TRANSDUCER MOUNTING APPARATUS

• US 3,740,706 A
• Filed: 09/28/1971
• Issued: 06/19/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sebastian J. Joseph
• Original Assignee: Sebastian J. Joseph
• Inventors: Joseph, Sebastian J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Borchelt, Benjamin A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tudor, H. J.
• Application Number:
  US05/184,349
• Time in Patent Office: 630 Days
• Field of Search: 340/8S 310/9.1
• US Class Current: 367/173
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 11/004 Mounting transducers, e.g. provided with mechanical moving or orienting device mountings specially adapted to a particular sound-producing device, see the preceding groups G10K1/00 - G10K9/00, e.g. G10K1/26, G10K1/28, G10K9/22; arrangements of sonic watch equipment on submarines B63G8/39; buoys B63B22/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 11/00 Transmission systems employing sonic, ultrasonic or infrasonic waves

Abstract

Apparatus for mounting a marine hydrophone transducer or the like on a water-borne vessel. An elongate boom has one end adapted for carrying the transducer and for extension into the water. A base is adapted to be secured to the deck of the vessel adjacent one edge of the deck. The boom is pivotally connected to the base for pivoting movement between a retracted position with the boom out of the water and an extended position with the boom positioning the transducer below the surface of the water. When extended the boom can pivot also in response to being struck.

Claims

1. Apparatus for mounting a marine hydrophone transducer or the like on a water-borne vessel, comprising a base to be secured to the deck of said vessel adjacent one edge of said deck, an elongate boom having one end for carrying said transducer and for extension into the water, means pivotally mounting said boom relative to the base for swinging of the boom between a retracted position in which said one end of the boom is clear of the water and an operating position in which said one end of the boom extends into the water thereby to position the transducer below the surface of the water, said mounting means comprising an arm pivotally connected at one end thereof to the base, said boom being pivotally mounted on the other end of said arm, said arm being swingable between a raised position in which said boom is in its retracted position and a lowered position in which with said boom in its operative position said transducer is spaced from said vessel a distance sufficient to avoid the effects of water turbulence on the transducer as the vessel passes through the water, a stop carried by the arm engageable by the boom thereby to prevent said one end of the boom from swinging away from said vessel when said boom is in its operating position, and spring means for resiliently urging said boom toward said stop, said boom, when in its operating position, being swingable from its operating position toward said vessel in response to waterborne drift or the like striking the boom thereby to prevent damage to said boom and transducer carried thereby, said spring means then returning said boom to its operating position.

2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said base comprises a spaced pair of generally parallel side members and means for maintaining said side members in adjustably spaced relationship on opposite sides of a cavel or the like adjacent said deck edge and extending generally to said deck edge.

3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein said arm comprises a spaced pair of generally parallel side members and means for maintaining said side members in spaced relationship.

4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said boom is pivotally connected to said arm at a point intermediate the ends of the boom, said boom, when in its operating position and engaging said stop, being generally vertical.

5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein said spring means comprises a first Tension spring means interconnected between said boom and said arm and a second tension spring means interconnected between said boom and said base, said second tension spring means assisting said first tension spring means in resiliently urging said boom into engagement with said stop and facilitating swinging of said arm from its lowered position to its raised position for moving the boom from its operating position to its retracted position.

6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein said boom includes a first tubular element and a second tubular element slidable in telescopic relationship with respect to said first element and means adjustably securing said elements together whereby the depth of said transducer below water surface may be varied.