Air cooled ultrasonic apparatus

• US 6,177,755 B1
• Filed: 10/22/1999
• Issued: 01/23/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Seagate Technology plc (Seagate Technology Holdings Plc)
• Original Assignee: Seagate Technology plc (Seagate Technology Holdings Plc)
• Inventors: Hur, Ben
• Primary Examiner(s): Dougherty, Thomas M.
• Application Number:
  US09/426,565
• Time in Patent Office: 459 Days
• Field of Search: 310/323.12, 310/323.18, 310/341, 310/346, 310/323.19, 310/325
• US Class Current: 310/346
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320084 Irrigation sleeves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00017 with gas
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 1/07 with vibratory drive, e.g. ultrasonic
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/20 using ultrasonics
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 11/004 Mounting transducers, e.g. provided with mechanical moving or orienting device mountings specially adapted to a particular sound-producing device, see the preceding groups G10K1/00 - G10K9/00, e.g. G10K1/26, G10K1/28, G10K9/22; arrangements of sonic watch equipment on submarines B63G8/39; buoys B63B22/00

Abstract

An air cooled ultrasonic apparatus comprises a housing having an air inlet, an air outlet, a first periphery, and a second periphery. A plurality of first and second protrusions radially extend from the first and second peripheries. The housing houses a piezoelectric transducer means and an elongated horn which is operably supported by the first and second protrusions, so that a cooling air is supplied through the air inlet into the housing and discharged through the air outlet, thereby significantly enhancing effectiveness and efficiency for its application to medical, dental and plastic surgery as well as industrial use.

Claims

1. An air cooled ultrasonic apparatus, comprising:

a) a housing having an air inlet, an air outlet, a first periphery, and a second periphery;

b) a plurality of first protrusions radially extending from the first periphery;

c) a plurality of second protrusions radially extending from the second periphery;

d) a piezoelectric transducer means attached to the housing; and

e) an elongated horn having a first horn end and a second horn end, wherein the first horn end forms an operative tip, wherein the second horn end is attached to the transducer means and housed in the housing, wherein the elongated horn is operably supported by the first and second protrusions, and wherein a cooling air is supplied through the air inlet into the housing and discharged through the air outlet.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of first and second protrusions are respectively formed in embossed shape so as to create a laminar flow when the cooling air passes over the respective first and second protrusions.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein each base of the plurality of first and second embossed protrusions comprises a front base end and a rear base end, wherein the front base end is decrementally enlongated toward the first horn end, and wherein the rear base end is decrementally elongated toward the second horn end.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the second base end is elongated further than the first base end.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the housing further comprises a first crimple zone, and wherein the first crimple zone is formed between the first periphery and the second periphery.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the first crimple zone is formed outside the second periphery toward the operative tip.

7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the horn cover further comprises a second crimple zone, wherein the first and second crimple zones are formed outside the second periphery toward the operative tip.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the air inlet is formed through a rear end of the housing opposed to the operative tip, and wherein the air outlet is formed through a peripheral opening between the operative tip and a front end of the housing.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the air outlet is formed adjacent to the front end of the housing.

10. An air cooled ultrasonic apparatus, comprising:

a) a housing having an air inlet;

b) a horn cover having an air outlet, a first periphery and a second periphery, wherein the horn cover is engagedly attached to the housing;

c) a plurality of first protrusions radially extending from the first periphery;

d) a plurality of second protrusions radially extending from the second periphery;

e) a piezoelectric transducer means attached to the housing;

f) an elongated horn having a first horn end and a second horn end, wherein the horn cover flexibly receives the first horn forming an operative tip, wherein the second horn end is attached to the transducer means and housed in the housing, wherein the elongated horn is operably supported by the first and second protrusions, and wherein a cooling air is supplied through the air inlet into the housing and discharged through the air outlet of the horn cover.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the plurality of first and second protrusions are respectively formed in embossed shape so as to create a laminar flow when the cooling air passes over the respective first and second protrusions.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein each base of the plurality of first and second embossed protrusions comprises a front base end and a rear base end, wherein the front base end is decrementally enlongated toward the first horn end, and wherein the rear base end is decrementally elongated toward the second horn end.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the second base end is elongated further than the first base end.

14. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the horn cover further comprises a first crimple zone, and wherein the first crimple zone is formed between the first periphery and the second periphery.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the first crimple zone is formed outside the second periphery toward the operative tip.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the horn cover further comprises a second crimple zone, wherein the first and second crimple zones are formed outside the second periphery toward the operative tip.

17. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the air inlet is formed through a rear end of the housing opposed to the operative tip, and wherein the air outlet is formed through a peripheral opening between the operative tip and a front end of the horn cover.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the air outlet is formed adjacent to the front end of the horn cover.