The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 23, 1993
Filed:
May. 08, 1989
Michael J Young, Ashburton, GB;
S.R.A. Developments Limited, Ashburton, GB;
Abstract
A method of cutting a brittle workpiece comprises applying to the surface of the workpiece a pointed tool, applying high frequency vibrations in a longitudinal direction to the tool, and moving the tool along a line to be cut of the workpiece while applying substantially steady longitudinally directed pressure to the tool. Stress is thereby applied to the workpiece as a combination of short impulses and steady direct stress and the breaking stress of the material would be attained coincident with the peak oscillatory stress. Crack propagation would therefore proceed by a series of stepwise fractures induced by successive cyclic stress peaks, resulting ultimately in the separation of the workpiece into two pieces. An apparatus for carrying out the method comprises a piezoelectric ceramic transducer to generate ultrasonic vibrations, a tip to be applied to the workpiece and having a hardness greater than that of the workpiece, with a tuned horn or the like being utilized to convey the ultrasonic vibrational energy to the tip.