Mounting structure for spherical shaped underwater transducer

Claim 2

A vibratile system for the generation of acoustic energy responsive to electrical signals, said system comprising an electroacoustic transducer means having a substantially spherical shape for executing translatory vibrations along a particular axis when energized by said signals, means for flexibly and securely mounting said transducer in a rigid structure, said mounting means including a belt of resilient material equatorially surrounding the external surface of said transducer which lies in a plane at right angles to said axis of vibration, and fastening means associated with said belt of resilient material for securely retaining said transducer in an accurate position relative to said rigid structure.

Claim 3

A vibratile system for the generation of acoustic energy responsive to electrical signals, said system comprising an electroacoustic transducer means having a substantially spherical shape for executing translatory vibrations along a particular axis when energized by said signals, means for flexibly and securely mounting said transducer in a rigid structure, said mounting means including a belt of resilient material equatorially surrounding the external surface of said transducer which lies in a plane at right angles to said axis of vibration, and fastening means associated with said belt of resilient material for securely retaining said transducer in an accurate position relative to said rigid structure.

Claim 4

A vibratile system for the generation of acoustic energy responsive to electrical signals, said system comprising an electroacoustic transducer means having a substantially spherical shape for executing translatory vibrations along a particular axis when energized by said signals, means for flexibly and securely mounting said transducer in a rigid structure, said mounting means including a belt of resilient material equatorially surrounding the external surface of said transducer which lies in a plane at right angles to said axis of vibration, and fastening means associated with said belt of resilient material for securely retaining said transducer in an accurate position relative to said rigid structure.

Claim 5

The system of claim 1 wherein said belt includes undercut regions in contact with said sphere, said undercut regions enabling water to reach the equatorial region of said sphere when it is operating under water.

Claim 6

The system of claim 2 wherein said undercut regions alternately enter from opposite sides of said belt and extend toward the middle of said belt.

Claim 7

A transducer mounting for a spherical vibratile system, said system comprising an electroacoustic transducer means having a substantially spherical shape for executing translatory vibrations along a particular axis, said mounting structure including a belt of resilient material surrounding the external surface of the equatorial region of said transducer, said equatorial region containing a circle of maximum diameter on the surface of said transducer which lies in a plane at right angles to said axis of vibration, said belt of resilient material being characterized in that regions of the material are undercut at spaced intervals around the inner peripheral surfacE of said belt which is in contact with the surface of said transducer.

Claim 8

A transducer mounting for a spherical vibratile system, said system comprising an electroacoustic transducer means having a substantially spherical shape for executing translatory vibrations along a particular axis, said mounting structure including a belt of resilient material surrounding the external surface of the equatorial region of said transducer, said equatorial region containing a circle of maximum diameter on the surface of said transducer which lies in a plane at right angles to said axis of vibration, said belt of resilient material being characterized in that regions of the material are undercut at spaced intervals around the inner peripheral surfacE of said belt which is in contact with the surface of said transducer.

Claim 9

The invention in claim 4 being further characterized in that the inner surface of said resilient belt is contoured to have a concave shape which mates with and compliments the external convex surface of said spherically shaped transducer.

Claim 10

The invention in claim 5 being still further characterized in that the outer surface of said resilient belt is contoured to have a cylindrical shape, with the axis of said cylinder lying along the particular axis of translatory vibrations.

Claim 11

The invention in claim 4 and a bonding agent between the inner surface of said resilient belt and the outer mating surface of said transducer.

Claim 12

The invention in claim 4 being still further characterized in that said resilient belt is a molded elastomer material.