EP3689478B1 - Geschraubter langevin-wandler, ultraschallmessvorrichtung - Google Patents

Geschraubter langevin-wandler, ultraschallmessvorrichtung Download PDF

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Publication number
EP3689478B1
EP3689478B1 EP20154799.9A EP20154799A EP3689478B1 EP 3689478 B1 EP3689478 B1 EP 3689478B1 EP 20154799 A EP20154799 A EP 20154799A EP 3689478 B1 EP3689478 B1 EP 3689478B1
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Prior art keywords
bolt
transducer
mass
piezoelectric
metal material
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French (fr)
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EP3689478A1 (de
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Kenji Nagareda
Hiroyuki Harada
Yuichi Maida
Yoshihiro Aoki
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Honda Electronics Co Ltd
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Honda Electronics Co Ltd
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    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B06—GENERATING OR TRANSMITTING MECHANICAL VIBRATIONS IN GENERAL
    • B06B—METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR GENERATING OR TRANSMITTING MECHANICAL VIBRATIONS OF INFRASONIC, SONIC, OR ULTRASONIC FREQUENCY, e.g. FOR PERFORMING MECHANICAL WORK IN GENERAL
    • B06B1/00—Methods or apparatus for generating mechanical vibrations of infrasonic, sonic, or ultrasonic frequency
    • B06B1/02—Methods or apparatus for generating mechanical vibrations of infrasonic, sonic, or ultrasonic frequency making use of electrical energy
    • B06B1/06—Methods or apparatus for generating mechanical vibrations of infrasonic, sonic, or ultrasonic frequency making use of electrical energy operating with piezoelectric effect or with electrostriction
    • B06B1/0607—Methods or apparatus for generating mechanical vibrations of infrasonic, sonic, or ultrasonic frequency making use of electrical energy operating with piezoelectric effect or with electrostriction using multiple elements
    • B06B1/0611—Methods or apparatus for generating mechanical vibrations of infrasonic, sonic, or ultrasonic frequency making use of electrical energy operating with piezoelectric effect or with electrostriction using multiple elements in a pile
    • B06B1/0618—Methods or apparatus for generating mechanical vibrations of infrasonic, sonic, or ultrasonic frequency making use of electrical energy operating with piezoelectric effect or with electrostriction using multiple elements in a pile of piezo- and non-piezoelectric elements, e.g. 'Tonpilz'

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a bolt-tightening Langevin-type transducer and to an ultrasonic-measuring device using the same.
  • a bolt-tightening Langevin-type transducer 51 as shown in FIG. 6A , is well known.
  • a drive-unit 56 that is made by laminating two piezoelectric elements 54 and two electrode plates 55 together is sandwiched between a front mass 52 and a rear mass 53.
  • a fastening bolt (not shown in the drawings) is inserted into the hole penetrating the drive-unit 56. In fastening such fastening bolt, the front mass 52 and the rear mass 53 are thus fastened, and the respective members are integrated.
  • Patent Document 1 a thing that is similar in structure to such transducer 51 is disclosed in e.g. Patent Document 1 or the like.
  • the front mass 52 and the rear mass 53 are formed generally using a metal material such as aluminum or the like.
  • the piezoelectric element 54 is formed using a ceramic-piezoelectric material containing lead such as lead zirconate titanate (PZT).
  • PZT lead zirconate titanate
  • Patent Document 2 discloses piezoelectric transducers for high power applications, comprising a plurality of piezoelectric layers and a plurality of shims that are in a sandwich structure.
  • Patent Document 3 discloses a lead-free piezoelectric ceramic composition includes a first crystal phase of alkali niobate/tantalate type perovskite oxide having piezoelectric properties and a second crystal phase of A—Ti—B—O composite oxide.
  • Patent Document 4 discloses a wide bandwidth, ultrasonic transducer to generate nondispersive, extensional, pulsed acoustic pressure waves into concrete reinforced rods and tendons.
  • Patent Document 5 discloses Langevin oscillators having the same characteristic of half value total angle or 40 deg. arranged at an angle space of 120 deg.
  • Patent Document 6 discloses an ultrasonic transducer including a front member, a back side which is opposite to the front side, a side member, a backing member, and a piezoelectric ceramic body.
  • Patent Document 7 discloses piezoelectric sandwich transducers.
  • Patent Document 8 discloses a low-frequency and wideband underwater acoustic transducer which removes and controls extra vibration which deteriorates a bandwidth characteristic in a multiple mode coupling bolt-on Langevin type underwater acoustic transducer.
  • Patent Document 9 discloses a piezoelectric ceramic composition having a lead-free alkaline niobate piezoelectric ceramic composition with a favorable piezoelectric property.
  • the bolt-tightening Langevin-type transducer 51 has relatively much power and is usually employed for machining applications. However, when such performance is realized, it is also desired that it be used for measuring purposes.
  • This invention has been achieved in light of the above-referenced problems, the purpose of which is to provide a bolt-tightening Langevin-type transducer and an ultrasonic measuring device that can realize a performance equal to or better than that of a transducer using a leaded-piezoelectric material, despite this invention using a lead-free piezoelectric material.
  • the inventors of this invention have done intensive research. Based on the prediction that from among the many lead-free ceramic-piezoelectric materials the alkali niobate-based ceramic-piezoelectric material is suitable, they configured the drive-unit by using two pieces of piezoelectric elements formed by such alkaline niobate-based ceramic-piezoelectric material in the conventional manner. However, the desired performance as expected could not be achieved. Then, after more trial and error, the inventors of this invention learned that the desired suitable performance can be achieved by increasing the number of piezoelectric elements by greater than two pieces and by making the rear mass heavier than the front mass. As a result, they finally developed the invention as described below.
  • the first aspect of this invention refers to a bolt-tightening Langevin-type transducer according to claim 1.
  • the first aspect of this invention allows for reducing the weight of the front mass by forming the front mass using a first-metal material having a relatively low specific gravity and by forming the rear mass using a second-metal material having a relatively high specific gravity, so that the amplitude on the front-mass side can be increased.
  • lead-free ceramic-piezoelectric materials alkali niobate-base ceramic-piezoelectric materials have relatively excellent piezoelectric characteristics.
  • the drive-unit that is configured by including four or more piezoelectric elements that are formed using such lead-free ceramic-piezoelectric materials can generate greater oscillation energy compared to the conventional structure.
  • the four or more piezoelectric elements are formed using a lead-free piezoelectric material, it is possible to realize a performance equivalent to or greater than that using a leaded piezoelectric material.
  • the four or more piezoelectric elements are formed using an alkali niobate-based ceramic-piezoelectric material that is better for the environment and that makes it easier to reduce the weight of the whole apparatus.
  • the second aspect of this invention refers to a bolt-tightening Langevin-type transducer according to the first aspect of this invention, characterized in that the piezoelectric element is formed using a sodium-potassium niobate-based ceramic-piezoelectric material.
  • the second aspect of this invention allows for making a drive-unit using sodium-potassium niobate-based (KNN-based) ceramics having particularly preferable piezoelectric characteristics from among other alkali niobate-based ceramics, thus making it possible reliably to generate greater oscillation energy.
  • KNN-based sodium-potassium niobate-based
  • the third aspect of this invention refers to a bolt-tightening Langevin-type transducer according to the first or second aspect of this invention, characterized in that the specific gravity of the second-metal material is twice or more than that of the first-metal material.
  • the third aspect of this invention allows for lightening the front mass without changing so much the size and shape of the front mass and of the rear mass, since the difference in specific gravity between the first-metal material and the second-metal material is sufficiently great, thus making it possible to increase the amplitude on the front-mass side.
  • the fourth aspect of this invention refers to a bolt-tightening Langevin-type transducer according to the third aspect of this invention, characterized in that the specific gravity of the first-metal material is 2.5 or more and 3.5 or less, and that the specific gravity of the second-metal material is 7.0 or more and 9.0 or less.
  • the fourth aspect of this invention allows for relatively easily selecting materials suitable for the first-metal material and for the second-metal material, respectively, within the above specific gravity range.
  • This invention allows for easily arranging the whole drive-unit in the vicinity of the oscillation node, since, in respect to the case of which the total length of the transducer corresponds to half of the wavelength of the resonance frequency, the thickness of the drive-unit is subject to less than one third of the total length of the transducer. Therefore, the amplitude in the drive-unit can be suppressed, and peeling or the like can hardly occur at the joint interface between the piezoelectric element and the electrode plate. Further, the electric field is increased as the thickness of each piezoelectric element constituting the drive-unit is reduced. As such, the oscillatory displacement is increased, and then the transmitted acoustic pressure is also increased. Also, the ratio of the thickness of the front mass to the total length of the transducer is increased, which makes it easier to keep oscillation even when the rear mass is relatively heavy, thus making it possible reliably to increase the amplitude more on the front-mass side.
  • This invention allows for relatively lightening the front mass compared to the rear mass, thus making it possible to increase the amplitude on the front-mass side.
  • lead-free ceramic-piezoelectric materials alkaline niobate-based ceramic-piezoelectric materials are relatively excellent in piezoelectric property, and since the drive-unit comprises four or more pieces of piezoelectric elements and is formed using such material, greater oscillation energy can be generated compared to the conventional structure, thus making it possible to realize a performance equal to or greater than that using a leaded piezoelectric material, even though such piezoelectric element is formed by using a lead-free piezoelectric material.
  • the piezoelectric element is formed using an alkali niobate-based ceramic-piezoelectric material, which is less harmful to the environment, and which thus makes it easier to reduce the weight of the whole apparatus.
  • the fifth aspect of this invention refers to an ultrasonic measuring device for measuring a physical quantity by transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves, characterized in that the ultrasonic measuring device comprises one or more bolt-tightening Langevin-type transducers according to the described embodiments.
  • the sixth aspect of this invention refers to an ultrasonic measuring device according to the fifth aspect of this invention, characterized in that the ultrasonic measuring device is a fish-detection sensor having a structure of which a plurality of the bolt-tightening Langevin-type transducers are rubber-molded in the same direction.
  • the first through sixth aspects of this invention can provide a bolt-tightening Langevin-type transducer and an ultrasonic measuring device that realizes a performance equal to or greater than that using a leaded piezoelectric material, even though such piezoelectric element is formed by using a lead-free piezoelectric material.
  • the bolt-tightening Langevin-type transducer 11 as the embodiment of this invention consists of a front mass 21, a rear mass 22, a drive-unit 31, and a clamping bolt 25.
  • the front mass 21 (front plate) is arranged on the front-end side of the bolt-tightening Langevin-type transducer 11 and emits ultrasonic waves from the front surface 26 thereof.
  • the rear mass 22 (backing plate) is arranged on the rear-end side of the bolt-tightening Langevin-type transducer 11.
  • the front mass 21 is formed in a 25 mm squared rectangular shape, while the rear mass 22 is formed in a 25 mm diameter circular shape (see FIG. 2 ).
  • the drive-unit 31 is formed by laminating together a plurality of piezoelectric elements 32 and electrode plates 33 (four pieces are laminated in this embodiment) which are then sandwiched between the front mass 21 and the rear mass 22. Since the piezoelectric element 32 is annular-shaped, and the electrode plate 33 is substantially annular-shaped with a tab portion in part, the driving portion 31 has a bolt-insertion hole 34 penetrating through its center. Each piezoelectric element 32 is polarized in the thickness direction, and each polarized direction is indicated by an arrow, as shown in FIG. 4 .
  • the front mass 21 and the rear mass 22 are formed with female bolt holes 24 and 23, respectively, and are formed coaxially with the central axis C1 of the transducer 11.
  • the female bolt hole 23 on the rear mass 22 is a through hole
  • the female bolt hole 24 on the front mass 21 is a non-through hole that does not penetrate the front surface 26.
  • a fastening bolt 25 with an external thread formed on the outer-peripheral surface is inserted from the rear mass 22, and the tip of the fastening bolt 25 reaches the female bolt hole 24 on the front mass 21 via the female bolt hole 23 and the bolt insertion hole 34.
  • the fastening bolt 25 is inserted into the female bolt holes 23 and 24. Fastening the fastening bolt 25 makes the front mass 21, the drive-unit 31 and the rear mass 22 firmly joined together.
  • the front mass 21 is formed using a first-metal material having a specific gravity of 2.5 or more and 3.5 or less
  • the rear mass 22 is formed using the second-metal material of a specific gravity greater than that of the first-metal material, that is, having a specific gravity of 7.0 or more and of 9.0 or less.
  • the front mass 21 is formed using aluminum (specific gravity 2.7) as the first-metal material
  • the rear mass 22 is formed using stainless steel such as SUS304 or the like (specific gravity: around 7.70 to 8.00) as the second-metal material.
  • the specific gravity of the metal material used for the rear mass 22 is about 2.9 times as much as the specific gravity of the metal material used for the front mass 21.
  • stainless steel is arbitrary, though here it is used for the metal material that forms the fastening bolt 25.
  • the piezoelectric elements 32 that configure the drive-unit 31 are all formed using a lead-free ceramic-piezoelectric material, specifically, an alkali niobate-based ceramic-piezoelectric material.
  • alkali niobate-based ceramic-piezoelectric materials include a potassium-sodium niobate-based (KNN-based) ceramic-piezoelectric material or the like having a perovskite structure that is a solid solution of potassium niobate and sodium niobate.
  • KNN-based ceramic-piezoelectric material means a material containing at least K (potassium), Na (sodium) and Nb (niobium) as the main metallic composition. Such composition contains few or not any toxic and harmful elements, as well as not containing any Pb (lead).
  • Such a KNN-based ceramic-piezoelectric material may contain an alkali metal such as Li (lithium) or the like, as well as K (potassium) and Na (sodium).
  • such material may contain Ca (an alkaline earth metal such as calcium), Sr (strontium), Ba (barium), Ta (tantalum) and Sb (antimony) or the like, as well as Nb (niobium).
  • such a KNN-based ceramic-piezoelectric material may contain a small amount of Bi (bismuth), Fe (iron), Al (aluminum), Mn (manganese), Co (cobalt) and Ni (nickel) or the like.
  • the piezoelectric element 32 is formed of a KNN-based ceramic-piezoelectric material, as represented by the following composition formula (1), which has a small amount of Bi (bismuth) and Fe (iron) as added metal elements. ⁇ Li x (K 1-y Na y ) 1-x ⁇ (Nb 1-z Sb z )O 3 ⁇ (1)
  • composition formula (1) when the added amount of Bi (mol ratio) is v, and the added amount of Fe (mol ratio) is w, the composition shall be satisfied with a range of 0.03 ⁇ x ⁇ 0.045, 0.5 ⁇ y ⁇ 0.58, 0.03 ⁇ z ⁇ 0.045 and 0.006 ⁇ v ⁇ w ⁇ 0.010.
  • the piezoelectric constant d 33 is 250 p C/N or more; the Curie temperature T c is 330 degrees Celsius or more
  • electrical characteristics e.g.
  • the electromechanical coupling coefficient K p in the radial direction is 0.44 or more; the relative dielectric constant ⁇ 33 T / ⁇ 0 is 1,390 or more; and the dielectric loss tan ⁇ is 0.03 or less).
  • the KNN-based ceramic-piezoelectric material is satisfactorily within the composition range of 0.007 ⁇ v ⁇ w ⁇ 0.009, then it will be possible easily to obtain better characteristics such as the piezoelectric constant d 33 of 270 p C/N or more; the Curie temperature T c of 340 degrees Celsius or more; the radial electromechanical coupling coefficient K p of 0.47 or more; the relative dielectric constant ⁇ 33 T / ⁇ 0 of 1,450 or more, and the dielectric loss tan ⁇ of 0.25 or less.
  • the bolt-tightening Langevin-type transducer 11 as the embodiment of this invention is formed such that the resonance frequency is 50kHz, and the total length L1 of the transducer is approximately 42mm. In other words, the total length L1 of the transducer corresponds to half of the wavelength ( ⁇ /2) of the resonance frequency.
  • the thickness T3 of the front mass 21 is more than one third of the total length L1 of the transducer, preferably 34% to 44% of the total length L1 of the transducer. In the case of the embodiment of this invention, it is approximately 16mm (or approximately 38% of the total length L1).
  • the thickness T1 of the rear mass 22 is about 1/3 of the total length L1 of the transducer, preferably 30% to 40% of the total length L1 of the transducer. Of such thickness T1 of the rear mass 22, the thickness T1 should be about 15mm (or approximately 36% of the total length L1 of the transducer). Also, the thickness T1 of the rear mass 22 be slightly less than the thickness T3 of the front mass 21, as described above.
  • the thickness T2 of the drive-unit 31 that is the sum of the thicknesses of the four pieces of the piezoelectric elements 32 and of the four pieces of the electrode plates 33 is preferably one third or less than the total length L1 of the transducer. More preferably, it is 21% to 31% of the total length L1 of the transducer. In this case, it should be about 11 mm (or approximately 26% of the total length L1 of the transducer).
  • the thickness of each piezoelectric element 32 should be about 2.5 mm, and the thickness of each electrode plate 33 should be much thinner than each piezoelectric element 32, about 0.2 mm.
  • the bolt-tightening Langevin-type transducer 11 as the embodiment of this invention is designed such that the ultrasonic-oscillation node F1 is focused on the central part of the drive-unit 31 that is the intermediate point in the direction of the length of the transducer, more specifically on the interface between the piezoelectric element 32 and the electrode plate 33 located on the second layer and on the interface between the piezoelectric element 32 and the electrode plate 33 located on the third layer.
  • the bolt-tightening Langevin-type transducer 11 is designed such that the abdomen H1 of the ultrasonic oscillation is focused on both ends of the transducer (on each end-face of the front mass 21 and rear mass 22).
  • FIGS. 4 and 5 show a fish-detection sensor 41 configured using the bolt-tightening Langevin-type transducer 11 as the embodiment of this invention.
  • the fish-detection sensor 41 has a structure in which a plurality of bolt-tightening Langevin-type transducers 11 are rubber-molded in the same direction. More specifically the container (rubber-mold part) of the fish-detection sensor 41 comprises a main-container body 42 and a lid part 43.
  • the bottom part 45 of the container body 42 also serves as an acoustic-matching layer, and four pieces of the bolt-tightening Langevin-type transducers 11 are firmly joined to the bottom part 45 such that the front mass 21 is directed downward.
  • An electric wire (not shown in the drawing) is electrically connected to the tab portion of the electrode plate 33 in each bolt-tightening Langevin-type transducer 11. These electric wires are drawn out of the sensor via the cable 44 and are electrically connected to a drive-control unit that has an oscillator and the like and which are connected to a power unit (both not shown in the drawing).
  • the fish-detection sensor 41 having such a structure makes the four pieces of bolt-tightening Langevin transducers 11 simultaneously to drive and start oscillating based on the drive-signal being emitted from the drive-control unit.
  • ultrasonic waves that are generated by the bolt-tightening Langevin-type transducers 11 are transmitted to the bottom part 45 of the container body 42 and then are radiated from the bottom surface of the container to the outside of the container. Furthermore, the reflected wave of the ultrasonic wave, radiated earlier, is transmitted to each bolt-tightening Langevin-type transducer 11 via the bottom part 45 of the container body 42 and is transmitted to the drive-control unit as a detection signal.
  • FIG. 6(C) basically shows the bolt-tightening Langevin-type transducer 11 of the embodiment as described above, having a structure in which the drive-unit 31, formed by laminating together each of the four piezoelectric elements 32 of the KNN-based ceramic-piezoelectric material, represented as the above composition formula (1), and of each of the four electrode plates 33, of which drive-unit 31 is then sandwiched between the aluminum front mass 21 and the stainless-steel rear mass 22.
  • FIGS. 6 (a) to 6 (c) also show with arrows the direction of polarization.
  • abase powder (purity 99% or more) of K 2 CO 3 , Na 2 CO 3 , Li 2 CO 3 , Nb 2 O 5 , Sb 2 O 3 , Bi 2 O 3 and Fe 2 O 3 was prepared. Then, such base powder containing each metal element was weighed to satisfy the composition as represented in the above composition formula (1). Then, such base powder was mixed in alcohol for 24 hours by a ball mill, thus obtaining a mixed slurry.
  • the type of base powder (compound) containing each metal element is not specifically limited, an oxide, a carbonate or the like of each metal element can be used.
  • the obtained mixed slurry was dried, calcined at 900 degrees Celsius for 3 hours and then ground by a ball mill for 24 hours. Further, an aqueous solution of polyvinyl alcohol was added to the base powder as a binder to be granulated. Then, such granulated powder was pressure-molded into an annular shape of 24 mm in diameter and into a thickness of about 2.5 mm at a pressure of 200 MPa. Then, such compact was fired at 1,000 to 1,200 degrees Celsius for two and a half hours to be a calcined body. The firing temperature at this time was selected so that such calcined body would, at a temperature of between 1,000 to 1,200 degrees Celsius, attain maximum density. After this, a double-sided polishing, a polarization processing and the like were performed to obtain a piezoelectric element 32 formed of a KNN-based ceramic piezoelectric material.
  • FIG. 6(b) shows a bolt-tightening Langevin-type transducer 11A as the Comparative Example 2, which is common to the embodiment of this invention at the point that the drive-unit 31, formed by laminating together the piezoelectric element 32 made of a KNN-based ceramic-piezoelectric material, as represented in the above composition formula (1), and the electrode plate 33, which drive-unit 31 is then sandwiched between the front mass 21 and the rear mass 22.
  • both the front mass 21 and rear mass 22 are made of aluminum, and that two of each of the piezoelectric elements 32 and electrode plates 33 are used to form the drive-unit 31, and that the piezoelectric element 32 is thick.
  • FIG. 6(a) shows a bolt-tightening Langevin-type transducer 51 as Comparative Example 1 (conventional example), which is common to the embodiment of this invention at the point that the drive-unit 56, formed by laminating together the piezoelectric element 54 made of a ceramic-piezoelectric material, and the electrode plate 55, which drive-unit 56 is then sandwiched between the front mass 52 and the rear mass 53.
  • both the front mass 52 and rear mass 53 are made of aluminum, and that two of each of the piezoelectric elements 54 and electrode plates 55 are used to form the drive-unit 56, and that the piezoelectric element 54 is thick and formed of PZT (i.e. a leaded ceramic-piezoelectric material).
  • Comparative Example 2 is preferable in that it has less harmful effect on the environment, but that it is impossible to generate a greater amount of oscillation energy on the front mass 21 compared to that of Comparative Example 1 configured using PZT. Therefore, it was concluded that Comparative Example 2 could not achieve the same piezoelectric performance as can be seen in Comparative Example 1.
  • the embodiment of this invention can generate greater oscillation energy on the front mass 21 compared to that amount of such generated energy of Comparative Example 1 configured using PZT, as well as that such generated energy has less harmful effect on the environment. Therefore, it was concluded that the embodiment of this invention achieves a superior piezoelectric performance to that of the embodiment of Comparative Example 1.
  • a fish-detection sensor 41 was produced using both the bolt-tightening Langevin-type transducer 11 as the embodiment of this invention and the bolt-tightening Langevin-type transducer 51 of Comparative Example 1, thus in using them together the performance of each was compared.
  • the upper graph of FIG. 8 shows the comparison of the transmitted acoustic pressures of both transducers, while the lower graph of FIG. 8 shows the comparison of the wave-receiving sensitivities of both transducers.
  • the horizontal axis represents frequency
  • the vertical axis represents acoustic pressure (sensitivity).
  • the data curve of the embodiment is represented as the connecting points marked with
  • the data curve of Comparative Example 1 is represented as the connecting points marked with ⁇ .
  • the upper graph of FIG. 9 shows the comparison of the directivity characteristic of the embodiment of this invention
  • the lower graph of FIG. 9 shows the comparison of the directivity characteristic of Comparative Example 1. This shows that the half-full angle of Comparative Example 1 was 48 degrees, while the half-full angle of the embodiment was 30 degrees. Therefore, it has been recognized that the embodiment of this invention allows for realizing a narrower directivity angle.
  • the front mass 21 is formed using aluminum (first-metal material) having a relatively low specific gravity
  • the rear mass 22 is formed using stainless steel (second-metal material) having a relatively high specific gravity).
  • the front mass 21 can be lightened, and the amplitude on the front mass 21 can be increased.
  • lead-free ceramic-piezoelectric materials alkaline niobate-based ceramic-piezoelectric materials have relatively excellent piezoelectric property.
  • the drive part 31 was comprised including four pieces or more of piezoelectric elements 32 formed using such a material, a greater oscillation energy can be generated compared to the conventional structure.
  • the piezoelectric element 32 is formed of a lead-free piezoelectric material, it is possible to realize a performance equal to or greater than that of the PZT. Furthermore, according to the embodiment of this invention, since the piezoelectric element 32 is formed using an alkali niobate-based ceramic-piezoelectric material, there is less harm to the environment, and it is easier to lighten the weight of the entire apparatus.
  • the drive-unit 31 is configured by using a KNN-based ceramic of a particular composition, which has especially preferable piezoelectric characteristics among alkali niobate-based ceramics. Therefore, it is possible reliably to generate greater oscillation energy. Eventually, it is relatively easy to realize a performance equal to or better than that of PZT.
  • the difference in specific gravity between the aluminum that is the first-metal material and the stainless steel that is the second-metal material is twice or more, and such a difference is sufficiently great.
  • the front mass 21 can be lightened without significantly changing the dimensions and shapes of the front mass 21 and of the rear mass 22, thus making it possible to increase the amplitude on the front mass 21.
  • the thickness T2 of the drive-unit 31 is subject to less than one-third of the total length L1 of the transducer when the total length L1 of such transducer corresponds to a length of half of the wavelength ⁇ /2 of the resonance frequency, thus making it easy to arrange the whole drive-unit 31 in the vicinity of the oscillation node F1. Therefore, the amplitude in the drive-unit 31 can be suppressed, and peeling or the like hardly occurs at the joint interface between the piezoelectric element 32 and the electrode plate 33. Further, the electric field is increased as the thickness of each piezoelectric element 32 constituting the drive-unit 31 is reduced. As such, the oscillatory displacement is increased, and then the transmitted acoustic pressure is also increased.
  • the ratio of the thickness of the front mass 21 to the total length L1 of the transducer is increased, which makes it easier to keep oscillation, even when the rear mass 22 is relatively heavy, thus making it possible reliably to increase the amplitude more on the front-mass 21.
  • the KNN-based ceramic-piezoelectric material used in the embodiment of this invention is excellent in high-voltage resistance compared to that of PZT, even if the piezoelectric element 32 is thin and the electric field at the time of driving is about twice as much, then deterioration of the piezoelectric property can be suppressed. Therefore, it becomes easy to form the thin piezoelectric element 32 by using the KNN-based ceramic-piezoelectric material, and the drive-unit 31, with its overall thickness reduced, can be produced by laminating together a plurality of piezoelectric elements 32.
  • the piezoelectric element 32 is formed by using a KNN-based ceramic-piezoelectric material as the alkali niobate-based ceramic-piezoelectric material.
  • a KNN-based ceramic-piezoelectric material As the alkali niobate-based ceramic-piezoelectric material, it is certainly possible to use an alkali niobate-based ceramic-piezoelectric material other than the KNN-based ceramic-piezoelectric material.
  • the drive-unit 31 including four pieces of piezoelectric elements 32, is exemplified. However, it is also possible to configure the drive-unit 31 by including more than four pieces (e.g., six or eight pieces) of piezoelectric elements 32.
  • the bolt-tightening Langevin-type transducer 11 whose resonance frequency is 50kHz and whose total length L1 of the transducer corresponds to half of the wavelength ⁇ /2 of the resonance frequency, is exemplified.
  • the resonance is not limited to 50kHz and may be of any arbitrary frequency, e.g. in the range of 25kHz through 50kHz.
  • the total length L1 of the transducer is not limited to the length corresponding to half of the wavelength ⁇ 1/2 of the resonance frequency and may be equivalent e.g. to the length of the wavelength ⁇ .
  • the front mass 21 is formed using aluminum that is the first-metal material
  • the rear mass 22 is formed using stainless steel that is the second-metal material having a specific gravity greater than that of the first-metal material.
  • a metal material other than aluminum e.g., an aluminum alloy such as duralumin (specific gravity: 2.80) or the like, or magnesium (specific gravity: 1.74) or a magnesium alloy, or titanium (specific gravity: 4.51) or a titanium alloy (6-4) (specific gravity: 4.43) or the like may be used as the first-metal material to form the front mass 21.
  • the rear mass 22 using as the second-metal material for example a metal other than stainless steel, e.g., copper (specific gravity: 8.96) or a copper alloy such as brass (specific gravity: 8.50 to 8.70), or a steel material such as carbon steel and nickel steel (specific gravity: 7.70 to 9.00) or the like, or nickel (specific gravity: 8.90) or a nickel alloy (specific gravity: 8.50-9.30), or chromium (specific gravity: 7.19) or a chromium alloy, or cobalt (specific gravity: 8.85) or a cobalt alloy or the like.
  • a metal other than stainless steel e.g., copper (specific gravity: 8.96) or a copper alloy such as brass (specific gravity: 8.50 to 8.70), or a steel material such as carbon steel and nickel steel (specific gravity: 7.70 to 9.00) or the like, or nickel (specific gravity: 8.90) or a nickel alloy (specific gravity: 8.50-9.30), or chromium (specific gravity: 7.19) or a
  • the fish-detector sensor 41 is configured using the bolt-tightening Langevin-type transducer 11.
  • an ultrasonic measuring device other than the fish-detector sensor 41 e.g., an aerial ultrasonic sensor, an ultrasonic level-meter, an ultrasonic flow-meter, an ultrasonic densitometer, an ultrasonic bubble-detection sensor, an ultrasonic knocking-sensor or the like

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Transducers For Ultrasonic Waves (AREA)
  • Measurement Of Velocity Or Position Using Acoustic Or Ultrasonic Waves (AREA)

Claims (6)

  1. Geschraubter Langevin-Wandler (11), aufweisend eine Struktur, in der eine Antriebseinheit (31), die durch Zusammenlaminieren einer Vielzahl von piezoelektrischen Elementen (32), die aus einem bleifreien Material hergestellt sind, und Elektrodenplatten (33) gebildet ist, sandwichartig zwischen einer vorderen Masse (21) und einer hinteren Masse (22) angeordnet ist, und wobei die vordere Masse (21) und die hintere Masse (22) durch einen Befestigungsbolzen (25), der in ein die Antriebseinheit (31) durchdringendes Loch (34) eingesetzt ist, aneinander befestigt sind, wobei die vordere Masse (21) an einer Vorderseite des geschraubten Langevin-Wandlers (11) angeordnet ist und Ultraschallwellen von einer vorderen Oberfläche (26) desselben aussendet,
    wobei die Antriebseinheit (31) vier oder mehr piezoelektrische Elemente (32) einschließt, die unter Verwendung eines keramisch-piezoelektrischen Materials auf Alkali-Niobat-Basis gebildet sind, und wobei die vordere Masse (21) in einem rechteckigen Querschnitt unter Verwendung eines Materials aus einem ersten Metall gebildet ist und die hintere Masse (22) in einem kreisförmigen Querschnitt unter Verwendung eines Materials aus einem zweiten Metall gebildet ist, das ein größeres spezifisches Gewicht als das Material aus dem ersten Metall aufweist;
    wobei die Gesamtlänge (L1) des Wandlers der halben Wellenlänge (λ/2) der Resonanzfrequenz des Wandlers entspricht, wobei der mittlere Teil der Antriebseinheit (31), der den Zwischenpunkt in Richtung der Länge des Wandlers darstellt, zum Ultraschallschwingungsknoten (F1) wird und beide Enden des Wandlers zum Bauch (H1) der Ultraschallschwingung werden, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Dicke (T2) der Antriebseinheit (31) weniger als ein Drittel der Gesamtlänge (L1) des Wandlers beträgt, die Dicke (T3) der vorderen Masse (21) mehr als ein Drittel der Gesamtlänge (L1) des Wandlers beträgt, und die Dicke (T1) der hinteren Masse (22) geringer ist als die Dicke (T3) der vorderen Masse (21); und
    die Dicke der Antriebseinheit (31) zwischen 21 % und 31 % der Gesamtlänge (L1) des Wandlers beträgt.
  2. Geschraubter Langevin-Wandler nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das piezoelektrische Element unter Verwendung eines keramisch-piezoelektrischen Materials auf Natrium-Kalium-Niobat-Basis mit einer piezoelektrischen Konstante d33 von 250 pC/N oder mehr gebildet ist.
  3. Geschraubter Langevin-Wandler nach Anspruch 1 oder 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das spezifische Gewicht des zweiten Metallmaterials doppelt so hoch wie das des ersten Metallmaterials oder höher ist.
  4. Geschraubter Langevin-Wandler nach Anspruch 3, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das spezifische Gewicht des ersten Metallmaterials 2,5 oder mehr und 3,5 oder weniger beträgt, und dass das spezifische Gewicht des zweiten Metallmaterials 7,0 oder mehr und 9,0 oder weniger beträgt.
  5. Ultraschallmessvorrichtung zum Messen einer physikalischen Größe durch Senden und Empfangen von Ultraschallwellen, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Ultraschallmessvorrichtung einen oder mehrere geschraubte Langevin-Wandler nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 4 umfasst.
  6. Ultraschallmessvorrichtung nach Anspruch 5, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Ultraschallmessvorrichtung ein Fischdetektionssensor ist, der eine Struktur aufweist, bei der eine Vielzahl der geschraubten Langevin-Wandler in der gleichen Richtung gummigeformt sind.
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DE102021126665A1 (de) 2021-10-14 2023-04-20 Herrmann Ultraschalltechnik Gmbh & Co. Kg Ultraschallschwingsystem mit mechanischem Resonator
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