Patents by Inventor Robert L. Polhamus

Robert L. Polhamus has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 4979994
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for cleaning printed electrical circuit boards having surface mount components by ultrasonic energy in the frequency range between 300 kHz and 1.0 MHz. The ultrasonic energy is produced by an array of piezoelectric wafers mounted to the inside surface of an immersible transducer assembly which, in turn, is disposed in a tank accomodating a bath of cleaning liquid. The ultrasonic energy provided by the transducer assembly and the circuit board to be cleaned are disposed to cause the ultrasonic wave beam to be incident upon a board to be cleaned at an angle of 90.+-.60 degrees relative to the surface plane of the board. This arrangement will remove solder flux residue and other contaminants from spaces ranging from 0.001 to 0.010 inch present underneath a surface mount component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 25, 1990
    Assignee: Branson Ultrasonics Corporation
    Inventors: Jean-Guy M. Dussault, Robert L. Polhamus, John E. Willey