GB2124853A - Communication system - Google Patents

Abstract

A communication system e.g. for an armoured personnel carrier consists of a number of units (56-59) fixed to the vehicle. Each unit has a electroacoustic transducer and is acoustically connected to one or more head sets (61-67) comprising ear enclosures connected via a voice tube 13 to the unit. A harness 55 connects all the units (56-59) to the microphone (53) and possibly a radio (68). A loudspeaker (60) may also be provided. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Communication system This invention relates to communication systems for vehicles.

The need arises in many noisy environments for one-way communication so that, for example, oper atorsworking in the environment can receive instructions. One well known system requires each recipient to be provided with a head set having electrical transducers mounted in holderswhichfitoverthe wearer's ears. Normally because ofthe weight of such a head setthere is a band which goes overthe wearer's head to supportthe holders. While this system is satisfactory in many instances it is expensive. It may also be disadvantageous ifthe wearer is, for example, wearing protective head gear in which casehewill haveto removethehead gear before he can remove the head set.

Itis an object ofthe inventionto provide a simple and inexpensive communication system for a vehicle.

According to the invention we provide, in or for a vehicle, a communication system comprising: a plurality of units fixed to the hull ofthe vehicle, each unit containing an electrical transducerto provide a sonic output in response to an electrical input, a chamber connected to receive the sonic output of the transducer, and connector means associated with the chamberso thatvoice tubes can be connected thereto; a plurality of head sets each comprising a pair of ear enclosures arranged to envelop an ear of a wearer and to fit closely to the head of the wearerto cut our ambient noise, a band joining the enclosures and arranged to extend around the back ofthe wearer's head to hold the enclosures in place over the wearers ears and voice tube means associated with the enclosures and having one end opening into the enclosures and the other end being connected to the connector means of one of said units; and means electrically interconnecting the units and connecting them to microphone means within the vehicle.

This arrangement is simple and inexpensive. The enclosures will cut out ambient noise and the voice tubes will delivertothe enclosures the necessary sonic signals from the microphone means. Since the band passes around the back ofthe wearer's head, the head set can be removed by the wearer of protective head gearwithoutthe necessity to remove the head gear.

Each voice tube may be embodied in the band of the head set or may indeed form the band itself. Preferably the band will be made of spring material so as to press the enclosures tightly over the wearer's ears.

The chamber of each unit may be of Y shape with the transducerconnected to the stem ofthe Y and the voice tube connector means forming the arms or limbs ofthe Y, a head set being connected to each connector means.

When the communication system is installed in a vehicle there will be a unit adjacent to each pair of occupants ofthe vehicle, their head will be connected semi-permanently to the unit and the head sets would be put on when the occupants got into the vehicle and could easily be removed when the occupants leave even if the latterarewearing protective head gear. Each occupantofa noisy vehicle may be equipped with a head set embodying the invention to protect him from the effects of the noise.

The invention will now be described in detail byway of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: FIGURE 1 is a view of a head set used in the invention; FIGURE 2 isan elevation of a unittowhich a headset may be connected; FIGURE 3 and 4 are two sectional views ofthe unit of Figure 2, Figures 3 being sections on the lines A-A and B-B of Figure 4 respectively; and FIGURE 5 is a diagrammatic planviewofthe hull of a vehicle showing the communication system installed.

Referring nowto Figure 1,the head set comprises two enclosures 10 and 11 shaped to enclose the wearer's ears. The enclosures are in the form of shells and round the periphery of each shell is a padded ring 12 which makes contact with the side of the wearer's head and excludes ambient noise. The enclosures havetheirupperparts 10aand llashapedto be able to fit under protective head gear. The enclosures are connected by a tubular spring band 13 which also serves as a voice tube. One end 15 of the band is connected to a hole 16 in the wall of the enclosure 10 and the other end 18 ofthe band is connected to a hole 19 in the wall ofthe enclosure 11.In the middle ofthe band 13 is a tee-piece 20 having a swivel member21 joined thereto, the swivel member in turn being connected to a furthervoicetube 22 of rugged construction. The voice tube 22 has a connector 23 at its end remotefromtheswivel 21.

The band 13 isadaptedto extend around the backof the wearer's head so that the portions 1 Oa and 1 laof the enclosures 10 and 11 can projectunderprotective headgearworn bytheuserandthe head set can be put on and removed without disturbing the head gear.

Referring now to Figures 2 to 4 the unitthere shown comprises an open topped box 24 closed by a lid 25.

The lid has a peripheral groove 26 to receive the upper edge ofthe box 24 and in the groove is mounted a sealing ring 27. The lid is held in position by three screws, one of which is shown at 28, which are received in threaded holes 28a in the box 24.

Mounted in opposite walls 29a and 29b of the box are two electrical connectors 30 and 31. These are connected electrically to a transducer 32 arranged to receive electrical signals and to produce sonic signals from its front face 33. The transducer is, as shown best in Figures 3 and 4, received in a rubber moulding 34 which also connects the transducer to a chamber 35.

As will be seen from the drawings the moulding is of generally U-section and one limb 36 ofthe U engages around the transducer while the other limb 37 of the U engages an apertured flange 38 on the chamber 35 thus to hold the chamber and the transducertogether.

The chamber is provided with two apertures, one of The drawing(s) originally filed were informai and the print here reproduced is taken from a later filed forma! copy.

which is shown at39 in Figure 3. Fitting into the aperture is a connector 40 which has a threaded spigot 41 received in the aperture and an external threaded spigot 32. There are in fact two connectors which are similar, the other connector being indicated at 43 and having athreaded external spigot 44. Each ofthe connectors 40 and 43 has, as shown in Figure 3, a groove 45 in which is received a grommet 46 which seals the connector to the wall of the box 24to reduce the transmission of ambient noise into the box and thus into the tube 22.

The box 24 has a flange 47 provided with holes 48 wherebythe unit of which the boxforms part can be mounted on a vehicle hull.

In operation the head set such as described in relation to Figure 1 is connected via its connector 23 to a connector 40 or 43 ofthe unit described in relation to Figures 2 to 4. An electrical input is provided to the transducer 32 which produces, e.g. a voice sig nal which isfed into the chamber 35 and from thence along the voice tubes 13to the enclosures 10 and 11. It is apparentthat two such head sets can be connected to a unit ofthe type described in relation to Figures 2 to 4.

Referring nowto Figure 5, this shows a hull of a vehicle, for example a wheeled ortracked armoured personnel carrier, indicated generally at 50 having a driver's position 51 and a commander's position 52. At the commander's position 52 is a microphone 53 which is connected to a power amplifier 54. The power amplifier is connected by a harness 55, which constitutes electrical interconnecting means, to four units 56,57,58 and 59 similar to those described in relation to Figures 2 to 4. The units are fixed to the wall ofthe vehicle by screws or bolts passing through the holes 58 in the flanges 47.

In addition to a driver at the driver's position 51 and a commander at the commander's position 52 the vehicle has seven other occupants and each of these hasaheadsetsimilartothatdescribedin relation to Figure 1. Each ofthe units 56,57, and 59 has two head sets connected thereto andthe unit 58 has one head set connected thereto but could have another one con nectedthereto if desired. Thus head sets61 and 62 are connected to the unit 56, head sets 63 and 64 are connected to the head set 57, head set 65 is connected to the unit 58 and head sets 66 and 67 are connected to the unit 59.

The harness 55 also feeds a loudspeaker 60 which can be used within the vehicle when the noise level does not require use ofthe head sets.

Atthe driver's position there is a radio 68 which is connected by a harness 69 to the power amplifier 54.

The occupants ofthe vehicle, which will normally be soldiers if the vehicle is a fighting vehicle, will be wearing equipment and in particular protective headgear. They may, however, put on the head sets because the tubular bands 13 are arranged to go round the back ofthe wearer's head underthe protective headgear and soon entering the vehicle they can put on the head sets which will already have been connected to the units 56-59 and on leaving the vehicle they will merely take the head sets off and leave them connected to the units.

Itwill be seen, therefore, that the invention provides a simple and inexpensive communication system for use in a vehicle, particularly an armoured vehicle which is subject to a considerable amount of noise within it.

Claims (8)

1. In orfor a vehicle a communication system comprising: a plurality of units fixed to the hull ofthe vehicle, each unit containing an electrical transducer to provide a sonic output in response to an electrical input, a chamber connected to receive the sonic output of the transducer, and connector means associated with the chamber so that voice tubes can be connected thereto; a plurality of head sets each comprising a pairofearenclosureseach arranged to envelop an ear of a wearer and to fit closely to the head of the wearerto cut out ambient noise, a band joining the enclosures and arranged to extend around the back ofthewearer's head to hold the enclosures in place overthewearer's ears and voicetube means associated with the enclosures and having one end opening into the enclosures and the other end being connected to one of saic! units; and means electrically interconnecting the units and connecting them to microphone meanswithin the vehicle.

2. A system according to Claim 1 whereinthevoice tube means of each head set are integral with the band thereof.

3. Acommunication system comprising a unit containing an electrical transducer to provide a sonic output in response to an electrical input, a chamber connected to receive the sonic output ofthe transducer, and connector means associated with the chamber so that voice tubes can be conneced thereto.

4. Asystem according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the chamber and the connectors of each unit form a Y-shaped assembly with the transducer being connected to the stem of the Y and two connector means forming the limbs of theY, a a head set being connected to each connector means.

5. A system accoring to Claim 3 wherein the transducer of each unit is connected to the chamber by means of a U-shaped rubber moulding.

6. A system according to any one ofthe preceding Claims wherein the microphone means is connected to an amplifier which in turn is connected to said electrical interconnecting means.

7. A system according to any one of the preceding Claims wherein the interconnecting means also feed a loudspeaker mounted in the hull.

8. A communication system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.