초록 ▼

This invention relates to a device which is either permanently attached or removable to the edge of a material such as a vehicular glass window. This device may be comprised of a converter sub-unit (vibrator) and an amplifying coupler. These elements are arranged so as to propagate mechanical motion

This invention relates to a device which is either permanently attached or removable to the edge of a material such as a vehicular glass window. This device may be comprised of a converter sub-unit (vibrator) and an amplifying coupler. These elements are arranged so as to propagate mechanical motion generated by the converter sub-unit through the amplifying coupler and into the edge of the attached material. The resulting vibration motion in the material, which could take the form of a longitudinal compression/rarefaction wave, transverse wave, or a combination of the two waveforms, is of a sufficient magnitude so as to cause the adhesive bond between the material's surface and other solid debris, such as ice, to be quickly broken. This allows the debris to fall away while not damaging the material. The vibration motion in the material is also of sufficient magnitude to remove a liquid such as water from the material surface.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A device for removing debris from a material, comprising: a converter unit that produces mechanical motion at an output; an amplifying coupler having a first end and a second end, the first end being operably associated with the output so as to transmit the mechanical motion

What is claimed is: 1. A device for removing debris from a material, comprising: a converter unit that produces mechanical motion at an output; an amplifying coupler having a first end and a second end, the first end being operably associated with the output so as to transmit the mechanical motion produced by the converter unit, the second end being adapted to attach to a material, wherein, a cross-sectional area of the amplifying coupler at the first end is greater than a cross-sectional area of the amplifying coupler at the second end. 2. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein the change in cross-sectional area between the first end of the amplifying coupler and the second end of the amplifying coupler is stepped. 3. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein the change in cross-sectional area between the first end of the amplifying coupler and the second end of the amplifying coupler is linear. 4. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein the change in cross-sectional area between the first end of the amplifying coupler and the second end of the amplifying coupler is curved. 5. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein the converter unit transforms energy selected from the group consisting of: electrical, pneumatic, and fluid energy. 6. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein the coupler is attached to the material, and the converter, amplifying coupler, and material each have an impedance, the impedance of the converter being substantially equal to the impedance of the amplifying coupler. 7. The device as recited in claim 6, wherein the impedance of the amplifying coupler is substantially equal to the impedance of the material. 8. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein the coupler is attached to the material, and the converter, amplifying coupler, and material each have an impedance, and wherein the impedance of the amplifying coupler is substantially equal to the impedance of the material. 9. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein the converter unit includes a shaft having a longitudinal axis, the converter unit being adapted to reciprocate the shaft axially. 10. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein the amplifying coupler is compressively attached to the material. 11. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein the amplifying coupler is mechanically attached to the material. 12. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein the amplifying coupler is adhesively attached to the material. 13. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein the amplifying coupler is removably attached to the material. 14. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein the material is glass, and the device is attached to the glass. 15. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein the material is a windshield, and the device is attached to the windshield. 16. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein the mechanical motion is vibratory motion. 17. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein the mechanical motion is a shock pulse. 18. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein the material, the amplifying coupler, and the converter each have at least one resonant frequency, the resonant frequency of the material being substantially equal to at least one of the resonant frequencies of the amplifying coupler and the converter. 19. The device as recited in claim 18, wherein the resonant frequencies of the material, amplifying coupler, and converter are all substantially equal. 20. The device as recited in claim 18, wherein the material has a major dimension, and a minor dimension defining an edge, the amplifying coupler being attached to the edge. 21. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein the material has a major dimension, and a minor dimension defining an edge, the amplifying coupler being attached to the edge. 22. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein the amplifying coupler is attached to the output of the converter by a threaded stud. 23. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein the amplifying coupler is monolithic with the output of the converter. 24. A device for removing debris from a material, the material having a plurality of resonant frequencies, including a fundamental resonant frequency and multiples of the fundamental resonant frequency the fundamental resonant frequency being determined by dividing the velocity of sound through the material by two times the length of the material, the device comprising: a converter unit that produces mechanical motion at an output; and, a coupler unit attached to both the converter unit output and the material, the coupler unit having a resonant frequency and being operable for transmitting the mechanical motion produced by the converter unit into the material; wherein, one of the resonant frequencies of the material is substantially equal to the resonant frequency of the coupler. 25. The device as recited in claim 24, wherein a resonant frequency of the converter unit is substantially equal to the resonant frequency of the coupler. 26. A device for removing debris from a material, the material having a major dimension, and a minor dimension defining an edge, the device comprising: a converter unit that produces mechanical motion at an output end thereof; and, a coupler unit having a first portion attached to the output end of the converter unit, and a second portion attached to the edge of the material. 27. The device as recited in claim 26, wherein the coupler unit conducts mechanical motion into the material at an angle substantially perpendicular to the edge of the material. 28. The device as recited in claim 26, wherein the coupler unit has a longitudinal axis, the coupler unit being operable to translate axially in response to the mechanical motion produced at the output end of the converter unit, the longitudinal axis of the coupler unit being substantially perpendicular to the edge of the material. 29. A device for removing debris from a material, comprising: a converter unit that produces mechanical motion at an output; a coupler having a first end and a second end, the first end being operably associated with the converter output so as to transmit the mechanical motion produced by the converter unit, the second end being attached to the material; wherein, the converter unit, coupler, and material each have an impedance, the impedance of the coupler being substantially equal to the impedance of the material. 30. The device as recited in claim 29, wherein the impedance of the coupler is substantially equal to the impedance of the output of the converter.