Patents Assigned to Impulse Devices, Inc.
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Publication number: 20070248470Abstract: A cavitation system and method of use for loading the cavitation medium with a source gas, e.g., a reactant, prior to cavitation is provided. The cavitation system includes a cavitation chamber with suitable cavitation drivers and a pressurized gas source coupled to the chamber. A valve interposed between the source gas and the cavitation chamber controls the reactant loading process. In another aspect, a vacuum system is coupled to the cavitation system for use during degassing. The vacuum system may include a cold trap. Preferably multiple valves are used to couple/de-couple the vacuum system and the gas source to the cavitation system when required, for example as a means of protecting associated pressure gauges. In another aspect, the cavitation chamber and the cavitation medium fill reservoir as well as any coupling conduits in which the cavitation fluid is expected to flow are heated to a temperature greater than the melting temperature of the intended cavitation medium.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 19, 2005Publication date: October 25, 2007Applicant: Impulse Devices, Inc.Inventor: Ross Tessien
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Publication number: 20070234808Abstract: A method and apparatus for monitoring a temperature difference between two regions within a cavitation system is provided. The system's cavitation chamber is partially or completely filled with cavitation fluid, the amount that the system is filled controlling whether a cavitation fluid free surface is formed within the cavitation chamber or a conduit coupled to the chamber. Regardless of whether the region of the system above the cavitation fluid free surface is within the chamber or within the conduit, a temperature difference is created between this region and the cavitation fluid within the cavitation chamber. The temperature difference between these two regions is monitored by monitoring the temperature of each region. The temperature difference can be created by either heating the region above the cavitation fluid free surface, cooling the cavitation fluid, or both.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 26, 2005Publication date: October 11, 2007Applicant: Impulse Devices, Inc.Inventor: Ross Tessien
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Publication number: 20070223303Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming a temperature difference between two regions within a cavitation system is provided. The system's cavitation chamber is filled with cavitation fluid such that a cavitation fluid free surface is formed within a conduit coupled to the chamber. The region of the conduit above the cavitation fluid free surface is heated in order to form the desired temperature difference, heat being provided by a resistive heater or other means. A temperature monitor such as a thermocouple can be thermally coupled to the heated conduit, thus providing a means of monitoring the temperature within the conduit. In addition to heating the conduit above the cavitation fluid free surface, the cavitation chamber can also be cooled, cooling being provided by a thermoelectric cooler, refrigeration coils, or other means. A temperature monitor can be coupled to the conduit above the cavitation fluid free surface, the cavitation chamber, or both.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 26, 2005Publication date: September 27, 2007Applicant: Impulse Devices, Inc.Inventor: Ross Tessien
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Publication number: 20070175526Abstract: A cavitation system in which a source gas, e.g., a reactant, is loaded into the cavitation medium prior to cavitation is provided. The cavitation system includes a cavitation chamber with suitable cavitation drivers and a cavitation medium reservoir, the chamber and reservoir being flexibly coupled together via a pair of conduits. The conduits can be fabricated from a plastic or, as is preferred for higher temperature liquids, a metal. Typically metal conduits are formed into a coil, thus providing the desired flexibility. Flexibility is required in order to allow the relative positions of the cavitation chamber and the cavitation medium reservoir to be varied.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 31, 2005Publication date: August 2, 2007Applicant: Impulse Devices, Inc.Inventor: Ross Tessien
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Publication number: 20070175525Abstract: A method of replenishing reactant-depleted cavitation medium within a cavitation chamber without re-pressurizing the entire cavitation system is provided, reactant depletion resulting from the cavitation process performed within the cavitation chamber. In addition to the cavitation chamber, the cavitation system includes a cavitation medium reservoir flexibly coupled to the chamber via a pair of conduits. The flexible couplings allow the relative positions of the cavitation chamber and the cavitation medium reservoir to be varied, thereby providing a means of either forcing the cavitation fluid to flow from the chamber and into the reservoir or from the reservoir and into the chamber. Such fluid flow causes mixing of the cavitation medium contained within the chamber and that contained within the reservoir, thus allowing replenishment of the source, e.g., reactant, within the chamber by mixing the cavitation fluid contained therein with non-depleted fluid contained within the reservoir.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 31, 2005Publication date: August 2, 2007Applicant: Impulse Devices, Inc.Inventor: Ross Tessien
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Publication number: 20070152541Abstract: A cavitation chamber separated into three volumes by a pair of gas-tight and liquid-tight seals, each seal formed by the combination of a rigid acoustic reflector and a flexible member, is provided. During chamber operation, only one of the three volumes contains cavitation fluid, the other two chamber volumes remaining devoid of cavitation fluid. The cavitation system also includes a cavitation fluid reservoir coupled to the cavitation chamber by a conduit, a valve allowing the cavitation chamber to be isolated from the cavitation fluid reservoir. A second conduit couples the two unfilled chamber volumes to a region above the liquid free surface within the cavitation fluid reservoir. A second valve allows the two unfilled chamber volumes to either be coupled to the cavitation fluid reservoir by the second conduit, or be coupled to a third conduit, the third conduit leading either to the ambient atmosphere or to a high pressure gas source. The cavitation system also includes at least one acoustic driver.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 3, 2006Publication date: July 5, 2007Applicant: Impulse Devices Inc.Inventor: Richard Satterwhite
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Publication number: 20070148008Abstract: A method of operating a cavitation system in which the cavitation chamber is separated into at least three distinct chamber volumes by, for example, first fabricating and then installing a pair of gas-tight and liquid-tight seals into the cavitation chamber, is provided. Each chamber volume seal is fabricated from a rigid reflector and a flexible member. During chamber operation, only one of the three volumes contains cavitation fluid, the other two chamber volumes remaining devoid of cavitation fluid. By controlling the pressure within the two unfilled chamber volumes, the rigid reflectors can be used as a means of increasing the static pressure within the fluid-filled chamber volume.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 17, 2006Publication date: June 28, 2007Applicant: Impulse Devices Inc.Inventor: Richard Satterwhite
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Publication number: 20070138912Abstract: A cavitation chamber separated into two volumes by a gas-tight and liquid-tight seal, the seal formed by the combination of a rigid acoustic reflector and a flexible member, is provided. The rigid reflector improves the cavitation characteristics of the chamber while the flexible member insures that the reflector can move during the cavitation process. One of the two chamber volumes is filled, or at least partially filled, with cavitation fluid while the other chamber volume remains devoid of cavitation fluid during system operation. A conduit couples a region above the liquid free surface in one cavitation volume to the second, unfilled chamber volume, thus preventing the reflector from being subjected to undue pressures. An acoustic driver, such as a ring of piezoelectric material, is coupled to the chamber and used to drive cavitation within the cavitation fluid contained within the chamber.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 16, 2005Publication date: June 21, 2007Applicant: Impulse Devices Inc.Inventor: Richard Satterwhite
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Publication number: 20070138911Abstract: An acoustic driver assembly that is adjustably coupled to a cavitation chamber is provided. The cavitation chamber can be selected from any of a variety of cavitation chamber configurations including spherical, cylindrical, and rectangular chambers. The acoustic driver assembly includes a head mass, a tail mass, and at least one transducer. A portion of the head mass of the acoustic driver assembly passes through an acoustic driver port located within a portion of the cavitation chamber. The head mass is sealed to the inside of the acoustic driver port with at least one o-ring, static packing seal, or dynamic packing seal. The tail mass is either rigidly coupled to the cavitation chamber or non-rigidly coupled to the cavitation chamber. Compressible members can be used to further minimize the dampening effects associated with coupling the tail mass to the cavitation chamber.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 16, 2005Publication date: June 21, 2007Applicant: Impulse Devices Inc.Inventors: Ross Tessien, Daniel Phillips
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Patent number: 7224103Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: May 5, 2005Date of Patent: May 29, 2007Assignee: Impulse Devices, Inc.Inventors: Ross Alan Tessien, David G. Beck
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Patent number: 7218034Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: May 6, 2005Date of Patent: May 15, 2007Assignee: Impulse Devices, Inc.Inventors: Ross Alan Tessien, Daniel A. Phillips, Brant James Callahan
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Patent number: 7218033Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: May 6, 2005Date of Patent: May 15, 2007Assignee: Impulse Devices, Inc.Inventors: Ross Alan Tessien, David G. Beck
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Publication number: 20070103034Abstract: 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.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 4, 2005Publication date: May 10, 2007Applicant: Impulse Devices Inc.Inventors: Daniel Phillips, Brant Callahan
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Publication number: 20070035208Abstract: 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.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 6, 2005Publication date: February 15, 2007Applicant: Impulse Devices Inc.Inventors: Ross Tessien, David Beck
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Patent number: 7148606Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 2005Date of Patent: December 12, 2006Assignee: Impulse Devices, Inc.Inventors: Ross Alan Tessien, Dario Felipe Gaitan, Daniel A. Phillips
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Publication number: 20060269457Abstract: 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.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 8, 2005Publication date: November 30, 2006Applicant: Impulse Devices, Inc.Inventors: Daniel Phillips, Richard Satterwhite
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Publication number: 20060267455Abstract: 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.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 8, 2005Publication date: November 30, 2006Applicant: Impulse Devices, Inc.Inventors: Daniel Phillips, David Beck
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Publication number: 20060269459Abstract: 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.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 9, 2005Publication date: November 30, 2006Applicant: Impulse Devices, Inc.Inventors: Daniel Phillips, David Beck
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Publication number: 20060269430Abstract: 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.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 9, 2005Publication date: November 30, 2006Applicant: Impulse Devices, Inc.Inventors: Daniel Phillips, Ross Tessien, Richard Satterwhite
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Publication number: 20060269458Abstract: 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.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 9, 2005Publication date: November 30, 2006Applicant: Impulse Devices, Inc.Inventor: Daniel Phillips