Abstract: An acoustic driver assembly for use with any of a variety of cavitation chamber configurations, including spherical and cylindrical chambers as well as chambers that include at least one flat coupling surface. The acoustic driver assembly includes at least one transducer, a head mass and a tail mass. The end surface of the head mass is shaped to limit the contact area between the head mass of the driver assembly and the cavitation chamber to which the driver is attached, the contact area being limited to a centrally located contact region. The area of contact is controlled by limiting its size and/or shaping its surface.

Abstract: An acoustic driver horn that is integral to a wall of a cavitation chamber is provided. The horn design is applicable to any of a variety of cavitation chamber configurations, including spherical, cylindrical, and rectangular chambers. Although a variety of driver assemblies can be coupled to the driver horn, preferably the acoustic driver assembly includes a head mass, a tail mass, and at least one transducer, typically a piezoelectric transducer, and preferably a pair of piezoelectric transducers. A groove in the cavitation chamber wall defines the driver horn and separates it from the remaining portion of the cavitation chamber wall. Due to the thinning of the wall around the horn, the driver that is attached to the horn is able to more effectively couple its energy into the cavitation fluid within the chamber.

Abstract: An acoustic driver assembly for use with any of a variety of cavitation chamber configurations, including spherical and cylindrical chambers as well as chambers that include at least one flat coupling surface. The acoustic driver assembly includes at least one transducer, a head mass and a tail mass. The end surface of the head mass is shaped to limit the contact area between the head mass of the driver assembly and the cavitation chamber to which the driver is attached, the contact area being limited to a centrally located contact region. The area of contact is controlled by limiting its size and/or shaping its surface.

Abstract: An acoustic driver assembly for use with a spherical cavitation chamber is provided. The acoustic driver assembly includes at least one transducer, a head mass and a tail mass, coupled together with a centrally located threaded means (e.g., all thread, bolt, etc.). The driver assembly is either attached to the exterior surface of the spherical cavitation chamber with the same threaded means, a different threaded means, or a more permanent coupling means such as brazing, diffusion bonding or epoxy. In at least one embodiment, the transducer is comprised of a pair of piezo-electric transducers, preferably with the adjacent surfaces of the piezo-electric transducers having the same polarity. The surface of the head mass that is adjacent to the external surface of the chamber is non-flat and has a spherical curvature less than the spherical curvature of the external surface of the chamber, thus providing a ring of contact between the acoustic driver and the cavitation chamber.

Abstract: An hourglass-shaped cavitation chamber is provided. The chamber is comprised of two large cylindrical regions separated by a smaller cylindrical region. Coupling the regions are two transitional sections which are preferably smooth and curved. The chamber can be fabricated from either a fragile material, such as a glass, or a machinable material, such as a metal. A ring-shaped acoustic driver is positioned around the outer circumference of one of the two large cylindrical regions of the cavitation chamber. Preferably the driver is held in place with an epoxy or other adhesive. If desired, a second ring-shaped acoustic driver can be positioned around the outer circumference of the second of the two large cylindrical regions of the cavitation chamber. Coupling conduits which can be used to fill/drain the chamber as well as couple the chamber to a degassing and/or circulatory system can be attached to one, or both, ends of the chamber.

Abstract: An hourglass-shaped cavitation chamber is provided. The chamber is comprised of two large cylindrical regions separated by a smaller cylindrical region. Coupling the regions are two transitional sections which are preferably smooth and curved. The chamber can be fabricated from either a fragile material, such as a glass, or a machinable material, such as a metal. An acoustic driver assembly is coupled to one end of the cavitation chamber, preferably using a threaded means (e.g., bolt or all-thread/nut), an epoxy joint, a diffusion bond joint, or a braze joint. If desired, a second acoustic driver assembly can be coupled to the second chamber end. Preferably the driver or drivers are attached such that their central axis is coaxial with the central axis of the cavitation chamber. Coupling conduits which can be used to fill/drain the chamber as well as couple the chamber to a degassing and/or circulatory system can be attached to one, or both, ends of the chamber.

Abstract: An hourglass-shaped cavitation chamber is provided. The chamber is comprised of two large spherical regions separated by a smaller cylindrical region. Coupling the regions are two transitional sections which are preferably smooth and curved. The chamber can be fabricated from either a fragile material, such as a glass, or a machinable material, such as a metal. A ring-shaped acoustic driver is coupled to one end of the cavitation chamber, preferably using an epoxy or other adhesive. If desired, a second ring-shaped acoustic driver can be coupled to the second chamber end. Coupling conduits which can be used to fill/drain the chamber as well as couple the chamber to a degassing and/or circulatory system can be attached to one, or both, ends of the chamber.

Abstract: An hourglass-shaped cavitation chamber is provided. The chamber is comprised of two large spherical regions separated by a smaller cylindrical region. Coupling the regions are two transitional sections which are preferably smooth and curved. The chamber can be fabricated from either a fragile material, such as a glass, or a machinable material, such as a metal. A ring-shaped acoustic driver is positioned around the outer circumference of one of the two large spherical regions of the cavitation chamber. Preferably the driver is held in place with an epoxy or other adhesive. If desired, a second ring-shaped acoustic driver can be positioned around the outer circumference of the second of the two large spherical regions of the cavitation chamber. Coupling conduits which can be used to fill/drain the chamber as well as couple the chamber to a degassing and/or circulatory system can be attached to one, or both, ends of the chamber.

Abstract: An hourglass-shaped cavitation chamber is provided. The chamber is comprised of two large spherical regions separated by a smaller cylindrical region. Coupling the regions are two transitional sections which are preferably smooth and curved. The chamber can be fabricated from either a fragile material, such as a glass, or a machinable material, such as a metal. An acoustic driver assembly is coupled to one end of the cavitation chamber, preferably using a threaded means (e.g., bolt or all-thread/nut), an epoxy joint, a diffusion bond joint, or a braze joint. If desired, a second acoustic driver assembly can be coupled to the second chamber end. Preferably the driver or drivers are attached such that their central axis is coaxial with the central axis of the cavitation chamber. Coupling conduits which can be used to fill/drain the chamber as well as couple the chamber to a degassing and/or circulatory system can be attached to one, or both, ends of the chamber.

Abstract: An hourglass-shaped cavitation chamber is provided. The chamber is comprised of two large spherical regions separated by a smaller cylindrical region. Coupling the regions are two transitional sections which are preferably smooth and curved. Although the chamber is preferably fabricated from a machinable material, such as a metal, it can also be fabricated from a fragile material, such as a glass. An acoustic driver assembly is incorporated within the chamber wall at one end of the cavitation chamber. The driver can be threadably coupled to the chamber or attached using an epoxy, diffusion bonding, brazing or welding. O-rings or other seals can be used to seal the driver to the chamber. The head surface of the driver assembly can be flush, recessed, or extended from the internal chamber surface. The head surface of the driver assembly can be flat or shaped. If desired, a second acoustic driver assembly can be incorporated within the chamber wall at the other end of the cavitation chamber.

Abstract: An hourglass-shaped cavitation chamber is provided. The chamber is comprised of two large cylindrical regions separated by a smaller cylindrical region. Coupling the regions are two transitional sections which are preferably smooth and curved. The chamber can be fabricated from either a fragile material, such as a glass, or a machinable material, such as a metal. A ring-shaped acoustic driver is coupled to one end of the cavitation chamber, preferably using an epoxy or other adhesive. If desired, a second ring-shaped acoustic driver can be coupled to the second chamber end. Coupling conduits which can be used to fill/drain the chamber as well as couple the chamber to a degassing and/or circulatory system can be attached to one, or both, ends of the chamber.

Abstract: An hourglass-shaped cavitation chamber is provided. The chamber is comprised of two large cylindrical regions separated by a smaller cylindrical region. Coupling the regions are two transitional sections which are preferably smooth and curved. Although the chamber is preferably fabricated from a machinable material, such as a metal, it can also be fabricated from a fragile material, such as a glass. An acoustic driver assembly is incorporated within the chamber wall at one end of the cavitation chamber. The driver can be threadably coupled to the chamber or attached using an epoxy, diffusion bonding, brazing or welding. O-rings or other seals can be used to seal the driver to the chamber. The head surface of the driver assembly can be flush, recessed, or extended from the internal chamber surface. The head surface of the driver assembly can be flat or shaped. If desired, a second acoustic driver assembly can be incorporated within the chamber wall at the other end of the cavitation chamber.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a spherical cavitation chamber is provided. Depending upon the chamber's composition and wall thickness, chambers fabricated with the disclosed techniques can be used with either low or high pressure systems. During chamber fabrication, initially two spherical half portions are fabricated and then the two half portions are joined together to form the desired cavitation chamber. During the fabrication of each chamber half, the interior spherical surface is completed first and then the outer spherical surface. Prior to joining the two spherical cavitation chamber halves, the surfaces to be mated are finished, preferably to a surface flatness of at least ±0.01 inches. Electron beam welding is used to join the chamber halves together. Preferably the electron beam welding operation is performed under vacuum conditions. During electron beam welding, the two chamber halves are aligned and held together while the electron beam forms a weld along the chamber seam.

Abstract: An acoustic driver assembly for use with any of a variety of cavitation chamber configurations, including spherical and cylindrical chambers as well as chambers that include at least one flat coupling surface, is provided. The acoustic driver assembly includes at least one transducer, a head mass and a tail mass. The end surface of the head mass is shaped so that only a ring of contact is made between the outer perimeter of the head mass of the driver assembly and the cavitation chamber to which the driver is attached. The area of the contact ring is controlled by shaping its surface.

Abstract: An acoustic driver assembly for use with any of a variety of cavitation chamber configurations, including spherical and cylindrical chambers as well as chambers that include at least one flat coupling surface, is provided. The acoustic driver assembly includes at least one transducer, a head mass and a tail mass. The end surface of the head mass is shaped so that only a ring of contact is made between the outer perimeter of the head mass of the driver assembly and the cavitation chamber to which the driver is attached. The area of the contact ring is controlled by shaping its surface.

Abstract: An acoustic driver assembly for use with any of a variety of cavitation chamber configurations, including spherical and cylindrical chambers as well as chambers that include at least one flat coupling surface, is provided. The acoustic driver assembly includes at least one transducer, a head mass and a tail mass. The end surface of the head mass is shaped so that only a ring of contact is made between the outer perimeter of the head mass of the driver assembly and the cavitation chamber to which the driver is attached. The area of the contact ring is controlled by shaping its surface.

Abstract: An acoustic driver assembly for use with any of a variety of cavitation chamber configurations, including spherical and cylindrical chambers as well as chambers that include at least one flat coupling surface. The acoustic driver assembly includes at least one transducer, a head mass and a tail mass. The end surface of the head mass is shaped to limit the contact area between the head mass of the driver assembly and the cavitation chamber to which the driver is attached, the contact area being limited to a centrally located contact region. The area of contact is controlled by limiting its size and/or shaping its surface.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a spherical cavitation chamber. Depending upon the chamber's composition and wall thickness, chambers fabricated with the disclosed techniques can be used with either low or high pressure systems. During chamber fabrication, initially two spherical half portions are fabricated and then the two half portions are joined together to form the desired cavitation chamber. During the fabrication of each chamber half, the interior spherical surface is completed first and then the outer spherical surface. Prior to joining the two spherical cavitation chamber halves, the surfaces to be mated are finished, preferably to a surface flatness of at least ±0.01 inches. Brazing is used to join the chamber halves together. The brazing material is preferably in the form of a ring-shaped sheet with outside and inside diameters of approximately the same size as the cavitation sphere's outside and inside diameters. Preferably the brazing operation is performed under vacuum conditions.

Abstract: A method for forming and imploding cavities within a cavitation chamber is provided. A hydraulically actuated piston is withdrawn to form the desired cavities and then extended to implode the cavities. The cavitation fluid is degassed prior to hydraulically driving cavitation within the chamber. Degassing can be performed within the cavitation chamber or within a separate degassing chamber. In one aspect, a coupling sleeve is interposed between the hydraulic driver and the cavitation chamber. Preferably the coupling sleeve is evacuated.

Abstract: A method for initiating cavitation within the fluid within a cavitation chamber is provided. In the cavitation preparatory steps, a hydraulically actuated piston is fully retracted and then the cavitation chamber is isolated. The hydraulic piston is then fully extended after which the chamber is partially opened until a predetermined cavitation piston position is obtained. After the chamber is once again isolated, cavities are formed and imploded by retracting and then extending the cavitation piston. At least one impeller, located within the cavitation chamber, is rotated in order to stabilize the cavities.