Ultrasonic Cleaner Liquid Storage Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ultrasonic cleaning apparatuses face limitations in reducing the amount of cleaning liquid used, as reducing the liquid supply can lead to water-free operation and attenuated ultrasonic waves, compromising cleaning effectiveness.
Innovation Solution
The ultrasonic cleaning apparatus features a liquid storage part positioned above or below the contact surface of the ultrasonic vibrator, with an inflow and outflow port configuration that allows the contact surface to remain covered with liquid even when the inflow is stopped, enabling efficient ultrasonic wave propagation and reduced liquid usage through a bent ultrasonic propagating tube.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If the amount of cleaning liquid supplied to the liquid storage part is excessively reduced, then cleaning costs are reduced, but a water-free operation state is brought about causing excessive amplitude of the ultrasonic vibrator and failure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the spatial arrangement by positioning the liquid storage part above the ultrasonic vibrator contact surface, utilizing gravitational force to ensure liquid continuously covers the contact surface. This dimensional repositioning allows minimal liquid supply while maintaining reliable ultrasonic vibration operation, resolving the contradiction between reducing liquid usage and ensuring vibrator reliability.
2Loss of substance
If the diameter of the nozzle is made smaller to reduce cleaning liquid usage, then liquid waste is reduced, but ultrasonic waves are attenuated when passing through the nozzle
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the nozzle component from the system and replaces it with a liquid storage part positioned above the ultrasonic vibrator. This eliminates the bottleneck effect of the nozzle on ultrasonic wave transmission while maintaining controlled liquid discharge through the outflow port, resolving the contradiction between reducing liquid usage and maintaining ultrasonic wave effectiveness.
3Device complexity
If the contact surface of the ultrasonic vibrator is positioned to face downward in the direction of gravity, then the structure is simple, but the cleaning liquid cannot sufficiently cover the contact surface when supplied in small amounts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional arrangement by positioning the liquid storage part above the ultrasonic vibrator contact surface rather than below it. This inversion utilizes gravitational force to ensure that even minimal liquid supply automatically covers the contact surface, resolving the contradiction between structural simplicity and adequate liquid coverage with minimal liquid usage.
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 significantly reduces the amount of cleaning liquid used, allowing for effective ultrasonic cleaning while minimizing liquid waste and maintaining cleaning effectiveness, with the liquid usage reduced to approximately 1/10 of conventional methods.
Implementation Method 1
an ultrasonic vibrator 111 that applies ultrasonic vibrations to a cleaning liquid 113 in the liquid storage part 112
Implementation Method 2
the cleaning liquid whose flow rate has been controlled by the flow control mechanism 114 is supplied to the liquid storage part 112 through the supply pipe 115 and is temporarily stored in the liquid storage part 112
Data Source
AI summary
An ultrasonic cleaning apparatus includes: an ultrasonic vibrator (11); a liquid storage part (12) provided in contact with the ultrasonic vibrator; an inflow port (12a) that makes a cleaning liquid (13) flow in the liquid storage part; and an outflow port (12b) that makes the cleaning liquid flow out of the liquid storage part. A contact surface (11a), of the ultrasonic vibrator, which comes into contact with the cleaning liquid, is disposed lower than each of the inflow port and the outflow port.