U.S. patent number 3,809,977 [Application Number 05/119,298] was granted by the patent office on 1974-05-07 for ultrasonic kits and motor systems.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Ultrasonic Systems, Inc.. Invention is credited to Lewis Balamuth, Manual Karatjas, Arthur Kuris.
United States Patent |
3,809,977 |
Balamuth , et al. |
May 7, 1974 |
ULTRASONIC KITS AND MOTOR SYSTEMS
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.
Inventors: |
Balamuth; Lewis (New York,
NY), Kuris; Arthur (Riverdale, NY), Karatjas; Manual
(Glen Oaks, NY) |
Assignee: |
Ultrasonic Systems, Inc.
(Farmingdale, NY)
|
Family
ID: |
22383642 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/119,298 |
Filed: |
February 26, 1971 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
318/116; 15/22.1;
206/352; 310/325; 433/119; 310/316.01; 206/228; 206/370; 433/86;
433/125; 601/2; 601/15 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B29C
65/08 (20130101); B29C 66/1122 (20130101); B29C
65/601 (20130101); B29C 66/7392 (20130101); B29C
66/742 (20130101); A61C 1/07 (20130101); B29C
66/8616 (20130101); B29C 66/43 (20130101); B29C
66/8618 (20130101); B29C 66/8167 (20130101); B29C
66/861 (20130101); B29C 66/81431 (20130101); B23Q
1/0036 (20130101); A61C 17/20 (20130101); B29C
66/9512 (20130101); B29C 66/8322 (20130101); B29C
66/9511 (20130101); B29C 66/81423 (20130101); B29C
66/9513 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B23Q
1/00 (20060101); A61C 17/16 (20060101); A61C
17/20 (20060101); A61C 1/00 (20060101); A61C
1/07 (20060101); H01v 007/00 () |
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 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Duggan; D. F.
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
2. An ultrasonic system as defined in claim 1, including a
plurality of interchangeable elements adapted to be removably
secured to said transmission member front section of at least one
of said interchangeable
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
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
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
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
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
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
9. An ultrasonic system as defined in claim 8, and further
including mounting means for said motor to maintain said motor in
fixed position
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
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
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
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
14. An ultrasonic system as defined in claim 13, wherein said
switching
15. An ultrasonic system as defined in claim 13, wherein said
switching
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
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
18. An ultrasonic kit as defined in claim 17, including electrical
plug means for connection to an electrical outlet, said driving
circuit 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
21. An ultrasonic kit as defined in claim 20, wherein said plastic
parts
22. An ultrasonic kit as defined in claim 20, wherein said plastic
parts
23. An ultrasonic kit as defined in claim 17, wherein said
ultrasonic instrument means includes manual control switch means
for selectively
24. An ultrasonic kit as defined in claim 17, wherein said
interchangeable
25. An ultrasonic kit as defined in claim 17, wherein said
interchangeable
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
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
29. The system as defined in claim 28, and further including a reel
on
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
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
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
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
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.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an ultrasonic unit adapted to be
used for home, professional and industrial applications to perform
a variety of functions, as well as motor designs and power sources
available therefore.
Heretofore, the use of ultrasonic energy has been directed towards
the medical and industrial markets without any major attempt to
enter the home consumer field via products incorporating an
ultrasonic motor adapted to be hand held with a complimentary
converter for increasing the normal 60-cycle per second house
current to an ultrasonic range, of say 40,000 cycles per second, to
energize the motor.
Applicants have now discovered that it is possible to produce home
oriented products, by supplying to the consumer a basic kit that
permits the user a major degree of flexibility in the application
of ultrasonic energy to a number of areas. Accordingly, the present
invention comprises one or more kits which may be variously
designated as:
1. An ultrasonic hobby kit.
2. An ultrasonic multi-duty home service kit.
3. An ultrasonic universal chores kit.
4. An ultrasonic home workshop and the like.
5. An ultrasonic cosmetic kit which may include a razor, water
pick, toothbrush, or prophylaxis unit.
An essential aspect of the ultrasonic motor technology today
requires an electrical converter to increase the frequency of the
normal house current to an ultrasonic rate, which rate for purposes
of this invention is defined within the range of approximately
5,000 to 1,000,000 cycles per second. Accordingly, the present
invention in each of its various forms provides a converter, either
adapted to be plugged directly into an electrical outlet through an
electrical cord or connected to a battery. The converter is
electrically connected to the motor which is designed to convert
the electrical energy into mechanical vibrations at an ultrasonic
rate. The present invention provides various converters adapted to
be used in connection with variously housed motors adaptable for a
number of applications.
In connection with the home consumer market particularly, the cost
to date of the ultrasonic motor-converter systems has hindered the
introduction of ultrasonics into the consumer field in any sizeable
scale. This invention provides a way for producing the ultrasonic
system with the versatility necessary for practical application
thereof on an economical basis.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
A primary object of the present invention is to provide a variety
of ultrasonic kits adaptable for consumer and commercial use both
in the home and industry.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a series of
accessories for use with an ultrasonic motor adaptable to be
interchangeable so as to produce a series of effects therewith.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a kit
inclusing a number of items that may be assembled with ultrasonic
energy.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and
novel ultrasonic motor.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and
novel ultrasonic motor converter system for multi-purpose use.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and
novel ultrasonic converter.
Other objects of the invention will be apparent as the description
proceeds.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The apparatus, in accordance with one aspect of the invention,
includes a home consumer unit adapted for use for cosmetic
purposes, having a plurality of interchangeable accessories to
permit the user to carry out various functions with the ability of
quick interchangeability and replacement so that various members of
the household may have access to the ultrasonic energy imparted to
the accessory with a single power source or converter being
employed.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the ultrasonic
instrumentation is contained within a wall unit such that the
accessory may be manually withdrawn therefrom during usage and then
returned to the wall cabinet when the user has completed such
usage.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, an ultrasonic
kit is provided to permit the user to use ultrasonic energy for
various hobby purposes; and the kit includes the ultrasonic motor,
converter, and a series of interchangeable accessory elements that
function in various manners to carry out the hobbycraft functions.
The word "hobbycraft" is used to include various household
functions, and is not limited to hobbies per se. The kit further
may include various plastic, wood, or metallic parts of various
shapes and configurations to be assembled by, or used with, the
ultrasonic instrument.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a novel
ultrasonic motor is disclosed, which provides for the first time an
interchangeability within the ultrasonic field of an entire motor
that may be plugged or otherwise quickly coupled to a power source
such that quick interchangeability is available for various
uses.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a novel
converter design is disclosed that is battery powered so as to be
able to drive an ultrasonic motor for a variety of functions.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a novel
motor-converter system is disclosed in which driving crystals are
utilized for powering the motor and a sensing crystal is utilized
for monitoring the frequency of the motor.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Although the characteristic features of this invention will be
particularly pointed out in the claims, the invention itself, and
the manner in which it may be made and used, may be better
understood by referring to the following description taken in
connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof,
wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the
several views and in which:
FIG. 1, is a perspective view of an ultrasonic hygenic kit in
use;
FIG. 2, is a perspective view of the ultrasonic kit as adapted for
use;
FIG. 3, is a side elevational view of ultrasonic instrument means
for use in the present invention;
FIG. 4, is a side elevational view in cross-section of the
instrument means in assembled relationship taken along a medial
plane;
FIG. 5, is a view in cross-section taken along the plane indicated
by the line 5--5 in FIG. 4;
FIG. 6, is a view in cross-section taken along the plane indicated
by the line 6--6 in FIG. 4;
FIG. 7, is a perspective view of an ultrasonic hygenic kit in
use;
FIG. 8, is a side elevational view in section of the kit
illustrated in FIG. 7;
FIG. 9, is a side elevational view of ultrasonic instrument means
for use in the present invention;
FIG. 10, is a side elevational view in cross-section of the
instrument means in assembled relationship taken along a medial
plane;
FIG. 11, is a view in cross-section taken along the plane indicated
by the line 11--11 in FIG. 10;
FIG. 12, is a view in cross-section taken along the plane indicated
by the line 12--12 in FIG. 10;
FIG. 13, is a view in cross-section taken along the plane indicated
by the line 13--13 in FIG. 10;
FIG. 14, is a side elevational view of ultrasonic instrument means
for use in present invention;
FIG. 15, is a side elevational view in cross-section of the
instrument means in assembled relationship taken along a medial
plane;
FIG. 16, is a view in cross-section taken along the plane indicated
by the line 16--16 in FIG. 15;
FIG. 17, is a view in cross-section taken along the plane indicated
by the line 17--17 in FIG. 15;
FIG. 18, is a view in cross-section taken along the plane indicated
by the line 18--18 in FIG. 15;
FIG. 19, is a form of kit that is primarily intended for the
hobbyist;
FIG. 20, illustrates the instrument means of the kit used for
assembly of a plastic model;
FIG. 21, illustrates an ultrasonic system having a converter
adapted to be plugged into a wall outlet;
FIG. 22, illustrates the system for use in another hobbycraft;
FIG. 23, illustrates another form of hobby kit;
FIG. 24, illustrates the instrument means of the kit in FIG. 23 in
assembled relation;
FIG. 25, is an enlarged view partially in section, of a removable
element for use in assembly of component parts;
FIG. 26, is a view similar to FIG. 25 showing the completed
assembly operation;
FIG. 27, is a view similar to FIG. 25 of a novel fastener being
assembled;
FIG. 28, is a view illustrating the removal of the head formed on
the fastener; and
FIGS. 29-32 illustrate various electrical schematics of converters
that can be used to drive the various ultrasonic motors described
herein.
PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
Turning now to the drawings and particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2
thereof, we have disclosed an ultrasonic system or kit generally
indicated by the reference numeral 10, for use by one or more users
11, seen to include a cabinet 12, on table 19, which contains
therein an ultrasonic converter 15, as well as a tray or reservoir
16 forming a reservoir on the top 13 thereof, and containing a
supply of liquid 18, which, in a conventional manner, is pumped
from the reservoir 16 by pumping means 20 contained within the
cabinet 12 and connected to the tray 16 to permit the flow of
liquid 18 through the pumping means 20. Ultrasonic instrument means
22 is coupled to the converter means 15 and pumping means 20 by
cable means 24 which contains a current supply line and a liquid
supply line. The ultrasonic instrument 22 is comprised of accessory
or implement means 25, that may have various shapes and
configurations, and adapted to be removably secured to adapter or
coupling means 26. The cabinet 12 contains power control means in
the form of a switch 28 having an "On" and "Off" position and a
variable switch 30 to regulate the power of converter 15. A liquid
means regulator includes a switch 32 that contains a dial to vary
the rate of the pump 20, which pumps the fluid from the reservoir
16 through the cable 24 in a manner which is well known in the
art.
The cabinet 12 is seen to include support means 35 which may extend
from the side wall thereof in the form of bent arms 36 to support
the adapter 26 when not in use. The upper surface 13 of the cabinet
12 includes retaining means in the form of a plurality of recesses
33 adapted to receive therein in vertical relationship a plurality
of accessories 25, each adapted to be interchangeable with and
readily connected to the adapter 26 as hereinafter more fully
described with respect to FIGS. 3-6 and FIGS. 9-18. The actual
accessory 25 may consist of an ultrasonic toothbrush 38, an
ultrasonic water-pick 40, or an ultrasonic prophylaxis unit 41;
said water-pick, toothbrush and prophylaxis unit may be made in
accordance with U.S. Pat. No. 3,547,110 issued Dec. 15, 1970, by
Lewis Balamuth and entitled, "Methods and Apparatus for Maintaining
Tooth and Gingival Structures with Ultrasonic Energy," and which
patent is assigned to the assignee of the present invention.
Another accessory in the form of an ultrasonic razor 42 may also be
interchangeable with the adapter 26 and said razor may be of the
type disclosed in U.S. Pat. application Ser. No. 872,927, filed
Oct. 31, 1969, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,610,080, issued Oct. 5, 1971, by
Arthur Kuris and entitled, "Ultrasonic Method and Apparatus for
Shaving," and assigned to the assignee of the present invention.
Another accessory 25 may be in the form of a container 43 adapted
to receive therein a fluid which accessory may be used by the user
by inserting their finger therein for doing their nails, to perform
a cleansing or other operation thereon. Another accessory 44 may be
in the form of a polishing head for polishing and performing other
beauty care treatments.
The ultrasonic kit 10, as seen with respect to FIG. 1, and for
which the user 11 is using an ultrasonic toothbrush in the mirror
17 on wall 14, permits each family to have their own accessory 25
available to them such that it may be readily interchangeable and
connected to the adapter 26 so that when the connection is made
electrical energy is transmitted to the working end of the
accessory which, as indicated above, may take various shapes and
forms and there is disclosed herein are only a sampling of those
that might be used in accordance with the present invention. The
kit illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 is seen to include an electrical
plug 46 which is in a conventional manner plugged into a wall
outlet and connected by cable 45 to the generator or converter 15
that converts the normal 60-cycle house current to an ultrasonic
rate, which as herein designed, is to include the frequency range
of 5,000 cycles to 1,000,000 cycles per second. Obviously, the
converter 15 may be battery powered as hereinafter described, or
the type in which it is battery powered, as hereinafter described,
or the type in which it is battery powered for traveling but having
a feature in which case a plug would still be utilized.
Accordingly, FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a new and novel ultrasonic
instrumentation that affords the user, for the first time, to have
a variety of ultrasonic implements 25 available to him in a compact
manner, to be useable with minimum effort by an entire family in
the home. In use, the user 11 merely selects the particular
accessory 25 desired for a particular need and then sets out to
manually insert the accessory 25 into the adapter 26 in a simple
easy manner. The power may then be energized by the "On" and "Off"
switch 28 and the amount of liquid 18 from the reservoir 16, if any
is desired, may then be selected by the variable switch 32, and the
power level selected by variable control switch 30. When the user
has completed the use of the accessory 25, he or she may then
remove the accessory 25 from the adapter 26, replacing it in the
selected retaining means 33 provided therefor and return the
adapted to its support means 35.
FIGS. 4-6 illustrate one form of accessory 25, and adapter 26,
construction that may be utilized in accordance with the
embodiments of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. The
accessory 25 includes an ultrasonic motor or transducer means 50
contained in a tubular housing 52 having a front end 54 and a rear
end 56 with the outer wall 58 of the housing 52 having any desired
contoured shape or configuration to facilitate it being handled by
the user, and a tapered section 59 terminating at the front end 54
of the housing 52 with a chamber or cavity means 60 extending from
the rear end 56 of the housing 52 and connected to an axial opening
62 which in turn terminates at the front end 54.
As seen with respect to FIG. 4, the ultrasonic motor 50 is
contained within the housing cavity 60 and the hand piece housing
52 may be of plastic or any other suitable material.
The ultrasonic motor 50 includes a transmission member 65
terminating at a working output end or tip 66 at one end thereof
and having a rear surface or face 68 at its opposite end. The
transmission member 65 may be designed in the form of an acoustical
impedance transformer so that there is an increase in the amplitude
of mechanical vibration from its rear face 68 to its front tip 66.
The actual variations of cross sectional area to obtain the
amplitude magnification is well known in the art. The transmission
member 65 may be made of a metallic or plastic material depending
upon its desired use, for example, if the implement as shown in
FIG. 4 has a water feed associated therewith then the unit may be
used for dentistry in the form of a dental prophylaxis unit by the
dentist or in turn may be of a home consumer design to be used by
the user in the home for maintaining tooth and gingival surfaces
free of deposits normally contained on the teeth of the user.
Essentially, the motor construction, as hereinafter described, for
professional and home use, may be of similar design except that the
relative power for a home consumer unit would be less than that of
a prefessional unit which is used by the dentist since in the home
the user is in a sense doing over a 6-month period what the dentist
might be doing at one sitting in the dentist's office. Accordingly,
the tip 66 may be of a plastic or metallic material depending upon
the use thereof and the magnitude of ultrasonic mechanical
vibrations to be imparted thereto.
The transmission member has a circular rear section 70 and front
section 75, with an internally threaded bore 71 extending from its
rear face 68 and terminating in a seat 72 adapted to contain
therein sealing means as in the form of an o-ring 74 as hereinafter
explained. Communicating with the bore 71 is a longitudinally
extending passageway 76 that extends to the front tip 66 of the
transmission 65 through the front section 75, which is illustrated
to have a curved or contoured portion 78 to permit ready access
within the oral cavity. Obviously, the shape, contour and cross
sectional area of the passageway 76 may be designed to obtain
various spray patterns or flow rates and further, the tip 66 may be
designed so as to obtain flexural, lateral, torsional, elliptical,
linear or longitudinal motion, by proper control of the shape of
the front section 75 of the transmission member which has the bent
tip portion 78 formed therewith.
The transmission member 65 has a contoured radius 79 connecting
together the front section 75 and the rear section 70 of the
transmission member 65, which sections may be both of circular
cross sectional area such that the front section 75 extends out
beyond the front end 54 of the housing 52 a sufficient distance and
through the opening 62 provided therefor. The transmission member
65 may contain an annular depression 80 for motor mounting means,
illustrated to be in the form of an o-ring 81, but it may take
other forms and shapes as desired. Extending from the rear face 68
of the transmission member 65 is a support member or shaft 82
having a threaded portion 84 which engages the threaded portion 71
of the transmission member 65 and an axially extending passageway
or opening 83. The rear end of the support member 82 also has a
threaded portion 86 which receives locking means in the form of a
nut 85 threaded thereon and adapted to sandwich therebetween under
a selected compressive static load a pair of piezoelectric crystals
88 and 89 that may be of a lead zirconate or lead titanate ceramic
crystal material, formed so as to be capable of ultrasonic
vibrational acitivity in its longitudinal direction when activated
by high frequency electrical impulses delivered to it as will be
described. The crystals have an external diameter 92 and 93
respectively, which is smaller than the internal diameter of the
chamber 60 such that sufficient clearance therebetween is obtained.
The internal diameters 94 and 95 of the respective crystals 88 and
89 have a diameter which permits an insulating tubular sleeve 96 to
be positioned in surrounding relationship over the support member
82, and extends the length from the front face 98 of crystal 88 to
the rear face 101 of the crystal 89. The sleeve 96 is made
preferably from an insulative material such as plastic so as to
isolate the crystals from the electrode 90 that extends between the
rear face 99 of crystal 88 and the front face of crystal 100 of
crystal 89.
To permit wiring of the motor, wire lead 104 extends through the
passageway 83 with the support member 82 having a longitudinally
extending opening 102 through the support member wall and through
an opening 105 in the insulator sleeve 96 and terminating in a
pocket 106 within the disc shaped electrode 90. The wire 104 is
soldered or otherwise attached to the electrode 90 for electrical
purposes. The rear member 91 fits in telescopic relationship to the
support member 82 and has an external diameter 108 which is less
than the internal diameter of the chamber 60.
The mounting means for the motor 50 in the housing means 52
consists of spaced apart o-rings 81 and 110 such that the
vibrational energy of the motor when energized, remains
substantially isolated therein without the energy being transmitted
to the housing 52. A peripheral o-ring seat 109 is provided for
o-ring 110 in the housing 52.
Locking means in the form of a nut 85 is secured to the rear
threaded portion 86 on shaft 82 and is tightened to the point where
an axial compressive force is sufficient to compress the crystal
88, electrode 90, crystal 89, and rear section 91 with a
predetermined amount of torque. Depending upon the size of the
crystals and power of the motor, an epoxy material may be used to
bond the parts and crystals together and form the locking
means.
As part of the electrical connecting means, a ground lead or
conductor 112 is connected to a lug 114, a portion of which extends
beneath the nut 85, such that the power leads 104 and 112 are in
turn connected to a power source as hereinafter explained.
The ultrasonic motor 50 although shown as piezo-electric may be one
of a variety of electromechanical types, such as electrodynamic,
piezoelectric or magnetostrictive, and designed for effecting
ultrasonic vibrations through hand directed tools of suitable
configuration, or larger ones, which are readily replaceable or
inter-changeable with other work performing tools or accessories
such as for use as acoustically vibrated material treating devices.
The motor 50 has components rigidly joined, in end-to-end
relationship to form a unit or assembly which is removably
supported in a housing containing electrical coupling means to the
transducer and receiving alternating current.
The ultrasonic motor 50 is longitudinally dimensioned so as to have
lengths which are generally whole multiples of half-wavelengths of
the compressional waves established therein at the frequency of the
combined longitudinal length of the components so that longitudinal
loops or other components of motion occur at the end 66 of the
output surface of the transmission member 65. Thus, the optimum
amplitude of longitudinal vibration and hyper-accelerations of
transmission or coupling member 65 is achieved, and such amplitude
is determined by the relationship of the masses of the rear section
70 and front section 75 which may be made effective to either
magnify or reduce the amplitude of the vibrations received from the
transducer crystals. The front section 75 may be permanently
attached to the rear section 70, or the front section 75, or part
thereof, may be provided with a threaded stud adapted to be screwed
into a tapped hole in the end of the transmission member 65 for
effecting rigid connection of a removable element thereto.
The rear end 56 of the casing or housing 52 has an electric
connector or plug 115 connected thereto by means of a bushing 116,
which extends beyond the rear end of the housing 52 and may be
secured thereto in any conventional manner. The connector 115 is
seated at one end of the bushing 116 and adapted to mate with an
opposite type connector 120; i.e., female, such that electrical
energy may be transmitted to the motor 50.
The adapter 26 is designed to match the rear end of the housing 52
and includes a cavity 121 having a front end 122 which abuts the
rear end 56 with a wall portion 123 having an external diameter 124
that may be of the same outside diameter as the housing 52. The
female connector 120 is contained within a counterbore 125 having
electrical contacts 126 and 128 and may be seated therein by a
press fit such that the electrical terminals or prongs 129 and 130
and water feed 131 of the connector 115, as seen in FIGS. 5 and 6,
are adapted to mate with the female receptacle 120 having receiving
prongs or contacts 133, 134 and 138. The terminals 129, 130 and 131
extend from the front of the connector 115 and the two power leads
104 and 112 are connected to 129 and 130 respectively and, in turn,
to prongs 133 and 134 which connect to contacts 126 and 128
respectively. The sleeve 116 extends in telescopic relation to the
adapter 26 and by a frictional fit extends within a seat 132 on the
front of adapter housing 26. The present embodiment of the
ultrasonic motor system is adapted to have a fluid pass
therethrough such that the instrument may be used as a water pick
or dental prophylaxis unit and accordingly, fluid supply means 135
is provided in the form of a flexible tube or conduit 136 that
extends through the sleeve 116 and is coupled to the receptacle 115
which in turn has its prong 131 that mates with prong 134 in
receptacle 120 in a conventional manner. The conduit 136 extends
from the receptacle 115 and through the axial bore 83 in the shaft
82 to be in axial alignment with the passageway 76 extending from
the bottom surface or seat 72 to the tip 66 of the transmission
member 65. The conduit 136 may abut the bottom of the seat 72 and
be retained in place by sealing means in the form of an o-ring 137
to afford a structurally fluid tight seal. Other means of coupling
the front to the fluid connecting member 136 may be utilized in
order to have a continuous flow of fluid, such as water, from a
desired source, which may be from a tap or a mechanical pump as
discussed with respect to FIGS. 1 and 2, for maintaining a stream
of fluid on a continuous or intermittent basis. The vibratory
mechanical energy generated in the motor is in turn transmitted to
the fluid through the front member as discussed in accordance with
U.S. Pat. No. 3,547,110.
The contacts 126 and 128 have wires 140 and 141 connected thereto
and liquid conduit 142 connects to terminal 134, with all being
contained within a flexible sheath 145 and together forming cable
24. A stop member 146 firmly grips the sheath 145 and memers
therein.
FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate an ultrasonic kit 10a of a similar nature
to that illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, except that the entire kit
10a is situated within a cabinet 12a that is built within the wall
14a of the home of the user 11a and access to the accessories 25a
as well as the power On-Off switch 28a, power regulation 30a and
fluid regulator switch 32a are obtained by opening the door 150a to
the cabinet 12a. As seen in particular with respect to FIG. 8, the
cabinet 12a contains a lower shelf 13a or wall having a plurality
of openings 33a and each opening adapted to receive therein an
accessory 25a which may be of the type discussed above with respect
to FIGS. 1 and 2. The upper portion of the cabinet 12a contains an
upper wall 151a and a front panel 152a through which the knob
control switches 28a, 30a and 32a extend with the converter 15a
positioned on the upper wall 151a and connected to the normal house
current via cable 45a and plug 46a. An electrical power cable 154a
extends from the converter 15a through the upper wall 151a and
through a middle wall 155a, which latter wall supports the
reservoir 16a which, as seen in FIG. 3 may be readily removed for
replenishing the supply of liquid therein. The bottom of the
reservoir 16a is coupled to a fitting 156a in which the power cable
154a is connected to, and fluid supply and power supply merge into
cable 24a, and are then wound on a spring loaded or other
commercially type available take-up or retracting means in the form
of a reel 160a such that the adapter 26a from its retracted
position as seen in FIG. 8 is retained in place by supporting means
35 with support arms or clips 36a, mounted on panel 161a to its
extended position as seen in FIG. 7 so that it is ready for use by
the user 11a. The manner of operation is similar to that described
in FIGS. 1 and 2, and by supplying a spring loaded take-up reel
160a, the problems of a loose cable 24a are eliminated.
FIGS. 9-13 illustrate another form of accessory 25b and adapter 26b
that may be utilized in accordance with the embodiments of the
invention illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, and 7 and 8, and having an
added feature of a removable element 165b. The accessory 25b
includes an ultrasonic motor or transducer means 50b contained in a
tubular housing 52b having a front end 54b and a rear end 56b with
the outer wall 58b of the housing 52b having any desired contoured
shape or configuration to facilitate it being handled by the user,
and a tapered section 59b terminating at the front end 54b of the
housing 52b with a chamber or cavity means 60b extending from the
rear end 56b of the housing 52b and connected to an axial opening
62b which in turn terminates at the front end 54b.
As seen with respect to FIG. 10, the ultrasonic motor 50b is
contained within the housing cavity 60b and the hand piece housing
52b may be of plastic or any other suitable material. The
ultrasonic motor 50b includes a transmission member 65b terminating
at a working output end or tip 66b at one end thereof and having a
rear surface or face 68b at its opposite end. The transmission
member 65b may be designed in the form of an acoustical impedance
transformer so that there is an increase in the amplitude of
mechanical vibration from its rear face 68b to its front tip 66b.
The actual variations of cross sectional area to obtain the
amplitude magnification is well known in the art. The transmission
member 65b may be of a metallic or plastic material depending upon
its desired use with the removable element 165b having a water feed
through as shown in FIG. 4; then the unit may be used for dentistry
in the form of a dental prophylaxis unit by the dentist or in turn
may be of a home consumer design to be used by the user in the home
for maintaining tooth and gingival surfaces free of deposits
normally contained on the teeth of the user. Essentially, the motor
construction, as hereinafter described, for professional and home
use, may be of similar design except that the relative power for a
home consumer unit would be less than that of a professional unit
which is used by the dentist, since in the home the user is in a
sense doing over a 6-month period what the dentist might be doing
at one sitting in the dentist's office. Accordingly, the removable
element 165b may be of a plastic or metallic material depending
upon the use thereof and the magnitude of ultrasonic mechanical
vibrations to be imparted thereto.
The transmission member 65b has a contoured radius 79b connecting
together the front section 75b and the rear section 70b of the
transmission member 65b, which sections may be both of circular
cross sectional area such that the front section 75b extends out
beyond the front end 54b of the housing 52b a sufficient distance
and through the opening 62b provided therefor. The transmission
member 65b may contain an annular depression 80b and casing 52b
with an annular depression 166b, for motor mounting means,
illustrated to be in the form of an o-ring 81, positioned in each
of said depressions. Extending from the rear face 68b of the
transmission member 65b is a support member or shaft 82b that may
be integrally formed therewith, and having an axially extending
passageway or opening 83b. The rear end of the support member 82b
has a threaded portion 86b which receives locking means in the form
of a nut 85b threaded thereon and adapted to sandwich therebetween
under a selected compressive static load a pair of driving
piezoelectric crystals 88b and 89b and a third crystal 168b forming
part of the sensing means, that may be of a lead zirconator or lead
titanate ceramic crystal material, formed so as to be either
capable of ultrasonic vibrational activity in its longitudinal
direction when activated by high frequency electrical impulses
delivered to it, or detecting the frequency of the motor, as will
be described. The driving crystals have an external diameter 92b
and 93b respectively, which is smaller than the internal diameter
of the chamber 60b such that sufficient clearance therebetween is
obtained. The internal diameters 94b and 95b of the respective
crystals 88b and 89b have a diameter which permits an insulating
tubular sleeve 96b to be positioned in surrounding relationship
over the support member 82b, and extends the length from the front
face 98b of crystal 88b to at least the rear face 101b of the
crystal 89b. The sleeve 96b is made preferably from an insulative
material such as plastic so as to isolate the crystals from the
electrode 90b that extends between the rear face 99b of crystal 88b
and the front face of crystal 100b of crystal 89b.
To permit wiring of the motor, wire lead 104b extends through the
passageway 83b with the support member 82b having a longitudinally
extending opening 102b through the support member wall and through
an opening 105b in the insulator sleeve 96b and terminating in a
pocket 106b within the disc shaped electrode 90b. The wire 104b is
soldered or otherwise attached to the electrode 90b for electrical
purposes. The rear member 91b fits in telescopic relationship to
the support member 82b and has an external diameter 108b which is
less than the internal diameter of the chamber 60b.
A peripheral o-ring seat 109b is provided on the support member 82b
and an o-ring seat 169b is provided in the cavity 80b for o-ring
110b such that the mounting means for the motor 50b in the housing
means 52b consists of spaced apart o-rings 81b and 110b such that
the vibrational energy of the motor when energized, remains
substantially isolated therein without the energy being transmitted
to the housing 52b. By providing o-ring seats in the housing 52b as
well as on the motor 50b axial movement of the motor relative to
the housing is substantially prevented when a force is applied to
the removable element 165b.
The motor 50b illustrated in FIG. 10 has frequency sensing means in
the form of a third crystal 168b which abuts the rear member 91b on
one side thereof and an electrode 170b on its opposite side with an
insulating washer 172b between the electrode 170b and locking nut
35b. A tubular sleeve 174b of insulating material extends on the
support member 82b at least the axial length of the crystal 168b,
electrode 170b and washer 172b. A wire lead 171b is connected
within a pocket 173b and in turn is connected to the connector
115b.
The nut 85b forming the locking means is secured to the rear
threaded portion 86b on shaft 82b and is tightened to the point
where an axial compressive force is sufficient to compress the
crystal 88b electrode 90b, crystal 89b, rear section 91b, crystal
168b and electrode 170b, with a predetermined amount of torque.
As part of the electrical connecting means, a ground lead or
conductor 112b is connected to a lug 114b, a portion of which
extends beneath the head of a screw 175b that is screwed into nut
85b, such that the power leads 104b and 112b are in turn connected
to a power source as hereinafter explained.
The accessory 25b in this form of the invention is seen to include
element means 165b that is designed to be removable from the front
section 75b of the motor 50b. Various forms of the attachment may
be employed so that the user may conveniently and quickly replace
the element 165b with minimal effort. One such form is shown in
FIG. 10 in which the element means 165b includes a neck portion
177b terminating in a head portion 178b, with the neck portion
illustrated in the form of a cone. The neck portion may take
various forms and shapes to permit the user to perform various jobs
with them--such as a knife for cutting materials, a bent tip for
various modes of vibration and permitting access to various areas,
etc. The neck portion 117b merges with a body portion 179b,
illustrated in the form of a hexagon nut to permit it to be gripped
for tightening and loosening it relative to the motor 50b. The
fastening portion 180b may be integrally formed with the body
portion 179b and may be in the form of threads to threadably engage
a tapped portion in the front section 75b.
To assist in tightening and loosening the removable element 165b,
securing means 181b may be employed in the form of a pair of flats
or slots 182b to be gripped by a wrench. In this manner one wrench
is applied at body portion 179b and another at the slots 182b and
turned relative to each other until firmly secured in place.
To aid in assembly of the motor 50b positioning means 185b may be
provided as seen in FIGS. 10 and 11 to prevent angular rotation,
but not longitudinal displacement, of the rear member 91b relative
to the support member 82b when the nut 85b is tightened. The
positioning means 185b includes a transverse opening 186b in the
support member 82b dimensioned to accept the lip 187b, of a screw
188b which is threadably engaged in the rear member 91b, with a
minimum of clearance. In this manner, the rear member 91b moves in
the longitudinal direction to compress the crystals 88b and 89b
when the nut 85b is rotated. At the completion of the assembly of
the motor 50b, the screw 188b may be removed or held permanently in
place by an epoxy (not shown).
The rear end 56b of the casing or housing 52b has an electric
connector or plug 115b connected thereto by means of a bushing
116b, which extends beyond the rear end of the housing 52b and may
be secured thereto in any conventional manner. The connector 115b
is seated at one end of the bushing 116b and adapted to mate with
an opposite type connector 120b; i.e., female, such that electrical
energy may be transmitted to the motor 50b.
The adapter 26b is designed to match the rear end of the housing
52b and includes a cavity 121b having a front end 122b which abuts
the rear end 56b with a wall portion 123b having an external
diameter 124b that may be of the same outside diameter as the
housing 52b. The female connector 120b is contained within a
counterbore 125b having electrical contacts 126b and 128b and may
be seated therein by a press fit such that the electrical terminals
or prongs 129b, 130b, and 189b of the connector 115b, as seen in
FIGS. 12 and 13, are adapted to mate with the female receptacle
120b having receiving prongs or contacts 133b, 190b, and 138b. The
terminals 129b, 130b, and 189b extend from the front of the
connector 115b and the three power leads 104b, 112b, and 171b are
connected to 129b, 130b, and 189b respectively and, in turn, to
prongs 133b, 134b, and 189b, which connect to contacts 126b, 128b,
and 191b respectively, as seen in FIG. 10. The sleeve 116b extends
in telescopic relation to the adapter 26b and by a frictional fit
extends within a seat 132b on the front of adapter housing 26b. The
present embodiment of the ultrasonic motor system may be adapted to
have a fluid pass therethrough such that the instrument may be used
as a water pick or dental prophylaxis unit and accordingly, may be
of the design as illustrated in FIGS. 3-6.
The contacts 126b, 128b and 191b have wires 140b, 141b and 192b
connected thereto, with all being contained within a flexible
sheath 145b and together forming cable 24b. A stop member 146
firmly grips the sheath 145b and members therein.
The motor 50b may have the current thereto controlled from either
the convertor as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, or switching means
195b may be provided on the instrument means on either the
accessory 25b or on the adapter 26b as illustrated in FIGS. 9 and
10. The switching means 195b may include a switch 196b contained
within the adapter housing 26b with a push button 197b extending
through the wall 123b and externally of the adapter. Electrical
leads 198b and 199b extend from the switch 196b and are connected
to the converter. The switch may be one of a variety of types
commercially available.
FIGS. 14-18 illustrate another form of accessory 25c and adapter
26c that may be utilized in accordance with the embodiments of the
invention illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2; and 7 and 8, and having an
added feature of the electrical coupling means 200c contained
within the housing 52c so that the motor 50c is coupled to
electrical contacts without any wires extending from the motor 50c.
The accessory 25c includes an ultrasonic motor or transducer means
50c contained in a tubular housing 52c having a front end 54c and a
rear end 56c with the outer wall 58c of the housing 52c having any
desired contoured shape or configuration to facilitate it being
handled by the user, and a tapered section 59c terminating at the
front end 54c of the housing 52c with a chamber or cavity means 60c
extending from the rear end 56c of the housing 52c and connected to
an axial opening 62c which in turn terminates at the front end
54c.
The transmission member 65c has a contoured radius 79 c connecting
together the front section 75c and the rear section 70c of the
transmission member 65c, which sections may be both of circular
cross sectional area such that the front section 75c extends out
beyond the front end 54c of the housing 52c a sufficient distance
and through the opening 62c provided therefor. Extending from the
rear face 68c of the transmission member 65c is a support member or
shaft 82c that may be integrally formed therewith. The rear end of
the support member 82c has a threaded portion 86c which receives
locking means in the form of a nut 85c threaded thereon and adapted
to sandwich therebetween under a selected compressive static load a
pair of driving piezoelectric crystals 88c and 89c, and a third
cyrstal 168c forming part of the sensing means, that may be of a
lead zirconate or lead titanate ceramic crystal material, formed so
as to be either capable of ultrasonic vibrational activity in its
longitudinal direction when activated by high frequency of the
motor, as will be described. The driving crystals have an external
diameter 92c and 93c respectively, which is smaller than the
internal diameter of the chamber 60c such that sufficient clearance
therebetween is obtained. The internal diameters 94c and 95c of the
respective crustals 88c and 89c have a diameter which permits an
insulating tubular sleeve 96c to be positioned in surrounding
relationship over the support member 82c, and extends the length
from the front face 98c of crystal 88c to at least the rear face
101c of the crystal 89c. The sleeve 96c is made preferably from an
insulative material such as plastic so as to isolate the crystals
from the electrode 90c that extends between the rear face 99c of
crystal 88c and the front face of crystal 100c of crystal 89c. The
rear member 91c fits in telescopic relationship to the support
member 82c and has an external diameter 108c which is less than the
internal diameter of the chamber 60c.
The transmission member 65c may contain an annular depression 166c,
for motor mounting means, illustrated to be in the form of an
o-ring 81c, positioned in each of said depressions. A peripheral
o-ring seat 169c is provided in the cavity 60c for o-ring 110c such
that the mounting means for the motor 50c in the housing means 52c
consists of spaced apart o-rings 81c and 110c such that the
vibrational energy of the motor when energized, remains
substantially isolated therein without the energy being transmitted
to the housing 52c. By providing o-ring seats in the housing 52c,
as well as on the motor 50c, axial movement of the motor relative
to the housing is substantially prevented when a force is
applied.
The motor 50c illustrated in FIG. 15 has frequency sensing means in
the form of a third crystal 168c which abuts the rear member 91c on
one side thereof and an electrode 170c on its opposite side with an
insulating washer 172c between the electrode 170c and locking nut
35c. A tubular sleeve 174c of insulating material extends on the
support member 82c at least the axial length of the crystal 168c,
electrode 170c and washer 172c.
The nut 85c forming the locking means is secured to the rear
threaded portion 86c on shaft 82c and is tightened to the point
where an axial compressive force is sufficient to compress the
crystal 88c electrode 90c, crystal 89c, rear section 91c, crystal
168c and electrode 170c with a predetermined amount of torque.
To aid in assembly of the motor 50c positioning means 185c may be
provided as seen in FIGS. 15 and 16 to prevent angular rotation,
but not longitudinal direction, of the rear member 91c relative to
the support member 82c when the nut 85c is tightened. The
positioning means 185c includes a transverse opening 186c in the
support member 82c dimensioned to accept the lip 187c of a screw
188c which is threadably engaged in the rear member 91c, with a
minimum of clearance. In this manner, the rear member 91c moves in
a linear path to compress the crystals 88c and 89c when the nut 85c
is rotated. At the completion of the assembly of the motor 50c, the
screw 188c may be removed or held permanently in place by an epoxy
(not shown).
The adapter 26c is designed to match the rear end of the housing
52c and includes a cavity 121c having a front end 122c which abuts
the rear end 56c with a wall portion 123c having an external
diameter 124c that may be of the same outside diameter as the
housing 52c. The female connector 120c is contained within a
counterbore 125c and may be seated therein by a press fit such that
the electrical terminals or prongs of the connector 115c are
adapted to mate with the female receptacle 120c having receiving
prongs or contacts. The connector 115c extends in telescopic
relation to the adapter 26c and fits within a seat 132c on the
front of adapter housing 26c. The present embodiment of the
ultrasonic motor system may be adapted to have a fluid pass
therethrough.
In this embodiment of the invention, electrical coupling means 200c
is utilized such that the motor 50c is merely placed within the
cavity 60c and held in place by the o-rings, or other mounting
means; and complete electrical contact is accomplished such that no
actual wiring of the motor takes place. In this manner, for high
production quantities particularly, the problem of a soldered lead
breaking due to the vibratory stress generated is eliminated. In
addition, by molding in the electrical contacts within say a
plastic housing, further savings are obtained in manufacturing
costs. Essentially the wire leads are incorporated within the
housing 52c as seen in FIGS. 15, 17 and 18.
The contact lead to the electrode 90c is a filament 104c that has a
front hooked or bent section 202c contained in a pocket or recess
204c that is adapted to engage and transmit pressural contact
thereagainst to couple the electrical energy thereto. The filament
104c may have a rectangular, circular or other cross-section, and
extends substantially the length of the housing 52c and terminates
openly in a rear recess 206c with a contoured portion 208c
contained therein. The rear electrode 170c has electrical energy
coupled thereto by means of filament 171c embodied in the casing
52c and having a front contoured portion 208c contained in a front
recess 210c with a rear portion 211c in a rear recess 212c.
Switching means 195c is contained in the accessory 25c and adapted
to be engaged by the user when operation of the motor is desired.
The switching means 195c includes a switch 196c having a push
button or contact 197c that extends beyond the housing for finger
engagement and is coupled to a contact element 214c with its free
end, contained within a cavity 215c contained within the housing
52c.
The switch 196c has the contact element 214c embedded within the
housing wall and extending therethrough and terminating in a rear
cavity 216c which has therein the bent portion 217c of the contact
element 214c such that a certain degree of rigidity is provided as
hereinafter discussed. The other electrical contact of the switch
is provided in the form of a similarly contained electrical element
218c that terminates in the cavity 215c in a contoured section 219c
such that, upon depression of the push button 197c, contact is made
between the element 214c and the curved portion 219c, such that in
a normal conventional manner the circuit is closed and current from
the converter is transmitted to the ultrasonic motor 50c. The rear
of the element 218c similarly has a curved section 220 which
terminates in a pocket on cavity 221c. The switch may obviously
take many forms and is positioned for ready access between the
user's finger when in those instances it is desirable to first
obtain the output end of the ultrasonic motor and the member to
which the ultrasonic energy is to be transmitted. This permits an
easier positionment of the motor tip since, upon energizing, there
is immediate movement between the tip and the work piece; and,
accordingly, there are those instances where the switch is desired
to be positioned as illustrated in FIGS. 14-18. The electrical
coupling means 200c as herein described may be encapsulated within
the plastic housing in the manufacturing process thereof, such that
in actual assembly the motor 50c is pre-assembled and need merely
be positioned within the housing in a keyed manner. In this manner
upon the o-rings being positioned in the seats provided, the
electrodes 90c and 170c are in relative axial position for contact
with electrical elements. This is an important feature of this
embodiment of the invention in that it permits mass production of
ultrasonic motors in a housing where there is no wiring or solder
joints on the respective motor or housing, or therebetween.
Once the motor is contained within the housing 52c, then the
connector 115c is positioned within the cavity 60c as disclosed and
in this embodiment of the invention electrical contacts are
provided to engage the respective electrical contacts described
above. Accordingly, electrical contact 223c meets with electrode
171c, contact 224c meets with electrode 104c, contact 225c meets
with the element 218c, and contact 226c meets with 214c. In turn,
the respective contacts are pre-wired or otherwise molded so that
their respective pins of connector 115c meet with the connector
120c in a conventional manner.
In order to assure proper orientation of connector 115c relative to
the housing 124c, positioning means 230c is provided in the form of
a keyway or depression 231c on the connector 115c and a
complimentary nib or tooth 232c is provided, as seen in FIG. 15, on
the casing 124c, such that the user may easily orient the connector
115c relative to the casing 124c.
The connecting pins on the connector 115c are wired via 120c. Five
of such connections are shown in that nut 85c similarly has an
electrode portion connecting it via element 222c partially seen in
FIG. 15. Accordingly, the contact 104c, through contact 224c, is
wired to contact 128c and in turn to wire 141c. Contact 171c is
wired through 223c to contact 191c and in turn through wire 192c.
Contact 222c is wired to contact 126c and in turn to wire 140c.
Contact 225c is in turn wired to contact 233c and in turn wire
198c. Contact 226c is in turn wired to contact 234c and in turn
199c. Accordingly, all the wires fit through sleeve 145c and are in
turn wired to their respected designated positions within the
converter.
FIGS. 19-22 illustrate a kit 10d that includes instrument means 22d
with a plurality of interchangeable elements 165b adapted to be
removably secured to the output section of the accessory 25d and
having a convertor 15d which, as seen in FIG. 21, is of a size in
that the male prongs 235d will extend outwardly from one edge of
the converter 15d and are adapted to be plugged into a wall outlet
236d. In this manner the user essentially does not have to position
his convertor on a table or other working area but may merely plug
into the wall outlet 236d the ultrasonic convertor and by means of
the cable 24d operated by switching means 195d, on the accessory
25d, may readily perform whatever function he desires. As seen in
FIG. 20, we have a model plastic airplane 238d that may be included
as part of the kit 10d such that the user 11d, upon purchase of the
kit 10d, has contained therein one or more models, or other items,
to be worked upon utilizing the ultrasonic instrument means 22d
packaged with the kit.
As seen in FIG. 20, the ultrasonic element 165b is interposed
between the mating joints of the airplane and by moving same at the
joint a flow of plastic occurs which is sufficient to cause a
fusion of the plastic parts. The kit 10d further includes in its
carton or other packaging means 240d, with cover 241d, a number or
removable elements in various shapes and forms. Those illustrated
are with a pointed tip element 178d as in FIGS. 9 and 10, for use
as in FIG. 20 for plastic assembly, a knife element 242d as seen in
FIG. 21, and a round pointed element 244d as seen in use in FIG.
22. Accordingly, the kit is adaptable for use in a great variety of
hobby-craft applications and as such a supply of disposable parts
245d may be contained in a container 246d in the kit 10d. The
disposable parts 245d may be of plastic, metal or other
material.
Accordingly, all types of plastic, glass, metal, wood, leather, and
other materials may be worked upon with the kit 10d. As seen in
FIG. 20 the instrument means 22d is used by the user 11d to
assemble a plastic model and control the power by the finger tip
switching means 195d.
FIG. 21 illustrates the removable element 165d in the form of a
knife element 242d. Accordingly, a number of accessories 25d may be
purchased by the user, such that even if the elements are
removable, the user may have the ones he uses most often already
assembled to an accessory 25d which is quickly and easily removed
from the adapter 26d. This type of system gives the user maximum
flexibility between interchangeability of the accessory and the
removable elements to be used. Further, the convertor 15d is
plugged directly into the wall outlet 236dfor the convenience of
the user.
FIG. 22 illustrates yet another application in which the instrument
means 22d, connected to the power cable 24d and in turn to the
convertor 15d, is plugged within the wall outlet 236d. In operation
the finger switching means 195d is used to vibrate the removalbe
element 244d which is in contact with a wood member 248d such as
for wood burning or other applications.
FIGS. 23 and 24 illustrate another form of kit 10e that may be used
by the hobbyist to perform a series of applications, some of which
are hereinafter illustrated in FIGS. 25-28. In contrast to the kit
illustrated in FIG. 19, the present kit as seen in FIG. 23 includes
a container 15e that could be battery powered or plugged in a wall
outlet and having an on/off switch 28e contained on the cabinet as
well as a power control adjustment knob 20e such that the power to
perform a special application may be properly adjusted by the user
11e as seen in FIG. 25
The kit includes a converter 15e contained within packaging means
or cartion 240e having a cover 241e for shipment. The instrument
means 22e is seen to include an adapter 26e having the power cord
24e adapted to be plugged in the convertor 15eas seen in FIG. 24.
The accessory 25e is of the type to be removed from the adapter 26e
and designed to accept a plurality of interchangeable, removable
elements illustrated in the form of a bent or shaped tip 252e, an
assembly element 253e for use as seen in FIGS. 25-27, an element
251e which may have a rounded tip, the element 250e which may be in
the form of a thin spatula for mixing, welding or other
applications.
To facilitate the use of the kit 10e by the user, a number of
peripheral items may be provided so that the user, upon purchase of
the kit may be able to begin use thereof with what is provided in
the kit. For example, the container 246e is provided having a
number of clips 245e that may be in the form of plastic or other
type fasteners such as illustrated with respect to FIGS. 25-27. In
addition, plastic sheet material or even wood members or elements
257e may be provided such as for wood burning or other uses.
Container 259e is provided for various plastic or leather strips or
filaments to be used for artistic craft work or other uses that the
hobbyist may find.
It will be noted that a finger switch is also provided on the
accessory 25e such that once the user places the power on by switch
28e the convertor may be in the on position such that instaneous
power will be available at the removable element 252e upon
engagement of the finger switch by the user.
FIGS. 25-28 illustrate further usage of the ultrasonic apparatus.
At the present time, erector sets normally utilize metallic nuts
and bolts to assemble the respective components thereof. As seen
with respect to FIG. 25, metallic components 254e and 255e of the
erector set are assembled by using a plastic rivet 256e having its
head at one end thereof in a nest 258e and the ultrasonic
instrument 22e held by the user 11e with a removable element 253e
having a pocket for containment of the shaft of the rivet 256e. In
this manner the energy is applied with a static force in the
direction of the arrow 259e, and the kinetic energy imparted to the
rivet by the ultrasonic mechanical vibrations effects the flow of
the plastic and a head 260e is formed as seen in FIG. 26.
FIGS. 27 and 28 illustrate a novel fastener adapted to be jointed
with ultrasonic energy and including a first fastening element or
portion 261 e having a head portion 262e in a nest 258e, and a
tubular shaft 263e with an axial bore 268e contained therein and a
second fastening element 265e having a head portion 266e and a
shaft shank 267e adapted to be contained within the axial bore 268e
of the shaft 263e. As seen, the two elements 261e and 265e are to
be assembled with one head 262e resting in the nest 258e and the
second head 266e coupled to the ultrasonic motor tool with
ultrasonic vibrations applied thereto by the instrument 22e in the
direction of the doubleheaded arrow 269e to assemble parts 254e and
255e. The dimensional relationship between the inner bore 268e and
the outer diameter of the shaft 267e is such that there is a
minimal spacing of 0.0005 inches for the diameters of the shaft
267e in the range of diameter of 0.032 inch to 1 inch such that a
flow of the plastic first occurs to form a molecular bond between
the respective circular of other cross-sectional areas of the
fastening elements 261e and 265e.
FIG. 28 shows the removal of a head 266e of a rivet, either as
formed in FIGS. 25 and 26, or FIG. 27 with an ultrasonic tool 252e
that permits the user to quickly disassemble his erector set by
shearing off the heads of the plastic rivets and separate the parts
254e and 255e.
FIG. 29 illustrates one form of electronic converter circuit 15f
that is designed to be used with the type of motor 50f having two
crystals 88f and 89f with the electrode 90f therebetween, and
generally illustrated in FIGS. 3-6. The motor 50f further includes
a rear portion 91f and locking means in the form of a nut 85f with
a wire 112f extending from the motor to point of ground or
reference potential and a wire 104f extending from the electrode
90f and wired to the converter 15f as hereinafter discussed.
More particularly now, the converter 15f includes a transistor 280
arranged in a driving circuit to provide an output oscillatory
signal coupling to the motor 50f to drive or induce ultrasonic
vibrations in the piezoelectric crystals 88f and 89f. The
transistor 280 which is shown as an N-P-N type, has its collector
electrode 281 connected through an R.F. choke 282 to the junction
of a fixed value resistor 283 and a variable resistor 284. The
other end of the resistor 283 is connected to the base electrode
298 of the transistor 280 and one end of a secondary winding 285 of
a transformer 286. The other end of the winding 285 is grounded. A
capacitor 287 is connected in parallel with the transformer
secondary winding 285 to provide a tank circuit resonant at the
desired frequency of oscillation. An output coupling of the
developed oscillatory signal is via the transformer primary winding
288 connected between the transistor collector electrode 281 and
the motor driving electrode 90f. The collector electrode 281 is
coupled to ground through an isolating capacitor 289. The emitter
electrode 290 of the transistor 280 is coupled to ground through a
bias resistor 291. Resistor 291 is bypassed to ground by a
capacitor 292.
D.C. operating power for the oscillator may be provided by a
standard type half wave rectifier power supply circuit, as shown
for example in FIG. 29 as comprising a resistor 293 in series with
a diode 294 and connected across the secondary winding of a
transformer 295. A filter capacitor 297 is connected across the
resistor 293. The transformer primary is connected through a
suitable on-off switch 296 to an A.C. voltage source. D.C. voltage
is supplied to the oscillator circuit via a lead connection from
the variable resistor 284 to a tap on the resistor 293.
Operation of the driving circuit of FIG. 29 is as follows. The
variable resistor 284 is adjusted to provide a suitable operating
potential for the transistor collector electrode 281. When switch
296 is closed to apply power to the driving circuit, piezoelectric
crystals 88f and 89f start oscillating at the desired frequency and
a plurality of harmonic and subharmonic frequencies of said desired
frequency. These oscillations are applied through transformer
primary winding 286 to the resonant tank formed by capacitor 287
and transformer secondary winding 285. This resonant tank is
designed so as to pass only the desired frequency and to switch
transistor 280 "on" and "off" at said desired frequency. In this
manner, a driving signal is applied to crystals 88f and 89f to
sustain the oscillations thereof and the ultrasonic vibrations of
motor 50f at the desired frequency.
FIG. 30 is similar to FIG. 29 except that in the electronic circuit
15g the A.C. to D.C. power supply circuit has been replaced by a
battery 298 or straight D.C. power supply.
Turning now to FIG. 31, there is illustrated an electronic circuit
15h adapted for use with the ultrasonic motor 50h which may be of
the type illustrated in FIGS. 9-18, inclusive, and which includes a
pair of driving crystals 88h and 89h, with the electrode 90h
therebetween, with a rear member 91h coupled to an electrode 170h
and a feedback crystal 168h with a rear locking nut 85h. Electrode
90h is connected by wire 104h to the circuit and electrode 170h by
wire 171h. The unit is grounded by wire 112h.
The oscillator circuit for driving the motor 50h includes a
transistor 300, having its base electrode 301 connected to the
junction of a capacitor 302 and resistors 303 and 304. Resistor 304
is returned via the primary winding 305 of a transformer 306 to the
collector electrode 307 of the transistor 300. The emitter
electrode 308 of the transistor 300 is connected to ground through
a resistor 309. The other end of resistor 303 is also connected to
ground. The capacitor 302 is series connected to a variable
inductor 310 which is tuned with the capacitor 302 to be series
resonant at the desired frequency of vibration for the motor
driving crystal 90h. A signal attenuating resistor means 311 series
connects the inductor 310 to a feedback crystal 170h in the motor
50h. Operating potential for the circuit is supplied from an A.C.
to D.C. power supply 312, similar to that shown in FIG. 29.
Connection of the power supply D.C. output voltage to the
oscillator circuit is via lead 313 to the transformer primary
winding 305 and ground lead 314. The oscillator output drive signal
is coupled to the motor 50h and electrode 90h via the transformer
secondary winding 315.
Operation of the circuit is as follows.
When the circuit 15h is energized, as by closing of the power
supply on-off switch, the sudden surge of current therefrom will
drive the crystals 88h and 89h into a vibratory mode of operation.
The vibrations of crystal 88h and 89h will in turn induce
vibrations in the feedback crystal 168h and the vibrations or
oscillatory output of crystal 168h is fed back to the base input of
the transistor 300 via the inductor 310 and capacitor 302 network.
Since the induced vibrations in the crystal may be harmonic and/or
subharmonic of the crystal fundamental frequency, the
inductor-capacitor feedback network is tuned to be series resonant
at the desired frequency of vibration for the motor 50h. The
transistor 300 operates as an amplifier so that at this series
resonant frequency, the feedback signal to the base input of the
transistor 300 will be at a level to provide a sufficient signal
output from the transistor 300 for coupling via the transformer 306
to the crystals 88h and 89h to sustain the crystal vibrations at
the desired or tuned frequency of the series resonant circuit.
FIG. 32 is similar to FIG. 31 except that in the circuit 15j the
A.C. to D.C. power supply circuit has been replaced by a battery
316. Operation of the circuit is the same as was heretofore
described with respect to FIG. 31.
CONCLUSION
Applicants have herein disclosed new and novel apparatus and kits
to be utilized for the home consumer, professional and industrial
markets. The kits of the present invention are multi-functional and
provide a major breakthrough into the home consumer field on an
economical basis.
Although illustrative embodiments of the invention have been
described in detail herein with reference to the accompanying
drawing, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited
to those precise embodiments, and that various changes and
modifications may be effected therein without departing from the
scope or spirit of the invention, except as defined in the appended
claims.
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