Matching an acoustic driver to an acoustic load in an acoustic resonant system
AssigneesClever Fellows Innovation Consortium, Inc., Mesoscopic Devices
InventorsJohn A. Corey, Jerry Martin
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method for matching an acoustic load and an acoustic driver in a resonant acoustic system, and the acoustic system so formed. The load and driver may be independently designed. The invention provides, inter alia, a matching volume positioned between the acoustic driver and load that is substantially greater than a stroke volume of the driver. The matching volume is sized such that, in combination with the moving mass, the characteristic stiffness of the acoustic driver and the characteristic load impedance, a resulting pressure wave produces an operating resonant frequency substantially equal to the preferred operating frequency of the load. Alternatively, or in addition thereto, a stroke volume of the acoustic driver can be adjusted.
Claims20
A resonant acoustic system comprising:
- an acoustic driver including a piston, the driver having a first, stroke volume that provides space for a stroke of the piston;
- an acoustic load receiving an acoustic pressure wave from the driver;
- and
- a second volume between the driver and the load, the second volume being substantially greater in size than the first, stroke volume,
- wherein the second volume is sized such that an operating resonant frequency substantially equal to a preferred operating frequency of the acoustic load is achieved.
A resonant acoustic system comprising:
- an acoustic driver including a piston, the driver having a first, stroke volume that provides space for a stroke of the piston;
- an acoustic load receiving an acoustic pressure wave from the driver;
- and a
- second volume between the driver and the load, the second volume being substantially greater in size than the first, stroke volume,
- wherein the stroke volume of the acoustic driver is sized such that, in combination with the moving mass, the characteristic stiffness of the acoustic driver and the characteristic load impedance, a resulting pressure wave delivers the preferred input acoustic flow amplitude to the load when the acoustic driver is operating approximately at:
- the operating resonant frequency, the preferred stroke, and the preferred force amplitude.
A cryocooler comprising:
- a linear-motor driven compressor including a piston, the compressor having a first, stroke volume that provides space for a stroke of the piston;
- a pulse tube expander receiving an acoustic pressure wave from the compressor;
- and
- a second volume between the compressor and the expander, the second volume being substantially greater in size than the first, stroke volume,
- wherein the second volume is sized such that an operating resonant frequency substantially equal to a preferred operating frequency of the expander is achieved.
A cryocooler comprising:
- a linear-motor driven compressor including a piston, the compressor having a first, stroke volume that provides space for a stroke of the piston;
- a pulse tube expander receiving an acoustic pressure wave from the compressor;
- and
- a second volume between the compressor and the expander, the second volume being substantially greater in size than the first, stroke volume,
- wherein the stroke volume of the compressor is sized such that, in combination with the moving mass, the characteristic stiffness of the compressor and the characteristic load impedance, a resulting pressure wave delivers the preferred input acoustic flow amplitude to the expander when the compressor is operating approximately at:
- the operating resonant frequency, the preferred stroke, and the preferred force amplitude.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.