APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING ASYMMETRIC OSCILLATIONS

• US 20140226430A1
• Filed: 02/11/2014
• Published: 08/14/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Andrew E. Bloch
• Original Assignee: Andrew E. Bloch
• Inventors: Bloch, Andrew E.
• Granted Patent: US 10,058,833 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 366/111
• 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. An apparatus for providing asymmetric oscillations comprising:

a container;

a fluid and a particle disposed in the container; and

a vibration driver attached to the container, wherein the vibration driver oscillates the container to impart asymmetric velocity to the particle by way of the fluid.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein gravitational acceleration is offset as a result of the oscillation.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the vibration driver supplies oscillations as the sum of two or more waveforms.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein asymmetry is created by varying relative phases, amplitudes, or frequencies.

5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the fundamental frequency of a second of the two or more waveforms is twice the fundamental frequency of the first waveform of the two or more waveforms.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the vibration driver supplies oscillations as the sum of two sinusoids of different frequencies.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a controller connected to the vibration driver, wherein the controller controls an amplitude, a frequency and a shape of the asymmetric oscillations.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a sensor disposed on the vibration driver for providing feedback to the controller.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the vibration driver includes a piezoelectric transducer.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the vibration driver includes a rotary motor connected to a mechanism for converting circular motion to linear motion.

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

disposing a fluid and a particle in the container;

imparting an asymmetrical motion to the particle through the fluid by way of a vibration driver attached to the container; and

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

12. The method of claim 11, wherein leveraging the non-linear drag force of the fluid causes the particle to move in the fluid.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein leveraging the non-linear force of the fluid causes the particle to levitate against gravity.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising controlling an amplitude, a frequency and a shape of the asymmetric motion by way of a controller.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising providing feedback from the vibration driver to the controller byway of a sensor, wherein the feedback affects the control of the asymmetric motion.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein imparting asymmetrical motion includes the vibration driver supplying high frequency oscillations.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the high frequency oscillations are above 1000 cycles per second.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein imparting asymmetrical motion includes the vibration driver supplying low frequency oscillations.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the low frequency oscillations are below 100 cycles per second.