US3885172A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Sonic transducer
Assignee: Continental Can Co Inc
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Filing: 1973-12-21
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Granted: 1975-05-20
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Expires: 1993-12-21
Abstract
Abstract My invention is a transducer having a resonating element and a power generating element. The acoustic length of the resonating element is made the same as the acoustic length of the power generating element. Each is made to be a length one half wave ( lambda /2) when the transducer operates at a given frequency. In this way, the ends of the resonating element and the power generating element are attached to each other and there is little stress at the point of attachment.
Inventors
- 👤 Donald E Miller
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 10:16
CPC Classifications
B; B06; B06B; B06B1/00; B06B1/02; B06B1/06; B06B1/0607; B06B1/0611; B06B1/0618; H; H04; H04R; H04R17/00; H04R17/04; H04R17/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
374 words
A transducer assembly comprising: a force generating assembly comprising; a first tubular means including a sleeve means at a first end and having an internal threaded portion at said first end and a flat portion at a second end; a first annular electrostrictive element mounted adjacent said flat portion of said first tubular means and having an outside diameter about equal to the outside diameter of said first tubular means and an inside diameter greater than the least internal diameter of said first tubular means, dimensioned so that the cross-sectional area of said element multiplied by the modulus of elasticity of the element about equals the crosssectional area of said sleeve means multiplied by the modulus of elasticity of said sleeve means; a flat electrically conductive disk having an outside diameter greater than that of said electrostrictive element and an inside diameter about that of the inside diameter of said electrostrictive element; a second annular electrostrictive element mounted adjacent said flat electrically conductive disk and constructed nearly identical to said first annular electrostrictive element, and a second tubular means including a sleeve means at a first end and having an internal threaded portion at said first end and a flat portion at a second end adjacent said second electrostrictive element, dimensioned so that the crosssectional area of said element multiplied by the modulus of elasticity of the element about equals the cross-sectional area of said sleeve means multiplied by the modulus of elasticity of said sleeve means; and a tensioning stud of about the same material and cross-sectional area as said first and second tubular means and having a first threaded end and a seconded threaded end and fitting through said first and second force transmitting sleeve, said first and second electrostrictive elements and said flat electrically conductive disk with its first end threaded into said first end of said first sleeve and its second end threaded into said second end of said second sleeve whereby said first and second tubular means, said first and second annular spacer, said firSt and second electrostrictive element and said conductive disk are pressed against each other and placed in compressive strain whereby the resonant frequencies, phases and amplitudes of the stud and force generating assemblies are matched.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
374 words
A transducer assembly comprising: a force generating assembly comprising; a first tubular means including a sleeve means at a first end and having an internal threaded portion at said first end and a flat portion at a second end; a first annular electrostrictive element mounted adjacent said flat portion of said first tubular means and having an outside diameter about equal to the outside diameter of said first tubular means and an inside diameter greater than the least internal diameter of said first tubular means, dimensioned so that the cross-sectional area of said element multiplied by the modulus of elasticity of the element about equals the crosssectional area of said sleeve means multiplied by the modulus of elasticity of said sleeve means; a flat electrically conductive disk having an outside diameter greater than that of said electrostrictive element and an inside diameter about that of the inside diameter of said electrostrictive element; a second annular electrostrictive element mounted adjacent said flat electrically conductive disk and constructed nearly identical to said first annular electrostrictive element, and a second tubular means including a sleeve means at a first end and having an internal threaded portion at said first end and a flat portion at a second end adjacent said second electrostrictive element, dimensioned so that the crosssectional area of said element multiplied by the modulus of elasticity of the element about equals the cross-sectional area of said sleeve means multiplied by the modulus of elasticity of said sleeve means; and a tensioning stud of about the same material and cross-sectional area as said first and second tubular means and having a first threaded end and a seconded threaded end and fitting through said first and second force transmitting sleeve, said first and second electrostrictive elements and said flat electrically conductive disk with its first end threaded into said first end of said first sleeve and its second end threaded into said second end of said second sleeve whereby said first and second tubular means, said first and second annular spacer, said firSt and second electrostrictive element and said conductive disk are pressed against each other and placed in compressive strain whereby the resonant frequencies, phases and amplitudes of the stud and force generating assemblies are matched.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
103 words
A transducer assembly as set forth in claim 1 in which each said first means comprises; a tapered sleeve means having an internal threaded portion at a first end and a flat portion at a second end; and a flat annular disk mounted adjacent each said second end of said tapered tubular means whereby one side of said annular disk is in contact with said flat portion of said second end a flat annular disk mounted adjacent each said second end of said tapered tubular means whereby one side of said annular disk is in contact with said flat portion of second end.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
48 words
A transducer assembly as set forth in claim 2 further comprising; a tubular spacer made of an electrically insulating material and mounted about said stud and between said stud and the inside of said annular electrostrictive element whereby said electrostricitve elements are electrically insulated from said tensioning stud.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
100 words
A transducer assembly as set forth in claim 2 further comprising; a first groove extending completely around an inner shoulder of said flat annular disk; a second groove extending around the inner shoulder of said flat section of said tapered sleeve means and of the same external diameter as said groove in said flat annular disk; and a centering ring of size to fit snugly into said first and second groove whereby said flat annular disk and said tubular means may be turned relative to each other without changing the lateral distance between the tensioning stud and the tubular sleeve.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
A transducer assembly as set forth in claim 2 in which said tensioning stud comprises; an elongated stud the cross-section of which has at least one flat portion.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
47 words
A transducer assembly as set forth in claim 5 in which each of said first and second annular disks comprises; a flat disk having a circular exterior with at least one flat portion on its inner circumference to match with said flat portion on said elongated stud.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
A transducer assembly as set forth in claim 6 in which each said tensioning stud and annular disk comprise; at least six flat matching portions on each said tensioning stud and annular disk.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
100 words
A transducer assembly as set forth in claim 6 in which said threads on said first and second end of said tensioning stud further comprise; threads cut in one direction on said stud whereby when said first and second tapered tubular means are rotated in the same direction about said stud said tubular means turn against said flat annular disk and said first and second tapered tubular means are moved toward each other to finally place said tensioning stud in tension and said first and second sleeve, said first and second electrostrictive elements and said conductive disk in compressive strain.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
47 words
A transducer assembly as set forth in claim 2 in which; the distance from said conductive disk to said threaded end of said first tubular sleeve means is the same as the distance from said conductive disk to said threaded end of said second tubular sleeve means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
341 words
An ultrasonic welding apparatus comprising in combination; a transducer having a first force transmitting sleeve means having a first flat end and a second internally thread end, a first annular electrostrictuve element mounted adjacent said first sleeve means, and having an outside diameter about equal to the outside diamater of said first sleeve means and an inside diameter greater than the least internal diameter of said first sleeve means, whereby the cross-sectional area of said element multiplied by the modulus of elasticity of the element about equals the cross-sectional area of said sleeve means multiplied by the modulus of elasticity of said sleeve means, a flat elelctrically conductive disk having an ouTside diamter greater than that of said electrostrictive element and an inside diameter equal to that of the inside diameter of said electrostrictive element, a second annular electrostrictive element mounted adjacent said flat disk and having the same dimensions as said first annular electrostatic element, a second force transmitting sleeve means having a first flat end and a second end with internal threads, a tensioning stud having a first threaded end and a second threaded end and fitting through said first and second force transmitting sleeve, said first and second electrostrictive elements and said flat electrically conductive disk with its first and its second end threaded into said second end of said second sleeve whereby said first and second tubular sleeve, said first and second annular spacer, said first and second electrostrictive element and said conductive disk are pressed against each other and placed in compressive strain, a horn having, a head adapted to be attached to said first end of said tensioning stud end of a length equal to half the length of said transducer, a flange attached to said head at its most remote point from said tensioning stud and adapted to be attached to a first point, and a stem attached to said head at a point remote from said tensioning stud whereby power generated in said transducer may be applied to an object through said strain.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
341 words
An ultrasonic welding apparatus comprising in combination; a transducer having a first force transmitting sleeve means having a first flat end and a second internally thread end, a first annular electrostrictuve element mounted adjacent said first sleeve means, and having an outside diameter about equal to the outside diamater of said first sleeve means and an inside diameter greater than the least internal diameter of said first sleeve means, whereby the cross-sectional area of said element multiplied by the modulus of elasticity of the element about equals the cross-sectional area of said sleeve means multiplied by the modulus of elasticity of said sleeve means, a flat elelctrically conductive disk having an ouTside diamter greater than that of said electrostrictive element and an inside diameter equal to that of the inside diameter of said electrostrictive element, a second annular electrostrictive element mounted adjacent said flat disk and having the same dimensions as said first annular electrostatic element, a second force transmitting sleeve means having a first flat end and a second end with internal threads, a tensioning stud having a first threaded end and a second threaded end and fitting through said first and second force transmitting sleeve, said first and second electrostrictive elements and said flat electrically conductive disk with its first and its second end threaded into said second end of said second sleeve whereby said first and second tubular sleeve, said first and second annular spacer, said first and second electrostrictive element and said conductive disk are pressed against each other and placed in compressive strain, a horn having, a head adapted to be attached to said first end of said tensioning stud end of a length equal to half the length of said transducer, a flange attached to said head at its most remote point from said tensioning stud and adapted to be attached to a first point, and a stem attached to said head at a point remote from said tensioning stud whereby power generated in said transducer may be applied to an object through said strain.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
182 words
An ultrasonic transducer assembly comprising, in combination: a tubular force-generating component of sandwich construction and including electrostrictive means located in the central region along the axis of said tubular force-generating component and a pair of sleeve members forming the opposite ends of said tubular force-generating component whereby maximum axial vibrational displacement of selected frequency is effected at the free ends of said sleeve member in response to excitation of said electrostrictive means, said free ends of the sleeve members being internally threaded; and a stud disposed coaxially within and essentially coextensive in length with said tubular force-generating component, said stud being threadedly engaged at its opposite ends to the respective free ends of said sleeve members and being pretensioned to place said tubular force-generating component in compression; the cross-sectional dimensions of said tubular force-generating component and of said stud being cooperatively related to produce vibrational displacements of the respective threadedly joined portions of said stud and of said force-generating component which are substantially in phase at said selected frequency and of substantially equal amplitudes whereby minimally to stress such threadedly joined portions.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
182 words
An ultrasonic transducer assembly comprising, in combination: a tubular force-generating component of sandwich construction and including electrostrictive means located in the central region along the axis of said tubular force-generating component and a pair of sleeve members forming the opposite ends of said tubular force-generating component whereby maximum axial vibrational displacement of selected frequency is effected at the free ends of said sleeve member in response to excitation of said electrostrictive means, said free ends of the sleeve members being internally threaded; and a stud disposed coaxially within and essentially coextensive in length with said tubular force-generating component, said stud being threadedly engaged at its opposite ends to the respective free ends of said sleeve members and being pretensioned to place said tubular force-generating component in compression; the cross-sectional dimensions of said tubular force-generating component and of said stud being cooperatively related to produce vibrational displacements of the respective threadedly joined portions of said stud and of said force-generating component which are substantially in phase at said selected frequency and of substantially equal amplitudes whereby minimally to stress such threadedly joined portions.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
44 words
An ultrasonic transducer assembly as defined in claim 11 wherein the product of the modulus of elasticity of said electrostrictive means and its cross-sectional area is substantially equal to the product of the modulus of elasticity and the cross-sectional area of each sleeve member.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-05-19 | 1978-11-18 | 1979-05-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-05-19 | 1982-11-18 | 1983-05-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-05-19 | 1986-11-18 | 1987-05-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |