Electrical generator or motor structure – Non-dynamoelectric – Piezoelectric elements and devices
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-22
2001-01-23
Dougherty, Thomas M. (Department: 2834)
Electrical generator or motor structure
Non-dynamoelectric
Piezoelectric elements and devices
C310S323180, C310S323190, C310S341000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06177755
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This present invention relates to a ultrasonic apparatus. More particularly, this present invention relates to a highly effective air cooled ultrasonic apparatus adopting an air cooling system in replacement of a conventional water cooling system. The present invention is especially adapted as a precision medical device for medical, dental or plastic surgery but its application is not limited to the medical field.
Conventionally, an ultrasonic handpiece or apparatus generates a significant heat due to its high speed operation and a water cooling system is generally applied for cooling such an ultrasonic apparatus.
However, the peripheral surface of the hollow hole for the cooling water is limited and accordingly the cooling efficiency is not satisfactory to its user. Therefore, a prominent improvement is required for effectiveness and efficiency in a cooling system of the ultrasonic drilling machine.
When a cooling water is adopted to an ultrasonic machine, several disadvantages are clearly witnessed. First, since it is known that an impedance (Z) for water is incorporated in density (&rgr;) multiplied by velocity (c) or Z=&rgr;·c, the impedance for water is significantly high, compared to an impedance for air. That is, it should be understood that Z (=&rgr;·c) for water is larger than Z′ (=&rgr;′·c′) for air. Although pressure factor is considered, the impedance (Z′) for air is neglectable. Specifically, it is known that an impedance Z (=412 (Pa/(m/s)) for air is 3,600 times less than impedance Z′ (1.48×10
6
(Pa)/(m/s)).
Second, when a water cooling system is employed, a cooling surface area (peripheral surface area of the hollow hole) is inevitably limited. That is, an ultrasonic energy becomes decreased in proportion that a cooling surface area becomes larger. This is because an energy transit circuit is influenced by the ratio of stress and thickness.
Third, it is troublesome to finish an operative tip end because the cooling water tends to undesirably leak through the tip end. Further, the variety for tip shapes is strictly limited since a priority should be placed on prevention of water leakage through the operative tip.
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide an air cooled ultrasonic apparatus which is effectively cooled by air.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a wider cooling surface area in comparison to the conventional hollow hole for water cooling.
Still another object of the present invention is to enable a variety of operative tip shapes for the ultrasonic apparatus.
Additional objects, advantages, and novel features of the present invention will be set forth in the description that follows, and it is apparent that those skilled in the art may be learned by practice of the invention upon examination of the following. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
To achieve the foregoing objects and other objects, as embodied and broadly described herein, a highly efficient air cooled ultrasonic apparatus according to the present invention for various precision applications such as medical, dental and plastic surgery comprises a housing, a piezoelectric transducer means, and an elongated horn.
The housing has an air inlet, an air outlet, a first periphery and a second periphery. A plurality of first and second protrusions radially extend from the first and second peripheries. The elongated horn has a first horn end and a second horn end, wherein the first horn end forms an operative tip, wherein the second horn end is attached to the transducer means and housed in the housing. Also, the elongated horn is operably supported by the first and second protrusions so that a cooling air can be supplied through the air inlet into the housing and discharged through the air outlet.
An improvement of the present invention comprises a housing having an air inlet, a horn cover having an air outlet, a first periphery and a second periphery, wherein the horn cover is engagedly attached to the housing. A plurality of first and second protrusions radially extend from the first and second peripheries.
Meanwhile, the first and second protrusions are respectively formed in embossed shape so as to create a laminar flow when the cooling air passes over the respective first and second protrusions. Each base of the plurality of first and second embossed protrusions comprises a front base end and a rear base end which are decrementally enlongated toward corresponding horn ends. Here, the second base end is elongated farther than the first base end.
The horn cover further comprises first and crimple zones, and wherein the first crimple zone is formed either between the first periphery and the second periphery or outside the second periphery toward the operative tip. Alternately, the first and second crimple zones may be formed outside the second periphery toward the operative tip.
In particular, the air inlet is formed through a rear end of the housing opposed to the operative tip, and the air outlet is formed through a peripheral opening between the operative tip and a front end of the housing. Also, it is preferred that the air outlet is formed adjacent to the front end of the housing.
The benefits of this inventions are numerous. First, the air cooling system applied to the air cooled ultrasonic apparatus is highly efficient compared to the prior art because a wider surface area between the elongated horn
14
, the horn cover
21
and the housing
22
than the surface area of a conventional cooling water hollow hole formed though the horn, can be exposed to the cooling air, thereby enhancing cooling efficiency. Second, the present invention enables a cooling air to be controlled as low as a below zero Celsius degree, that is, below a freezing point, thereby maximizing a cooling effect. Third, various bits can be applied since the present invention has overcome the conventional water draining problem around the operative tip, and even the air outlet can be formed in a desired portion of the horn cover. Fourth, since impedance Z (=&rgr;·c) for air is less than impedance Z′ (=&rgr;′·c′) for water (where, &rgr; denotes density, c denotes velocity), that is, &rgr;·c<&rgr;′·c′ is satisfied, the cooling air enables a low c at a cold temperature without being influenced by atmospheric pressure, thereby further realizing better cooling performance.
Although the present invention is briefly summarized, the fuller understanding of the invention can be obtained by the following drawings, the detailed description and appended claims.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3694675 (1972-09-01), Loveday
patent: 4169984 (1979-10-01), Parisi
patent: 4741731 (1988-05-01), Starck et al.
patent: 4828052 (1989-05-01), Duran
patent: 4838853 (1989-06-01), Parisi
patent: 4869715 (1989-09-01), Sherburne
patent: 5955823 (1999-09-01), Nilsson et al.
patent: 2 000 470 (1979-01-01), None
Direct Cooling Technique for Quartz Deposition Monitors, IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin, vol. 34, No. 7B; pp. 286-287, Dec. 1991.
Dougherty Thomas M.
Park John K.
Park & Sutton LLP
LandOfFree
Air cooled ultrasonic apparatus does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Air cooled ultrasonic apparatus, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Air cooled ultrasonic apparatus will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2547898