Simple, mechanism-free device, and method to produce vortex ring bubbles in liquids
US7300040B2 · kind B2 · utility
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 23, 2004 |
| Grant date | Nov 27, 2007 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 13, 2025 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB01F23/237611
- WIPO fieldChemical engineering
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
An apparatus and method are described that allows for the production of vortex-ring bubbles in a liquid. The device is an inverted cup with a short nozzle protruding through the center of its end face such that the nozzle lower opening is at a higher level than the open end of the inverted cup. When the immersed cup is pressurized with an inflow of gas, the liquid level of the confined gas in the cup will fall, and peel away from the nozzle open end. The gas will enter the nozzle when the pressure has built up within the cup sufficiently to break the liquid surface tension at the nozzle opening. The gas then self accelerates up through the nozzle and self organizes into a gas-filled vortex ring at the nozzle exit. The liquid level in the cup rises back up and re-enters the nozzle in a unique self-siphoning action shutting off further gas flow out the nozzle. Alternatively, the exiting flow of gas can be captured in a second conical nozzle and buoyantly directed to the throat of a cone where it undergoes the same self acceleration and self siphoning to form a vortex ring at the throat exit. Other embodiments of the device are described. The advantages are that the device is mechanic…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.