AN APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR ULTRASONICALLY PRODUCING A SPRAY OF LIQUID

摘要

An apparatus and a method for ultrasonically producing a spray of liquid. The apparatus (100) includes a die housing (102) which defines a chamber (104) adapted to receive a pressurized liquid and a means for applying ultrasonic energy (116) to a portion of the pressurized liquid. The die housing (102) further includes an inlet (110) adapted to supply the chamber with the pressurized liquid, and an exit orifice (112) defined by the walls of a die tip (136). The exit orifice (112) is adapted to receive the pressurized liquid from the chamber (104) and pass the liquid out of the die housing (102) to produce a spray of liquid. When the means for applying ultrasonic energy (116) is excited, it applies ultrasonic energy to the pressurized liquid without applying ultrasonic energy to the die tip (136). The method involves supplying a pressurized liquid to the foregoing apparatus (100), applying ultrasonic energy to the pressurized liquid but not the die tip (136) while the exit orifice (112) receives pressurized liquid from the chamber (104), and passing the pressurized liquid out of the exit orifice (112) in the die tip (136) to produce a spray of liquid.