Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
~.26~9~9
This invention relates to a method and apparatus for
dispenslng a vapour.
In particular, the invention provides a method of dis-
pensing a vapour into the air in a room from a vapour dispensingsubstance by means of an electrically controlled control device
for controlling the vapour dispensation of the vapour dispensing
substance, and an electric circuit for controlling the current
supply to the control device, characterized in that the electric
circuit supplies a time controlled, gradually increasing current
supply to the control device, there being time periods of current
supply with intermediate periods of no current supply to the con-
trol device, whereby to maintain a substantially constant concen-
tration of vapour in the room.
An advantage provided by the method of the present
invention is that vapour dispensed by the method gets a substan-
tially constant concentration level in a room wherein the method
is carried out, until the vapour dispensing substance is substan-
tially used up, in spite of the fact that the vapour dispensabil-
ity of the substance decreases from a maximum level when starting
the use of the substance to a minimum level at the exhaustion
time.
In one embodiment of the present invention the current
supply is increased by increasing the length of the current
supply periods. Suitably the current supply is increased by
decreasing the length of the intermediate periods of no current
supply. Desirably the current supply is increased by increasing
the current magnitude.
The invention further provides an apparatus for dis-
pensing vapour to the surroundings of the apparatus, said appara-
tus comprising a vapour dispensing means with a predetermined
volume of a vapour dispensing substance, an electrically con-
trolled control device for controlling the vapour dispensation of
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the vapour dispensing means, and an electric clrcult for control-
ling the current supply to the control devlce, chara~terized ln
that the electric circuit is adapted to supply a time controlled,
gradually increasing current supply to the control device durlng
its working periods with intermediate rest periods of no current
supply to the control device. Sultably the control device is a
ventilator motor. Desirably the electric circuit is adapted to
increase the length of the working periods of the control device
by a constant effect. Preferably the electric circuit is adapted
to increase the current suppl~ by decreasing the length of the
intermediate rest periods of the control device. Desirably the
electric circuit is adapted to increase the current supply by
increasing the current intensity to the control ~evice. Suitably
the electric circuit is adapted to increase the current supply by
increasing the electric power supplied to the control device.
he apparatus is adapted for carrying out the method of
the invention and thus for obtaining the advantage thereof.
The invention will now be described in more detail in
connection with some examples and with reference to the accompa-
nying drawings, wherein:-
Figure 1 shows a principle diagram for the method and
apparatus ~or carrying out said method;
Figure 2 ls an embodlment of an apparatus according to
the invention;
Figure 3 is a second embodiment of the apparatus
according to the invention;
Figures 4 to 7 are examples of power~time-diagrams for
the control device;
Figure 8 is a diagram showing the average power
~Z~9~3
supplied to the control device from the electric circuit, during
the time for exhaustion of two successive vapour dispensing sub-
stances;
Figure 9 is an embodiment o~ a spray can nozzls at the
start of the vapour dispensation;
Figure 10 is the nozzle of Figure 9 at the end of the
vapour dispensation;
Figure 11 is a device for vapour dispensation suitable
for use with the nozzle of Figures 9 and 10;
Figure 12A is a block diagram for the electric circult
with current supply source; and
Flgure 12B ls a circuit diagram embodying the block
diagram of Figure 12A.
In Figure 1 a current supply supplies current via an
electric connection 2 to an electronic clrcuit 3 which is adapted
to supply a time controlled, gradually lncreasing current supply
via an electric connection 4 to a control device 5 for tlme peri-
ods with intermediate periods without current supply via the
electric conn~ction 4 to the control device 5 from the electronlc
circuit 3. The control devlce 5, thus electrlcally controlled,
serves for controlling the vapour dispensation, preferably per-
fumed vapour, from a vapour dispensing substance 6 to the alr ln
a room, which should be supplied with vapour dlspensation 7.
secause of the special control of the control devlce by the elec-
tronlc circuit, a substantially constant vapour concerltration is
achleved in the room in which the method is practiced, until the
vapour dispensing substance 6 is substantially used up, whlch is
due to the gradually increasing current supply to the control
device 5.
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F I gure Z shows an apparatus for carrylng out the
method, and the apparatus comprlses a vapour dlspenslng devlce
whlch In thls case comprlses an open-topped contalner 8 contaln-
lng a predetermlned volume of a vapour dlspenslng substance 6.
In the appara~us the electrlcally controlled control devlce 6 Is
formed by a motor drlven ventllator wlth a propeller 9 for get-
tlng the alr In the apparatus to move and posslbly blow sald alr
agalnst the sur~ace of the vapour dlspenslng substance 6.
Thereby the control devlce 5 controls the vapour dlspensatlon
from the vapour dlspenslng devlce 6,8. Inslde or by the appara-
tus the electronlc clrcult 3 wlth current supply 1 Is provlded,
whlch vla electrlc connectlons 2 and 4 Is connected to the ventl-
lator 5. The ventllator 6 and the vapour dlspensIng devlce 6,8
are here shown to be arranged In a houslng or caslng 10 wlth
openlngs 11, through whlch vapour 7 and the surroundlng alr may
flow out and In respectlvely, as Illustrated by the arrows 12.
When the current flow to the ventllator 5 Is Interrupted, sub-
stantlally no vapour dlspensatlon to the surrounds of the appara-
tus takes place, and the vapour dlspensatlon Is started when the
ventllator 5 Is started.
Flgure 3 shows a second embodIment of an apparatus wlth
cùrrent supply 1, eiectronlc clrcult 3 and a control devlce 5
formed In thls case by an electromagnet controlllng.a valve for
vapour dlspensatl~n 7 through an atomlzer nozzle 14 from a spray
can 15 contalnlng an easlly vapourlzlng, llquld vapour dlspenslng
substance under pressure. An adaptor 16 Is seen between' the
electromagnet and the spray can 15, sald adaptor belng adapted to
connect the Interlor of the spray can 15 wlth the electromagnet.
The electromagnet Is elther arranged to exert a presslng force
onto a valve on the top of the spray can 15 or arranged as a
magnet valve belng supplled wlth the contents of the spray can 15
and opens up for the outflow of sald contents through the nozzle
14, when the electronlc clrcult 3 supplles current to the core of
the magnet valve.
~l2629~9
Fi~ures 4 to 7 show more different examples of the con-
trol of the control device 5 or 5A on the electronic circult 3.
In the four systems of coordinates the current supply ls illus-
trated on the ordinate axis as the measuring unit of power, the
Watt, and the time passed t is shown on the abscissa. Figure 4
shows stepwlse increasing working period 17 with intermedlate
constant resting or pausing periods 18 by constant Watt consump-
tion in the working periods 17. Thus, during the working periods
17 current is supplied to the control device 5 and during the
resting periods 18 said current has been interrupted. Figure 5
shows a kind o~ control with constant working periods 17 and
stepwise decreasing resting periods 18 at constant Watt consump-
tion in the working periods 17, and as appears, the resting peri-
ods 18 decreases to zero, so that the control device 5 of the
apparatus is finally supplied with constant current. Figure 6
shows an embodiment with stepwise increasing working periods 17
and simultaneously s-tepwise decreasing resting periods 18 at con-
stant Watt consumption during the working periods 17. Also here
the control device 5 will finally get a constant current supply.
Figure 7 shows an embodiment with constant ~orking periods 17 and
constant resting periods 18 but with a stepwise increasing Watt
consumption during the working periods 17.
A common feature for all the kinds of control in Fig-
ures 4 to 7 is that the average Watt consumption per hour, perweek or per month is even or stepwise increasing, which is illus-
trated in Fi~ure 8, where a stepwise increasing average,watt con-
sumption is shown at the stair curve 19, and a continuously
increasing Watt consumption for the control device 5 ls shown at
the curve 20. The numerals on the abscissa show the working time
in months of the device~ and, as will appear, the average Watt
consumption decreases after about 3 months, which is due to th~
fact that th~ vapour dispensing substance is used up and replaced
by a new volume of substance simultaneously with the resetting of
the electronic circuit 3 to the starting condition, possibly by
changing a battery for current supply.
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31 26~ 9
Flgure 9 shows a nozzle 30 for Insertlon In the control
but$on of a spray can. Sald nozzle comprlslng an outer rlng 31
whlch could be an Integrated par~ of the control button Itself,
and a nozzle llner 32 of a materlal whlch elther Is very slowly
dlssolved by the llquld vapour dlspenslng substance In the spray
can durlng Its outflow through the nozzle, or Is worn away very
slowly by the passage of the substance through a needle-thln bor-
lng 33 In the nozzle llner. The borIng 33 wlll durIng the out-
flow of the substance, Increase Its cross sectlon successlvely
slmultaneously wlth the pressure In the spray can decreaslng suc-
cesslvely as a consequence of the pressure drop of the gaseous
propellant, untll the llquld, vapour dlspenslng substance Is
fully eJected from the spray can.
Flgure 10 shows the nozzle llner 30 before a nozzle
llner 32 Is Inserted therein, cr after the nozzle ilner has been
removed by the outflowlng atomlzed substance. Such nozzle mlght
replace the statlonary nozzle 14 In F~gure 3 In connectlon wlth
one of the klnds of control for the control devlce 6 shown In
Flgures 4, 5 or ~, whereby the worklng perlods 17 may get a lower
rate of Increase or the duratlon of the Intermedlate restlng
perlods may decrease more slowly. Thereby the electronlc clrcult
supplles less current to the control devlce, and a glven current
supply, such as a battery, may get a longer llfe tlme In the
Z5 apparatus accordlng to the Inventlon. The nozzle shown In Flg-
ures 9 and 10 may, however, also be used as a nozzle In a control
button 34 In a spray can 15 for vapour dlspensatlon shown In Flg-
ure 11, preferably perfumed vapour, whereby the spray can Is
arranged In a mountlng loop, e.g. for wall mountlng. The dls-
tance between the legs 3B and 37 of the loop 35 Is thus selectedthat the spray can 16 when Inserted thereln as shown In Flgure 11
may have Its valve actuated vla the control button 34 for a per-
manent dlspensatlon of vapour. Because of the speclal materlal
of whlch the nozzle llner 32 Is made, and the openlng cross ~ec-
tlon and length of the borlng 33, determlned In accordance wlththe deslred startlng vapour volume and the spray can pressure
present, the vapour dlspensatlon 7 wlll achleve a constant, pre-
determlned valve, untll ~he contents of the spray can 15 have
been used up. As th~ openlng cross sectlon of the borlng 33 Is
Increased by wearlng away of the materlal of the nozzle llner 3~,
the decreaslng pressure of the spray can wlll be compensated for.
The vapour dlspensatlon 7 may be Interrupted by removlng the
spray can from the mountlng loop 35, whereby the valve of the
spray can Is blocked. Sald functlon may, of course, also be car-
rled out by means of a control lever on the loop or by formlng
the loop n such a way that the spray can may be arranged In dlf-
ferent posltlons In the loop, SG that the spray can In the one
posltlon has Its valve actuated and In Its other posltlon has Its
valve deactuated.
Flgure 12A shows a block dlagram for controlllng a con-
trol devlce 5 In the form of a motor drlven ventllator or a
solenold controlled valve as shown In Flgures 2 and 3. In the
block diagram a current supply 1 In the form of a 1 1/2 V battery
supplles current to an unstable voltage doubler 40 whlch supplles
an osclllator control clrcult 41, an osclllator clrcult 42, a
counter clrcult q3 and a control devlce clrcult 44 for control-
llng the control devlce 5 In the form of a ventllator or an elec-
tromagnet. A llght sensltlve reslstor 45 whlch Is adJustable
wlth a llght sensltlvlty control 46, serves to Interrupt the con-
trol devlce clrcult, when the llght Intenslty of the surroundlngsbecomes too weak, so that the control devlce Is Interrupted In
dark surroundlngs. The electronlc clrcult mlght advantageously
be arranged on prlnt together wlth four change-over swltches DIL
1-4. In the block dlagram DIL 1 Is an on/off swltch for llght
sensltlvlty. DIL 2 Is a swltch dlvldlng the whole sequence In 2,
and DIL 3 and 4 double the whole sequence wlthout alterlng the
worklng perlod/restlng perlod ratlo.
Flgure 1~B shows an example of an electrlc dlagram cor-
respondlng to the block dlagram of Flgure 12A. Here the voltage
doubler of Flgure 12A conslsts of reslstors R~-~4, capacltors C1-
i., ~
1~2949
C8, transistors Tl-T2 and of diodes Dl-D6. The oscillating time
is controlled by integrated circults IC2 and IC3. The oscillator
4z consists of a N~ND-gate nl, resistors R14-R22, and capacitors
C10-C11. The counter circuit 43 consisks of an integrated clr-
cuit ICl. The control device circuit ~4 consists of reslstorsR5-R13, transistors T3-T7, NAND-gates N2-N4 and the llght diode
45 referred to as LDRl, and of the light sensitivity control 46,
in the electric diagram referred to as Pl, which as indicated is
an adjustable resistor.
The voltage doubler 40, wherein the diodes Dl-D6 and
the capacitors C3-C8 form an astable multivibrator, doubles the
voltage of the 1 1/2 V voltage of the battery 1 to about 4.6 V
which supplies the circuits. The control device 5 has a working
voltage of 1 1/2 ~.
The oscillator circuit 42 oscillates around the resis-
tor R14 parallel with R15. After the counter circuit 43 having
counted 512 pulses from the oscillator circuit 42, pin no. 14 in
the integrated circuit ICl becomes high, and the current supply
to the control device is interrupted. Now a resting period 18 is
started, and the oscillator circuit 42 oscillates only around the
resistors R14. When this sequence has taken place either 512 or
1024 times dependent on the position of the change-over swltches
DIL 3 and DIL 4, pin no. 14 on the integratedlcircuit becomes
v'hlgh and the resistor R16 is coupled paralle~ to the resistor ~1
instead of the resistor R15. Thereafter a working period 17 is
initiated, the length of which depends on the resistance value of
the resistor R16.
After four different working periods 17, which are
determined by the resistance values of the resistors R15, R16,
R17 and R18, pin no. 1 in the integrated circuit IC2 becomes
high. The resistor R7 is coupled parallel to the resistor R5,
whereby the control device 5 receives increased energy, so that
in case the control device is a ventilator motor, said motor goes
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with a double speed, and in case of an electromagnet, said magnet
géts an lncreased pulling force and consequently valve liftlng
height. The resistor Rl9 is coupled parallel to the reslstor R14
whlch causes the resistor Rl9 to decide the resting perlod 18.
When all resistors R15-R22 have been used, the process starts all
over again.
The light sensitivity works in such a way that the
darker the surroundings of the apparatus get, the greater resis-
tance value for the light diode 45 which in the diagram is markedLDR1. When said resistance is high enough, pin no. 4 in NAND-
gate n2 becomes high, and the current supply to the control
device 5 is thus interrupted, as long as it is dark.
Furthermore, Figure 12s shows that the integrated cir-
cuits ICl and IC2 have international standard No. 4040, IC 3 has
No. 4051, IC 4 has No. 4093, and NAND-gates nl-n4 have interna-
tional standard No . 409 3 for integrated circuits. On the top of
the diagram are placed two electrolytic capacitors C9 and C12.
C9 is a decoupling capacltor. Capacitor C12 and reslstor R23 are
used in a conventional manner to reset the circuit during start
up .
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