US3663934A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Self-supporting transducer assembly
Assignee: United States Department of the Navy
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Filing: 1969-10-08
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Granted: 1972-05-16
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Expires: 1989-10-08
Abstract
Abstract A self-supporting transducer assembly, mounted, for example, on the nose section shell of a torpedo, comprising an attachment ring; a diaphragm consisting of: (1) a tension-carrying skin, sealably connected to the inner periphery of the attachment ring, and forming with it a dish-shaped cavity; (2) an acoustically non-refractive and non-reflective composite material in the dishshaped cavity; (3) a vapor seal, sealably connected to the inner periphery of the attachment ring, serving, with the tensioncarrying skin, to confine the composite material to the dishshaped cavity; an acoustic isolation joint, mounted on the torpedo, for acoustically isolating the transducer assembly from the torpedo; and at least one transducer element bonded directly to the tension-carrying skin.
Inventors
- 👤 Harper John Whitehouse
- 👤 Shelby F Sullivan
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 16:35
CPC Classifications
G; G10; G10K; G10K11/00; G10K11/004
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
81 words
A self supporting transducer assembly, which may be used on a torpedo, comprising; an attachment ring having a central opening; a diaphragm sealably mounted to the ring across the central opening and made of an acoustically nonrefractive and nonreflective, composite, self-supporting, material which is impervious to seawater; at least one transducer element directly bonded to the diaphragm for self support thereto; a support for the ring; and means acoustically isolating the ring from the support and sealably connecting the riNg thereto.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
81 words
A self supporting transducer assembly, which may be used on a torpedo, comprising; an attachment ring having a central opening; a diaphragm sealably mounted to the ring across the central opening and made of an acoustically nonrefractive and nonreflective, composite, self-supporting, material which is impervious to seawater; at least one transducer element directly bonded to the diaphragm for self support thereto; a support for the ring; and means acoustically isolating the ring from the support and sealably connecting the riNg thereto.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
99 words
A self-supporting transducer assembly according to claim 1, wherein the diaphragm consists of: a tension-carrying skin, sealably connected across the attachment ring and forming with it a dish-shaped cavity; an acoustically nonrefractive and nonreflective composite material in the dish-shaped cavity; a vapor seal, consisting of a thin sheet of material which is impervious to seawater, sealably connected across the attachment ring serving, with the tension-carrying skin, to confine the composite material to the dish-shaped cavity; and wherein the transducer element is bonded to the tension-carrying skin, the axis of the transducer being parallel to the axis of the ring.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
170 words
A self-supporting transducer assembly according to claim 2 wherein the attachment ring has a plurality of slots with parallel sides, the sides being parallel to and below the tension-carrying skin, the attachment ring having a plurality of tapped holes in a direction parallel to the axis of the ring; the ring support has a plurality of clearance holes aligned in the direction of each of the tapped holes; and further comprising: a plurality of resilient washers, a pair for each hole, one washer of each washer pair being located in each slot, the other washer being located at the surface of the diaphragm support; an O-ring mounted in a groove in the diaphragm support, the groove forming a periphery which encompasses all of the bolt holes; and a plurality of bolts, one for each hole, each bolt passing through a pair of washers, the bolts when screwed into the tapped holes compressing the two washers and the O-ring, thereby making a watertight seal between the attachment ring and the support.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
54 words
A self-supporting transducer assembly according to claim 3, wherein the composite material consists of a homogeneous mixture of glass microspheres, containing a gas at low pressure, interspersed in an epoxy resin, the composite material being prestressed to a pressure equal to the maximum pressure at which the self-supporting transducer assembly is to be used.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
40 words
A self-supporting transducer assembly according to claim 4 wherein the attachment ring is in two sections, one section capable of being screwed into the other section, and the tension-carrying skin is placed between the two sections of the attachment ring.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
A self-supporting transducer assembly according to claim 5, wherein the tension-carrying skin is an elastomeric material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
A self-supporting transducer assembly according to claim 6, wherein the elastomeric material is of fiberglas.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-05-16 | 1975-11-15 | 1976-05-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-05-16 | 1979-11-15 | 1980-05-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-05-16 | 1983-11-15 | 1984-05-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |