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:
Nov. 22, 2011
Filed:
May. 12, 2008
John Rapp, Manassas, VA (US);
Nicholas John Nagurny, Manassas, VA (US);
Curry Farrior, Manassas, VA (US);
Robert J. Howard, Clifton, VA (US);
John Rapp, Manassas, VA (US);
Nicholas John Nagurny, Manassas, VA (US);
Curry Farrior, Manassas, VA (US);
Robert J. Howard, Clifton, VA (US);
Lockheed Martin Corporation, Bethesda, MD (US);
Abstract
An embodiment of device for generating an acoustic signal in a fluid includes an engine operable to repeat a thermodynamic process to vibrate a membrane of the engine to generate an acoustic signal having more than one period. The thermodynamic process includes heating mass inside a chamber of an engine to generate pressure inside the chamber; in response to generating the pressure, moving in a first direction a portion of a membrane of the engine; removing mass from inside the chamber to decrease the pressure inside the chamber; and in response to decreasing the pressure inside the chamber, moving the membrane portion in a second direction. Because the engine repeats the thermodynamic process, the engine can generate and sustain an acoustic signal for a significant amount of time.