Method and apparatus for an acoustic-electric channel mounting

• US 9,594,164 B2
• Filed: 01/29/2014
• Issued: 03/14/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
• Original Assignee: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
• Inventors: Wilt, Kyle R., Scarton, Henry A., Lawry, Tristan J., Saulnier, Gary J., Ashdown, Jonathan D.
• Primary Examiner(s): HULKA, JAMES R
• Application Number:
  US14/167,049
• Publication Number:
  US 20140146641A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,140 Days
• Field of Search: 367/173
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/06 Systems determining the position data of a target
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/521 Constructional features
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 11/006 Transducer mounting in underwater equipment, e.g. sonobuoys

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.

Claims

1. A mounting plate installation assembly for mounting one or more transducers on a submerged external surface of a watercraft, the assembly comprising:

a mounting member fixed to the submerged surface, the mounting member projecting outward from the submerged external surface of the watercraft;

a mounting plate having a top side facing away from the submerged surface, and a bottom side facing towards the submerged surface;

a plurality of transducers fixed to the mounting plate;

the mounting plate having an inlet hole and an outlet hole through its thickness, such holes being adapted for passing gasses and liquids between top and bottom sides of the mounting plate;

the mounting plate being sized to fit within the mounting member; and

the mounting plate and the mounting member being positioned so that the mounting plate slides within the mounting member towards and away from the submerged surface, while maintaining a substantially water-tight seal between the periphery of the mounting plate and the mounting;

wherein said submerged surface is a planar external surface of the watercraft which is in direct contact with a body of water, and the assembly is also in contact with the body of water; and

wherein the assembly is external to the watercraft, and does not penetrate the external surface of the watercraft.

2. The assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mounting member is a mounting ring having the shape of a section of a hollow cylinder, and wherein the mounting plate is substantially round.

3. The assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bottom side of the mounting plate comprises a channel adapted to direct adhesive from the inlet hole to other areas of the bottom side of the mounting plate;

the channel being an elongated concave channel formed into a planar surface of the mounting plate and having at least one end in fluidic connection with the inlet hole.

4. The assembly as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a sealant at an interface of the mounting plate and the mounting member, the sealant being adapted to facilitate movement of the mounting plate towards and away from the submerged surface while maintaining a water-tight seal between the periphery of the mounting plate and the mounting member.

5. The assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mounting member comprises a plurality of threaded holes spaced about its periphery.

6. The assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of transducers are each fixed in a respective one of a plurality of separate depressions on the top side of the mounting plate.

7. The assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the top side of the mounting plate comprises a plurality of threaded holes;

the assembly further comprising a pressing plate removably engaged to the top side of the mounting plate using a plurality of said threaded holes; and

the pressing plate being adapted to selectably push and pull the mounting plate towards and away from the submerged surface.

8. The assembly as claimed in claim 7, wherein the pressing plate is non-rigidly engaged to the top side of the mounting plate using a plurality of threaded couplings engaged with the threaded holes of the mounting plate;

further comprising a plurality of springs positioned between the pressing plate and the mounting plate, the springs being adapted to transfer pressing pressure from the pressing plate to the mounting plate in the direction of the external surface of the watercraft.

9. The assembly of claim 1:

wherein the submerged external surface of a watercraft is a submerged area of a hull of one of a boat and a submarine, and

wherein the mounting member is attached to the hull by one of welding and marine glue.

10. The assembly of claim 1:

wherein the mounting member consists of a metal ring having a plurality of threaded holes therein which is welded to the external surface of a watercraft.

11. The assembly of claim 1:

wherein a second mounting member is mounted on an internal surface of the watercraft directly opposite and aligned with said mounting member on the external surface of the watercraft;

wherein the second mounting member and the mounting member on the external surface of the watercraft have substantially the same shape.

12. The assembly of claim 1:

further comprising adhesive between the mounting plate and the external surface of the watercraft.

13. The assembly of claim 1:

wherein the mounting member is in the form of a ridge extending out from the external surface of the watercraft into the water;

wherein the mounting member forms a closed shape which frames a planar area of the external surface of the watercraft;

wherein the mounting member has a flat surface which faces away from the surface of the watercraft and which fully surrounds and frames said planar area of the external surface of the watercraft; and

wherein a plurality of threaded holes are spaced on the flat surface.

14. A mounting plate installation assembly for mounting one or more transducers on a submerged surface, the assembly comprising:

a mounting member fixed to the submerged surface, the mounting member projecting outward from the submerged surface into a body of water;

a mounting plate having a top side facing away from the submerged surface, and a bottom side facing towards the submerged surface;

a plurality of transducers fixed to the mounting plate;

the mounting plate having both an inlet hole and an outlet hole through its thickness, such holes being adapted for passing gasses and liquids between top and bottom sides of the mounting plate;

the mounting plate being sized to fit within the mounting member; and

the mounting plate and the mounting member being positioned so that the mounting plate slides within the mounting member towards and away from the submerged surface, while maintaining a substantially water-tight seal between the periphery of the mounting plate and the mounting.

15. The assembly according to claim 14, wherein the submerged surface is an external surface of a watercraft which is in a body of water.

16. The assembly according to claim 14,

wherein the assembly does not penetrate the external surface.