Bubble manipulating system and method of using same to produce a solid mass with imbedded voids
US6065949A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 29, 1998 |
| Grant date | May 23, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 29, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC C)Chemistry; Metallurgy
- CPC primaryC03B19/02
- WIPO fieldOther special machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A system and method for positioning voids in a medium. A chamber contains e medium, such as a solidifying liquid material, while a source of bubbles disposed at one side of the chamber introduces the bubbles into the chamber. Two or more acoustic wave transmitting devices disposed at respective ones of the sides of the chamber generate and transmit acoustic energy waves at respective frequencies which interact and cooperate to produce a standing wave field in an acoustically active region within the chamber. The standing wave field manipulates the bubbles into a matrix of bubbles having a predetermined spacing. By reducing the temperature of the chamber during the positioning and sizing of the bubbles in a desired pattern within the medium, the medium will be solidified so as to form a solid article with imbedded ordered voids. After solidifying the medium, by increasing the temperature of the sides of the chamber so as to melt the boundary of the solid article, the article will be separated from the chamber.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.