Annular slot proportional jet amplifier for a fluidic sound generator

Claim 2

A proportional fluid jet amplifier comprising: means for creating a substantially annular fluid power jet; receiver means, including a substantially annular passage substantially aligned with said power jet to receive fluid flow from said power jet; and control means directing an annular fluid control jet at said power jet; means causing fluid flow from said power jet to deflect about its periphery from said receiver means passage to cause a variation in flow therein substantially proportional to the magnitude of the deflecting momentum of said control jet.

Claim 3

The amplifier of claim 1 wherein said means causing said power jet to be deflected includes means causing said control jet to diverge outwardly about its periphery so as to intercept said power jet upstream from said receiver means passage.

Claim 4

The amplifier of claim 1 wherein said means causing said power jet to be proportionally deflected includes a low pressure region extending about the power jet periphery into which the power jet may be deflected.

Claim 5

The amplifier of claim 2 wherein said means causing said control jet to diverge includes a conical deflector disposed axially aligned with respect to said power jet and receiver means passage.

Claim 6

The amplifier of claim 1 wherein said receiver means includes a plurality of fins disposed circumferentially spaced in the receiver means passage, whereby standing circumferential acoustic waves may be prevented.

Claim 7

A fluidically actuated sound generator comprising: supply means for creating an annular fluid power jet; receiver means including an annular passage aligned therewith disposed to receive fluid from said power jet; control means providing a fluid control jet directed to deflect said power jet about its periphery from said receiver passage, including means for pulsing said control jet momentum to create an amplified acoustical variation of pressure and flow in said receiver passage; a horn assembly including a diverging horn section and a concentric centerbody disposed therein defining for at least a portion of said horn section an annular diverging passage; and means creating a fluid connection between said receiver passage and said horn annular passage, whereby said control jet pulsing creates an amplified acoustical signal in said receiver passage which is efficiently coupled to a space at which the acoustical energy is directed by said horn assembly.

Claim 8

A fluidically actuated sound generator comprising: supply means for creating an annular fluid power jet; receiver means including an annular passage aligned therewith disposed to receive fluid from said power jet; control means providing a fluid control jet directed to deflect said power jet about its periphery from said receiver passage, including means for pulsing said control jet momentum to create an amplified acoustical variation of pressure and flow in said receiver passage; a horn assembly including a diverging horn section and a concentric centerbody disposed therein defining for at least a portion of said horn section an annular diverging passage; and means creating a fluid connection between said receiver passage and said horn annular passage, whereby said control jet pulsing creates an amplified acoustical signal in said receiver passage which is efficiently coupled to a space at which the acoustical energy is directed by said horn assembly.

Claim 9

The sound generator of claim 6 wherein said control means includes means deflecting said power jet substantially proportionally to the momentum of said control jet.

Claim 10

The sound generator of claim 7 wherein said means deflecting said power jet substantially proportionally to said control jet momentum includes a low pressure vent region extending about the periphery of said power jet upstream from said receiver means passage into which said power jet may be deflected.

Claim 11

The sound generator of claim 7 wherein said control jet means includes means causing said control jet to diverge outwardly about its periphery so as to intercept said power jet upstream from said receiver means passage.

Claim 12

The sound generator of claim 9 wherein said means causing said control jet to diverge includes a conical deflector disposed axially aligned with respect to said power jet and receiver means passage.

Claim 13

The sound generator of claim 10 wherein said receiver means includes a plurality of fins disposed circumferentially spaced in the receiver means passage, whereby standing circumferential acoustic waves may be prevented.