Sonic levitation apparatus

US4447251A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration · US

Inventors

• Stanley A. Dunn · Madison, US
• Alan R. Pomplun · Madison, US
• Elmer G. Paquette · Madison, US
• Edwin C. Ethridge · Huntsville, US
• Jerry. L. Johnson · Huntsville, US

Key dates

• Filing date: May 12, 1983
• Grant date: May 8, 1984
• Expiry date: May 12, 2003

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10T137/2251
• WIPO field: Chemical engineering
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

A sonic levitation apparatus (A) is disclosed which includes a sonic transducer (14) which generates acoustical energy responsive to the level of an electrical amplifier (16). A duct (B) communicates with an acoustical chamber (18) to deliver an oscillatory motion of air to a plenum section (C) which contains a collimated hole structure (D) having a plurality of parallel orifices (10). The collimated hole structure converts the motion of the air to a pulsed, unidirectional stream providing enough force to levitate a material specimen (S).