Patent · US Expired

Ultrasonically driven low-speed rotary motor

US4281987A · kind A · utility

32Cited by
10References
11Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateJan 21, 1980
Grant dateAug 4, 1981
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 21, 2000

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10T74/1526
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A device using longitudinal ultrasonic vibrations for rotating a shaft at relatively low rotational speeds is particularly useful for rotating a brush-type tooth polisher on an insert for an ultrasonic dental prophylaxis unit. The device has a sleeve which supports the rotatable shaft and a vibrator. A disc is normal to the axis of rotation of the shaft and connected to the shaft for rotation. A transducer at one end of the vibrator responds to excitation for producing longitudinal ultrasonic vibrations in the vibrator, and the other end of the vibrator which is urged against the disc with a constant force converts the longitudinal vibrations into elliptical motion to engage one face of the disc during an arc of the elliptical motion. This imparts substantially only pulses of tangential driving force and normal vibrational forces to rotate the disc and shaft unidirectionally. In one preferred embodiment, the vibrator has a single driving pad urged against the disc. In another, it is forked and has two contact pads (points) to engage the disc alternately on opposite sides of the shaft during opposite directions of the tangential elliptical motion for improved efficiency. In still an…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.