# US 2022/0034337 A1 · Fluid device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2022/0034337 A1 - Document ID: US20220034337A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 17/388,473 - Filed: 2021-07-29 - Published: 2022-02-03 - Earliest claimed: 2020-07-30 - Assignees: Seiko Epson Corporation - Applicants: Seiko Epson Corporation - Inventors: Chikara KOJIMA; Tomohide ONOGI; Kanechika KIYOSE; Mitsuru MIYASAKA; Mio SASAKI - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20220034337A1 ## CPC - F15D 1/02: in pipes or conduits - G10K 15/00: Acoustics not otherwise provided for - B01D 43/00: Separating particles from liquids, or liquids from solids, otherwise than by sedimentation or filtration (flotation processes B03D1/00; drying solid materials or objects F26B) - B01J 19/10: employing sonic or ultrasonic vibrations - G10K 11/26: Sound-focusing or directing, e.g. scanning - B01J 2219/0886: Gas-solid - B01J 2219/089: Liquid-solid - F15D: FLUID DYNAMICS, i.e. METHODS OR MEANS FOR INFLUENCING THE FLOW OF GASES OR LIQUIDS - G10K: SOUND-PRODUCING DEVICES; METHODS OR DEVICES FOR PROTECTING AGAINST, OR FOR DAMPING, NOISE OR OTHER ACOUSTIC WAVES IN GENERAL; ACOUSTICS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28) - B01J: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS ## Abstract A fluid device includes: a flow path through which a fluid flows; a pressure chamber spaced apart from the flow path in a first direction (Y direction) orthogonal to a flowing direction of the fluid in the flow path; a communication path that is formed along the Y direction and that communicates the flow path with the pressure chamber; and an ultrasonic wave transmitter configured to transmit ultrasonic waves to the fluid in the pressure chamber to generate a standing wave along the Y direction in the flow path. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A fluid device comprising: a first flow path through which a fluid flows; a pressure chamber spaced apart from the first flow path in a first direction orthogonal to a flowing direction of the fluid in the first flow path; a first communication path that is formed along the first direction and that communicates the first flow path and the pressure chamber; and an ultrasonic wave transmitter configured to transmit an ultrasonic wave to the fluid in the pressure chamber to generate a first standing wave along the first direction for the fluid in the first flow path. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The fluid device according to claim 1, wherein w r < 4 × L × n - 1 2 ⁢ ⁢ w r ≦ 0 . 3 × d r wherein a dimension of the first flow path in the first direction is L, a mode order of the first standing wave is n, a dimension of the first communication path in the first direction is Wr, and a dimension of the first communication path in a second direction orthogonal to the flowing direction and the first direction is dr. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The fluid device according to claim 1, wherein a dimension of the first flow path in the second direction orthogonal to the flowing direction and the first direction is smaller than the dimension of the first flow path in the first direction. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The fluid device according to claim 1, wherein the first communication path is coupled to a region in the first flow path that corresponds to any antinode in the first standing wave. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The fluid device according to claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic wave transmitter includes one or more ultrasonic elements, and the ultrasonic element includes a vibrator having a fluid contact surface that is in contact with the fluid, and a piezoelectric element that is provided at the vibrator and that is configured to generate flexural vibration to the vibrator in a normal direction of the fluid contact surface. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The fluid device according to claim 5, wherein S ⁢ r × L n ≧ δ × S ⁢ b wherein a cross-sectional area of the flow path orthogonal to the first direction of the first communication path is Sr, a total area of the fluid contact surfaces of the one or more ultrasonic elements is Sb, a maximum displacement amount of the vibrator during the vibration is δ, and a mode order of the first standing wave is n. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The fluid device according to claim 5, wherein the ultrasonic element is disposed such that the normal direction of the fluid contact surface is along the first direction. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The fluid device according to claim 5, wherein t < C ′ C × L 2 ⁢ n wherein a thickness of the vibrator is t, a sound velocity of the fluid is C, an average sound velocity of a longitudinal wave transmitted in the vibrator is C′, a dimension of the first flow path in the first direction is L, and a mode order of the first standing wave is n. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The fluid device according to claim 1, further comprising: a second flow path that is spaced apart from the pressure chamber in an opposite direction of the first direction and through which the fluid flows; and a second communication path that is formed along the first direction and that communicates the second flow path with the pressure chamber, wherein the ultrasonic wave transmitter transmits an ultrasonic wave to the fluid in the pressure chamber to further generate a second standing wave in the second flow path along the first direction. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The fluid device according to claim 9, wherein the second flow path is disposed on an opposite side of the pressure chamber from the first flow path. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The fluid device according to claim 1, further comprising: a second flow path that is spaced apart from the first communication path in the first direction and through which the fluid flows; and a second communication path that is formed along the first direction and that communicates the first flow path with the second flow path, wherein the ultrasonic wave transmitter transmits an ultrasonic wave to the fluid in the pressure chamber to further generate a second standing wave in the second flow path along the first direction. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The fluid device according to claim 11, wherein the second flow path is disposed on an opposite side of the first flow path from the pressure chamber.