Ultrasonic motors and scissors

Claim 2

An ultrasonic motor, comprising: A. a pair of spaced apart transmission members, at least one of which has a free end adapted to be used, B. coupling means for maintaining said transmission members in a relatively fixed position relative to each other, C. transducer means extending between said transmission members for inducing high frequency mechanical vibrations in at least one of said transmission members in spaced relation to said free end, wherein vibrations are transmitted therethrough to induce mechanical vibrations at said free end at a frequency in the range of 10,000 to 500,000 cycles per second with peak accelerations of the order of at least 1000g, D. engaging means positioned at the free end of said transmission member having a reduced cross-sectional area at its output edge for transmitting said mechanical vibrations, and E. housing means substantially enclosing said transducer means.

Claim 3

An ultrasonic motor as defined in claim 1, and further including gripping means secured to at least one of said transmission members for controlled movement of said motor.

Claim 4

an ultrasonic motor connected to said vibration generator, and

Claim 5

an ultrasonic motor connected to said vibration generator, and

Claim 6

means connecting said ultrasonic motor to said vibrated arm for transmitting said vibrations thereto, and E. housing means enclosing said ultrasonic motor.

Claim 7

means connecting said ultrasonic motor to said vibrated arm for transmitting said vibrations thereto, and E. housing means enclosing said ultrasonic motor.

Claim 8

An ultrasonic motor as defined in claim 2, wherein said gripping means is positioned substantially at a nodal region of vibration for minimum vibrational transmission to the gripping means.

Claim 9

An ultrasonic motor as defined in claim 2, wherein said gripping means is in the form of finger rest containing extending tabs which overlap said transmission member with a pin extending transversely through said transmission member and into said tabs.

Claim 10

An ultrasonic motor as defined in claim 1, wherein A. said transmission members extend in substantially parallel spaced apart relation to each other, and B. said coupling means extends between said transmission members at substantially one end thereof.

Claim 11

An ultrasonic motor as defined in claim 1, wherein said transmission members are substantially of equal length having spaced apart free ends.

Claim 12

An ultrasonic motor as defined in claim 6, wherein one of said transmission members is adapted to be moved towards and away from the other transmission member.

Claim 13

An ultrasonic motor as defined in claim 6, wherein said engaging means have inwardly directed projections containing positioning means thereon for retaining members to be positioned therebetween in relatively fixed position with respect to each other.

Claim 14

An ultrasonic motor as defined in claim 1, wherein said transmission members are of different mass wherein one of said free ends exhibits a greater degree of mechanical vibration than the other.

Claim 15

An ultrasonic motor as defined in claim 1, wherein said transducer means extends transversely to the direction of said transmission members at substantially one end thereof.

Claim 16

An ultrasonic motor as defined in claim 1, wherein said transducer means is of a piezoelectric material.

Claim 17

An ultrasonic motor as defined in claim 1, wherein said transducer means includes a pair of piezoelectric disks with an electrode therebetween and spaced apart end members at least one of which is in engagement with one of said transmission members for transmitting mechanical vibrations thereto.

Claim 18

An ultrasonic motor as defined in claim 12, wherein said transducer means includes a central bolt which serves to compress said transducer means between said end members.

Claim 19

An ultrasonic motor as defined in claim 1, and further including means for rigidly mounting said ultrasonic motor.

Claim 20

An ultrasonic motor, comprising: A. a pair of spaced apart transmission members in substantially parallel spaced apart relation to each other, at least one of which has a free end adapted to be used, and one of said transmission members at its free end adapted to be moved towards and away from the other transmission member for gross movement therebetween from an open position in which members may be freely positioned therein to a closed position for transmitting ultrasonic vibrations thereto, B. coupling means for maintaining said transmission members in a relatively fixed position relative to each other at adjacent said coupling means extending therebetween at substantially one end thereof, said transmission members being of a length and cross-sectional area to permit said gross movement therebetween, C. transducer means extending between said transmission members for inducing ultrasonic mechanical vibrations in at least one of said transmission members in spaced relation to said free end, wherein vibrations are transmitted therethrough to induce mechanical vibrations at said free end at a frequency of at least 10,000 cycles per second with peak accelerations of the order of at least 1,000g, and D. engaging means positioned substantially at the free ends of said transmission members for movement from said open position for receiving therebetween members to which the mechanical vibrations are to be coupled when said engaging means is in said closed position.

Claim 21

An ultrasonic motor, comprising: A. a pair of spaced apart transmission members in substantially parallel spaced apart relation to each other, at least one of which has a free end adapted to be used, and one of said transmission members at its free end adapted to be moved towards and away from the other transmission member for gross movement therebetween from an open position in which members may be freely positioned therein to a closed position for transmitting ultrasonic vibrations thereto, B. coupling means for maintaining said transmission members in a relatively fixed position relative to each other at adjacent said coupling means extending therebetween at substantially one end thereof, said transmission members being of a length and cross-sectional area to permit said gross movement therebetween, C. transducer means extending between said transmission members for inducing ultrasonic mechanical vibrations in at least one of said transmission members in spaced relation to said free end, wherein vibrations are transmitted therethrough to induce mechanical vibrations at said free end at a frequency of at least 10,000 cycles per second with peak accelerations of the order of at least 1,000g, and D. engaging means positioned substantially at the free ends of said transmission members for movement from said open position for receiving therebetween members to which the mechanical vibrations are to be coupled when said engaging means is in said closed position.

Claim 22

An ultrasonic motor as defined in claim 15, wherein said transducer means is of piezoelectric material, and includes a pair of piezoelectric disks with an electrode therebetween and spaced apart end members at least one of which is in engagement with one of said transmission members for transmitting mechanical vibrations thereto, with a central bolt extending through the transmission member said end member is in engagement with for compressing said transducer means between said end members.

Claim 23

An ultrasonic motor as defined in claim 15, and further including gripping means secured to at least one of said transmission members for controlled movement of said motor.

Claim 24

An ultrasonic motor as defined in claim 17, wherein said gripping means is positioned substantially at a nodal region of vibration for minimum transmission to the gripping means.

Claim 25

An ultrasonic motor as defined in claim 17, wherein said gripping means is in the form of finger rest containing extending tabs which overlap said transmission member with a pin extending transversely through said transmission member and into said tabs.

Claim 26

An ultrasonic motor as defined in claim 15, wherein said transmission members are of different mass wherein one of said free ends exhibits a greater degree of mechanical vibration than the other.

Claim 27

A hand held instrument, comprising: A. a pair of arms each having a free end adapted to be used, B. gripping means on each of said arms at the other end thereof, C. means pivotally connecting said arms together to permit cooperation between said free ends, and D. means for ultrasonically vibrating at least one of said Free ends at a frequency of at least 10,000 cycles per second with peak accelerations of the order of at least 1,000g.

Claim 28

A hand held instrument, comprising: A. a pair of arms each having a free end adapted to be used, B. gripping means on each of said arms at the other end thereof, C. means pivotally connecting said arms together to permit cooperation between said free ends, and D. means for ultrasonically vibrating at least one of said Free ends at a frequency of at least 10,000 cycles per second with peak accelerations of the order of at least 1,000g.

Claim 29

A hand held instrument as claimed in claim 21, wherein said arm is vibrated along its length to obtain the ultrasonic mechanical vibration at its free end.

Claim 30

A hand held instrument as claimed in claim 21, wherein said means for ultrasonically vibrating at least one of said ends includes: a. a vibrating generator, b. an ultrasonic motor connected to said vibration generator, and c. means connecting said ultrasonic motor to said vibrated arm for transmitting said vibrations thereto.

Claim 31

A hand held instrument as claimed in claim 23, and further including housing means enclosing said ultrasonic motor.

Claim 32

A hand held instrument as claimed in claim 21, wherein said means pivotally connecting said arms together is located at a node of vibrational motion.

Claim 33

A hand held instrument as in claim 21, wherein one of said free ends is in the form of a cutting edge, to permit the instrument to be used as a scissor.

Claim 34

A hand held instrument, comprising: A. a pair of arms each having a cutting edge extending along one edge from one end thereof, B. gripping means on each of said arms at the other end thereof, C. means pivotally connecting said arms together to permit cooperation between said cutting edge, D. means for ultrasonically vibrating at least one of said arms to obtain high frequency mechanical vibrations at said cutting edge, at a frequency in the range of 10,000 cycles per second to 500,000 cycles per second with peak accelerations of the order of at least 1,000g, said means including:

Claim 35

A hand held instrument, comprising: A. a pair of arms each having a cutting edge extending along one edge from one end thereof, B. gripping means on each of said arms at the other end thereof, C. means pivotally connecting said arms together to permit cooperation between said cutting edge, D. means for ultrasonically vibrating at least one of said arms to obtain high frequency mechanical vibrations at said cutting edge, at a frequency in the range of 10,000 cycles per second to 500,000 cycles per second with peak accelerations of the order of at least 1,000g, said means including:

Claim 36

A hand held instrument as claimed in claim 27, wherein said means pivotally connecting said arms together is located at a node of vibrational motion.