ULTRASONIC KITS AND MOTOR SYSTEMS

• US 3,809,977 A
• Filed: 02/26/1971
• Issued: 05/07/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Arthur Kuris, Lewis Balamuth, Manual Karatjas
• Original Assignee: Arthur Kuris, Lewis Balamuth, Manual Karatjas
• Inventors: Balamuth, Lewis, Kuris, Arthur, Karatjas, Manual
• Primary Examiner(s): Duggan, D. F.
• Application Number:
  US05/119,298
• Time in Patent Office: 1,166 Days
• Field of Search: 310/8.1,26 318/116,118 15/22 32/56,58,28,DIG.9 128/24A 206/16R,16S,17,172,172A 228/1
• US Class Current: 318/116
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 1/07 with vibratory drive, e.g. ultrasonic
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/20 using ultrasonics
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 1/0036 one of those parts being a tool
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/08 using ultrasonic vibrations non-plastics element to plastics elements B29C65/645
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/601 using extra riveting elements, i.e. the rivets being non-integral with the parts to be joined
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/1122 Single lap to lap joints, i.e. overlap joints B29C66/45, B29C66/472, B29C66/52272 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/43 Joining a relatively small portion of the surface of said articles B29C66/45 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/7392 characterised by the material of at least one of the parts being a thermoplastic
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/742 to metals or their alloys
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/81423 being concave
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/81431 comprising a single cavity, e.g. a groove
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/8167 Quick change joining tools or surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/8322 Joining or pressing tools reciprocating along one axis
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/861 Hand-held tools
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/8616 Pen or pencil like
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/8618 being battery operated
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/9511 by measuring their vibration frequency
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/9512 by controlling their vibration frequency
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/9513 characterised by specific vibration frequency values or ranges

Abstract

The invention discloses various embodiments of an ultrasonic kit adapted to be used in the home or for industrial purposes, as well as a variety of ultrasonic motor constructions and ultrasonic converter designs to be used either individually or in combination with each other. The ultrasonic motor is generally of a piezoelectric material having a removable tip or of a design in which the complete motor is contained in a housing, which housing has electrical contact means adapted to be plugged into an adapter which, in turn, is connected to a converter. The motor may be designed such that frequency sensing is provided therein and the feedback signal is utilized by the generator to adjust itself thereto.

Claims

1. An ulTrasonic system including A. a cabinet;

B. driving circuit means for providing an electrical driving signal of a desired ultrasonic frequency including tuned circuit means tuned to said desired frequency for controllng the frequency of said driving signal;

C. adapter means including a first connector coupled to said driving circuit means for transmission of said driving signal;

D. a plurality of means each adapted to be interchangeable with each other and releasably connected to said adapter means and forming part thereof to permit a variety of applications to be performed, said adapter means and interchangeable means when assembled being adapted to be hand held by a user and including;

1. a housing means capable of being hand held, 2. an ultrasonic motor capable of vibration at more than one frequency including said desired frequency mounted within at least a portion of said housing means and having a portion extending outside of said housing means portion for transmission of high frequency mechanical vibrations, said ultrasonic motor including;

a. a transmission member having a rear section and a front section with an output end for transmitting the generated mechanical vibrations, b. transducer means connected to said rear section, said interchangeable means being in the form of an accessory forming part of said instrument means when assembled therewith and including said motor, said housing means portion, and a second connector mounted on said housing means portion adapted to be releasably connected to said adapter means first connector for electrically coupling said driving circuit means and said transducer means when in its assembled position through said connectors, E. means for applying to said tuned circuit means a detected signal representative of the frequencies of vibration of said motor, said tuned circuit means responding to the desired frequency portion of said detected signal to cause said driving signal means to produce a driving signal of said desired frequency; and

F. support means associated with said cabinet for holding said assembled adapter means and interchangeable means in fixed positive relative to said cabinet when not in use.

2. an ultrasonic motor capable of vibration at more than one frequency including said desired frequency mounted within at least a portion of said housing means and having a portion extending outside of said housing means portion for transmission of high frequency mechanical vibrations, said ultrasonic motor including:

a. a transmission member having a rear section and a front section with an output end for transmitting the generated mechanical vibrations, b. transducer means connected to said rear section, said interchangeable means being in the form of an accessory forming part of said instrument means when assembled therewith and including said motor, said housing means portion, and a second connector mounted on said housing means portion adapted to be releasably connected to said adapter means first connector for electrically coupling said driving circuit means and said transducer means when in its assembled position through said connectors, E. means for applying to said tuned circuit means a detected signal representative of the frequencies of vibration of said motor, said tuned circuit means responding to the desired frequency portion of said detected signal to cause said driving signal means to produce a driving signal of said desired frequency; and

F. support means associated with said cabinet for holding said assembled adapter means and interchangeable means in fixed positive relative to said cabinet when not in use.

3. An ultrasonic system defined in claim 1, wherein at least one of said interchangeable means includes a razor connected to said motor for driving said razor at an ultrasonic rate.

4. An ultrasonic system as defined in claim 1, wherein at least one of said interchangeable means includes a toothbrush connected to said motor for driving said toothbrush at an ultrasonic rate.

5. An ultrasonic system as defined by claim 1, wherein at least one of said interchangeable means includes an applicator having a passageway extending therethrough for a stream of liquid and adapted for use in the oral cavity for treating the gingival and tooth structures for hygienic control thereof.

6. An ultrasonic system as defined in claim 1, and further including liquid reservoir means in said cabinet communicating with said adapter means to provide a supply of liquid to the accessory connected to said adapter means.

7. An ultrasonic system as defined in claim 1, wherein A. said transmission means is elongated, said front section having a smaller cross-sectional area than said rear section to act as an acoustical impedance transformer to amplify the mechanical vibrations transmitted to said rear section and transmitted by said front section, B. said ultrasonic motor including support means extending longitudinally from said rear section, C. said transducer means being piezoelectric, positioned on said support means and electrically connected to said first connector, D. said Ultrasonic motor further including a rear member mounted in telescopic relation to said transducer means, and E. locking means to maintain said transmission means, transducer means, and rear member under compression.

8. An ultrasonic system as defined in claim 7, wherein said locking means includes a nut threadably engaged on said support means to compress said transmission means, transducer means and rear member to maintain said compression.

9. An ultrasonic system as defined in claim 8, and further including mounting means for said motor to maintain said motor in fixed position relative to said housing means.

10. An ultrasonic system as defined in claim 7:

a. wherein said transducer means includes a pair of piezoelectric discs mounted on said support means, b. a disc-shaped electrode mounted between said crystal discs, and c. means for insulating said piezoelectric discs and said electrode from said support means.

11. An ultrasonic system as defined in claim 1, wherein said driving circuit means includes a power supply for producing a power signal;

switch means for controlling the transmission of said power signal as a driving signal to said transducer means; and

transformer means having a primary and a secondary winding;

said tuned circuit means including capacitor means connected in parallel with said secondary winding;

said means for applying said detected signal including said primary winding and means for electrically coupling said power supply through said primary winding to said transducer means.

12. An ultrasonic system as defined in claim 1, wherein said means for applying said detected signal includes sensing means mechanically coupled to said motor for detecting the frequencies of vibration thereof and producing said detected signal, and electrical conductor means for transmitting said detected signal through said first and second connectors to said driving circuit means, said driving circuit means including amplifier means having an input and an output, said tuned circuit means being connected intermediate said conductor means and said amplifier means input and being adapted to filter said detected signal and pass to said amplifier means input the component of said detected signal of said desired frequency, said driving circuit means further including means operatively coupling said amplifier means output and said first connector for transmission of said driving signal.

13. An ultrasonic system as defined in claim 1, and further including power switching means contained on said housing means and adapted to be engaged by a user during operation of the system.

14. An ultrasonic system as defined in claim 13, wherein said switching means is contained on the interchangeable means.

15. An ultrasonic system as defined in claim 13, wherein said switching means is contained on the adapter means.

16. An ultrasonic system as defined in claim 1, and further including electrical coupling means extending between said motor and said second connector, said coupling means being at least in part embedded within said housing means wall and exposed at at least one end thereof to engage said motor to make electrical contact therewith.

17. An ultrasonic kit, including:

A. ultrasonic instrument means adapted to be hand held by the user thereof and having an ultrasonic motor capable of vibrating at more than one frequency;

B. driving circuit means for providing an ultrasonic driving signal of a desired frequency for energizing said ultrasonic instrument means, and adapted to be connected to said motor, said driving circuit means including tuned circuit means tuned to said desired frequency for controlling the frequency of said driving signal;

C. means for applying to said tuned circuit means a detected signal representative of the frequencies of vibration of said motor, said tuned circuit means responding to the desired frequency portion of said detected signal to cause said driving circuit means to produce a driving sIgnal of said desired frequency;

D. interchangeable means each adapted to be removably secured to the front end of said ultrasonic instrument means to permit a variety of applications of ultrasonic mechanical vibrations to selected objects for various results, and E. a container for retaining said ultrasonic instrument means, driving circuit means, and interchangeable means.

18. An ultrasonic kit as defined in claim 17, including electrical plug means for connection to an electrical outlet, said driving circuit means being mounted in said plug means.

19. An ultrasonic kit as defined in claim 17, including a battery for powering said converter, said battery being mounted in said container.

20. An ultrasonic kit as defined in claim 17, and further including plastic parts to be assembled by said ultrasonic instrument means.

21. An ultrasonic kit as defined in claim 20, wherein said plastic parts form a plastic hobby model.

22. An ultrasonic kit as defined in claim 20, wherein said plastic parts are in the form of fasteners.

23. An ultrasonic kit as defined in claim 17, wherein said ultrasonic instrument means includes manual control switch means for selectively actuating said motor.

24. An ultrasonic kit as defined in claim 17, wherein said interchangeable means includes a cutting tool.

25. An ultrasonic kit as defined in claim 17, wherein said interchangeable means includes a heating tool.

26. An ultrasonic kit as defined in claim 17, wherein said driving circuit means includes a power supply for producing a power signal;

switch means for controlling the transmission of said power signal as a driving signal to said motor; and

transformer means having a primary and a secondary winding;

said tuned circuit means including capacitor means connected in parallel with said secondary winding;

said means for applying said detected signal including said primary winding and means for electrically coupling said power supply through said primary winding to said motor.

27. An ultrasonic kit as defined in claim 17, wherein said means for applying said detected signal includes sensing means mechanically coupled to said motor and electrically coupled to said driving circuit means for detecting the frequencies of vibration thereof and producing said detected signal, said driving circuit means including amplifier means having an input and an output, said tuned circuit means being connected intermediate said sensing means and said amplifier means input and being adapted to filter said detected signal and pass to said amplifier means input the component of said detected signal of said desired frequency, said driving circuit means further including means operatively coupling said amplifier means output and said motor for transmission of said driving signal.

28. A system for use in the home for hygienic purposes, comprising:

A. a housing adapted to be mounted on a wall in the home having an access opening;

B. a door connected to said housing and adapted to close the access opening and being movable to open the access opening;

C. driving circuit means in said housing for converting conventional home electrical current to an electrical driving signal oscillating at a desired ultrasonic frequency, including tuned circuit means tuned to said desired frequency for controlling the frequency of said driving signal; and

D. ultrasonic instrument means in said housing adapted to be hand held by the user, and having an electrical cable connected to said converter, said ultrasonic instrument means being removable through the access opening when said door is opened to permit use of said ultrasonic means with the inner end of the cord being retained within said housing, said instrument means being adapted to be used for hygienic purposes, and having a motor capable of vibrating at more than one frequency including said desired frequency.

29. The system as defined in claim 28, and further including a reel on which said cable is wound to Provide retractable means therefore.

30. The system as defined in claim 28, wherein said instrument means includes an adapter having said cable connected thereto and an accessory removably connected to said adapter and having one end thereof for said hygienic purpose, said accessory including:

A. an ultrasonic motor for producing mechanical vibrations;

B. an output section coupled to said motor for transmitting the generated mechanical vibrations;

C. housing means enclosing said motor; and

D. electrical connecting means mounted on said housing means and connected to said motor, said connecting means being adapted to be releasably connected to said adapter for the transmission of electrical energy to said motor, when in its assembled position. E. means for applying to said tuned circuit means a detected signal representative of the frequencies of vibration of said motor, said tuned circuit means responding to the desired frequency portion of said detected signal to cause said driving circuit means to produce a driving signal of said desired frequency.

31. A system as defined in claim 30, wherein said accessory is in the form of a razor and includes an ultrasonic motor electrically connected through said adapter to said driving circuit means for driving said razor at an ultrasonic rate.

32. A system as defined in claim 30, wherein said accessory is in the form of a toothbrush and includes an ultrasonic motor electrically connected through said adapter to said driving circuit means, for driving said toothbrush at an ultrasonic rate.

33. The system as defined in claim 30, and further including reservoir means contained in said housing for containing a liquid, said reservoir means being coupled to said cable, said cable and adapter including a passageway to supply liquid to said accessory, and pumping means in communicating relationship to said reservoir means for supplying said liquid to said instrument means, said accessory being in the form of an applicator having a passageway extending therethrough for a stream of liquid and adapted for use in the oral cavity for treating the gingival and tooth structures for hygienic control thereof, said accessory containing an ultrasonic motor electrically connected through said adapter to said driving circuit means to inpart vibratory energy to said applicator.

34. The system as defined in claim 28, and further including power switching means on said instrument means for manual operation by the user during use.