Cylindrical Insert for Focused Ultrasonic Cleaning
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional sonic cleaning systems suffer from inefficient energy delivery to workpieces due to wave attenuation by tank corners and dispersion through large tanks, leading to ineffective cleaning.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a sonic cleaning system with a tank and an insert configured to receive a workpiece, where the sonic transducer is positioned within the insert to focus and reflect ultrasonic waves directly onto the workpiece, minimizing energy loss.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If traditional tank configurations are used with ultrasonic transducers, then the tank can contain the cleaning liquid and workpiece, but the sonic waves are attenuated by tank corners and dispersed through the large tank volume, resulting in inefficient energy delivery to the workpiece
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning system is segmented into a tank and a separate insert component. The insert is positioned within the tank to specifically address the workpiece cleaning function, while the tank provides containment. This segmentation allows the insert to be optimized for sonic wave focusing without being constrained by the tank's corner geometry that causes attenuation.
Solution Approach 2:
The insert acts as an intermediary component between the ultrasonic transducer and the workpiece. It serves as a medium that focuses and directs the sonic waves from the transducer onto the workpiece surface, preventing energy loss to the tank corners and improving cleaning efficiency.
2Volume of moving object
If large tank volumes are used to accommodate workpieces, then the workpiece can be properly contained, but the ultrasonic waves are dispersed through the large tank and not sufficiently focused on the workpiece
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into a large tank for containment and a smaller insert for focused cleaning. The insert creates a localized cleaning zone around the workpiece, ensuring sufficient sonic wave focus even when the overall tank volume is large.
Solution Approach 2:
The insert provides localized quality improvement by concentrating sonic energy precisely where needed (at the workpiece surface) rather than distributing it uniformly throughout the entire tank volume. This local concentration of energy ensures effective cleaning despite the large tank size.
3Power
If ultrasonic transducers are positioned in traditional locations within the tank, then the transducer can generate sonic waves, but the waves are attenuated by tank corners leading to inefficient cleaning
Solution Approach 1:
The insert serves as an intermediary that captures the ultrasonic power generated by the transducer and redirects it onto the workpiece. This intermediary structure prevents the sonic waves from being attenuated by tank corners, thereby maintaining high cleaning efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The traditional direct immersion of transducers in tank corners is replaced by positioning the transducer within or adjacent to the insert. This substitution changes the mechanical arrangement to eliminate the harmful interaction between sonic waves and tank corners while maintaining power generation capability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration enhances the focusing of sonic waves on workpieces, resulting in improved cleaning efficiency by maintaining energy near the workpiece and reducing cavitation dispersion.
Implementation Method 1
High frequency sound waves are generated via a transducer and propagate through the liquid to a workpiece located in the tank. The sound waves cause cavitation proximate the workpiece, which releases particles, such as dirt and grease, from the workpiece.
Implementation Method 2
The insert is configured to receive a workpiece between the first opening and the second opening. The sonic transducer is disposed next to the second opening... the insert and positioned within the insert to focus and reflect ultrasonic waves directly onto the workpiece
Implementation Method 3
a tank configured to contain a liquid that enables propagation of sonic waves
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5
AI summary
In some embodiments, a sonic cleaning system includes a tank configured to receive a liquid that enables propagation of sonic waves and a cylindrical insert located within the tank. The cylindrical insert includes a first end having a first opening and a second end opposite the first end. The second end has a second opening. The cylindrical insert is configured suspend a workpiece between the first opening and the second opening. The sonic cleaning system includes a sonic transducer located within the cylindrical insert.