Piezoelectrically driven ultrasonic transducer

Claim 2

An ultrasonic transducer comprising: a first cylindrical member including a mechanical vibration amplifying part formed in symmetry around the axis thereof and having a gradually increased cross-sectional area toward a base portion thereof, said base portion being formed with an axially thinnest walled annular portion and a flat surface perpendicular to the axis thereof, and an annular rigid part integrally formed with said mechanical vibration amplifying part coaxially therewith, said annular rigid part abutting said thinnest walled portion and being extended from said thinnest walled portion axially and radially outwardly to have sufficient rigidity and weight, and said annular rigid part being provided, in the proximity of said thinnest walled portion, with an annular groove which axially extends from the surface of said annular rigid part to a depth which at least corresponds to the axial thickness of said thinnest walled portion of said mechanical vibration amplifying part; a second cylindrical member comprising a backing block of a cylindrical body, the base portion of which is formed with a flange and a flat surface perpendicular to the axis thereof; an ultrasonic transducer portion interposed between said flat surfaces of said first and second cylindrical members and including a pair of piezoelectric elements having flat surfaces perpendicular to the axis of said first and second cylindrical members, and an electrode plate interposed between said pair of piezoelectric elements; and fastening means for pressingly abutting said flat surfaces of said piezoelectric elements against flat surfaces of said first and second cylindrical members and integrally clamping said annular rigid part and said flange of said second cylindrical member to each other in a manner to circumvent said annular groove and said ultrasonic transducer portion, whereby cracking of piezoelectric elements is prevented to ensure stabilized operations without transitional variations in electric impedance and resonance frequency and to allow continuous vibrating operations of large amplitude over a long period of time.

Claim 3

An ultrasonic transducer according to claim 1, wherein: said first cylindrical member includes a mechanical vibration amplifying member and an annular rigid member being formed separately, said mechanical vibration amplifying member is integrally formed with a flange of a small diameter slightly projected from said thinnest walled portion of said mechanical vibration amplifying part radially outwardly and having a narrow annular flat surface on the output side of said mechanical vibration amplifying member, said annular rigid member having a flat annular surface on one side thereof to be engaged with said annular flat surface of said flange of said mechanical vibration amplifying member, and said fastening means clamp said annular rigid member and said flange of said second cylindrical member to each other in a manner to circumvent said small-diameter flange, whereby said pair of piezoelectric elements are pressingly abutted against said flat surfaces of said first and second cylindrical members.

Claim 4

An ultrasonic transducer according to claim 2, wherein: said annular rigid member has at the axial end of the inner peripheral wall portion thereof a stepped portion consisting of an annular inner surface formed parallel with the axis thereof and an annular flat bottom surface perpendicular to said axis, said bottom surface of said stepped portion being uniformly engaged with said narrow annular flat surface on said flange of said mechanical vibration amplifying member and said annular inner surface retaining a narrow annular gap around the outer periphery of said flange of said mechanical vibration amplifying member.

Claim 5

An ultrasonic transducer according to claim 2 wherein: said flat surfaces of said annular rigid member and said small-diameter flange are integrally joined together by soldering or welding means.

Claim 6

An ultrasonic transducer according to claim 1, wherein: said flat surface of said mechanical vibration amplifying part is integrally formed with a circular projection axially projected therefrom and having a circular flat surface, and said piezoelectric elements are compressedly held between said circular flat surface of said circular projection and said flat surface of said second cylindrical member, thereby strengthening said flat surface of said first cylindrical member, and further reducing the flexural vibration of said flat surface.

Claim 7

An ultrasonic transducer according to claim 1 wherein: said mechanical vibration amplifying part is selected from the group consisting of an exponential horn, a stepped horn, a conical horn, a Fourier horn and a catenary horn.

Claim 8

An ultrasonic transducer according to claim 1 wherein: said base portion of said first cylindrical member has a disc like shape of small volume.

Claim 9

An ultrasonic transducer according to claim 1 wherein: said base portion of said first cylindrical member has a cylinder shape of large volume.

Claim 10

An ultrasonic transducer according to claim 1 wherein: said base of said mechanical vibration amplifying part is positioned at a nodal plane of a predetermined resonance vibration mode; and said mechanical vibration amplifying part, said annular rigid part, said second cylindrical member, said ultrasonic transducer portion and said fastening means are so dimensioned and constructed that the total length of said transducer coincides with a predetermined wavelength in resonance vibration of a predetermined mode.

Claim 11

An ultrasonic transducer according to claim 7, wherein said base portion is positioned at a nodal line of one-quarter wavelength in a half-wavelength longitudinal resonance vibration mode and the total length of said transducer is a half wavelength.

Claim 12

An ultrasonic transducer according to claim 8, wherein said base portion is positioned at a nodal line of three-quarter wavelength in one wavelength longitudinal resonance vibration mode, and the total length of said transducer is one wavelength.

Claim 13

An ultrasonic transducer according to claim 1 wherein: said flange of said second cylindrical member is a petal type flange having notches except for those portions which are clamped by said fastening means.

Claim 14

An ultrasonic transducer according to claim 1 wherein: said backing block is provided with a threaded portion for engaging replaceably with an attachment having a corresponding threaded portion.

Claim 15

An ultrasonic transducer according to claim 1 wherein: said mechanical vibration amplifying part is provided with a threaded portion for engaging replaceably with an attachment having a corresponding threaded portion.

Claim 16

An ultrasonic transducer according to claim 1 wherein: said backing block includes a main block body and a resonance adjusting block which are fastened integrally to each other by a coupling bolt.

Claim 17

An ultrasonic transducer according to claim 1 wherein: said mechanical vibration amplifying part includes a front end portion and a rear end portion having tapped bores along the entire lengths which are fastened integrally to each other by a bolt passing therethrough.

Claim 18

An ultrasonic transducer according to claim 3, wherein: said mechanical vibration amplifying member of said first cylindrical member is an exponential type horn and said base portion of said first cylindrical member is formed in a disc like shape of small volume, said flange being projected from an outer peripheral part of said disc like base portion thereof; said stepped annular rigid member has four threaded axial holes at parts outside the position of said stepped annular inner surface forming said annular gap and has a plurality of axial through-holes into which bolts are inserted to fix said stepped annular rigid member to an annular supporting member; said second cylindrical member comprises a hat-shaped solid member having a flange of larger diameter than that of said flange of said first cylindrical member, said larger diameter flange having four holes; said piezoelectric elements of said ultrasonic transducer portion have a disc-like shape, said electrode plate has a thin disc-like shape, said piezoelectric elements and electrode plate are connected to an ultrasonic oscillator, and the diameters of said piezoelectric elements and electrode plate are smaller than that of said flat surface of said first cylindrical member; and said fastening means comprises four bolts respectively inserted into four holes of said flange of said second cylindrical member and said four threaded holes of said annular rigid member.

Claim 19

An ultrasonic transducer according to claim 3, wherein: said mechanical vibration amplifying member of said first cylindrical member is a stepped type horn and said base portion of said first cylindrical member is formed in a disc like shape of small volume, said flange being projected from an outer peripheral part of said disc like base portion thereof and said base portion being provided with a circular projection projecting axially and integrally therefrom and having a circular flat surface which is perpendicular to the axis thereof and which has the same outer diameter as that of said piezoelectric elements; said stepped annular rigid member has four threaded axial holes at parts outside the position of said stepped annular inner surface forming said annular gap; said second cylindrical member comprises a hat-shaped solid member having a flange of larger diameter than that of said flange of said first cylindrical member, said larger diameter flange having four holes; said piezoelectric elements of said ultrasonic transducer portion have a disc-like shape, said electrode plate has a thin disc-like shape, said piezoelectric elements and electrode plate are connected to an ultrasonic oscillator, and the diameters of said piezoelectric elements and electrode plate are smaller than that of said flat surface of said first cylindrical member; and said fastening means comprises four bolts respectively inserted into four holes of said flange of said second cylindrical member and said four threaded holes of said annular rigid member; and further including supporting means comprising an annular member having a stepped portion to be engaged with the outer periphery of said annular rigid member and having four axial holes, an annular supporting member having four threaded axial holes and four bolts respectively inserted into said four axial holes of said annular member and said four threaded axial holes of said annular supporting member, thereby supporting the ultrasonic transducer by sandwiching said annular rigid member between said annular member and annular supporting member.

Claim 20

An ultrasonic transducer according to claim 3, wherein: said mechanical vibration amplifying member of said first cylindrical member is a conical type horn which is provided with a center bore extending along a longitudinal axis thereof from a tip portion thereof to said base portion and having a bottom portion at said base portion and an internally threaded portion at said tip portion, and said base portion of said first cylindrical member is formed in a disc like shape of small volume, said flange being projected from an outer peripheral part of said disc like base portion thereof; said stepped annular rigid member is integrally joined at said annular flat bottom surface to said narrow annular flat surface of said flange by soldering or welding means, and has four threaded axial holes at parts outside the position of said stepped annular inner surface forming said annular gap; said second cylindrical member comprises a hat-shaped solid member having said flange of larger diameter than that of said flange of said first cylindrical member, said larger diameter flange having four holes; said piezoelectric elements of said ultrasonic transducer portion have a disc-like shape, said electrode plate has a thin disc-like shape, said piezoelectric elements and electrode plate are connected to an ultrasonic oscillator, and the diameters of said piezoelectric elements and electrode plate are smaller than that of said flat surface of said first cylindrical member; and said fastening means comprises four bolts respectively inserted into four holes of said flange of said second cylindrical member, four holes of an annular spacer and said four threaded holes of said annular rigid member; and further including an ultrasonic machining tool comprising a hollow cylinder having a bottom portion at one end thereof and having a threaded projecting portion at said bottom portion, said threaded projecting portion being fixed to said internally threaded portion at said tip portion of said first cylindrical member.

Claim 21

An ultrasonic transducer comprising: a first cylindrical member including a mechanical vibration amplifying part formed in symmetry around the axis thereof and having a gradually increased cross-sectional area toward a base portion thereof, said base portion being formed with an axially thinnest walled portion and at flat surface perpendicular to the axis thereof, and an annular rigid part integrally formed with said mechanical vibration amplifying part coaxially therewith, said annular rigid part being extended from said thinnest walled portion axially and radially outwardly to have sufficient rigidity and weight, and said annular rigid part being provided, in the proximity of said thinnest walled portion, with an annular groove which axially extends from the surface of said annular rigid part to a depth which at least corresponds to the axial thickness of said thinnest walled portion of said mechanical vibration amplifying part; a second cylindrical member comprising a backing block of a cylindrical body, the base portion of which is formed with a flange and a flat surface perpendicular to the axis thereof; an ultrasonic transducer portion interposed between said flat surfaces of said first and second cylindrical members and including a pair of piezoelectric elements having flat surfaces perpendicular to the axis of said first and second cylindrical members, and an electrode plate interposed between said pair of piezoelectric elements; and fastening means for pressingly abutting said flat surfaces of said piezoelectric elements against said flat surfaces of said first and second cylindrical members and integrally clamping said annular rigid part and said flange of said second cylindrical member to each other in a manner to circumvent said annular groove and said ultrasonic transducer portion, wherein said first cylindrical member is one member comprising said mechanical vibration amplifying part of a stepped type horn, said base portion is formed in a disc like shape of small volume, and said annular rigid part which connects to said annular thinnest walled portion of said base portion, and which has an annular axial groove having a predetermined depth provided adjacent to said annular thinnest walled portion to reduce the area of said flat surface of said first cylindrical member contacting said piezoelectric element has four axial threaded holes at positions superposing on said annular groove; said second cylindrical member comprises a hat-shaped solid member having a petal type flange of larger diameter than that of said flange of said first cylindrical member, said petal type flange having four holes at the projecting part thereof; said ultrasonic transducer portion comprises said piezoelectric elements having a disc-like shape, said electrode plate having a thin disc-like shape and two circular sheets inserted between said piezoelectric elements and flat surfaces of said first and second cylindrical members, said piezoelectric elements and electrode plate are connected to an ultrasonic oscillator, and the diameters of said piezoelectric elements, electrode plate and two circular sheets are smaller than that of said flat surface of said first cylindrical member; and said fastening means comprises four bolts respectively inserted into four holes of said petal type flange of said second cylindrical member and said four threaded holes of said annular rigid part of said first cylindrical member; and further including supporting means comprising an annular member having a stepped portion to be engaged with the outer periphery of said annular rigid part and having four axial holes, an annular supporting member having four threaded axial holes and four bolts respectively inserted into said four axial holes of said annular member and said four threaded axial holes of said annular supporting member, thereby supporting the ultrasonic transducer by sandwiching said annular rigid part between said annular member and annular supporting member, whereby cracking of piezoelectric elements is prevented to ensure stabilized operations without transitional variations in electric impedance and resonance frequency and to allow continuous vibrating operations of large amplitude over a long period of time.

Claim 22

An ultrasonic transducer comprising: a first cylindrical member including a mechanical vibration amplifying part formed in symmetry around the axis thereof and having a gradually increased cross-sectional area toward a base portion thereof, said base portion being formed with an axially thinnest walled portion and at flat surface perpendicular to the axis thereof, and an annular rigid part integrally formed with said mechanical vibration amplifying part coaxially therewith, said annular rigid part being extended from said thinnest walled portion axially and radially outwardly to have sufficient rigidity and weight, and said annular rigid part being provided, in the proximity of said thinnest walled portion, with an annular groove which axially extends from the surface of said annular rigid part to a depth which at least corresponds to the axial thickness of said thinnest walled portion of said mechanical vibration amplifying part; a second cylindrical member comprising a backing block of a cylindrical body, the base portion of which is formed with a flange and a flat surface perpendicular to the axis thereof; an ultrasonic transducer portion interposed between said flat surfaces of said first and second cylindrical members and including a pair of piezoelectric elements having flat surfaces perpendicular to the axis of said first and second cylindrical members, and an electrode plate interposed between said pair of piezoelectric elements; and fastening means for pressingly abutting said flat surfaces of said piezoelectric elements against said flat surfaces of said first and second cylindrical members and integrally clamping said annular rigid part and said flange of said second cylindrical member to each other in a manner to circumvent said annular groove and said ultrasonic transducer portion, wherein said first cylindrical member is one member comprising said mechanical vibration amplifying part of a stepped type horn, said base portion is formed in a disc like shape of small volume, and said annular rigid part which connects to said annular thinnest walled portion of said base portion, and which has an annular axial groove having a predetermined depth provided adjacent to said annular thinnest walled portion to reduce the area of said flat surface of said first cylindrical member contacting said piezoelectric element has four axial threaded holes at positions superposing on said annular groove; said second cylindrical member comprises a hat-shaped solid member having a petal type flange of larger diameter than that of said flange of said first cylindrical member, said petal type flange having four holes at the projecting part thereof; said ultrasonic transducer portion comprises said piezoelectric elements having a disc-like shape, said electrode plate having a thin disc-like shape and two circular sheets inserted between said piezoelectric elements and flat surfaces of said first and second cylindrical members, said piezoelectric elements and electrode plate are connected to an ultrasonic oscillator, and the diameters of said piezoelectric elements, electrode plate and two circular sheets are smaller than that of said flat surface of said first cylindrical member; and said fastening means comprises four bolts respectively inserted into four holes of said petal type flange of said second cylindrical member and said four threaded holes of said annular rigid part of said first cylindrical member; and further including supporting means comprising an annular member having a stepped portion to be engaged with the outer periphery of said annular rigid part and having four axial holes, an annular supporting member having four threaded axial holes and four bolts respectively inserted into said four axial holes of said annular member and said four threaded axial holes of said annular supporting member, thereby supporting the ultrasonic transducer by sandwiching said annular rigid part between said annular member and annular supporting member, whereby cracking of piezoelectric elements is prevented to ensure stabilized operations without transitional variations in electric impedance and resonance frequency and to allow continuous vibrating operations of large amplitude over a long period of time.

Claim 23

An ultrasonic transducer according to claim 20, further including a circular projection having a circular flat surface axially and integrally projected with a smooth curve from said flat surface of said base portion thereof, and having the same diameter as that of said piezoelectric element in contact with said projected circular flat surface, thereby to strengthen said circular flat surface contacting said piezoelectric element and further reduce the flexural vibration of said circular flat surface.

Claim 24

An ultrasonic transducer comprising: a first cylindrical member including a mechanical vibration amplifying part formed in symmetry around the axis thereof and having a gradually increased cross-sectional area toward a base portion thereof, said base portion being formed with an axially thinnest walled annular portion and a flat surface perpendicular to the axis thereof, and an annular rigid part integrally formed with said mechanical vibration amplifying part coaxially therewith, said annular rigid part being extended from said thinnest walled portion axially and radially outwardly to have sufficient rigidity and weight, and said annular rigid part being provided, in the proximity of said thinnest walled portion, with an annular groove which axially extends from the surface of said annular rigid part to a depth which at least corresponds to the axial thickness of said thinnest walled portion of said mechanical vibration amplifying part; a second cylindrical member comprising a backing block of a cylindrical body, the base portion of which is formed with a flange and a flat surface perpendicular to the axis thereof; an ultrasonic transducer portion interposed between said flat surfaces of said first and second cylindrical members and including a pair of piezoelectric elements having flat surfaces perpendicular to the axis of said first and second cylindrical members, and an electrode plate interposed between said pair of piezoelectric elements; and fastening means for pressingly abutting said flat surfaces of said piezoelectric elements against said flat surfaces of said first and second cylindrical members and integrally clamping said annular rigid part and said flange of said second cylindrical member to each other in a manner to circumvent said annular goove and said ultrasonic transducer portion, wherein said first cylindrical member is one member comprising said mechanical vibration amplifying part of a stepped type horn having a threaded tip portion, said base portion is formed in a disc-like shape of small volume, and said annular rigid part which connected to said annular thinnest walled portion of said base portion, and which has an annular axial groove having predetermined depth provided adjacent to said annular thinnest walled portion to reduce the area of said flat surface of said first cylindrical member contacting said piezoelectric element has four axial threaded holes at positions superposing on said annular groove; said second cylindrical member comprises a hat-shaped solid member having a petal type flange of larger diameter than that of said flange of said first cylindrical member, and having a small threaded projection coaxially formed therefrom, and an annular member having the same outer diameter as that of said hat-shaped solid member and having a threaded inner wall for engaging with said threaded projection, said petal type flange having four holes at the projecting parts thereof; said ultrasonic transducer portion comprises said piezoelectric elements having a disc-like shape, said electrode plate having a thin disc-like shape and two circular sheets inserted between said piezoelectric elements and flat surfaces of said first and second cylindrical members, said piezoelectric elements and electrode plate are connected to an ultrasonic oscillator, and the diameters of said piezoelectric elements, electrode plate and two circular sheets are smaller than that of said first cylindrical member; and said fastening means comprises four bolts respectively inserted into four holes of said petal type flange of said second cylindrical member and said four threaded holes of said annular rigid part of said first cylindrical member; further comprising supporting means comprising an annular member having a stepped portion to be engaged with the outer periphery of said annular rigid part and having four axial holes, an annular supporting member having four threaded axial holes and four bolts respectively inserted into said four axial holes of said annular member and said four threaded axial holes of said annular supporting member, thereby supporting the ultrasonic transducer by sandwiching said annular rigid part between said annular member and annular supporting member, and further including an ultrasonic machining tool comprising a disc shape member having an annular leg portion which has a threaded inner wall to engage with said threaded tip portion of said mechanical vibration amplifying part, whereby cracking of piezoelectric elements is prevented to ensure stabilized operations without transitional variations in electric impedance and resonance frequency and to allow continuous vibrating operations of large amplitude over a long period of time.

Claim 25

An ultrasonic transducer comprising: a first cylindrical member including a mechanical vibration amplifying part formed in symmetry around the axis thereof and having a gradually increased cross-sectional area toward a base portion thereof, said base portion being formed with an axially thinnest walled annular portion and a flat surface perpendicular to the axis thereof, and an annular rigid part integrally formed with said mechanical vibration amplifying part coaxially therewith, said annular rigid part being extended from said thinnest walled portion axially and radially outwardly to have sufficient rigidity and weight, and said annular rigid part being provided, in the proximity of said thinnest walled portion, with an annular groove which axially extends from the surface of said annular rigid part to a depth which at least corresponds to the axial thickness of said thinnest walled portion of said mechanical vibration amplifying part; a second cylindrical member comprising a backing block of a cylindrical body, the base portion of which is formed with a flange and a flat surface perpendicular to the axis thereof; an ultrasonic transducer portion interposed between said flat surfaces of said first and second cylindrical members and including a pair of piezoelectric elements having flat surfaces perpendicular to the axis of said first and second cylindrical members, and an electrode plate interposed between said pair of piezoelectric elements; and fastening means for pressingly abutting said flat surfaces of said piezoelectric elements against said flat surfaces of said first and second cylindrical members and integrally clamping said annular rigid part and said flange of said second cylindrical member to each other in a manner to circumvent said annular goove and said ultrasonic transducer portion, wherein said first cylindrical member is one member comprising said mechanical vibration amplifying part of a stepped type horn having a threaded tip portion, said base portion is formed in a disc-like shape of small volume, and said annular rigid part which connected to said annular thinnest walled portion of said base portion, and which has an annular axial groove having predetermined depth provided adjacent to said annular thinnest walled portion to reduce the area of said flat surface of said first cylindrical member contacting said piezoelectric element has four axial threaded holes at positions superposing on said annular groove; said second cylindrical member comprises a hat-shaped solid member having a petal type flange of larger diameter than that of said flange of said first cylindrical member, and having a small threaded projection coaxially formed therefrom, and an annular member having the same outer diameter as that of said hat-shaped solid member and having a threaded inner wall for engaging with said threaded projection, said petal type flange having four holes at the projecting parts thereof; said ultrasonic transducer portion comprises said piezoelectric elements having a disc-like shape, said electrode plate having a thin disc-like shape and two circular sheets inserted between said piezoelectric elements and flat surfaces of said first and second cylindrical members, said piezoelectric elements and electrode plate are connected to an ultrasonic oscillator, and the diameters of said piezoelectric elements, electrode plate and two circular sheets are smaller than that of said first cylindrical member; and said fastening means comprises four bolts respectively inserted into four holes of said petal type flange of said second cylindrical member and said four threaded holes of said annular rigid part of said first cylindrical member; further comprising supporting means comprising an annular member having a stepped portion to be engaged with the outer periphery of said annular rigid part and having four axial holes, an annular supporting member having four threaded axial holes and four bolts respectively inserted into said four axial holes of said annular member and said four threaded axial holes of said annular supporting member, thereby supporting the ultrasonic transducer by sandwiching said annular rigid part between said annular member and annular supporting member, and further including an ultrasonic machining tool comprising a disc shape member having an annular leg portion which has a threaded inner wall to engage with said threaded tip portion of said mechanical vibration amplifying part, whereby cracking of piezoelectric elements is prevented to ensure stabilized operations without transitional variations in electric impedance and resonance frequency and to allow continuous vibrating operations of large amplitude over a long period of time.

Claim 26

An ultrasonic transducer according to claim 17, wherein said base portion is positioned at a nodal line of one-quarter wavelength in a half wavelength longitudinal resonance vibration mode and the total length of said transducer is a half wavelength.

Claim 27

An ultrasonic transducer comprising: a first cylindrical member including a mechanical vibration amplifying part formed in symmetry around the axis thereof and having a generally increased cross-sectional area toward a base portion thereof, said base portion being formed with an axially thinnest walled portion and a flat surface perpendicular to the axis thereof, and an annular rigid part integrally formed with said mechanical vibration amplifying part coaxially therewith, said annular rigid part being extended from said thinnest walled portion axially and radially outwardly to have sufficient rigidity and weight, and said annular rigid part being provided, in the proximity of said thinnest walled portion, with an annular groove which axially extends from the surface of said annular rigid part to a depth which at least corresponds to the axial thickness of said thinnest walled portion of said mechanical vibration amplifying part; a second cylindrical member comprising a backing block of a cylindrical body, the base portion of which is formed with a flange and a flat surface perpendicular to the axis thereof; an ultrasonic transducer portion interposed between said flat surfaces of said first and second cylindrical members and including a pair of piezoelectric elements having flat surfaces perpendicular to the axis of said first and second cylindrical members, and an electrode plate interposed between said pair of piezoelectric elements; and fastening means for pressingly abutting said flat surfaces of said piezoelectric elements against said flat surfaces of said first and second cylindrical members and integrally clamping said annular rigid part and said flange of said second cylindrical member to each other in a manner to circumvent said annular groove and said ultrasonic transducer portion, wherein said first cylindrical member comprises an annular member having a threaded inner wall and forming a base part of a stepped type horn, said base portion being formed in a disc like shape of small volume, and said annular rigid part being connected to said annular thinnest walled portion of said base portion, said annular rigid part having an annular axial groove with predetermined depth provided adjacent to said annular thinnest walled portion to reduce the area of said flat surface of said first cylindrical member contacting said piezoelectric element and having four axial threaded holes at positions superposing on said annular groove; a tip cylindrical member having a threaded inner wall and forming a tip part of said stepped type horn; and a bolt having a threaded outer wall for engaging with said threaded inner walls of said annular member and tip cylindrical member in the whole of length to integrally fasten said annular member and said tip cylindrical member; said second cylindrical member comprises: a first hollow cylindrical member having a threaded inner wall and a petal type flange of a larger diameter than that of said flange of said first cylindrical member, said petal type flange having four holes at the projecting parts thereof; a second hollow cylindrical member for adjusting the resonance vibration having a threaded inner wall; and a bolt having a threaded outer wall for engaging with said threaded inner walls of said first and second hollow cylindrical members to integrally fasten the members, said ultrasonic transducer portion comprises said piezoelectric elements having a disc-like shape, said electrode plate having a thin disc-like shape and two circular sheets inserted between said piezoelectric elements and flat surfaces of said first and second cylindrical members, said piezoelectric elements and electrode plate are connected to an ultrasonic oscillator, and the diameters of said piezoelectric elements, electrode plate and two circular sheets are smaller than that of said flat surface of said first cylindrical member; and said fastening means comprises four bolts respectively inserted into four holes of said petal type flange of said second cylindrical member, four holes of an annular spacer and said four threaded holes of said annular rigid part of said first cylindrical member; and further including supporting means comprising an annular member having a stepped portion to be engaged with the outer periphery of said annular rigid part and having four holes, an annular supporting member having four threaded axial holes, and four bolts respectively inserted into said four axial holes of said annular member and into said four threaded axial holes of said annular supporting member, thereby supporting the ultrasonic transducer by sandwiching said annular rigid part between said annular member and annular supporting member whereby cracking of piezoelectric elements is prevented to ensure stabilized operations without transitional variations in electric impedance and resonance frequency and to allow continuous vibrating operations of large amplitude over a long period of time.

Claim 28

An ultrasonic transducer comprising: a first cylindrical member including a mechanical vibration amplifying part formed in symmetry around the axis thereof and having a generally increased cross-sectional area toward a base portion thereof, said base portion being formed with an axially thinnest walled portion and a flat surface perpendicular to the axis thereof, and an annular rigid part integrally formed with said mechanical vibration amplifying part coaxially therewith, said annular rigid part being extended from said thinnest walled portion axially and radially outwardly to have sufficient rigidity and weight, and said annular rigid part being provided, in the proximity of said thinnest walled portion, with an annular groove which axially extends from the surface of said annular rigid part to a depth which at least corresponds to the axial thickness of said thinnest walled portion of said mechanical vibration amplifying part; a second cylindrical member comprising a backing block of a cylindrical body, the base portion of which is formed with a flange and a flat surface perpendicular to the axis thereof; an ultrasonic transducer portion interposed between said flat surfaces of said first and second cylindrical members and including a pair of piezoelectric elements having flat surfaces perpendicular to the axis of said first and second cylindrical members, and an electrode plate interposed between said pair of piezoelectric elements; and fastening means for pressingly abutting said flat surfaces of said piezoelectric elements against said flat surfaces of said first and second cylindrical members and integrally clamping said annular rigid part and said flange of said second cylindrical member to each other in a manner to circumvent said annular groove and said ultrasonic transducer portion, wherein said first cylindrical member comprises an annular member having a threaded inner wall and forming a base part of a stepped type horn, said base portion being formed in a disc like shape of small volume, and said annular rigid part being connected to said annular thinnest walled portion of said base portion, said annular rigid part having an annular axial groove with predetermined depth provided adjacent to said annular thinnest walled portion to reduce the area of said flat surface of said first cylindrical member contacting said piezoelectric element and having four axial threaded holes at positions superposing on said annular groove; a tip cylindrical member having a threaded inner wall and forming a tip part of said stepped type horn; and a bolt having a threaded outer wall for engaging with said threaded inner walls of said annular member and tip cylindrical member in the whole of length to integrally fasten said annular member and said tip cylindrical member; said second cylindrical member comprises: a first hollow cylindrical member having a threaded inner wall and a petal type flange of a larger diameter than that of said flange of said first cylindrical member, said petal type flange having four holes at the projecting parts thereof; a second hollow cylindrical member for adjusting the resonance vibration having a threaded inner wall; and a bolt having a threaded outer wall for engaging with said threaded inner walls of said first and second hollow cylindrical members to integrally fasten the members, said ultrasonic transducer portion comprises said piezoelectric elements having a disc-like shape, said electrode plate having a thin disc-like shape and two circular sheets inserted between said piezoelectric elements and flat surfaces of said first and second cylindrical members, said piezoelectric elements and electrode plate are connected to an ultrasonic oscillator, and the diameters of said piezoelectric elements, electrode plate and two circular sheets are smaller than that of said flat surface of said first cylindrical member; and said fastening means comprises four bolts respectively inserted into four holes of said petal type flange of said second cylindrical member, four holes of an annular spacer and said four threaded holes of said annular rigid part of said first cylindrical member; and further including supporting means comprising an annular member having a stepped portion to be engaged with the outer periphery of said annular rigid part and having four holes, an annular supporting member having four threaded axial holes, and four bolts respectively inserted into said four axial holes of said annular member and into said four threaded axial holes of said annular supporting member, thereby supporting the ultrasonic transducer by sandwiching said annular rigid part between said annular member and annular supporting member whereby cracking of piezoelectric elements is prevented to ensure stabilized operations without transitional variations in electric impedance and resonance frequency and to allow continuous vibrating operations of large amplitude over a long period of time.

Claim 29

An ultrasonic transducer according to claim 24, wherein said first and second cylindrical member are made of steel and are designed as follows: the diameter and length of said tip cylindrical member of said first cylindrical member are 7.3φ and 15 mm; the length from the tip portion to said base portion of said first cylindrical member i.e., the length of said mechanical vibration-amplifying part is 33.7 mm; the diameter and length of said second hollow cylindrical member of said second cylindrical member are 20 o and 12 mm; and the length from said base portion to the tip portion of said second hollow cylindrical member of said second cylindrical member is 34.3 mm; so that said base portion is positioned at a nodal line of the one-quarter wavelength in the half wavelength longitudinal resonance vibration of 38.0 KHz and the total length of said ultrasonic transducer is a half wavelength.

Claim 30

An ultrasonic transducer according to claim 24, wherein: said tip cylindrical member further comprises a hollow cylindrical vibratory part at the front end portion, said hollow cylindrical vibratory part of predetermined inner and outer diameters and length being provided perpendicularly to the axis of said tip cylindrical member.

Claim 31

An ultrasonic transducer according to claim 24, wherein: said tip cylindrical member further comprises a disc shaped part at the front end portion, said disc shaped part of predetermined diameter and thickness being coaxially provided to the axis of said tip cylindrical member.

Claim 32

An ultrasonic transducer according to claim 3, wherein said first cylindrical member comprises: one member comprising said mechanical vibration amplifying members being formed in a stepped type horn having one-quarter wavelength in the longitudinal resonance vibration mode, said base portion comprising a cylindrical member, of large volume and a half wavelength in the longitudinal resonance vibration mode, integrally formed to said mechanical vibration amplifying member, and said flange of annular shape integrally formed at an outer wall of said base portion; and said annular rigid member contacting said flange at said annular flat surface.

Claim 33

An ultrasonic transducer according to claim 3, wherein said first cylindrical member comprises: a first member forming said mechanical vibration amplifying member being formed in a stepped type horn which has one-quarter wavelength in the longitudinal resonance vibration mode and a flange part; a second member forming said base portion being formed in a solid cylindrical member, of a half wavelength in the longitudinal resonance vibration mode, which is fixed to said first member by the adhesive and has a flange at the base portion; and said annular rigid member contacting said flange of said second member at said annular flat surface.

Claim 34

An ultrasonic transducer according to claim 3, wherein said first cylindrical member comprises: one member comprising said mechanical vibration amplifying member of a long stepped type horn having three-quarter wavelength in the longitudinal resonance vibration mode, said base portion comprising a disc part of short volume integrally formed to said mechanical vibration amplifying member, and said flange is formed at the outer peripheral part of said disc part; and said annular rigid member contacting said flange at said annular flat surface.

Claim 35

An ultrasonic transducer according to claim 3, wherein said first cylindrical member comprises: a first member forming a part of said mechanical vibration amplifying member of an exponential type horn; a second member forming another part of said mechanical vibration amplifying member of a stepped type horn, which has said base portion of a disc shape member and said flange formed at the outer peripheral part of said base portion; and said annular rigid member contacting said flange at said annular flat surface.

Claim 36

An ultrasonic transducer according to claim 3, wherein: said flat surface of said mechanical vibration amplifying member is integrally formed with a circular projection axially projected therefrom and having a circular flat surface, and said piezoelectric elements are compressedly held between said circular flat surface of said circular projection and said flat surface of said second cylindrical member, thereby strengthening said flat surface of said first cylindrical member, and further reducing the flexural vibration of said flat surface.

Claim 37

An ultrasonic transducer according to claim 3 wherein: said mechanical vibration amplifying member is selected from the group consisting of an exponential horn, a stepped horn, a conical horn, a Fourier horn and a catenary horn.

Claim 38

An ultrasonic transducer according to claim 3 wherein: said base portion of said first cylindrical member has a disc-like shape of small volume.

Claim 39

An ultrasonic transducer according to claim 3 wherein: said base portion of said first cylindrical member has a cylinder shape of large volume.

Claim 40

An ultrasonic transducer according to claim 3 wherein: said base portion of said mechanical vibration amplifying member is positioned at a nodal plane of a predetermined resonance vibration mode; and said mechanical vibration amplifying member, said annular rigid member, said second cylindrical member, said ultrasonic transducer portion and said fastening means are so dimensioned and constructed that the total length of said transducer coincides with a predetermined wavelength in resonance vibration of a predetermined mode.

Claim 41

An ultrasonic transducer according to claim 34, wherein said base portion is positioned at a nodal line of one-quarter wavelength in a half-wavelength longitudinal resonance vibration mode and the total length of said transducer is a half wavelength.

Claim 42

An ultrasonic transducer according to claim 35, wherein said base portion is positioned at a nodal line of three-quarter wavelength in one wavelength longitudinal resonance vibration mode, and the total length of said transducer is one wavelength.

Claim 43

An ultrasonic transducer according to claim 3 wherein: said flange of said second cylindrical member is a petal type flange having notches except for those portions which are clamped by said fastening means.

Claim 44

An ultrasonic transducer according to claim 3 wherein: said backing block is provided with a threaded portion for engaging replaceably with an attachment having a corresponding threaded portion.

Claim 45

An ultrasonic transducer according to claim 3 wherein: said mechanical vibration amplifying member is provided with a threaded portion for engaging replaceably with an attachment having a corresponding threaded portion.

Claim 46

An ultrasonic transducer according to claim 3 wherein: said backing block includes a main block body and a resonance adjusting block which are fastened integrally to each other by a coupling bolt.

Claim 47

An ultrasonic transducer according to claim 3 wherein: said mechanical vibration amplifying member includes a front end portion and a rear end portion having tapped bores along the entire length which are fastened integrally to each other by a bolt passing therethrough.