Distributed structural characteristic detection system using a unidirectional acoustic waveguide
First Claim
1. An acoustic analyzer comprising,an elongated acoustic source waveguide coupled to an acoustic energy source and acoustically coupled along a first lengthwise portion to a structure to be analyzed,an elongated unidirectional waveguide acoustically coupled along a second lengthwise portion to the structure and generally parallel to said acoustic source waveguide, said unidirectional waveguide being constructed to have a substantially single direction for transmitting acoustic energy, andsensor means coupled to an end of said unidirectional waveguide to detect acoustic energy transmitted into said unidirectional waveguide along said second lengthwise portion from said source waveguide along said first lengthwise portion.
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Abstract
Apparatus for acoustically analyzing a structure having distributed characteristics comprising a first acoustic waveguide for transmitting an acoustic signal through a portion of the structure, a second acoustic waveguide for receiving a reflected acoustic signature of the structure and transmitting the acoustic signature to a sensor; the sensor producing an output that corresponds to the acoustic signature. The apparatus and methods are particularly adaptable to detecting distributed structural characteristics.
27 Citations
28 Claims
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1. An acoustic analyzer comprising,
an elongated acoustic source waveguide coupled to an acoustic energy source and acoustically coupled along a first lengthwise portion to a structure to be analyzed, an elongated unidirectional waveguide acoustically coupled along a second lengthwise portion to the structure and generally parallel to said acoustic source waveguide, said unidirectional waveguide being constructed to have a substantially single direction for transmitting acoustic energy, and sensor means coupled to an end of said unidirectional waveguide to detect acoustic energy transmitted into said unidirectional waveguide along said second lengthwise portion from said source waveguide along said first lengthwise portion.
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13. A method of detecting faults in a structure comprising the steps of:
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sending an acoustic pulse through an elongated source waveguide acoustically coupled along a first length thereof to a surface of the structure so that acoustic energy goes into a portion of the structure along said first length, using an elongated unidirectional acoustic waveguide having a substantially single direction for transmitting acoustic energy and acoustically coupled along a second length thereof to the structure to receive along said second length at least a portion of said acoustic energy transmitted into said structure portion and, producing an output related to magnitude and distance of acoustic energy received by said unidirectional waveguide. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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16. Apparatus for acoustically analyzing a structure comprising a first acoustic waveguide means acoustically coupled lengthwise to the structure for transmitting acoustic energy along a first length thereof through a portion of the structure;
- second acoustic waveguide means acoustically coupled lengthwise to the structure for receiving along a second length thereof an acoustic signature of the structure based on said acoustic energy transmitted along said first length of said first waveguide means into the structure and then into said second waveguide means along said second length;
said second acoustic waveguide means being a unidirectional waveguide constructed to have a substantially single direction for transmitting acoustic energy; and
a sensor for producing an output based on said acoustic signature. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
- second acoustic waveguide means acoustically coupled lengthwise to the structure for receiving along a second length thereof an acoustic signature of the structure based on said acoustic energy transmitted along said first length of said first waveguide means into the structure and then into said second waveguide means along said second length;
Specification