Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
389 words
An apparatus for producing acoustic vibrations in a flowing liquid comprising an inlet section, a body section, and an outlet section, each of said sections having a substantially cylindrical inner surface and having an outer surface, a first flange extending radially outwardly from an inlet end of said body section and a second flange extending radially outwardly from an outlet end of said body section, a first counterbore at the inlet end of said body section and a second counterbore at the outlet end of said body section, said inlet section being adjacent to said inlet end of said body section and having an axially extending cylindrical flange extending into said first counterbore, said outlet section being adjacent to said outlet end of said body section and having an axially extending flange extending into said second counterbore, an orifice plate mounted in said first counterbore and having one face that is substantially spherical and another face that is subsTantially flat, said orifice plate having an eye-shaped orifice at its approximate midpoint, a blade plate mounted in said second counterbore, said blade plate having a blade-like vibratory element aligned with said orifice, an annular sealing ring on each side of said orifice plate in said first counterbore, and annular sealing ring on each side of said blade plate in said second counterbore, each of said annular sealing rings having a substantially cylindrical inner surface, a flange extending radially outwardly from the inlet section adjacent to the body section, a flange extending radially outwardly from the outlet section adjacent to the body section, a first clamping means surrounding the radially extending flanges of the inlet section and the inlet end of the body section to mount said inlet section to said body section, and a second clamping means surrounding the radially extending flanges of the outlet section and the outlet end of the body section to mount said outlet section to said body section, means for preventing rotation of the orifice plate in the first counterbore, means for preventing rotation of the blade plate in the second counterbore, and the inner surfaces of the inlet section, the body section, the outlet section, and the annular sealing rings being substantially equal in diameter and free of any crevices to minimize the possibility of bacteria buildup as the liquid flows through the apparatus.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
389 words
An apparatus for producing acoustic vibrations in a flowing liquid comprising an inlet section, a body section, and an outlet section, each of said sections having a substantially cylindrical inner surface and having an outer surface, a first flange extending radially outwardly from an inlet end of said body section and a second flange extending radially outwardly from an outlet end of said body section, a first counterbore at the inlet end of said body section and a second counterbore at the outlet end of said body section, said inlet section being adjacent to said inlet end of said body section and having an axially extending cylindrical flange extending into said first counterbore, said outlet section being adjacent to said outlet end of said body section and having an axially extending flange extending into said second counterbore, an orifice plate mounted in said first counterbore and having one face that is substantially spherical and another face that is subsTantially flat, said orifice plate having an eye-shaped orifice at its approximate midpoint, a blade plate mounted in said second counterbore, said blade plate having a blade-like vibratory element aligned with said orifice, an annular sealing ring on each side of said orifice plate in said first counterbore, and annular sealing ring on each side of said blade plate in said second counterbore, each of said annular sealing rings having a substantially cylindrical inner surface, a flange extending radially outwardly from the inlet section adjacent to the body section, a flange extending radially outwardly from the outlet section adjacent to the body section, a first clamping means surrounding the radially extending flanges of the inlet section and the inlet end of the body section to mount said inlet section to said body section, and a second clamping means surrounding the radially extending flanges of the outlet section and the outlet end of the body section to mount said outlet section to said body section, means for preventing rotation of the orifice plate in the first counterbore, means for preventing rotation of the blade plate in the second counterbore, and the inner surfaces of the inlet section, the body section, the outlet section, and the annular sealing rings being substantially equal in diameter and free of any crevices to minimize the possibility of bacteria buildup as the liquid flows through the apparatus.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
63 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said first clamping means has wedging surfaces engaging wedging surfaces on the radially extending flanges of the inlet section and the inlet end of the body section and the second clamping means has wedging surfaces engaging wedging surfaces on the radially extending flanges of the outlet section and the outlet end of the body section.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 2, further including a valve to create back pressure in the apparatus.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 3, wherein the annular sealing rings are made of polytetrafluoroethylene.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 4, further including a means for adjusting the distance between the orifice and the blade-like element.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 5, further including an external acoustic sensor for reading acoustical energy.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 6, wherein the body section, the inlet section, and the outlet section are constructed of stainless steel.