Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
142 words
An insert for a device having housing means for exciting longitudinal ultrasonic vibrations, the insert comprising: a sleeve connectable to the housing means; a shaft rotatably supported on the sleeve; a disc normal to the shaft and connected to the shaft for rotation therewith; a vibrator supported in the sleeve, the vibrator having transducer means at one end responsive to the housing means for producing longitudinal ultrasonic vibrations in the vibrator, and having driving tip means at the other end for converting the longitudinal vibrations into elliptical motion and for engaging one face of the disc with the elliptical motion so as to impart to the disc substantially only torque-generating vibrational thrusts tangential of the disc for rotating the disc and vibrational thrusts normal to the disc; and means for urging the driving tip means against the disc with a static pressure.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
142 words
An insert for a device having housing means for exciting longitudinal ultrasonic vibrations, the insert comprising: a sleeve connectable to the housing means; a shaft rotatably supported on the sleeve; a disc normal to the shaft and connected to the shaft for rotation therewith; a vibrator supported in the sleeve, the vibrator having transducer means at one end responsive to the housing means for producing longitudinal ultrasonic vibrations in the vibrator, and having driving tip means at the other end for converting the longitudinal vibrations into elliptical motion and for engaging one face of the disc with the elliptical motion so as to impart to the disc substantially only torque-generating vibrational thrusts tangential of the disc for rotating the disc and vibrational thrusts normal to the disc; and means for urging the driving tip means against the disc with a static pressure.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
An insert as in claim 1; and further comprising bearing means between the sleeve and the other, opposed face of the disc for distributing the vibrational thrusts normal to the disc.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
An insert as in claim 2, wherein the bearing means comprises ball bearings annularly between the other, opposed disc face and the sleeve.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
48 words
An insert as in claim 1 or 2, wherein the driving tip means comprise vibration-responsive torsion means in the vibrator for torsionally vibrating at least the driving tip end of the vibrator about the longitudinal axis of the vibrator in response to the longitudinal vibrations of the vibrator.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
An insert as in claim 4, wherein the vibration responsive torsion means comprise a helical groove adjacent the driving tip means of sufficient length, depth and pitch to rotate the vibrator.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
46 words
An insert as in claim 4, wherein the driving tip means comprises a fork having spaced apart tines on opposite sides of the shaft for tangentially engaging the disc with alternate tines during opposite directions of the longitudinal vibrations through the torsional vibration of the vibrator.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
63 words
An insert as in claim 1, wherein the vibrator is longitudinally bifurcated at least at the driving tip means, each bifurcated vibrator portion having a driving tip means for simultaneously engaging opposed faces of the disc on the same side of the shaft with the elliptical motion of the driving tip means whereby the vibrational thrusts normal to the disc tend to cancel.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
An insert as in claim 7; and further comprising linkage means for allowing the disc to move axially of the shaft while retaining the torque transmission therebetween.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
An insert as in claim 8, wherein the linkage means comprise a keyway in one of the shaft and disc and a key in the other projecting into the keyway.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
An insert as in claim 1, or 7; and further comprising at least one wear-resistant contact pad on the vibration converting means for engaging the disc.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
An insert as in claim 1, 2, or 7, wherein the sleeve comprises two interfitting portions, one supporting the shaft and one supporting the vibrator for separating the shaft and disc from the vibrator.