BATES, Darren (32 Spring Gully Road, Crafers, S.A. 5152, AU)
| CLAIMS 1. An ultrasonic beam focusing apparatus including a housing having an upper surface, a lower surface and a peripheral at least one channel thereon, the channel having a closed end and an open end, characterised in that the channel is shaped to receive a sonotrode therein, and extending a length of the housing and a closed void positioned substantially perpendicular to the channel, the void located within the housing, such that when in use, ultrasonic energy created by the sonotrode is reflected back from the closed end of the channel and focused toward the open end. 2. The ultrasonic beam focusing apparatus of claim 1. further characterised in that there is a spacing between the sonotrode and an inner surface of the channel 3. The ultrasonic beam focusing apparatus of claim 2, further characterised in that the void is filled with a gas. 4. The ultrasonic beam focusing apparatus of claim 3, further characterised in that the void is shaped substantially similar to the channel. 5. The ultrasonic beam focusing apparatus of claim 4, further characterised in that the channel is substantially parabolic 6. The ultrasonic beam focusing apparatus of claim 3, further characterised in that the gas is one or a mixture of gasses selected from the group consisting of nitrogen, carbon dioxide, argon and oxygen. 7. The ultrasonic beam focusing apparatus of claim 6, further characterised in that the gas is air. 8. The ultrasonic beam focusing apparatus of claim 3, further characterised in that the gas is held under pressure. 9. The ultrasonic beam focusing apparatus of claim 1, further characterised in that the barrel is rotated about a central axis of the ultrasonic beam focusing apparatus. |
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to the control and focusing of ultrasonic energy, and in particular the focusing of ultrasonic energy to direct it to a surface to be cleaned.
BACKGROUND ART
The use of ultrasonic energy is Known to be used to provide a cleaning action. Dirty components are immersed in a bath filled with a liquid and ultrasonic energy is applied to the liquid within which is formed cavitation bubbles that increase in size only to ultimately collapse or implode resulting in the generation of energy in the form of high intense pressure waves and intense local heating.
The pressure waves created by the imploding cavitation bubbles can then be used to clean any dirty component thus immersed in the liquid. Ultrasonic cleaning has many advantageous over other more traditional types of cleaning such as those employing high temperature, aggressive chemicals or extended periods of cleaning; each of which substantially contribute to the cost and time taken to achieve a desirable stage of cleaning.
Moreover, a problem with traditional ultrasonic cleaning is that the effect of the cavitations drops dramatically over distance such that it is important to consider the positioning of the sonotrode relative to the surface to be cleaned to ensure that it is not too far away. Often, by using a single sonotrode parts to be cleaned must be rotated and moved around to ensure that each source is being exposed to the ultrasonic energy transmitted by the sonotrode..
When used to clean the inside of containers, it is often impracticable and inefficient to simply insert a single sonotrode into the middle of the container if the container is of a substantial size, such as a wine barrel for example. Wine barrels used in the commercial manufacture of wine have a varying range of dimension depending on their purpose and place of manufacture.
However, common wine barrels have a middle diameter of anywhere between 204 cm for a 200 litre barrel, to 223 cm for a 246 litre barrel. The placement of a single sonotrode in the middle of a barrel to be cleaned equidistant from all surfaces, will result in there being a significant distance between the sonotrode and the inner wall of the barrel.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly there is proposed in one form of the invention an ultrasonic beam focusing apparatus including a housing having an upper surface, a lower surface and a peripheral at least one channel thereon, the channel having a closed end and an opened end, characterised in that channel is shaped to receive a sonotrode therein, and extending a length of the housing and a closed void positioned substantially perpendicular to the channel, the void located within the housing, such that when in use, ultrasonic energy created by the sonotrode is reflected back from the closed end of the channel and focused toward the open end.
In preference, the void is filled with a gas.
In preference, the void is shaped to substantially fit the inside of a wine barrel.
In preference, the void is shaped substantially similar to the channel.
In preference, the channel is substantially parabolic.
In preference the gas is one or a mixture of gasses selected from the group consisting of nitrogen, carbon dioxide, argon, oxygen.
In preference the gas is air.
In preference the gas is held under pressure. In preference the barrel is rotated about a central axis of the ultrasonic beam focusing apparatus.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention will now be described with reference to drawings wherein:
Figure 1 is a plan view of a teaching of the present invention;
Figure 2 is a cross sectional view of figure 1;
Figure 3 is a top view of the present invention in position in a barrel;
Figure 4 is a cross sectional view of the present invention without the sonotrodes in place;
Figure 5 is the same view as Figure 4, but with the sonotrodes in place;
Figure 6 is a top cross sectional view of the present invention in place in a barrel showing the reflection of sound waves towards the barrel.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Turning now to Figure 1 there is a wine barrel 5 having an opening 7 and sides 9- The wine barrel 5 is a used wine barrel having a layer of detritus built up over the inner surface 10.
Through the opening 7 of the wine barrel 5 is the ultrasonic beam focusing apparatus 12. Figure 1 shows the positioning of the ultrasonic transducers 14 to
' which are attached the sonotrodes 16. Each sonotrode 16 sits within a channel 17 located around the outer peripheral surface 20 of the apparatus 12. The channels
17 extend from the upper end 20 of the apparatus 12 towards the lower end 21 but may extend only partway.
Each channel 17 is shaped so as to provide a relatively close fit to the sonotrode 16 while still leaving at least a small gap 13 between. This ensures that the sonotrode is able to move within the channel without coming into direct contact with it.
The channels 17 have a closed end or surface 24 and an opening 26 that also extends substantially the length of the housing concurrent with the closed end or surface 24. Various shapes and sizes of channels and sonotrodes are anticipated by this invention. Each sonotrode 16 is thus placed as close to the inner convex surface 10 of the barrel 5 as possible.
The upper end 18 of the apparatus 12 has various attachment points or locations to provide a stable platform for the transducers 14 to be attached or fastened so that they do not move during use or removal of the apparatus from the barrel.
Located in the apparatus 12 are a number of voids or gaps 22 each of which can substantially extend the length of the apparatus 12. Each void is filled with a gas which may either be either, at atmospheric pressure or greater. The shape of the void 22 is substantially parallel that of the closed end or surface 24 of the channel 17 or alternatively the voids 22 may exist as single unitary void that fills the internal volume of the apparatus 12.
Figures 4 show the apparatus 12 without the transducers, positioned in the channels 17. It can bee seen that the channels 17 travel the length of the apparatus 12 although a person skilled in the art would understand that shorter channels may be employed depending on the length of the sonotrodes in use, as determined by the requirements of the system to be cleaned. Additionally, the channels may be longer than the sonotrodes if required.
In Figure 5, the sonotrodes are in position in the channels 17, and there is first gap immediately between the sonotrode 16 and the inner channel surface. Behind this is the void 22, which contains air or some other gas, which acts as a reflector of energy emitted from the sonotrode. Note that the sonotrode 16 does not touch the inner surface of the channel 17.
In use, the sonotrodes 16 radiate ultrasonic energy in all directions. The energy being radiated from the sonotrode 16 towards the channel surface 24 is reflected away from the surface 24 and ultimately out through the opening 26. This results in a more concentrated and effective transmission of the ultrasonic energy of the sonotrode 16 towards the inner surface 10 of the barrel 5, the time taken to effectively clean the inside of the barrel 5 is reduced substantially.
This is shown in Figure 6, a close up view of the device inserted in a barrel 5, with the sonotrode 16 partially surrounded by the focusing apparatus 12. Some of the energy emitted from the sonotrode 16, at first, is directed away from the inner surface 10 of the barrel 5 and it strikes the curved reflector surface of the reflector 12 and is redirected 40 towards the inner surface of the barrel.
In the absence of the apparatus 12. a significant portion of the energy created by the imploding cavitations produced by the sonotrode 12 would deteriorate or disperse over the distance it has to travel before encountering the inner surface 10 resulting in extended cleaning times.
In addition, the apparatus 12 can also be shaped so as to substantially fill the inner void of the barrel 5 and by doing so it significantly reduces the amount of liquid required to fill the barrel 5 in order to effectively use ultrasonic energy. The actual shape of the apparatus 12 can be any shape that fits within a barrel to be cleaned.
In order to ensure consistent exposure of the entire surface of the barrel 5 to the ultrasonic energy, the barrel 5 is rotated around the ultrasonic beam focusing apparatus 12 by placing the barrel on a turntable or similar.
Although the invention has been herein shown and described in what is conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is recognised that departures can be made within the scope of the invention, which is not to be limited to the details described herein but to embrace any and all equivalent devices and apparatus.