method further includes flowing liquid through the liquid supply conduit to the outlet while simultaneously flowing gas through the gas supply conduit, and imparting vibrational energy to the atomizer to atomize the liquid exiting from the outlet. The introduction of gas at the port results in a spray of droplets with improved dimensional properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Edward J. Anderson, Jesus R. Ramos
  • Publication number: 20140050863
    Abstract: An evaporator includes a vaporization chamber having a monomer inlet and a vapor outlet. There is a vapor nozzle in the vapor outlet. The evaporator also includes a collar positioned between the vaporization chamber and the vapor nozzle which increases the pressure in the evaporation chamber while the conductance through the nozzle is substantially unchanged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2013
    Publication date: February 20, 2014
    Inventors: Damien Boesch, Martin Rosenblum
  • Patent number: RE45376
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a cooling system is disclosed. The cooling system comprises: a cooling channel for receiving a cooling media, a substrate disposed near the cooling channel, and a fluidic jet disposed within the substrate and in fluid communication with the cooling channel. The cooling channel is for thermal communication with a component to be cooled. The cooling channel has a height of less than or equal to about 3 mm and a width of less than or equal to 2 mm. The fluidic jet comprises a cavity defined by a well and a membrane. In one embodiment, a method of cooling an electrical component comprises: passing a cooling media through a cooling channel, drawing the cooling media into one or more of the fluidic jets, expelling the cooling media from the one or more fluidic jets into the cooling channel, and removing thermal energy from the electrical component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Mehmet Arik, Todd Garrett Wetzel, Stephen Adam Solovitz