Patent US4402069A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
← Back to Patent Explorer
US4402069A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Acoustic envelope having minimal vibration and flow induced noises

Assignee: United States Department of the Navy
•
Filing: 1981-06-03
•
Granted: 1983-08-30
•
Expires: 2001-06-03
📄 Original PDF 🌐 Google Patents 🔄 Sync Now

Abstract

Abstract An acoustic envelope is provided which may include a tubular sheath which mounted about a conducting element. The tubular sheath has inner and outer tubular portions which are integral with respect to one another. The acoustic envelope further includes a plurality of non-elastic strands which extend longitudinally along the sheath between the inner and outer tubular portions and which are bonded thereto. The tubular sheath is constructed of a material which optimally minimizes vibration induced noise and flow induced noise when the line array is towed through the water.

Inventors

  • 👤 Howard A. Miller
  • 👤 Charles S. Nichols

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-09 08:42
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01V; G01V1/00; G01V1/16; G01V1/20; G01V1/201

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim 131 words
A towed line sonar array comprising: elongated conducting means; only one tubular sheath; said one tubular sheath being mounted in an engaging relationship about and along the elongated conducting means; the tubular sheath having inner and outer tubular portions which are integral with respect to one another; a plurality of non-elastic strands extending longitudinally along the sheath between the inner and outer tubular portions and being bonded thereto; and the sheath being a material with a Youngs modulus of elasticity from two times 10 7 to one times 10 8 Pascals and a damping factor greater than 0.4 in a frequency range from 11 Hz to 110 Hz and in a temperature range from 0° to 20° C. so that the sheath has high radial compliance and high acoustic damping properties.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 131 words
A towed line sonar array comprising: elongated conducting means; only one tubular sheath; said one tubular sheath being mounted in an engaging relationship about and along the elongated conducting means; the tubular sheath having inner and outer tubular portions which are integral with respect to one another; a plurality of non-elastic strands extending longitudinally along the sheath between the inner and outer tubular portions and being bonded thereto; and the sheath being a material with a Youngs modulus of elasticity from two times 10 7 to one times 10 8 Pascals and a damping factor greater than 0.4 in a frequency range from 11 Hz to 110 Hz and in a temperature range from 0° to 20° C. so that the sheath has high radial compliance and high acoustic damping properties.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 29 words
A towed line sonar array as claimed in claim 1 wherein: the non-elastic strands are aramid; and the aramid strands are substantially equispaced about and from the conducting means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 17 words
A towed line sonar array as claimed in claim 1 wherein: the tubular sheath is butyl rubber.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 29 words
A towed line sonar array as claimed in claim 3 wherein: the non-elastic strands are aramid; and the aramid strands are substantially equispaced about and from the conducting means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 19 words
A towed line sonar array as claimed in claim 3 wherein: the inner and outer portions are vulcanized portions.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 28 words
A towed line array as claimed in claim 5 wherein: the non-elastic strands are aramid; and the aramid strands are substantially equispaced about and from the conducting means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 124 words
A towed line sonar array consisting essentially of: a core of elongated conducting means; an acoustic envelope; the acoustic envelope including a single tubular sheath which is mounted in an engaging relationship about the conducting means with the conducting means located centrally therein; the tubular sheath having inner and outer tubular portions which are integral with respect to one another; the acoustic envelope further including a plurality of non-elastic strands extending longitudinally along the sheath between the inner and outer tubular portions and being bonded thereto; the non-elastic strands being equispaced about and from the conducting means; and the tubular sheath being constructed of a material which optimally minimizes vibration induced noise and flow induced noise when the line array is towed through water.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 124 words
A towed line sonar array consisting essentially of: a core of elongated conducting means; an acoustic envelope; the acoustic envelope including a single tubular sheath which is mounted in an engaging relationship about the conducting means with the conducting means located centrally therein; the tubular sheath having inner and outer tubular portions which are integral with respect to one another; the acoustic envelope further including a plurality of non-elastic strands extending longitudinally along the sheath between the inner and outer tubular portions and being bonded thereto; the non-elastic strands being equispaced about and from the conducting means; and the tubular sheath being constructed of a material which optimally minimizes vibration induced noise and flow induced noise when the line array is towed through water.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 62 words
A towed array as claimed in claim 7 consisting essentially of: the tubular sheath being a material which has a Young's modulus of elasticity from two times 10 7 to one times 10 8 Pascals and a damping factor greater than 0.4 in a frequency range from 11 Hz to 110 Hz and in a temperature range from 0° to 20° C.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 23 words
A towed array as claimed in claim 8 consisting essentially of: the tubular sheath being butyl rubber; and the non-elastic strands being aramid.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 19 words
A towed array as claimed in claim 9 consisting essentially of: the conducting means being transducer elements and wires.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3304364A Cited
US3710006A Cited
US4011540A Cited
US4090168A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1986-08-29 1987-02-28 1987-08-30 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1990-08-29 1991-02-28 1991-08-30 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1994-08-29 1995-02-28 1995-08-30 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

Assigned Categories & Tags

No categories assigned to this patent yet.

Assign Category Tag