Bolt-clamped Langevin Transducer Research Articles

Compact aerial ultrasonic source integrating the transverse vibration part with the bolt-clamped Langevin transducer

We have previously developed a compact circular vibrating plate aerial ultrasonic source with a grooved uniform rod that can produce a large vibration displacement by using piston vibration and emit intense sound waves perpendicular to the vibration surface. In this paper, to create a compact ultrasonic source that can radiate intense aerial ultrasonic waves, we produced a compact aerial ultrasonic source integrating the transverse vibration part with a bolt-clamped Langevin transducer and we investigated the sound source characteristics. These results demonstrated that compared with a conventional source, the length of our source was shorter, the sound pressure was higher, and its structure was simpler.

Triaxis Static Force Sensing for Langevin-Type Ultrasonic Tools Using Lead-Zirconate-Titanate Ceramic Rings

A novel triaxis static force sensor that uses lead zirconate titanate (PZT) ceramic rings is proposed. The actuator ring is driven at the resonance frequency of the thickness vibration mode to generate ultrasonic waves in the detector rings. The electric potential between the top and bottom surfaces of the detector ring due to the direct piezoelectric effect is measured. The sensing mechanism is based on the variation of the compliance coefficient with the applied force. The bolt-clamped Langevin transducer is the most widely used ultrasonic actuator in ultrasonic machining. The proposed design composed of two PZT ceramic rings imparts triaxis static force sensing capability to the Langevin transducer without the use of external components. The statics model, relationship between stress and the compliance coefficient, and decoupling matrix were derived to estimate the forces on the tool tip based on the voltages at the electrodes on the detector ring. The mean differences between the calculated and experimental results in terms of ${F} _{\textbf {x}}$ , ${F} _{\textbf {y}}$ , and ${F} _{\textbf {z}}$ were 1.92%, 2.54%, and 4.26%, respectively, the full range of ±150 N. The experiments were conducted using different weights and a multiaxis force reference sensor.

Compressive stress effect on the loss mechanism in a soft piezoelectric Pb(Zr,Ti)O3.

High power piezoelectric devices are often subjected to external mechanical biases, in applications such as underwater transducers. While the performance of these devices under external pressure has been rather extensively studied, there is a lack of study on the loss mechanism in terms of three dielectric, elastic, and piezoelectric losses. Thus, in this paper, we study the mechanical bias stress dependence of the loss mechanism in a soft piezoelectric Pb(Zr,Ti)O3 (PZT) from a scientific viewpoint, using an equivalent circuit methodology based on the fundamental longitudinal mode. In order to measure the loss behavior, a modified bolt-clamped Langevin transducer was designed and optimized using finite element analysis in order to facilitate the analysis easier. We present the preliminary experimental part of our project on the design of the proposed structure/methodology, material creep behavior, stress relaxation, and uniform stress distribution, in order to minimize the experimental errors. We also introduce a six terminal equivalent circuit analysis in order to determine three losses in the PZT specimen. The resonance/antiresonance frequencies and quality factors showed monotonous increase under compressive stress. Loss factors for one PZT composition are reported in this paper to show the feasibility of our methodology for measuring the uniaxial compressive stress dependence.

Development of metal-bonded Langevin transducer using LiNbO3

We newly developed a metal-bonded Langevin transducer using LiNbO3 in order to realize a practical high-power LiNbO3 Langevin transducer. It utilizes metal bonding with a lead-free solder as an assembly method for a Langevin transducer, instead of a bolt as used in a conventional bolt-clamped Langevin transducer. The newly developed metal-bonded LiNbO3 Langevin transducer achieved a high vibration velocity of over 1.5 m/s and stable operation. Because of rigid metal bonding, it does not show nonlinear phenomena such as a jump phenomenon and/or a resonant frequency shift.

Estimation of absolute sound pressure in a small-sized sonochemical reactor

A small-sized sonochemical reactor in which the absolute value of the sound pressure amplitude can be estimated from the vibration velocity of the transducer was investigated. The sound pressure distribution in the reactor and the relationship between the vibration velocity and the sound pressure amplitude were derived through Helmholtz wave equation. The reactor consists of a bolt-clamped Langevin transducer and a rectangular cell with a tungsten reflector. A 3λ/4-standing-wave-field was generated in the reactor to simplify the sound pressure distribution. The sound pressure distribution was measured from the optical refractive index change of water using a laser interferometer. The experimental and theoretical results showed a good agreement in the absolute value of the sound pressure amplitude, and it was confirmed that the sound pressure in the sonochemical reactor can be estimated from the input current of the vibrator.

Resonant-type Smooth Impact Drive Mechanism (SIDM) actuator using a bolt-clamped Langevin transducer

The Smooth Impact Drive Mechanism (SIDM) is a linear piezoelectric actuator that has seen practically applied to camera lens modules. Although previous SIDM actuators are easily miniaturized and enable accurate positioning, these actuators cannot actuate at high speed and cannot provide powerful driving because they are driven at an off-resonant frequency using a soft-type PZT. In the present study, we propose a resonant-type SIDM using a bolt-clamped Langevin transducer (BLT) with a hard-type PZT. The resonant-type SIDM overcomes the above-mentioned problems and high-power operation becomes possible with a very simple structure. As a result, we confirmed the operation of resonant-type SIDM by designing a bolt-clamped Langevin transducer. The properties of no-load maximum speed was 0.28 m/s at driving voltages of 80 V p-p for 44.9 kHz and 48 V p-p for 22.45 kHz with a pre-load of 3.1 N

Noncontact ultrasonic transportation of small objects over long distances in air using a bending vibrator and a reflector

Ultrasonic manipulation of small particles, including liquid droplets, over long distances is discussed. It is well known that particles can be trapped at the nodal points of an acoustic standing wave if the particles are much smaller than the wavelength of the standing wave. We used an experimental setup consisting of a 3-mm-thick, 605-mm-long duralumin bending vibrating plate and a reflector. A bolt-clamped Langevin transducer with horn was attached to each end of the vibrating plate to generate flexural vibrations along the plate. A plane reflector with the same dimensions as the vibrating plate was installed parallel to the plate at a distance of approximately 17 mm to generate an ultrasonic standing wave between them and to trap the small particles at the nodal lines. The acoustic field and acoustic radiation force between the vibrator and reflector were calculated by finite element analysis to predict the positions of the trapped particles. The sound pressure distribution was measured experimentally using a scanning laser Doppler vibrometer. By controlling the driving phase difference between the two transducers, a flexural traveling wave can be generated along the vibrating plate, and the vertical nodal lines of the standing wave and the trapped particles can be moved. The flexural wave was excited along the vibrator at 22.5 kHz. A lattice standing wave with a wavelength of 35 mm in the length direction could be excited between the vibrator and the reflector, and polystyrene spheres with diameters of several millimeters could be trapped at the nodal lines of the standing wave. The experimental and calculated results showed good agreement for the relationship between the driving phase difference and the positions of the trapped particles. Noncontact transportation of the trapped particles over long distances could be achieved by changing the driving phase difference. The position of the trapped particles could be controlled to an accuracy of 0.046 mm/deg. An ethanol droplet could also be trapped and moved.

Properties of (Bi0.5Na0.5)TiO3–BaTiO3–(Bi0.5Na0.5)(Mn1/3Nb2/3)O3 Lead-Free Piezoelectric Ceramics and Its Application to Ultrasonic Cleaner

The lead-free piezoelectric ceramics 0.82(Bi0.5Na0.5)TiO3–0.15BaTiO3–0.03(Bi0.5Na0.5)(Mn1/3Nb2/3)O3 (abbreviated as BNT–BT–BNMN) was prepared by a conventional process of ceramic engineering. The X-ray diffractometer (XRD) analysis showed that all compositions could form a single perovskite phase. The ceramics showed excellent piezoelectric properties with a coupling factor kt=41%, a mechanical quality factor Qm=500, a piezoelectric constant d33=110 pC/N, a relative permittivity ε33T/ε0=520, a dissipation factor tan δ=0.66%, a Curie point Tc=260 °C, and a density ρ=5.5 g/cm3. The physical properties of the ceramics were superior to those of hard Pb(Zr,Ti)O3 (PZT). The high-power characteristics of the ceramics were superior to those of hard PZT. A cylinder sample of lead-free ceramics was used to fabricate a bolt-clamped Langevin transducer (BLT) for application in the ultrasonic cleaner. The vibration velocity of BLT using the ceramics was higher than that of hard PZT under the same input power. The cleaning effect of an ultrasonic cleaner using the BLTs was very high and sufficiently good for commercial application.

Improvement of Laminar Lifted Flame Stability Excited by High-Frequency Acoustic Oscillation

A high-frequency (20kHz) standing wave was applied to the unburned mixture upstream of a methane-air lifted jet flame using a bolt-clamped Langevin transducer (BLT) to improve stability. The flow field near the flame was visualized using acetone planar-laser-induced fluorescence (PLIF). The standing wave decreased the lifted flame height and increased the blow-off limit. The upstream flow field of the center jet then bent. This phenomenon appeared when there was a density difference between the center jet and the surrounding secondary flow. When the density of the center jet was less than that of the co-flow, the center jet was redirected to the pressure anti-node side. Conversely, when the density of the center jet was greater than that of the co-flow, the center jet was redirected to the pressure node side. This redirection tended to stabilize the laminar lifted flame.

Improvement of Laminar Lifted Flame Stability Excited by High Frequency Acoustic Oscillation

A high-frequency (20kHz) standing wave was applied to the unburned mixture upstream of a methane-air lifted jet flame using a bolt-clamped Langevin transducer (BLT) to improve stability. The flow field near the flame was visualized using acetone planar-laser-induced fluorescence (PLIF). The standing wave decreased the lifted flame height and increased the blow-off limit. The upstream flow field of the center jet then bent. This phenomenon appeared when there was a density difference between the center jet and the surrounding secondary flow. When the density of the center jet was less than that of the co-flow, the center jet was redirected to the pressure anti-node side. Conversely, when the density of the center jet was greater than that of the co-flow, the center jet was redirected to the pressure node side. This redirection tended to stabilize the laminar lifted flame.

An Ultrasonic Suction Pump with No Physically Moving Parts

A new ultrasonic suction pump is described in this paper. The pump uses the suction force of a rigid cylinder tube vibrating at an ultrasonic frequency and has no physically moving parts. The pump consists of a longitudinal bolt-clamped Langevin transducer (BLT) combined with a stepped horn working at a resonance frequency of 24 kHz. A glass tube with the length of the half-wavelength-resonance is glued at the tip of the horn. To enhance pump performance, we introduced a reflection plate and a thin rod installed to the end of the glass tube with a small gap. Maximum pressures of 7.2 kPa and 23.5 kPa were recorded using the reflection plate and the thin rod, respectively. In this study, we experimentally investigate the characteristics of the pump and the operating physics. The maximum pressure is a function of the vibration velocity of the end surface of the glass tube and of the gap.

Improving the transient response of a bolt-clamped Langevin transducer using a parallel resistor

This paper suggests a parallel resistor to reduce DC time constant and DC response time of the transient response, induced immediately after an AC voltage connected to a bolt-clamped Langevin transducer (BLT) is switched off. An equivalent circuit is first expressed. Then, an open-circuit transient response at the terminals induced by initial states is derived and measured, and thus parameters for losses of the BLT device are estimated by DC and AC time constants of the transient response. Moreover, a driving and measuring system is designed to determine transient response and steady-state responses of the BLT device, and a parallel resistor is connected to the BLT device to reduce the DC time constant. Experimental results indicate that the DC time constant greatly exceeds the AC time constant without the parallel resistor, and greatly decreases from 42 to 1 ms by a 100-kΩ parallel resistor.

Traveling Wave Ultrasonic Motor Using a Flexural Composite Transducer

This paper presents a new design for a traveling wave ultrasonic motor with a bolt-clamped Langevin transducer. A flexural composite transducer was attached to a ring around its circumference to excite two degenerate flexural vibration modes spatially and temporally orthogonal to each other in the ring for flexural traveling wave excitation. The prototype motor, composed of a 30-mm-diameter composite transducer attached along the outer edge of a 130-mm-diameter ring, was designed and tested. A maximum torque of 1.28 N·m with a maximum efficiency of 3.8% was achieved when driven at an applied voltage of approximately 200 Vrms and a preload of 172 N.