April 6, 1954 F. J. M.

RASKN ET AL 2,674,493
ATOMIZER
Filed July 19, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2

CS 9
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 Patented Apr. 6, 1954
2,674,493

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE

AOMZER,
Franz J. M. Raskin, Moratreal, Quebec, Canada,
and Kingsley L. Martin, Nutley, N.J.
Application July 19, 1945, Serial No. 605,862
1. Claim. (CI. 299-19)
This invention relates to a device for atomizing in the Sprayer plate before 2
a liquid by pressure alone wherein a wide range the fins, enter...them;
in capacity combined with sufficiently fine atom Fig. Fig. 5 is a cross section taken on the line W. W...of
ization and an approximately constant spray the tangential 3, after the plug has been advanced showing
angle is obtained by maintaining a fixed discharge an elevation ofslots occupied by the fins; Fig. 6 is
the sprayer plate showing tangen
Orifice but changing the shape and areas of the tial slots, whirling chamber land. Orifice; Fig. 7
tangential slots and the whirling chamber so as is an end view of the .same; Fig. 8 is an end
to obtain the desired results without substantial view of the moveable plug shown in Fig. 9; and
change in the pressure of the liquid supplied to
the atomizer or diversion of any liquid from the O Fig. 9 is an elevation of the moveable. plug.
In Figs. 1, 2 and 3, f. is a Supply pipe for the
Whirling chamber. liquid to be atomized, having. Screw threads 32
This invention is an improvement on and re and bore 3. The atomizer body. 4 is Screwed on
lates to liquid fuel atomizers of the type described the pipe . Seated against the Outer end of the
in the Specification of U. S. Patent No. 2,044,091 atomizer body i is a Sprayer plate. 5. Secured in
issued June 16, 1936, to Kingsley L. Martin. position by nut Swhich is threaded ‘on.body 4.
In the Specification of said prior patent sev The sprayer plate 5 is provided with a rearwardly
eral (neans were described for obtaining Suitable extending cylindrical portion forming a cylin
atomization over a wide range of capacities. drical chamber 7 terminating in a conical cham
These means Were: (1) use of a Stationary ber 3 in the body portion of the plate, the cham
spindle in the orifice to utilize the more rapidly 20 bers and 8 together constituting the Whirling
innoving elements of rotating oil issuing from the chaniber.
whirling chamber without changing either the In the cylindrical portion of the Sprayer plate
area of the orifice or of the tangential slots, (2) are multiple tangential slots 9 their for Ward sides
use of a Yoveable Spindle to change the Orifice being inclined as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3. In
area, without changing the area of the tangential 2 5 the front transverse face O. of the plate, is a
slots, and (3) use of a moveable Spindle. With a cylindrical orifice . On the inside of the wall
disc attached to and moving with it by means of of the body 4 are longitudinal passageways 8
which the discharge area of the tangential slots communicating at their for Ward ends. With an
was changed at their outlets into the Whirling
chamber simultaneously with the change in orifice sprayer plate 5 andaround
annular space 80 the back end of the
at the rear ends through
area. It was specified that the units might also holes 8b with chamber 3c. The tangential slots
be designed so as to maintain a constant ratio 9 in the sprayer plate connect the annular space
between the orifice and effective tangential slot E8d, at their outer ends, With the Whirling cham
3.32.S.
ber 7-8, at their inner ends.
We have found that a modification of the latter 35 A rod 2 carries a cylindrical plug. 3, the for
Inethod produces materially better results. The Ward part of which is first reduced in diameter
novel details of construction and combination of as at 4 and then terminated in a cone 5. Inte
parts necessary to produce these results are fully gral with or attached to the face of the reduced
shown and described in the accompanying dra W
ings and the following specifications and claim. 40 in number4 are
section
to
projecting fins. f6, corresponding
the tangential:Slots. 9. These fins
Referring to the drawings forming part of the 6 slide in and fit closely the tangential slots, 9
specifications in which like numbers designate and are beveled on the leading edge to the Same
like parts in all the views. slope as the conical portion of the plug. 3 and
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section of the atomizer, forward sides of the tangential slots.
taken on the broken line I-I of Fig. 4, showing 45 The central plug is therefore capable of being
the central moveable plug in its innermost posi progressively advanced by the rod 2 from the
tion with respect to the orifice, giving maximum position in Fig. where the tangential slots are
capacity; Fig.2 shows the plug in halfway posi of their greatest area, through the position shown
tion, giving intermediate capacity; and Fig. 3 is in Fig. 2, where the slots are of.a. diminished area,
a longitudinal section on the broken line III-III 50 by reason of the advance of the fins in the slots,
of Fig. 5, showing the plug in its outermost posi and thence to the position shown in Fig. 3 where
tion, giving minimum capacity. the slots are substantially closed by the fins.
Fig. 4 is a cross section of the forward end of It should be particularly noted that, the front
the moveable plug and sprayer plate taken on the side and the longitudinal sides of the tangential
ineviv of Fig.1, showing the tangential slots 55 slots are fixed:while the rear side of each slot is
 2,674,493
3 4.
formed by the inclined edge of a fin f7. So that
the area of each tangential slot is progressively
decreased as the plug carrying the fins advances
the whole depth of each slot and the slot area is
not reduced at one point Only.
The liquid to be atomized enters through the
supply pipe and flows through the longitudinal
passageways 8b-8, in the inside wall of body 4
into the annular chamber 8a, and thence
through the tangential slots 9 into the Whirling
chamber 7-8, from which it is discharged
through the orifice .
Due to the direction of the slots 9 and their
small cross section the liquid enters the Whirling
chamber tangentially at a high velocity and ro
tates the liquid in the whirling chamber at very
high velocity so that it issues from the orifice
in the form of a hollow cone Spray of finely
atomized liquid. The fineness of the atomization
and its included angle are both highly important.
The fineness of atomization is due primarily
to the rotational velocity of the liquid in the
whirling chamber. This velocity is due in turn
to the mass velocity of the liquid entering the
whirling chamber from the tangential slots.
This We have found to be greatest and most effec
tive when the cross section of the tangential
slots is reduced throughout their whole length
instead of at their exit into the chamber.
Therefore in this invention we have used fins
located in deep tangential slots and reduced
the areas of the slots throughout their whole
length, forming solid jets of liquid travelling at
high velocity which produce and maintain a high
circular velocity of the liquid in the whirling
chamber.
A further improvement on the previous in
vention is obtained by progressive change in the
ratio between the area of the orifice and the to
tal area of the tangential slots obtained at dif
ferent positions of the movable plug. As is Well
known, the higher the ratio (obtained by divid
ing the slot area by the orifice area), the coarser
the atomization and in atomizers heretofore
used, the narrower the included angle of the
Spray.
In this invention, advantage is taken of the
fact that in burning liquids in a furnace, at
high capacities the temperature of the furnace
is always high, due to the heat developed by the
large quantity of fuel being burned. The ve
locity of the air for combustion entering through
the register with the spray is also high and its
ability to penetrate and mix with the liquid in
the spray is correspondingly great. Consequent
ly coarser atomization at high capacities is per
missible and is often necessary to avoid the tear
ing apart of the spray or of too much change
in flame angle by the high velocity air.
Since the orifice area remains constant until
the pointed end of the plug enters the orifice
as in Fig. 3 and the area of the tangential slots
is progressively reduced by the movement of
the fins from a maximum in the in Ward position
of the plug with respect to the orifice, as in Fig.
1, to the minimum, in the closed position as in
Fig. 3, it follows that the ratio is correspond
ingly decreased and the fineness of atomization
is correspondingly increased at a time when the
lower temperature of the furnace and the lower
velocity and lower penetrating power of the air
for combustion makes this desirable.
It is evident that the parts of the atomizer
may be designed to cause the point of the plug
5 to enter the orifice i? at some point in the
plug movement at which further inward move
ment of the plug Will simultaneously reduce the
area of the orifice and the slots thereby main
taining a nearly constant ratio at the lower ca
pacities if that result is desirable, as it is in Some
applications.
It has been previously stated that a constant
spray angle is generally desirable and that here
tofore this angle has usually been affected by
10 changes in capacity. This has been largely the
result of maintaining, through the obtainable
range in capacity, constant areas of the Orifice,
slots and the volume of whirling chamber.
In this invention, in addition to changing slot
5 areas, the whirling chamber shape and volume
are changed. In Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the whirling
chamber is shown composed of a cylindrical
space 7, with center occupied by conical point
5 of the moveable plug f3, and a truncated
20 conical space 8 continuous thereWith. This
chamber is progressively reduced in Volume and
the proportion of cylindrical volume to the coni
cal volume changed as the plug moves forward.
Simultaneously the slot areas are reduced.
Since the quantity of liquid being rotated in
the whirling chamber is thus progreSSively re
duced in proportion to the reduction in quantity
of oil flowing through the slots, the high rota
tional velocity of the liquid is maintained by the
30 diminishing jets from the slotS and the tendency
is to maintain the Spray angle constant as the
capacity decreases instead of its being reduced.
This effect is further accentuated by the sharp
increase in liquid velocity through the slots
35 which takes place, as their area is decreased, as
a result of the increase in pressure drop through
the slots since the pressure at their entrance is
maintained constant while the preSSure at their
exit into the Whirling chamber is progressively
40 reduced.
A third factor in the preservation of the spray
angle is the shape and position of the plug point
5. As the plug advances, its inclined face is
interposed in the path of the liquid issuing from
45 the slots so as to progressively convert an in
creasing part of the tangential velocity into lon
gitudinal velocity i. e. from velocity of rotation
to velocity of translation, tending to narrow the
spray and thereby counteracting to the desired
50 extent the tendency resulting from the reduc
tion in ratio and increase in slot velocity to
widen the spray. By proper design, it has been
found possible by balancing the component ele
ments to maintain Substantially constant Spray
angle at all capacities.
It will be noted that in this invention, all the
liquid supplied to the atomizer leaves through
the orifice and none is taken away from the
whirling chamber or otherwise disposed of.
60 When the liquid has been highly heated, as in
the case of fuel oil and other viscous fuels the
elimination of return liquid is highly advanta
geOS.
It is obvious that those skilled in the art may
65 vary details of construction as well as the air
rangement of the parts without departing from
the spirit of the invention. I, therefore, do not
wish to be limited to the-above disclosure except
as may be required by the claim.
70 What I claim is:
An atomizer having a portion adapted for con
nection to a source of liquid supply; Said atom
izer being provided With a Whirling chamber
having a cylindrical rear portion and a conical
front portion provided with an outlet orifice at
 2,674,498
its apex; the side Wall of Said cylindrical por 6
tion being provided with a slot passing there References Cited in the file of this patent
through from its radially outer side to its radial UNITED STATES PATENTS
ly inner Side, Said slot communicating along its Number Name Date
Outer end with Said portion adapted for con i060,164 Coen -------------- Apr. 29, 1913
nection to the Source of fluid Supply; said slot 1102,352 Peabody et al. ------ July 7, 1914
being tangentially disposed at its inner end with 1,180,907 Coen ------------ Apr. 25, 1916
respect to the cylindrical Surface of said cham 1439,320 Morse ------------ Dec. 19, 1922
ber, the front Side of Said slot being inclined at 1571,629 Huge -------------- Feb. 2, 1926
an angle corresponding to that of the slope of O 1904,509 Morse ------------ Apr. 18, 1933
the Surface of Said conical portion of the cham 2,044,091 Martin ---------- June 16, 1936
bel and in alignment thereWith; and a slidable 2,372,283 Kooistra. ---------- Mai. 27, 1945
plunger With cone-shaped face of the angularity
of the cone-shaped portion of the whirling cham FOREIGN PATENTS
ber, said plunger being provided with a fin ex Number Country Date
tending into Said slot, the front side of Said fin l, 447,053 Germany ---------- July 11, 1927
being in alignment with the cone-shaped face
of Said plunger.