Sonic Means (i.e., Using Sound Waves) Patents (Class 96/175)
  • Patent number: 11925893
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a device for separating sub-micron particles in the air, comprising a first separation channel, a second separation channel and a collection device which are connected in sequence, wherein each of the first separation channel and the second separation channel is of a rectangle structure with two open ends, the height H1 of the first separation channel is greater than the height H2 of the second separation channel, and each separation channel is provided with a vibration sound source and an antimicrobial coating layer. Based on the agglomeration theory of suspended particles in the air by ultrasonic standing waves, the device can aggregate sub-micron suspended particles flowing into each channel of the device on the upper and lower wall surfaces and the centerline of the channel, and sterilize the aggregated particles, thereby effectively removing the sub-micron suspended particles in the air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: BEIHANG UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Xiaodong Li, Jizhou Liu
  • Patent number: 11673109
    Abstract: A method of enhancing yield and transfer rate of a packed bed in a reactor chamber of a vessel includes steps of applying acoustic energy to the packed bed, measuring impedance of the packed bed deriving a natural resonance frequency of the packed bed from the measured impedance and applying the acoustic energy to the packed bed at the derived natural resonance frequency of the packed bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: University of Kentucky Research Foundation
    Inventors: Bradley David Irvin, Kunlei Liu, Roger S. Perrone
  • Patent number: 11484815
    Abstract: A froth coalescing unit for a fluid delivery system for a fluid ejection system, the froth coalescing unit including a coalescing chamber including a sump, an inlet to receive froth into the coalescing chamber, the froth comprising a mixture of fluid and gas, the coalescing chamber to coalesce the fluid from the froth with the coalesced fluid collecting at least in the sump, an outlet to communicate coalesced fluid from the sump, and a fluid level sensor to provide a level over a range of levels of coalesced fluid in the coalescing chamber including in the sump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Anthony D Studer, Robert S Wickwire
  • Patent number: 10597629
    Abstract: There is disclosed a method for preparation of substrate for use in anaerobic digestion of organic waste. The method can be executed in a substrate pretreatment system, the method comprising: loading of a substrate into the substrate pretreatment system, mixing the substrate with liquid; heating the substrate and liquid to a pre-determined processing temperature; exposing the mixture to radiation; transferring the processed substrate to a bioreactor, during the heating, the method further comprises: degassing the mixture using vacuum extraction; and circulating the mixture past an ultrasonic hydrodynamic radiator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: “BIOENERGY” LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY
    Inventors: Aleksandr Andreevich Smotritckii, Andrey Vladimirovich Smotritskiy, Tatiana Andreevna Smotritskaya
  • Patent number: 9308738
    Abstract: A gas-liquid separator includes a casing with a cylindrical chamber inside, a gas-liquid 2-phase inlet pipe which is attached to a wall of the casing and connected to the chamber, a gas outlet pipe for discharging the gas of a gas-liquid mixture flowing into the chamber, and the gas-liquid 2-phase outlet pipe for discharging the liquid as a most part of the gas-liquid mixture flowing into the chamber. A gap is formed around the gas-liquid outlet pipe in the chamber for separating the mixture into liquid and gas using the surface tension and suction force. The gas-liquid separator is installed in the inkjet recording apparatus, especially in the print head. The print head is filled with the solvent gas so as to be suctioned from the gutter to reduce the solvent consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: HITACHI INDUSTRIAL EQUIPMENT SYSTEMS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takahiro Arima, Akira Miyao, Mitsuo Igari, Mamoru Okano, Tomohiro Inoue
  • Patent number: 9200243
    Abstract: Apparatus and process for removing and/or converting contaminants in water-miscible organic solvent mixtures by surface interaction effects to forms less objectionable with lesser metabolic impacts for humans. The process both changes distillation entrapped contaminant compounds in-situ and effects removal of the compounds and their reaction products. In what follows, water-miscible-organic-solvent and water mixtures can be substituted for alcohols. The alcohol to be treated is placed in a ventilated vessel leaving room for head space. Contaminant free air or a specific organic-contaminant-free gas is injected into or otherwise placed in contact with the alcohol. A vacuum is pulled within the vessel, which draws the gas through the alcohol into the head space creating gas bubbles. Energy within a specified range of frequencies is imparted to the fluid causing cavitation and reaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: PERSEDO LLC
    Inventors: Benjamin Mosier, Greg George
  • Publication number: 20150090117
    Abstract: A crude natural gas stream treatment system comprising a first supersonic separator and a second supersonic separator, wherein the first supersonic separator comprises a crude gas inlet, a dry gas outlet and a first liquid outlet; wherein the second supersonic separator comprises a dry gas inlet, a treated gas outlet and a second liquid gas outlet, and wherein the dry gas outlet is in fluid communication with the dry gas inlet is disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2013
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Inventors: Erik Baggerud, Robert Perry, Jostein Kolbu
  • Publication number: 20150030729
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for degassing an infant beverage are disclosed. A method for degassing an infant beverage applies ultrasonic energy to said infant beverage to remove gases dissolved therein. An apparatus for degassing an infant beverage includes a container for receiving an infant beverage defined by an inner wall and a base, a container for receiving an infant beverage, and an ultrasonic energy source positioned to transmit ultrasonic energy into the container and into the infant beverage received in the container to remove gases dissolved in said infant beverage. A medium for transduction of the ultrasonic signal may be arranged between a bottle in which an infant beverage is received and the inner wall of the container. A heater may be coupled to the container to heat or maintain the infant beverage at an optimal temperature while said infant beverage is received in said container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2013
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Inventor: John David Hopkins
  • Patent number: 8758492
    Abstract: A Sonotrode for generating an ultrasonic field in industrial production processes such as chemical, food, petroleum, pharmaceutical, beverage or mining-related processes for reducing and eliminating foaming of liquid products has a compact one-piece form, wherein the sonotrode is provided with a main body part having a connector for connection with a high frequency generator and having a front face from which the ultrasonic field is directed to the desired spot or area of the product to be de-foamed, wherein the main body part has the shape of a compact block element and in that the front face is concave in shape in relation to a product surface such that the ultrasonic field is focused and directed to a specific area of a product foam to be treated in a concentrated form compared to a non-focused ultrasound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignees: Telsonic Holding AG, Cavitus Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Albert Büttiker, Holger Keller, Darren Bates
  • Publication number: 20140166497
    Abstract: Method for treating sewage, comprising at least one step of electrolytically treating sewage, an energy transfer step comprising at least one selected in the group comprising: a temperature raising treatment, an ultrasound treatment. The electrolytic treatment and energy transfer steps determining the dissociation from the sewage of gas comprising nitrogen. Further, the method comprises a step of separating gases comprising nitrogen from the mass of sewage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2013
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Inventors: De Asmundis Fulvio ANTONIO, Masoero PAOLO
  • Publication number: 20140018766
    Abstract: An apparatus for mobilization of entrained gas bubbles in a fluid circuit comprises opposing fluid circuit engagement members. At least one of the fluid circuit engagement members has a vibrational energy transfer effector. A vibration generator is provided for generating vibrational energy. The vibrational energy transfer effector is coupled to the vibration generator such that vibrational energy is transmitted from the vibration generator to the vibrational energy transfer effector and to the fluid circuit. The vibration generator in one embodiment can produce vibrational oscillations at between 60 and 12000 cycles per minute. A method for mobilizing entrained gas bubbles in a fluid circuit is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2013
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Inventor: Karen WHITE
  • Publication number: 20140000460
    Abstract: A Sonotrode for generating an ultrasonic field in industrial production processes such as chemical, food, petroleum, pharmaceutical, beverage or mining-related processes for reducing and eliminating foaming of liquid products has a compact one-piece form, wherein the sonotrode is provided with a main body part having a connector for connection with a high frequency generator and having a front face from which the ultrasonic field is directed to the desired spot or area of the product to be de-foamed, wherein the main body part has the shape of a compact block element and in that the front face is concave in shape in relation to a product surface such that the ultrasonic field is focused and directed to a specific area of a product foam to be treated in a concentrated form compared to a non-focused ultrasound.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2012
    Publication date: January 2, 2014
    Applicants: Cavitus Pty Ltd, TELSONIC HOLDING AG
    Inventors: Telsonic Holding AG, Cavitus Pty Ltd
  • Publication number: 20130333560
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for processing of a source gas and for removal of a target gas therefrom. The apparatus has an absorption system having a first containment structure defining a first process volume for containment of a gas phase and an absorbent liquid phase and a regeneration system fluidly downstream of the absorption system having a second containment structure defining a second process volume for containment of a gas phase and an absorbent liquid phase including a heating means to heat the liquid phase. An ultrasound transducer system is provided in association with one or both of the first or second containment structure to apply in use ultrasonic vibration to a part of the said first and/or second containment structure and thus to apply in use ultrasonic vibration to the contents of a part of the first and/or second process volume as the case may be.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2011
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Applicant: DOOSAN BABCOCK LIMITED
    Inventor: Euan Mcculloch
  • Publication number: 20130327217
    Abstract: The objective of the present invention is to obtain an effective defoaming effect by directing a pulsed sound wave generated by shock caused by laser-induced breakdown to a liquid surface using an acoustic waveguide. A reflected wave of the pulsed sound wave generated by shock caused by laser-induced breakdown on an inner circumference face of the acoustic waveguide is directed to an opening part of the acoustic waveguide opposed to the liquid surface, and variations in periods of time in which the reflected wave in each travelling direction arrives at the opening part are reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2012
    Publication date: December 12, 2013
    Applicant: TOYO SEIKAN GROUP HOLDINGS, LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Tatsumi, Yoshihiko Kimura, Yuuya Nakane, Yoshiyuki Morita
  • Patent number: 8551222
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for heating a fluid and treating a combustion products waste stream includes two or more nozzles discharging into a mixing chamber, and an outlet of the mixing chamber discharging to a gas-liquid separator. A liquid output of the gas-liquid separator may be treated to remove carbonaceous or other impurities. The nozzles may include an annular nozzle, Fisenko nozzle, and/or Laval nozzle arranged in a transonic jet module. A heated input liquid may be accelerated to sonic velocity in a main nozzle, causing boiling due to pressure drop prior to mixing with a combustion product stream in the mixing chamber. Heat may be recovered from a mixture discharged from the mixing chamber. Carbonic, sulfuric, or other combustion impurities may be captured by dissolving in water or other solvent in the transonic jet module and then recovered or otherwise used in a liquid stream from the separator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Fisonic Holding Limited
    Inventor: Vladimir Vladimirovich Fisenko
  • Patent number: 8540799
    Abstract: A method is provided for degassing a transport chamber (1) of a metering pump. The method is based on performing impulse generation, wherein gas bubbles arising from the gas-forming fluid and adhering to the inner surfaces in the transport chamber (1) are released from the surfaces, wherein the gas bubbles (4.4?, 8.8?) present in the transport chamber (1) accumulate, perform a motion (c) in the direction of the pressure valve (6), and form an accumulated gas bubble (7) on the transport chamber side of the pressure valve (6). An increase in pressure causes the accumulated gas bubble present at the pressure valve (6) to escape from the transport chamber (1) as discharged gas bubbles (7?) into the pressure line. A metering pump having a device present in the transport chamber for performing the impulse generation is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: Grundfos Management a/s
    Inventors: Klaus Mueller, Sergej Gerz
  • Patent number: 8382886
    Abstract: A system, apparatus and method for generating electricity from renewable geothermal, wind, and solar energy sources includes a heat balancer for supplementing and regulating the heat energy fed to a turbine generator; a hydrogen-fired boiler for supplying supplementary heat; and an injection manifold for metering controlled amounts of superheated combustible gas into the working fluids to optimize efficiency. Moreover, wind or solar power may be converted to hydrogen in an electrolysis unit to produce hydrogen. A phase separator unit that operates by cavitation of the geothermal fluids removes gases from the source fluid. A pollution prevention trap may be used to remove solids and other unneeded constituents of the geothermal fluids to be stored or processed in a solution mining unit for reuse or sale. Spent geothermal and working fluids may be processed and injected into the geothermal strata to aid in maintaining its temperature or in solution mining of elements in the lithosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Canyon West Energy, LLC
    Inventor: Patrick J. Kelly
  • Patent number: 8192618
    Abstract: In the present invention, dialysis tubing is placed in a chamber, where an ultrasonic or a other mist producer is present. The ultrasonic mist producer will produce mist and small water droplets will be attached to the surface of dialysis membrane (sheet or tubing) and will condense and the water drops will fall back in the solution tank, where the ultrasonic probe produces the mist. When the droplet is attached to the membrane surface, the dialysis will take place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Inventors: Ashok Kumar Shuklla, Mukta Misra Shukla, Kavita M. Shukla
  • Publication number: 20120111189
    Abstract: Method and system to capture target gases from all kind of point-sources, as well as from ambient air and surface waters, sediments or soils by advantage of large differences in Henrys law constants. For gas dissolution in water the constants favor dissolution of e.g. CO2 compared to the main constituents of flue gases like N2 and O2. The main principle is to dissolve the gases—release of the non-dissolved part stripping the liquid for the dissolved gases, which are enriched in target gas. Further steps can be used to reach a predetermined level of target gas concentration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2010
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Applicant: NORSK INSTITUTT FOR LUFTFORSKNING
    Inventors: Svein Knudsen, Norbert Schmidbauer
  • Patent number: 8128730
    Abstract: A sonotrode specially adapted for defoaming liquids during container filing operations, has an upper body portion having a first diameter and having an upper face adapted to be mounted to a driving transducer, a middle body portion having a second diameter larger than the first diameter situated below the upper body portion, a generally conical portion situated between the upper body portion the middle body portion, and a transition portion situated between the middle body portion and a lower face adapted to be directed toward a liquid upper surface within a container, the lower face being generally rectangular.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: New Sonic Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: James T. Williamson
  • Patent number: 8117981
    Abstract: In order to apply a liquid material including a small number of bubbles, in particular almost no bubbles larger than a predetermined size, a liquid material supplying apparatus includes: a pressure tank applying a positive pressure higher than the atmospheric pressure to the liquid material; a syringe having a nozzle for discharging the liquid material; and a liquid path member forming a liquid path leading the liquid material from the pressure tank to the syringe; a valve member which is provided on the liquid path member and which opens/closes the liquid path; a bubble defoaming filter which is provided on the liquid path member between the syringe and the valve member and which removes bubbles from the liquid material lead in the liquid path member; and a pressure applying mechanism which starts/stops discharging the liquid material from the nozzle by selectively applying a first pressure higher than the atmospheric pressure and a second pressure lower than the first pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Origin Electric Company, Limited
    Inventors: Hironobu Nishimura, Masahiro Nakamura
  • Patent number: 8105422
    Abstract: The invention is a method and cyclonic separator for degassing a fluid mixture comprising a carrier liquid and gaseous or vaporizable components. In this method, the fluid mixture is accelerated in a throat section of a vortex tube such that the static pressure of the fluid mixture is decreased and vaporizable components evaporate into a gaseous phase and the fluid mixture flows as a substantially homogeneously dispersed gas-liquid mixture through the throat section; the accelerated fluid mixture is induced to swirl within a tubular mid section of the vortex tube such that the fluid mixture is separated by centrifugal forces into a degassed liquid fraction and a gas enriched fraction; the degassed liquid fraction is induced to flow into an annular liquid outlet conduit; and the gas enriched fraction is induced to flow into a central gas outlet conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Marco Betting, Bart Prast, Helmar Van Santen, Cornelius Johannes Schellekens, Paulus Henricus Joannes Verbeek, Peter Mervyn Wilkinson
  • Patent number: 8057573
    Abstract: An ultrasonic treatment system having a treatment chamber for treating a formulation to increase the shelf life thereof. In one embodiment, the shelf life is produced by degassing the formulation using the treatment chamber. Specifically, the treatment chamber has an elongate housing through which a formulation flows longitudinally from an inlet port to a first outlet port and a second outlet port thereof. An elongate ultrasonic waveguide assembly extends within the housing and is operable at a predetermined ultrasonic frequency to ultrasonically energize the formulation within the housing. An elongate ultrasonic horn of the waveguide assembly is disposed at least in part intermediate the inlet and outlet ports, and has a plurality of discrete agitating members in contact with and extending transversely outward from the horn intermediate the inlet and outlet ports in longitudinally spaced relationship with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: David William Koenig, John Glen Ahles, Thomas David Ehlert, Robert Allen Janssen, Paul Warren Rasmussen, Steve Roffers, Scott W. Wenzel, Shiming Zhuang
  • Publication number: 20110245750
    Abstract: A vessel for removing bubbles from a fluid is provided. The vessel includes a fluid inlet port for receiving the fluid and a bubble outlet for removing bubbles in the fluid from the vessel. One or more ultrasonic transducers transmit one or more ultrasonic beams through the received fluid to move bubbles in the fluid towards the bubble outlet. A fluid outlet port outputs the fluid insonified by the one or more ultrasonic beams. A conduit structure conveys the one or more ultrasonic beams through the vessel in a first direction towards the air outlet. An interface prevents reflection of one or more ultrasonic beams in a direction generally opposite the first direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2009
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Inventors: John E Lynch, Christopher S. Domack, Bill B. Hefner, JR.
  • Patent number: 8025714
    Abstract: A dialysis system includes a dialysis fluid disposable configured to hold and transport a dialysis fluid; an air separation chamber in fluid communication with the dialysis fluid disposable; and a dialysis instrument operable to pump dialysis fluid through the dialysis fluid disposable, the instrument including a vibrator configured to vibrate the air separation chamber to separate air from the dialysis fluid traveling through the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignees: Baxter International Inc., Baxter Healthcare S.A.
    Inventors: Michael R. Prisco, Atif M. Yardimci, Serhan Acikgoz, James C. Laird, Shincy J. Maliekkal, Justin B. Rohde
  • Patent number: 8016915
    Abstract: A method and system for degassing a resin is provided. A degassing trough retains the resin, and an ultrasonic energy source applies ultrasonic energy to the degassing trough and resin. The application of ultrasonic energy to the resin reduces the amount of trapped gas bubbles contained within the resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Rebecca E. Hefner, Ronald R. Cairo
  • Patent number: 7842123
    Abstract: Apparatus (20) for removing gas bubbles from a liquid to be infused to a patient wherein a gas trap (42) is located at the upper end of a vertical column (38, 40, 40a) having a lower inlet (44) and an upper outlet (56). A bracket (39) supports the column above the patient, and a bubble-separator (46, 39a, 47, 66, 63), positioned between the inlet and the outlet, causes gas bubbles to move toward the column axis as they rise so that they are captured in the gas trap (42). Liquid to be de-gasified is supplied from a vertical level above the column outlet and is delivered through the side outlet (56) to the patient below.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Inventors: Ehud Milo, Simcha Milo
  • Patent number: 7837762
    Abstract: In the field of immersion lithography, it is known to provide a liquid between an optical exposure system and a wafer carrying layers of photosensitive material to be irradiated with a pattern by the optical exposure system. However, bubbles are known to form or exist in the liquid, sometimes close to a surface of the wafer resulting in scattering of light emitted from the optical exposure system. The scattering causes the pattern recorded in the layers of photosensitive material to be corrupted, resulting in defective wafers. Therefore, the present invention provides a bubble displacement apparatus comprising a drive signal generator for driving a force generator arranged to generate a force in response to a drive signal generated by the drive signal generator. The force generated urges the bubble away from the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin Cooper, Scott Warrick
  • Patent number: 7757866
    Abstract: In an embodiment, axially-fed slurry can be continuously separated into clarified liquid, stripped gas, and thickened sludge in radial counterflow between counter-rotating coaxial centrifugal impellers. One impeller comprises an annular crossflow filter through which liquids are extracted. At the periphery of the impellers, where they are narrowly separated, the sludge is shear thickened into an extruded paste. Suspended solids in the feed pass over the surface of the rotating annular crossflow filter by the shear lift effect, and the vortex-wall interaction jets water radially inward from the periphery, dewatering the sludge. Evolved gases, oils, and fractions lighter than water flow radially inward to the impeller axis through radial vortices in a shear layer between the impellers, and are extracted through an axial exhaust conduit. Feed has long residence time so that separation is complete and continuous. Municipal wastewater, produced water, beverages, food, and scrubber sludge are discussed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: McCutchen Co.
    Inventor: Wilmot H. McCutchen
  • Patent number: 7739869
    Abstract: A method and system for improving the performance of diesel particulate filters. Before entering the filter, the exhaust gas is subjected to sonic waves to agglomerate the particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Assignee: Southwest Research Institute
    Inventors: Magdi Kaiser Khair, Martin B. Treuhaft, Imad S. Abdul-Khalek
  • Publication number: 20100139483
    Abstract: A method and system for degassing a resin is provided. A degassing trough retains the resin, and an ultrasonic energy source applies ultrasonic energy to the degassing trough and resin. The application of ultrasonic energy to the resin reduces the amount of trapped gas bubbles contained within the resin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2008
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Inventors: Rebecca E. Hefner, Ronald R. Cairo
  • Patent number: 7682556
    Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed in which ultrasonic vibration is used to assist the degassing of molten metals or metal alloys thereby reducing gas content in the molten metals or alloys. High-intensity ultrasonic vibration is applied to a radiator that creates cavitation bubbles, induces acoustic streaming in the melt, and breaks up purge gas (e.g., argon or nitrogen) which is intentionally introduced in a small amount into the melt in order to collect the cavitation bubbles and to make the cavitation bubbles survive in the melt. The molten metal or alloy in one version of the invention is an aluminum alloy. The ultrasonic vibrations create cavitation bubbles and break up the large purge gas bubbles into small bubbles and disperse the bubbles in the molten metal or alloy more uniformly, resulting in a fast and clean degassing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: UT-Battelle LLC
    Inventors: Qingyou Han, Hanbing Xu, Thomas T. Meek
  • Publication number: 20090223365
    Abstract: This invention relates to a method and apparatus for the treatment of water containing a percentage of dissolved gases to recover at least some of the gases, such as methane gas, from the water. The apparatus comprises a feed pipe having an inlet and an outlet in flow communication with a separation chamber. The chamber has a gas outlet and a water outlet for discharging separated gases and water respectively. A means for stimulating the formation of bubbles, such as an ultrasound transducer, is associated with the feed pipe. The invention also relates to a method of treating water containing dissolved gases including positioning a tube having an inlet and an outlet, the inlet being positioned below the outlet in the water and using at least one device to stimulate formation of gas bubbles in water in the tube to cause an upward flow of water in the tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2004
    Publication date: September 10, 2009
    Inventor: Philip Michael Morkel
  • Publication number: 20090199708
    Abstract: Apparatus (20) for removing gas bubbles from a liquid to be infused to a patient wherein a gas trap (42) is located at the upper end of a vertical column (38, 40, 40a) having a lower inlet (44) and an upper outlet (56). A bracket (39) supports the column above the patient, and a bubble-separator (46, 39a, 47, 66, 63), positioned between the inlet and the outlet, causes gas bubbles to move toward the column axis as they rise so that they are captured in the gas trap (42). Liquid to be de-gasified is supplied from a vertical level above the column outlet and is delivered through the side outlet (56) to the patient below.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2009
    Publication date: August 13, 2009
    Inventors: Ehud MILO, Simcha MILO
  • Publication number: 20090165654
    Abstract: An ultrasonic treatment system having a treatment chamber for treating a formulation to increase the shelf life thereof. In one embodiment, the shelf life is produced by degassing the formulation using the treatment chamber. Specifically, the treatment chamber has an elongate housing through which a formulation flows longitudinally from an inlet port to a first outlet port and a second outlet port thereof. An elongate ultrasonic waveguide assembly extends within the housing and is operable at a predetermined ultrasonic frequency to ultrasonically energize the formulation within the housing. An elongate ultrasonic horn of the waveguide assembly is disposed at least in part intermediate the inlet and outlet ports, and has a plurality of discrete agitating members in contact with and extending transversely outward from the horn intermediate the inlet and outlet ports in longitudinally spaced relationship with each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2007
    Publication date: July 2, 2009
    Applicant: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: David William Koenig, John Glen Ahles, Thomas David Ehlert, Robert Allen Janssen, Paul Warren Rasmussen, Steve Roffers, Scott W. Wenzel, Shiming Zhuang
  • Publication number: 20090137941
    Abstract: A vessel for removing bubbles from a fluid is provided. The vessel includes a fluid inlet port for receiving the fluid, and a bubble outlet port for removing bubbles in the fluid from the vessel. An ultrasonic transducer is mounted in the vessel and transmits an ultrasonic beam through the received fluid to move bubbles in the fluid towards the bubble outlet port. A fluid outlet port outputs the fluid insonified by the ultrasonic beam. An ultrasonic reflector mounted near the bubble outlet port reflects the ultrasonic beam away from the fluid outlet port to reduce or prevent reflection of the ultrasonic beam off an interior surface in the vessel directed towards the fluid outlet port.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2008
    Publication date: May 28, 2009
    Applicant: Luna Innovations Incorporation
    Inventors: John E. Lynch, Christopher S. Domack
  • Publication number: 20090105628
    Abstract: Ultrasonic devices for preventing microbubbles and/or microparticles from reaching the brain during a PCI or cardiovascular surgery. Devices 27 and 77 are designed for implantation in the chest cavity and operate in combination with needle vents or other vent systems for removing diverted microbubbles. Systems 77 and 83 are designed for noninvasive employment. Devices 57 and 87 are particularly designed to prevent microbubbles from reaching the great origins of the carotid arteries and/or for diverting bubbles that might reach the vicinity and otherwise pass through. Improved devices 11 and 94 separate microbubbles from a flowing bloodstream and produce a cleansed stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2008
    Publication date: April 23, 2009
    Applicant: NEUROSONIX LTD.
    Inventor: Simcha MILO
  • Patent number: 7504026
    Abstract: The ultrasonic solution separation apparatus oscillates an undiluted solution containing a target material at an ultrasonic frequency to produce mist, and collects the mist to collect a target material containing liquid that contains the target material with higher concentration than the undiluted solution. The ultrasonic solution separation apparatus includes an atomization chamber that oscillates the undiluted solution at an ultrasonic frequency by using a plurality of ultrasonic oscillators to produce the mist; and a collection portion that aggregates and thus collects the mist produced in the atomization chamber. The atomization chamber is divided into a plurality of divided chamber sections so that the ultrasonic oscillators are disposed in the respective divided chamber sections. The ultrasonic oscillators oscillate the undiluted solution supplied into the divided chamber sections to produce the mist.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2009
    Assignee: Ultrasound Brewery
    Inventors: Kazuo Matsuura, Fusaisugu Abe
  • Patent number: 7470363
    Abstract: Ultrasonic devices for preventing microbubbles and/or microparticles from reaching the brain during a PCI or cardiovascular surgery. Devices 27 and 77 are designed for implantation in the chest cavity and operate in combination with needle vents or other vent systems for removing diverted microbubbles. Systems 77 and 83 are designed for noninvasive employment. Devices 57 and 87 are particularly designed to prevent microbubbles from reaching the great origins of the carotid arteries and/or for diverting bubbles that might reach the vicinity and otherwise pass through. Improved devices 11 and 94 separate microbubbles from a flowing bloodstream and produce a cleansed stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Neurosonix Ltd.
    Inventor: Simcha Milo
  • Patent number: 7399338
    Abstract: In the present invention, a solution containing a target substance is atomized into a mist by ultrasonic oscillation in an ultrasonic atomization chamber, and the target substance is collected by aggregating the atomized mist in a collection chamber, whereby the target substance is separated from the solution. Further, in the present invention, the gas phase pressure in the collection chamber is maintained to be higher than an atmospheric pressure, whereby the saturation vapor pressure of the target substance in the gas phase is made lower than the saturation vapor pressure under atmospheric pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2008
    Assignee: Ultrasound Brewery
    Inventor: Kazuo Matsuura
  • Publication number: 20080163752
    Abstract: A degassing and water removal apparatus is used in combination with the testing or replacement of dielectric oil in an RF transmitter. The apparatus comprises at least one ultrasound transducer in vibrational communication with a bulk oil sample held in a tank having a reduced internal air pressure. The tank has fluid connections to the RF transmitter through which oil from the transmitter is drained to the tank and through which the ambient air pressure in the transmitter is reduced. A fluid pump is used to pump the oil from the tank back to the RF transmitter. In a method of using such an apparatus, the RF transmitter is held at reduced internal pressure during the return of oil thereto, so that the oil does not dissolve gases in the atmosphere internal to the RF transmitter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2007
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Inventors: Douglas Lee Williams, Jeffrey Stephen Malkmus, Gerald Scott Brown, Samel Berliner, Anthony M. Flagg, James C. Clay, Adam D. Anderson
  • Patent number: 7294171
    Abstract: A method of degassing a coating liquid, comprising the step of: irradiating the coating liquid with a plurality of ultrasonic waves of different frequency bands simultaneously to degass said coating liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation
    Inventor: Hitoshi Yamada
  • Patent number: 7237581
    Abstract: A method of and apparatus for dispensing photosensitive solution substantially reduces the amount of air bubbles in the photosensitive solution during the dispensing operation. The photosensitive solution dispensing apparatus includes at least one supply vessel that contains the solution, a respective buffer tank that buffers the solution supplied from each supply vessel, a filter unit for filtering the solution, a pump for pumping the solution pumped from the buffer tank to the filter unit, a dispensing nozzle connected to the filter unit, and a dedicated bubble removal filter that is interposed between the buffer tank and the pump. The bubble removal filter is configured to remove air bubbles from the solution before the solution flows into the pump and is dispensed through the nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Sung-Kun Jang
  • Patent number: 7041154
    Abstract: A fuel system for an energy conversion device includes a deoxygenator system. A signal generator system includes a multiple of transducers located adjacent a fuel channel. The transducers are arranged to generate acoustic flow chaotization and cavitation-induced phase separation which destroys oxygen depleted boundary layers and significantly improving flow mixing, intensifying oxygen supply to the surface of an oxygen-removing membrane of the deoxygenator system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2006
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Alexander Staroselsky, Igor I. Fedichenia, Foster Philip Lamm
  • Patent number: 6884281
    Abstract: First, the overall quantity of bubbles in a coating liquid is reduced in advance by vacuum deaeration performed in conjunction with preparation of the coating liquid in a stirring tank in a first step, then bubbles of relatively large sizes, of bubbles that have not been removed in the first step are removed by a tank type deaeration device with ultrasonic waves in a floatation tank in a second step, and finally bubbles of very small to small sizes that are difficult to remove in the first and second steps are dissolved in the liquid under pressure with ultrasonic waves and thereby removed in a pipeline in a third step. According to this, bubbles in the coating liquid can reliably be removed irrespective of the nature of the coating liquid, a large amount of coating liquid can be treated, and the possibility that the quality of the deaerated coating liquid is adversely affected is eliminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2005
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yasuo Takahashi
  • Patent number: 6872239
    Abstract: A method for separating phases of a mixture comprising and oil-water together with gas. At least a substantial part of the gas is separated from the emulsion before the emulsion is introduced into a separator tank. The oil-water emulsion from which the gas has been separated is conducted to a liquid-liquid cyclone for further separating the phases of the emulsion. The liquid-liquid cyclone is located inside the separator tank. The emulsion is conducted to the separator tank for separating the oil from the water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2005
    Assignee: ABB Research Ltd.
    Inventors: Pål J. Nilsen, Erik A. Wolff
  • Patent number: 6866780
    Abstract: A heated ultrasonic treating device (6) comprising a sump (13) through which suspended matter-containing liquid passes, a temperature-controllable heater (14) disposes in the sump (13), and a ultrasonic vibrator (15) disposed in the sump (13). The heated ultrasonic treating device (6) uses the ultrasonic vibrator (15) to apply ultrasonic waves while heating organic drain passing the sump (13) with the heater (14), thereby pulverizing suspended matters and reducing the amount of SS. In addition, a treating column, where pulverized suspended matter-containing liquid is aerobically treated by aerobic microorganisms, is prevented from efficiency lowering due to clogging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Atsushi Yamada
  • Publication number: 20040173093
    Abstract: First, the overall quantity of bubbles in a coating liquid is reduced in advance by vacuum deaeration performed in conjunction with preparation of the coating liquid in a stirring tank in a first step, then bubbles of relatively large sizes, of bubbles that have not been removed in the first step are removed by a tank type deaeration device in a floatation tank in a second step, and finally bubbles of very small to small sizes that are difficult to remove in the first and second steps are dissolved in the liquid under pressure and thereby removed in a pipeline in a third step. According to this, bubbles in the coating liquid can reliably be removed irrespective of the nature of the coating liquid, a large amount of coating liquid can be treated, and the possibility that the quality of the deaerated coating liquid is adversely affected is eliminated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2003
    Publication date: September 9, 2004
    Inventor: Yasuo Takahashi
  • Patent number: 6726743
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to a method for deaerating a liquid layer such as a coating solution using electrostatic forces. A flow of charged particles is created above and moved towards a low conductivity liquid layer. The flow of charged particles causes localized thinning of the liquid layer which facilitates the removal of bubbles of entrained gas from the liquid by bringing those bubbles closer to the exposed surface of the liquid and rupturing them at that surface. This electrostatic deaeration technique is combined with other non-electrostatic liquid layer thinning techniques or degassing techniques to further facilitate removal of bubbles from the liquid in preparation of further processing of the liquid. The liquid layer may be stationary or flowing with respect to the application of charge particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2004
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: John W. Louks, Steven H. Gotz, Luther E. Erickson
  • Publication number: 20030230193
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to a method for deaerating a liquid layer such as a coating solution using electrostatic forces. A flow of charged particles is created above and moved towards a low conductivity liquid layer. The flow of charged particles causes localized thinning of the liquid layer which facilitates the removal of bubbles of entrained gas from the liquid by bringing those bubbles closer to the exposed surface of the liquid and rupturing them at that surface. This electrostatic deaeration technique is combined with other non-electrostatic liquid layer thinning techniques or degassing techniques to further facilitate removal of bubbles from the liquid in preparation of further processing of the liquid. The liquid layer may be stationary or flowing with respect to the application of charge particles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2002
    Publication date: December 18, 2003
    Inventors: John W. Louks, Steven H. Gotz, Luther E. Erickson