Abstract: There is disclosed a dental handpiece set which comprises a handpiece housing, a power supply module detachably coupled to one end of the housing for supplying power to operate the handpiece, a motor unit which is selected from a set of different types of motors and which is removably mounted in the housing as an exchangeable motor unit, and a drive train extending within the housing to an opposite end of the housing at which a dental implement can be mounted to be driven by the drive train when the motor unit is mounted in the housing and is coupled with the power supply module. The end of the housing which is detachably coupled with the power supply module is adapted removably to receive the selected motor unit so that a housing of the unit is secured within the housing against rotation. At least two different types of motor unit e.g.

Abstract: A hand-held implement for removing dental scale provided with a rigid shaft to which is applied vibrations in a rotational or circumferential direction by a dynamically unbalanced air driven turbine. The rotor of the turbine is coupled to the shaft by a bearing and the shaft is restrained from rotating and restrained axially. Provision is made for supplying cooling water through the shaft to a dental scale removing tool mounted on a free end of the vibrated shaft.

Abstract: A high speed turbine handpiece includes a housing with a turbine wheel chamber and a flow passage for air terminating in a nozzle opening on the periphery of the turbine wheel chamber as well as a discharge passage from the chamber to the exterior of the housing. An integrally formed turbine wheel in the chamber has a hub with two axially spaced sets of vanes extending about its circumference with the blades of one set circumferentially offset from the blades of the other set. The nozzle is aligned with the axial spacing or channel between the sets of vanes and is dimensioned to overlap the adjacent edge portions of the vanes so that air entering through the nozzle impinges on both sets of vanes.

Abstract: A rechargeable fluid driven dental tool. A hand piece includes a hollow handle forming a container chargeable with a liquefied gas. A rotatable turbine mounted in the head of the tool is connected by means of a passage to the container of liquefied gas. A control valve extending into the passage controls the amount of gas flow to the turbine with a pressure relief valve limiting maximum liquid flow and allowing the liquefied gas to change to gas for driving the turbine.

Abstract: In a dental turbine, having a laterally displaceably arranged rotor assembly including a shaft mounted in upper and lower ball bearings and having its lower end protruding through a bore provided in the nose of the turbine and forming a gap or space with the bore for accommodating the lateral displacement of the shaft lower end thereat a protective sleeve (1) is fitted to the outer ring (2) of the lower ball bearing, and extends below the bearing, then along the lower end of the shaft (4) and into the space (5) formed between the shaft (4) and the bore (6) in the nose (7) of the turbine to provide a relatively minute gap or space between the inner surface of the lower portion of the sleeve and the lower end of the shaft and a resultant reduced size gap or space between the outer surface of the lower portion of the sleeve and the inner surface of the bore in the nose.

Abstract: A dental handpiece is disclosed for rotating a bur in a housing having an enclosing cap, utilizing an air-driven, axial-flow turbine mounted on a shaft between two ball bearings, the assembly forming a removeable cartridge. Air is directed to the turbine through a combination plenum and nozzle ring. The cartridge is acoustically isolated from the cap and housing by two elastomeric rings having separate radial segments and axial pads. The radial segments support the cartridge bearings, prevent outer race rotation, compensate for dimensional variation of the elastomeric rings and cap and housing bores, and provide a means to vary suspension stiffness. The axial pads of the elastomeric ring around the front bearing provide a bearing pre-load force independent of the radial forces exerted on the bearing.

Abstract: This invention relates to a dental handpiece including turbine blades to be driven by a high-speed fluid under pressure to a turbine rotor chucking a cutting shaft, and blades are provided with openings or cutout portions located at both outside ends in a thrust direction of the blades so as to provide flange portions between the openings and the end portions of the blades and the peripheral width of the blades is larger than that of the high-speed fluid supply apperture.

Abstract: An air driven dental handpiece having an air turbine at one end thereof. Collet means for securing a dental bur therein are positioned within the air turbine. The air turbine is mounted in ball bearings, which are in turn resiliently mounted within the turbine housing. The handpiece handle is hollow and includes air and water tubes therein. The air and water are mixed within the handpiece at the point of expulsion from the handpiece, thereby creating a coolant mist or fog on the dental bur and the tooth being drilled.

Abstract: A dental handpiece includes a handle, a shank projected from the forward end of the handle, a turbine head on the forward end of the shank, and a turbine type dental engine in the head, with the engine being capable of holding and rotating a suitable dental bur. The head may be secured to the shank in a fixed position, with the engine axis at an oblique angle to the handle axis, the angle being such that regions and surfaces heretofore inaccessible to the dental bur are now easily accessible. Also the head may be coupled to the shank such that it pivots relative to the shank and handle, in which case, the axis of the dental engine and bur may be varied to suit the particular dental procedure that is to be performed. Means are provided for locking the head in the selected position.

Abstract: An air-driven dental scaler is disclosed having water transport means for delivering water to a scaling type work tool. The water transport means comprises a tube coaxially disposed within a vibratable hollow shaft. The water tube is supported at one end within a resilient support assembly which provides a water seal between the coaxially disposed vibratable shaft and water transport tube. The water seal assembly is positioned forwardly of a vibrational node characteristic of a standing wave created during operation of the dental scaler. An axial force exerted on the water seal assembly during vibration of the vibratable shaft improves the efficacy of the water seal between the shaft and the water transport tube. The single, resilient support for the water transport tube provides for quick replacement of the water tube in the event of clogging of the tube by mineral deposits or sediment.

Abstract: A single-unit turbine cartridge assembly for a gas-driven dental handpiece includes a pair of bearing assemblies mounted on a turbine rotor shaft and a ring of resilient material around each bearing assembly. The resilient ring provides radial support for the turbine cartridge assembly within the housing of the handpiece and substantially dampens the transfer of vibration from the cartridge assembly to the handpiece during use of the handpiece. The turbine cartridge assembly may optionally include bearing axial pre-load means in association with one or more of the bearing assemblies. The turbine cartridge assembly also includes means for retaining the resilient radial support means and the bearing axial preload means, when used, in association with the bearing assemblies, so as to permit removal, and reinstallation, of the cartridge assembly as an entire unit from, and to, the housing in the dental handpiece.

Abstract: A unitary turbine assembly in the form of a cartridge readily inserted as a unit in turbine operated dental handpieces and removable as a unit therefrom for replacement without damage to or requiring change or modification of the housing of the handpiece in which the turbine assembly is contained.

Abstract: The water powered motor includes a casing housing a rotor shaft. First and second water bearings of conical shape support opposite end portions of the shaft for high speed rotation. The central portion of the shaft has turbine wheels subject to high velocity water flow through the casing. The same high water pressure for driving the turbine also provides water to the water bearings to "float" the rotor shaft so that very high speeds can be attained with minimum friction. The preferred application for the motor is that of a high speed drill for drilling printed circuit boards. However, it may be miniaturized for use as a dentist's drill.

Abstract: A pneumatic laminar motor, for dental purposes, having a sleeve-like housing forming the stator with circular cylindrical inside wall and a rotor inside touching that wall. The rotor has a diameter smaller than the inside wall and its rotary axis is parallel to, but displaced from the axis of the inside wall. The lengthwise slots of the rotor has radially movable lamellas with their outer ends pointing to the inside wall. An air inlet opening from the air supply conduit and an air outlet opening discharge into the space between rotor and inside wall. A freely rotating bearing ring is located between the inside wall and the outer ends of the lamellas and is coaxial with the inside wall. The outer ends of the lamellas contact the bearing ring. Compressed air enters through the air inlet opening into the space between rotor and inside wall and pushes the nearest lamella ahead of it to turn the motor.

Abstract: A dental handpiece equipped with an improved rotor cartridge and, in particular, a rotor cartridge replacement assembly for such a handpiece. The rotor cartridge takes the form of a subassembly of a rotor, bearings for the rotor, resilient rings supporting the bearings, and a plastic cup member extending about the lower bearing assembly and the resilient support ring therefor. In addition to the rotor cartridge, the replacement assembly may also include a threaded cap and a support tool which not only holds the cap and cartridge together but also may be used for inserting and securing the parts in place within the head housing of a dental handpiece.

Abstract: This invention relates to a driving mechanism of an air bearing journaled handpiece for dental treatment, the mechanism being improved in that even when a load contrary to the direction of rotation of a tool shaft such as cutting of the teeth acts upon the tool shaft in a dental operation, rotation of the tool shaft does not stop because of load resistance but enables the heretofore, unmaterialized medium-speed cutting (hereinafter referred to as "extension to medium-speed rotation") and makes it possible to obtain improved torque during high-speed rotation in addition to the extension to medium-speed rotation.

Abstract: A dental turbine spindle assembly has a housing in which a pair of bearing supports are disposed concentric with an axis. A pair of bearings are disposed on the supports. A hollow spindle concentric with the axis is carried in a portion of the bearings and at one end projects through an opening in the housing. The projecting portion of the spindle is conical, is split and is threaded. A nut on the projecting portion is conical and is threaded to engage the spindle and has a circular portion partly disposed within a portion of a bearing. There is a wrench-receiving contour at the other end of the spindle accessible through an aperture in the housing.

Abstract: .Iadd.A dental handpiece comprises an air driven turbine rotor provided with a chuck to removably hold a dental bur and rotate it at extremely high speed. The rotor is mounted on anti-friction bearings within a capsule which is removably received within a housing to permit replacement of the capsule and turbine as a unit. The fluid outlet from the turbine is restricted sufficiently to ensure that a portion of the fluid is exhausted through the bearings and openings in the housing to prevent egress of foreign matter into the interior. .Iaddend.