US3896889A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Hydroacoustic apparatus
Assignee: Hydroacoustics Inc
•
Filing: 1971-08-31
•
Granted: 1975-07-29
•
Expires: 1991-08-31
Abstract
Abstract A class of hydroacoustic oscillators is described having a fluid pressure-actuated valving mechanism which provides self-excited fluid pressure variations on an oscillator mass. The pressure actuated valving mechanism switches pressure abruptly, first from low to high values to obtain driving forces for accelerating the oscillator mass from a displaced position into a spring system, and second from high to low values to enable the spring to decelerate the oscillator mass to zero velocity, and then to return the mass with increasing acceleration in the opposite direction towards its displaced position. Motion of the oscillator mass is coupled to the valving mechanism, without restricting the displacement of the oscillator mass, to cause self-excited fluid pressure variations to enable the oscillation of the mass to be sustained.
Inventors
- 👤 John V Bouyoucos
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 11:57
CPC Classifications
F; F01; F01B; F01B11/00; F01B11/04; F01B11/06; F01L; F01L21/00; F01L21/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 44
Claim 1
Independent Claim
248 words
A hydroacoustic oscillator comprising a. a movable mass having first and second sides, b. means for continuously applying pressurized fluid to said first side to drive said mass in one direction and for storing energy due to the motion of said mass, c. a valve mechanism having a valve element, said valve element being disposed in a path for said pressurized fluid which extends from a region of high pressure to a region of low pressure, said path being in communication with said second side, said valve element being movable in opposite directions for alternately opening said high pressure region to said second side while closing said low pressure region to said second side and then opening said low pressure region to said second side while closing said high pressure region to said second side for establishing alternating fluid pressures upon said mass to produce periodic oscillations of said mass at a frequency and over a displacement determined by said mass and the energy storage characteristics of said fluid communicating therewith, and d. means for coupling said valve element and said mass for actuating said valve element by said means during a substantial portion of the displacement of said mass with said valve element travelling over a displacement of at least one half of the displacement of said mass so as to enable said valve to attain high velocity at the instants of the opening and closing of said second side to said high and low pressure regions.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
248 words
A hydroacoustic oscillator comprising a. a movable mass having first and second sides, b. means for continuously applying pressurized fluid to said first side to drive said mass in one direction and for storing energy due to the motion of said mass, c. a valve mechanism having a valve element, said valve element being disposed in a path for said pressurized fluid which extends from a region of high pressure to a region of low pressure, said path being in communication with said second side, said valve element being movable in opposite directions for alternately opening said high pressure region to said second side while closing said low pressure region to said second side and then opening said low pressure region to said second side while closing said high pressure region to said second side for establishing alternating fluid pressures upon said mass to produce periodic oscillations of said mass at a frequency and over a displacement determined by said mass and the energy storage characteristics of said fluid communicating therewith, and d. means for coupling said valve element and said mass for actuating said valve element by said means during a substantial portion of the displacement of said mass with said valve element travelling over a displacement of at least one half of the displacement of said mass so as to enable said valve to attain high velocity at the instants of the opening and closing of said second side to said high and low pressure regions.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
105 words
The invention as set forth in claim 1 wherein said coupling means includes means for providing a portion of each cycle of oscillation of said mass during which one of said high pressure and low pressure regions is open to said second side while the other of said high pressure and low pressure regions is closed to said second side which is substantially shorter then the remaining portion of each such cycle during which said other of said high and low pressure regions is open to said second side while said one of said high and low pressure regions is closed to said second side.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
70 words
The invention as set forth in claim 2 including a member disposed adjacent to one end of said mass for receiving impact from said end of mass during each cycle of oscillation thereof, and wherein said coupling means is spaced from said end of said mass for delaying the opening of said one of said high pressure region and low pressure region to said second side until after said impact.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The invention as set forth in claim 1 wherein said coupling means includes means for abruptly engaging and moving said valving element.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
The invention as set forth in claim 1 wherein said valve element is a sleeve movably mounted on a portion of said mass which extends from said second side.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
The invention as set forth in claim 5 wherein said coupling means includes a pair of valve element engaging means mounted on said mass portion and disposed adjacent to and spaced from the opposite ends of said sleeve.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
49 words
The invention as set forth in claim 5 wherein said valve mechanism includes a pair of ports which are spaced from each other and are respectively in communication with said high and low pressure regions, said path extending beTween said ports, and wherein said sleeve extends between said ports.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
58 words
The invention as set forth in claim 7 wherein said mass is disposed in a housing having a first cavity to which said first side of said mass is exposed, said housing also having a second cavity to which said second side of said mass is exposed, and wherein said valve mechanism is disposed in said second cavity.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
The invention as set forth in claim 8 wherein said sleeve has passageways therethrough which extend in a direction between said ports.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
The invention as set forth in claim 1 wherein said valving element is mounted upon and is also movable relative to said mass while said mass is in motion.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
The invention as set forth in claim 10, wherein said coupling means includes means for transferring forces between said mass and said valving element while said mass is moving relative to said valving element.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
The invention as set forth in claim 11 wherein said transferring means includes means for damping the motion of said valving element.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
173 words
A hydroacoustic oscillator comprising a. an oscillatory system including i. a piston, ii. a first cavity for containing pressurized fluid exposed to one end of said piston, said pressurized fluid in said first cavity continuously applying unidirectional driving forces upon said piston, and iii. a second cavity communicating with the opposite end of said piston, said oscillatory system having an operating frequency and displacement determined by the mass of said piston and the energy storage characteristics of the fluid communicating therewith, b. a valving mechanism associated with said second cavity including a port structure having ports for the supply and discharge of pressurized fluid with respect to said second cavity, and c. a valving element bi-directionally actuated by said piston for movement with said piston over at least one half of the displacement of said piston for opening and closing said ports while said valve element is traveling at high velocity to abruptly switch pressure in said second cavity between supply and discharge pressures to produce square wave driving forces on said piston.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
173 words
A hydroacoustic oscillator comprising a. an oscillatory system including i. a piston, ii. a first cavity for containing pressurized fluid exposed to one end of said piston, said pressurized fluid in said first cavity continuously applying unidirectional driving forces upon said piston, and iii. a second cavity communicating with the opposite end of said piston, said oscillatory system having an operating frequency and displacement determined by the mass of said piston and the energy storage characteristics of the fluid communicating therewith, b. a valving mechanism associated with said second cavity including a port structure having ports for the supply and discharge of pressurized fluid with respect to said second cavity, and c. a valving element bi-directionally actuated by said piston for movement with said piston over at least one half of the displacement of said piston for opening and closing said ports while said valve element is traveling at high velocity to abruptly switch pressure in said second cavity between supply and discharge pressures to produce square wave driving forces on said piston.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
28 words
The invention as set forth in claim 13 wherein said valving mechanism includes means for providing a predetermined time sequence of the opening and closing of said ports.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
25 words
The invention as set forth in claim 14 wherein said time sequence providing means includes a lost motion mechanism coupling said piston to said element.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
45 words
The invention as set forth in claim 15 wherein said lost motion means includes means connected to said piston for engaging said valving element being disposed on opposite sides of said element spaced from each other a distance greater than the length of said element.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
68 words
The invention as set forth in claim 13 wherein said first cavity is spaced from said piston, and a member extending between said first cavity and the end of said piston adjacent thereto and movable with said piston in directions into and out of said first cavity, said member having a cross-sectional area exposed to said first cavity which is smaller than the cross-sectional area of said piston.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
41 words
The invention as set forth in claim 13 wherein said first cavity is divided into a portion containing a pressurized gas and a portion containing said fluid, said fluid being a liquid, and said fluid-containing portion being exposed to said piston.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
54 words
The invention as set forth in claim 13 including passages communicating said first cavity with supply and discharge regions through which pressurized fluid flows with respect to said second cavity, said passages defining a fluid pressure divider for providing said pressurized fluid to said first cavity and establishing an equilibrium position of said piston.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
29 words
The invention as set forth in claim 13 wherein said first cavity is continuously filled with said pressurized fluid and continuously applies said unidirectional driving forceS upon said piston.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
19 words
The invention as set forth in claim 20 wherein said valving element is disposed bodily in said second cavity.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
184 words
A hydroacoustic oscillator comprising a. a housing having a bore, b. a first member disposed for oscillatory movement in said bore, c. said housing having a first cavity and a second cavity ddisposed on opposite sides of said first member, d. means for maintaining said first cavity filled with fluid under pressure, for unidirectionally driving said member, e. inlet and outlet ports, respectively, for the supply and discharge of pressurized fluid, communicating with said second cavity and spaced from each other along the path of movement of said first member, f. a valving element disposed bodily in second cavity and bi-directionally movable by said first member to alternately open and close said inlet and outlet ports, said valving element having passage means for the circulation of fluid between opposite ends of said element, and g. said first member having a mass and the fluid in said first cavity having energy storage characteristics which control the frequency of oscillation of said first member as a result of pressure variations in said second cavity as said valving element opens and closes said inlet and outlet ports.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
184 words
A hydroacoustic oscillator comprising a. a housing having a bore, b. a first member disposed for oscillatory movement in said bore, c. said housing having a first cavity and a second cavity ddisposed on opposite sides of said first member, d. means for maintaining said first cavity filled with fluid under pressure, for unidirectionally driving said member, e. inlet and outlet ports, respectively, for the supply and discharge of pressurized fluid, communicating with said second cavity and spaced from each other along the path of movement of said first member, f. a valving element disposed bodily in second cavity and bi-directionally movable by said first member to alternately open and close said inlet and outlet ports, said valving element having passage means for the circulation of fluid between opposite ends of said element, and g. said first member having a mass and the fluid in said first cavity having energy storage characteristics which control the frequency of oscillation of said first member as a result of pressure variations in said second cavity as said valving element opens and closes said inlet and outlet ports.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
62 words
The invention as set forth in claim 22 wherein said first member is a piston freely movable in said bore, a shaft of smaller transverse dimension extending into said second cavity from the side of said piston opposite from said side facing said first cavity and through said housing, and means on said shaft for engaging said element and moving said element.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
33 words
The invention as set forth in claim 23 wherein said valving element is a sleeve having axial passages disposed between the inner periphery of said sleeve and the outer periphery of said shaft.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
55 words
The invention as set forth in claim 23 wherein said inlet and outlet ports are provided by grooves in the periphery of said bore, and said valving element is a sleeve having an axial length approximately equal to the distance between the edges of said inlet and outlet port grooves which are spaced furthest apart.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
17 words
The invention as set forth in claim 25 wherein said sleeve is freely movable on said shaft.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
27 words
The invention as set forth in claim 26 wherein said engaging means are separated from each other a distance greater than the axial length of said sleeve.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
51 words
The invention as set forth in claim 25 wherein said housing includes a third cavity communicating with said inlet port groove adapted to be supplied with pressurized fluid, and said housing also includes a fourth cavity communicating with said outlet port groove and a discharge channel communicating with said fourth cavity.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
49 words
The invention as set forth in claim 28 including first and second channels each presenting a high acoustic impedance respectively communicating said first cavity with said third cavity and said first cavity with said fourth cavity to provide a pressure divider for setting the equilibrium position of said piston.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
32 words
The invention as set forth in claim 25 wherein said first cavity includes means for reducing the stiffness presented by the fluid therein for providing a substantially constant force on said piston.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
41 words
The invention as set forth in claim 30 wherein said last named means includes a yieldable member dividing said cavity into a liquid filled region on one side thereof facing said piston and a gas-filled region on the opposite side thereof.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
68 words
The invention as set forth in claim 23 including a second bore in said housing between said first named bore and said first cavity, said second bore having a cross-sectional area smaller than said first bore, a second piston movable in said second bore, and means for relieving the pressure in the region of said first bore between said one end of said piston and said first cavity.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
204 words
An impact tool for applying percussive forces to a load which coMprises a. a mass movably mounted to osciallate in directions toward and away from said load, b. energy storage means operatively coupled to said mass for the transfer of energy therebetween, c. means for applying pressurized fluid to said mass for applying a net force in a direction away from said load to accelerate said mass with respect to said energy storage means, and d. means movable by said mass for controlling the application of said pressurized fluid to said mass to switch the direction of said net force alternately away from and toward said load during each cycle of oscillation of said mass with said net force being in said direction away from said load during substantially less of said cycle and toward said load for substantially more of said cycle whereby energy is transferred to said energy storage means for storage therein while said net force is in said direction away from said load to allow said stored energy to operate upon said mass when said net force is in the direction toward said load to change the direction of said mass and drive said mass to impact upon the load.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
204 words
An impact tool for applying percussive forces to a load which coMprises a. a mass movably mounted to osciallate in directions toward and away from said load, b. energy storage means operatively coupled to said mass for the transfer of energy therebetween, c. means for applying pressurized fluid to said mass for applying a net force in a direction away from said load to accelerate said mass with respect to said energy storage means, and d. means movable by said mass for controlling the application of said pressurized fluid to said mass to switch the direction of said net force alternately away from and toward said load during each cycle of oscillation of said mass with said net force being in said direction away from said load during substantially less of said cycle and toward said load for substantially more of said cycle whereby energy is transferred to said energy storage means for storage therein while said net force is in said direction away from said load to allow said stored energy to operate upon said mass when said net force is in the direction toward said load to change the direction of said mass and drive said mass to impact upon the load.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
16 words
The invention as set forth in claim 33 when said energy storage means comprises spring means.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
29 words
The invention as set forth in claim 34 wherein said spring means includes means reducing the dynamic spring rate of said spring toward zero while retaining a prescribed preload.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
77 words
The invention as set forth in claim 34 wherein said spring means comprises a housing; said housing containing a first cavity in which said mass is movable and a second cavity in communication with a portion of said first cavity into which a face of said mass at one end thereof is movable, said fluid being hydraulic fluid, and means for filling said cavities with said fluid, said fluid in said second cavity providing said spring means.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
49 words
The invention as set forth in claim 36 wherein said second cavity has a pair of chambers separated by a fluid impervious, pressure transmissive interface therebetween, one of said pair of chambers adjacent said mass face being filled with said hydraulic fluid, and the other containing a gaseous fluid.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
23 words
The invention as set forth in claim 33 wherein said control means includes a valve element disposed on said mass and movable therewith.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
18 words
The invention as set forth in claim 38 including means for controlling the motion of said valve element.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
24 words
The invention as set forth in claim 39 wherein said motion controlling means includes damping means disposed between said mass and said valve element.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US510155A
Cited
US842406A
Cited
US2742880A
Cited
US3411592A
Cited
US3371726A
Cited
US3687008A
Cited
US3774502A
Cited
US3796050A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-07-28 | 1979-01-27 | 1979-07-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-07-28 | 1983-01-27 | 1983-07-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-07-28 | 1987-01-27 | 1987-07-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |