Abstract: A rotary acoustic horn imparts energy at a selected wavelength, frequency, and amplitude. The horn includes a shaft having an axial input end and an axial output end and a welding portion. The welding portion is mounted on the shaft and has a diameter that is greater than the diameter of the shaft. The welding portion has a weld face that expands and contracts with the application of acoustic energy. At least a portion of the weld face can be formed of a different material than the remainder of the welding portion. The welding portion can include a sleeve. The sleeve can be shrink fit onto the welding portion.

Abstract: The horn includes an outer cylinder and an inner shaft connected by a disk. The shaft has an axial input end, and receives vibrational energy at the axial input end and transmits the vibrational energy to the cylinder. The cylinder is hollow and has an inner surface, an outer surface, and first and second opposing end surfaces. The second end surface serves as a welding surface which applies vibrational energy to an object. The welding surface moves with the application of vibrational energy to the input end of the shaft. The disk portion connects the inner shaft to the cylinder and transmits the vibrational energy from the inner shaft to the cylinder.

Abstract: A method of damping floor vibrations and structures having damped floors is provided. Damping article(s) are attached to structural floor (A) (at a floor attachment location) and to at least two anchor attachment locations independently selected from the group consisting of locations on structural beams, structural columns, structural beam(s)/structural column intersection(s); and area(s) of a ground floor/structural floor (which may or may not be the same as structural floor (A)) within about one meter of a column and/or beam.

Abstract: A rotary acoustic horn imparts energy at a selected wavelength, frequency, and amplitude. The horn includes a cylindrical shaft and a cylindrical welding portion mounted on and coaxial with the shaft. The diameter of the welding portion is greater than the diameter of the shaft. The welding portion has a cylindrical weld face having a diameter that expands and contracts with the application of ultrasonic energy, and first and second opposing end portions. At least one end portion is formed with a first undercut; the radial width and the depth of the first undercut is selected to affect the amplitude of vibration at the weld face to provide a desired amplitude profile along the axial length of the weld face.

Abstract: A rotary acoustic horn imparts energy at a selected wavelength, frequency, and amplitude. The horn includes a base portion and a plurality of weld faces. Each weld face has a diameter that expands and contracts with the application of ultrasonic energy. The weld faces are spaced from each other and are mounted in one of series and parallel with each other.

Abstract: An optical fiber splice element comprising a sheet of ductile material having a novel focus hinge defining first and second legs, each of the legs having a V-groove therein for receiving the optical fibers. The focus hinge, comprising a groove on one side of the sheet, a notch on the other side of the sheet aligned with the groove, and a convex hinge web, provides precise registration of the V-grooves when the sheet is folded; this in turn leads to improved alignment of the fibers. The V-grooves also have a novel angular geometry which optimizes the clamping forces, resulting in lower insertion loss. The interior angle of the V-grooves is smaller than the optimum angle whereby, when the fiber is clamped and portions of the V-groove surfaces are deformed, the V-groove has an effective angle which is approximately equal to the optimum angle.