Ultrasonic liquid jet probe

Claim 2

An ultrasonic liquid jet probe for coupling transducer-emitted ultrasonic waves with a structure, comprising: a housing disposed about said transducer and comprising: (a) inlet means for receiving liquid under pressure from a source thereof; . (b) means for imparting a substantially laminar flow to said liquid flowing through said housing; and (c) nozzle means configured for receiving said liquid flowing through said housing, shaping the flow of said-liquid into a liquid jet column to be discharged from said nozzle means and guiding said ultrasonic waves between said transducer and said liquid jet column and disposed relative to said transducer for providing an obstruction-free ultrasonic path between said transducer and said nozzle means.

Claim 3

The probe of claim 1 wherein said means for imparting a substantially laminar flow to said liquid comprises a plurality of chambers defined in the interior of said housing, said chambers being in fluid communication with each other and arranged to promote said substantially laminar flow of said liquid.

Claim 4

The probe of claim 2 comprising two said chambers and wherein said housing further comprises a plurality of circumferentially spaced conduits disposed between said chambers for conveying said liquid therebetween, said conduits being aligned parallel to said liquid jet column and elongated sufficiently and of sufficient number for thereby promoting said. substantially laminar flow of said liquid.

Claim 5

The probe of claim 3 wherein said transducer includes an emitting/receiving end and wherein said chambers comprise: (a) an annular first chamber disposed to receive said liquid from said inlet means; and (b) a second chamber disposed downstream of said first chamber and comprising an upstream annular chamber section and a downstream cylindrical chamber section, said annular chamber section surrounding said emitting/receiving end of said transducer, and said plurality of conduits being disposed upstream of said emitting/receiving end of said transducer between said first and said second chambers for conveying said liquid from said first chamber to said second chamber.

Claim 6

The probe of claim 4 wherein the radially inner boundary of said annular chamber section of said second chamber is defined by a tubular extension of said housing, the interior of said tubular extension being sized for receiving said emitting/receiving end of said transducer.

Claim 7

The probe of claim 5 wherein the outer surface of the downstream portion of said tubular extension is beveled radially inwardly for modifying the direction of flow of said liquid.

Claim 8

The probe of claim 5 or 6 further comprising a sleeve fabricated of a sound attenuating material disposed between said transducer and said tubular extension of said housing.

Claim 9

The probe of claim 4, 5, 6 or 7 wherein said inlet means comprises at least two symmetrically spaced inlet ducts for conveying said liquid from said source thereof to said first chamber.

Claim 10

The probe of any preceding claim wherein said nozzle means comprises a nozzle configured for shaping said flow of liquid into a round liquid jet column.

Claim 11

The probe of claim 9 wherein said nozzle is fabricated of a sound attenuating material.

Claim 12

The probe of claim 9 or 10 wherein said nozzle includes an inner wall shaped to maintain the substantially laminar flow of said liquid with minimum wave-form distortion.

Claim 13

The probe of claim 9, 10 or 11 wherein said nozzle is disposed sufficiently close to said emitting/receiving end of said transducer such that said ultrasonic waves emitted by said transducer are guided to said liquid jet column by only said nozzle.

Claim 14

The probe of any preceding claim wherein said housing is fabricated of a transparent material.

Claim 15

An ultrasonic liquid jet probe for coupling ultrasonic waves with a structure, comprising: (a) an ultrasonic transducer for emitting or receiving said ultrasonic waves from an end thereof; (b) a housing disposed about said transducer and comprising: (1) an annular first chamber; (2) at least two inlet ducts spaced symmetrically about said housing and arranged to convey liquid under pressure from a source thereof to said first chamber; (3) a second chamber disposed downstream of said first chamber and comprising an upstream annular chamber section and a downstream cylindrical chamber section, the radially inner boundary of said annular chamber section being defined by a tubular extension of said housing, the outer surface of the downstream portion of said tubular extension being beveled radially inwardly for modifying the direction of flow of said liquid and the interior of said tubular extension being sized for receiving the emitting/receiving end of said transducer; and (4) a plurality of circumferentially spaced conduits disposed upstream of said emitting/receiving end of said transducer between said first and said second chambers for conveying said liquid from said first chamber to said second chamber, said conduits being aligned and elongated sufficiently and of sufficient number for imparting a substantially laminar flow to said liquid flowing into said second chamber; and (c) a nozzle attached to said housing at said second chamber and aligned with said transducer, said nozzle being fabricated of a sound attenuating material and being configured for receiving said substantially laminar flow of said liquid from said second chamber, shaping said flow of said liquid into a round liquid jet column to be discharged from said nozzle and guiding said ultrasonic waves between said transducer and said liquid jet column and disposed relative to said transducer for providing an obstruction-free ultrasonic path between said transducer and said nozzle means.

Claim 16

An ultrasonic liquid jet probe for coupling ultrasonic waves with a structure, comprising: (a) an ultrasonic transducer for emitting or receiving said ultrasonic waves from an end thereof; (b) a housing disposed about said transducer and comprising: (1) an annular first chamber; (2) at least two inlet ducts spaced symmetrically about said housing and arranged to convey liquid under pressure from a source thereof to said first chamber; (3) a second chamber disposed downstream of said first chamber and comprising an upstream annular chamber section and a downstream cylindrical chamber section, the radially inner boundary of said annular chamber section being defined by a tubular extension of said housing, the outer surface of the downstream portion of said tubular extension being beveled radially inwardly for modifying the direction of flow of said liquid and the interior of said tubular extension being sized for receiving the emitting/receiving end of said transducer; and (4) a plurality of circumferentially spaced conduits disposed upstream of said emitting/receiving end of said transducer between said first and said second chambers for conveying said liquid from said first chamber to said second chamber, said conduits being aligned and elongated sufficiently and of sufficient number for imparting a substantially laminar flow to said liquid flowing into said second chamber; and (c) a nozzle attached to said housing at said second chamber and aligned with said transducer, said nozzle being fabricated of a sound attenuating material and being configured for receiving said substantially laminar flow of said liquid from said second chamber, shaping said flow of said liquid into a round liquid jet column to be discharged from said nozzle and guiding said ultrasonic waves between said transducer and said liquid jet column and disposed relative to said transducer for providing an obstruction-free ultrasonic path between said transducer and said nozzle means.

Claim 17

The probe of claim 14 wherein said nozzle is replaceable, the outer surface of said nozzle being shaped and sized for being received in said second chamber and wherein said housing includes means for locking said nozzle in place.