Sonic or ultrasonic apparatus

Claim 2

A sonic or ultrasonic apparatus comprising: a support for supporting electroacoustic transducer means; electroacoustic transducer means adapted to be resonant at a predetermined frequency of sound for providing vibratory energy in response to electrical energy of said frequency applieD; leaf spring means coupling said transducer means to said support, said spring means being dimensioned to yield in the direction substantially parallel to the axis of propagation of the vibratory energy provided by said transducer means, but to exhibit rigidity in a direction substantially normal to said axis, and motive means coupled to said transducer means for imparting gross reciprocating motion to said transducer means relative to said support in a direction substantially parallel to said axis for coupling said transducer means into vibratory energy transmitting contact with a workpiece and for withdrawing said transducer means from such energy transmitting contact.

Claim 3

A sonic or ultrasonic apparatus comprising: a platform for supporting a workpiece; a column for supporting electroacoustic transducer means; electroacoustic transducer means adapted to be resonant at a predetermined frequency of sound travelling longitudinally therethrough for providing vibratory energy in response to electrical energy of said frequency applied; leaf spring means coupling said transducer means to said column, said spring means being dimensioned to yield in the direction substantially parallel to the axis of propagation of the vibratory energy provided by said transducer means, but to exhibit rigidity in a direction substantially normal to said axis, and motive means coupled to said transducer means for imparting gross reciprocating motion to said transducer means relative to said column in a direction substantially parallel to said axis for coupling said transducer means into vibratory energy transmitting contact with a workpiece on said platform and for withdrawing said transducer means from such energy transmitting contact.

Claim 4

A sonic or ultrasonic apparatus comprising: a platform for supporting a workpiece; a column for supporting electroacoustic transducer means; electroacoustic transducer means adapted to be resonant at a predetermined frequency of sound travelling longitudinally therethrough for providing vibratory energy in response to electrical energy of said frequency applied; leaf spring means coupling said transducer means to said column, said spring means being dimensioned to yield in the direction substantially parallel to the axis of propagation of the vibratory energy provided by said transducer means, but to exhibit rigidity in a direction substantially normal to said axis, and motive means coupled to said transducer means for imparting gross reciprocating motion to said transducer means relative to said column in a direction substantially parallel to said axis for coupling said transducer means into vibratory energy transmitting contact with a workpiece on said platform and for withdrawing said transducer means from such energy transmitting contact.

Claim 5

A sonic or ultrasonic apparatus as set forth in claim 2, said motive means coupled to said transducer means being coupled also to said column.

Claim 6

A sonic or ultrasonic apparatus as set forth in claim 3, said leaf spring means and said electroacoustic transducer means being mounted to cause said leaf spring means to assume their substantially non-stressed shape when said motive means causes said transducer means to be in vibratory energy transmitting contact with a workpiece and to assume their stressed shape when said transducer means is withdrawn from said energy transmitting contact.

Claim 7

A sonic or ultrasonic apparatus as set forth in claim 3, and further leaf spring means coupling said motive means to said transducer means and said column.

Claim 8

A sonic or ultrasonic apparatus as set forth in claim 3, said motive means comprising fluid operated means.

Claim 9

A sonic or ultrasonic apparatus as set forth in claim 6, said motive means comprising a pneumatically operated device comprising a piston and cylinder.

Claim 10

A sonic or ultrasonic apparatus as set forth in claim 3, said leaf spring means coupling said transducer means to said column comprising a pair of sheet metal members.

Claim 11

A sonic or ultrasonic apparatus as set forth in claim 8, said pair of sheet metal members engaging said transducer means at axially spaced locations thereof.

Claim 12

A sonic or ultrasonic apparatus as set forth in claim 9, each of said sheet metal members being coupled to said transducer means substantially at a respective antinodal region of vibratory energy of said transducer means.

Claim 13

A sonic or ultrasonic apparatus as set forth in claim 3, and means coupled to said platform for causing said platform to be movable relative to said transducer means.

Claim 14

A sonic or ultrasonic apparatus as set forth in claim 11, said means coupled to said platform causing said platform to be rotatable.

Claim 15

A sonic or ultrasonic apparatus as set forth in claim 3, said column being supported by said platform and extending therefrom.

Claim 16

A sonic or ultrasonic apparatus as set forth in claim 13, and support means disposed for coupling said leaf spring means to said column at an adjustable distance from said platform.

Claim 17

A sonic or ulTrasonic apparatus comprising: a platform for supporting a workpiece; a column; an elongate coupling member adapted to be resonant along its axis at a predetermined frequency of vibration; electroacoustic transducer means coupled to said coupling member for causing said member to be resonant in response to electrical energy of said frequency being applied to said transducer means; leaf spring means coupling said member and transducer means to said column, said spring means being dimensioned to yield in the direction substantially parallel to the axis of propagation of said vibration in said member, but to exhibit rigidity in a direction substantially normal to said axis, and motive means coupled to said member and transducer means and to said column for imparting gross reciprocating motion to said member and transducer means in a direction substantially parallel to said axis for coupling said member into vibratory energy transmitting contact with a workpiece on said platform and for withdrawing said member from such energy transmitting contact.

Claim 18

A sonic or ulTrasonic apparatus comprising: a platform for supporting a workpiece; a column; an elongate coupling member adapted to be resonant along its axis at a predetermined frequency of vibration; electroacoustic transducer means coupled to said coupling member for causing said member to be resonant in response to electrical energy of said frequency being applied to said transducer means; leaf spring means coupling said member and transducer means to said column, said spring means being dimensioned to yield in the direction substantially parallel to the axis of propagation of said vibration in said member, but to exhibit rigidity in a direction substantially normal to said axis, and motive means coupled to said member and transducer means and to said column for imparting gross reciprocating motion to said member and transducer means in a direction substantially parallel to said axis for coupling said member into vibratory energy transmitting contact with a workpiece on said platform and for withdrawing said member from such energy transmitting contact.

Claim 19

A sonic or ultrasonic apparatus as set forth in claim 15, said leaf spring means being coupled to said member at a pair of antinodal regions of vibration thereof.

Claim 20

A sonic or ultrasonic apparatus as set forth in claim 16, said leaf spring means comprising a pair of leaf springs, each spring being coupled with one of its ends to a respective antinodal region of vibration of said member.

Claim 21

A sonic or ultrasonic apparatus as set forth in claim 15 and means coupling said transducer means to a supply of high frequency electrical energy.

Claim 22

A sonic or ultrasonic apparatus comprising: a support; electroacoustic transducer means adapted to be resonant at a predetermined frequency of sound for providing vibratory energy in response to electrical energy of said frequency applied; means coupling said transducer means to said support, said means coupling being dimensioned to yield in the direction substantially parallel to the axis of propagation of the vibratory energy provided by said transducer means, but to exhibit rigidity in a direction substantially normal to said axis, and motive means coupled to said transducer means for imparting gross reciprocating motion to said transducer means relative to said support in a direction substantially parallel to said axis for coupling said transducer means into vibratory energy transmitting contact with a workpiece and for withdrawing said transducer means from such energy transmitting contact, said reciprocating motion causing said means coupling to be subjected to a bending motion.

Claim 23

A sonic or ultrasonic apparatus comprising: a support; electroacoustic transducer means adapted to be resonant at a predetermined frequency of sound for providing vibratory energy in response to electrical energy of said frequency applied; means coupling said transducer means to said support, said means coupling being dimensioned to yield in the direction substantially parallel to the axis of propagation of the vibratory energy provided by said transducer means, but to exhibit rigidity in a direction substantially normal to said axis, and motive means coupled to said transducer means for imparting gross reciprocating motion to said transducer means relative to said support in a direction substantially parallel to said axis for coupling said transducer means into vibratory energy transmitting contact with a workpiece and for withdrawing said transducer means from such energy transmitting contact, said reciprocating motion causing said means coupling to be subjected to a bending motion.

Claim 24

A sonic or ultrasonic apparatus as set forth in claim 19, said bending motion being within the limit of elasticity of the material of said means coupling said transducer means to said support.

Claim 25

A sonic or ultrasonic apparatus comprising: a platform; a column extending from said platform; an electroacoustic transducer assembly including piezoelectric disk means, a coupling means for transmitting vibratory energy provided by said disk means to a workpiece, and means coupling said disk means to said coupling means and causing said disk means to be under a static compressive force, said electroacoustic transducer assembly being dimensioned to be resonant along its longitudinal axis when said piezoelectric means is energized with alternating current electrical energy of predetermined frequency; a pair of leaf spring members coupling said transducer assembly to said column, each member being secured with one end to said transducer assembly at a respective antinodal region of longitudinal motion thereof and coupled with its respective other end to said column, said members being dimensioned to yield in the direction substantially parallel to the axis of propagation of the vibratory energy in said transducer assembly, but to exhibit rigidity in a direction substantially normal to said axis, and motive means coupled for impaRting gross reciprocating motion to said transducer assembly relative to said platform in a direction substantially parallel to said axis of propagation of said energy whereby to cause bending of said spring members to accommodate such motion.

Claim 26

A sonic or ultrasonic apparatus comprising: a platform; a column extending from said platform; an electroacoustic transducer assembly including piezoelectric disk means, a coupling means for transmitting vibratory energy provided by said disk means to a workpiece, and means coupling said disk means to said coupling means and causing said disk means to be under a static compressive force, said electroacoustic transducer assembly being dimensioned to be resonant along its longitudinal axis when said piezoelectric means is energized with alternating current electrical energy of predetermined frequency; a pair of leaf spring members coupling said transducer assembly to said column, each member being secured with one end to said transducer assembly at a respective antinodal region of longitudinal motion thereof and coupled with its respective other end to said column, said members being dimensioned to yield in the direction substantially parallel to the axis of propagation of the vibratory energy in said transducer assembly, but to exhibit rigidity in a direction substantially normal to said axis, and motive means coupled for impaRting gross reciprocating motion to said transducer assembly relative to said platform in a direction substantially parallel to said axis of propagation of said energy whereby to cause bending of said spring members to accommodate such motion.

Claim 27

A sonic or ultrasonic apparatus as set forth in claim 21, said piezoelectric disk means comprising a plurality of juxtaposed disks, and at least one of said leaf spring members being in heat conductive contact with said disks for removing heat from said assembly.

Claim 28

A sonic or ultrasonic apparatus as set forth in claim 22, and bolt means for clamping said one leaf spring means into heat conductive contact with at least one of said disks.