Pneumatic atomizer having improved flow paths for accomplishing the

Abstract

An atomizer device capable of reducing a flowable liquid to an ultrafine dispersion of liquid particles in a propellant gas, comprising a generally smooth surface having a central portion and a peripheral portion surrounding the central portion. At least one orifice is located in the surface, in at least a partially surrounding relationship to the central portion. A propellant gas is supplied to the underside of the surface, with such propellant gas being caused to pass at considerable speed through the orifice or orifices, thus forming at least one gas jet. The propellant gas flowing through the orifice or orifices create an area of low pressure at the central portion of the surface, and create at least one passway extending radially inwardly from the peripheral portion to the central portion, which passway, quite importantly, avoids direct contact with said gas jet. Liquid to be atomized is supplied at the location of the passway, which liquid is then swept through the passway toward the area of low pressure by ambient gas flowing through the passway to the area of low pressure. From this location within the overall envelope of the propellant gas flowing out of the orifice or orifices, the liquid is entrained into the propellant gas, such entrained liquid breaking into very fine droplets in the propellant gas.