Preparation device and method of transducer structure pressure-resistant material intermediate

Abstract

The application relates to a preparation device and method of a transducer structure pressure-resistant material intermediate, which comprises a thrust rod, a cylinder body, a piston, a plunger and a pressure detector; the cylinder body is a hollow cylinder body with two open ends, the two ports of the cylinder body are respectively a first port and a second port, the piston is slidably arranged in the cylinder body, the space in the cylinder body from the first port to the piston is a first cavity, the space in the cylinder body from the piston to the second port is a second cavity, a first through hole is arranged on the cylinder body in the first cavity, the plunger is sealingly connected to the first through hole, the thrust rod is sealingly connected to the first port, the thrust rod can axially move relative to the cylinder body, and the pressure detector is sealingly connected to the second port. The preparation device of the transducer structure pressure-resistant material intermediate provided by the embodiment has a simple structure, the prepared intermediate can prepare a 100MPa-resistant edge-free backing material, the pressure can be visually and adjustably adjusted during the preparation process, and the preparation process is easy to operate.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of transducer fabrication technology, and more specifically, to an apparatus and method for preparing an intermediate material for a transducer structure pressure-resistant material. Background Technology

[0002] In the engineering applications of underwater acoustic transducers, passive materials play a crucial role. They are generally installed as main structural components within the transducer, serving primarily functions such as sound absorption, acting as sound baffles, providing buoyancy, and filling. Currently, an increasing number of materials are being explored as passive materials for underwater acoustic transducers, and these materials are continuously being modified and replaced to meet the needs of different transducers. Traditional passive materials mainly include rigid foam plastics, cork, rubber, and various engineering plastics. These materials are easy to process and mold, but a drawback is that most of them cannot withstand high hydrostatic pressure.

[0003] In the preparation of high-pressure passive materials, molds are generally required for shaping. These molds are typically quite complex. In engineering production, due to cost constraints, the raw material molding size is usually large. However, the large size limits the material's pressure resistance, generally keeping it below 20 MPa, which is insufficient for deep-sea structural components. Alternatively, injection molding machines can be used for fabrication. For example, CN113459385A discloses an injection molding machine comprising: a cylinder for heating the molding material; a screw configured to rotate freely and retract freely within the cylinder; a rotation drive source for rotating the screw; a retraction drive source for retracting the screw; a load detector for detecting the load transmitted between the retraction drive source and the screw; and a bearing supporting the screw for rotation. The load detector detects the load between the screw and the bearing. The injection molding machine also includes a wireless communication device for wirelessly communicating the load signal detected by the load detector. This patented technology aims to improve the accuracy of pressure detection between the screw and the molding material by selecting pressure detection points, but it does not improve the mechanism for preparing materials that can withstand high hydrostatic pressure. Summary of the Invention

[0004] To address the shortcomings of existing technologies, the present invention aims to provide an apparatus and method for preparing a pressure-resistant intermediate material for transducer structures.

[0005] An apparatus for preparing a pressure-resistant intermediate material for a transducer structure according to the present invention includes a thrust rod, a cylinder, a piston, a plunger, and a pressure detector;

[0006] The cylinder is a hollow cylindrical body with open ends. The two ends of the cylinder are a first port and a second port, respectively. The piston is slidably disposed in the cylinder. The space from the first port to the piston in the cylinder is a first cavity, and the space from the piston to the second port in the cylinder is a second cavity. A first through hole is provided on the cylinder located in the first cavity. The plunger is sealed and connected to the first through hole. The thrust rod is sealed and connected to the first port. The thrust rod can move axially relative to the cylinder. The pressure detector is sealed and connected to the second port.

[0007] After the molding fluid is injected into the first cavity, the thrust rod is sealed and connected. After the pressure-conducting fluid is injected into the second cavity, the pressure detector is sealed and connected. An external force causes the thrust rod to move axially toward the piston. The molding fluid pushes the piston toward the pressure detector. The pressure detector obtains the pressure borne by the pressure-conducting fluid. During the pressurization process, air bubbles in the molding fluid located in the first cavity are discharged through the first through hole. After the pressure reaches a preset value, the movement of the thrust rod is stopped, and the transducer structure pressure-resistant material preparation device is placed in an oven, so that the molding fluid solidifies and forms an intermediate for preparing the transducer structure pressure-resistant material.

[0008] In some embodiments, the inner wall surface of the cylinder is coated with a release layer, which is a Teflon coating.

[0009] In some embodiments, the thrust rod is provided with external threads, the first port is provided with internal threads, and the thrust rod is threadedly connected to the first port.

[0010] In some embodiments, the cylinder body is provided with a second through hole, which is located in the region of the second cavity. The pressure-conducting fluid is injected through the second through hole, and the second through hole is sealed to the plunger.

[0011] In some embodiments, the molding fluid is an epoxy resin.

[0012] In some embodiments, the pressure-conducting fluid is an aqueous solution.

[0013] In some embodiments, the second cavity is boss-shaped, and when the piston moves toward the pressure detector to its limit position, the piston stops on the stepped surface of the second cavity.

[0014] This invention also provides a method for preparing an intermediate material for a transducer structure pressure-resistant material, using the aforementioned transducer structure pressure-resistant material preparation apparatus, comprising the following steps:

[0015] S1, Piston position pre-adjustment step: Slide the piston into the position inside the cylinder, so that the first cavity and the second cavity that meet the preset space requirements are formed inside the cylinder;

[0016] S2, Molding fluid injection step: After injecting a predetermined amount of the molding fluid into the first cavity from the first port, the thrust rod is sealed to the first port, and the molding fluid is placed between the thrust rod and the piston;

[0017] S3, Pressure-conducting fluid injection step: After injecting a predetermined amount of the pressure-conducting fluid into the second cavity from the second port, the pressure detector is sealed and connected to the second port, and the pressure-conducting fluid is located between the piston and the pressure detector;

[0018] S4, Molding fluid pressure adjustment step: The push rod is moved toward the piston by an external force, and the pressurized molding fluid pushes the piston toward the pressure detector. The pressure on the pressure-conducting fluid is detected and displayed by the pressure detector. After the pressure detector shows that the pressure has reached the preset value, the push rod stops moving.

[0019] S5, Molding fluid solidification step: The transducer structure pressure-resistant material preparation device containing the molding fluid that maintains a preset pressure value, formed in step S4, is placed in an oven. After drying for a predetermined time, the molding fluid located in the first cavity is solidified into a solid intermediate.

[0020] S6, Solid intermediate demolding step: Disassemble the push rod and the pressure detector, push the piston towards the first port with external force, and demold the solid intermediate.

[0021] In some embodiments, during the initial stage of the molding fluid pressure adjustment step, when the thrust rod is moved toward the piston by an external force, the gas in the molding fluid is allowed to escape through the first through hole. After the gas in the molding fluid has completely escaped, the first through hole is sealed by the plunger.

[0022] In some embodiments, the inner wall surface of the cylinder is coated with a release layer, which is a Teflon coating.

[0023] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following beneficial effects:

[0024] 1. The transducer structure pressure-resistant material intermediate preparation device provided in this embodiment has a simple structure. The prepared intermediate can produce a passive backing material with a pressure resistance of 100MPa. Furthermore, the pressure is visually adjustable during the preparation process, making it easy to operate. Simultaneously, through a piston-type structure design and the inclusion of liquid fluid in the cavities on both sides of the piston structure, pressure is guided by the liquid fluid. Compared to solid pressure transmission mechanisms, this significantly reduces the adverse effects of frictional resistance on the pressure detection of the forming fluid, improves pressure detection accuracy, and enhances the quality of the final passive backing material.

[0025] 2. The transducer structure pressure-resistant material intermediate preparation device provided in this embodiment improves the cavity shape of the second cavity to a boss shape, which effectively prevents the piston from getting too close to the pressure detector side and causing damage to the pressure detector.

[0026] 3. The method for preparing the intermediate material of the transducer structure provided in this embodiment not only has the advantages of easy operation and high molding accuracy brought by the device, but also can further improve the molding accuracy of the intermediate by adjusting the micro pressure of the pressure-conducting fluid during the drying and molding process of the molding material. Attached Figure Description

[0027] Other features, objects, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of non-limiting embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings:

[0028] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the apparatus for preparing the pressure-resistant material intermediate for the transducer structure of the present invention;

[0029] Figure 2 This is an exploded structural diagram of the apparatus for preparing the pressure-resistant material intermediate for the transducer structure of the present invention;

[0030] Figure 3 This is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the apparatus for preparing the pressure-resistant intermediate material of the transducer structure of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0031] The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to specific embodiments. These embodiments will help those skilled in the art to further understand the present invention, but do not limit the invention in any way. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make several changes and improvements without departing from the concept of the present invention. These all fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

[0032] Example 1

[0033] This embodiment provides an apparatus for preparing an intermediate material for a transducer structure pressure-resistant material, such as... Figure 1-3As shown, it includes a thrust rod 1, a cylinder 2, a piston 3, a plunger 4, and a pressure detector 5. In some embodiments, the thrust rod 1, cylinder 2, piston 3, and plunger 4 are made of 17-4PH duplex stainless steel and are heat-treated to achieve a yield strength of 1050 MPa, thus obtaining the decoupling and filling material structural components required in high-frequency transducers that can withstand high hydrostatic pressure.

[0034] The cylinder 2 is a hollow cylindrical body with open ends. The two opposite ports of the cylinder 2 are designated as the first port 21 and the second port 22. In some embodiments, the inner surface of the cylinder 2 is coated with a Teflon coating, which serves as a release layer for the intermediate molding body. The piston 3 is a block-shaped structure whose outer circumferential surface is adapted to the inner cavity surface of the cylinder 2. The piston 3 is slidably connected to the cavity of the cylinder 2, and the cavities on both sides of the piston 3 are essentially sealed and isolated through the piston 3. This sealing and isolation means that liquid fluid filling one side of the piston 3 cannot flow into the cavity on the other side of the piston 3. In some embodiments, the piston 3 is provided with an O-ring seal 31 to improve the sealing effect. The cavity from the first port 21 to the piston 3 is designated as the first cavity 23. The cavity from the second port 22 to the piston 3 is designated as the second cavity 24. A first through hole 25 is provided on the cylinder 2 located in the region of the first cavity 23, and the first through hole 25 is sealed and connected to the plunger 4. In some embodiments, the plunger 4 is threadedly connected to the first through hole 25. To improve the sealing effect, raw rubber tape is wrapped around the external thread surface of the plunger 4 and then screwed onto the first through hole 25. In some embodiments, the inner diameter of the cylinder body 2 is 20-50 mm, and the length of the cylinder body 2 is 300-500 mm. The miniaturized cylinder structure can meet the requirements for preparing passive backing materials resistant to 100 MPa.

[0035] The thrust rod 1 is sealed to the first port 21, and the thrust rod 1 can move axially toward the piston 3 while maintaining a sealed state during movement. In some embodiments, the thrust rod 1 has an external thread, and the first port 21 has an internal thread; the thrust rod 1 and the first port 21 are connected by threads. By screwing the end of the thrust rod 1, the thrust rod 1 can be moved axially toward the piston 3. In some embodiments, an O-ring seal 11 with a retaining ring is connected to the thrust rod 1. The O-ring seal 11 with the retaining ring is placed on the thrust rod 1 to ensure that the thrust rod 1 and the first cavity 23 maintain good sealing performance under high pressure, and to prevent the molding fluid 6 from entering the O-ring groove and affecting its sealing performance.

[0036] The pressure detector 5 is sealed to the second port 22. The pressure detector 5 can be a hydraulic pressure gauge. After being sealed to the second port 22, the pressure detector 5 is in a fixed state. In some embodiments, a second through hole 26 is also provided on the cylinder body 2. The second through hole 26 is used to inject the pressure-conducting fluid 7, so that the injection of the pressure-conducting fluid 7 does not need to be carried out through the second port 22, thus eliminating the process flow caused by unloading and installing the pressure detector 5 and the impact on the sealing performance. The second through hole 26 is also sealed using a plunger 4. In this case, the plunger 4 sealed to the first through hole 25 is referred to as the first plunger 41, and the plunger 4 sealed to the second through hole 26 is referred to as the second plunger 42. In some embodiments, the second plunger 42 is threaded to the second through hole 26, and the external thread of the second plunger 42 is wrapped with raw rubber tape to improve the sealing connection performance.

[0037] The working principle of the transducer structure pressure-resistant material intermediate preparation device provided in this embodiment is as follows: After the piston 3 is pushed into the predetermined position in the cylinder 2, the first cavity 23 is filled with the molding fluid 6 epoxy resin material through the first port 21. The thrust rod 1 is connected to the first port 21 by screwing, and the epoxy resin fluid is located between the thrust rod 1 and one end face of the piston 3. The pressure guiding fluid 7 aqueous solution is injected into the second cavity 24 through the second port 22 until it is full. The pressure detector 5 is sealed to the second port 22 by threaded connection, and the aqueous solution exists between the pressure detector 5 and the other end face of the piston 3. In some embodiments, the aqueous solution is injected into the second cavity 24 through the second through hole 26, and after it is full, the second plunger 42 is sealed to the second through hole 26. In this embodiment, the pressure detector 5 and the second port 22 are already in a tight and sealed connection state before the aqueous solution is injected. Rotating the head of the thrust rod 1 moves the thrust rod 1 towards the piston 3, which in turn pushes the pressure-conducting fluid 7 towards the pressure detector 5. The pressure detector 5 then detects the pressure exerted on the pressure-conducting fluid 7. When the thrust rod 1 is turned to initially pressurize the forming fluid 6, the first through hole 25 is open, allowing gas in the forming fluid 6 to escape through the first through hole 25, ensuring uniform material pressure in the forming fluid 6. After the gas is completely discharged, the first plunger 41 seals with the first through hole 25. Since the piston 3 can slide within the cylinder 2, when the forming fluid 6 in the first chamber 21 and the pressure-conducting fluid 7 in the second chamber 22 reach pressure equilibrium and the piston 3 is stationary, the pressure exerted on the pressure-conducting fluid 7 and the forming fluid 6 is the same. The pressure of the pressure-conducting fluid 7 detected by the pressure detector 5 is the pressure value of the forming fluid 6. Once the pressure detected by the pressure detector 5 reaches a preset value, the turning of the thrust rod 1 is stopped. The entire device containing the molding fluid at a predetermined pressure is placed in a drying oven for drying to obtain a solidified intermediate for preparing the pressure-resistant material of the transducer structure. Removing the intermediate of the pressure-resistant material of the transducer structure only requires disassembling the thrust rod 1 and the pressure detector 5, and then pushing the piston 3 towards the first port 21 by external force.

[0038] The apparatus for preparing the intermediate material for the transducer structure provided in this embodiment has a simple structure. The prepared intermediate material can be used to prepare a passive backing material with a pressure resistance of 100 MPa. Furthermore, the pressure is visually adjustable during the preparation process, making it easy to operate. Simultaneously, through a piston-type structure design and the inclusion of liquid fluid in the cavities on both sides of the piston structure, pressure is guided by the liquid fluid. Compared to solid pressure transmission mechanisms, this significantly reduces the adverse effects of frictional resistance on the pressure detection of the forming fluid, improves pressure detection accuracy, and enhances the quality of the final passive backing material.

[0039] Example 2

[0040] This embodiment 2 is based on embodiment 1. By improving the shape of the second cavity to a boss shape, it effectively prevents the piston from getting too close to the pressure detector side, thus preventing damage to the pressure detector. Specifically:

[0041] like Figure 1-3 As shown, the second cavity 22 is configured as a boss-shaped structure. The piston 3 moves towards the pressure detector 5 under the pressure of the forming fluid 6. The limit of the piston 3's movement is on the stepped surface 221 of the second cavity 22. That is, the stepped surface of the second cavity 22 prevents the piston 3 from continuing to move towards the pressure detector 5 by means of a reduced diameter, thereby preventing excessive pressure and damage to the pressure detector 5.

[0042] Example 3

[0043] This embodiment 3 provides a method for preparing an intermediate material for a transducer structure pressure-resistant material, such as... Figure 1-3 As shown, the transducer structure pressure-resistant material intermediate is prepared using the apparatus described in Example 1 or Example 2, and specifically includes the following steps:

[0044] S1, Piston position pre-adjustment step: Slide the piston 3 into the position inside the cylinder 2, so that the first cavity 23 and the second cavity 24 that meet the preset space requirements are formed inside the cylinder 2.

[0045] S2, Molding fluid injection step: After injecting a predetermined amount of molding fluid 6 into the first cavity 23 from the first port 21, the thrust rod 1 is sealed and connected to the first port 21, and the molding fluid 6 is placed between the thrust rod 1 and the piston 3.

[0046] S3, Pressure-conducting fluid injection step: After injecting a predetermined amount of pressure-conducting fluid 7 into the second cavity 24 from the second port 22, the pressure detector 5 is sealed and connected to the second port 22, and the pressure-conducting fluid 7 is located between the piston 3 and the pressure detector 5.

[0047] S4, Molding fluid pressure adjustment step: The push rod 1 is moved toward the piston 3 by external force. The pressurized molding fluid 6 pushes the piston 3 toward the pressure detector 5. The pressure of the pressure guiding fluid 7 is detected and displayed by the pressure detector 5. After the pressure detector 5 displays that the pressure has reached the preset value, the push rod 1 stops moving.

[0048] In this step, during the initial stage when the push rod 1 moves toward the piston 3 by external force, the gas in the forming fluid 6 is allowed to escape through the first through hole 25. After the gas in the forming fluid 6 has completely escaped, the first through hole 25 is sealed by the plunger 4.

[0049] S5, Molding fluid solidification step: The transducer structure pressure-resistant material preparation device containing the molding fluid maintaining a preset pressure value formed in step S4 is placed in an oven. After drying for a predetermined time, the molding fluid 6 located in the first cavity 23 is solidified into a solid intermediate.

[0050] S6, Solid intermediate demolding step: Disassemble the push rod 1 and pressure detector 5, and push the piston 3 towards the first port 21 by external force to demold the solid intermediate.

[0051] The solid intermediate material after extraction is subjected to secondary machining to obtain the passive structural material for high-voltage transducers.

[0052] The method for preparing the intermediate material of the transducer structure provided in this embodiment not only has the advantages of easy operation and high molding accuracy brought by the device, but also can further improve the molding accuracy of the intermediate by adjusting the micro-pressure of the pressure-conducting fluid during the drying and molding process of the molding material.

[0053] In the description of this application, it should be understood that the terms "upper", "lower", "front", "back", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this application.

[0054] Specific embodiments of the present invention have been described above. It should be understood that the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described above, and those skilled in the art can make various changes or modifications within the scope of the claims, which do not affect the essence of the present invention. Unless otherwise specified, the embodiments and features described in this application can be arbitrarily combined with each other.

Claims

1. An apparatus for preparing an intermediate material for a transducer structure pressure-resistant material, characterized in that, It includes a thrust rod (1), a cylinder (2), a piston (3), a plunger (4), and a pressure detector (5); The cylinder (2) is a hollow cylinder with open ends. The two ports of the cylinder (2) are the first port (21) and the second port (22), respectively. The piston (3) is slidably disposed in the cylinder (2). The space from the first port (21) to the piston (3) in the cylinder (2) is the first cavity (23). The space from the piston (3) to the second port (22) in the cylinder (2) is the second cavity (24). The cylinder (2) located in the first cavity (23) is provided with a first through hole (25). The plunger (4) is sealed and connected to the first through hole (25). The thrust rod (1) is sealed and connected to the first port (21). The thrust rod (1) can move axially relative to the cylinder (2). The pressure detector (5) is sealed and connected to the second port (22). After the molding fluid (6) is injected into the first cavity (23), the thrust rod (1) is sealed and connected. After the pressure-conducting fluid (7) is injected into the second cavity (24), the pressure detector (5) is sealed and connected. The thrust rod (1) is moved axially toward the piston (3) by external force. The molding fluid (6) pushes the piston (3) toward the pressure detector (5). The pressure detector (5) obtains the pressure borne by the pressure-conducting fluid (7). During the pressurization process, the air bubbles in the molding fluid (6) located in the first cavity (23) are discharged through the first through hole (25). After the pressure reaches the preset value, the movement of the thrust rod (1) is stopped. The transducer structure pressure-resistant material preparation device is placed in the oven, so that the molding fluid (6) is solidified and formed into an intermediate for preparing the transducer structure pressure-resistant material.

2. The apparatus for preparing the intermediate material for the transducer structure pressure resistance according to claim 1, characterized in that, The inner wall surface of the cylinder (2) is coated with a release layer, which is a Teflon coating.

3. The apparatus for preparing the intermediate material for the transducer structure pressure resistance according to claim 1, characterized in that, The thrust rod (1) is provided with an external thread, and the first port (21) is provided with an internal thread. The thrust rod (1) is threadedly connected to the first port (21).

4. The apparatus for preparing the intermediate material for the pressure-resistant transducer structure according to claim 1, characterized in that, The cylinder (2) is provided with a second through hole (26), which is located in the area of ​​the second cavity (24). The pressure-conducting fluid (7) is injected through the second through hole (26), and the second through hole (26) is sealed to the plunger (4).

5. The apparatus for preparing the intermediate material for the pressure-resistant transducer structure according to claim 1, characterized in that, The molding fluid (6) is epoxy resin.

6. The apparatus for preparing the intermediate material for the pressure-resistant transducer structure according to claim 1, characterized in that, The pressure-conducting fluid (7) is an aqueous solution.

7. The apparatus for preparing the intermediate material for the pressure-resistant transducer structure according to any one of claims 1-6, characterized in that, The second cavity (24) is boss-shaped. When the piston (3) moves toward the pressure detector (5) to the limit position, the piston (3) stops on the step surface of the second cavity (24).

8. A method for preparing a pressure-resistant intermediate material for a transducer structure, characterized in that, The transducer structure pressure-resistant material preparation apparatus according to any one of claims 1-7 includes the following steps: S1, Piston position pre-adjustment step: Slide the piston (3) into the position inside the cylinder (2) so that the first cavity (23) and the second cavity (24) that meet the preset space requirements are formed inside the cylinder (2); S2, Molding fluid injection step: After injecting a predetermined amount of the molding fluid (6) into the first cavity (23) from the first port (21), the thrust rod (1) is sealed and connected to the first port (21), and the molding fluid (6) is placed between the thrust rod (1) and the piston (3). S3, Pressure-conducting fluid injection step: After injecting a predetermined amount of the pressure-conducting fluid (7) into the second cavity (24) from the second port (22), the pressure detector (5) is sealed and connected to the second port (22), and the pressure-conducting fluid (7) is located between the piston (3) and the pressure detector (5); S4, Molding fluid pressure adjustment step: The push rod (1) is moved toward the piston (3) by external force, and the pressurized molding fluid (6) pushes the piston (3) toward the pressure detector (5). The pressure of the pressure guiding fluid (7) is detected and displayed by the pressure detector (5). After the pressure detector (5) shows that the pressure has reached the preset value, the push rod (1) stops moving. S5, Molding fluid solidification step: The transducer structure pressure-resistant material preparation device containing the molding fluid with a preset pressure value formed in step S4 is placed in an oven and dried for a predetermined time. The molding fluid (6) located in the first cavity (23) is solidified into a solid intermediate. S6, Solid intermediate demolding step: Disassemble the push rod (1) and the pressure detector (5), and push the piston (3) towards the first port (21) by external force to demold the solid intermediate.

9. The method for preparing the intermediate material for the transducer structure pressure resistance according to claim 8, characterized in that, In the molding fluid pressure adjustment step, during the initial stage when the thrust rod (1) moves toward the piston (3) by external force, the gas in the molding fluid (6) escapes through the first through hole (25). After the gas in the molding fluid (6) has completely escaped, the first through hole (25) is sealed by the plunger (4).

10. The method for preparing the intermediate material for the transducer structure pressure resistance according to claim 8, characterized in that, The inner wall surface of the cylinder (2) is coated with a release layer, which is a Teflon coating.

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