Conical transducer and reflector apparatus

• US 4,025,805 A
• Filed: 04/15/1975
• Issued: 05/24/1977
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/1975
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Company LLC (Brookfield Asset Management Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Company LLC (Brookfield Asset Management Incorporated)
• Inventors: Jones, Charles H., Coltman, John W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Budd, Mark O.
• Application Number:
  US05/568,232
• Time in Patent Office: 770 Days
• Field of Search: 310/26, 310/8.1, 310/8.3, 310/8.7, 310/9.1, 310/9.4, 310/9.8, 310/9.6, 181/142, 73/67.8, 73/71.5 US, 73/522, 340/8 R, 340/8 RT, 340/8 MM, 340/16
• US Class Current: 310/335
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 11/28 using reflection, e.g. parabolic reflectors

Abstract

The invention provides a transducer for use with a conical reflector in which the transducer comprises a frusto-conical radiating member that is coaxially positioned with respect to the reflector member. The half angles of the radiating member and reflectors are related such that every ray from a selected point of interest on the axis that is reflected from the reflector cone to the active surface of the radiating member intersects substantially normally to the active surface.

Where the energy is directed to a point of interest distant from the reflector, the half angles are related in accordance with the formula ##EQU1## ; AND, WHERE THE POINT OF INTEREST IS ON THE AXIS, THE HALF ANGLES ARE RELATED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FORMULA ##EQU2## where φ = CONICAL REFLECTOR HALF ANGLE;

θ = conical radiating member half angle;

R = the radius of the reflector at a point where a ray from the point of interest is reflected normally to the surface of the radiating member; and

S = the distance from the radius R intersection on the axis to the point of interest on the axis.

Claims

1. An apparatus for transmitting and reflecting acoustical energy comprising a frusto-conical reflector and a transducer, said transducer comprising:

a frusto-conical radiating member positioned coaxially with respect to said reflector and having at least one active surface, the half angle φ

of said reflector being related to the half angle θ

of said radiating member in accordance with the formula ##EQU14## for energy directed to or from a point of interest distant from said reflector and for energy to or from a point of interest on the axis in accordance with the formula ##EQU15## wherein R= the radius of the reflector at a point where a ray from the point of interest is reflected normally to the surface of the radiating member, and

S= the distance from the point of interest on the axis to a point on the axis where an imaginary line intersects the axis normally and a point on the reflector R distance from the axis.

2. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 for use in a fluid medium and wherein said radiating member has a diameter greater than one wavelength of the acoustical radiation of the apparatus, a face width equal to approximately one such wavelength, and thickness that is resonant at the frequency of said apparatus.

3. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 for use in a fluid medium wherein said radiating member is of a length equal to about one wavelength of the acoustical radiation of the apparatus in said fluid medium and wherein said reflector has an outer diameter greater than one such wavelength.

4. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 for use with a solid medium and wherein said radiating member has a diameter greater than one wavelength of the acoustical radiation of the apparatus in said solid medium, a face width equal to approximately one such wavelength, a thickness that is resonant at the frequency of said apparatus, and wherein said reflector has an outer diameter greater than one wavelength.

5. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the transducer consists of a piezoelectric conical shell with a single outer electrode and an inner electrode that is subdivided circumferentially into n equal segments.

6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein said outer electrode is divided circumferentially into n segments.

7. Apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein said frusto-conical transducer is a magneto-strictive material that is divided circumferentially into n sectors, each sector containing a separate winding.