Importance

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Abstract

The present invention relates to a method of utilizing ultrasound to atomize a liquid comprising the steps of inducing ultrasonic vibrations within a solid member, delivering a liquid to be atomized to a surface of said member from which ultrasonic waves radiate from said member (hereafter referred to as a 'radiation surface'), and allowing the liquid delivered to said radiation to be atomized and propelled away from said member. Delivering the liquid to be atomized to the radiation surface of the vibrating member may comprise the steps placing the liquid on a side of the vibrating member and allowing the liquid to be carried by the ultrasonic waves traveling through the vibrating member to a radiation surface. Alternatively, delivering the liquid to be atomized to a radiation surface of the vibrating member may comprise the step of passing the liquid through a channel opening within a radiation surface. The resulting spray emitted from the radiation surface may comprise small droplets of the delivered liquid, wherein the droplets are highly uniform in size throughout the resulting spray. The atomized spray produced may be focused by increasing the amplitude of the ultrasonic waves traveling through the vibrating member. Conversely, decreasing the amplitude of the ultrasonic waves traveling through vibrating member may widen the atomized spray produced. The atomized spay may also be focused by the geometric configuration of the radiation surface.

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First Claim