Electroacoustic Transducer Housing Integrates Casting Mold
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electroacoustic transducers for generating shock waves for medical treatments, particularly those using piezoelectric elements, face challenges in manufacturing efficiency and cost due to the need for specialized tools and laborious manual assembly processes, especially when using casting resins that require complex molds.
Innovation Solution
The design replaces the expensive casting tool with a housing that integrates the casting compound, allowing for tool-free production of electroacoustic transducers with piezoelectric elements fixed by a hardening compound, which can be manufactured using 3D printing, enabling cost-effective and customizable transducer designs without the need for post-hardening tool removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If specialized casting tools and molds are used for manufacturing electroacoustic transducers, then manufacturing precision is improved, but device complexity and production cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the casting function from separate specialized tools and molds, integrating it directly into the housing structure. The housing itself becomes the casting mold, eliminating the need for external casting tools while maintaining manufacturing precision through the housing's integrated design features.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the housing structure with the casting mold function into a single integrated component. The housing simultaneously serves as the structural enclosure and the casting form, combining what were previously separate functions into one unified element that simplifies the overall manufacturing system.
2Manufacturing precision
If manual assembly processes are used to attach piezoelectric elements, then manufacturing precision is improved, but productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates attachment features directly into the housing structure before the casting process. Recesses, mounting surfaces, and alignment features are pre-formed in the housing, allowing piezoelectric elements to be positioned and secured during the casting operation itself rather than requiring separate manual assembly steps afterward.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical assembly operations with an automated casting process. The casting material is injected or poured into the housing, automatically securing the piezoelectric elements in their designated positions without requiring manual handling, positioning, or fastening operations.
3Strength
If casting resin is used to fix piezoelectric elements, then element fixation strength is improved, but manufacturing cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the housing multi-functional by integrating the casting mold function into it. The housing simultaneously serves as the structural enclosure, the casting form, and the element mounting structure. This eliminates the need for separate molds and tools, reducing manufacturing complexity while maintaining the strength benefits of casting resin fixation.
4Manufacturing precision
If specialized molds are used for each transducer shape and size, then manufacturing precision is improved, but adaptability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables design flexibility by allowing the housing parameters (shape, size, geometry) to be changed directly without requiring corresponding changes to external molds. Since the housing itself serves as the casting form, any modification to housing design automatically creates a new casting configuration, enabling rapid adaptation to different transducer requirements.
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 approach simplifies the manufacturing process, reduces costs, and allows for the production of custom transducer shapes and structures, including self-focusing and linearly-focusing designs, while ensuring secure fixation and protection of piezoelectric elements, facilitating individualized and cost-effective production even in small quantities.
Implementation Method 1
electroacoustic transducers for the generation of shock waves, for the treatment of the human and animal body, which are constructed at least with the use of piezoelectric elements
Implementation Method 2
The free space formed between the piezoelectric elements and the housing is in-filled with a casting compound... a hardening casting compound
Data Source
AI summary
The electroacoustic transducer (1) is configured for the generation of shock waves for the treatment of the human or animal body. The electroacoustic transducer (1) includes piezoelectric elements (5), which are arranged within a bearer (4) in a housing (2, 3). Between the piezoelectric elements (5) and the housing (2, 3) a free space is formed, which is in-filled with a casting compound (10).