Back to results
US 7,404,906 B2Granted
Device and process for treating cutting fluids using ultrasound
AssigneeAshland Licensing and Intellectual Property LLC
InventorsMario Swinnen, Eric D. Cordemans de Meulenaer, Baudouin O. Hannecart, Edward S. Beardwood
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Devices and methods for treating, preventing from growth, and neutralizing microorganisms in cutting fluids using high-frequency, low-energy ultrasound.
Claims22
An apparatus for reducing the presence of live microorganisms in a cutting fluid comprising:
- a compartment for holding a reservoir of cutting fluid;
- an ultrasound emitter configured to emit ultrasound signals at a frequency higher than 200 kHz into said compartment;
- and
- a gas bubble emitter configured to emit gas bubbles into the ultrasound field in the compartment containing the cutting fluid.
1 more element
A method of treating cutting fluid comprising:
- collecting cutting fluid from a fluid routing circuit;
- routing said cutting fluid into a compartment;
- simultaneously exposing said cutting fluid in the compartment to gas bubbles and ultrasound of a frequency of 100 kHz or higher, wherein the simultaneous exposure to the gas bubbles and the ultrasound brings about the inactivation of microorganisms present in the cutting fluid.
A machining system comprising:
- a cutting device;
- a cutting fluid circuit connected to the cutting device;
- a compartment for holding a reservoir of cutting fluid through which said cutting fluid is routed;
- an ultrasound emitter configured to emit ultrasound signals at a frequency higher than 100 kHz into said compartment;
- and
- a gas bubble emitter configured to emit gas bubbles into the ultrasound field in the compartment containing the cutting fluid, wherein exposure of the cutting fluid to the ultrasound signals in the presence of the gas bubbles brings about the inactivation of microorganisms present in the cutting fluid.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.