This disclosure relates to methods and systems for atomizing compositions, e.g., spraying a misted liquid of the same or variable size, such as through one or more nozzles that are carried downstream by a gas, whether inert or otherwise, for optionally coating at least a portion of a substrate in communication therewith in a closed system.
Coating at least a portion of a substrate is desirous to improve or impart the substrate with various functionalities. The inventive and useful methods and systems in this disclosure are new or improvements in the art.
In one example embodiment, this disclosure provides methods that may include atomizing a water-based or solvent-based composition, such as a liquid composition that may constitute a homogenous solution, emulsion, gel, or heterogenous mixture, wherein the liquid composition may include an inhibitor, biocide, coating, dispersant, fire retardant, oxygen scavenger, fragrance, cleaner, disinfectant, detergent, oil or combinations thereof to create a mist containing uniform or non-uniform droplets, i.e., particles of the mist. Further, the method may include introducing, through an airtight aperture in a pipe or a substrate, the mist into the pipe or the substrate. Further still, the method may include propelling, by an inert or non-inert gas, the mist onto at least a portion of the interior surface of a substrate directly or indirectly connected to the pipe or integrated with the system the pipe within a closed system.
In another example embodiment, this disclosure provides systems that may include an atomizer for atomizing a water-based or solvent-based composition, which may include an inhibitor, biocide, coating, dispersant, fire retardant, oxygen scavenger, fragrance, cleaner, disinfectant, detergent, oil or combinations thereof to create a mist containing uniform or non-uniform droplets that are microscopic and/or macroscopic. Further, the system may include a pipe or a substrate having an airtight aperture for communication with the atomizer, wherein the aperture is at a location for introducing the mist into the pipe or the substrate. Further still, the system may include an inert or non-inert gas supply located upstream from the atomizer for propelling the mist onto at least a portion of the interior surface of a substrate integrated therewith or connected to the pipe, which is removably or irremovably connected to the substrate, wherein the system is a closed system.
So that the manner in which the above recited features, advantages and objects of the present disclosure are attained and can be understood in detail, a more particular description of this disclosure, briefly summarized above, may be had by reference to the embodiments thereof which are illustrated in the appended drawings.
It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of this disclosure and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, for this disclosure may admit to other equally effective embodiments.
Below, directional terms, such as “above,” “below,” “upper,” “lower,” “front,” “back,” “top,” “bottom,” etc., are used for convenience in referring to the accompanying drawings. In general, “above,” “upper,” “upward,” “top,” and similar terms refer to a direction away the earth's surface, and “below,” “lower,” “downward,” “bottom,” and similar terms refer to a direction toward the earth's surface, but is meant for illustrative purposes only, and the terms are not meant to limit the disclosure.
Various specific embodiments, versions and examples are now be described, including exemplary embodiments and definitions that are adopted herein for purposes of understanding. While the following detailed description gives specific embodiments, those skilled in the art will appreciate that these embodiments are exemplary only, and that the disclosure can be practiced in other ways. For purposes of determining infringement, the scope of the invention will refer to the any claims, including their equivalents, and elements or limitations that are equivalent to those that are recited.
Specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis of the claims and as a representative basis for teaching persons having ordinary skill in the art to variously employ the present invention. Many variations and modifications of embodiments disclosed herein are possible and are within the scope of the present disclosure.
Where numerical ranges or limitations are expressly stated, such express ranges or limitations should be understood to include iterative ranges or limitations of like magnitude falling within the expressly stated ranges or limitations.
The use of the word “a” or “an” when used in conjunction with the term “comprising” in the claims and/or the specification may mean “one,” but it is also consistent with the meaning of “one or more,” “at least one,” and “one or more than one.”
The use of the term “optionally” with respect to any element of a claim is intended to mean that the subject element is required, or alternatively, is not required. Both alternatives are intended to be within the scope of the claim. Use of broader terms such as comprises, includes, having, etc. should be understood to provide support for narrower terms such as consisting of, consisting essentially of, comprised substantially of, and the like.
As used herein, “about” means the number itself and/or within 5% of the stated number. For instance, with about 5%, this means 5 and/or any number or range within the range of 4.75 to 5.25, e.g., 4.75 to 4.96, 4.81 to 5.1, etc.
Throughout this specification, unless the context requires otherwise, the word “comprise” or variations such as “comprises” or “comprising”, will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or group of integers but not the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers. And other than the claims, the word “comprise” or variations such as “comprises” or “comprising” will be understood to encompass not only the open configuration that the law says “comprise” means, but also understood to include alternative embodiments of “consisting essentially of” and “consisting of” as these two terms are understood in the law to mean.
It is to be appreciated that reference to “one example” or “an example” of the disclosed subject matter is not made in an exclusive sense. Accordingly, one example may exemplify certain aspects of the invention, whilst other aspects are exemplified in a different example. These examples are intended to assist the skilled person in performing what is disclosed and claimed; they are not intended to limit the overall scope of the invention in any way unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.
Generally disclosed are methods and systems for atomizing compositions, e.g., spraying a misted composition having mist particles of the same or variable size, such as through one or more nozzles that are carried downstream by a gas, whether inert or otherwise, for optionally coating at least a portion of a substrate, such as coiled tubing or a heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning (“HVAC” as used herein) unit in airtight communication therewith in a closed system comprising a misting unit optionally removably connected to, such as a pup joint or duct work, either a pipe or substrate, or integrated with a substrate, such as an HVAC unit, wherein the connection is in at least substantially airtight communication with either a substrate or a pipe and a gas supply at or proximate to opposing ends of the pipe or the substrate. Turning now to
The gas entering the pipe 11 or the substrate 12 and/or the misting unit 0 may be regulated. In one example, the gas supply 13, itself, may have an airtight connection point 1 for receiving the gas into the misting unit 0, which may be viewed as including or not including the pipe 11; this viewpoint may depend on whether the pipe 11 or substrate 12 is irremovably connected (i.e., integrated with), such as by welding, to the rest of the misting unit 10 or is removably connected to the pipe 11 or substrate, such as through hammer unions, glue, duct tape, or otherwise. Within the misting unit 0, the gas may be regulated in one or more locations. In one instance, such as that shown in
In another example, such as when air is the supplied gas to or within the misting unit 0, it 0 may contain a compressed air source 14 proximate to the pump 6 or substrate 12 to augment the pressure for pumping 6 the contained composition 10, such as through a hose 7 (as well as additional compositions and hoses as described in the following paragraph), for ultimate delivery to the atomizer 8 as shown in
As for the liquid composition 10, it 10 may be located in a container, such as that shown in
Also within the misting unit 0 as shown in
The misting unit 0 culminates with an atomizer 8, which is at least substantially airtight and optionally removably connected or integrated with the pipe 11 through an aperture 8 therein 11, wherein the pipe 11 may be a pipe or HVAC duct work, to deliver the atomized composition 15, i.e., mist, therein 11 that is carried by the gas 13 for coating at least a portion of a substrate 12, which, by non-limiting example, may be a pipe, coiled tubing, tube, duct, fire-suppression equipment, or the at least a portion of or another portion of an HVAC unit in communication with the at least a portion. The atomizing, itself, in the atomizer 8 may be performed by its 8 one or more removable or irremovable nozzles 8a, 8b, whether indirectly or directly connected inside or affixed to the exterior of the atomizer 8 or via pipe(s) or other connector(s) that indirectly or directly connect the one or more nozzles 8a, 8b to the inside or affixed on the exterior of the atomizer 8, that particularize the pumped, liquid composition into uniform or non-uniform sizes that are microscopic and/or macroscopic as desired by for the intended use, properties of the atomized, liquid composition, selected nozzles, and otherwise that constitute the mist 15.
In addition to the foregoing, optional steps may include flooding the pipe 11 with water or other liquid and/or blowing gas before or at least subsequent to atomizing the liquid composition(s). For example, one or both of these steps, optionally iteratively, may be performed at the end of the substrate coating process.
Moving on to
Now, returning to
Although written in claim format, the following are additional, example embodiments of the disclosed methods and systems:
atomizing a liquid composition comprising an inhibitor, biocide, coating, dispersant, fire retardant, oxygen scavenger, fragrance, cleaner, disinfectant, detergent, oil, aromatherapeutic, therapeutic, pharmaceutical, hospital-grade chemical, industry-grade chemical, bleach or combinations thereof to create a mist;
introducing, through an airtight aperture in a pipe or a substrate, the mist into the pipe or the substrate; and
propelling, by a gas, the mist onto at least a portion of an interior surface of the substrate is in communication with the pipe and/or the substrate, such as by being: (1) directly or indirectly connected to the pipe and/or the substrate; or (2) integrated with the pipe and/or the substrate.
an atomizer for atomizing a liquid composition comprising an inhibitor, biocide, coating, dispersant, fire retardant, oxygen scavenger, fragrance, cleaner, disinfectant, detergent, oil, aromatherapeutic, therapeutic, pharmaceutical, hospital-grade chemical, industry-grade chemical, bleach or combinations thereof to create a mist;
a pipe or a substrate having an airtight aperture for communication with the atomizer, wherein the aperture is at a location for introducing the mist into the pipe or the substrate; and
a gas supply located upstream from the atomizer for propelling the mist onto at least a portion of an interior surface of the substrate is in communication with the pipe or the substrate, such as by being: (1) directly or indirectly connected to the pipe and/or the substrate; or (2) integrated with the pipe in removable or irremovable connection with the substrate.
While the foregoing is directed to example embodiments of the disclosed invention, other and further embodiments may be devised without departing from the basic scope thereof, wherein the scope of the disclosed systems and methods are determined by one or more claims.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20220241811 A1 | Aug 2022 | US |