Abstract: An apparatus for electrohydroblasting of castings comprises a base, a bath, a mechanism for feeding castings into the bath, having a movable platform mounted in vertical guides, and a loading device. The loading device comprises horizontal guides and a means for conveying castings along the horizontal guides. The horizontal guides have a section disposed above the bath and sections mounted on the base. In accordance with the invention, the section of the horizontal guides, disposed above the bath, is mounted on the movable platform of the mechanism for feeding castings into the bath.

Abstract: A vibratory cleaning apparatus applies ultrasonic energy to component parts or workpieces directly resting on a vibrator surface. The surface forms part of a conveying arrangement that moves the parts as they are cleaned. Conveyance of the parts during their vibratory cleaning provides control of the time of cleaning. In various embodiments, the conveying arrangement can be an inclined plate or surface which is the vibration imparting member, an endless conveyor through which vibrations are conducted, or a wiper driven across a vibratory plate to move the workpieces thereon. The cleaning apparatus is suitable for large scale cleaning of production line parts or individual work bench application. In preferred embodiments, a further conveying arrangement automatically delivers the parts from the bath in which the ultrasonic transducer is located.

Abstract: Improved ultrasonic cleaning of large surfaces is achieved by modifying conventional transducers of either the cylindrical or piston vibratile type so that the transducer vibratile element is brought in closer proximity to the surface being cleaned. For efficiently cleaning the wall surface of a circular water-filled tank, such as a toilet bowl, a ceramic disc operating in the planar resonant mode is provided with an acoustic transmission line comprising a solid annulus bonded to the periphery of the ceramic. The radial dimension of the annulus is equal to one-half wavelength of sound in the material at the frequency of operation. The annulus serves as an acoustic transmission line to extend the peripheral vibrating surface of the ceramic to a region closer to the wall of the tank. The transmission line also increases the radiating area of the transducer which achieves increased sonic power density in the vicinity of the wall surface.

Abstract: An ultrasonic method and apparatus for removing dental plaque from teeth in situ and for cleaning the teeth employing a liquid couple for imparting ultrasonic energy to the surface of the teeth at ultrasonic energy levels which are not harmful to the teeth or gums.

Abstract: A ferrite for magnetostrictrive vibrators is produced by the simple process of press forming a preformed structure formed from starting powder of magnetite or a mixture of magnetite and ferric oxide, said powder having an average particle size d (.mu.) of from 0.02 to 5.0 .mu., sintering this structure in an atmosphere wherein the partial pressure of oxygen is from 10.sup.-1 to 10.sup.-11 atmosphere at a temperature of from 1,000.degree. to 1,350.degree. C. and which will meet the requirement:140 log d+1,305.gtoreq.T(.degree.C.).gtoreq.160 log d+1,180and thereafter cooling the structure thus sintered to room temperature at a cooling rate m (.degree.C./min.) <0.5f where f(KHz) is a corresponding resonance frequency thereby to produce a macroscopically homogeneous ferrite structure containing as its principal constituent a sintered magnetite having an oxygen/iron (O/Fe) atomic ratio of 4.0/3<0/Fe<4.1/3, and a density of at least 90% of the theoretical density.

Abstract: A cleaning apparatus for small, ferrometallic, precision items, e.g., dental burs, includes a cabinet unit housing a plurality of magnets mounted on a motor driven, rotatable disc with the magnets being arranged and designed to provide a rotating, unipolar, non-uniform, magnetic field coacting with the items in which individual fields are induced and which provide for rotation separation and oscillation of the dental burs being cleaned in a solution within an appropriate container; a second group of magnets also mounted on a rotatable disc for rinsing of the cleaned dental burs; and a degaussing unit for demagnetizing the dental burs once cleaned and rinsed. A magnetic bur pick-up device allows for moving the dental burs from one area to the next without physical contact of the already cleaned burs.

Abstract: Liquids which are normally immiscible and which are to be emulsified are simultaneously directed through a chamber containing a source of vibratory energy. One of said liquids may contain suspended solid particles. The particles when present are comminuted and cavitation is induced in said liquids while they are in the chamber by contact with the resonant vibration-transmitting member.

Abstract: An ultrasonic cleaning apparatus including a container for a cleaning solution with an ultrasonic vibrating member mounted therein, the vibrating member having at least three sides with at least one ultrasonic transducer attached to the inner surface of each side.

Abstract: The contact area between a first phase of a multi-phase system and a liquid second phase of the system is increased by effecting transient electrical discharges between electrodes immersed in the liquid second phase or in a volume of liquid in acoustic communication with the liquid second phase. The first phase can be in the form of a particulate solid, a gas, or a liquid of lower density than that of the second phase. The first phase is mingled with the second phase by a bubbling technique where the first phase has a lower density than the second phase. The hydraulic shock waves produced by the electrical discharges disperse the bubbles or particles of the first phase in the liquid second phase and thus increase the contact area between the phases.

Abstract: Apparatus for the treatment of materials by the application thereto of ultrasonic longitudinal pressure oscillations, for example, for dispersing or emulsifying or dissolving or mixing or deagglomerating consists of an enclosure having an interior with two closely-spaced walls at least one of which is made to oscillate at ultrasonic frequencies, or otherwise impart such oscillations to the interior, for example, by ultrasonic transducers mounted on the wall exterior. The spacing between the walls is such that the longitudinal pressure oscillations produced at the oscillating wall are reflected by the other wall, preferably several times, before they are attenuated to a negligible value. Preferably, the other wall also vibrates to produce doppler effects and avoid standing waves. The distance between the inner surfaces of the two walls is normally not more than about 1 inch (2.5 cm).