Ground detection system for ultrasonic cutting

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12115694-B2
Application number	US-202318342476-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 27, 2023
Priority date	Jan 8, 2020
Publication date	Oct 15, 2024
Grant date	Oct 15, 2024

Abstract

In one embodiment, systems and methods include using an ultrasonic cutter in a ground detection system to prevent damage to a substrate. The method of detecting a substrate comprises attaching a workpiece clamp to the substrate. The method further comprises cutting a layer of coating disposed on the substrate with an ultrasonic cutter, wherein the ultrasonic cutter operates at a frequency of about 20 kHz to about 40 kHz, wherein the layer of coating is non-conductive. The method further comprises contacting the substrate with the ultrasonic cutter.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of detecting a substrate, comprising:
attaching a workpiece clamp to the substrate;
cutting a layer of coating disposed on the substrate with an ultrasonic cutter, wherein:
the ultrasonic cutter is electrically coupled to a switch and a controller;
the ultrasonic cutter operates at a frequency of 20 kHz to 40 kHz; and
the layer of coating is non-conductive; and

contacting the substrate with the ultrasonic cutter; wherein:
contacting the substrate with the ultrasonic cutter comprises actuating the switch; and
actuating the switch comprises instructing the controller to turn off power supplied to the ultrasonic cutter for a duration of a time delay.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the ultrasonic cutter is electrically coupled to a timer.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein:
the timer and the controller are disposed in a power source; and
the power source is coupled to the ultrasonic cutter.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the switch is disposed about a portion of the ultrasonic cutter.

5. The method of claim 2 , wherein:
the substrate is conductive.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising actuating the timer concurrently with actuating the switch.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein actuating the timer provides the time delay in a range of 1 second to 10 seconds to an operator of the ultrasonic cutter.

8. The method of claim 2 , wherein the timer works in conjunction with a light source to alert the operator that the ultrasonic cutter is temporarily turned off.

9. The method of claim 2 , wherein the timer works in conjunction with a sound source to alert the operator that the ultrasonic cutter is temporarily turned off.

10. A method of detecting a substrate, comprising:
attaching a workpiece clamp to the substrate;
cutting a plurality of layers of coatings disposed on the substrate with an ultrasonic cutter, wherein the ultrasonic cutter operates at a frequency of 20 kHz to 40 kHz; and
contacting the substrate with the ultrasonic cutter; wherein:
contacting the substrate with the ultrasonic cutter comprises actuating a switch electrically coupled to the ultrasonic cutter; and
actuating the switch comprises instructing a controller electrically coupled to the ultrasonic cutter to turn off power supplied to the ultrasonic cutter for a duration of a time delay.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the ultrasonic cutter is electrically coupled to a timer.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein:
the timer and the controller are disposed in a power source; and
the power source is coupled to the ultrasonic cutter.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the switch is disposed about a portion of the ultrasonic cutter.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein;
the substrate is conductive.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising actuating the timer concurrently with actuating the switch.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein actuating the timer provides the time delay in a range of 1 second to 10 seconds to an operator of the ultrasonic cutter.

17. The method of claim 11 , wherein the timer works in conjunction with a light source to alert the operator that the ultrasonic cutter is temporarily turned off.

18. The method of claim 11 , wherein the timer works in conjunction with a sound source to alert the operator that the ultrasonic cutter is temporarily turned off.

Assignees

• Lockheed Corp

Inventors

• Mccrory Christopher Sean
• Mckee Matthew Timothy
• Short Matthew
• CRONLEY Lance

Classifications

• B26D7/025 Primary

  acting upon planar surfaces (B26D7/04 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B26D7/22

  Safety devices specially adapted for cutting machines (safety devices in general F16P) · CPC title

• B26D7/086 Primary

  by vibrating, e.g. ultrasonically · CPC title