Low frequency acoustic projector

• US 6,570,819 B1
• Filed: 03/08/2002
• Issued: 05/27/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: United States Department of the Navy
• Original Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Inventors: Clark, Joseph A., Young, Jane Ann
• Primary Examiner(s): Lobo, Ian J.
• Application Number:
  US10/092,689
• Time in Patent Office: 445 Days
• Field of Search: 181/113, 181/120, 310/337, 367/3, 367/5, 367/153, 367/154, 367/141, 367/142
• US Class Current: 367/142
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 1/02 Generating seismic energy G01V1/003 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/44 Special adaptations for subaqueous use, e.g. for hydrophone

Abstract

A reusable low frequency projector system that is capable of producing coherent broadband, high power, low frequency acoustic pressure waves underwater. The projector has two halves each with a spiral wound insulated wire core. The spiral wound wires are separately encapsulated and then joined flexibly in a contiguous parallel orientation. When energized by a voltage source the encapsulated spiral wound wires are repelled from one another and then come back together when not energized, imparting a pressure wave to the water at a desired frequency. The projector requires no pressure compensation devices for operation.

Claims

1. A low frequency underwater acoustic projector comprising:

a power source;

at least one switching circuit for controlling said power source;

a first encapsulated spiral wound wire contiguous with a second encapsulated spiral wound wire;

wherein said first encapsulated spiral wound wire and said second encapsulated spiral wound wire are flexibly attached to an annular ring positioned around the seam of said first and second encapsulated spiral wound wires; and

said first and second encapsulated spiral wound wires are coupled to said power source through said switching circuit.

2. A low frequency underwater acoustic projector comprising:

a first encapsulated spiral wound wire having external leads,

a second encapsulated spiral wound wire having external leads, said second encapsulated spiral wound wire juxtaposed with said first encapsulated spiral wound wire;

an annular ring positioned around the seam of said first and second spiral wound wires; and

said first spiral wound wire is flexibly attached to said annular ring; and

said second spiral wound wire is flexibly attached to said annular ring.

3. A low frequency underwater acoustic projector as in claim 2, wherein said annular ring is epoxy.

4. A low frequency underwater acoustic projector as in claim 3, wherein said first and second spiral wound wires are flexibly attached to said annular ring with silicon rubber.

5. A low frequency acoustic projector array comprising:

a control package,

a plurality of projection elements operatively connected to said control package, wherein each said projection element is defined by;

a first encapsulated spiral wound wire having leads;

a second encapsulated spiral wound wire having leads; and

means for flexibly joining in parallel orientation said first and second encapsulated spiral wound wires;

wherein said first encapsulated spiral wound wire and said second encapsulated spiral wound wire are electrically isolated from each other.

6. A low frequency acoustic projector array as in claim 5, wherein said means for flexibly joining said first and second spiral wound wires further comprises an annular ring positioned around the seam of said first and second encapsulated spiral wound wires;

and said first encapsulated spiral wound wire is flexibly attached to said annular ring; and

said second encapsulated spiral wound wire is flexibly attached to said annular ring.

7. A low frequency acoustic projector array as in claim 6, wherein said annular ring is epoxy.

8. A low frequency acoustic projector array as in claim 7, wherein said first and second spiral wound wires are flexibly attached to said annular ring with silicon rubber.

9. A low frequency acoustic projector system comprising:

signal generation means for supplying an electrical signal at a desired frequency;

means for amplifying said electrical signal;

switching means for controlling said electrical signal;

at least one projector comprised of a first encapsulated spiral wound wire flexibly joined and contiguous with a second encapsulated spiral wound wire responsive to said electrical signal.

10. A low frequency acoustic projector system as in claim 9 wherein said projector means includes an array of projectors from which acoustical energy is emitted in a frequency band wherein said projectors provide acoustic energy at a selected frequency in the range of 10 Hz to 1 kHz.

11. A low frequency acoustic projector system as in claim 9 wherein said switching means transmits a transient electrical signal from said signal generation means to said projector.

12. A low frequency acoustic projector system as in claim 9 wherein said switching means transmits a steady state electrical signal from said signal generation means to said projector.