Hourglass-shaped cavitation chamber

Abstract

An hourglass-shaped cavitation chamber is provided. The chamber is comprised of two large cylindrical regions separated by a smaller cylindrical region. Coupling the regions are two transitional sections which are preferably smooth and curved. Although the chamber is preferably fabricated from a machinable material, such as a metal, it can also be fabricated from a fragile material, such as a glass. An acoustic driver assembly is incorporated within the chamber wall at one end of the cavitation chamber. The driver can be threadably coupled to the chamber or attached using an epoxy, diffusion bonding, brazing or welding. O-rings or other seals can be used to seal the driver to the chamber. The head surface of the driver assembly can be flush, recessed, or extended from the internal chamber surface. The head surface of the driver assembly can be flat or shaped. If desired, a second acoustic driver assembly can be incorporated within the chamber wall at the other end of the cavitation chamber. Preferably the driver or drivers are attached such that their central axis is coaxial with the central axis of the cavitation chamber. Coupling conduits which can be used to fill/drain the chamber as well as couple the chamber to a degassing and/or circulatory system can be attached to one, or both, ends of the chamber. When used, preferably the conduit or conduits are attached off-axis.

1 . A cavitation system comprising: 
 a cavitation chamber comprising: 
 a first cylindrical region defined by a first inner diameter and a first length;  
 a second cylindrical region defined by a second inner diameter and a second length; and  
 a third cylindrical region interposed between said first and second cylindrical regions, said third cylindrical region coupling said first and second cylindrical regions, and said third cylindrical region defined by a third inner diameter and a third length, wherein said third inner diameter is smaller than said first and second inner diameters; and  
   an acoustic driver assembly incorporated within a first portion of a cavitation chamber wall, said first portion of said cavitation chamber wall corresponding to an end portion of said first cylindrical region of said cavitation chamber, wherein a head mass of said acoustic driver assembly protrudes through said first portion of said cavitation chamber wall, and wherein said acoustic driver assembly is configured to form and implode cavities within a cavitation fluid within said cavitation chamber.    
   
   
       2 . The cavitation system of  claim 1 , wherein an end surface of said head mass is flush with an internal cavitation chamber surface.  
   
   
       3 . The cavitation system of  claim 1 , wherein an end surface of said head mass is flat.  
   
   
       4 . The cavitation system of  claim 1 , wherein an end surface of said head mass is concave.  
   
   
       5 . The cavitation system of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of said head mass is threaded, wherein said threaded head mass portion is threadably coupled to said first portion of said cavitation chamber wall.  
   
   
       6 . The cavitation system of  claim 1 , wherein a bond joint couples said head mass to said first portion of said cavitation chamber wall.  
   
   
       7 . The cavitation system of  claim 6 , wherein said bond joint is a diffusion bond joint.  
   
   
       8 . The cavitation system of  claim 6 , wherein said bond joint is an epoxy bond joint.  
   
   
       9 . The cavitation system of  claim 1 , wherein a braze joint couples said head mass to said first portion of said cavitation chamber wall.  
   
   
       10 . The cavitation system of  claim 1 , wherein a weld joint couples said head mass to said first portion of said cavitation chamber wall.  
   
   
       11 . The cavitation system of  claim 1 , wherein a central axis corresponding to said acoustic driver assembly is coaxial with a central axis corresponding to said cavitation chamber.  
   
   
       12 . The cavitation system of  claim 1 , further comprising a chamber inlet coupled to said end portion of said first cylindrical region of said cavitation chamber.  
   
   
       13 . The cavitation system of  claim 12 , wherein said chamber inlet couples said cavitation chamber to a degassing system.  
   
   
       14 . The cavitation system of  claim 12 , wherein said chamber inlet couples said cavitation chamber to a cavitation fluid circulatory system.  
   
   
       15 . The cavitation system of  claim 1 , further comprising a chamber inlet coupled to an end portion of said second cylindrical region of said cavitation chamber.  
   
   
       16 . The cavitation system of  claim 15 , wherein said chamber inlet couples said cavitation chamber to a degassing system.  
   
   
       17 . The cavitation system of  claim 15 , wherein said chamber inlet couples said cavitation chamber to a cavitation fluid circulatory system.  
   
   
       18 . The cavitation system of  claim 1 , further comprising a second acoustic driver assembly incorporated within a second portion of said cavitation chamber wall, said second portion of said cavitation chamber wall corresponding to an end portion of said second cylindrical region of said cavitation chamber, wherein a head mass of said second acoustic driver assembly protrudes through said second portion of said cavitation chamber wall.  
   
   
       19 . The cavitation system of  claim 18 , wherein a central axis corresponding to said second acoustic driver assembly is coaxial with a central axis corresponding to said cavitation chamber.  
   
   
       20 . The cavitation system of  claim 11 , further comprising a second acoustic driver assembly incorporated within a second portion of said cavitation chamber wall, said second portion of said cavitation chamber wall corresponding to an end portion of said second cylindrical region of said cavitation chamber, wherein a head mass of said second acoustic driver assembly protrudes through said second portion of said cavitation chamber wall, wherein a central axis corresponding to said second acoustic driver assembly is coaxial with said central axis corresponding to said cavitation chamber.  
   
   
       21 . The cavitation system of  claim 1 , wherein said cavitation chamber is fabricated from a machinable material.  
   
   
       22 . The cavitation system of  claim 1 , wherein said cavitation chamber is fabricated from a metal.  
   
   
       23 . The cavitation system of  claim 1 , wherein said first and second inner diameters are approximately equal.  
   
   
       24 . The cavitation system of  claim 1 , wherein said first and second lengths are approximately equal.  
   
   
       25 . The cavitation system of  claim 1 , further comprising a first curved transition region coupling said first cylindrical region to said third cylindrical region and a second curved transition region coupling said second cylindrical region to said third cylindrical region.