US 6,981,660 B2 | ||
Shock wave aerosolization apparatus and method | ||
Samuel David Piper, Sacramento, Calif. (US) | ||
Assigned to Evit Labs, Carmichael, Calif. (US) | ||
Filed on Jun. 13, 2003, as Appl. No. 10/462,007. | ||
Application 10/462007 is a continuation in part of application No. 09/963886, filed on Sep. 25, 2001, granted, now 6,742,721. | ||
Claims priority of provisional application 60/389049, filed on Jun. 13, 2002. | ||
Claims priority of provisional application 60/305088, filed on Jul. 12, 2001. | ||
Claims priority of provisional application 60/235597, filed on Sep. 25, 2000. | ||
Prior Publication US 2004/0050966 A1, Mar. 18, 2004 | ||
Int. Cl. B05R 7/04 (2006.01); B05R 7/12 (2006.01); B05R 7/06 (2006.01); A62C 5/02 (2006.01) |
U.S. Cl. 239—433 | 69 Claims |
47. An apparatus for producing aerosol, comprising:
a source of pressurized gas;
a supersonic shock nozzle;
a reservoir of liquid in fluid communication with said nozzle;
a metered valve configured to release said pressurized gas in bursts for delivery through said supersonic shock nozzle; and
an aerosol separator coupled to said shock nozzle, wherein large aerosol particles are separated from small aerosol particles;
wherein said supersonic shock nozzle comprises:
a jet orifice configured to receive compressed gas from said source of pressurized gas;
a lumen in fluid communication with said reservoir of liquid; and
a sonic shock chamber configured to receive entrained liquid mixed with a jet of compressed gas discharged from said jet orifice;
wherein said jet orifice is configured to produce a supersonic jet from said compressed gas;
wherein said shock chamber is configured to receive said supersonic jet and produce shock waves; and
wherein said supersonic jet is configured to establish a series of reflected compression and expansion shook waves in said
shock chamber when said supersonic jet is over expanded or under expanded.
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