Method and apparatus for an acoustic-electric channel mounting
First Claim
1. An assembly for mounting a transducer directly to a submerged exterior surface of a submerged wall without perforating the wall, the assembly comprising:
- a transducer comprising a transmitting face for emitting acoustical transmissions, the transducer also comprising a back side generally opposite the transmitting face;
the back side of the transducer mounted to a backing, the backing having a resilient flange at its periphery;
the backing and the flange being positioned at the exterior surface of the submerged wall so that the backing, the flange, and the exterior surface of the submerged wall collectively form a cavity with the transducer held in the cavity, with at least the flange contacting the exterior surface, and with the transmitting face of the transducer facing the exterior surface and the back side of the transducer facing generally away from the exterior surface and towards the backing;
the assembly being adapted so that when the backing is pressed towards the surface, the resilient flange contacts the surface and creates a temporary seal, surrounding the transducer, with the exterior surface;
the assembly being adapted so that when the backing is pressed towards the surface, the transmitting face of the transducer also contacts the exterior surface, and the resilient flange is capable of flexing to accommodate movement by the backing and transducer;
the transducer and the backing together comprising a continuous hole which does not pass through the submerged wall, the continuous hole being adapted to pass liquids and gasses to the space in the cavity between the transmitting face of the transducer and the exterior surface of the submerged wall.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Method and apparatus for rotational alignment and attachment of ultrasonic transducers to a barrier with one submerged surface uses a temporary transducer assembly to position mounting rings on opposite surfaces of the barrier. Plural permanent transducers are then mounted to each mounting ring and are aligned with each other across the barrier by virtue of the alignment of their mounting rings. The submerged mounting ring is used like a cylinder in combination with a mounting plate for the transducers on the submerged side of the barrier or each submerged side transducer has a suction cup fitting for use to exclude water from between each transducer and the submerged barrier surface to facilitate bonding of the submerged side transducers to the barrier.
23 Citations
15 Claims
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1. An assembly for mounting a transducer directly to a submerged exterior surface of a submerged wall without perforating the wall, the assembly comprising:
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a transducer comprising a transmitting face for emitting acoustical transmissions, the transducer also comprising a back side generally opposite the transmitting face; the back side of the transducer mounted to a backing, the backing having a resilient flange at its periphery; the backing and the flange being positioned at the exterior surface of the submerged wall so that the backing, the flange, and the exterior surface of the submerged wall collectively form a cavity with the transducer held in the cavity, with at least the flange contacting the exterior surface, and with the transmitting face of the transducer facing the exterior surface and the back side of the transducer facing generally away from the exterior surface and towards the backing; the assembly being adapted so that when the backing is pressed towards the surface, the resilient flange contacts the surface and creates a temporary seal, surrounding the transducer, with the exterior surface; the assembly being adapted so that when the backing is pressed towards the surface, the transmitting face of the transducer also contacts the exterior surface, and the resilient flange is capable of flexing to accommodate movement by the backing and transducer; the transducer and the backing together comprising a continuous hole which does not pass through the submerged wall, the continuous hole being adapted to pass liquids and gasses to the space in the cavity between the transmitting face of the transducer and the exterior surface of the submerged wall. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for attaching a transducer directly to an exterior surface of a submerged wall without perforating the wall, the method comprising the following steps:
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providing a transducer comprising a transmitting face for emitting acoustical transmissions, the transducer also comprising a back side; attaching the back side of the transducer to a backing, the backing comprising a flange; placing the backing near the exterior surface of the submerged wall so that at least the flange contacts the exterior surface, wherein the backing, the flange, and the exterior surface collectively form a cavity, wherein the transducer is positioned in that cavity with the transmitting face facing the exterior surface and the back side facing generally away from the submerged wall and towards the backing, and wherein the backing and the transducer together comprise a hole communicating between the outside of the backing and the cavity, said hole not passing through the submerged wall; forcing a gas through the hole to pressurize the area within the cavity to force any water out of the cavity; injecting adhesive through the hole into the cavity until the cavity is substantially filled with the adhesive; applying force to the backing in the direction of the submerged wall until the transducer comes into contact with the exterior surface, simultaneously shrinking the cavity and forcing any excess adhesive out of the cavity; maintaining pressure on the backing to hold the transducer against the surface until the adhesive has bonded the transmitting face of the transducer to the exterior surface of the submerged wall. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An assembly for mounting a transducer directly to a submerged exterior surface of a submerged wall without perforating the wall, the assembly comprising:
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a transducer comprising a transmitting face for emitting acoustical transmissions, the transducer also comprising a back side generally opposite the transmitting face; the back side of the transducer mounted to a backing, the backing having a resilient flange at its periphery; the backing and the flange being positioned at the exterior surface of the submerged wall so that the backing, the flange, and the exterior surface of the submerged wall collectively form a cavity with the transducer held in the cavity, with the flange contacting the exterior surface, and with the transmitting face of the transducer held against the exterior surface and radially surrounded by the flange; the backing is pressed towards the exterior surface, and the resilient flange is against the exterior surface forming a resilient seal, surrounding the transducer, with the exterior surface; the transducer and the backing together comprising a continuous hole which does not pass through the submerged wall, the continuous hole being adapted to pass adhesives and gasses to the space in the cavity between the transmitting face of the transducer and the exterior surface of the submerged wall; wherein adhesive is present in the cavity including between the transmitting face of the transducer and the exterior surface of the submerged wall, and wherein the cavity between the transducer and the exterior surface is substantially free of water and gasses.
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Specification