Signal detection instrument with touch probe resonator assembly for use therewith

• US 6,079,275 A
• Filed: 01/08/1999
• Issued: 06/27/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Radiaulics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Radiaulics, Inc.
• Inventors: Komninos, Nikolaos I.
• Primary Examiner(s): Williams, Hezron
• Assistant Examiner(s): MOLLER, RICHARD ALAN
• Application Number:
  US09/228,006
• Time in Patent Office: 536 Days
• Field of Search: 73/661, 73/658, 73/649, 73/40.5 A, 367/174
• US Class Current: 73/661
• CPC Class Codes: G01H 1/00 Measuring characteristics of vibrations in solids by using direct conduction to the detector G01H9/00, G01H11/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01H 3/00 Measuring characteristics of vibrations by using a detector in a fluid G01H7/00, G01H9/00, G01H11/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 11/24 for conducting sound through solid bodies, e.g. wires

Abstract

A resonator assembly adapted for use with a signal detection instrument includes a sensor operative to detect airborne sound signals and a touch rod. The resonator assembly operates to convert sound signals traveling within the touch rod into the airborne sound signals for detection by the sensor and comprises a mount adapted to interconnect the signal detection instrument and the touch rod, a flexible resonator element, and a stem interconnecting the mount and the resonator element so that, when the touch rod is secured to the mount and the mount is secured to the signal detection instrument thereby positioning the resonator element relative to the sensor, the resonator element operates to convert the sound signals traveling within the touch rod into the airborne sound signals for detection by the sensor. A touch probe resonator is also provided for converting sound signals traveling in a first medium into sound signals traveling in a second medium for detection by a sensor. The touch probe resonator broadly comprises a mount, an elongated touch rod and a resonator element. A signal detection instrument is also provided for monitoring input sound signals having frequencies over a selected range and for producing output in response thereto. The signal detection instrument comprises a housing, processing circuitry, an output device and a sensor assembly which includes an elongated touch rod, a resonator assembly and a sensor.

Claims

1. A resonator assembly adapted for use with a signal detection instrument that includes a sensor operative to detect airborne sound signals and a touch rod, said resonator assembly operative to convert sound signals traveling within the touch rod into the airborne sound signals for detection by the sensor, comprising:

(a) a mount adapted to interconnect the signal detection instrument and the touch rod;

(b) a flexible resonator element; and

(c) a stem interconnecting said mount and said resonator element so that, when the touch rod is secured to said mount and said mount is secured to the signal detection instrument thereby positioning said resonator element relative to the sensor, said resonator element operates to convert the sound signals traveling within the touch rod into the airborne sound signals for detection by the sensor.

2. A resonator assembly according to claim 1 wherein said mount is adapted to releasably secure to both the signal detection instrument and the touch rod.

3. A resonator assembly according to claim 2 wherein said mount includes internal threads adapted to threadedly engage the touch rod and external threads adapted to threadedly engage the signal detection instrument.

4. A resonator assembly according to claim 1 wherein said mount includes a mounting head formed integrally with said stem and an adapter for interconnecting said mounting head to the signal detection instrument.

5. A resonator assembly according to claim 4 wherein said mounting head is adapted to releasably secure to the touch rod and said adapter may be releasably secured to the signal detection instrument.

6. A resonator assembly according to claim 5 wherein said mounting head includes internal threads adapted to threadedly engage the touch rod and external threads adapted to threadedly engage said adapter.

7. A resonator assembly according to claim 6 wherein said adapter includes adapter threads for threadedly engaging the signal detection instrument.

8. A resonator assembly according to claim 1 wherein said stem includes a conical piece joined to said mount and a longitudinally extending neck portion interconnecting said conical piece and said resonator element, said conical piece tapered in construction toward said neck portion thereby to concentrate energy passing from said mount at said neck portion.

9. A resonator assembly according to claim 1 wherein said resonator element is discoidal in configuration.

10. A resonator assembly according to claim 1 wherein said resonator element is configured as a conical shell.

11. A resonator assembly according to claim 1 wherein said resonator element is configured as a cone.

12. A resonator assembly according to claim 1 wherein said mount, said resonator element and said stem are integrally formed as a single piece construction.

13. A touch probe resonator adapted for use with a signal detection instrument which includes a sensor, said touch probe resonator operative to convert sound signals traveling in a first medium into sound signals traveling in a second medium for detection by the sensor, comprising:

(a) a mount adapted to secure to the signal detection instrument;

(b) an elongated touch rod having a proximal end portion supported by said mount and an opposite distal tip; and

(c) a resonator element connected to said mount in such a manner that a peripheral edge of said resonator element is suspended from said mount for free and unconstrained movement and is adapted to be positioned proximately to the sensor when said mount is secured to the signal detection instrument, said touch probe resonator operative upon contact of said distal tip with the first medium to provide a conduit between the first medium and the sensor whereby the sound signals traveling within the first medium propagate along said elongated touch rod toward said resonator element causing said resonator element to vibrate at selected vibration frequencies and to generate the sound signals traveling in the second medium for detection by the sensor.

14. A touch probe resonator according to claim 13 wherein said proximal end portion is adapted to releasably engage said mount.

15. A touch probe resonator according to claim 14 wherein said proximal end portion is threaded and wherein said mount includes internal threads adapted to threadedly engage said proximal end portion and external threads adapted to threadedly engage the signal detection instrument.

16. A touch probe resonator according to claim 13 including a stem interconnecting said mount and said resonator element so that said resonator element is mechanically coupled to said elongated touch rod when said elongated touch rod is supported by said mount.

17. A touch probe resonator according to claim 16 wherein said stem includes a conical piece joined to said mount and a longitudinally extending neck portion interconnecting said conical piece and said resonator element, said conical piece being tapered in construction toward said neck portion thereby to concentrate energy passing from said mount to said neck portion.

18. A touch probe resonator according to claim 17 wherein said resonator element is discoidal in configuration.

19. A touch probe resonator according to claim 17 wherein said resonator element is conical in configuration.

20. A touch probe resonator according to claim 13 wherein said resonator element is discoidal in configuration.

21. A touch probe resonator according to claim 13 wherein said resonator element is conical in configuration.

22. A touch probe resonator according to claim 13 wherein said mount includes a mounting head joined to said stem and an adapter for interconnecting said mounting head to the signal detection instrument.

23. A touch probe resonator according to claim 22 wherein said adapter is frustoconical in configuration.

24. A touch probe resonator according to claim 22 wherein said mounting head is adapted to releasably secure to said elongated touch rod and said adapter may be releasably secured to the signal detection instrument.

25. A signal detection instrument for monitoring input sound signals having frequencies over a selected frequency range and for producing an output in response thereto, comprising:

(a) a housing;

(b) a sensor assembly operative to detect the input sound signals and to produce received signals in response thereto, said sensor assembly including;

(i) an elongated touch rod having a proximal end portion and an opposite distal tip;

(ii) a resonator assembly including a mount that supports said proximal end portion and a flexible resonator element that is suspended from said mount for free and unconstrained movement, said resonator assembly operative upon contact of said distal tip with a first sound carrying medium to allow the input sound signals traveling within the first medium to propagate along said elongated touch rod toward said resonator element causing said resonator element to vibrate at selected vibration frequencies determined by the input sound signals and to generate output sound signals traveling in a second medium; and

(iii) a sensor supported by said housing and positioned proximately to said resonator assembly, said sensor operative to detect the output sound signals and to produce the received signals in response thereto;

(c) processing circuitry contained within said housing and operative to process said received signals to produce processed signals; and

(d) an output device for producing a selected output in response to said processed signals.

26. A signal detection instrument according to claim 25 wherein said resonator assembly includes a stem interconnecting said mount and said resonator element so that said resonator element is mechanically coupled to said elongated touch rod.

27. A signal detection instrument according to claim 26 wherein said mount includes a mounting head joined to said stem and an adapter for interconnecting said mounting head to the signal detection instrument.

28. A signal detection instrument according to claim 27 wherein said adapter is frustoconical in configuration and includes first adapter threads operative to threadedly engage said mounting head and second adapter threads operative to threadedly engage said housing.

29. A signal detection instrument according to claim 28 wherein said mounting head includes internal threads adapted to releasably engage the proximal end portion of said elongated touch rod and external threads adapted to releasably engage the first adapter threads associated with said adapter.

30. A signal detection instrument according to claim 26 wherein said stem includes a conical piece joined to said mount and a longitudinally extending neck portion interconnecting said conical piece and said resonator element.

31. A signal detection instrument according to claim 30 wherein said conical piece is tapered in construction toward said neck portion thereby to concentrate energy passing from said mount to said neck portion and wherein said resonator element is conical in configuration.

32. A signal detection instrument according to claim 25 wherein said resonator element is conical in configuration.

33. A signal detection instrument according to claim 25 wherein said resonator element is discoidal in configuration.

34. A touch probe resonator adapted for use with a signal detection instrument which includes a sensor, said touch probe resonator operative to convert sound signals traveling in a first medium into sound signals traveling in a second medium for detection by the sensor, comprising:

(a) a mount adapted to secure to the signal detection instrument;

(b) an elongated touch rod having a proximal end portion supported by said mount and an opposite distal tip; and

(c) a resonator element connected to said mount by an interconnecting stem and adapted to be positioned proximately to the sensor when said mount is secured to the signal detection instrument, said touch probe resonator operative upon contact of said distal tip with the first medium to provide a conduit between the first medium and the sensor whereby the sound signals traveling within the first medium propagate along said elongated touch rod toward said resonator element causing said resonator element to vibrate at selected vibration frequencies and to generate the sound signals traveling in the second medium for detection by the sensor.

35. A touch probe resonator according to claim 34 wherein said mount, said resonator element, and said stem are integrally formed as a single piece construction.