Apparatus for the mechanical stimulation of a flowable material in a container by means of ultrasound, with monitoring of the filling level of the material in the container

摘要

Monitoring the filling level of the material in the container which is to be mechanically stimulated by means of ultrasound is to be carried out in such a way that, in the event of undershooting a predetermined filling level in the container, a signal is output which is as far as possible independent of possible disturbing influences and can be reliably defined and, if necessary, the energy supply to the ultrasonic vibrator is interrupted, so that destruction of the ultrasonic vibrator, its becoming unusable or only a reduction of the efficiency because of partial overheating of the ultrasonic vibrator is reliably avoided. In order to carry out the monitoring of the filling level with a low expenditure and as far as possible independently of disturbing influences in such a way that even a small impairment of the functioning of the ultrasonic vibrator used to stimulate the material in the container is reliably avoided, a transmitter-receiver arrangement using ultrasound as the signal carrier is used for the monitoring of the filling level, in which the receiver for ultrasonic signals is positioned at a predetermined height above the floor of the container on the container wall and is connected via an electrical evaluation circuit to means for interrupting the supply of energy to the ultrasonic vibrator and/or to indicating means for the filling level of the material in the container. The apparatus is suitable for the atomisation of a pulverulent or liquid material, for example for the generation of therapeutic ... Original abstract incomplete.