Claims
- 1. Apparatus for producing an atomized spray of a formative fluid capable of forming a selected material in a formation region, said apparatus comprising:
a. reservoir means for containing said formative fluid at a first selected temperature and a first selected pressure; b. means for pressurizing said formative fluid to a second selected pressure; c. a fluid conduit formed of metal, said metal conduit having an input end in fluid communication with said reservoir and an opposed outlet end having an outlet port oriented to direct the formative fluid passing through said fluid conduit to said formation region; and d. temperature regulating means positioned in thermal connection with said fluid conduit means for regulating the temperature of said formative solution at said outlet end at a second temperature below the supercritical temperature of said formative fluid, said second temperature being selectable such that said fluid is in liquid state when passing through said fluid conduit and such that atomization of said formative fluid is promoted or controlled upon said formative fluid exiting said outlet end of said fluid conduit.
- 2. Apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a gas supply means for admixing at least one gas with the atomized formative fluid which exits said outlet end of said fluid conduit.
- 3. Apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising an energy source for providing energy to the atomized formative fluid which exits said outlet end of said fluid conduit so as to promote formation of said material.
- 4. Apparatus according to claim 3 comprising means to provide said energy as a flame source that causes combustion of at least one component of said formative fluid.
- 5. Apparatus according to claim 1 including means to position a substrate such that said material is deposited as a film or coating on said substrate
- 6. Apparatus according to claim 1 comprising means to raise said third selected pressure above ambient pressure.
- 7. Apparatus according to claim 1 comprising means to lower said third selected pressure below ambient pressure.
I. RELATED CASES
[0001] This application is a division of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/293,867 filed Apr. 16, 1999, which is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/691,853, filed Aug. 2, 1996, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,997,956, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/002,084, filed Aug. 4, 1995, the contents of which are hereby incorporated in their entirety by this reference.
Provisional Applications (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
|
60002084 |
Aug 1995 |
US |
Divisions (2)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09293867 |
Apr 1999 |
US |
Child |
09897157 |
Jul 2001 |
US |
Parent |
08691853 |
Aug 1996 |
US |
Child |
09293867 |
Apr 1999 |
US |