Systems including and methods of use of ultrasonic devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11623252-B2
Application number	US-202117193139-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 5, 2021
Priority date	Mar 5, 2021
Publication date	Apr 11, 2023
Grant date	Apr 11, 2023

Abstract

A method of using an ultrasonic system includes positioning at least one component to a ultrasonic system, the ultrasonic system including: an ultrasonic device, comprising a plurality of ultrasonic transducers coupled to a flexible body; a power supply coupled to the ultrasonic device; a fluid vessel configured to supply fluid to the at least one component; and a waste vessel configured to collect the fluid supplied to the ultrasonic device from the fluid vessel. The method includes applying, via the power supply, a current to a plurality of ultrasonic transducers to dislodge a plurality of contaminants from the at least one component. The method includes flushing, via fluid from the fluid vessel, the plurality of contaminants dislodged from the at least one component.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of using an ultrasonic system, comprising:
positioning and removably coupling at least one component in an ultrasonic system, the ultrasonic system comprising:
an ultrasonic device, comprising a plurality of ultrasonic transducers coupled to a flexible body;
a power supply coupled to the ultrasonic device;
a fluid vessel configured to supply fluid to the at least one component; and
a waste vessel configured to collect fluid supplied to the ultrasonic device from the fluid vessel;

establishing a temperature of the ultrasonic device from about room temperature to about 80° C. via at least one heating element embedded in the flexible body
applying, via the power supply, a current to a plurality of ultrasonic transducers to dislodge a plurality of contaminants from the at least one component; and
flushing, via fluid from the fluid vessel, the plurality of contaminants dislodged from the at least one component.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising removing, via the waste vessel, the plurality of contaminants and the fluid used to dislodge the plurality of contaminants.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
filtering, via a filtering system coupled to the ultrasonic system, the fluid used to dislodge the plurality of contaminants to separate the plurality of contaminants from the fluid;
depositing, in the waste vessel, the plurality of contaminants separated during the filtering; and
returning filtered fluid to the ultrasonic system.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein removably coupling the at least one component to the ultrasonic system comprises positioning an ultrasonic device inside of the at least one component.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein removably coupling the at least one component to the ultrasonic system comprises removably coupling an ultrasonic device to an outside surface of the at least one component.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein removably coupling the at least one component to the ultrasonic system comprises positioning the ultrasonic device inside of the at least one component and removably coupling the ultrasonic device to an outside surface of the at least one component.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the power supply is configured to supply a current of 1 amperes (A) to about 25 A to the plurality of ultrasonic transducers.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein applying the current comprises pulsing the power supply for a plurality of pulses.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein each pulse of the plurality of pulses is from about 1 second to about 20 minutes.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the temperature of the ultrasonic device is about 30° C. to about 70° C.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the temperature of the ultrasonic device is about 35° C. to about 60° C.

12. The method of claim 7 , wherein the power supply is configured to supply a current of 3 A to about 20 A to the plurality of ultrasonic transducers.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the power supply is configured to supply a current of 5 A to about 15 A to the plurality of ultrasonic transducers.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of ultrasonic transducers are configured to operate at a frequency of about 20 kilo-hertz (KHz) to about 100 KHz.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the plurality of ultrasonic transducers are configured to operate at a frequency of about 20 KHz to about 80 KHz.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the plurality of ultrasonic transducers are configured to operate at a frequency of about 30 KHz to about 70 KHz.

17. The method of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of pulses comprise a first state and a second state, the ultrasonic device being active to apply a current in the first state, and the ultrasonic device applying a second current in the second state lower than the current in the first state.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the plurality of pulses has a first state lasting from about 0.5 seconds to about 2 minutes.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the plurality of pulses has a first state lasting from about 1 second to about 30 seconds.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the plurality of pulses has a first state lasting from about 1 second to about 5 seconds.

21. The method of claim 3 , further comprising:
deactivating the ultrasonic device(s), and uncoupling the at least one component positioned within the ultrasonic system.

22. The method of claim 1 , further comprising adjusting the temperature of the ultrasonic device dynamically during operation.

23. The method of claim 1 , wherein the ultrasonic device is activated by applying a current to the plurality of ultrasonic transducers for a predetermined period of time from about 1 minute to about 2 hours.

24. The method of claim 23 , wherein the predetermined period of time is about 30 minutes to about 90 minutes.

25. The method of claim 24 , wherein the predetermined period of time is about 45 minutes to 60 minutes.

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Prakash Om
• Sahu Megha
• Kandhasamy Kamaraj
• Tripathi Sandeep
• Kupper Carolyn L
• Gaydos Stephen P

Classifications

• B08B3/10

  with additional treatment of the liquid or of the object being cleaned, e.g. by heat, by electricity or by vibration · CPC title

• B08B3/02

  Cleaning by the force of jets or sprays · CPC title

• B08B3/14

  Removing waste, e.g. labels, from cleaning liquid · CPC title

• B06B1/0207

  Driving circuits (specially adapted for particular applications, see the relevant subclass, e.g. G01; circuits for steering transducer arrays G10K11/34; basic circuits H03) · CPC title

• B08B3/123 Primary

  Cleaning travelling work, e.g. webs, articles on a conveyor (conveyors B65G; handling webs B65H) · CPC title