Classifications

• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
  • H04R1/00—Details of transducers, loudspeakers or microphones
  • H04R1/44—Special adaptations for subaqueous use, e.g. for hydrophone
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
  • B63C—LAUNCHING, HAULING-OUT, OR DRY-DOCKING OF VESSELS; LIFE-SAVING IN WATER; EQUIPMENT FOR DWELLING OR WORKING UNDER WATER; MEANS FOR SALVAGING OR SEARCHING FOR UNDERWATER OBJECTS
  • B63C11/00—Equipment for dwelling or working underwater; Means for searching for underwater objects
  • B63C11/02—Divers' equipment
  • B63C11/26—Communication means, e.g. means for signalling the presence of divers

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a device forming a tip for a snorkel or for a diving regulator allowing the underwater reception of quality acoustic signals.
• the object of the present invention is to solve the technical problem consisting in providing a device of a new design which is easily achievable on an industrial scale and which allows underwater reception of quality acoustic signals.
• the solution, in accordance with the present invention consists of a device forming a tip for a snorkel or for a diving regulator, characterized in that it comprises means allowing the reception of acoustic signals comprising at least one transducer vibrator sealingly disposed in said tip, near, or at least partially in a bite tab, so as to ensure, in the position of use, The transmission of said signals to the inner ear, via jaw bones.
• the invention is therefore based on the original design consisting in integrating at least one transducer element in the end piece of a snorkel or in the mouth piece of a conventional regulator and in using the transmission of acoustic signals to the inner ear by bone conduction.
• Bone conduction devices generally aim to excite the cochlea by vibrating the cranial box.
• the teeth which are only separated from the jawbones by the thin thickness of their ligaments (desmodontium), constitute a privileged relay of bone acoustic transmission, and it is this property which is specifically exploited by the invention.
• the aforementioned vibrator comprises a thin metallic plate, coated on one of its faces, preferably with the exception of two lateral bands, of a piezoelectric ceramic, said plate thus being coated included in an envelope constituted by a waterproof and electrically insulating polymer film.
• this vibrator is arranged parallel to the bite tab, at least partially inside it.
• this vibrator is disposed sensi ⁇ ly perpendicularly and externally to the bite tab and further comprises a stud forming element, arranged sen ⁇ sibly in its center and extending substantially transversely in the direction of said bite tab, at least part of said portion forming a stud possibly being arranged inside said tab.
• this stud forming element is made of the same material as the envelope surrounding the metal plate of the vibrator.
• the present invention relates to a diving snorkel, characterized in that it is equipped with a device forming a nozzle as described above.
• this snorkel further comprises an antenna allowing the reception of radio emission, electrically isolated and arranged, in the position of use, at the upper part of the snorkel; an electrically isolated and waterproof receiver-amplifier assembly as well as a power supply device tion such as batteries, housed in a cavity external to said tuba, closed in a sealed manner, for example, by a screw cap.
• a snorkel according to the invention further comprises, in its upper part in the use position, at least one waterproof microphone connected to a low frequency amplifier, advantageously comprising an automatic power adjustment device. output depending on the ambient sound level.
• the present inven ⁇ tion relates to a diving regulator characterized in that it is equipped with a nozzle as defined above.
• this pressure reducer also carries means making it possible to establish an inductive coupling, constituted for example by a reception loop embedded in the tubular part of the end piece in which the intake tube d is housed. air of the regulator, cooperating with an induction loop disposed on said air supply tube and is. located opposite said first loop, in the position of use.
• FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a vibrating transducer element used according to a currently preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention
• - Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view
• - Figure 3 is a perspective view of a snorkel according to a first alternative embodiment of the invention
• - Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 of a second alternative embodiment of such a snorkel;
• - Figure 5 is an enlarged detail view of a longitudinal section along section VV of Figure 3 of The tip of the tuba, at a bite tab;
• FIG. 6 is an enlarged detail view, in cross section along section VI-VI of Figure 3 of The tip of the tuba, also at a bite tab;
• FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a nozzle for a regulator according to the invention and the air supply tube of this regulator;
• FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the elements shown in Figure 7, in the assembled state;
• - Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure 5, in cross section along section IX-IX of Figure 7 of the tip, at a bite tab; and - Figure 10 is a view similar to Figure 6, in longitudinal section along section X-X of Figure 7 of the tip, at a bite tab.
• FIGS. 1 and 2 therefore show, by way of example, an embodiment of a transducer vibrator used for the production of a device forming a tip for a snorkel or for a regulator in accordance with the invention.
• This vibrator is constituted by a brass plate 2, substantially rectangular and of a small thickness coated on one of its faces with a layer of piezoelectric ceramic 3; said plate thus coated being included in an envelope 4 constituted by a waterproof and electrically insulating polymer film, such as for example an acrylic resin film.
• the piezoelectric ceramic layer 3 will cover the entire surface of one of the faces of the metal plate 2, with the exception of two lateral bands, in order to increase the amplitude gradient between the center of the plate. and its side edges.
• the vibrator or vibrator 1 thus formed is non-deformable under pressure and electrically insulated and can therefore be included, in a leaktight manner, in the mass of elastomer constituting the arc carrying the bite tabs of a diving tip of the type and volume of those currently existing.
• the vibrator 2 may also comprise a stud forming element 5, of substantially frustoconical shape, disposed substantially in the center of the plate 2, substantially transversely.
• FIGS. 3 and 4 show two alternative embodiments of a diving snorkel equipped with a device forming a nozzle according to the invention.
• This tip which is shown in Figures 5 and 6 in detail, has embedded in a bite tab or nipple 10 a vibrator such as that shown in Figures 1 and 2, but without ITA ⁇ forming stud 5.
• the vibrator 1 is disposed substantially parallel to the bite tab, that is to say in the median longitudinal plane of this tongue (example shown) or in a plane parallel thereto.
• the vibrator can be partially or totally inside the bite tab 10.
• the snorkel shown in Figure 3 allows the reception of radio broadcasts.
• the aerial part of the snorkel comprises an antenna 12 coated in an electrical insulator.
• This antenna brings the high frequency radio signals to an electrically insulated and waterproof receiver-amplifier unit 13 delivering a low frequency electric signal amplified by the vibrator 1 included in the bite tab 10.
• the reference numeral 14 represents a device comprising buttons adjustment whose sealing can be achieved by O-rings.
• the reference numeral 15 designates batteries disposed in a cavity of a housing element 16 attached to the tubular part of the tuba.
• the housing element 16 can be sealed off, for example by a screw cap 17.
• the snorkel shown in FIG. 4, constituting a second embodiment given by way of example, allows the geur swimming on the surface to hear sounds from the air.
• This tuba has an end piece strictly identical to the end piece of the snorkel shown in FIG. 3 and comprises in its aerial part one or more (two in the example shown) waterproof microphones 18 connected to a low frequency amplifier 19 comprising a device that adjusts automatically.
• the output power according to the ambient sound level.
• the assembly is electrically insulated and waterproof.
• This amplifier sends to each vibrator 1 the amplified signals picked up by each of the microphones 18, which allows the divers to receive the sounds in stereophonic mode, and therefore to locate their origin.
• FIG. 7 represents a nozzle 20 and the regulator pro ⁇ prement said 21 intended to be equipped with this nozzle as shown in FIG. 8.
• the end piece 20 comprises a vibrator 1 strictly identical to that shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.
• the vibrator 1 is arranged substantially perpendicular to the bite tab 10, that is to say say in a plane substantially perpendicular to the median longitudinal plane of the bite tab 10.
• the element forming stud 5 of the vibrator 1 extends in the direction of the bite tab 10, at least part of the element 5 possibly being located inside said lan ⁇ guet, at the level of the part of it in contact with the teeth 22.
• the vibrator 1 is connected by insulated flexible electrical conductors 23 to a receiving loop 24 embedded in the tubular part of the end piece 20, in which is housed
• the two reception 24 and induction 26 loops are opposite and allow an inductive coupling to be established.
• the invention which has just been described with reference to several embodiments given by way of example includes all the means constituting technical equivalents of the means described, as well as their various combinations.
• the tuba vibrator shown in FIG. 3 can be placed perpendicular to the bite tab, as in the case of the regulator described with reference to FIGS. 7 to 10.
• the vibrator of the end piece for regulator may be arranged parallel to the bite tab.
• a device forming a tip for a snorkel or for a regulator according to the invention may comprise several vibrators, for example a vibrator for each bite tab.
• the device forming a nozzle for a snorkel or for a diving regulator which has just been described has many advantages: - the simplicity of its design makes it easily adaptable to snorkels and traditional diving regulators;

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Acoustics & Sound (AREA)
• Signal Processing (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Ocean & Marine Engineering (AREA)
• Transducers For Ultrasonic Waves (AREA)
• Piezo-Electric Transducers For Audible Bands (AREA)
• Percussion Or Vibration Massage (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (2)

Family

ID=9384774

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (7)

Cited By (3)

Families Citing this family (7)

Family Cites Families (5)

• 1989
  • 1989-08-17 FR FR8910988A patent/FR2650987B1/fr not_active Expired - Lifetime
• 1990
  • 1990-08-17 DE DE69014636T patent/DE69014636T2/de not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1990-08-17 ES ES90912855T patent/ES2067757T3/es not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1990-08-17 EP EP90912855A patent/EP0487599B1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1990-08-17 DK DK90912855T patent/DK0487599T3/da active
  • 1990-08-17 AU AU62791/90A patent/AU6279190A/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1990-08-17 WO PCT/FR1990/000615 patent/WO1991002678A1/fr active IP Right Grant

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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