Abstract: This specification discloses a driving device having a vibrator adapted to vibrate upon application of an electrical signal thereto, such as a piezo-electric element, and more particularly discloses a driving device in which a drive source having the vibrator is disposed on a base plate and the vibration force of the vibrator is transmitted to a contact surface such as a floor surface and the base plate is driven by the reaction force from the contact surface.

Abstract: A paint or other protective coating removal arrangement involving the use of reciprocal motion ultrasonic frequency mechanical energy applied to the coating by a variety of tool and abrasive substrate members in the company of surface preparation agents such as coolant, heating, softening, and/or abrasive agents. The invention is particularly applicable and disclosed in terms of protective coating removal from aircraft, such as is often necessary for replacement or in the reutilization of aircraft with different identification markings. The coating removal arrangement is environmentally and human operator safe in comparison with presently used coating removal arrangements such as abrasive blasting and chemical solvent removal.

Abstract: A sound transducer having a high impedance relative to air is coupled with mechanical transformers. The output transformer is in the shape of a dish having the center coupled to a piezoelectric transducer, the outer portion of the dish is unsupported and more flexible than the center section at resonance this allows large amplitude movement and a better impedance match to air.

Abstract: An apparatus equipped with annular electrostriction elements each having four divided segmental electrodes with the respective polarities reversed alternately in the direction of thickness thereof. The annular electrostriction elements are so disposed that the center lines of division are positionally coincident with diagonal lines of a square plate resonator while passing through the surface center point thereof, whereby the corner portions of the resonator can be vibrated effectively at an ultrasonic frequency.

Abstract: A vibration isolating coupling ideally suited for coupling the bobbin (31) of a linear actuator (23) to a flexure supported printer carriage (11) is disclosed. The two main sources of vibration in a system that includes a flexure (13, 15) supported carriage coupled to a linear actuator (23) are low-frequency vibration resulting from the pivot arc motion of the flexures (13, 15), and high frequency vibration resulting from the change in bobbin shape occurs as AC energy is applied to the bobbin (31). The first source of vibration is reduced by configuring the interface plane between the linear actuator and the flexure supported carriage such that contact occurs at spaced apart points located on either side of the flexure movement plane. Preferably, four contact points equally spaced from the flexure motion plane are used. The region between the contact points and the flexure motion plane is cut out so that no contact occurs in and on either side of the flexure motion plane.

Abstract: A supersonic vibration driven motor comprising a supersonic oscillator and a mass rotationally driven thereby. The oscillator is provided with a vibration disc secured thereto on an end face thereof opposite to the mass to be driven. The mass is integrally formed with a plurality of plate-shaped resilient vibratory pieces annularly arranged on the end face opposite to the oscillator and axially extending at a predetermined angle of inclination relative to the axis of the mass, the vibration disc and vibratory pieces being located so as to come in contact with each other at their end portions, whereby vibratory displacement of the supersonic oscillator is transformed into rotational movement of the mass by way of flexible deformation of the vibratory pieces. Alternatively, the resilient vibratory pieces may be formed integrally with the vibration disc.

Abstract: A device for rotating a member at relatively low rotational speeds is particularly useful for rotating a brush-type tooth polisher on an insert for an ultrasonic dental prophylaxis unit. The device comprises a vibrator which ultrasonically vibrates longitudinally and has a driving tip end portion which converts the longitudinal vibrations into elliptical motion. The elliptically moving driving tip tangentially engages at least one rotatable roller during an arc of the elliptical motion to rotate the roller. A speed reduction device couples the roller to a rotary polisher to rotate the polisher at a reduced speed. Preferably, the speed reduction device also isolates the axial and radial thrust applied, in use, to the polisher from the roller which receives some radial thrust from the vibrator. This reduces the bearing requirements for the polisher and roller. Also preferably, the roller, speed reduction and polisher elements are assembled as a unit separable from the vibrator for ready replacement.

Abstract: The present invention provides an ultrasonic processing device which comprises one or more sets each including a wide horn which resonantly vibrates in a 1/2 wave length in a longitudinal direction and in a 1/2.times.n wave length in a widthwise direction thereof, and an ultrasonic vibrator which is joined either to an intermediate point of the wide horn at which amplitude of vibrations is maximum in the distribution thereof along the widthwise direction or to a point at a widthwise end of the wide horn at which amplitude of vibrations is maximum in the distribution thereof along the widthwise direction. Thus, at an end of the wide horn, maximum and minimum values may alternately appear by every 1/4 wave length distance over the entire width thereof and hence vibrations of the wide horn can be considered generally uniform over the entire width thereof.

Abstract: A method for closing an open end of a thermoplastic tube by applying ultrasonic energy to the end in a direction normal to the longitudinal axis of the tube. A horn adapted to undergo ultrasonic vibrations is provided and includes an open cavity disposed substantially at an antinodal region of longitudinal motion of the horn and oriented normal to the direction of longitudinal motion of the horn. The horn is rendered resonant along its longitudinal axis while the open end concomitantly is urged into the cavity in a direction normal to the direction of longitudinal motion of the horn thereby forming the end to the shape of the cavity.

Abstract: A supersonic vibration driven motor comprising a supersonic oscillator and a mass rotationally driven thereby. The oscillator is provided with a vibration disc secured thereto on an end face thereof opposite to the mass to be driven. The mass is integrally formed with a plurality of plate-shaped resilient vibratory pieces annularly arranged on the end face opposite to the oscillator and axially extending at a predetermined angle of inclination relative to the axis of the mass, the vibration disc and vibratory pieces being located so as to come in contact with each other at their end portions, whereby vibratory displacement of the supersonic oscillator is transformed into rotational movement of the mass by way of flexible deformation of the vibratory pieces. Alternatively, the resilient vibratory pieces may be formed integrally with the vibration disc.

Abstract: An oscillator producing vibrations at an operating frequency near, but different from, the resonant frequency of a resonant system is coupled to its input and the resonant system is supported a predetermined distance from its free ringing node(s) at position(s) corresponding to the effective node(s) for the operating frequency. The oscillator is controlled to maintain the operating frequency at a predetermined constant value, which keeps the effective nodes at the same position as the load driven by the output of the resonant system varies.

Abstract: A horn for operation in the sonic or ultrasonic frequency range and made preferably from aluminum or titanium is provided at its lateral surface with a soft metallic coating which acts as a cushion and/or lubricant when the horn accidentally contacts a juxtaposed horn or mechanical fixture. The soft metallic coating in the described embodiment comprises an alloy of tin and lead which is applied over the nickel plated horn surface.

Abstract: A transmission cable for use with an ultrasonic device such as an ultrasonic machining device is provided. The transmission cable of the present invention comprises a plurality of fine metallic wires coupled between the output terminal of an ultrasonic oscillation generating source and the input terminal of a terminal machining tool of the ultrasonic device. The metallic wires are covered with a flexible tubular member which may preferably be filled with a liquid so that the lateral vibrations of the wires are suppressed thereby. This type of cable is particularly advantageous in that the ultrasonic oscillations of the wires forming the cable can be transmitted efficiently to the terminal machining tool and the cable is suitable and convenient for carrying out the ultrasonic machining operations with the machining tool.