The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 28, 1991
Filed:
Mar. 30, 1989
Harry W Kompanek, Santa Barbara, CA (US);
Undersea Transducer Technology, Inc., Ventura, CA (US);
Abstract
A transducer assembly includes a hollow support member disposed in a looped configuration and having an axial opening. A hollow transducer supported within the support member may be made from a piezoelectric material and may be provided with an axial opening corresponding to position to the axial opening in the support member. In one embodiment, the outer surface of the support member may be thinned at spaced positions as by sockets or spaced axial grooves extending partially through the support member. The support member may be thinned at strategic positions to control the vibrational frequency and the frequency bandwidth of the transducer assembly. The thinned portions of the support member may receive a compliant material such as urethane to smoothen the outer surface of the support member. In another embodiment, the hollow interior of the transducer assembly may be filled with a compliant material, such as urethane, which may be provided with air chambers. The compliant material causes the shape of the transducer assembly to be retained, particularly when end caps are disposed on the support member, and causes the vibrations to be damped and the bandwidth of the vibrations to be increased. The air chambers produce a mismatch between the impedances inside and outside the transducer assembly and facilitate the transmission of substantially all of the vibrational energy outside of the assembly. In still other embodiments, members are included for bracing the support member and the transducer to increase the amplitudes of the assembly vibrations without damaging the transducer.