US3883074A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Hydraulic oscillator and systems utilizing the same
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1974-01-23
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Granted: 1975-05-13
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Expires: 1994-01-23
Abstract
Abstract A hydraulic oscillator which produces a pulsed output from a steady flow input. The oscillator utilizes a rigid pressure chamber containing a charge of gas under pressure. A conduit passes through this chamber, and the conduit includes an inlet passage, an outlet passage, and, interconnecting and extending between these passages, a flexible, resilient, collapsible-walled tubular portion. The outside of this portion is fully peripherally exposed to gas pressure in the chamber. When the impedance and resistance to liquid flow through the inlet and outlet passages, the elasticity and dimensions of the tubular portion, and the gas pressure in the chamber, are appropriately selected, then a liquid stream entering the inlet passage at a suitable pressure relative to the chamber pressure, will emerge as a pulsating flow. This pulsating flow is particularly suited to many purposes, including the cleaning, irrigating and massaging of biological living tissue, the creation of cavitation in a flowing stream, and the momentary and cyclical reversal of the direction of flow in a generally forwardly flowing system. Systems for utilizing this oscillator for these purposes are disclosed.
Inventors
- 👤 John W Lambert
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 18:32
CPC Classifications
B; B05; B05B; B05B1/00; B05B1/02; B05B1/08; B05B1/083; B05B1/086; A; A61; A61C; A61C17/00; A61C17/02; A61C17/028; A61C17/032; A61M; A61M3/00; A61M3/02; A61M3/0275
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
199 words
A hydraulic oscillator for providing a cyclically varying outlet flow from a steady inlet flow, comprising: a rigid pressure chamber; a charge of gas contained in said chamber; a conduit passing through and beyond said chamber, said conduit comprising an inlet passage, an outlet passage, said passages having the properties of impedance and resistance to liquid flow, and a flexible, collapsible-walled tubular portion extending between and interconnecting said passages, that part of the tubular portion which extends between the passages having an outside wall which is fully peripherally exposed to the gas in the chamber, the inlet passage being adapted for connection to a source of liquid under supply pressure, the impedance of the inlet passage being sufficiently large so as substantially to isolate the tubular portion dynamically from the pressure source, the pressure of the chamber being above that critical level at and above which oscillation will always occur, and less than the pressure of the source, and the resistance and dynamic impedance of the outlet passage being such as to secure a cyclical output of the desired frequency, phasing between pressure levels within a single cycle, and shape and volume of the drops in the output stream.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
199 words
A hydraulic oscillator for providing a cyclically varying outlet flow from a steady inlet flow, comprising: a rigid pressure chamber; a charge of gas contained in said chamber; a conduit passing through and beyond said chamber, said conduit comprising an inlet passage, an outlet passage, said passages having the properties of impedance and resistance to liquid flow, and a flexible, collapsible-walled tubular portion extending between and interconnecting said passages, that part of the tubular portion which extends between the passages having an outside wall which is fully peripherally exposed to the gas in the chamber, the inlet passage being adapted for connection to a source of liquid under supply pressure, the impedance of the inlet passage being sufficiently large so as substantially to isolate the tubular portion dynamically from the pressure source, the pressure of the chamber being above that critical level at and above which oscillation will always occur, and less than the pressure of the source, and the resistance and dynamic impedance of the outlet passage being such as to secure a cyclical output of the desired frequency, phasing between pressure levels within a single cycle, and shape and volume of the drops in the output stream.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
57 words
A hydraulic oscillator according to claim 1 in which the impedance of the outlet passage is so selected relative to the impedance of the inlet passage, and the physical properties and dimensions of the tubular portion are so selected that liquid flow in the outlet passage is alternatively forward and backward in a generally forwardly flowing stream.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
A hydraulic oscillator according to claim 2 in which the inside diameter of the tubular portion in its relaxed condition is greater than the inside diameter of the inlet passage.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
A hydraulic oscillator according to claim 1 in which a Helmholtz resonator is connected in the outlet passage to absorb the pulsating energy.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
73 words
A hydraulic oscillator according to claim 1 in which the source pressure and the gas pressure are selected so as to produce a fluid velocity through the tubular portion and into the outlet passage and in which the impedance in the outlet passage is selected to be sufficiently high that the velocity of the liquid in the outlet passage remains sufficiently high that cavitation occurs when a wave of lesser flow follows it.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
57 words
A hydraulic oscillator according to claim 1 in which the chamber pressure and the supply pressure are selected to be sufficiently close to each other in magnitude that, when the outlet passage is partially occluded, flow-through the system occurs at a relatively small rate as a consequence of the relatively small difference between the said two pressures.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
42 words
A hydraulic oscillator according to cLaim 1 in which the resistance of the inlet passage is selected such as to limit the range of flow velocities which can occur through the inlet passage as a consequence of variations in the supply pressure.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
97 words
A method of charging a pressure chamber in a hydraulic oscillator of the class which includes a rigid pressure chamber enclosing a resilient tubular portion of a conduit having one end stretched over a shoulder disposed in said chamber comprising closing the conduit and injecting into it gas at a pressure sufficient to stretch the tubular portion away from the shoulder thereby to permit gas flow into the chamber, and releasing pressure in the conduit, thereby permitting the tubular portion to shrink back upon the shoulder and, acting as a valve, holding the gas in the chamber.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
97 words
A method of charging a pressure chamber in a hydraulic oscillator of the class which includes a rigid pressure chamber enclosing a resilient tubular portion of a conduit having one end stretched over a shoulder disposed in said chamber comprising closing the conduit and injecting into it gas at a pressure sufficient to stretch the tubular portion away from the shoulder thereby to permit gas flow into the chamber, and releasing pressure in the conduit, thereby permitting the tubular portion to shrink back upon the shoulder and, acting as a valve, holding the gas in the chamber.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 8 in which liquid pressure is thereafter exerted in the tubular portion and the pressure required to secure liquid flow through the tubular portion is measured to determine the gas pressure in the pressure chamber.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
82 words
A hydraulic oscillator according to claim 1 in which the inlet and outlet passages terminate at shoulders located inside the pressure chamber, over which shoulders the tubular portion is stretched, at least one end of the tubular portion being held to the respective shoulder only by the springback force of the material of the tubular portion, whereby gas may be injected into the pressure chamber by exerting sufficient force inside the tubular portion to cause the gas to leak past that shoulder.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
A hydraulic oscillator according to claim 10 in which the tubular portion is made of an elastomeric material.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-05-12 | 1978-11-11 | 1979-05-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-05-12 | 1982-11-11 | 1983-05-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-05-12 | 1986-11-11 | 1987-05-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |