Apparatus and method for providing asymmetric oscillations

• US 10,058,834 B2
• Filed: 11/10/2016
• Issued: 08/28/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Andrew E. Bloch
• Original Assignee: Andrew E. Bloch
• Inventors: Bloch, Andrew E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rashid, Abbas
• Application Number:
  US15/348,775
• Publication Number:
  US 20170056849A1
• Time in Patent Office: 656 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A23G 9/224 Agitators or scrapers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/54 Control of the diagnostic device
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 2101/13 Mixing of ice-cream ingredients
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 2101/2202 Mixing compositions or mixers in the medical or veterinary field
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 2101/2204 Mixing chemical components in generals in order to improve chemical treatment or reactions, independently from the specific application
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 2101/23 Mixing of laboratory samples e.g. in preparation of analysing or testing properties of materials
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 2101/24 Mixing of ingredients for cleaning compositions
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/4111 using vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 31/265 the vibrations being caused by an unbalanced rotating member
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 31/28 the vibrations being caused by piezoelectric elements
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 31/70 Drives therefor, e.g. crank mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 31/87 transmitting the vibratory energy by means of a fluid, e.g. by means of air shock waves
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/211 of the operational parameters B01F35/212 and B01F35/213 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/212 of the driving system data, e.g. torque, speed or power data
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/221 of operational parameters, e.g. level of material in the mixer, temperature or pressure
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/422 having a jaw-type or finger-type shape
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 19/008 Processes for carrying out reactions under cavitation conditions
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 19/285 Shaking or vibrating reactors; reactions under the influence of low-frequency vibrations or pulsations for sonic and ultrasonic vibrations B01J19/10
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2208/00796 Details of the reactor or of the particulate material
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2208/00823 Mixing elements
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00189 : controlling the stirring velocity
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 8/40 : with fluidised bed subjected to vibrations or pulsations
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 7/022 : Vibration control arrangements, e.g. for generating random vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 15/10 : Investigating individual particles
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2015/1027 : Determining speed or velocity of a particle
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/14 : using acoustic emission techniques echo of particles G01N29/046; measuring mechanical vibrations or acoustic waves in solids in general G01H1/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/44 : Methods for charging or discharging circuits for charging H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2010/4292 : Aspects relating to capacity ratio of electrodes/electrolyte or anode/cathode
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 : Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

Disclosed is an apparatus and method for providing asymmetric oscillations to a container. The container may include a fluid, a particle, and/or a gas. A vibration driver attached to the container provides asymmetric oscillations. A controller connected to the vibration driver controls an amplitude, frequency, and shape of the asymmetric oscillations. An amplifier amplifies the asymmetric oscillations in response to the controller. A sensor disposed on the vibration driver provides feedback to the controller.

Claims

1. A method of providing asymmetric oscillations on a container comprising:

imparting an asymmetrical motion to a particle in the container through a fluid disposed in the container by way of a vibration driver attached to the container thereby generating a non-linear drag force;

monitoring effects of the oscillations on the particle via a plurality of sensors disposed on the vibration driver, wherein each of the sensors detects and measures a different type of effect of the oscillations on the particle;

leveraging the non-linear drag force of the fluid on the particle;

controlling an asymmetric characteristic of the asymmetric motion by way of a microcontroller;

receiving feedback at the microcontroller from at least one of the plurality of sensors, wherein the feedback indicates a measurement and type of at least one of the detected effects of the asymmetric motion on the particle;

analyzing the feedback to determine a type of adjustment and how much to adjust the asymmetric motion to achieve a desired effect on the particle; and

adjusting the asymmetric characteristic of the asymmetric motion using a second signal output by the microcontroller in accordance with the determined type and amount of adjustment that is based on the analysis of the feedback.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the determined adjustment comprises leveraging the non-linear drag force of the fluid to cause the particle to move in the fluid.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the determined adjustment comprises leveraging the non-linear force of the fluid to cause the particle to levitate against gravity.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein imparting the asymmetrical motion includes the vibration driver supplying high frequency oscillations.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the high frequency oscillations are above 1000 cycles per second.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein imparting the asymmetrical motion includes the vibration driver supplying low frequency oscillations.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the low frequency oscillations are below 100 cycles per second.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising analyzing the feedback via a Fourier analysis.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising amplifying the asymmetric motion created by the vibration driver via a power amplifier coupled with the microcontroller.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising adjusting the pressure within the container.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein controlling the asymmetric characteristic comprises varying relative phases, amplitudes, frequencies, waveforms, axes, or acceleration of the asymmetric motion.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the determined adjustment includes adjusting the pressure within the container.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the determined adjustment includes heating the fluid.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the particle is a bubble, and wherein the detected effects include a changed characteristic of the bubble.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the determined type of adjustment comprises one or more predefined adjustment patterns.