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.

Date of Patent:
Nov. 07, 2000

Filed:

May. 17, 1999
Applicant:
Inventors:

Edmund J Sullivan, Portsmouth, RI (US);

Robert W Gauthier, Assonet, MA (US);

Attorneys:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
G01L / ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
116 70 ; 116 27 ; 116268 ; 367141 ;
Abstract

A simple, mechanical device is provided which produces an acoustic signal a specified depth. The device consists of a shear plug in an exterior wall of the device housing which prevents the movement of a spring biased piston. The plug is subjected to increasing differential pressure between the exterior and interior of the housing as the depth of the device beneath the water surface increases. At a known pressure differential, corresponding to a specified depth, the shear plug fails, allowing for the actuation of the piston. The spring biased piston strikes against a ledge in the device, creating the acoustic signal.


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