Abstract: A system and method for monitoring the properties of a fluid, such as water, in a steam pipe without mechanically penetrating the wall of the pipe. The system uses a piezoelectric transducer to launch an ultrasonic probe signal into the pipe. Reflected ultrasonic signals are captured in a transducer, which can be the same transducer that launched the probe signal. The reflected signals are subjected to data processing, which can include filtering, amplification, analog-to-digital conversion and autocorrelation analysis. A result is extracted which is indicative of a property of the fluid, such as a height of the condensed fluid, a cavitation of the condensed fluid, and a surface perturbation of the condensed fluid. The result can be recorded, displayed, and/or transmitted to another location. One embodiment of the system has been constructed and tested based on a general purpose programmable computer using instructions recorded in machine-readable non-volatile memory.

Abstract: A percussive augmenter bit includes a connection shaft for mounting the bit onto a rotary drill. In a first modality, an actuator percussively drives the bit, and an electric slip-ring provides power to the actuator while being rotated by the drill. Hammering action from the actuator and rotation from the drill are applied directly to material being drilled. In a second modality, a percussive augmenter includes an actuator that operates as a hammering mechanism that drives a free mass into the bit creating stress pulses that fracture material that is in contact with the bit.

Abstract: A Single Piezo-Actuator Rotary-Hammering (SPaRH) Drill includes a horn actuator having high power piezoelectric materials and a flexure pre-stress to increase the actuators effectiveness. The drill is a low mass, low power, compact coring drill measuring 20-cm high by 7-cm diameter and having a total weight of 2 kg including drive electronics. Using an average power of 50-Watts, the drill basalt is expected to cut basalt at a rate of 0.2 cm/min down to depth of 10-cm and create cuttings and an intact core. The drill is expected to operate under different environments including Martian ambient (6 Torr and down to ?50° C.), and liquid nitrogen temperatures (77 K) and low pressure (<<1 Torr) to simulate lunar polar and Europa conditions. Materials expected to be sampled include Kaolinite, Saddleback Basalt, Limestone, Volcanic Breccia, Siltstone, ice, permafrost and layered rocks with different hardness.

Abstract: An embodiment provides electrical energy from a source on one side of a medium to a load on the other side of the medium, the embodiment including a first piezoelectric to generate acoustic energy in response to electrical energy from the source, and a second piezoelectric to convert the received acoustic energy to electrical energy used by the load. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: A hand-held drilling device, and method for drilling using the device, has a housing, a transducer within the housing, with the transducer effectively operating at ultrasonic frequencies, a rotating motor component within the housing and rigid cutting end-effector rotationally connected to the rotating motor component and vibrationally connected to the transducer. The hand-held drilling device of the present invention operates at a noise level of from about 50 decibels or less.

Abstract: A mechanism for drilling or coring by a combination of sonic hammering and rotation. The drill includes a hammering section with a set of preload weights mounted atop a hammering actuator and an axial passage through the hammering section. In addition, a rotary section includes a motor coupled to a drive shaft that traverses the axial passage through the hammering section. A drill bit is coupled to the drive shaft for drilling by a combination of sonic hammering and rotation. The drill bit includes a fluted shaft leading to a distal crown cutter with teeth. The bit penetrates sampled media by repeated hammering action. In addition, the bit is rotated. As it rotates the fluted bit carries powdered cuttings helically upward along the side of the bit to the surface.

Abstract: An embodiment provides electrical energy from a source on one side of a medium to a load on the other side of the medium, the embodiment including a first piezoelectric to generate acoustic energy in response to electrical energy from the source, and a second piezoelectric to convert the received acoustic energy to electrical energy used by the load. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: The invention provides a novel jackhammer that utilizes ultrasonic and/or sonic vibrations as source of power. It is easy to operate and does not require extensive training, requiring substantially less physical capabilities from the user and thereby increasing the pool of potential operators. An important safety benefit is that it does not fracture resilient or compliant materials such as cable channels and conduits, tubing, plumbing, cabling and other embedded fixtures that may be encountered along the impact path. While the ultrasonic/sonic jackhammer of the invention is able to cut concrete and asphalt, it generates little back-propagated shocks or vibrations onto the mounting fixture, and can be operated from an automatic platform or robotic system.

Abstract: Self drilling anchors and related methods and apparatus. In one embodiment an apparatus comprises a drill bit, a hammer mechanism for hammering the drill bit in a first direction and in a second direction, and a selection mechanism for controlling whether, at a given point in time, the drill bit is hammered in the first or second direction.

Abstract: The present invention provides a source of plurality of radiation types using a single source that is made of ferroelectric material in the form of a cathode. The generated radiation types consist of ion and electron beams, X-ray, visible light and ultraviolet radiation. These types allow testing the surface and bulk of the same medium while placed in the same location and are providing confirmation and independent measurements of the material properties. The cathode is made with a continuous electrode on one side and a grid shape electrode on the other. This cathode is supported with fixtures that are used to produce various radiation types. Also, control elements are used to define the shape and directivity of the emitted beam. The present invention eliminates the need for plurality of instruments for obtaining required properties of test materials covering both the surface and the bulk of the test medium.

Abstract: The present invention provides an ultrasonic and sonic mechanism of deep drilling (USMOD) that is driven by a vibrating actuator and operates in a similar manner to the gopher with regards to drilling debris removal. The actuator induces vibration in the form of a hammering actuation. The mechanism consists of a penetration bit with a diameter that is the same or larger than the actuator. The embodiment of the invention that is disclosed herein emulates a gopher. This ultrasonic gopher is lowered down into the produced borehole, cores the medium, breaks and holds the core, and finally extracts and deploys the core. A USMOD device consists of power drive and a drill-head. The power driver generates ultrasonic pulses to activate the USMOD mechanism and it allows optimized use of power by duty cycling the signal. The drill-head consists of an actuator, free mass and a penetration bit. The actuator consists of a vibration source and a horn that amplifies the amplitude of the vibration.

Abstract: Apparatus for probing, sensing, testing penetrating and sampling a medium generally includes an actuator (12) for generating vibrations at ultrasonic frequencies and a horn (14) coupled to the actuator (12) for amplifying the actuator vibrations along with a non-rotating coring and drilling bit (16) for penetrating the medium. A bit (16) includes a drill stem (20) attached to the horn (14) and a bore (26) extends through the bit (16), horn (14) and actuator (12) for withdrawal of samples. A free mass (36) is disposed between the horn (14) and the drill stem (20) for oscillating therebetween in response to the actuator vibration for causing migration of medium debris around and through the actuator bore for effectively self-cleaning of the bit (16). The hammering action of the free mass (36) is used for penetration of the medium and for analysis of the medium though the use of spaced apart accelerometers (92 and 94).

Abstract: The present invention provides a design of a horn for vibration actuators. In general a driving actuator generates vibrations and a horn amplifies the vibration amplitude where the amplification is related to the ratio between the surface area of the horn at the contact with the actuator and the tip surface. The acoustic path of existing direct horn designs is modified to adopt at least one change in direction, or fold, so as to produce a compact design Preferably there are three parallel, concentric, acoustic paths and two folds. A second embodiment has an internal horn that is concentric and internal to the actuator. A third embodiment uses a tubular horn where an electroactive stack is encircled by the horn. The device may have a hollow core for the transfer of materials from one side to the other.

Abstract: Apparatus for probing, sensing, testing penetrating and sampling a medium generally includes an actuator (12) for generating vibrations at ultrasonic frequencies and a horn (14) coupled to the actuator (12) for amplifying the actuator vibrations along with a non-rotating coring and drilling bit (16) for penetrating the medium. A bit (16) includes a drill stem (20) attached to the horn (14) and a bore (26) extends through the bit (16), horn (14) and actuator (12) for withdrawal of samples. A free mass (36) is disposed between the horn (14) and the drill stem (20) for oscillating therebetween in response to the actuator vibration for causing migration of medium debris around and through the actuator bore for effectively self-cleaning of the bit (16). The hammering action of the free mass (36) is used for penetration of the medium and for analysis of the medium though the use of spaced apart accelerometers (92 and 94).

Abstract: The present invention provides an ultrasonic and sonic mechanism of deep drilling (USMOD) that is driven by a vibrating actuator and operates in a similar manner to the gopher with regards to drilling debris removal. The actuator induces vibration in the form of a hammering actuation. The mechanism consists of a penetration bit with a diameter that is the same or larger than the actuator. The embodiment of the invention that is disclosed herein emulates a gopher. This ultrasonic gopher is lowered down into the produced borehole, cores the medium, breaks and holds the core, and finally extracts and deploys the core.