Ultrasonic comb horn and methods for using same
First Claim
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1. A method for subjecting at least one material having a width of at least about 12 inches to ultrasonic vibrations of a frequency of greater than 18 kHz which comprises:
- constructing a unitary vibration generating apparatus having a width which is substantially the same as the material to be treated;
generating vibrations from said vibration generating apparatus which do not vary in amplitude by more than ±
10% across said width; and
passing said material between said vibration generating apparatus and a support member to subject a portion of the material to said ultrasonic vibrations.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A unitary extended width comb horn for generating ultrasonic vibrations over a width of greater than 12 inches for a frequency of 20 kHz wherein such vibrations vary by less than ±10% across the width of the horn. Also, processes utilizing this horn and related devices incorporating same.
115 Citations
31 Claims
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1. A method for subjecting at least one material having a width of at least about 12 inches to ultrasonic vibrations of a frequency of greater than 18 kHz which comprises:
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constructing a unitary vibration generating apparatus having a width which is substantially the same as the material to be treated; generating vibrations from said vibration generating apparatus which do not vary in amplitude by more than ±
10% across said width; andpassing said material between said vibration generating apparatus and a support member to subject a portion of the material to said ultrasonic vibrations. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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8. A method for subjecting at least one material having a width of at least about 12 inches to ultrasonic vibrations of a frequency of greater than 18 kHz which comprises:
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constructing a unitary vibration generating apparatus having a width which is substantially the same as the material to be treated; generating vibrations from said vibration generating apparatus which do not vary by more than +10% across said width; and passing said material between said vibration generating apparatus and a support member to subject a portion of the material to said ultrasonic vibrations, wherein said material includes a mixture of solid and liquid components and which method further comprises separating said liquid component from said solid component when said material passes between said vibration generation apparatus and said support member. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10)
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13. A method for subjecting at least one material having a width of at least about 12 inches to ultrasonic vibrations of a frequency of greater than 18 kHz which comprises:
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constructing a unitary vibration generating apparatus having a width which is substantially the same as the material to be treated; generating vibrations from said vibration generating apparatus which do not vary by more than +10% across said width; and passing said material between said vibration generating apparatus and a support member to subject a portion of the material to said ultrasonic vibrations, wherein said support member includes a rotating element in combination with means for scraping said material from said rotating element, and which method further comprises atomizing said material into particles as it passes by said rotating element, scraping means and vibration generating means.
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22. A method for subjecting at least one material having a width of at least about 12 inches to ultrasonic vibrations which comprises:
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constructing a unitary vibration generating apparatus comprising means for generating vibrations in a first direction;
a spine member having first and second ends and being operatively associated with the vibration generating means, said spine member being oriented perpendicular to the direction of said generated vibrations; and
a plurality of tine members having a working end for transmitting said generated vibrations and extending perpendicularly from said spine member in the direction of said generated vibrations, each tine member positioned and attached at an antinode location along said spine member and having a length of nΓ
/2 wherein n is an integer and Γ
is equal to c/f where c is the velocity of sound in the apparatus and f is the chosen frequency of vibration, wherein first and second tine members positioned on said spine member opposite the attachment of said vibration generation means are attached at their working end but are otherwise separated by a space extending along their length; and
wherein each other tine member is connected to adjacent tine members only at points along their length of nΓ
/4 wherein n is an odd integer;
said other tine members forming a symmetrical pattern on each side of a plane passing vertically between said first and second tine members;
wherein the working end of each tine member other than said first and second tine members is separated from the working end of each adjacent tine members;
said vibration generating apparatus having a width which is substantially the same as the material to be treated;generating vibrations from said vibration generating apparatus which do not vary by more than ±
10% across said width; andpassing said material between said vibration generating apparatus and a support member to subject a portion of the material to said ultrasonic vibrations.
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23. A method for subjecting at least one material having a width of at least about 12 inches to ultrasonic vibrations which comprises:
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constructing a unitary vibration generating apparatus comprising means for generating vibrations in a first direction;
a spine member having first and second ends and being operatively associated with the vibration generating means, said spine member being oriented perpendicular to the direction of said generated vibrations; and
a plurality of tine members having a working end for transmitting said generated vibrations and extending perpendicularly from said spine member in the direction of said generated vibrations, wherein each tine member is positioned and attached at every other antinode location along said spine member so that each tine member vibrates in the same direction, each tine member having length of nΓ
/2 wherein n is an integer and Γ
is equal to c/f where c is the velocity of sound in the apparatus and f is the chosen frequency of vibration, and further wherein each tine member is attached at its working end to each adjacent tine member but is separated therefrom by a slot extending substantially along its length, thus forming a unitary working end for the apparatus;
said vibration generating apparatus having a width which is substantially the same as the material to be treated;generating vibrations from said vibration generating apparatus which do not vary by more than ±
10% across said width; andpassing said material between said vibration generating apparatus and a support member to subject a portion of the material to said ultrasonic vibrations.
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24. A method for subjecting at least one material having a width of at least about 12 inches to ultrasonic vibrations which comprises:
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constructing a unitary vibration generating apparatus comprising a spine member having first and second ends and being operatively associated with the vibration generating means, said spine member being oriented perpendicular to the direction of said generated vibrations;
a plurality of tine members having a working end for transmitting said generated vibrations and extending perpendicularly from said spine member in the direction of said generated vibrations, each tine member positioned and attached at an antinode location along said elongated member and having a length of nΓ
/2 wherein n is an integer and Γ
is equal to c/f where c is the velocity of sound in the apparatus and f is the chosen frequency of vibration, wherein first and second tine members positioned on said elongated member opposite the attachment of said vibration generation means are attached at their working end but are otherwise separated by a space extending along their length; and
wherein each other tine member is connected too adjacent tine members only at points along their length of nΓ
/4 wherein n is an odd integer;
said other tine members forming a symmetrical pattern on each side of a plane passing vertically between the mid-point of the spine member;
wherein the working end of each tine member other than said first and second tine members is separated from the working end of each adjacent tine member; and
a plurality of half wavelength extensional resonators mounted symmetrically on said spine member about said plane of symmetry;
said vibration generating apparatus having a width which is substantially the same as the material to be treated;generating vibrations from said vibration generating apparatus which do not vary by more than ±
10% across said width; andpassing said material between said vibration generating apparatus and a support member to subject a portion of the material to said ultrasonic vibrations.
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25. A method for creating an ultrasonic vibrational field, which comprises:
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generating vibrations in a first direction; vibrating a spine member with the vibrations to generate node and antinode locations along the spine member, the spine member being oriented substantially perpendicular to the first direction; vibrating a plurality of tine members having first ends attached to the spine member at antinode locations along the spine member, and second ends attached to adjacent tine members, wherein adjacent tine members are separated along part of their lengths; selecting the frequency of vibrations to equal nc/2L, where n is an integer, c is the speed of sound in the spine and tine members, and L is the length of the tine members; and subjecting a material to the ultrasonic vibrations which are generated by the second ends of the tine members. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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Specification