US4193009A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Ultrasonic piezoelectric transducer using a rubber mounting
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1977-11-07
•
Granted: 1980-03-11
•
Expires: 1997-11-07
Abstract
Abstract An ultrasonic transducer device is disclosed, comprising an elongated front end mass, an elongated tail mass, a pair of piezoelectric elements disposed between said front end mass and said tail mass, an electrode disposed between said piezoelectric elements, means for clamping said front end mass and said tail mass together with said piezoelectric elements and said electrode clamped therebetween, and a mounting member having an opening therein slidably receiving said piezoelectric elements and portions of said front end mass and said tail mass, said opening having a sufficiently loose fit with said piezoelectric elements and said masses to obviate any substantial damping of ultrasonic vibrations. Preferably, said electrode comprises a plate projecting outwardly beyond said piezoelectric elements, said mounting member having an internal peripheral slot within said opening and slidably receiving said electrode plate to restrain said piezoelectric elements and said masses against longitudinal movement. The electrode is preferably in the form of a plate which projects outwardly beyond the piezoelectric elements and is slidably received in a peripheral slot formed within the mounting member. In one embodiment, the mounting member is made of silicone rubber, preferably molded around the piezoelectric elements and the masses, so that the mounting member interlocks with the electrode plate. When the silicone rubber mounting member is cured, it debonds and shrinks away from the piezoelectric elements, the electrode plate and the masses to provide the desired sliding fit. In another embodiment, the mounting member is split into a plurality of complementary components to facilitate the installation of the piezoelectric elements, the masses and the electrode plate within the opening in the mounting member.
Inventors
- 👤 Benton A. Durley, III
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 14:56
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01J; B01J29/00; B01J29/04; B01J29/06; B01J29/18; B01J29/20; B01J29/24; B05; B05B; B05B17/00; B05B17/04; B05B17/06; B05B17/0607; B05B17/0623; B05B7/00; B05B7/0081; B06; B06B; B06B1/00; B06B1/02; B06B1/06; B06B1/0607; B06B1/0611; B06B1/0618
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 32
Claim 1
Independent Claim
136 words
An ultrasonic transducer, comprising an elongated front end mass, an elongated tail mass, a pair of piezoelectric elements disposed between said front end mass and said tail mass, an electrode plate disposed between said piezoelectric elements, means for clamping said front end mass and said tail mass together with said piezoelectric elements and said electrode plate clamped therebetween, and an electrically insulating mounting member surrounding and slidably receiving said piezoelectric elements and adjacent portions of said front end mass and said tail mass in an opening in said mounting member, said mounting member having an internal slot within said opening and slidably receiving and retaining said electrode plate, said opening and said slot having a sufficiently loose fit with said piezoelectric elements, said masses and said electrode plate to obviate any substantial damping of ultrasonic vibrations.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
136 words
An ultrasonic transducer, comprising an elongated front end mass, an elongated tail mass, a pair of piezoelectric elements disposed between said front end mass and said tail mass, an electrode plate disposed between said piezoelectric elements, means for clamping said front end mass and said tail mass together with said piezoelectric elements and said electrode plate clamped therebetween, and an electrically insulating mounting member surrounding and slidably receiving said piezoelectric elements and adjacent portions of said front end mass and said tail mass in an opening in said mounting member, said mounting member having an internal slot within said opening and slidably receiving and retaining said electrode plate, said opening and said slot having a sufficiently loose fit with said piezoelectric elements, said masses and said electrode plate to obviate any substantial damping of ultrasonic vibrations.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
A transducer according to claim 1, in which said piezoelectric elements, said front end mass and said tail mass are generally cylindrical and circular in cross section, said opening being generally circular for slidably receiving said piezoelectric elements and said masses.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
A transducer according to claim 2, in which said slot is in the form of an internal annular groove formed in said mounting member within said opening.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
A transducer according to claim 1, in which said mounting member is made of silicone rubber.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
A transducer according to claim 1, in which said mounting member is split into two complementary components to facilitate installation of said piezoelectric elements, said masses and said electrode plate within said opening and said slot.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
A transducer according to claim 1, in which said mounting member is made of a soft resilient material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
A transducer according to claim 1, in which said mounting member is made of soft resilient material, said transducer comprising mounting means for supporting said mounting member.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
A transducer according to claim 7, in which said mounting member is made of silicone rubber.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
155 words
An ultrasonic transducer, comprising a vibratory member including an elongated front end mass, an elongated tail mass, a pair of piezoelectric elements disposed between said front end mass and said tail mass, an electrode disposed between said piezoelectric elements, and means for clamping said front end mass and said tail mass together with said piezoelectric elements and said electrode clamped therebetween, and an electrically insulating mounting member slidably engaging and supporting said vibratory member and constituting substantially the sole support for said vibratory member, said mounting member encapsulating and slidably receiving said piezoelectric elements and adjacent portions of said front end mass and said tail mass with a loose sliding fit in an opening in said mounting member, said opening affording definite clearance between said mounting member and said piezoelectric elements, said electrode and said masses to afford said loose sliding fit and to obviate any substantial damping of ultrasonic vibrations of said vibratory member.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
155 words
An ultrasonic transducer, comprising a vibratory member including an elongated front end mass, an elongated tail mass, a pair of piezoelectric elements disposed between said front end mass and said tail mass, an electrode disposed between said piezoelectric elements, and means for clamping said front end mass and said tail mass together with said piezoelectric elements and said electrode clamped therebetween, and an electrically insulating mounting member slidably engaging and supporting said vibratory member and constituting substantially the sole support for said vibratory member, said mounting member encapsulating and slidably receiving said piezoelectric elements and adjacent portions of said front end mass and said tail mass with a loose sliding fit in an opening in said mounting member, said opening affording definite clearance between said mounting member and said piezoelectric elements, said electrode and said masses to afford said loose sliding fit and to obviate any substantial damping of ultrasonic vibrations of said vibratory member.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
A transducer according to claim 9, including means for restraining said piezoelectric elements and said masses against longitudinal movement relative to said mounting member.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
A transducer according to claim 9, in which said mounting member is made of soft resilient material.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
A transducer according to claim 9, in which said mounting member is made of silicone rubber.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
A transducer according to claim 9, in which said mounting member is made of soft resilient material, said transducer including means for supporting said mounting member.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
68 words
A method of making an ultrasonic transducer, comprising the steps of producing a unit comprising front and tail masses with a pair of piezoelectric elements and an electrode clamped therebetween; said electrode being disposed between said piezoelectric elements and projecting outwardly therefrom; and molding a mounting member of rubber-like material around said piezoelectric elements, said electrode and portions of said masses; said mounting member interlocking with said electrode.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
68 words
A method of making an ultrasonic transducer, comprising the steps of producing a unit comprising front and tail masses with a pair of piezoelectric elements and an electrode clamped therebetween; said electrode being disposed between said piezoelectric elements and projecting outwardly therefrom; and molding a mounting member of rubber-like material around said piezoelectric elements, said electrode and portions of said masses; said mounting member interlocking with said electrode.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
57 words
A method according to claim 14, in which said mounting member is molded of silicone rubber; which is then cured to cause said silicone rubber to debond and shrink away from said piezoelectric elements, said electrode and said masses to produce a sliding fit between said mounting member and said piezoelectric elements, said electrode and said masses.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to claim 14, including the additional step of shrinking a shrinkable resinous plastic tube around said mounting member and into snug encapsulating engagement therewith.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method according to claim 14, including the additional step of shrinking a shrinkable Teflon tube around said mounting member and into snug encapsulating engagement therewith.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method according to claim 15, including the additional step of shrinking a shrinkable resinous plastic tube around said transducer and into snug encapsulating engagement with said silicone rubber mounting member.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method according to claim 15, including the additional step of shrinking a Teflon resinous plastic tube around said transducer and into snug encapsulating engagement with said mounting member and at least portions of said masses.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
146 words
An ultrasonic transducer, comprising an elongated front end mass; an elongated tail mass; a pair of piezoelectric elements disposed between said front end mass and said tail mass; an electrode plate disposed between said piezoelectric elements; means for clamping said front end mass and said tail mass together with said piezoelectric elements and said electrode plate clamped therebetween; an electrically insulating member surrounding and slidably receiving said piezoelectric elements, said electrode plate and adjacent portions of said front end mass and said tail mass; said insulating member having a sufficiently loose fit with said piezoelectric elements and with said masses and said electrode plate to obviate any substantial damping of ultrasonic vibrations; and an encapsulating film of resinous plastic material snugly surrounding the outside of said insulating member; said encapsulating film also snugly surrounding additional adjacent portions of said front end mass and said tail mass.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
146 words
An ultrasonic transducer, comprising an elongated front end mass; an elongated tail mass; a pair of piezoelectric elements disposed between said front end mass and said tail mass; an electrode plate disposed between said piezoelectric elements; means for clamping said front end mass and said tail mass together with said piezoelectric elements and said electrode plate clamped therebetween; an electrically insulating member surrounding and slidably receiving said piezoelectric elements, said electrode plate and adjacent portions of said front end mass and said tail mass; said insulating member having a sufficiently loose fit with said piezoelectric elements and with said masses and said electrode plate to obviate any substantial damping of ultrasonic vibrations; and an encapsulating film of resinous plastic material snugly surrounding the outside of said insulating member; said encapsulating film also snugly surrounding additional adjacent portions of said front end mass and said tail mass.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
19 words
An ultrasonic transducer according to claim 20, in which said encapsulating film is made of Teflon resinous plastic material.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
20 words
An ultrasonic transducer according to claim 20, in which said encapsulating film is made of shrinkable Teflon resinous plastic tubing.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
17 words
An ultrasonic transducer according to claim 20, in which said insulating member is made of silicone rubber.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
171 words
An ultrasonic transducer, comprising an elongated front end mass; an elongated tail mass; a pair of piezoelectric elements disposed between said front end mass and said tail mass; an electrode disposed between said piezoelectric elements; means for clamping said front end mass and said tail mass together with said piezoelectric elements and said electrode clamped therebetween; a one-piece electrically insulating member surrounding said piezoelectric elements, said electrode and adjacent portions of said masses for use in supporting the ultrasonic transducer; said insulating member having an opening therein slidably receiving said piezoelectric elements, said electrode and adjacent portions of said front end mass and said tail mass with a loose sliding fit, said opening affording definite clearance between said insulating member and said piezoelectric elements, said electrode and said masses to afford said loose sliding fit and to obviate any substantial damping of ultrasonic vibrations of the ultrasonic transducer; and an encapsulating film of resinous plastic material snugly surrounding the outside of said insulating member and additional adjacent portions of said masses.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
171 words
An ultrasonic transducer, comprising an elongated front end mass; an elongated tail mass; a pair of piezoelectric elements disposed between said front end mass and said tail mass; an electrode disposed between said piezoelectric elements; means for clamping said front end mass and said tail mass together with said piezoelectric elements and said electrode clamped therebetween; a one-piece electrically insulating member surrounding said piezoelectric elements, said electrode and adjacent portions of said masses for use in supporting the ultrasonic transducer; said insulating member having an opening therein slidably receiving said piezoelectric elements, said electrode and adjacent portions of said front end mass and said tail mass with a loose sliding fit, said opening affording definite clearance between said insulating member and said piezoelectric elements, said electrode and said masses to afford said loose sliding fit and to obviate any substantial damping of ultrasonic vibrations of the ultrasonic transducer; and an encapsulating film of resinous plastic material snugly surrounding the outside of said insulating member and additional adjacent portions of said masses.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
20 words
An ultrasonic transducer according to claim 24, in which said encapsulating film is made of shrinkable Teflon resinous plastic tubing.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
17 words
An ultrasonic transducer according to claim 24, in which said insulating member is made of silicone rubber.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
29 words
An ultrasonic transducer according to claim 24, in which said insulating member is made of silicone rubber, and said encapsulating film is made of shrinkable Teflon resinous plastic tubing.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1983-03-11 | 1983-09-10 | 1984-03-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1987-03-11 | 1987-09-10 | 1988-03-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1991-03-11 | 1991-09-10 | 1992-03-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |