Ultrasonic transducers

Claim 2

An ultrasonic energy transducer for producing vibrational wave energy at a substantially predetermined frequency comprising: a. magnetostrictive means for converting electrical energy into vibrational energy, b. a vibrating structure for producing motion including; an acoustic impedance transformer of metallic material which is substantially one half wavelength long at said predetermined frequency directly connected at one end thereof to one end of said magnetostrictive means, said transformer including a working tool at the other end for producing motion, an outer shell of metallic material of a length substantially one quarter wavelength at said predetermined frequency which is spaced from and surrounds a portion of said transformer, and means directly connecting said shell to said transformer in metal to metal contact so that energy can be transferred from the transformer to said shell, said shell thereby forming a part of the vibrating structure and affecting the characteristics of the vibrational energy of said structure.

Claim 3

A transducer as in claim 1 wherein said outer shell includes a first wall section of relatively heavy mass to dampen the energy present in said shell.

Claim 4

A transducer as in claim 2 wherein the means for attaching the shell to the transformer comprises a further wall section of reduced thickness as compared to said first wall section located between the transformer and the first wall section to reduce the quantity of vibrational energy transmitted to said first wall section from said transformer.

Claim 5

A transducer as in claim 1 further comprising a flange member and first fastening means formed on said outer shell, housing means surrounding a portion of said magnetostrictive means and having second fastening means formed on a portion thereof, said first and second fastening means mating to fasten the housing to said outer shell with the end portion of said housing directly engaging against the flange member of said outer shell.

Claim 6

A transducer as in claim 4 wherein said housing means forms a chamber surrounding at least a portion of said magnetostrictive means, means for supplying fluid to said chamber, the end portion of the housing and the flange forming a fluid-tight seal.

Claim 7

A transducer as in claim 5 wherein said first and second fastening means comprise screw threads.

Claim 8

A transducer as in claim 51 wherein the transformer portion between the magnetostrictive means and said outer shell has a flange and a first fastening means formed thereon, housing means surrounding a portion of said magnetostrictive means and having second fastening means formed on a portion thereof, said first and second fastening means mating to fasten the housing to said outer shell with the end portion of said housing against the flange member of said outer shell.

Claim 9

A transducer as in claim 7 wherein said housing means forms a chamber surrounding at least a portion of said magnetostrictive means, means for supplying fluid to said chamber, the end portion of the housing and the flange forming a fluid-tight seal.

Claim 10

A transducer as in claim 8 wherein said first and second fastening means comprise screw threads.

Claim 11

A transducer as in claim 1 wherein the working tool is located at the end of said transformer remote from said magnetostrictive means, a fluid flow passage formed through said transformer having a first opening adjacent the tool and a second opening, a housing forming a fluid containing chamber surrounding at least a portion of said magnetostrictive means, said chamber being in communication with said second opening of said passage, and means for supplying fluid to the chamber of said housing.

Claim 12

A transducer as in claim 10 further comprising current carrying means located on the outside of said housing and outside of said chamber and in proximity to said magnetostrictive means.

Claim 13

A transducer as in claim 2 wherein said means for attaching said outer shell to said transformer comprises an elastic member of metallic material between said transformer and said first wall section.

Claim 14

A transducer as in claim 2 wherein said first wall section of relatively heavy mass is attached to said transformer by an elastic member of metallic material having a first portion and a second portion which are spaced apart and concentric and are connected together between the first wall section and the transformer.

Claim 15

A transducer as in claim 13 further comprising a housing defining a fluid chamber for surrounding at least a portion of said magnetostrictive means, resilient non-metallic means located on said elastic member, said housing having an end portion fitting over said resilient means to provide a fluid seal for the fluid in the housing chamber.

Claim 16

A transducer as in claim 14 wherein said resilient means is located at the junction of said first and second portions of said elastic member.

Claim 17

A transducer as in claim 13 further comprising a housing defining a fluid chamber for surrounding at least a portion of said magnetostrictive means, resilient non-metallic means on said housing member, said resilient means fitting over said elastic member to provide a fluid seal for the fluid in the housing chamber.

Claim 18

A transducer as in claim 1 wherein said outer shell is tubular and has a longitudinal axis which is concentric with the longitudinal axis of the portion of the transformer which it surrounds.

Claim 19

A transducer as in claim 2 wherein said first wall section of heavier mass is tubular and has a longitudinal axis which is concentric with the longitudinal axis of the portion of the transformer which it surrounds.

Claim 20

A transducer as in claim 2 wherein the portion of the transducer which is surrounded by said first wall section of relatively heavier mass is tapered, the interior of said first wall section being generally cylindrical.

Claim 21

A transducer as in claim 2 wherein the internal portion of the transducer which is surrounded by said first wall section of relatively heavier mass is tapered, the interior of said first wall section also being tapered to be generally concentric with said internal portion.

Claim 22

An ultrasonic transducer as set forth in claim 1 wherein said transformer working tool has a tip portion whose center of mass lies off-center of the longitudinal axis of the transformer.

Claim 23

An ultrasonic energy transducer for producing vibrational wave energy at a substantially predetermined frequency comprising, magnetostrictive means for converting electrical energy into vibrational energy, an acoustic impedance transformer of metallic material attached to one end of said magnetostrictive means, said transformer including a first portion adjacent said magnetostrictive means, a workpiece, and a second portion joining said workpiece and said first portion, said transformer transferring the vibrational energy of said magnetostrictive means to said workpiece, an outer shell of metallic material having a length equal substantially to an odd multiple of a quarter wavelength of the predetermined frequency surrounding at least a part of said second portion of said transformer, and means of metallic material for attaching said shell to said transformer at a position substantially in the region of the node of said first and second transformer portions to transfer vibrational energy to said shell so that said shell becomes a part of the transducer to affect a characteristic of the vibrational energy at the workpiece.

Claim 24

An ultrasonic energy transducer for producing vibrational wave energy at a substantially predetermined frequency comprising, magnetostrictive means for converting electrical energy into vibrational energy, an acoustic impedance transformer of metallic material attached to one end of said magnetostrictive means, said transformer including a first portion adjacent said magnetostrictive means, a workpiece, and a second portion joining said workpiece and said first portion, said transformer transferring the vibrational energy of said magnetostrictive means to said workpiece, an outer shell of metallic material having a length equal substantially to an odd multiple of a quarter wavelength of the predetermined frequency surrounding at least a part of said second portion of said transformer, and means of metallic material for attaching said shell to said transformer at a position substantially in the region of the node of said first and second transformer portions to transfer vibrational energy to said shell so that said shell becomes a part of the transducer to affect a characteristic of the vibrational energy at the workpiece.

Claim 25

A transducer as in claim 21 wherein said outer shell extends only in a direction toward the workpiece end of said transformer.

Claim 26

A transducer as in claim 21 wherein said outer shell has a first section which extends in a first direction toward the workpiece end of the transformer and a second section which extends in the opposite direction toward the magnetostrictive means.

Claim 27

A transducer as in claim 21 wherein said outer shell has a first wall section of relatively heavy mass which serves as an energy damper which surrounds at least a part of said second portion of said transformer.

Claim 28

A transducer as in claim 25 wherein a second wall section of lighter mass than said first wall section is located between said first wall portion and the point of attachment of the outer shell to the remainder of the transformer to reduce the amount of energy transmitted to said first wall portion.

Claim 29

A transducer as in claim 25 wherein the outer surface of said first wall section is formed with a depression.

Claim 30

A transducer as in claim 26 wherein the outer surface of said first wall section is formed with a depression.

Claim 31

A transducer as in claim 25 wherein the free end of said first wall section is of reduced thickness as compared to remainder of said first wall section.

Claim 32

A transducer as in claim 26 wherein the free end of said first wall section is of reduced thickness as compared to remainder of said first wall section.

Claim 33

A transducer as in claim 22 further comprising a flange formed on said transformer substantially in the region of said node, and means for attaching said outer shell means to said flange.

Claim 34

A transducer as in claim 22 further comprising a flange formed on said transformer substantially in the region of said node, housing means, and means for attaching said housing to said transducer with one end thereof directly engaging said flange.

Claim 35

A transducer as in claim 32 wherein said attaching means comprises mating threads on said transformer and said housing.

Claim 36

A transducer as in claim 31 wherein said attaching means comprises means for making an engaging fit with said flange.

Claim 37

A transducer as in claim 31 wherein said attaching means comprises threaded means.

Claim 38

A transducer as in claim 30 wherein said outer shell comprises a first portion which extends in a firSt direction toward the workpiece end of the transformer and a second portion which extends in the opposite direction toward the magnetostrictive means, said attaching means including means for holding said first and second portions together and to said flange.

Claim 39

A transducer as in claim 36 wherein said last-named means includes a resilient support of nonmetallic material between said transformer and said first and second portions.

Claim 40

A transducer as in claim 36 wherein said last-named means further includes threaded means for holding said first and second portions together.

Claim 41

A transducer as in claim 37 wherein said last-named means further includes threaded means for holding said first and second portions together.

Claim 42

A transducer as in claim 22 wherein said outer shell is substantially one quarter wavelength long at said predetermined frequency of vibrational energy.

Claim 43

An ultrasonic transducer comprising magnetostrictive means of metallic material for converting electrical energy into vibrational energy of a predetermined frequency including a component which travels longitudinally of the magnetostrictive means, an acoustic impedance transformer of metallic material having one end attached to one end of said magnetostrictive means and a free end for performing work, said transformer means including a portion which in conjunction with other portions of the transformer produces a component of vibrational energy at the tip of said free end which moves substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis of the transducer, and an outer shell of metallic material substantially an odd number of quarter wavelengths long at said predetermined frequency connected to said transformer spaced from and surrounding a portion of said transformer in metallic material to metallic material contact in the vicinity of a node point of the vibrational energy produced therein for receiving the vibrational energy and controlling at least one characteristic of the vibrational energy produced at the tip of said free end of said transformer.

Claim 44

An ultrasonic transducer comprising magnetostrictive means of metallic material for converting electrical energy into vibrational energy of a predetermined frequency including a component which travels longitudinally of the magnetostrictive means, an acoustic impedance transformer of metallic material having one end attached to one end of said magnetostrictive means and a free end for performing work, said transformer means including a portion which in conjunction with other portions of the transformer produces a component of vibrational energy at the tip of said free end which moves substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis of the transducer, and an outer shell of metallic material substantially an odd number of quarter wavelengths long at said predetermined frequency connected to said transformer spaced from and surrounding a portion of said transformer in metallic material to metallic material contact in the vicinity of a node point of the vibrational energy produced therein for receiving the vibrational energy and controlling at least one characteristic of the vibrational energy produced at the tip of said free end of said transformer.

Claim 45

A transducer as in claim 41 wherein said outer shell is substantially one quarter wavelength long at said predetermined frequency of vibrational energy.

Claim 46

An ultrasonic transformer as in claim 41 wherein said portion of said transformer for producing the component of thd vibrational wave energy which moves substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis of the transducer, includes a mass lying off center of the longitudinal axis of the transformer.

Claim 47

An ultrasonic transducer comprising magnetostrictive means for converting electrical energy into vibrational energy having a component which travels longitudinally of the axis of the magnetostrictive means and the transducer, an acoustic impedance transformer having a first portion attached to one end of said magnetostrictive means and a second portion with one end attached to said first portion of said transformer and having a tool tip with mass which lies off-center of the longitudinal axis of the transformer and a free end, said transformer producing motion at the free end of the toop tip having components both along and substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis of the transducer, and means for supplying fluid to the moving tool tip, said last-named means including at least a portion of the acoustic impedance transformer having a fluid supply passage formed therethrough, said passage opening into the inner face of the tool tip and including a depression on the inner face in which the fluid is adapted to flow.

Claim 48

An ultrasonic transducer comprising magnetostrictive means for converting electrical energy into vibrational energy having a component which travels longitudinally of the axis of the magnetostrictive means and the transducer, an acoustic impedance transformer having a first portion attached to one end of said magnetostrictive means and a second portion with one end attached to said first portion of said transformer and having a tool tip with mass which lies off-center of the longitudinal axis of the transformer and a free end, said transformer producing motion at the free end of the toop tip having components both along and substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis of the transducer, and means for supplying fluid to the moving tool tip, said last-named means including at least a portion of the acoustic impedance transformer having a fluid supply passage formed therethrough, said passage opening into the inner face of the tool tip and including a depression on the inner face in which the fluid is adapted to flow.

Claim 49

A transducer as in claim 44 wherein said tool tip is curved.

Claim 50

A transducer as in claim 44 wherein said tool tip includes a curved portion and the depression on the inner face of said tool tip extends for at least a part of said curved portion.

Claim 51

A transducer as in claim 46 wherein said tool tip terminates in an end tapering to a point, the depression on the inner face of the tool tip terminating short of the free enD of the tool tip.

Claim 52

A handpiece for producing vibrational energy comprising, means for converting electrical energy into vibrational energy, impedance transformer means having one end attached to said converting means and a second free end having a workpiece, a flange member attached to and radially extending from said acoustic impedance transformer means, tubular housing means surrounding at least said converting means while leaving a space between the inner surface of said housing means and said converting means, said housing means including means closing one end thereof, means for supplying fluid to the interior of said housing through said closed end, and mating fastening means on said housing means and said transformer means to hold said housing means to said transformer means with the other end of said housing means directly engaging said flange member and forming a fluid tight seal with said flange member.

Claim 53

A handpiece for producing vibrational energy comprising, means for converting electrical energy into vibrational energy, impedance transformer means having one end attached to said converting means and a second free end having a workpiece, a flange member attached to and radially extending from said acoustic impedance transformer means, tubular housing means surrounding at least said converting means while leaving a space between the inner surface of said housing means and said converting means, said housing means including means closing one end thereof, means for supplying fluid to the interior of said housing through said closed end, and mating fastening means on said housing means and said transformer means to hold said housing means to said transformer means with the other end of said housing means directly engaging said flange member and forming a fluid tight seal with said flange member.