USA As Represented by Secretary of the Navy

Jay C Brown

David M Bullat

Edward F Rynne, Jr

Philip C Bradshaw

A cost-effective, producible improved apparatus for and method of fabricag a transducer acoustic window for a marine environment has acceptable acoustic energy transmitting properties and appropriate mechanical properties to withstand the rigors associated with varying velocities of flowing water, fluctuating temperatures, changing ambient pressures, the abuse attendant operations, etc., that are routinely encountered during a prolonged deployment. The acoustic window has a cast CONAP 1556 polyurethane window portion that extends over a hull opening and on a bearing surface rim about the opening. A number of equidistantly, circumferentially spaced stainless steel inserts are molded in the cast polyurethane window portion. Each of the inserts has a threaded outer surface, a machined flat, a longitudinal slot and a countersunk unthreaded bore and each threaded outer surface, machined flat and longitudinal slot mechanically engage the cast polyurethane window portion in an adhering and bonding relationship. A separate mounting bolt is inserted through each countersunk unthreaded bore and tightened in mating threads provided in the bearing surface rim. This secures the acoustic window portion on the hull with reduced stresses and strains and assures a strong, durable conforming structure while reducing the possibility of damage to the acoustic window portion.

Acoustic window

A sensor, having a sandwich configuration, is able to sense a transduce out parameter in situ without significantly affecting the parameter. The sensor comprises an inner sheet of a polymer having a transducer property. A conductive layer is deposited on parts of at least one of the two surfaces of the inner sheet. A pair of outer sheets of plastic are attached to each side of the inner sheet. Two layers of conductive material may be deposited on the outer, unattached, surfaces of the outer sheets, one layer on each surface.

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San Diego, CA, United States of America

Jay C Brown