US 5,512,335 AGranted

Fluid treatment device with vibrational energy means

AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation

InventorsThomas L. Miller, Richard F. Nelson, John K. Ostrom

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Abstract

A fluid treatment device and method for treating moving substrates with fluid as the substrates move through the device at a relatively high rate of travel. Fluid injection in combination with the application of vibration energy (e.g., ultrasonic) results in enhanced fluid treatment of the substrates. In one embodiment, a bifurcated horn is utilized in combination with fluid injector members having pluralities of rows of spaced injector ports, the injectors being strategically positioned relative to the vibrational source. In one example, the device and method may be used for enhanced penetration by dye materials of ceramic substrate surfaces to detect adverse surface conditions (e.g., cracks) and thus potentially defective product.

Claims14

Dependent claims

A method of treating a substrate with fluid, said method comprising:

providing a housing defining a chamber therein;
providing fluid to said chamber of said housing at an established rate using fluid injection such that said fluid will move through said chamber and be maintained at an established level within said chamber, said fluid being injected within said chamber on opposite sides of a substrate;
moving said substrate through said chamber of said housing at an established rate such that said substrate will be exposed to said fluid moving within said chamber for an established time period;
and
providing vibrational energy to said fluid moving within said chamber, said vibrational energy being provided by partly submerging means for providing said vibrational energy within said fluid and activating said means while so partly submerged and while maintaining said means for providing said vibrational energy in a non-contacting relationship with said housing.

2 more elements

A fluid treatment device comprising:

a housing defining at least one chamber therein;
means for providing a fluid to said chamber of said housing such that said fluid will move through said chamber and be maintained within said chamber at an established level, said means for providing said fluid including at least one fluid injector member having a plurality of fluid injector ports for having said fluid pass therethrough into said chamber;
means for moving a substrate through said chamber of said housing in a first direction such that said substrate will be exposed to said fluid moving within said chamber for an established time period;
and
means for providing vibrational energy to said fluid moving within said chamber, said means for providing vibrational energy adapted for being partly submerged within said fluid within said chamber and being located adjacent said substrate as said substrate moves through said chamber, said means for providing vibrational energy not being in physical contact with said housing, said fluid injector member of said means for providing said fluid to said chamber being located substantially immediately adjacent said means for providing said vibrational energy and adapted for substantially directing at least some of said fluid to a location between said substrate and said means for providing said vibrational energy such that said fluid will move through said location at an established rate.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.