WO1995001845A1 - System and method for ultrasonic energy coupling by irrigation - Google Patents
System and method for ultrasonic energy coupling by irrigation Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO1995001845A1 WO1995001845A1 PCT/US1994/007550 US9407550W WO9501845A1 WO 1995001845 A1 WO1995001845 A1 WO 1995001845A1 US 9407550 W US9407550 W US 9407550W WO 9501845 A1 WO9501845 A1 WO 9501845A1
- Authority
- WO
- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- fluid
- horn member
- horn
- passageway
- pump
- Prior art date
Links
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B06—GENERATING OR TRANSMITTING MECHANICAL VIBRATIONS IN GENERAL
- B06B—METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR GENERATING OR TRANSMITTING MECHANICAL VIBRATIONS OF INFRASONIC, SONIC, OR ULTRASONIC FREQUENCY, e.g. FOR PERFORMING MECHANICAL WORK IN GENERAL
- B06B3/00—Methods or apparatus specially adapted for transmitting mechanical vibrations of infrasonic, sonic, or ultrasonic frequency
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a system and method for ultrasonic energy coupling, and more particularly to a system and method for transferring vibratory mechanical energy to an object by irrigating the object with a fluid.
- the present invention finds particular utility in automated analysis instrument systems in which it may facilitate mixing liquids with other liquids or powders with liquids and/or dissolving tablets in liquids.
- the present invention has utility in a wide variety of other applications which require similar functions.
- U.S. Patent No. 4,528,159 to Liston describes such a system with an assembly for dissolving reagent tablets.
- the assembly includes a continuous cuvette belt which advances reaction compartments into a liquid bath and an ultrasonic horn disposed in the bath which transfers the energy from the horn to the reaction compartments.
- This assembly is unnecessarily complex and expensive to manufacture. In addition, it does not provide an efficient transfer of energy.
- Another prior practice for mixing or dissolving sample constituents includes placing the tip of an ultrasonic horn directly into a sample to accomplish the intended function.
- This practice presents cross-contamination problems in automated applications in which a system must provide the intended function to a large number of samples. Such applications require an additional washing step to remove contaminants from the horn tip.
- the present invention avoids the disadvantages of the prior devices and practices. It provides a simple and effective system and method of transferring vibratory mechanical energy to an object by irrigating the object with an energy transferring fluid.
- a system for transferring vibratory mechanical energy to an object includes an ultrasonic transducer which converts electrical energy (provided by a power supply) to vibratory mechanical energy.
- a horn member connected to the transducer receives the vibratory mechanical energy provided by the transducer and transfers it to a fluid which contacts the horn member.
- the horn member defines at least one passageway through which the fluid flows.
- a pump assembly moves the fluid from a fluid source, through the passageway of the horn member, outward of the horn member, and onto an object.
- This assembly includes a pump and conduits through which the fluid moves from the fluid source to the horn member.
- the fluid source includes a container assembly for receiving the fluid flowing off of the object and providing fluid for further irrigation.
- the method of ultrasonic energy coupling employed in the system includes vibrating a horn member with an ultrasonic transducer. It also includes pumping a fluid into contact with the vibrating horn member and then onto an object, thus, irrigating the object with the fluid. Accordingly, the fluid transfers the vibratory mechanical energy of the horn member to the object.
- FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a transfer assembly of an instrument employing the system of the present invention
- FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2-2 in FIG. 1, showing the ultrasonic energy coupling system with two ultrasonic horns irrigating a container.
- FIG. 3 is the sectional view of FIG. 2, showing a modification of the system of FIG. 2 with one ultrasonic horn irrigating the container.
- FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an ultrasonic horn used in the system of the present invention.
- FIG. 1 illustrates a rotatable transfer assembly T with ultrasonic energy coupling systems S of the present invention at two locations proximate the transfer assembly.
- the transfer assembly T moves enclosures C (e.g.. a cuvette or a pair of cuvettes) to the systems S which facilitate mixing liquids with other liquids, powders with liquids, or tablets with liquids disposed in the enclosures.
- enclosures C e.g.. a cuvette or a pair of cuvettes
- each system S includes a pair of ultrasonic transducer and horn assemblies 10.
- the transducer 11 of each assembly may be any one of a wide variety of commercially available transducers which convert electrical energy (provided by a suitable power supply P) into vibratory mechanical energy.
- One such transducer is Model No. VC40 sold by Sonics and Materials Inc. of Danbury, Connecticut.
- the horn member 12 of each assembly receives the vibratory energy from the corresponding transducer 11 and transfers it to a fluid as described below.
- the member 12 is an elongated member coupled at a first end to a transducer 11 and made of aluminum, titanium, stainless steel or any other solid with good acoustical energy transfer characteristics. (See FIG. 4)
- a threaded stud 13 secures the first end of the horn member 12 to the corresponding transducer 11 (See FIG. 2) .
- the other end has a rounded configuration to focus the vibratory energy outwardly of the horn.
- Each horn member 12 defines a passageway 14, drilled, cast, or otherwise formed into the horn member.
- the passageway is a round, generally L-shaped bore with an inlet 15 disposed on the side of the member and an outlet 16 disposed at a second end of the member, opposite the first end.
- a horn member was fabricated with a passageway having the configuration shown in Fig. 4 and a round cross-section with a constant diameter of approximately 0.050 inches.
- the passageway may have any suitable configuration and any suitable cross-section.
- the passageway may extend through the transducer 11 and across the horn member 12, from one end to the other.
- the horn member 12 may include more than one passageway or a passageway with one inlet portion, a manifold portion in close proximity to a nodal point along the length of the horn 12, and two or more outlet portions.
- the outlet portions may lie side-by-side or one on top of the other.
- a pump 17 and conduits I8a-d move a fluid, (e.g. _ Ethelyne Glycol, water, liquids less viscous than water, and liquids more viscous than water) from a container 19 to the two horn members 12 and through the passageway 14 of each horn member 12 so that the horn members 12 may transfer the vibratory mechanical energy they receive from the transducers 11 to the fluid.
- the pump forces the fluid out of the passageway outlets 16 under pressure; and the fluid contacts the enclosure or compartment C.
- the air surrounding the distal ends of the horn members acts as a channeling medium for the acoustical energy which finds an easier path through the irrigation fluid onto the container.
- the horn tip focuses the vibratory energy onto the container.
- the pump 17 is a peristaltic pump or any other suitable, conventional pump.
- the conduits 18a-d are suitably sized plastic tubing connected with fittings to the pump 17 and the horn members 12.
- the enclosure or compartment C is a cuvette or a pair of cuvettes made of plastic.
- the enclosure C may be a tube made of glass or plastic. In addition, it may be part of a strip of multiple cuvettes or a continuous cuvette belt.
- the enclosure C contains the sample constituents which the systems S mix or dissolve.
- the transfer assembly T supports the enclosure and moves it to the position shown in Fig. 2. In this position, the enclosure C lies between the two ultrasonic transducer and horn assemblies 10 by the transfer assembly T.
- the transport assembly T (to which the enclosure lies releasably secured) allows unobstructed flow of fluid between the horn members 12 and the enclosure C.
- the enclosure C does not contact the horn members 12. However, it lies proximate the outlets 16 of the horn members where the fluid discharge of the horn members may contact it.
- the horn members of the two ultrasonic transducer and horn assemblies 10 direct the fluid in opposite directions and onto the enclosure C.
- a receptacle 20 with an open top receives fluid flowing off the outer surface of the enclosure C through its open top. This fluid discharges from the receptacle, through a conduit 21, and into the container 19 which provides fluid to the conduits 18a-d for further irrigation of the enclosure C.
- FIG. 3 shows a modification of the embodiment shown in FIG. 2.
- This modified system S includes only one ultrasonic transducer and horn assembly which irrigates only one side portion of the enclosure C.
- Another alternative may include providing three or more ultrasonic transducer and horn assemblies disposed around a predetermined location so that they do not obstruct the movement of the enclosure in and out of the location.
Abstract
Description
Claims
Priority Applications (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
EP94923332A EP0660761A1 (en) | 1993-07-09 | 1994-07-06 | System and method for ultrasonic energy coupling by irrigation |
AU73228/94A AU7322894A (en) | 1993-07-09 | 1994-07-06 | System and method for ultrasonic energy coupling by irrigation |
JP7504127A JPH08509910A (en) | 1993-07-09 | 1994-07-06 | System and method for ultrasonic energy coupling by perfusion |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US08/089,001 | 1993-07-09 | ||
US08/089,001 US5529753A (en) | 1993-07-09 | 1993-07-09 | System for ultrasonic energy coupling by irrigation |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
WO1995001845A1 true WO1995001845A1 (en) | 1995-01-19 |
Family
ID=22214785
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/US1994/007550 WO1995001845A1 (en) | 1993-07-09 | 1994-07-06 | System and method for ultrasonic energy coupling by irrigation |
Country Status (6)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US5529753A (en) |
EP (1) | EP0660761A1 (en) |
JP (1) | JPH08509910A (en) |
AU (1) | AU7322894A (en) |
CA (1) | CA2143443A1 (en) |
WO (1) | WO1995001845A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (11)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US5746981A (en) * | 1996-03-29 | 1998-05-05 | Ricoh Company, Ltd. | Method and apparatus for mixing two or more kinds of resin material liquids |
GB9708449D0 (en) * | 1997-04-26 | 1997-06-18 | British Nuclear Fuels Plc | Acoustic apparatus and method |
IL121414A (en) * | 1997-07-28 | 2001-11-25 | Green Clouds Ltd | Ultrasonic device for atomizing liquids |
DE19836110C2 (en) * | 1998-08-10 | 2002-07-11 | Jandratek Gmbh | Sensor device with a mixing device |
EP1128185B8 (en) * | 2000-02-25 | 2009-08-19 | Hitachi, Ltd. | Mixing device for automatic analyzer |
FI109602B (en) * | 2001-01-25 | 2002-09-13 | Valio Oy | Probiotkombination |
DE102007017450A1 (en) * | 2007-04-02 | 2008-10-09 | Niro-Plan Ag | Method and apparatus for making caffe latte macchiato |
US9266117B2 (en) | 2011-09-20 | 2016-02-23 | Jo-Ann Reif | Process and system for treating particulate solids |
US9192968B2 (en) | 2012-09-20 | 2015-11-24 | Wave Particle Processing | Process and system for treating particulate solids |
US10264740B2 (en) | 2014-12-05 | 2019-04-23 | Pivot Pup Irrigation, LLC | Irrigating soils and crops |
CN111420166B (en) * | 2020-04-26 | 2022-03-11 | 河南科技大学 | Micro-injection pump |
Citations (5)
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---|---|---|---|---|
US2751783A (en) * | 1952-01-25 | 1956-06-26 | Electrocircuits Inc | Apparatus for coupling ultrasonic waves |
WO1986004737A1 (en) * | 1985-02-01 | 1986-08-14 | American Hospital Supply Corporation | Ultrasonic horn assembly |
US4834124A (en) * | 1987-01-09 | 1989-05-30 | Honda Electronics Co., Ltd. | Ultrasonic cleaning device |
US5001932A (en) * | 1989-06-22 | 1991-03-26 | General Dynamics Corporation | Ultrasonic squirter |
GB2243092A (en) * | 1990-03-28 | 1991-10-23 | Atomic Energy Authority Uk | Sonochemical apparatus |
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US3083718A (en) * | 1961-08-21 | 1963-04-02 | Heinicke Instr Co | Washing machine |
US3373752A (en) * | 1962-11-13 | 1968-03-19 | Inoue Kiyoshi | Method for the ultrasonic cleaning of surfaces |
US3214101A (en) * | 1964-03-31 | 1965-10-26 | Little Inc A | Apparatus for atomizing a liquid |
US4003518A (en) * | 1971-08-25 | 1977-01-18 | Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. | Method and device for controlling combustion in liquid fuel burner utilizing ultrasonic wave transducer |
US3807704A (en) * | 1972-11-13 | 1974-04-30 | Phillips Petroleum Co | Dispersing and mixing apparatus |
US3873071A (en) * | 1973-08-01 | 1975-03-25 | Tatebe Seishudo Kk | Ultrasonic wave cleaning apparatus |
US4064885A (en) * | 1976-10-26 | 1977-12-27 | Branson Ultrasonics Corporation | Apparatus for cleaning workpieces by ultrasonic energy |
US4301968A (en) * | 1976-11-08 | 1981-11-24 | Sono-Tek Corporation | Transducer assembly, ultrasonic atomizer and fuel burner |
US4326553A (en) * | 1980-08-28 | 1982-04-27 | Rca Corporation | Megasonic jet cleaner apparatus |
US4403510A (en) * | 1980-10-23 | 1983-09-13 | Dewalle Stewart | Apparatus and method for ultrasonic inspection |
US4393991A (en) * | 1981-05-29 | 1983-07-19 | Automation Industries, Inc. | Sonic water jet nozzle |
WO1983000296A1 (en) * | 1981-07-20 | 1983-02-03 | American Hospital Supply Corp | Cuvette system for automated chemical analyzer |
US4764021A (en) * | 1983-02-22 | 1988-08-16 | Corning Glass Works | Apparatus for ultrasonic agitation of liquids |
US4507969A (en) * | 1983-03-15 | 1985-04-02 | Martin Marietta Corporation | Ultrasonic liquid jet probe |
US4445064A (en) * | 1983-04-25 | 1984-04-24 | E. I. Du Pont De Nemours And Company | Self resonant power supply for electro-acoustical transducer |
DE3518646A1 (en) * | 1985-05-23 | 1986-11-27 | Battelle-Institut E.V., 6000 Frankfurt | LIQUID SPRAYER |
US4720374A (en) * | 1985-07-22 | 1988-01-19 | E. I. Du Pont De Nemours And Company | Container having a sonication compartment |
US4659014A (en) * | 1985-09-05 | 1987-04-21 | Delavan Corporation | Ultrasonic spray nozzle and method |
JPH04213827A (en) * | 1990-12-11 | 1992-08-04 | Nec Yamagata Ltd | Wafer surface washing unit for manufacture of semiconductor |
-
1993
- 1993-07-09 US US08/089,001 patent/US5529753A/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
-
1994
- 1994-07-06 CA CA002143443A patent/CA2143443A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 1994-07-06 EP EP94923332A patent/EP0660761A1/en not_active Withdrawn
- 1994-07-06 AU AU73228/94A patent/AU7322894A/en not_active Abandoned
- 1994-07-06 WO PCT/US1994/007550 patent/WO1995001845A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 1994-07-06 JP JP7504127A patent/JPH08509910A/en active Pending
Patent Citations (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2751783A (en) * | 1952-01-25 | 1956-06-26 | Electrocircuits Inc | Apparatus for coupling ultrasonic waves |
WO1986004737A1 (en) * | 1985-02-01 | 1986-08-14 | American Hospital Supply Corporation | Ultrasonic horn assembly |
US4834124A (en) * | 1987-01-09 | 1989-05-30 | Honda Electronics Co., Ltd. | Ultrasonic cleaning device |
US5001932A (en) * | 1989-06-22 | 1991-03-26 | General Dynamics Corporation | Ultrasonic squirter |
GB2243092A (en) * | 1990-03-28 | 1991-10-23 | Atomic Energy Authority Uk | Sonochemical apparatus |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
US5529753A (en) | 1996-06-25 |
EP0660761A1 (en) | 1995-07-05 |
AU7322894A (en) | 1995-02-06 |
JPH08509910A (en) | 1996-10-22 |
CA2143443A1 (en) | 1995-01-19 |
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