Propulsion apparatus using sound radiation force and control method therefor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10537917-B2
Application number	US-201515521472-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 23, 2015
Priority date	Oct 23, 2014
Publication date	Jan 21, 2020
Grant date	Jan 21, 2020

Abstract

A propulsion apparatus using sound radiation force according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes: an ultrasound generation unit which is installed at one side of an object to be operated, generates ultrasound, and provides propulsive force to the object to be operated by using sound radiation force of the ultrasound; and an ultrasound control unit which is coupled to one side of the ultrasound generation unit, and increases propulsive force to be provided to the object to be operated by controlling intensity of the ultrasound generated by the ultrasound generation unit.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A propulsion apparatus using sound radiation force, the propulsion apparatus comprising:
an ultrasonic transducer which is installed at one side of an object to be operated, generates ultrasound, and provides propulsive force to the object by using sound radiation force of the ultrasound; and
a tube-shaped ultrasound control unit which is coupled to one side of the ultrasonic transducer, and increases propulsive force to be provided to the object by controlling intensity of the ultrasound generated by the ultrasonic transducer,
wherein the ultrasonic transducer is configured to adjust a frequency of the ultrasound in accordance with a traveling velocity of the object in consideration of ultrasound intensity control by the tube-shaped ultrasound control unit.

2. The propulsion apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the tube-shaped ultrasound control unit controls intensity of the ultrasound by adjusting a flow of air flowing in a traveling direction of the ultrasound.

3. The propulsion apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the tube-shaped ultrasound control unit is a tube having a cross-sectional area of which the radius is constant in a longitudinal direction thereof.

4. The propulsion apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the tube-shaped ultrasound control unit is a focuser having a cross-sectional area of which the radius is gradually decreased in a longitudinal direction thereof.

5. The propulsion apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the ultrasonic transducer is installed at an end in a direction opposite to a direction in which the object travels.

6. The propulsion apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the ultrasonic transducer is a high-frequency ultrasound element which generates ultrasound with high frequencies ranging from 100 kHz to 500 MHz.

7. A method of controlling a propulsion apparatus using sound radiation force, the method comprising:
generating ultrasound and providing propulsive force to an object to be operated by using sound radiation force of the ultrasound, by an ultrasonic transducer installed at one side of the object; and
increasing propulsive force to be provided to the object by controlling intensity of the ultrasound generated by the ultrasonic transducer, by a tube-shaped ultrasound control unit coupled to one side of the ultrasonic transducer,
wherein the ultrasonic transducer adjusts a frequency of the ultrasound in accordance with a traveling velocity of the object in consideration of ultrasound intensity control by the tube-shaped ultrasound control unit.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the increasing of the propulsive force to be provided to the object includes controlling intensity of the ultrasound by adjusting a flow of air flowing in a traveling direction of the ultrasound, by the tube-shaped ultrasound control unit having a cross-sectional area of which the radius is constant in a longitudinal direction thereof.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the increasing of the propulsive force to be provided to the object includes controlling intensity of the ultrasound by adjusting a flow of air flowing in a traveling direction of the ultrasound, by the tube-shaped ultrasound control unit having a cross-sectional area of which the radius is gradually decreased in a longitudinal direction thereof.

Assignees

• Univ Hanyang Ind Univ Coop Found

Inventors

• Park Kwan Kyu

Classifications

• A63H29/00

  Drive mechanisms for toys in general · CPC title

• F03H99/00

  Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass · CPC title

• B06B3/00 Primary

  Methods or apparatus specially adapted for transmitting mechanical vibrations of infrasonic, sonic, or ultrasonic frequency · CPC title

• B06B1/02

  making use of electrical energy (B06B1/18, B06B1/20 take precedence) · CPC title

• B06B3/04 Primary

  involving focusing or reflecting · CPC title