JP2720842B2 - Underwater transducer - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an underwater transducer such as a sonobuoy, and more particularly, to an underwater transducer that deploys a plurality of built-in transducer elements in water.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As shown in FIG. 7 (a), a conventional underwater transducer 100 comprises a column 101, and bases 102a, 102b mounted above and below the column 101, respectively.
And a plurality of folding arms 104 which are radially attached to the bases 102a and 102b and which can be deployed by a spring 103, and which face each other at the time of deployment, and between the facing folding arms 104. The configuration includes a wire 105 stretched and a plurality of transmitting / receiving elements 106 attached to the wire 105.

[0003] Such a conventional underwater transducer 100 is used.
As shown in FIG. 7B, before being dropped into water, each folding arm 104 was folded and stored in a cylindrical case 200. In addition, the case 200 has a configuration in which the bottom plate 200a comes off at the time of landing, and the underwater transducer 100 is released into the water after landing. After that, the underwater transducer 100 released in the water is deployed with the respective folding arms 104 and is ready for transmission and reception. (See FIG. 7 (a))

[0004]

However, the above-described conventional underwater transducer 100 has a complicated structure including a plurality of deployable folding arms 104, springs 103, and many other components. There has been a problem that a mechanical failure such as the tatami arm 104 not opening sufficiently or the spring 103 being broken is likely to occur.

A folding arm 104 and a base 102
Since the a, 102b and the strut 101 are formed of a material such as a metal having a higher specific acoustic impedance than water, the folding arm 104 and the like reflect sound waves and disturb the directivity pattern. there were.

Further, in the conventional underwater transducer 100, many parts such as the folding arm 104 and the bases 102a and 102b must be manufactured by machining.
There was a problem that it took a lot of trouble and cost.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. 63-13498, 1-113279, 3-293900 and 4-185050 propose an underwater transducer having no folding arm. However, the underwater transducer described in these publications also has a complicated configuration including many parts, and is formed of a material having a higher specific acoustic impedance than water. Corrugator 10
0, which cannot solve the above-mentioned problem.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and can improve the reliability of a device by simplifying the configuration, and can obtain a good directivity pattern. It is an object of the present invention to provide an underwater transducer that can be manufactured easily and at low cost.

[0009]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an underwater transducer including a bag formed of a soft and water-resistant material, and a bag formed inside the bag. It is configured to include a pump for supplying water and inflating the bag, and a plurality of wave transmitting / receiving elements attached to a peripheral surface of the bag and arranged at predetermined positions when the bag is inflated. .

In the underwater transducer according to the first aspect of the present invention, the bag is contracted by sucking the air inside the bag. Then, when the underwater transducer in a contracted state is dropped into water, the pump operates to supply seawater to the bag. Thereafter, the bag is filled with seawater and swells, and the transmitting / receiving element is arranged at a position where it forms an ideal beam for detecting underwater sound waves. As a result, the underwater transducer becomes ready for transmission and reception.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an underwater transducer including a bag body formed of a soft and water-resistant material and having at least a portion of a water inflow hole, An elastic member which forms a framework of the bag body, forms a framework of the bag body, is in a free state when the cover member is melted, inflates the bag body, and sucks water into the bag body, and A plurality of wave transmitting / receiving elements attached to a peripheral surface and arranged at predetermined positions when the bag body is inflated are provided.

The underwater transducer according to claim 2 having such a configuration, when the air inside the bag is sucked from the inflow hole of the bag, the bag contracts while compressing the elastic member. State. Then, the inflow hole is closed by the water-soluble lid member, and the contracted state of the bag body is maintained.

Then, when the underwater transducer in a contracted state is dropped into water, the lid member is melted and the inflow hole is opened. Thereby, the elastic member is in a free state, and the bag body is in a state of being swollen by sucking seawater from the inflow hole.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an underwater transducer including a bag formed of a soft and water-resistant material, at least a part of which is formed of a semi-permeable membrane, and which is housed inside the bag. An amount of salt that makes the salt concentration of the water filled inside the bag body through a semi-equivalent membrane higher than the salt concentration of water outside the bag body, and is attached to the peripheral surface of the bag body, and the bag body is A plurality of wave transmitting / receiving elements arranged at predetermined positions when inflated are provided.

In the underwater transducer according to the third aspect of the present invention, by storing a predetermined amount of salt in the bag, the salt concentration of the water filled in the bag can be reduced. The water concentration outside the bag is higher than the salt concentration. Therefore, when the underwater transducer in the housed state is dropped into water, the osmotic pressure generated by the salt causes water to permeate from the semi-permeable membrane into the inside of the bag until the bag is completely inflated.

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of an underwater transducer according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. First, an underwater transducer according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 is an external view showing an underwater transducer according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 10 denotes a submersible transducer according to the present embodiment, which comprises a bag 11, a pump 12, a plurality of transducers 13 and an air vent valve 14. The bag 11 has a spherical shape formed of a soft and water-resistant material.

The pump 12 has one end connected to the bag 11, and when the underwater transducer 10 is dropped into water,
Seawater is sucked in from the other end and water is supplied to the inside of the bag 11 to inflate the bag 11.

Each transmitting / receiving element 13 is bonded to a predetermined position on the peripheral surface of the bag 11. Here, the predetermined position refers to a position at which each wave transmitting / receiving element 13 forms an ideal beam for detecting sound waves in water when the bag body 11 is inflated. Further, the lead wires connected to the respective transmitting / receiving elements 13 are wired along the peripheral surface of the bag body 11,
It is connected to a circuit not shown.

Further, the mounting of each transmitting / receiving element 13 is as follows.
First, the bag body 11 is filled with air and inflated,
Next, the wave transmitting and receiving elements 13 are adhered to the outer peripheral surface of the bag body 11 in the inflated state. Here, when each wave transmitting / receiving element 13 is located on the inner peripheral surface of the bag body 11, each wave transmitting / receiving element 13 is bonded to the outer peripheral surface of the bag body 11, and then the bag body 11 is turned over. The lead wire may be wired on either the inner peripheral surface or the outer peripheral surface of the bag body 11.

The air vent valve 14 is provided at the upper part of the bag body 11, and when the bag body 11 is filled with seawater, the air remaining inside the bag body 11 is detected and removed. In addition,
The air vent valve 14 may be provided only when the residual air inside the bag 11 adversely affects the formation of directivity of the submersible transducer 10. If air can be completely sucked from the inside of the bag 11, or if some air remains in the bag 11 without affecting the directivity formation, it may not be provided.

The underwater transducer 1 of this embodiment as described above.
0 is dropped into water while being stored in the case 20, as shown in FIG. In this case, the bag 11 is brought into a contracted state by sucking the air inside the bag 11 to the outside, and the volume of the entire device is reduced and stored in the case 20.

Here, the configuration of the case 20 will be described with reference to FIG. The case 20 has a thin and small cylindrical shape corresponding to the underwater transducer 10 when the bag body 11 is contracted, and the bottom plate 21 is detached when the case 20 comes in contact with water.

That is, the bottom plate 21 is fixed to the cylindrical portion of the case 20 by a stopper (not shown), and a pressure receiving plate 21a is provided at the center of the bottom plate 21. The pressure receiving plate 21a is configured to operate by the pressure at the time of landing to release the stopper.

Next, the underwater transmitter / receiver 1 having the above configuration will be described.
The operation of 0 will be described. The underwater transducer 10 housed in the case 20 is dropped on the water surface by an aircraft or the like. Then, when the pressure at the time of landing is applied to the bottom plate 21 of the case 20, the pressure receiving plate 21a operates to release the stopper, and the bottom plate 21 comes off.

Then, the underwater transducer 10 is moved to the case 20.
Released from the water. Next, the pump 12 operates to supply seawater into the bag body 11. Then, the bag 11
When the seawater is filled, the bag body 11 expands and becomes spherical,
A plurality of transmitting / receiving elements 13 attached to the peripheral surface of the bag 11
Is placed at a predetermined position, and the underwater transducer 10 is ready for transmission and reception.

The underwater transducer 1 of this embodiment as described above
0, the bag 11, the pump 12, and the wave transmitting / receiving element 13
The device can be formed with such a simple configuration, the number of parts can be reduced, and the reliability of the device can be improved.

Since the acoustic impedance of the bag 11 filled with seawater is substantially equal to the acoustic impedance of the underwater, each transmitting / receiving element 13 is not affected by the acoustic reflection of the structure at all, and has a good directivity. You can get a pattern.

Further, since the bag 11 for disposing the transmitting / receiving elements 13 at predetermined positions can be easily and inexpensively manufactured, the cost of the apparatus can be reduced.

Next, an underwater transducer according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 4 is an external view showing an underwater transducer according to a second embodiment of the present invention. In the underwater transducer according to the second embodiment, the bag is inflated by an elastic member.

In FIG. 1, the bag body 31 is formed of a soft and water-resistant material, and a part thereof is provided with a seawater inlet 31a. The inflow hole 31a is closed by a water-soluble lid member 32. Further, a plurality of transmitting / receiving elements 33 are bonded to predetermined positions on the outer peripheral surface of the bag body 31.

Numeral 34 denotes an elastic member which binds both ends of a plurality of thin leaf springs 34a through connecting members 34b and 34c to form a framework of the spherical bag body 31. The connecting member 34b located above the bag 31 has a bag 31
A through hole 34d corresponding to the inflow hole 31a is formed.

The elastic member 34 is made of CFRP (Carbon Fiberglass Reusable) whose intrinsic acoustic impedance is closer to that of seawater.
Although it is preferable to be formed of a plastic resin such as inforced plastics (carbon fiber reinforced plastic), even if it is formed of a metal because it is a slender member, there is not so much adverse effect due to reflection of sound waves.

Next, the underwater transmitter / receiver 3 having the above configuration will be described.
The operation of 0 will be described. When the air inside the bag body 31 is sucked from the inflow hole 31a of the bag body 31, the bag body 31
A contracted state as shown in FIG. And the inflow hole 31a
(And the through hole 34d) are closed by the lid member 32, and this contracted state is maintained.

Next, when the stored underwater transducer 30 is dropped into water, the lid member 32 is melted and the inflow hole 31a is opened. As a result, the elastic member 34 becomes spherical, and the bag body 31 expands, sucks seawater, and becomes a state as shown in FIG. Thereby, the plurality of wave transmitting / receiving elements 33 attached to the outer peripheral surface of the bag body 31 are arranged at predetermined positions, and the underwater wave transmitter / receiver 30 can transmit and receive.

The underwater transducer 3 of this embodiment as described above
0, the elastic member 34 composed of a plurality of leaf springs 34a
As a result, the bag body 31 can be inflated, so that the configuration of the device can be simplified and the reliability of the device can be further improved.

Next, an underwater transducer according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 6 is an external view showing an underwater transducer according to a third embodiment of the present invention. In the underwater transducer according to the third embodiment, the bag is inflated by osmotic pressure.

In the figure, a bag 41 is formed of a soft and water-resistant material, and a part thereof is formed of a semipermeable membrane 4.
1a. This semi-permeable membrane 41a needs to be soft and water-resistant similarly to the material forming the entire bag body 41, and for example, it is preferable to use a cellophane film or the like. At a predetermined position on the peripheral surface of the bag 41,
A plurality of transmitting / receiving elements 42 are adhered.

Further, a semipermeable membrane 41 is provided inside the bag body 41.
The salt concentration of the seawater filled inside the bag body 41 through a
An amount of salt 43 higher than the salt concentration of seawater outside the bag body 41 is stored.

Underwater transmitter / receiver 4 having such a configuration
0 is stored and dropped in water, the semi-permeable membrane 41a
The seawater penetrates into the bag body 41 through. Here, inside the bag 41, the salt 43 is stored in an amount that makes the salt concentration of seawater filled in the bag 41 higher than the salt concentration of seawater outside the bag 41. Due to the generated osmotic pressure, seawater permeates until the bag 41 is completely inflated.

Thereafter, when the bag 41 is completely inflated, the plurality of transmitting / receiving elements 42 attached to the peripheral surface of the bag 41 are arranged at predetermined positions so that the underwater transducer 40 can transmit and receive. Become.

The underwater transducer 4 of this embodiment as described above
According to 0, the bag body 41 can be inflated in water without using mechanical means, so that the configuration of the device can be further simplified and the reliability can be further improved.

The underwater transducer according to the present invention is not limited to the first to third embodiments. For example, in each of the embodiments described above, the bags 11, 31, 41
Is a spherical shape, but is not limited to this, and can be changed to an arbitrary shape such as a cylindrical shape.

In the second embodiment, the elastic member 34 is formed of a leaf spring 34a made of CFRP. However, the elastic member 34 may be formed of a two-way shape memory alloy. That is, the elastic member 34 is formed of a shape memory alloy that is in a contracted state at normal temperature and expands at low temperature in water to expand the bag body 31. With such a configuration, the elastic member 34 can be freely folded at the time of storage, and the underwater transducer 30 in the stored state can be made more compact.

Further, in the third embodiment, the bag 4
Although a part of 1 is the semipermeable membrane 41a, the entirety of the bag body 41 may be formed of a soft and water-resistant semipermeable membrane.

[0046]

As described above, according to the underwater transducer of the present invention, the reliability of the equipment can be improved by simplifying the configuration, and a good directivity pattern can be obtained. Further, the device can be manufactured easily and inexpensively.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external view showing an underwater transducer according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a storage state of the underwater transducer.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a case for storing the underwater transducer.

FIG. 4 is an external view showing an underwater transducer according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a storage state of the underwater transducer.

FIG. 6 is a partially cutaway view showing an underwater transducer according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

7A and 7B show a conventional underwater transducer, wherein FIG. 7A is a perspective view showing an expanded state, and FIG. 7B is a perspective view showing a stored state.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10, 30, 40 Underwater transducer 11, 31, 41 Bag 12 Pump 13, 33, 42 Transceiver element 31a Inlet hole 32 Cover member 34 Elastic member 41a Semipermeable membrane 43 Salt

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A bag formed of a soft and water-resistant material, a pump for supplying water to the inside of the bag and inflating the bag, and attached to a peripheral surface of the bag. A plurality of wave transmitting / receiving elements arranged at predetermined positions when the bag body is inflated. 2. A bag formed of a soft and water-resistant material and having at least a part thereof provided with an inflow hole for water, a water-soluble lid member for closing the inflow hole of the bag, An elastic member that forms a skeleton, is free when the lid member is melted, inflates the bag body, and allows water to be sucked into the bag body, is attached to a peripheral surface of the bag body, and the bag body is An underwater transducer comprising a plurality of transducers arranged at predetermined positions when inflated. 3. A bag formed of a soft and water-resistant material, at least a part of which is formed by a semi-permeable membrane; and a bag accommodated inside the bag and via the semi-equivalent membrane. A salt having a salt concentration higher than the salt concentration of water outside the bag, and a plurality of salts attached to a peripheral surface of the bag and arranged at a predetermined position when the bag is inflated. And a wave transmitting / receiving element.