GB2393899A - Multiple transducer ultrasonic cleaning system - Google Patents
Multiple transducer ultrasonic cleaning system Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2393899A GB2393899A GB0222496A GB0222496A GB2393899A GB 2393899 A GB2393899 A GB 2393899A GB 0222496 A GB0222496 A GB 0222496A GB 0222496 A GB0222496 A GB 0222496A GB 2393899 A GB2393899 A GB 2393899A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- transducers
- ultrasonic
- tank
- control means
- layer
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
Links
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B08—CLEANING
- B08B—CLEANING IN GENERAL; PREVENTION OF FOULING IN GENERAL
- B08B3/00—Cleaning by methods involving the use or presence of liquid or steam
- B08B3/04—Cleaning involving contact with liquid
- B08B3/10—Cleaning involving contact with liquid with additional treatment of the liquid or of the object being cleaned, e.g. by heat, by electricity or by vibration
- B08B3/12—Cleaning involving contact with liquid with additional treatment of the liquid or of the object being cleaned, e.g. by heat, by electricity or by vibration by sonic or ultrasonic vibrations
Abstract
An apparatus for cleaning an object comprising a tank 2 containing a cleaning fluid 4 in which the article is immersed, a set of ultrasonic transducers 8, and electronic control means 14 for operating the transducers in sequence, to establish an acoustic field of distributed nature. The by activating the transducers individually cleaning is uniform across the object, this is an improvement over activating all transducers simultaneously which may produce damaging effects through localised hot-spots (interference). The transducers preferably emit at a frequency greater than 750 kHz, are piezo-electric in operation, and circular in shape. Preferably the transducers are mounted to a common plate comprising a layer of steel and a layer of aluminium, with the transducers being bonded to the aluminium. A layer of PTFE coating the radiating surface of the stainless steel.
Description
Ultrasonic Cleaning Apparatus The present invention relates to an
ultrasonic cleaning apparatus comprising a tank and means for establishing an ultrasonic field within the tank.
It is known to clean the surface of an article by 5 immersing the article in a fluid-filled tank and then subjecting the fluid to acoustic waves in the ultrasound range.
A difficulty with such known apparatus is establishing a distributed field within the tank.
A known apparatus solves this problem by employing a 10 moving acoustic deflector to continuously redirect the output from a single ultrasonic source.
However, such an apparatus is both expensive and prone to mechanical failure.
We have now devised an arrangement which overcomes the 15 limitations of existing ultrasonic cleaning apparatus.
According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ultrasonic cleaning apparatus comprising a tank, a plurality of ultrasonic transducers and electronic control means for operating the ultrasonic transducers in 20 sequence, to establish an acoustic field within the tank.
It will be appreciated that by employing a plurality of ultrasonic transducers, a distributed acoustic field can be
established within the tank, without the need for moving deflection means.
25 Furthermore, by operating the ultrasonic transducers in sequence, the extent of localized interference between the ultrasonic waves emitted from each of the transducers will be limited, thereby resulting in a substantially uniform ultrasonic field within the tank. The apparatus will therefore
30 provide a substantially uniform cleaning effect upon any article that might be immersed in the tank, with the formation of localised hot-spots within the tank (which might otherwise damage a delicate article immersed therein) being largely avoided.
The electronic control means may be arranged to operate the ultrasonic transducers according to either a pre-determined or a random sequence.
Preferably the electronic control means are arranged to 5 operate successive ultrasonic transducers simultaneously for a portion of their respective operating periods.
Preferably each ultrasonic transducer is arranged to emit ultrasound at a frequency greater than 750 KHz, most preferably at a frequency of around lOOOKHz.
10 Preferably each ultrasonic transducer comprises a piezo-ceramic transducer, preferably in the form of a circular disc. Preferably the transducers are mounted to a radiating plate. Preferably the radiating plate comprises a layer of 15 stainless steel and a layer of aluminium, the ultrasonic transducers preferably being bonded to the latter. Preferably the radiating surface of the stainless steel layer is coated with PTFE.
Preferably the radiating plate is located at or 20 adjacent the base of the tank and is preferably arranged to transmit ultrasound through an aperture in the base of the tank, the tank preferably being formed of polypropylene.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for cleaning an article comprising 25 immersing the article in a fluid filled tank and operating a plurality of ultrasonic transducers in sequence, to establish an acoustic field within the tank.
The ultrasonic transducers may be operated according to either a predetermined or a random sequence.
30 Preferably successive ultrasonic transducers are operated simultaneously for a portion of their respective operating periods. I. Preferably each ultrasonic transducer is arranged to emit ultrasound at a frequency greater than 750 KHz, most 35 preferably at a frequency of around lOOOKHz.
Preferably each ultrasonic transducer comprises a piezo-ceramic transducer, preferably in the form of a circular disc. Preferably the transducers are mounted to a radiating 5 plate. Preferably the radiating plate comprises a layer of stainless steel and a layer of aluminium, the ultrasonic transducers preferably being bonded to the latter. Preferably the radiating surface of the stainless steel layer is coated with PTFE.
10 Preferably the radiating plate is located at or adjacent the base of the tank and is preferably arranged to transmit ultrasound through an aperture in the base of the tank, the tank preferably being formed of polypropylene.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, 15 there are provided electronic control means arranged to operate a plurality of ultrasonic transducers in sequence, to establish an acoustic field within a cleaning tank.
The electronic control means may be arranged to operate the ultrasonic transducers according to either a pre-determined 20 or a random sequence.
Preferably the electronic control means are arranged to operate successive ultrasonic transducers simultaneously for a portion of their respective operating periods.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, 25 there is provided a plurality of ultrasonic transducers and electronic control means for operating the ultrasonic transducers in sequence, to establish an acoustic field within
a cleaning tank.
The electronic control means may be arranged to operate 30 the ultrasonic transducers according to either a pre-determined or a random sequence.
Preferably the electronic control means are arranged to operate successive ultrasonic transducers simultaneously for a portion of their respective operating periods.
35 Preferably each ultrasonic transducer is arranged to
emit ultrasound at a frequency greater than 750 KHz, most preferably at a frequency of around lOOOKHz.
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a plurality of ultrasonic transducers mounted 5 to a radiating plate for establishing an acoustic field within
a cleaning tank.
Preferably each ultrasonic transducer is arranged to emit ultrasound at a frequency greater than 750 KHz, most preferably at a frequency of around lOOOKHz.
10 Preferably each ultrasonic transducer comprises a piezo-ceramic transducer, preferably in the form of a circular disc. Preferably the radiating plate comprises a layer of stainless steel and a layer of aluminium, the ultrasonic 15 transducers preferably being bonded to the latter. Preferably the radiating surface of the stainless steel layer is coated with PTFE.
An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of an example only and with reference to the 20 accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic view of an ultrasonic cleaning apparatus in accordance with the present invention; and Figure 2 is a detailed perspective view of the underside of the ultrasound emitter of Figure 1.
25 Referring to Figure 1 of the drawings, an ultrasonic cleaning apparatus is shown, comprising a polypropylene tank 2 containing a cleaning fluid 4 and an ultrasound emitter 6 for generating an ultrasonic field within the fluid contained in
the tank 2.
30 As shown in detail in Figure 2, the ultrasonic emitter 6 comprises 5 piezo-ceramic transducer discs 8 bonded to a 14G aluminium plate 10, which is in turn bonded to a 16G stainless steel plate 12, whose exposed surface is coated with PTFE.
Each transducer disc 8 has a natural frequency of 1000 35 Khz and is connected, via terminals on the exposed surface of
the disc, to remote electronic control means 14.
The electronic control means 14 are arranged to operate the transducers 8 in a pre-determined, cyclical order, to establish a distributed acoustic field within the cleaning tank
5 2, by applying a 1000 Khz driving signal to each of the transducers 8 in turn, the driving signal preferably comprising a substantially saw- tooth shaped pulsed waveform having a 40:60 mark-to-space ratio.
To ensure the persistence of the acoustic field within
10 the cleaning fluid 4, the electronic control means 14 are arranged to operate successive ultrasonic transducers 8 simultaneously for a portion of their respective operating periods. It will be appreciated that by operating the ultrasonic 15 transducers 8 in sequence, the extent of localised interference between the ultrasonic waves emitted from each of the transducers will be limited, thereby resulting in a substantially uniform ultrasonic field within the tank 2 and
thus a substantially uniform cleaning effect upon any article 20 that might be immersed in the tank.
Claims (1)
1) An ultrasonic cleaning apparatus comprising a tank, a plurality of ultrasonic transducers and electronic control means for operating said ultrasonic transducers in sequence, 5 to establish an acoustic field within the tank.
2) An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which said electronic control means are arranged to operate said ultrasonic transducers according to a predetermined sequence.
3) An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, in which said 10 electronic control means are arranged to operate successive said transducers simultaneously for a portion of their respective operating periods.
4) An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which said electronic control means are arranged to operate said 15 ultrasonic transducers according to a random sequence.
5) An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, arranged for said ultrasonic transducers to emit ultrasound at a frequency greater than 750 kHz.
6) An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, in which 20 each ultrasonic transducer comprises a piezo-electric transducer in the form of a circular disc.
7) An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, in which -said ultrasonic transducers are mounted to a common plate.
8) An apparatus as claimed in claim 7, in which said plate 25 comprises a layer of stainless steel and a layer of aluminium, said transducers being bonded to said layer of aluminium.
9) An apparatus as claimed in claim 8, in which said layer of stainless steel has its surface, remote from said aluminium layer, coated with PTFE.
10) An apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 7 to 9, in 5 which said plate is located at or adjacent the base of said tank. 11) A method of cleaning an article using an apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, and comprising immersing the article in fluid contained in said tank, and causing said 10 electronic control means to operate said ultrasonic transducers in sequence.
12) An assembly for use in an apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10, said assembly comprising a plurality of ultrasonic transducers, and electronic control means arranged 15 to operate said transducers in sequence, to establish an acoustic field within said tank.
13) An ultrasonic cleaning apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
14) A method of cleaning an article, the method being as 20 claimed in claim 11 and substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB0222496A GB2393899A (en) | 2002-09-27 | 2002-09-27 | Multiple transducer ultrasonic cleaning system |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB0222496A GB2393899A (en) | 2002-09-27 | 2002-09-27 | Multiple transducer ultrasonic cleaning system |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB0222496D0 GB0222496D0 (en) | 2002-11-06 |
| GB2393899A true GB2393899A (en) | 2004-04-14 |
Family
ID=9944907
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB0222496A Withdrawn GB2393899A (en) | 2002-09-27 | 2002-09-27 | Multiple transducer ultrasonic cleaning system |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| GB (1) | GB2393899A (en) |
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WO2012165996A1 (en) * | 2011-06-01 | 2012-12-06 | Pavlenko Oleg Grigorievich | Piezoelectric device for ultrasonic cleaning baths |
| CN106391565A (en) * | 2016-10-30 | 2017-02-15 | 苏州市克拉思科文化传播有限公司 | Ultrasonic cleaning device for medical apparatus and instruments |
Citations (7)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US2985003A (en) * | 1957-01-11 | 1961-05-23 | Gen Motors Corp | Sonic washer |
| US3094314A (en) * | 1960-08-02 | 1963-06-18 | Detrex Chem Ind | Sandwich type transducer and coupling |
| US3640295A (en) * | 1970-04-21 | 1972-02-08 | Wendell C Peterson | Ultrasonic cleaner and surgical instrument case |
| US4909266A (en) * | 1989-03-10 | 1990-03-20 | Frank Massa | Ultrasonic cleaning system |
| US6016821A (en) * | 1996-09-24 | 2000-01-25 | Puskas; William L. | Systems and methods for ultrasonically processing delicate parts |
| EP1090693A1 (en) * | 1999-10-06 | 2001-04-11 | Applied Materials, Inc. | Ultrasonic enhancement of cleaning of a liquid delivery system |
| US6607604B1 (en) * | 1997-12-31 | 2003-08-19 | Steag Microtech Gmbh | Method and apparatus for treating substrates |
-
2002
- 2002-09-27 GB GB0222496A patent/GB2393899A/en not_active Withdrawn
Patent Citations (7)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US2985003A (en) * | 1957-01-11 | 1961-05-23 | Gen Motors Corp | Sonic washer |
| US3094314A (en) * | 1960-08-02 | 1963-06-18 | Detrex Chem Ind | Sandwich type transducer and coupling |
| US3640295A (en) * | 1970-04-21 | 1972-02-08 | Wendell C Peterson | Ultrasonic cleaner and surgical instrument case |
| US4909266A (en) * | 1989-03-10 | 1990-03-20 | Frank Massa | Ultrasonic cleaning system |
| US6016821A (en) * | 1996-09-24 | 2000-01-25 | Puskas; William L. | Systems and methods for ultrasonically processing delicate parts |
| US6607604B1 (en) * | 1997-12-31 | 2003-08-19 | Steag Microtech Gmbh | Method and apparatus for treating substrates |
| EP1090693A1 (en) * | 1999-10-06 | 2001-04-11 | Applied Materials, Inc. | Ultrasonic enhancement of cleaning of a liquid delivery system |
Cited By (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WO2012165996A1 (en) * | 2011-06-01 | 2012-12-06 | Pavlenko Oleg Grigorievich | Piezoelectric device for ultrasonic cleaning baths |
| CN106391565A (en) * | 2016-10-30 | 2017-02-15 | 苏州市克拉思科文化传播有限公司 | Ultrasonic cleaning device for medical apparatus and instruments |
| CN106391565B (en) * | 2016-10-30 | 2019-02-19 | 莱凯医疗器械(北京)有限公司 | A kind of medical instrument ultrasonic cleaning equipment |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB0222496D0 (en) | 2002-11-06 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| WAP | Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1) |