Aerosol Extraction Apparatus

{
  "publication_number": "US9789508B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Aerosol Extraction Apparatus",
  "abstract": "An ultrasonic aerosol generation apparatus preferably includes an aerosol generation case, a case cover, at least one outlet pipe, an air feed manifold, at least one, transducer, transducer power supply, and microprocessor based controller. The aerosol generation case preferably includes a fluid reservoir and a transducer chamber. The case cover is attached to a top of the aerosol generation case. Each outlet pipe preferably includes an outer base tube, an inner tube and an exhaust tube. The at least one outlet pipe is attached to the case cover over the at least one transducer. The air feed manifold includes an inlet tube, a supply tube and at least one exhaust pipe tube. The supply tube communicates with the transducer chamber and the at least one exhaust pipe communicates with the at least one outlet pipe. The microprocessor based controller is used to monitor, power, and/or control, the above mentioned components.",
  "claims": [
    "1. An ultrasonic aerosol generation apparatus comprising: a transducer tank includes a transducer chamber, said transducer chamber is capable of containing a liquid; at least one ultrasonic transducer is located in said transducer chamber; at least one outlet pipe includes an outer base tube and an inner tube, said inner tube is located inside said outer base tube, a top of said inner tube is attached to an inside surface of said outer base tube, an inner air chamber is formed between said inner tube and said outer base tube, said outer base tube includes a bottom outer perimeter which is less than a middle outer perimeter thereof; at least one exhaust supply tube is connected to a source of positive air flow, said at least one exhaust supply tube communicates with said inner air chamber, wherein the positive air flow flows through said inner air chamber and carries aerosol generated by said at least one ultrasonic transducer from a liquid contained in said transducer chamber through said inner tube to extract and move the aerosol.",
    "2. The ultrasonic aerosol generation apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a microprocessor based controller controlling power supplied to said at least one transducer.",
    "3. The ultrasonic aerosol generation apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a level sensor for detecting a level of the liquid in said transducer chamber.",
    "4. The ultrasonic aerosol generation apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a heater element for heating the liquid in said transducer chamber.",
    "5. The ultrasonic aerosol generation apparatus of claim 1 wherein: at least one thermocouple is located in said transducer chamber.",
    "6. The ultrasonic aerosol generation apparatus of claim 1 wherein: a transducer supply chamber is formed below a bottom of said transducer chamber.",
    "7. The ultrasonic aerosol generation apparatus of claim 6, further comprising: a liquid valve for controlling a flow of a liquid from said transducer supply chamber to said transducer chamber.",
    "8. An ultrasonic aerosol generation apparatus comprising: a transducer tank includes a transducer chamber, said transducer chamber is capable of containing a liquid; at least one ultrasonic transducer is located in said transducer chamber; at least one tube is located over said at least one ultrasonic transducer chamber; and at least two air supply tubes are connected to at least one source of positive air flow, said at least two air supply tubes communicate with said at least one tube, wherein the positive air flow carries aerosol generated by said at least one ultrasonic transducer from a liquid contained in said transducer chamber through said at least one tube, the positive air flow flows through said at least one tube to extract the aerosol.",
    "9. The ultrasonic aerosol generation apparatus of claim 8, further comprising: a microprocessor based controller controlling power supplied to said at least one transducer.",
    "10. The ultrasonic aerosol generation apparatus of claim 8, further comprising: a level sensor for detecting a level of the liquid in said transducer chamber.",
    "11. The ultrasonic aerosol generation apparatus of claim 8, further comprising: a heater element for heating the liquid in said transducer chamber.",
    "12. The ultrasonic aerosol generation apparatus of claim 8 wherein: at least one thermocouple is located in said transducer chamber.",
    "13. The ultrasonic aerosol generation apparatus of claim 8 wherein: a transducer supply chamber is formed below a bottom of said transducer chamber.",
    "14. The ultrasonic aerosol generation apparatus of claim 13, further comprising: a liquid valve for controlling a flow of a liquid from said transducer supply chamber to said transducer chamber."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "The present invention relates to improved apparatuses and methods for the generation and application of an ultrasonically generated aerosol for uses including but not limited to the sanitization, detoxification, disinfection, high-level disinfection, or sterilization of one or more areas and the surfaces in those areas, as well as the delivery of other types of liquid agents, for various purposes to one or more areas, and without limitation, the surfaces in those area(s). The present invention includes, but it is not limited to, a new and improved ultrasonic aerosol generation apparatus, which is able to generate and/or deploy greater volumes of disinfecting aerosol than that of the prior art.\n\nThe apparatus described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,366,125, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, including any references cited therein, generates a hydrogen peroxide mist by an ultrasonic wave vibrator. The mist adheres to the surface of materials being sterilized and is then irradiated with ultraviolet-ray lamps. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,878,355 and 6,102,992, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, including any references cited therein, disclose a method and device for decontamination of a contaminated process area whereby a fine aerosol of an encapsulant is generated to encapsulate contaminants within a contaminated environment. The aerosol is generated by one or more ultrasonic transducers located below the surface of a reservoir containing a liquid.",
  "cpc": [
    "B05B 17/0607",
    "A61L 2/22",
    "A61L 2/24",
    "A61L 2202/14",
    "A61L 2202/15",
    "A61L 9/122",
    "A61L 9/14",
    "B05B 17/0615",
    "B05B 7/0012",
    "G01F 23/00",
    "G01F 23/30",
    "G01K 7/02",
    "G05B 15/02",
    "G05D 7/0629"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "A61L 2/22",
    "A61L 2/24",
    "B05B 17/06",
    "G01F 23/30",
    "G01K 7/02",
    "G05B 15/02",
    "G05D 7/06",
    "A61L 9/12",
    "A61L 9/14",
    "G01F 23/00"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Paul Baumgartner",
    "Jonathan J. Ricciardi"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2016-11-15",
  "publication_date": "2017-10-17",
  "grant_date": "2017-10-17",
  "priority_date": "2005-08-26",
  "application_number": "US-201615351724-A",
  "family_id": "47721089",
  "cited_by_count": 9,
  "citations": [
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    "US3901443A",
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    "US4366125A",
    "US5173274A",
    "US6102992A",
    "US5878355A",
    "US5922247A",
    "US5925966A",
    "US6402046B1",
    "US7641130B2",
    "US7871016B2",
    "US8382008B1",
    "US20100233020A1",
    "US8196604B1"
  ]
}