Ultrasonic atomization device

Abstract

The present invention reduces power loss by suppressing leakage current between ultrasonic wave oscillators to enhance power efficiency while shortening replacement time for many ultrasonic wave oscillators. This ultrasonic wave atomization device comprises an atomization chamber 4 to which liquid W is supplied, a plurality of ultrasonic wave oscillators 1 for ultrasonically oscillating the liquid W in the atomization chamber 4 to atomize the same, an ultrasonic wave power source 2 for supplying ultrasonic wave power to the ultrasonic wave oscillators 1, and an attachable / detachable base 3 detachably disposed in the atomization chamber 4. The ultrasonic wave power source 2 comprises a plurality of independent power sources 2A for supplying power to each of the ultrasonic wave oscillators 1. The attachable / detachable base 3 comprises a fixing plate 31 arranged adjacent to the plurality of ultrasonic wave oscillators 1. The independent power sources 2A supply power to each of the ultrasonic wave oscillators 1 fixed to the fixing plate 31. The plurality of ultrasonic wave oscillators 1 are adjacently fixed to the fixing plate 31, with the fixing plate 31 serving as insulating plastic.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an ultrasonic atomizer that generates mist by ultrasonically vibrating a liquid, and more particularly to an ultrasonic atomizer that generates a large amount of mist using a plurality of ultrasonic vibrators. [Background technology]

[0002] Devices that atomize liquids with ultrasonic vibrations are used for various purposes. For example, they can be used as devices that concentrate solutions by condensing and collecting the atomized mist, and as devices that cool solutions using the heat of vaporization of the mist. Since the output of each ultrasonic vibrator that ultrasonically vibrates liquids is relatively small, a large number of ultrasonic vibrators are used in devices that generate a large amount of mist per unit time. An ultrasonic atomizer with this structure can have a total output of 1 kW to several kW, for example, by providing 100 to several hundred sets of 10 W ultrasonic vibrators. Furthermore, an ultrasonic atomizer that has a large number of ultrasonic vibrators and an output of 1 kW or more can be miniaturized and mass-produced to reduce power costs by using a circuit configuration in which a dedicated independent power source is connected to each ultrasonic vibrator.

[0003] Furthermore, since ultrasonic vibrators need to be replaced after a certain period of use, it is also important to simplify maintenance by easily replacing multiple ultrasonic vibrators and reduce running costs. With the above objectives in mind, the present inventor has developed an ultrasonic atomization device that allows multiple ultrasonic vibrators to be easily replaced (see Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2005-40772 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] The ultrasonic atomizer previously developed by the present inventor does not directly fix a large number of ultrasonic vibrators to the bottom plate of the atomization chamber, but instead provides a large number of ultrasonic vibrators on a removable base that can be easily removed from the bottom of the atomization chamber. This structure of the ultrasonic atomizer has the advantage that when the ultrasonic vibrator deteriorates, the ultrasonic vibrator can be easily replaced by replacing a new removable base. In particular, this structure has the advantage that the ultrasonic vibrator can be replaced by replacing the removable base of the atomization chamber, significantly shortening the time to replace the ultrasonic vibrator and shortening the downtime. Furthermore, this ultrasonic atomizer has the advantage that the total number of ultrasonic vibrators set in the atomization chamber can be changed by changing the number of removable bases set in the atomization chamber, so that the amount of atomization can be set to the optimum amount for various applications. Ultrasonic atomizers are used for various applications, but the optimum amount of atomization is required for each application. In an ultrasonic atomizer that changes the number of ultrasonic vibrators to obtain the optimum total output for the application, a dedicated independent power source is provided for each ultrasonic vibrator, and the ultrasonic vibrator and the independent power source are treated as one ultrasonic unit, making it easy to adjust the total output. Since the ultrasonic unit is equipped with an ultrasonic vibrator and a dedicated independent power supply, an ultrasonic atomizer consisting of multiple ultrasonic units can change the number of ultrasonic units to set the total output optimal for the application. An ultrasonic atomizer equipped with multiple ultrasonic units supplies power to each ultrasonic vibrator independently from a dedicated independent power supply. An ultrasonic atomizer with this circuit configuration can control the amount of atomization with the ultrasonic unit, but when in use, leakage current caused by the resistance between the electrodes of the ultrasonic vibrator causes a problem of reducing power efficiency. The leakage current flows between adjacent ultrasonic vibrators and causes power loss.

[0006] The present invention was developed with the aim of eliminating the above-mentioned drawbacks, and an important object of the present invention is to provide an ultrasonic atomization device that can reduce the time required to replace a large number of ultrasonic vibrators while suppressing leakage current between ultrasonic vibrators, thereby increasing power efficiency and reducing power loss. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] An ultrasonic atomization device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an atomization chamber to which liquid is supplied, a plurality of ultrasonic vibrators that ultrasonically vibrate the liquid in the atomization chamber to atomize it, an ultrasonic power source that supplies ultrasonic power to the ultrasonic vibrators, and a detachable base that is detachably arranged in the atomization chamber. The ultrasonic power source includes a plurality of independent power sources that supply power to each of the ultrasonic vibrators. The detachable base includes a fixing plate on which the plurality of ultrasonic vibrators are arranged adjacent to each other, and the independent power sources are connected to each of the ultrasonic vibrators fixed to the fixing plate, so that power is supplied from the independent power sources to each of the ultrasonic vibrators. The fixing plate is made of insulating plastic, and the plurality of ultrasonic vibrators are fixed adjacent to the fixing plate. Effect of the Invention

[0008] The ultrasonic atomization device described above has a structure that allows multiple ultrasonic vibrators to be replaced in a short time, while having the advantage of being able to suppress leakage current between ultrasonic vibrators, thereby increasing power efficiency and reducing power loss. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram of an ultrasonic atomization device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 2] 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a detachable base of the ultrasonic atomization device shown in FIG. 1. [Diagram 3] 2 is a circuit diagram showing an ultrasonic power supply of the ultrasonic atomization device shown in FIG. 1. [Figure 4] FIG. 11 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main portion showing another example of an ultrasonic transducer. [Diagram 5] FIG. 11 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing another example of the detachable base. [Figure 6] FIG. 11 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing another example of the detachable base. [Figure 7] FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram of an ultrasonic atomization device according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] 8 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main part of the ultrasonic atomization device shown in FIG. 7. [Figure 9] 1 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a state in which leakage current occurs in a conventional ultrasonic atomization device. [Figure 10] FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram showing a state in which an ultrasonic transducer connected to an independent power supply causes leakage current to flow through an inter-electrode resistance. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. In the following description, terms indicating specific directions or positions (e.g., "upper", "lower", and other terms including these terms) are used as necessary, but the use of these terms is for the purpose of facilitating understanding of the invention with reference to the drawings, and the meanings of these terms do not limit the technical scope of the present invention. In addition, parts with the same reference numerals appearing in multiple drawings indicate the same or equivalent parts or members. Furthermore, the embodiments shown below are specific examples of the technical ideas of the present invention, and do not limit the present invention to the following. Furthermore, unless otherwise specified, the dimensions, materials, shapes, relative positions, etc. of the components described below are intended to be illustrative and not to limit the scope of the present invention. Furthermore, the contents described in one embodiment or example can be applied to other embodiments or examples. Furthermore, the sizes and positional relationships of the components shown in the drawings may be exaggerated to clarify the explanation.

[0011] The ultrasonic atomization device according to the first embodiment of the present invention includes an atomization chamber to which liquid is supplied, a plurality of ultrasonic vibrators that ultrasonically vibrate the liquid in the atomization chamber to atomize it, an ultrasonic power source that supplies ultrasonic power to the ultrasonic vibrators, and a detachable base that is detachably arranged in the atomization chamber. The ultrasonic power source includes a plurality of independent power sources that supply power to each of the ultrasonic vibrators. The detachable base includes a fixed plate on which the plurality of ultrasonic vibrators are arranged adjacent to each other, and the independent power sources are connected to each of the ultrasonic vibrators fixed to the fixed plate, and supply ultrasonic power from the independent power sources to each of the ultrasonic vibrators. The fixed plate is made of insulating plastic, and the plurality of ultrasonic vibrators are fixed adjacent to each other on the fixed plate.

[0012] The ultrasonic atomizer described above has the characteristic that it can efficiently atomize a large amount of liquid with high power efficiency by suppressing power loss while increasing the total output by providing a large number of ultrasonic vibrators. This is because the ultrasonic atomizer described above connects each ultrasonic vibrator to a separate independent power source, drives adjacent ultrasonic vibrations with separate independent power sources, and increases the inter-electrode resistance between the upper electrodes of adjacent ultrasonic vibrators to reduce leakage current. Therefore, the ultrasonic atomizer described above has the characteristic that it can efficiently atomize liquid with high power efficiency while achieving the optimal amount of atomization for various applications. The reason why the leakage current between adjacent ultrasonic vibrators can be reduced is because the fixing plate to which the detachable base fixes the ultrasonic vibrators is made of insulating plastic, which dramatically increases the electrical resistance of the fixing plate compared to conventional metal plates, thereby increasing the inter-electrode resistance. Furthermore, the ultrasonic atomization device described above increases the inter-electrode resistance between adjacent ultrasonic vibrators to reduce leakage current, so there is no need to use high-precision components for each independent power supply to control the output voltage to a constant voltage with extremely high precision. This also reduces the component costs of the independent power supplies, enabling them to be mass-produced inexpensively.

[0013] The cross-sectional view of FIG. 9 shows a state where leakage current occurs in a conventional ultrasonic atomization device 90. In the ultrasonic atomization device 90 in this figure, multiple ultrasonic vibrators 91 arranged adjacent to each other are connected to multiple independent power sources 92A. Since the upper electrode 91A of the ultrasonic vibrator 91 is in contact with the liquid W, leakage current flows through the liquid W. The ultrasonic atomization device 90 is not used for atomizing ultrapure water or pure water, but atomizes the conductive liquid W containing impurities and conductive substances. Ultrapure water that does not contain any impurities has a low conductivity of 0.055 μS / cm, which is close to that of an insulator, but even in pure water, the conductivity is 1 μS / cm, which is 20 times higher than that of ultrapure water, and furthermore, the conductivity of tap water is extremely high at about 100 μS / cm to 200 μS / cm, which is 2000 to 4000 times higher than that of ultrapure water. The ultrasonic atomization device 90 is not used to atomize non-conductive liquids, and the upper electrodes 91A of adjacent ultrasonic transducers 91 are in contact with the conductive liquid W over a wide area, resulting in electrical conductivity through inter-electrode resistance (R).

[0014] The ultrasonic atomization device 90, which is equipped with a large number of ultrasonic vibrators 91, is fixed to the bottom plate 94A of the atomization chamber 94 in close proximity to each other, so that the electrical resistance between the upper electrodes, i.e., the interelectrode resistance (R), is considerably small. In particular, in the conventional ultrasonic atomization device 90, the ultrasonic vibrators 91 are arranged close to the metallic bottom plate 94A, so that the metal plate 95 of the bottom plate 94A considerably reduces the interelectrode resistance (R). This is because the conductivity of the bottom plate 94A, which is the metal plate 95, is greater than that of the liquid W. The ultrasonic vibrators 91 fixed to the metal plate 95 are in a state of conduction with the bottom plate 94A, which has excellent conductivity, via the liquid W. Furthermore, the upper electrode 91A of the ultrasonic vibrator 91, which is in contact with the liquid W, is in contact with the liquid W over a wide area, so that the contact resistance with the liquid W is extremely small. The ultrasonic transducer 91 and the bottom plate 94A are insulated by an insulating sealant 96, but since they are arranged close to each other, the leakage resistance (r) between the upper electrode 91A of the ultrasonic transducer 91 and the metal plate 95 of the bottom plate 94A is considerably small. Adjacent ultrasonic transducers 91 are connected to the metal plate 95 of the bottom plate 94A via the leakage resistance (r). Since the electrical resistance of the metal plate 95 of the bottom plate 94A is extremely small, the inter-electrode resistance (R) between adjacent ultrasonic transducers 91 is twice the resistance value of the leakage resistance (r).

[0015] The state in which adjacent ultrasonic vibrators are conductive through interelectrode resistance does not necessarily cause leakage current between the upper electrodes. This is because leakage current flows in proportion to the potential difference between adjacent ultrasonic vibrators. In an ultrasonic atomizer in which all ultrasonic vibrators are connected to a single ultrasonic power source, the supply voltages of all ultrasonic vibrators are exactly the same, and no potential difference occurs between the upper electrodes of adjacent ultrasonic vibrators, so interelectrode resistance does not cause leakage current. However, in an ultrasonic atomizer in which adjacent ultrasonic vibrators are connected to separate independent power sources, the difference in output voltage of the independent power sources causes leakage current to flow through interelectrode resistance.

[0016] An ultrasonic atomizer in which each ultrasonic vibrator is connected to a dedicated independent power source requires multiple independent power sources, but has the advantage that each ultrasonic vibrator can be ultrasonically vibrated efficiently in the most favorable state. This is because the frequency supplied from the independent power source to the ultrasonic vibrator can be finely adjusted to the resonant frequency of the ultrasonic vibrator. Furthermore, this ultrasonic atomizer has an ultrasonic vibrator and an independent power source as an ultrasonic unit, and the total output of the ultrasonic vibration can be changed by adjusting the number of ultrasonic units, so that ultrasonic atomizers optimal for various applications with different total outputs can be efficiently mass-produced. However, an ultrasonic atomizer in which adjacent ultrasonic vibrators are connected to different independent power sources cannot make the output voltage of the independent power source completely the same voltage, and the voltage difference causes leakage current to flow due to the resistance between the electrodes.

[0017] FIG. 10 is a circuit diagram showing a state in which an ultrasonic atomization device 90 in which adjacent ultrasonic vibrators 91 are connected to an independent power source 92A flows a leakage current through an inter-electrode resistance (R). The independent power source 92A shown in this circuit diagram has a positive output connected to the upper electrode 91A of the ultrasonic vibrator 91. The upper electrode 91A of the ultrasonic vibrator 91 is connected to the positive side of the independent power source 92A, and the lower electrode 91B on the opposite side is connected to the input side of the output transistor 21. As shown in FIG. 9, the ultrasonic vibrator 91 is placed in the atomization chamber 94 in a position in which the upper electrode 91A contacts the liquid W. The reason why the atomization chamber 94 is placed in a state in which the upper electrode 91A contacts the liquid W is because the upper electrode 91A is at earth potential in terms of AC and the voltage does not fluctuate even when AC of ultrasonic vibration is supplied. The lower electrode 91B is connected to the input side of the output transistor 21 and the voltage fluctuates at the frequency of the ultrasonic vibration. When the lower electrode 91B, whose voltage fluctuates, comes into contact with the liquid W, the input impedance of the output transistor 21 changes with the conductivity of the liquid W, adversely affecting the oscillator circuit; furthermore, the input side of the output transistor 21, which is connected to an adjacent ultrasonic transducer 91, is connected via an inter-electrode resistance (R), causing mutual interference between the adjacent ultrasonic transducers 91 and adverse effects.

[0018] In the ultrasonic atomization device described above, the upper electrodes of each ultrasonic vibrator are connected to separate independent power sources, so the interelectrode resistance connects the outputs of the independent power sources connected to adjacent ultrasonic vibrators in parallel. Therefore, leakage current flows between the independent power sources whose outputs are connected in parallel via the interelectrode resistance due to the voltage difference in the output voltage. The leakage current increases as the interelectrode resistance decreases, and also increases as the voltage difference between the independent power sources increases.

[0019] The enlarged cross-sectional view of FIG. 9 shows a state where leakage current flows in a conventional ultrasonic atomization device 90. In the ultrasonic atomization device 90, ultrasonic vibrators 91 are fixed to a bottom plate 94A of a metal plate 95 via an insulating sealant 96. As shown in this figure, the upper electrodes 91A of adjacent ultrasonic vibrators 91 are in a state of being conducted to the bottom plate 94A of the metal plate 95 via a leakage resistance (r). Furthermore, since the output side of each ultrasonic vibrator 91 is connected to a separate independent power source 92A, a leakage current (I) flows in proportion to the output voltage difference (E) through the interelectrode resistance (R) in the independent power source 92A connected to adjacent ultrasonic vibrators 91. Since the bottom plate 94A of the metal plate 95 is considerably smaller than the electrical resistance of the liquid W, the electrical resistance between the upper electrodes 91A of adjacent ultrasonic vibrators 91, i.e., the interelectrode resistance (R), is 2r. Therefore, the leakage current (I) flowing through the upper electrode 91A of the adjacent ultrasonic transducer 91 has a current value expressed by the following formula. I=E / 2r As shown in the above formula, the leakage current (I) increases in proportion to the voltage difference (E) of the independent power source 92A connected to adjacent ultrasonic vibrators 91. Since the leakage current is supplied from the independent power source 92A on the high voltage side with a potential difference, it becomes a reactive current of the independent power source 92A on the high voltage side. The leakage current is a direct current and does not become power to excite the ultrasonic vibrator 91, but becomes a power loss of the entire device. In an ultrasonic atomization device 90 provided with multiple ultrasonic vibrators 91, the leakage current flowing between each adjacent ultrasonic vibrator 91 generates a power loss, so that in an ultrasonic atomization device 90 equipped with many ultrasonic vibrators 91, the leakage currents of each are added together, resulting in a large power loss.

[0020] Each independent power supply uses a constant voltage power supply that stabilizes the output voltage, but a constant voltage power supply cannot adjust the output voltage to exactly the same as the rated voltage, and an error voltage from the rated voltage occurs. The error voltage can be reduced by the precision of the parts used, for example, by using high-precision parts for the constant voltage diodes and resistors that generate the reference voltage. However, high-precision parts have significantly higher component costs, so in reality they cannot be used in ultrasonic atomization devices that use multiple independent power supplies. This is because the manufacturing costs of the independent power supplies would rise significantly. Therefore, in reality, an error voltage occurs, and it is impossible to completely eliminate power loss due to leakage current (I) caused by this.

[0021] In the ultrasonic atomizer of the present invention, adjacent ultrasonic vibrators are connected to an independent power source, but since the fixing plate is made of insulating plastic, the resistance between the electrodes of adjacent ultrasonic vibrators is large, and the leakage current caused by the voltage difference of the independent power source can be significantly reduced. This is because the resistance between the electrodes of adjacent ultrasonic vibrators can be increased by making them conductive only through the liquid.

[0022] In the ultrasonic atomization device according to the second embodiment of the present invention, the upper electrode of the ultrasonic vibrator exposed in the atomization chamber is connected to the output of an independent power supply.

[0023] An ultrasonic atomization device according to a third embodiment of the present invention includes a Colpitts oscillator circuit having an independent power supply with an output transistor, and an ultrasonic vibrator is connected to the output of the independent power supply and the input side of the output transistor.

[0024] In the ultrasonic atomization device according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention, a detachable base fixes a plurality of ultrasonic vibrators to a fixing plate in a waterproof structure.

[0025] The ultrasonic atomization device according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention includes a closing plate fixed in a watertight structure below a fixed plate, a watertight sealed chamber is provided between the fixed plate and the closing plate, and an ultrasonic vibrator is disposed in the sealed chamber.

[0026] The ultrasonic atomization device according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention has a sealed chamber filled with a potting resin.

[0027] The ultrasonic atomization device according to the seventh embodiment of the present invention includes an electromagnetic coupling circuit that wirelessly supplies ultrasonic power from an independent power source to an ultrasonic vibrator, the electromagnetic coupling circuit including a power transmitting coil provided on the independent power source side and a power receiving coil connected to the ultrasonic vibrator side, the power receiving coil being fixed to a fixed plate in a watertight structure, the power transmitting coil being disposed on the underside of the bottom plate of the atomization chamber at an electromagnetic coupling position of the power transmitting coil, and the ultrasonic power being wirelessly supplied from the power transmitting coil to the power receiving coil.

[0028] The ultrasonic atomization device described above wirelessly supplies ultrasonic power to the ultrasonic vibrator from an independent power source, so there is no need to connect the detachable base, which is submerged in the atomization chamber and set so as to be freely detachable, to an independent power source via a lead wire, and has the characteristic that the entire detachable base can be made into an ideal watertight structure. This is because there is no need to pull out the lead wire from the detachable base in a watertight structure and further wire the lead wire in a waterproof structure in the liquid in the atomization chamber. Furthermore, this structure has the characteristic that the lead wire is not wired in the liquid because the lead wire is not connected to the detachable base, and the lead wire can be completely eliminated from the liquid. In addition, since the detachable base is a completely independent structure without a lead wire, it is very easy to replace the deteriorated ultrasonic vibrator by simply removing it from the atomization chamber and setting it again.

[0029] In the ultrasonic atomization device according to the eighth embodiment of the present invention, the detachable base is disposed at a fixed position on the bottom plate of the atomization chamber using a positioning structure, and the power transmitting coil and the power receiving coil are disposed at an electromagnetic coupling position.

[0030] The ultrasonic atomization device described above has the advantage that the detachable base can be positioned without misalignment, so that the detachable base can be removed from the atomization chamber, and a new detachable base can be set and positioned to efficiently electromagnetically couple the power transmitting coil and power receiving coil, allowing efficient wireless power supply at all times.

[0031] In the ultrasonic atomization device according to the ninth embodiment of the present invention, the detachable base is detachably placed on the bottom of the atomization chamber.

[0032] In the ultrasonic atomization device according to the tenth embodiment of the present invention, an ultrasonic vibrator has an insulating coating on the surface of the upper electrode.

[0033] In the ultrasonic atomization device according to the eleventh embodiment of the present invention, the insulating coating is SiO2 or a glass coating.

[0034] (Embodiment 1) The present invention does not specify the use of the mist produced by atomizing liquid with an ultrasonic atomizer, but the ultrasonic atomizer is used, for example, as a device that collects the mist produced by atomizing liquid and concentrates the liquid, or as a device that converts liquid into mist to increase the surface area and deodorize odorous gas, or as a device that mixes gas containing liquid mist with other gases using a static mixer or the like to cause a reaction. Since the ultrasonic atomizer converts liquid into fine mist using ultrasonic vibration, it is used in various applications to efficiently concentrate liquid, deodorize odorous gas, or increase the contact area to cause a reaction quickly. The ultrasonic atomizer used for concentrating liquid collects and concentrates the mist using a cyclone or condenser, the deodorizer mixes mist-mixed air with odorous gas, absorbs odorous components into the mist, and deodorizes, and the reactor mixes mist-mixed air with reactive gas and causes the dissolved components of the mist to react with the reactive gas. However, the present invention does not specify the use of the ultrasonic atomizer, and it can be used for all other applications of atomizing liquid. In particular, the ultrasonic atomizer of the present invention is suitable for applications that require the generation of a large amount of mist per unit time, and is therefore ideal for large-scale testing equipment and industrial atomizers.

[0035] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the ultrasonic atomization device of the present invention will be described in detail. The ultrasonic atomization device 100 shown in the schematic cross-sectional view of Figure 1 includes an airtight atomization chamber 4 to which the liquid W to be atomized is supplied, a plurality of ultrasonic vibrators 1 that ultrasonically vibrate the liquid W in the atomization chamber 4 to generate mist, a detachable base 3 to which the plurality of ultrasonic vibrators 1 are fixed and which is detachably arranged in the atomization chamber 4, and an ultrasonic power source 2 that supplies ultrasonic power to each of the ultrasonic vibrators 1 fixed to the detachable base 3.

[0036] In the atomization chamber 4, the detachable base 3, to which multiple ultrasonic vibrators 1 are fixed, is placed in a horizontal position on the bottom plate 11. Each ultrasonic vibrator 1 of the detachable base 3 radiates ultrasonic vibrations upward. The ultrasonic vibrations radiated upward from each ultrasonic vibrator 1 cause a liquid column P to protrude onto the liquid surface, dispersing mist from the surface of the liquid column P. The detachable base 3 is placed and set on the bottom plate 11 of the atomization chamber 4, or is placed in a fixed position on the bottom plate 11 using a positioning structure, and is set without misalignment within the horizontal plane.

[0037] As shown in Fig. 1, the atomization chamber 4 atomizes the liquid W supplied thereto by ultrasonic vibration, mixes the atomized mist with a carrier gas such as air, and supplies the mist-mixed air to the outside. When the liquid W is discharged to the outside in the form of mist from the atomization chamber 4, the liquid level drops. Therefore, the atomization chamber 4 can be structured to replace the liquid W with new liquid after a certain period of time has passed, or to continuously supply the liquid W via the pump 8.

[0038] The liquid W in the atomization chamber 4 is ultrasonically vibrated and separated from the liquid W in a mist state, and dispersed in the carrier gas. In the ultrasonic atomization device 100 shown in FIG. 1, a detachable base 3 is disposed on the bottom plate 11 of the atomization chamber 4 filled with the liquid W, on which a plurality of ultrasonic vibrators 1 are fixed facing upward. The ultrasonic vibrators 1 of the detachable base 3 radiate ultrasonic waves upward toward the liquid surface, causing ultrasonic vibration of the liquid surface. The ultrasonically vibrated liquid W protrudes from the liquid surface to become a liquid column P, and separates from the surface of the liquid column P and scatters into the carrier gas to become a mist-mixed gas. The carrier gas is forced into the liquid column P to quickly disperse the mist from the liquid column P. The mist is dispersed in the carrier gas to become a mist-mixed gas. The mist-mixed gas is discharged from the atomization chamber 4 to the outside.

[0039] As shown in the enlarged cross-sectional view of Fig. 2, the detachable base 3 includes a fixed plate 31 that arranges the multiple ultrasonic transducers 1 in a horizontal position. The fixed plate 31 is provided with an emission opening 32 that radiates ultrasonic vibrations of the liquid W emitted by the ultrasonic transducers 1 upward. Since the fixed plate 31 arranges the multiple ultrasonic transducers 1 closely, it has multiple emission openings 32 that are open close to each other. The ultrasonic transducers 1 radiate ultrasonic vibrations from the emission openings 32, and the emission openings 32 are fixed in a watertight structure and sealed so that the liquid W does not enter the detachable base 3 from the emission openings 32.

[0040] Each ultrasonic transducer 1 fixed to the fixing plate 31 is connected to an ultrasonic power supply 2 as shown in Fig. 1. The ultrasonic power supply 2 is made up of a plurality of independent power supplies 2A that ultrasonically vibrate the plurality of ultrasonic transducers 1. The independent power supply 2A supplies ultrasonic power to one ultrasonic transducer 1. The ultrasonic transducer 1 and the independent power supply 2A connected thereto constitute an ultrasonic unit 9. The ultrasonic unit 9 is made up of a set of independent power supplies 2A and one ultrasonic transducer 1.

[0041] The independent power supply 2A shown in the circuit diagram of Fig. 3 includes a Colpitts oscillator circuit 20 that supplies ultrasonic power to the ultrasonic transducer 1. The Colpitts oscillator circuit 20 connects the ultrasonic transducer 1 between the base, which is the input side of the output transistor 21, and the collector of the output transistor 21. The Colpitts oscillator circuit 20 does not require an output transformer that cuts direct current and changes impedance, and can supply ultrasonic power to the ultrasonic transducer 1 without the output transformer, which is a costly component. This allows for low-cost mass production.

[0042] The ultrasonic transducer 1 connected to the output side of the independent power source 2A is plate-shaped as shown in Fig. 2, with one of its electrodes, designated as the top electrode 1A, fixed to the fixed plate 31 in a position exposed to the atomization chamber 4. The top electrode 1A comes into contact with the liquid W filled in the atomization chamber 4 and is conductive to the liquid W. Since the liquid W in the atomization chamber 4 is conductive, the top electrode 1A in contact with the liquid W is connected to the top electrode 1A of the adjacent ultrasonic transducer 1 via the liquid W by interelectrode resistance (R). A leakage current flows through the top electrode 1A of the adjacent ultrasonic transducer 1 connected by interelectrode resistance (R) due to the voltage difference.

[0043] The independent power source 2A shown in the circuit diagram of FIG. 3 has a positive output connected to the collector of the output transistor 21 and a negative output connected to the ground line 23. The collector of the output transistor 21 is connected to the upper electrode 1A of the ultrasonic transducer 1. As shown in FIG. 2, the upper electrodes 1A of adjacent ultrasonic transducers 1 are connected to different independent power sources 2A and are connected by an interelectrode resistance (R) via the liquid W. The independent power source 2A shown in the circuit diagram of FIG. 3 connects the upper electrode 1A of the ultrasonic transducer 1 to the positive output side of the independent power source 2A. The ultrasonic transducer 1 connects the upper electrode 1A to the positive side of the independent power source 2A and connects the lower electrode 1B on the opposite side to the base, which is the input side of the output transistor 21.

[0044] As shown in FIG. 2, the ultrasonic transducer 1 is placed on the fixed plate 31 in a position where the upper electrode 1A is exposed to the liquid W. The reason why the ultrasonic transducer 1 is placed in a state where the upper electrode 1A is in contact with the liquid W is because the upper electrode 1A is connected to the output side of the independent power source 2A and the voltage does not change at the frequency of the ultrasonic vibration. The electrodes of the ultrasonic transducer 1, whose voltage fluctuates due to ultrasonic vibration, cannot be brought into contact with the liquid W. This is because, when multiple electrodes whose voltage fluctuates due to ultrasonic vibration are conducted through the liquid W, leakage current flows between the electrodes whose voltage fluctuates through the liquid W, and each ultrasonic transducer 1 cannot operate normally. In particular, the ultrasonic vibration signals output by the separate independent power sources 2A are asynchronous with each other and have different frequencies and phases. Therefore, when the electrodes of two ultrasonic transducers 1 connected to different independent power sources 2A are conducted through the liquid W, a considerably large leakage current flows between the electrodes of the ultrasonic transducer 1, causing an extremely large power loss. Furthermore, if the electrode, which is connected to the base of the output transistor 21 and whose voltage fluctuates due to the ultrasonic vibration signal, becomes conductive due to the liquid W, normal operation of the Colpitts oscillator circuit 20 is not guaranteed. This is because the input impedance of the output transistor 21 of each independent power source 2A fluctuates upon contact with the liquid W, and further, asynchronous AC signals with different frequencies and phases input from other independent power sources 2A via the liquid W interfere with each other, causing adverse effects.

[0045] The top electrodes 1A of the adjacent ultrasonic vibrators 1 are connected to the positive terminals of separate independent power sources 2A. Each independent power source 2A connected to adjacent ultrasonic vibrators 1 is equipped with a constant voltage circuit 22 that controls the output voltage to a constant voltage. However, the constant voltage circuit 22 cannot always control the voltage to a completely set voltage, and the error from the set voltage becomes the voltage difference between the independent power sources 2A. The constant voltage circuit 22 can reduce the error from the set voltage by increasing the precision of the parts used. However, the parts cost of high-precision parts is considerably high, which increases the manufacturing cost of the independent power sources 2A. In an ultrasonic atomization device that uses multiple independent power sources 2A, the high manufacturing cost has the disadvantage of increasing the cost of the entire device. Therefore, the difference in output voltage of the independent power sources 2A cannot be eliminated in reality, and leakage current occurs due to the voltage difference. The leakage current between the top electrodes 1A is not used for the power to ultrasonically vibrate the liquid W, and it becomes a power loss and reduces the power efficiency. The leakage current increases in proportion to the voltage difference between the independent power sources 2A.

[0046] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the leakage current flowing through the upper electrodes 1A of adjacent ultrasonic transducers 1. As shown in this figure, the upper electrodes 1A are connected by interelectrode resistance (R) via the liquid W in the atomization chamber 4. The interelectrode resistance (R) is determined by the area of ​​the upper electrodes 1A, the distance between the upper electrodes 1A, and the conductivity of the liquid W. Since the leakage current increases as the interelectrode resistance (R) decreases, the leakage current can be reduced by increasing the interelectrode resistance (R). As shown in FIG. 4, the ultrasonic transducer 1 can increase the interelectrode resistance (R) by providing an insulating coating 5 on the surface of the upper electrode 1A. This is because the insulating coating 5 increases the contact resistance between the upper electrode 1A and the liquid W. A thin film of SiO2 or a glass coating is suitable for the insulating coating 5. In particular, SiO2 has extremely excellent insulating properties, so the interelectrode resistance (R) can be dramatically increased to reduce the leakage current.

[0047] In order to reduce leakage current through the electrodes of the ultrasonic transducers 1, the detachable base 3 has a fixing plate 31, which fixes the multiple ultrasonic transducers 1, made of insulating plastic. The detachable base 3 has a fixing plate 31, which fixes the ultrasonic transducers 1, made of insulating plastic, or the entire case of the detachable base 3 is made of insulating plastic.

[0048] Since plastics basically exhibit excellent insulating properties, the fixing plate 31 can be made of various plastics. The fixing plate 31 is preferably manufactured by molding a thermoplastic resin. However, the fixing plate 31 can also be made of a thermosetting resin. The fixing plate 31 made of a thermoplastic resin has the characteristic that it can be molded into various shapes, such as a shape with a recess for placing the ultrasonic transducer 1 inside, and mass-produced at low cost. The plastic for the fixing plate 31 can be, for example, a thermoplastic resin such as polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, polypropylene, polycarbonate, nylon, or a thermosetting resin such as phenolic resin.

[0049] A plurality of ultrasonic transducers 1 are fixed to a plastic fixed plate 31 at a predetermined interval. The detachable base 3 shown in the enlarged cross-sectional view of FIG. 2 seals the radiation opening 32 of the fixed plate 31 in a watertight structure via an insulating sealant 6 to fix the ultrasonic transducer 1. The fixed plate 31 has an upwardly opening recess 33 that is larger than the outer shape of the ultrasonic transducer 1. The fixed plate 31 has a support plate 34 on the bottom surface of the recess 33, and the support plate 34 has an opening 35 for leading out the lead wires 29. The ultrasonic transducer 1 is placed on the support plate 34 inside the recess 33 of the fixed plate 31. In this detachable base 3, an insulating sealant 6 is placed between the ultrasonic transducer 1 and the recess 33 so that the ultrasonic transducer 1 seals the recess 33 of the fixed plate 31 in a watertight structure. The insulating sealant 6 is disposed between the outer peripheral edge of the ultrasonic vibrator 1 and the inner peripheral surface of the recess 33, and between the bottom surface of the ultrasonic vibrator 1 and the support plate 34, sealing the recess 33 of the fixed plate 31 in a watertight structure. The above-described detachable base 3 can easily fix the ultrasonic vibrator 1 to the recess 33 of the fixed plate 31, and can seal the recess 33 of the fixed plate 31 in a reliable watertight structure. The lead wire 29 connected to the ultrasonic vibrator 1 is drawn out from the drawing opening 35 to the outside in a watertight structure. Furthermore, this lead wire 29 has a waterproof structure, and is drawn out from the liquid in the atomization chamber 4 to the outside and connected to the independent power source 2A as shown in FIG. 1.

[0050] The insulating sealant 6 can be any caulking material, packing, gasket, etc. that is liquid or paste-like when filled and hardens when filled, and can be any material that is insulating and can seal to form a watertight structure. The insulating sealant 6 is preferably an elastic caulking material, such as silicone resin or soft urethane resin.

[0051] Furthermore, the detachable base 3 may have a structure shown in Fig. 5. The detachable base 3 shown in Fig. 5 includes a fixed plate 31 to which a plurality of ultrasonic transducers 1 are fixed, and a closing plate 36 fixed below the fixed plate 31 to provide a sealed chamber 37 between the fixed plate 31 and the closing plate 36. The closing plate 36 is in the shape of a shallow container with an upward opening, and has a flange 36C along the upper edge of a peripheral wall 36B formed along the outer periphery of a main plate portion 36A. In this detachable base 3, the flange 36C of the closing plate 36 is fixed to the lower surface of the fixed plate 31 in a watertight structure with a seal material 6 sandwiched therebetween, making the sealed chamber 37 a watertight structure.

[0052] The fixed plate 31 has a plurality of through holes and is provided with an emission opening 32 in which the ultrasonic transducer 1 is disposed, and the ultrasonic transducer 1 is fixed so as to seal the emission opening 32 from the underside in a watertight structure. The fixed plate 31 has a recess 33, the inner shape of which is larger than the emission opening 32, opened on the underside. The ultrasonic transducer 1 is larger than the outer shape of the emission opening 32 and smaller than the inner shape of the recess 33. The ultrasonic transducer 1 is disposed in the recess 33, and an insulating seal material 6 is disposed between the outer peripheral edge and the underside of the fixed plate 31. The ultrasonic transducer 1 is fixed in a watertight structure to the underside of the fixed plate 31 via the insulating seal material 6 and disposed in a sealed chamber 37. The removable base 3 in FIG. 5 has a sealed chamber 37 filled with potting resin 38. The removable base 3 with this structure has a feature that the ultrasonic transducer 1 is covered with the potting resin 38 to more reliably form a watertight structure. However, the sealed chamber does not necessarily need to be filled with potting resin, and the ultrasonic transducer 1 can be disposed in a waterproof structure.

[0053] The detachable base 3 connects lead wires 29 to each ultrasonic transducer 1, and these lead wires 29 are drawn out of the sealed chamber 37 in a watertight structure via waterproof bushings 39. The lead wires 29 are connected to an independent power source and supply ultrasonic power to each ultrasonic transducer 1. The waterproof bushings 39 penetrate the closing plate 36 and draw the lead wires 29 out of the sealed chamber 37 in a watertight structure. The structure in which the potting resin 38 is filled into the sealed chamber 37 prevents the liquid W that enters the interior through the waterproof bushings 39 from diffusing into the interior, achieving a more preferable waterproof structure. The lead wires 29 drawn out from the detachable base 3 are waterproof, and pass through the liquid in the atomization chamber to connect to the independent power source.

[0054] 6, the ultrasonic transducer 1 is disposed in the recess 33 of the fixed plate 31, and the ultrasonic transducer 1 is pressed upward by an elastic arm. A sealant 6 is disposed between the inner surface of the recess 33 and the ultrasonic transducer 1, and the ultrasonic transducer 1 seals the radiation opening in a watertight structure via the rubber-like elastic sealant 6. This detachable base 3 can achieve a more reliable watertight structure by the ultrasonic transducer 1 elastically pressing against it.

[0055] (Embodiment 2) Furthermore, the ultrasonic atomization device can also have a structure shown in FIG. 7. The ultrasonic atomization device 200 shown in FIG. 7 has a structure in which ultrasonic power is supplied to the ultrasonic transducer 1 by wireless power supply from an independent power source 2A to the detachable base 3 arranged on the bottom plate 11 of the atomization chamber 4. Since the wireless power supply supplies ultrasonic power to the ultrasonic transducer 1 without contact, there is no need to use a lead wire connecting the ultrasonic transducer 1 and the independent power source 2A. This detachable base 3 does not have a lead wire for connecting to the ultrasonic power source 2, and is set alone at the bottom of the atomization chamber 4 to receive ultrasonic power from the independent power source 2A. In the wireless power supply, the ultrasonic power source 2 is supplied to the ultrasonic transducer 1 via an electromagnetic coupling circuit 41. The electromagnetic coupling circuit 41 includes a power transmission coil 42 connected to the independent power source 2A and a power receiving coil 43 connected to the ultrasonic transducer 1 of the detachable base 3. The power transmission coil 42 and the power receiving coil 43 are arranged at a position where they are electromagnetically coupled, and ultrasonic power is wirelessly supplied from the power transmission coil 42 to the power receiving coil 43.

[0056] The removable base 3 has the ultrasonic transducer 1 and the power receiving coil 43 arranged on the fixed plate 31 in a watertight structure. The fixed plate 31 has a recess 33 on the lower surface thereof, and an emission opening 32 in the center of the recess 33. The ultrasonic transducer 1 is arranged in the recess 33 so that the emission opening 32 is sealed in a watertight structure by the seal material 6. In FIG. 7, the ultrasonic transducer 1 is arranged on the upper part of the recess 33, and the power receiving coil 43 is arranged in a position stacked below the ultrasonic transducer 1. The seal material 6 is filled in the recess 33, and the ultrasonic transducer 1 and the power receiving coil 43 are embedded in a watertight structure. The seal material 6 covers the lower surface of the power receiving coil 43 with a watertight layer 44, and the power receiving coil 43 is embedded in a watertight structure. The watertight layer 44 makes the power receiving coil 43 watertight while being thin, for example, 5 mm or less, to increase the efficiency of power transmission by electromagnetic coupling.

[0057] The power transmission coil 42 is disposed on the bottom surface of the atomization chamber 4, facing the power receiving coil 43. The power transmission coil 42 in the figure has a magnetic core 45, which efficiently guides the magnetic field to the power receiving coil. The power receiving coil 43 and the power transmission coil 42 are disposed in opposing positions to increase the efficiency of power transfer. The detachable base 3 is disposed on the bottom plate 11 of the atomization chamber 4 by a positioning structure 46 so that the power transmission coil 42 and the power receiving coil 43 can be disposed in opposing positions when the detachable base 3 is set in the atomization chamber 4. The positioning structure 46 shown in the figure is a fitting structure, and is composed of multiple protrusions 47 provided on the bottom plate 11 of the atomization chamber 4 along the outer periphery of the detachable base 3. This positioning structure 46 fits the detachable base 3 inside the multiple protrusions 47, thereby positioning the detachable base 3 at a fixed position on the bottom plate 11 so as not to be displaced. In this way, the structure in which the detachable base 3 is positioned at a fixed position by the positioning structure 46 has the feature that the ultrasonic transducers 1 provided on the detachable base 3 can be easily positioned at a fixed position relative to the bottom plate 11, and therefore the power transmitting coil 42 arranged at the bottom of the atomization chamber 4 can be reliably positioned at an accurate position relative to the power receiving coil 43. However, the fitting structure is not limited to the above structure, and can also be configured with a convex portion and a concave portion provided at opposing positions of the detachable base and the bottom plate. In addition, the positioning structure is not limited to the fitting structure, and can also be a locking structure or a generally used connector or fixing device. In other words, the positioning structure can be any structure that can position and arrange the detachable base 3 at a fixed position on the bottom plate 11.

[0058] Since the transmitting coil 42 and the receiving coil 43 resonate with the frequency of the ultrasonic vibrations to efficiently transmit power, a capacitor (not shown) with a capacitance that resonates with the inductance of the coils and the frequency of the ultrasonic vibrations can be connected to the transmitting coil 42 and the receiving coil 43. [Industrial Applicability]

[0059] The present invention is an ultrasonic atomization device that generates mist by ultrasonically vibrating a liquid, and is particularly suitable for use as an ultrasonic atomization device that generates a large amount of mist using multiple ultrasonic vibrators, as a device that collects the atomized mist and concentrates the liquid, as a device that turns a liquid into a mist to increase its surface area and deodorize odorous gases, or as a device that mixes a gas containing liquid mist with another gas and causes a reaction between them. [Explanation of symbols]

[0060] 100, 200...Ultrasonic atomization device 1...Ultrasonic transducer 1A…Top electrode 1B…Bottom electrode 2…Ultrasonic power supply 2A…Independent power supply 3…Detachable base 4…Atomization chamber 5…Insulating coating 6…Sealing material 8. Pump 9…Ultrasonic unit 11...Bottom plate 17...Elastic arm 20...Colpitts oscillator circuit 21...Output transistor 22...Constant voltage circuit 23...Grand Line 29…Lead wire 31…Surface plate 32...Radiation aperture 33…Recess 34…Support plate 35…Drawer opening 36…Blocking plate 36A…Main body plate section 36B…Peripheral wall 36C...Flange 37…Sealed chamber 38…Potting resin 39…Waterproof bushing 41...Electromagnetic coupling circuit 42...Transmission coil 43…Receiving coil 44…watertight layer 45…Magnetic core 46…Position decision structure 47…convex part 90…Ultrasonic atomization device 91…Ultrasonic vibrator 91A…Top electrode 91B… bottom electrode 92A…Independent power supply 94…Spray chamber 94A…base plate 95…Metal sheet 96…シール material W…Liquid P…Liquid column

Claims

1. an atomization chamber to which liquid is supplied; A plurality of ultrasonic vibrators that ultrasonically vibrate the liquid in the atomization chamber to atomize it; an ultrasonic power source for supplying ultrasonic power to the ultrasonic transducer; a detachable base disposed in the atomization chamber so as to be detachable therefrom; The ultrasonic power source includes: a plurality of independent power sources for supplying power to each of the ultrasonic transducers; The detachable base is A fixing plate on which a plurality of the ultrasonic transducers are arranged adjacent to each other, The independent power source is connected to each of the ultrasonic transducers fixed to the fixing plate, Each of the ultrasonic transducers is supplied with ultrasonic power from the independent power source, and The fixing plate is made of insulating plastic, An ultrasonic atomization device comprising: a plurality of the ultrasonic vibrators fixed adjacent to each other on the fixing plate.

2. The ultrasonic atomization device according to claim 1, The upper electrode of the ultrasonic transducer exposed to the atomization chamber is An ultrasonic atomization device characterized in that it is connected to the output of the independent power source.

3. The ultrasonic atomization device according to claim 2, the independent power supply comprises a Colpitts oscillator circuit having an output transistor; The ultrasonic transducer is An ultrasonic atomization device, characterized in that the output of the independent power supply is connected to the input side of the output transistor.

4. 4. The ultrasonic atomization device according to claim 1, The detachable base is The ultrasonic atomization device is characterized in that a plurality of the ultrasonic vibrators are fixed to the fixing plate in a waterproof structure.

5. The ultrasonic atomization device according to claim 4, A closing plate is provided under the fixing plate in a watertight structure, A watertight sealed chamber is provided between the fixing plate and the closing plate, An ultrasonic atomization device, characterized in that the ultrasonic vibrator is disposed in the sealed chamber.

6. The ultrasonic atomization device according to claim 5, 4. An ultrasonic atomization device, comprising: a potting resin filled in the sealed chamber.

7. 7. The ultrasonic atomization device according to claim 1, an electromagnetic coupling circuit that wirelessly supplies ultrasonic power from the independent power source to the ultrasonic transducer; The electromagnetic coupling circuit is A power transmission coil provided on the independent power supply side; A receiving coil connected to the ultrasonic transducer side, The receiving coil is fixed to the fixing plate in a watertight structure, The power transmitting coil is disposed on a lower surface of a bottom plate of the atomization chamber at an electromagnetic coupling position of the power transmitting coil, An ultrasonic atomization device, comprising: the power transmitting coil wirelessly feeding ultrasonic power to the power receiving coil.

8. The ultrasonic atomization device according to claim 7, The detachable base is The bottom plate of the atomization chamber is disposed at a fixed position by a positioning structure, 4. An ultrasonic atomization device, comprising: the power transmitting coil and the power receiving coil disposed at an electromagnetic coupling position.

9. 9. The ultrasonic atomization device according to claim 1, The detachable base is An ultrasonic atomization device characterized in that it is detachably placed on the bottom of the atomization chamber.

10. The ultrasonic atomization device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, 4. The ultrasonic atomization device according to claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic vibrator has an insulating coating on the surface of an upper electrode.

11. The ultrasonic atomization device according to claim 10, The insulating coating is SiO ２ Or a glass coating.

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