Half wave, one node ultrasonic probe

Claim 2

An ultrasonic probe for mechanically resonating at a frequency comprising: a first cylinder having a first diameter; a second cylinder having a second diameter; a conical section joining said first cylinder to said second cylinder and matching the first and second diameters at the junction points; and a piezoelectric transducer mechanically affixed to said first cylinder at the end opposite the juncture with said conical section, wherein the overall length of said probe is one half the wavelength of said frequency and wherein the node of the standing wave at resonance is at the junction of said conical section with said first cylinder.

Claim 3

The probe of claim 1 wherein said first and second cylinders and said conical section are formed of titanium metal.

Claim 4

The probe of claim 1 wherein the first cylinder is comprised of an end piece having an annular shoulder having said first diameter surrounding a threaded stud and a mating piece comprised of a cylinder having said first diameter and having a threaded hole in one end surface of the cylinder having a diameter matching the threaded stud diameter for receiving said threaded stud and a pair of piezoelectric crystal disks having holes therein sufficiently large that said threaded stud may pass therethrough, said disks having said first diameter and placed between said annular shoulder and the end surface in said mating piece having the threaded hole therein whereby the crystal disks are mechanically bound to said first cylinder when said stud is engaged with the threaded hole in said mating piece.

Claim 5

An ultrasonic probe for resonating at a frequency comprising: an end piece comprising a threaded stud protruding from an annular shoulder on one side, said annular shoulder having a nozzle projecting from the opposite surface from the surface from which said stud projects, said end piece having a fluid passageway passing axially through the threaded stud, said annular shoulder and said nozzle; a mating piece comprising a cylinder of metal having a first diameter for a first segment of its length and then conically tapering down to a second diameter for a second segment of its length, and having a first threaded hole in the end surface having said first diameter with the diameter of the hole matching the diameter of the stud, and having said stud engaged therein, and having a second threaded hole in the end surface having said second diameter, and having a fluid passageway through the entire length of said mating piece opening onto said threaded holes so as to act as a continuation of the fluid passageway in said end piece; a hollow needle having a third diameter and having a threaded end having a diameter matching the diameter of said second threaded hole, said hollow needle being threaded into said second hole such the fluid passageway in said hollow needle is in fluid communication with the fluid passageway in said mating piece; and at least one piezoelectric crystal disk mechanically bound between said annular shoulder of said end piece and the surface of said mating piece having said first hole formed therein; and means for making individual electrical contacts with the two terminals of opposite polarity of said crystal, and wherein the overall length of said probe is one half wavelength and the node of the standing wave of mechanical resonance is at the point where said mating piece tapers from said first diameter to said second diameter and wherein the location of said crystal disk is as far removed as possible from the location of said node in the first diameter section of said mating piece.

Claim 6

An ultrasonic probe for resonating at a frequency comprising: an end piece comprising a threaded stud protruding from an annular shoulder on one side, said annular shoulder having a nozzle projecting from the opposite surface from the surface from which said stud projects, said end piece having a fluid passageway passing axially through the threaded stud, said annular shoulder and said nozzle; a mating piece comprising a cylinder of metal having a first diameter for a first segment of its length and then conically tapering down to a second diameter for a second segment of its length, and having a first threaded hole in the end surface having said first diameter with the diameter of the hole matching the diameter of the stud, and having said stud engaged therein, and having a second threaded hole in the end surface having said second diameter, and having a fluid passageway through the entire length of said mating piece opening onto said threaded holes so as to act as a continuation of the fluid passageway in said end piece; a hollow needle having a third diameter and having a threaded end having a diameter matching the diameter of said second threaded hole, said hollow needle being threaded into said second hole such the fluid passageway in said hollow needle is in fluid communication with the fluid passageway in said mating piece; and at least one piezoelectric crystal disk mechanically bound between said annular shoulder of said end piece and the surface of said mating piece having said first hole formed therein; and means for making individual electrical contacts with the two terminals of opposite polarity of said crystal, and wherein the overall length of said probe is one half wavelength and the node of the standing wave of mechanical resonance is at the point where said mating piece tapers from said first diameter to said second diameter and wherein the location of said crystal disk is as far removed as possible from the location of said node in the first diameter section of said mating piece.

Claim 7

An ultrasonic probe characterized by the fact that it is only one half wavelength long where the wavelength of measure is the wavelength of mechanical resonance.

Claim 8

An ultrasonic probe characterized by the fact that it is only one half wavelength long where the wavelength of measure is the wavelength of mechanical resonance.

Claim 9

An ultrasonic probe characterized by the fact that it is only one half wavelength long where the wavelength of measure is the wavelength of mechanical resonance and further characterized by the fact that the excitation transducer is located as far as possible away from the node location of maximum stress.

Claim 10

An ultrasonic probe characterized by the fact that it is only one half wavelength long where the wavelength of measure is the wavelength of mechanical resonance and further characterized by the fact that the excitation transducer is located as far as possible away from the node location of maximum stress.