Patents Assigned to Ultrasonic Systems, Inc.
  • Patent number: 7975938
    Abstract: Disclosed is a coating system for the selective application of coatings to substrates to apply a uniform coating to selected areas of the substrate without the need for masking. The system comprises a first coating applicator for coating large areas of the substrate, a second coating applicator for coating small areas of the substrate, a motion and positioning system for both coating applicators and a system controller. Also disclosed is an ultrasonic spray coating system comprising an ultrasonic transducer with spray forming head, integrated fluid delivery device with air and liquid supply passage ways, support brackets and an ultrasonic power generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Ultrasonic Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Stuart J. Erickson, Drew D. Erickson, Wesley O. Davis, Christopher J. Cote, Norman R. Faucher
  • Patent number: 7934665
    Abstract: Disclosed is an ultrasonic spray coating system comprising an ultrasonic spray head with integrated fluid delivery system (IFDS), which consists of an ultrasonic transducer with a spray forming tip, an ultrasonic generator, an external liquid applicator, a precision liquid delivery system and air directors. The coating liquid is delivered to the spray forming tip on the ultrasonic transducer from an external liquid applicator. The liquid is stored in a pressurized reservoir and fed to the liquid applicator by a precision liquid delivery system. The ultrasonic vibrations of the spray forming tip break up the liquid into small droplets and propel them from the tip in the form of a spray. The spray produced with ultrasonic energy alone is a very narrow “sheet-like” pattern. The width of the spray pattern produced is equal to the width of the spray forming tip (2 mm to 4 mm). Air directors are used to produce air streams to further shape and accelerate the ultrasonically produced spray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: Ultrasonic Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Stuart J. Erickson, Drew D. Erickson, Wesley O. Davis, Christopher J. Cote, Norman R. Faucher
  • Patent number: 5622752
    Abstract: A printed circuit board ("PCB") is moved on a conveyor towards an ultrasonic spray head ("head") that is mounted below the PCB on a guide rail. The guide rail and the direction of motion of the PCB define an acute angle. When the PCB reaches a predetermined position, the head begins a motion across the PCB, spraying a rectangular swatch of soldering flux. The velocity of the head is controlled such that the swatch of flux is substantially perpendicular to the direction of motion of the PCB. After spraying, the head deactivates and reciprocates back across the PCB such that no flux is sprayed. The cycle repeats after a predetermined delay whereby adjacent swatches of flux do not substantially overlap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 22, 1997
    Assignee: Ultrasonic Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Stuart Erickson, Drew Erickson
  • Patent number: 5582348
    Abstract: An ultrasonic spray coating system includes a converter which converts high frequency electrical energy into high frequency mechanical energy thereby producing vibrations. The converter has a resonant frequency. A spray forming head is coupled to the converter and is resonant at the resonant frequency of the converter. The spray forming head has a spray forming tip and concentrates the vibrations of the converter at the spray forming tip. A source of high frequency alternating voltage is electrically connected to the converter and produces a controlled level of electrical energy at an operating frequency of the spray forming head and converter whereby the atomizing surface is vibrated ultrasonically. A liquid supply applicator is in close proximity with the spray forming tip and spaced therefrom. The liquid supply applicator has an output surface having an orifice therein and the output surface is in close proximity with the spray forming tip and spaced therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1996
    Assignee: Ultrasonic Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Drew D. Erickson, Stuart J. Erickson
  • Patent number: 5540384
    Abstract: An ultrasonic spray coating system includes a converter which converts high frequency electrical energy into high frequency mechanical energy thereby producing vibrations. The converter has a resonant frequency. A spray head is coupled to the converter and is resonant at the resonant frequency of the converter. The spray head has an atomizing surface and a feed blade to the atomizing surface and concentrates the vibrations of the converter at the atomizing surface. A source of high frequency alternating voltage is electrically connected to the converter and produces a controlled level of electrical energy at the resonant frequency of the spray head and converter whereby the atomizing surface is vibrated ultrasonically. A fluid supply applicator is in close proximity with the feed blade to the atomizing surface and spaced therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 30, 1996
    Assignee: Ultrasonic Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: John J. Erickson, Joseph R. Marshall
  • Patent number: 5409163
    Abstract: An ultrasonic spray coating system includes a converter which converts high frequency electrical energy into high frequency mechanical energy thereby producing vibrations. The converter has a resonant frequency. A spray forming head is coupled to the converter and is resonant at the resonant frequency of the converter. The spray forming head has a spray forming tip and concentrates the vibrations of the converter at the spray forming tip. A source of high frequency alternating voltage is electrically connected to the converter and produces a controlled level of electrical energy at an operating frequency of the spray forming head and converter whereby the atomizing surface is vibrated ultrasonically. A liquid supply applicator is in close proximity with the spray forming tip and spaced therefrom. The liquid supply applicator has an output surface having an orifice therein and the output surface is in close proximity with the spray forming tip and spaced therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 25, 1995
    Assignee: Ultrasonic Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Drew D. Erickson, Stuart J. Erickson
  • Patent number: 4012647
    Abstract: The invention discloses various embodiments of an ultrasonic motor and converter adapted to be used in home or industrial ultrasonic devices. The ultrasonic motor is generally of a piezoelectric material having a removable tip or of a design in which the complete motor is contained in a housing, which housing has electrical contact means adapted to be plugged into an adapter which, in turn, is connected to a converter. The motor is designed such that frequency sensing means is provided therein and the feedback signal is utilized by the converter to adjust itself thereto. The converter includes tuned circuit means tuned to a band including a desired frequency for sustaining the vibration of said motor at the desired frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 1975
    Date of Patent: March 15, 1977
    Assignee: Ultrasonic Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Lewis Balamuth, Arthur Kuris, Manuel Karatjas
  • Patent number: 3942519
    Abstract: Ultrasonic and cryogenic instrumentation for the removal of unwanted tissue material from an animal, such as a human, and more particularly, adapted for the removal of cataracts, in surgical operations. The ultrasonic and cryogenic instrumentation include hand-held instruments with the cryogenic instrumentation adapted to first freeze the cataract lens and after the cataract lens has unfrozen the ultrasonic instrumentation is adapted by a vibrating tool to reduce the volume of the cataract and thereafter, through the simultaneous introduction of a fluid and creating a flow, the cataract mass exits through the incision around the vibrating tool until all of the unwanted tissue forming the cataract lens is removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1974
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1976
    Assignee: Ultrasonic Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: John P. Shock
  • Patent number: 3941424
    Abstract: This invention relates to the method of manufacturing a toothbrush adapted to be mounted on an automatic toothbrush power handle, and having as a power source vibratory energy in the ultrasonic range. The manufacturing process includes that of providing a plastic brush having a head portion including a plurality of apertures and positioning a bristle cluster respectively in each aperture; and effecting a flow of the plastic in the head portion into substantially surrounding relationship of the bristles in each aperture therein, such that the plastic solidifies in adhesive relationship to the bristles to transmit the ultrasonic vibratory energy from the brush head portion to the bristles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1974
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1976
    Assignee: Ultrasonic Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Lewis Balamuth, Michael R. Rutten, Robert Meyer
  • Patent number: RE28752
    Abstract: The invention discloses various embodiments of an ultrasonic kit adapted to be used in the home or for industrial purposes, as well as a variety of ultrasonic motor constructions and ultrasonic converter designs to be used either individually or in combination with each other. The ultrasonic motor is generally of a piezoelectric material having a removable tip or of a design in which the complete motor is contained in a housing, which housing has electrical contact means adapted to be plugged into an adapter which, in turn, is connected to a converter. The motor may be designed such that frequency sensing is provided therein and the feedback signal is utilized by the generator to adjust itself thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1975
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1976
    Assignee: Ultrasonic Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Lewis Balamuth, Arthur Kuris, Manual Karatjas