Hand tool for creating and applying ultrasonic vibration

Abstract

A hand held device for generating ultrasonic vibrations comprises an elongate tubular casing having therein a piezoelectric vibratory element comprising an elongate bar of piezoelectric material and a generator that develops an electrical signal having a predetermined ultrasonic frequency that excites the piezoelectric vibratory element into ultrasonic vibration. The piezoelectric vibratory element also functions as the dielectric of a capacitor which constitutes part of the generator and which determines the ultrasonic frequency of the electrical signal output of the generator. A work tool protrudes from the casing and is vibrationally coupled to the piezoelectric vibrator element by a vibratory rod which transmits the vibrations from the piezoelectric vibratory element to the work tool. A cooling system is disposed within the casing and flows a cooling agent through the device to cool both the piezoelectric vibratory element and the generator and the cooling agent is discharged from the device in atomized form through an opening in the work tool. Manually operable control means on the casing controls the generator and the cooling agent.