# US 8,783,941 B2 · Method of ultrasonically treating a substance > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,783,941 B2 - Document ID: US8783941B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/086,375 - Filed: 2013-11-21 - Published: 2014-03-20 - Granted: 2014-07-22 - Earliest claimed: 2006-09-08 - Assignees: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. - Applicants: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. - Inventors: Robert Alan Cool; Thomas David Ehlert; Patrick Sean McNichols - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8783941B2 ## CPC - C02F 1/36: ultrasonic vibrations - B01F 25/43161: {composed of consecutive sections of flat pieces of material} - B01F 25/4321: {the subflows consisting of at least two flat layers which are recombined, e.g. using means having restriction or expansion zones} - B01F 31/83: {comprising a supplementary stirring element} - B01F 31/85: with a vibrating element inside the receptacle - B01J 19/008: {Processes for carrying out reactions under cavitation conditions} - B01J 19/10: employing sonic or ultrasonic vibrations - B06B 3/00: Methods or apparatus specially adapted for transmitting mechanical vibrations of infrasonic, sonic, or ultrasonic frequency - B01F 25/431971: {Mounted on the wall} - B01F 25/431972: {Mounted on an axial support member, e.g. a rod or bar} - B01J 2219/0877: Liquid - B01J 2219/089: Liquid-solid - C02F: TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE (separation in general B01D; special arrangements on waterborne vessels of installations for treating water, waste water or sewage, e.g. for producing fresh water, B63J; adding materials to water to prevent corrosion C23F; treating radioactively-contaminated liquids G21F9/04; regeneration of reactants for recirculation into processes, see the relevant places for the processes) - B01F: MIXING, e.g. DISSOLVING, EMULSIFYING OR DISPERSING (mixing paints B44D3/06) - B01J: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS - B06B: METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR GENERATING OR TRANSMITTING MECHANICAL VIBRATIONS OF INFRASONIC, SONIC, OR ULTRASONIC FREQUENCY, {e.g.} FOR PERFORMING MECHANICAL WORK IN GENERAL (for particular applications, see the relevant subclasses, e.g. B07B1/40, B23Q17/12, B24B31/06; measurement of mechanical vibrations G01H; in direction finding, locating, distance or velocity measuring G01S; {generating seismic energy G01V1/02}; control of mechanical vibrations in general G05D; sound-producing devices, e.g. bells, sirens, whistles G10K, {e.g. methods or devices for transmitting, conducting, or directing sound in general G10K11/00}; generation of electrical oscillations H03B; electromechanical resonators in general H03H; electromechanical transducers {for communication techniques, e.g. microphones, speakers} H04R) ## Abstract In a method of ultrasonically treating a substance disposed within a container an ultrasonic horn is positioned within the container with at least a portion of the horn submerged in the substance. The horn is ultrasonically excited to thereby ultrasonically energize the substance. An agitating member is rotated within the substance while the ultrasonic horn is excited to agitate the substance as the substance is ultrasonically energized. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of ultrasonically treating a substance disposed within a container, the method comprising: positioning an ultrasonic horn within the container with at least a portion of the horn submerged in the substance, an agitating member being positioned on at least the portion of the horn submerged in the substance, the agitating member being mounted on the ultrasonic horn by an isolating member; ultrasonically exciting the horn to thereby ultrasonically energize the substance; and rotating the agitating member within the substance while the ultrasonic horn is excited to agitate the substance as the substance is ultrasonically energized, the isolating member at least in part vibrationally isolating the agitation member from the ultrasonic horn. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method set forth in claim 1 wherein the substance is one of a solid, semi-solid and gelatinous substance, the ultrasonic excitation step and rotating agitating member step being performed to render the substance more ready to flow. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method set forth in claim 1 further comprising varying the location of at least one of the ultrasonic horn and the agitating member within the container while exciting the horn and rotating the agitating member. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method set forth in claim 1 wherein positioning the ultrasonic horn within the container utilizes a support structure for supporting the ultrasonic horn within the container, the horn being rotatable relative to the support structure about a longitudinal axis of the horn. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method set forth in claim 1 wherein the isolating member isolates the agitating member from at least one of longitudinal displacement and transverse displacement of the horn. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method set forth in claim 1 wherein rotating the agitating member comprises rotating the ultrasonic horn during ultrasonic excitation of the horn to thereby conjointly rotate the agitating member. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method set forth in claim 1 wherein the agitating member comprises a hub surrounding an outer surface of the horn and the isolating member comprises a sleeve constructed of a resilient material, the sleeve being disposed between the hub and the outer surface of the horn. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method set forth in claim 1 wherein the ultrasonic horn has at least one nodal region, the agitating member being disposed on the horn generally at the nodal region. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method set forth in claim 1 wherein the agitating member comprises a propeller having a plurality of blades arranged to extend transversely outward relative to an outer surface of the horn. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method set forth in claim 9 wherein each of the plurality of blades is twisted along a portion of its length. ### Claim 11 A method of ultrasonically treating a substance disposed within a container, the method comprising: positioning an ultrasonic horn within the container with at least a portion of the horn submerged in the substance; ultrasonically exciting the horn to thereby ultrasonically energize the substance; and rotating a plurality of agitating members within the substance while the ultrasonic horn is excited to agitate the substance as the substance is ultrasonically energized, the plurality of agitating members being disposed on the horn and in longitudinal spaced relationship with each other, at least one of the plurality of agitating members being positioned on the portion of the ultrasonic horn that is submerged in the substance using an isolating member in order to at least in part vibrationally isolate the agitating member from the ultrasonic horn. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method set forth in claim 11 wherein the ultrasonic horn has a length greater than one wavelength. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The method set forth in claim 11 wherein at least one of the plurality of agitating members is rotatable about a longitudinal axis of the horn. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method set forth in claim 13 wherein each of the agitating members is rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the horn. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The method set forth in claim 11 wherein the ultrasonic horn has a plurality of nodal regions, each of the agitating members being disposed on the horn at a respective one of the nodal regions. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The method set forth in claim 1 wherein the ultrasonic horn has an elongate, cylindrical shape. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The method set forth in claim 1 wherein the ultrasonic horn has a terminal end, the agitating member being disposed on the horn generally adjacent the terminal end of the horn. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The method set forth in claim 1 wherein the container has a baffle positioned on an inner side wall of the container. ### Claim 19 A method of ultrasonically treating a substance disposed within a container, the method comprising: positioning an ultrasonic horn within the container with at least a portion of the horn submerged in the substance; positioning an agitating member on the portion of the ultrasonic horn that is submerged in the substance using an isolating member in order to at least in part vibrationally isolate the agitating member from the ultrasonic horn; ultrasonically exciting the horn to thereby ultrasonically energize the substance; and directing the substance to flow past the agitating member while the ultrasonic horn is excited to agitate the substance as the substance is ultrasonically energized.