Low density underwater accelerometer
First Claim
1. A low density accelerometer comprising:
- a buoyant outer layer;
a rigid hollow housing within said buoyant outer layer, said housing having an upper member and a lower member and configured to form a groove at a junction of the upper member and the lower member in an inner surface of said housing;
a disk shaped sensing element configured in an annular ring defining an aperture, said sensing element configured to engage the groove along an outer edge of the annular ring;
a solid proof mass disposed in the annular ring and configured with a threaded bore on an upper surface of the proof mass;
a retainer disposed on an upper surface of the sensing element, wherein an edge of said retainer is in contact with the upper surface of the sensing element circumferentially about the aperture; and
a threaded fastener having a head larger than an opening in the retainer, and a threaded end configured to pass through the retainer and the aperture in the sensing element and threadingly engage the threaded bore in the proof mass.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A low density accelerometer includes a buoyant outer layer and a rigid hollow housing within the outer layer. The housing includes an upper member and a lower member and is configured to form a groove at the junction of the upper and lower member. A disk shaped sensing element configured in a ring defining an aperture is configured to engage the groove along an outer edge of the annular ring. A solid proof mass is configured to fit in the center of the annular ring and configured with a threaded bore on an upper surface of the proof mass. The mass is secured to the sensing element by a retainer such as a Belleville washer in contact with the upper surface of the sensing element circumferentially about the aperture and a threaded fastener passing through the retainer and the aperture in the sensing element, and threadingly engaging the threaded bore in the proof mass.
31 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A low density accelerometer comprising:
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a buoyant outer layer; a rigid hollow housing within said buoyant outer layer, said housing having an upper member and a lower member and configured to form a groove at a junction of the upper member and the lower member in an inner surface of said housing; a disk shaped sensing element configured in an annular ring defining an aperture, said sensing element configured to engage the groove along an outer edge of the annular ring; a solid proof mass disposed in the annular ring and configured with a threaded bore on an upper surface of the proof mass; a retainer disposed on an upper surface of the sensing element, wherein an edge of said retainer is in contact with the upper surface of the sensing element circumferentially about the aperture; and a threaded fastener having a head larger than an opening in the retainer, and a threaded end configured to pass through the retainer and the aperture in the sensing element and threadingly engage the threaded bore in the proof mass. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A low density accelerometer adapted for underwater sensing, comprising:
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a piezoelectric element, said piezoelectric element having longitudinal ends, with a first end affixed to a base; and a low density mass having at least one cavity, affixed to a second end of said piezoelectric element, wherein said low density mass having a density less than a density of water, when impinged upon by a sound wave, moves relative to the base and exerts a force on said piezoelectric element to produce a voltage in said piezoelectric element. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification