Moldable housing design for synthetic jet ejector
View Patent ↗A synthetic jet ejector is provided which comprises a first housing portion ( 131 ), and a second housing portion ( 133 ) which releasably attaches to the first housing portion, wherein the first and second housing portions form first and second portions, respectively, of at least one passageway ( 159 ) adapted to emit at least one synthetic jet.
1. A method for making a synthetic jet ejector, comprising:
molding first and second synthetic jet housing portions out of a moldable material; and
encasing a synthetic jet actuator in a housing formed by said first and second housing portions;
wherein said housing contains at least one aperture adapted to emit a synthetic jet, wherein said first and second housing portions form first and second portions of a channel which is in open communication with said synthetic jet actuator and said aperture, and wherein said channel has a sloped surface.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said housing is formed by joining said first and second housing portions along a seam.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein said seam is formed from first and second abutting surfaces disposed, respectfully, on said first and second housing portions.
4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising the step of applying a portion of adhesive between said first and second abutting surfaces.
5. The method of claim 3 , further comprising the step of applying an elastomer between said first and second abutting surfaces.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first and second synthetic jet housing portions are made by injection molding.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first and second housing portions are joined together, and wherein the synthetic jet actuator is encased in the synthetic jet housing by folding the first and second housing portions together about an axis.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first housing portion has at least one protrusion which engages an indentation in the second housing portion.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the at least one protrusion is a ridge.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the ridge is disposed about the perimeter of the first housing portion.
11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the ridge is dipped in an adhesive before it is coupled to the indentation.
12. The method of claim 9 , wherein the top of the ridge is coated with an elastomer before it is coupled to the indentation.
13. The method of claim 1 , wherein said at least one aperture is a nozzle.
14. The method of claim 1 , wherein said first and second housing portions form first and second portions of first and second channels, wherein said first channel is in open communication with a first aperture and a first space above said synthetic jet actuator, and wherein said second channel is in open communication with a second aperture and a second space below said synthetic jet actuator.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein said synthetic jet actuator is equipped with a diaphragm, wherein said first space is immediately above said diaphragm, and wherein said second space is immediately below said diaphragm.
16. The method of claim 1 , wherein said first and second housing portions form first and second portions of a wire conduit which is in open communication with each of said first and second housing portions.
17. The method of claim 1 , wherein said synthetic jet ejector comprises first and second synthetic jet actuators, wherein said first and second housing portions form first and second portions of first and second channels, wherein said first channel is in open communication with a first aperture and a first space adjacent to said first synthetic jet actuator, and wherein said second channel is in open communication with a second aperture and a second space adjacent to said second synthetic jet actuator.
18. The method of claim 17 , wherein said first synthetic jet actuator is equipped with a first diaphragm, wherein said second synthetic jet actuator is equipped with a second diaphragm, wherein said first space is adjacent to said first diaphragm, and wherein said second space is adjacent to said second diaphragm.
19. A synthetic jet ejector, comprising:
a first housing portion; and
a second housing portion which releasably attaches to said first housing portion;
wherein said first and second housing portions form first and second portions, of a passageway adapted to emit at least one synthetic jet;
wherein said synthetic jet ejector comprises first and second synthetic jet actuators, wherein said first and second housing portions form first and second portions of first and second channels, wherein said first channel is in open communication with a first aperture and a first space adjacent to said first synthetic jet actuator, and wherein said second channel is in open communication with a second aperture and a second space adjacent to said second synthetic jet actuator.
20. The synthetic jet ejector of claim 19 , wherein said second housing portion releasably attaches to said first housing portion to form an airtight seam between them.
21. The synthetic jet ejector of claim 19 , wherein at least one of said first and second synthetic jet actuators is adapted to be encased in a housing formed from said first and second housing portions.
22. The synthetic jet ejector of claim 21 , wherein at least one of said first and second housing portions comprises keying features which ensure the proper orientation of at least one of said first and second synthetic jet actuators within the housing.
23. The synthetic jet ejector of claim 21 , wherein said synthetic jet ejector comprises a basket formed by said second housing portion.
24. The synthetic jet ejector of claim 19 , wherein said first and second housing portions form first and second portions of first and second channels, wherein said first channel is in open communication with a first aperture and a first space above said first synthetic jet actuator, and wherein said second channel is in open communication with a second aperture and a second space below said first synthetic jet actuator.
25. The synthetic jet ejector of claim 24 , wherein said first synthetic jet actuator is equipped with a diaphragm, wherein said first space is immediately above said diaphragm, and wherein said second space is immediately below said diaphragm.
26. The synthetic jet ejector of claim 19 , wherein said first synthetic jet actuator is equipped with a first diaphragm, wherein said second synthetic jet actuator is equipped with a second diaphragm, wherein said first space is adjacent to said first diaphragm, and wherein said second space is adjacent to said second diaphragm.
27. The synthetic jet ejector of claim 19 , wherein said first and second housing portions are joined along a seam formed by first and second abutting surfaces disposed, respectfully, on said first and second housing portions.
28. The synthetic jet ejector of claim 27 , further comprising an elastomer disposed between said first and second abutting surfaces.
29. The synthetic jet ejector of claim 27 , wherein the first housing portion has at least one ridge disposed about its perimeter which engages an indentation in the second housing portion.
30. The synthetic jet ejector of claim 19 , wherein said first aperture is a nozzle.
31. The synthetic jet ejector of claim 19 , wherein said first and second housing portions form first and second portions of a wire conduit which is in open communication with each of said first and second housing portions.
32. A method for making a synthetic jet ejector, comprising:
providing first and second synthetic jet housing portions comprising a molded material; and
encasing first and second synthetic jet actuators in a housing formed by said first and second housing portions;
wherein said first and second housing portions form first and second portions of a first channel and said first and second housing portions form first and second portions of a second channel, wherein said first channel is in open communication with a first aperture and a first space adjacent to said first synthetic jet actuator, and wherein said first channel is in open communication with a second aperture and a second space adjacent to said second synthetic jet actuator, and wherein said first and second apertures are adapted to emit synthetic jets.
33. The method of claim 32 , wherein said first synthetic jet actuator is equipped with a first diaphragm, wherein said second synthetic jet actuator is equipped with a second diaphragm, wherein said first space is adjacent to said first diaphragm, and wherein said second space is adjacent to said second diaphragm.
34. The method of claim 33 , wherein said molded material is a plastic.