EP0434344B1 - Edge driven flexural transducer - Google Patents
Edge driven flexural transducer Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP0434344B1 EP0434344B1 EP19900313788 EP90313788A EP0434344B1 EP 0434344 B1 EP0434344 B1 EP 0434344B1 EP 19900313788 EP19900313788 EP 19900313788 EP 90313788 A EP90313788 A EP 90313788A EP 0434344 B1 EP0434344 B1 EP 0434344B1
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- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- staves
- driver
- end plates
- transducer
- secured
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
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- G—PHYSICS
- G10—MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; ACOUSTICS
- G10K—SOUND-PRODUCING DEVICES; METHODS OR DEVICES FOR PROTECTING AGAINST, OR FOR DAMPING, NOISE OR OTHER ACOUSTIC WAVES IN GENERAL; ACOUSTICS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G10K9/00—Devices in which sound is produced by vibrating a diaphragm or analogous element, e.g. fog horns, vehicle hooters or buzzers
- G10K9/12—Devices in which sound is produced by vibrating a diaphragm or analogous element, e.g. fog horns, vehicle hooters or buzzers electrically operated
- G10K9/121—Flextensional transducers
Definitions
- This invention relates to a transducer apparatus which serve as sources, and detectors, of acoustic waves, wherein electrical (or magnetic) signals produce corresponding acoustic waves in a fluid medium, normally sea water.
- transducers for underwater applications which employ continuous wave or modulated-wave input signals utilize piezoelectric, electrostrictive, or magnetostrictive energy-conversion materials.
- Electrostrictive materials are available in a wide variety of shapes, including rectangular plates and annular discs which may be stacked to provide the amplitude and power of mechanical motion required by the transduction mechanism.
- certain mechanical dimensional charges produced in the electrostrictive element (or stack of elements), as a result of application of an input signal are coupled to a driver element which interfaces with the water transmission medium.
- the mechanical coupling arrangement is such that the maximum amplitude of motion in the driver element essentially equals the amplitude of the driving motion of the electrostrictive member.
- the use of mechanical amplification is particularly advantageous in transducers designed for low-frequency applications.
- the term "low-frequency" used herein generally applies to the region below approximately 1 khz. However, the features of this invention are not limited to that range. In the low-frequency region, significant transducer power output and driver motion are normally required. These requirements are best met through the use of large volumes of the electrostrictive energy-converting material, relatively large area of the flexural driver interface elements, and through the further use of transduction mechanisms which provide mechanical movement of the driver-interface elements which is amplified with respect to the mechanical movement of the electrostrictive energy-conversion element.
- the ceramic-crystal type electrostrictive materials normally used in transducers have relatively low tensile strength, and, unless precautionary measures are taken, are subject to fracturing when strong electrical signals are applied. However, their compressive strengths are much greater. Therefore, in transducer applications, the stacks of crystals normally are subjected to a compressive "bias" to more nearly center the internal stress variations (produced by the electrical input signal) between the limits of the tensile and compressive strength of the crystal(s).
- Fig. 1 shows a cross-section view of a prior art transducer which was claimed to essentially eliminate the undesired effect of the water pressure changes. This figure is taken from Figure 2 in United States Patent No. 3,258,738, "Underwater Transducer Apparatus", which was issued June 28, 1966. The present Fig. 1 has been somewhat simplified by omission of some detail not germane to the principles to be described here.
- the embodiment shown is effective in providing efficiency which is improved over the earlier prior-art transducers employing elliptical tubes.
- Figs. 2 and 3 are pictorial and cross-sectional views, respectively, of a prior-art cylindrical transducer employing the principles of the embodiment shown in Fig. 1.
- Figs. 2 and 3 correspond (in somewhat simplified form) to the Figs. 5 and 6 in the aforereferenced United States Patent No. 3,258,738.
- Objects of the present invention are to make it possible to provide a transducer in which the parts are more easily and less expensively fabricated, and in which manufacturing assembly is simplified; to provide a transducer utilizing a flexural cylindrical housing providing amplification of mechanical motion of the driver, and, if desired, resonance at some predetermined frequency; to provide a transducer having improved capability to withstand hydrostatic pressures; and to provide a transducer capable of effective low frequency applications.
- US-A-3,258,738 describes an electro-acoustic transducer comprising: a hollow flexural cylindrical housing for producing acoustic signals in response to a stimulus; first and second end plates secured to the first and second opposite ends of the cylindrical housing; and means for producing said stimulus comprising a stack of energy conversion elements located in said housing, each element having an approximately centred aperture, and a tension member attached to said end plates and extending through the apertures of said elements to apply a compression force to said stacks.
- the present invention as defined in Claim 1 is characterized in that: said hollow flexural cylindrical housing is formed by a plurality of individual parallel staves, each said stave having two opposite ends, being of predetermined shape, and being secured at its ends to said first and second end plates.
- Fig. 1 is a cross-section view of a prior-art transducer employing a compliant tube in which the sides parallel to the cross-sectional major axis are concave.
- Fig. 2 is a pictorial view of a prior-art cylindrical transducer.
- Fig. 3 is a section view of the prior-art transducer shown in Fig. 2
- Fig. 4 is an isometric drawing (partially sectional) of a transducer in accordance with the present invention.
- Fig. 5 is a section side view of an improved transducer in accordance with the present invention.
- Fig. 6 is a section end view of the transducer shown in Fig. 5.
- Fig. 7 shows two views of one of the 12 staves which make up the sides of the transducer shown in Fig. 5.
- FIG. 4 One embodiment of the present invention is illustrated by the isometric, partially cross-sectional drawing in Fig. 4.
- Transducer 100 utilizes six flexural bars 101 fastened to two end plates 102 (the one at the distant end of the drawing not being visible).
- the flexural bars are shaped as shown in Fig. 7 (to be described later) to form, in the assembled transducer 100, an outer surface which is concave with respect to the transducer's longitudinal axis.
- Flexural bars 101 normally are fastened to end plates 102 by means of screws, not shown.
- a stack of electrostrictive elements 103 (shown diagrammatically) is assembled within transducer 100 with its axis essentially coincident with the transducer's longitudinal axis.
- a tension member 104 threaded at both ends, passes through holes in end plates 102 and through an axial hole through stack 103.
- the tension member can be a rod, or bar with any shape, provided it meets the requirements detailed in the description below.
- Boot material (such as rubber) is bonded to the outer surfaces of bars 101, at least to cover the outer region where the longitudinal edges of each bar meet the edges of adjoining bars. This detail is not shown, but it is noted here that hydrostatic pressure reinforces the bonding, whereas in the prior art cylindrical transducer of Figs. 2 and 3 the hydrostatic pressure may tend to tear the boot away from the inner cylindrical surface.
- FIG. 5 A preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in cross-section in Fig. 5, and in the cut-away end view in Fig. 6, where the upper end plate is not shown.
- this embodiment employs a greater number of flexural bars, twelve instead of six, and a large volume of electrostrictive, magnetostrictive, or other rare earth types of energy conversion material, to essentially fill the available space within the interior of the transducer shell.
- the large volume of energy conversion material and larger radiating area provide generally desired lower Q (wider bandwidth) and greater power capability.
- Fig. 5 twelve staves 201 are fastened to end plates 202 which have an end-view shape corresponding to a dodecagon, a twelve-sided regular polygon.
- the staves are fastened to the end plates by means of screws which are not visible in Fig. 5, but for which provision is shown in Fig. 7.
- the electrostrictive stack comprised of a stack of annular discs having a center hole 207, operates in the extensional mode, i.e. it expands and contracts along the longitudinal axis of the stack in response to corresponding variations in polarity of the input signal.
- Tension member 204 which passes through holes 206 in end plates 202 and hole 207 in stack 203, is secured in place by threaded nuts 205 at each end.
- boot or sealing material is assembled on the exterior surfaces of flexural bars 201, whereby hydrostatic pressure reinforces the bonding of the boot material to the bars.
- transducer 200 An end view of transducer 200 is shown in in Fig. 6, in which the upper end plate is not shown.
- the narrowing of the twelve flexural bars 201 as they curve inward to form the concave exterior surface is illustrated. These bars are fastened, as previously described, to lower end plate 202.
- the twelve-sided upper end plate (not shown) fits within the polygon formed by the inner faces of the upper ends of flexural bars 201.
- the end view of stack 203, with its center hole 207, is shown.
- Tension member 204 (shown in Fig. 5) passes through hole 206 in lower end plate 202.
- FIG. 7 To assist in visualization of transducer 200 shown in Figs 5 and 6, two views of one of the twelve staves are shown in Fig. 7.
- the outer surface of stave 301 is shown in the left view.
- Countersunk holes 303 (four at each end of the stave) provide for mounting the staves to the end plates of transducer 200 with flat-head screws. The heads of the screws, after assembly are flush with surfaces 304 at the ends of the staves in the side view at the right.
- Surface 302 in that view corresponds to the outer surface of the transducer.
- end plates 202 are caused to move outward, producing a positive pressure change in the fluid medium at their outer surfaces.
- the two ends of flexural staves 201 are pulled in opposiste directions and their concave surfaces are caused to move outward, away from the longitudinal axis of tranducer 200, thereby producing a positive pressure change in the fuid medium at the outer surfaces of bars 201.
- the pressure changes at the end plate surfaces and flexural stave surfaces are reinforcing.
- the amplitude of motion of end plates 202 in opposing directions parallel to the transducer longitudinal axis cause an increased amplitude of motion in the center portion of the concave surfaces of bars 201.
- the amplified motion of the concave surfaces of the staves coupled with the relatively large combined surface of the multiplicity of bars provides for significant power transfer to the fluid medium.
- end plates 202 When the applied signal causes stack 203 to contract, end plates 202 are drawn inward toward each other in directions parallel to the longitudinal axis of transducer 200.
- the end plate motion causes the concave surfaces of flexural staves 201 to flex inward toward the transducer's longitudinal axis.
- reinforcing negative pressure changes occur in the fluid medium at the outer surfaces of the end plates and the flexural staves.
- the invention is not limited to those numbers of staves.
- the number of flexural staves employed, the degree of their concavity, their dimensions, and the mechanical properties of the materials of which the bars are composed may be varied to provide the desired Q, frequency range, and power capability of the transducer.
- the apparatus may also serve as detectors of acoustic waves (or hydrophones), in which acoustic waves are detected and corresponding electrical (or magnetic) signals are produced.
- detectors of acoustic waves or hydrophones
- Such transducers find wide application in Sonar systems.
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- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Acoustics & Sound (AREA)
- Multimedia (AREA)
- Transducers For Ultrasonic Waves (AREA)
Description
- This invention relates to a transducer apparatus which serve as sources, and detectors, of acoustic waves, wherein electrical (or magnetic) signals produce corresponding acoustic waves in a fluid medium, normally sea water.
- In general, transducers (for underwater applications) which employ continuous wave or modulated-wave input signals utilize piezoelectric, electrostrictive, or magnetostrictive energy-conversion materials. Electrostrictive materials are available in a wide variety of shapes, including rectangular plates and annular discs which may be stacked to provide the amplitude and power of mechanical motion required by the transduction mechanism. In transducers, certain mechanical dimensional charges produced in the electrostrictive element (or stack of elements), as a result of application of an input signal, are coupled to a driver element which interfaces with the water transmission medium. In some applications the mechanical coupling arrangement is such that the maximum amplitude of motion in the driver element essentially equals the amplitude of the driving motion of the electrostrictive member. However, in other types of transducers it is advantageous to apply the electrostrictive driving motion to flexural interface member(s) in a manner which results in increased amplitude of movement of the interface member(s). This amplification may be accomplished, for example, through the use of mechanical leverage, and/or the use of mechanical resonance in the flexural driver-interface element.
- The use of mechanical amplification is particularly advantageous in transducers designed for low-frequency applications. The term "low-frequency" used herein generally applies to the region below approximately 1 khz. However, the features of this invention are not limited to that range. In the low-frequency region, significant transducer power output and driver motion are normally required. These requirements are best met through the use of large volumes of the electrostrictive energy-converting material, relatively large area of the flexural driver interface elements, and through the further use of transduction mechanisms which provide mechanical movement of the driver-interface elements which is amplified with respect to the mechanical movement of the electrostrictive energy-conversion element.
- The ceramic-crystal type electrostrictive materials normally used in transducers have relatively low tensile strength, and, unless precautionary measures are taken, are subject to fracturing when strong electrical signals are applied. However, their compressive strengths are much greater. Therefore, in transducer applications, the stacks of crystals normally are subjected to a compressive "bias" to more nearly center the internal stress variations (produced by the electrical input signal) between the limits of the tensile and compressive strength of the crystal(s).
- To better understand the advantages of the present invention a brief review of some prior art embodiments is in order.
- Fig. 1 shows a cross-section view of a prior art transducer which was claimed to essentially eliminate the undesired effect of the water pressure changes. This figure is taken from Figure 2 in United States Patent No. 3,258,738, "Underwater Transducer Apparatus", which was issued June 28, 1966. The present Fig. 1 has been somewhat simplified by omission of some detail not germane to the principles to be described here.
- The embodiment shown is effective in providing efficiency which is improved over the earlier prior-art transducers employing elliptical tubes.
- Figs. 2 and 3 are pictorial and cross-sectional views, respectively, of a prior-art cylindrical transducer employing the principles of the embodiment shown in Fig. 1. Figs. 2 and 3 correspond (in somewhat simplified form) to the Figs. 5 and 6 in the aforereferenced United States Patent No. 3,258,738.
- While effective in principle, the embodiment of Figs. 1, 2 and 3 have disadvantages, as follows:
- a. Flexible
cylinder surface member 85 requires somewhat costly fabrication methods. - b. Assembly of all internal parts and connections including assembly to top and
bottom plates cylindrical member 85 and boot 88. The bonding of one insulated end ofdriver member 90 to either top orbottom plate cylinder member 85 andboot 88. - c.
Boot 88, because of the hydrostatic pressure on exposed areas inslots 87, is subject to tearing away from the inner surface oftabular member 85. - Objects of the present invention are to make it possible to provide a transducer in which the parts are more easily and less expensively fabricated, and in which manufacturing assembly is simplified; to provide a transducer utilizing a flexural cylindrical housing providing amplification of mechanical motion of the driver, and, if desired, resonance at some predetermined frequency; to provide a transducer having improved capability to withstand hydrostatic pressures; and to provide a transducer capable of effective low frequency applications.
- US-A-3,258,738 describes an electro-acoustic transducer comprising:
a hollow flexural cylindrical housing for producing acoustic signals in response to a stimulus;
first and second end plates secured to the first and second opposite ends of the cylindrical housing; and
means for producing said stimulus comprising a stack of energy conversion elements located in said housing, each element having an approximately centred aperture, and a tension member attached to said end plates and extending through the apertures of said elements to apply a compression force to said stacks. - The present invention as defined in Claim 1 is characterized in that:
said hollow flexural cylindrical housing is formed by a plurality of individual parallel staves, each said stave having two opposite ends, being of predetermined shape, and being secured at its ends to said first and second end plates. - An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
- Fig. 1 is a cross-section view of a prior-art transducer employing a compliant tube in which the sides parallel to the cross-sectional major axis are concave.
- Fig. 2 is a pictorial view of a prior-art cylindrical transducer.
- Fig. 3 is a section view of the prior-art transducer shown in Fig. 2
- Fig. 4 is an isometric drawing (partially sectional) of a transducer in accordance with the present invention.
- Fig. 5 is a section side view of an improved transducer in accordance with the present invention.
- Fig. 6 is a section end view of the transducer shown in Fig. 5.
- Fig. 7 shows two views of one of the 12 staves which make up the sides of the transducer shown in Fig. 5.
- One embodiment of the present invention is illustrated by the isometric, partially cross-sectional drawing in Fig. 4.
- For purposes of explaining the operation and features of this invention, the use of electrostrictive material, a commonly used energy-conversion material, will be assumed. However, for persons skilled in the art it will be apparent that the principles of operation and features of the invention are equally applicable if other types of energy-conversion material are used.
-
Transducer 100 utilizes sixflexural bars 101 fastened to two end plates 102 (the one at the distant end of the drawing not being visible). The flexural bars are shaped as shown in Fig. 7 (to be described later) to form, in the assembledtransducer 100, an outer surface which is concave with respect to the transducer's longitudinal axis.Flexural bars 101 normally are fastened toend plates 102 by means of screws, not shown. A stack of electrostrictive elements 103 (shown diagrammatically) is assembled withintransducer 100 with its axis essentially coincident with the transducer's longitudinal axis. Atension member 104, threaded at both ends, passes through holes inend plates 102 and through an axial hole throughstack 103. - The tension member can be a rod, or bar with any shape, provided it meets the requirements detailed in the description below.
- Two
nuts 105, one at each end ofrod 104, are tightened against the outer surfaces ofend plates 102 to provide the required compressional "bias" to stack 103. It should be noted that hydrostatic pressure is in a direction to also produce compression on the stack and may be used to supplement the compression provided bynuts 105 onrod 104 to provide the desired total compression. It is well known by persons skilled in the art that insulation may be required between the ends ofcrystal stack 103 andend plates 102, and that bonding of the stack assembly to the end plates may be required. Therefore, these details are not shown. Further, since methods of making electrical connections to the stack are also known to those skilled in the art, these details are not shown either. Boot material (such as rubber) is bonded to the outer surfaces ofbars 101, at least to cover the outer region where the longitudinal edges of each bar meet the edges of adjoining bars. This detail is not shown, but it is noted here that hydrostatic pressure reinforces the bonding, whereas in the prior art cylindrical transducer of Figs. 2 and 3 the hydrostatic pressure may tend to tear the boot away from the inner cylindrical surface. - In the embodiment of Fig. 4, when the electrical input signal causes stack 103 to expand in the direction along
transducer 100's longitudinal axis,end plates 102 are caused to move outward in the direction ofarrows 106. This outward movement ofend plates 102 also causes the concave surfaces offlexural bars 101 to move outward in the direction ofarrows 107. Thus, the resultant positive pressure changes in the fluid medium at the outer surfaces ofend plates 102 andflexural bars 101 are reinforcing. Conversely, when the electrical input signal causes stack 103 to contract, both the outer surfaces ofend plates 102 andflexural bars 101 move inward, in the direction opposite to that indicated byarrows - A preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in cross-section in Fig. 5, and in the cut-away end view in Fig. 6, where the upper end plate is not shown.
- The operation of this embodiment is essentially the same as described for the Fig. 4 embodiment. However, this preferred embodiment employs a greater number of flexural bars, twelve instead of six, and a large volume of electrostrictive, magnetostrictive, or other rare earth types of energy conversion material, to essentially fill the available space within the interior of the transducer shell. The large volume of energy conversion material and larger radiating area provide generally desired lower Q (wider bandwidth) and greater power capability.
- In Fig. 5, twelve
staves 201 are fastened to endplates 202 which have an end-view shape corresponding to a dodecagon, a twelve-sided regular polygon. The staves are fastened to the end plates by means of screws which are not visible in Fig. 5, but for which provision is shown in Fig. 7. The electrostrictive stack, comprised of a stack of annular discs having acenter hole 207, operates in the extensional mode, i.e. it expands and contracts along the longitudinal axis of the stack in response to corresponding variations in polarity of the input signal.Tension member 204, which passes throughholes 206 inend plates 202 andhole 207 instack 203, is secured in place by threadednuts 205 at each end. The tightness of adjustment ofnuts 205, in conjuction with the hydrostatic pressure of the fluid medium, provides the required compressional bias onstack 203. As explained in Fig. 4, details well known to persons skilled in the art are not shown in Fig. 5; these omissions are as follows:
Insulation between the ends ofstack 203 andend plates 202;
Bonding of the ends of stack 203 (and insultors applied thereto) toend plates 202;
Electrical connections to stack 203; and
Flexible material. - As described for the embodiment shown in Fig. 4, boot or sealing material is assembled on the exterior surfaces of
flexural bars 201, whereby hydrostatic pressure reinforces the bonding of the boot material to the bars. - An end view of
transducer 200 is shown in in Fig. 6, in which the upper end plate is not shown. The narrowing of the twelveflexural bars 201 as they curve inward to form the concave exterior surface is illustrated. These bars are fastened, as previously described, tolower end plate 202. The twelve-sided upper end plate (not shown) fits within the polygon formed by the inner faces of the upper ends offlexural bars 201. The end view ofstack 203, with itscenter hole 207, is shown. Tension member 204 (shown in Fig. 5) passes throughhole 206 inlower end plate 202. - To assist in visualization of
transducer 200 shown in Figs 5 and 6, two views of one of the twelve staves are shown in Fig. 7. The outer surface of stave 301 is shown in the left view. Countersunk holes 303 (four at each end of the stave) provide for mounting the staves to the end plates oftransducer 200 with flat-head screws. The heads of the screws, after assembly are flush withsurfaces 304 at the ends of the staves in the side view at the right.Surface 302 in that view corresponds to the outer surface of the transducer. - Referring again to Fig. 5, when the applied signal causes the energy
conversion crystal stack 203 to expand along its longitudinal axis,end plates 202 are caused to move outward, producing a positive pressure change in the fluid medium at their outer surfaces. Simultaneously, the two ends of flexural staves 201 are pulled in opposiste directions and their concave surfaces are caused to move outward, away from the longitudinal axis oftranducer 200, thereby producing a positive pressure change in the fuid medium at the outer surfaces ofbars 201. Thus, the pressure changes at the end plate surfaces and flexural stave surfaces are reinforcing. Further, the amplitude of motion ofend plates 202 in opposing directions parallel to the transducer longitudinal axis cause an increased amplitude of motion in the center portion of the concave surfaces ofbars 201. The amplified motion of the concave surfaces of the staves coupled with the relatively large combined surface of the multiplicity of bars provides for significant power transfer to the fluid medium. - When the applied signal causes stack 203 to contract,
end plates 202 are drawn inward toward each other in directions parallel to the longitudinal axis oftransducer 200. The end plate motion causes the concave surfaces offlexural staves 201 to flex inward toward the transducer's longitudinal axis. Thus, reinforcing negative pressure changes occur in the fluid medium at the outer surfaces of the end plates and the flexural staves. - While two embodiments of the invention have been described, employing simulated concave cylindrical surfaces comprised of six and twelve flexural staves, respectively, the invention is not limited to those numbers of staves. Within the scope of the invention, the number of flexural staves employed, the degree of their concavity, their dimensions, and the mechanical properties of the materials of which the bars are composed may be varied to provide the desired Q, frequency range, and power capability of the transducer.
- Advantages of the invention apparatus over prior art include:
- a. The staves, of which the simulated concave cylindrical surface is comprised, are much simpler and less costly to fabricate than the prior-art solid concave cylinder.
- b. Transducer assembly is simpler and less costly. All internal parts, including driving member, insulators, bonding materials, the tension member and all electrical connections can be assembled to and between both end plates prior to assembly of the staves comprising the outer shell.
- c. Access to the interior parts of the transducer for service, if required, is readily accomplished by removal of one or more staves.
- d. Flexible material, is applied to the exterior, rather than interior, portion of the simulated concave cylindrical surface, either in the form of a sheet of material over the entire surface, strips of material bonded to the exterior surface and covering the areas where the longitudinal edges of adjacent staves adjoin, or by a
sealant 210 applied to the slight gaps between certain portions of the adjoining edges of adjacent staves. Spacing between the central portion of adjoining edges of the staves normally is only sufficient to allow for maximum required flexing of the staves in operation without interfering contact between adjacent staves. The use of boot material or sealant at the external surfaces simplifies assembly, and further, the bonding forces are reinforced by hydrostatic pressure. - e. A tension member permits adjustment of compression of the driving member crystal stack. This compression is augmented by hydrostatic pressure.
- The principle of reciprocity applies in the invention apparatus, i.e., in addition to serving as sources of accoustic waves, the apparatus may also serve as detectors of acoustic waves (or hydrophones), in which acoustic waves are detected and corresponding electrical (or magnetic) signals are produced. Such transducers find wide application in Sonar systems.
Claims (13)
- An electro-acoustic transducer (100) comprising:
a hollow flexural cylindrical housing for producing acoustic signals in response to a stimulus;
first and second end plates (102,202) secured to the first and second opposite ends of the cylindrical housing; and
means for producing said stimulus comprising a stack (103,203) of energy conversion elements located in said housing, each element having an approximately centred aperture (207), and a tension member (104,204) attached to said end plates and extending through the apertures of said elements to apply a compression force to said stacks;
characterized in that:
said hollow flexural cylindrical housing is formed by a plurality of individual parallel staves (101,201,301), each said stave having two opposite ends, being of predetermined shape, and being secured at its ends to said first and second end plates (102,202). - A transducer according to Claim 1, characterized in that said staves (101,201,301) are concave with respect to said member (104,204).
- A transducer according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, characterized in that said stack (103,203) comprises a series of annular energy conversion disks.
- A transducer according to any one of Claims 1 to 3 characterized in that said stack (103,203) causes said end-plates (102,202) to move, resulting in said staves having a component of motion in a direction perpendicular to that of said end plates.
- A transducer according to any one of claims 1 to 4 characterized by a means for sealing between said staves, wherein hydrostatic pressure on said means enhances said sealing.
- A transducer according to claim 5 characterized in that said means for sealing comprises flexible material applied to the outside of said housing.
- A transducer according to any one of claims 1 to 6 characterized in that the housing formed by said staves (101,201,301) has a cross-section that is approximately circular.
- An underwater acoustical projector, characterized by: a spaced apart pair of polygonal shaped end plates (102,202), a ceramic driver (103,203) of smaller cross-sectional size than each end plate, positioned between the end plates, and a set of staves (101,201,301) secured from one end plate to the other, each stave being concave inwardly towards the driver and being separated from each other stave by a gap.
- A projector according to claim 8 characterized in that each stave (101,201,301) is secured to the end plates (102,202) by adhesive bonding and by a bolt screwed into each end plate.
- A projector according to claim 8 or claim 9 characterized in that the driver (103,203) is cylindrical and has an aperture (207) therethrough along its longitudinal axis, and including a sealer coating inside the longitudinal aperture of the driver.
- A projector according to any one of claims 8 to 10 characterized by an end cap secured to each end plate (102,202) to prevent the inside of the driver (103,203) from being exposed to the outside medium, and wherein electrical wiring from the driver passes through a sealing grommet in one of the end caps.
- A projector according to any one of claims 8 to 11 characterized in that said set of staves (101,201,301) is a set of separate staves secured at each end thereof to one of the end plates (102,202), and each stave being separated from adjacent staves by a gap extending the entire length of each stave from one end plate to the other end plate.
- A projector according to any one of claims 8 to 12 characterized in that the driver (103,203) is cylindrical, has an aperture (207) therethrough along its longitudinal axis, and comprises a set of annular rings, each ring being plated on its flat surfaces with conductive electrodes, axially poled to render it piezoelectrically active and bonded to the next ring, the driver (103,203) being bonded between the end plates (102,202); and
wherein electrical connectors are secured to each ring and electrical wiring from each connector is potted along the length of the driver within the longitudinal aperture (207).
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US45191389A | 1989-12-18 | 1989-12-18 | |
US451913 | 1989-12-18 |
Publications (3)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP0434344A2 EP0434344A2 (en) | 1991-06-26 |
EP0434344A3 EP0434344A3 (en) | 1991-11-13 |
EP0434344B1 true EP0434344B1 (en) | 1995-08-23 |
Family
ID=23794226
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP19900313788 Expired - Lifetime EP0434344B1 (en) | 1989-12-18 | 1990-12-17 | Edge driven flexural transducer |
Country Status (2)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP0434344B1 (en) |
CA (1) | CA2032044A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US5805529A (en) * | 1997-09-17 | 1998-09-08 | Her Majesty The Queen In Right Of Canada, As Represented By The Minister Of National Defence Of Her Majesty's Canadian Government | Folded shell projector (FSP) |
US6535459B1 (en) | 2002-04-18 | 2003-03-18 | Her Majesty The Queen In Right Of Canada, As Represented By The Minister Of National Defence In Her Brittanic Majesty's Government Of The United Kingdom Of Great Britain And Northern Ireland | Barrel stave projector-stave attachment |
Family Cites Families (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3258738A (en) * | 1963-11-20 | 1966-06-28 | Honeywell Inc | Underwater transducer apparatus |
US4922470A (en) * | 1988-11-15 | 1990-05-01 | Her Majesty The Queen In Right Of Canada, As Represented By The Minister Of National Defence Of Her Majesty's Canadian Government | Barrel stave projector |
-
1990
- 1990-12-12 CA CA 2032044 patent/CA2032044A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 1990-12-17 EP EP19900313788 patent/EP0434344B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
CA2032044A1 (en) | 1991-06-19 |
EP0434344A3 (en) | 1991-11-13 |
EP0434344A2 (en) | 1991-06-26 |
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