title: Development of an Acoustic Levitation Linear Transportation System Based on a Ring-Type Structure.
abstract: A linear acoustic levitation transportation system based on a ring-type vibrator is presented. The system is composed by two 21-kHz Langevin transducers connected to a ring-shaped structure formed by two semicircular sections and two flat plates. In this system, a flexural standing wave is generated along the ring structure, producing an acoustic standing wave between the vibrating ring and a plane reflector located at a distance of approximately a half wavelength from the ring. The acoustic standing wave in air has a series of pressure nodes, where small particles can be levitated and transported. The ring-type transportation system was designed and analyzed by using the finite element method. Additionally, a prototype was built and the acoustic levitation and transport of a small polystyrene particle was demonstrated.
authors.forename: Gilles P L
authors.initials: GPL
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: Marco A B
authors.initials: MAB
authors.lastname: Andrade
authors.forename: Julio Cezar
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Adamowski
authors.forename: Emilio Carlos Nelli
authors.initials: ECN
authors.lastname: Silva