A conformal design of a bending disc transducer for a pneumatic buffer

Abstract

The application discloses a kind of air pressure buffer device conformal design bending disc transducer, end direction cable, circumferential side uniform hole, and equipped with multiple pressure increasing device and pressure reducing device, the pressure reducing device includes pressure reducing shell, pressure reducing piston installed in pressure reducing shell, sealing ring, guide cylinder, pressure spring and limit sheet;The pressure increasing device includes pressure increasing shell, and pressure increasing piston, sealing ring, tension spring, positioning plate and guide column are installed in pressure increasing shell.The application changes the volume of the transducer cavity by the device similar to piston when the transducer is subjected to sudden pressure change, and then buffers the sharp pressure change, has the design of transducer conformity, ensures the safety of working condition, the circumference is equipped with multiple respectively buffering internal pressure and external pressure piston device, does not occupy space additionally, does not affect the size of transducer, easy to replace, the volume change of internal cavity is provided by piston, and the pressure imbalance problem caused by the sudden change of transducer underwater depth can be buffered.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention belongs to the technical field of transducers, and in particular relates to a bending disk transducer with a conformal design of an air pressure buffer device. Background Art

[0002] The curved disk transducer in a dipping launch system has attracted considerable attention due to its small size, light weight, and low frequency. However, this low frequency characteristic makes it inherently less resistant to high hydrostatic pressure. To address this issue, internal cavity pressure compensation technology is currently used in engineering to achieve deepwater applications. While existing capabilities, in theory, can balance the external water pressure and internal air pressure of the transducer at any depth without external interference, pressure compensation technology cannot be used to prevent the imbalance between internal and external pressures caused by sudden changes in transducer depth due to surface waves or drifting and turning, which can easily damage the transducer.

[0003] Currently, pressure compensation technology for low-frequency transmitting transducers in the ocean is a new approach to break through the existing operating depths. The goal of pressure compensation technology is to fill the transducer with high-pressure gas in deep water, achieving balanced pressure inside and outside the transducer and creating an air-backed state, enabling efficient, high-power transmission. The pressure balance state is defined as a state within a specified, small pressure differential range, within which the transducer remains undamaged. Due to the high gas compression ratio in deep water, this technology cannot be implemented using methods such as carrying airbags. Instead, using a dry-end air source for inflation is the most convenient method. While the principles and connection methods of the pressure compensation system are easy to understand, improving its reliability and safety in practical applications is of particular concern.

[0004] The air pressure compensation system has a lag in compensation at great depths. For example, if a 1000m cable is used, it will take at least 3 seconds for inflation and deflation to complete the pressure balance. If the pressure exceeds the safety threshold during this time, it can be dangerous. Therefore, this must be considered in the design.

[0005] Since the real-time pressure compensation method for transducers has not been promoted, there is no record of this in existing engineering solutions. The real-time pressure compensation system for transducers mentioned in existing patents compares the values ​​uploaded by the depth sensor and the pressure sensor at the wet end of the transducer to determine whether it is inflated or deflated. This is a principle overview and does not involve the precise control of air pressure required for operation to ensure the safety of the equipment. There are also some other methods, but most of them are limited to fixed-depth transmitting transducers or the ability to resist unilateral internal or external pressure, and are not suitable for real-time pressure compensation. In addition, there are patents introducing other air pressure systems that propose the use of pressure relief valves to vent air. However, the use of this solution for large-scale bending disk transducers places very high demands on the pressure relief valve, and it is easy for moisture to enter the inner cavity of the transducer and reduce its insulation. Specifically, the normal safety pressure threshold of a curved disk transducer is when the external pressure is greater than the internal pressure. If the thickness of the radiating circular plate is reasonably designed, it can reach at least 0.4 MPa. In contrast, if the internal pressure is 0.05 MPa greater than the external pressure, the transducer is prone to damage. The pressure relief valve can only provide protection when the internal pressure is high, but cannot release the risk when the external pressure is high.

[0006] The methods mentioned in the currently available patents are still broad strokes, with many details left out, posing safety and reliability risks. For example, system stalls could lead to delayed inflation or deflation, or complex situations like large changes in depth over a short period of time could prevent the internal and external pressures of the transducer from maintaining real-time pressure balance, making it impossible to ensure the transducer remains in a safe state. Summary of the Invention

[0007] In order to solve the problem that a bending disk transducer requiring air pressure compensation may experience an imbalance in internal and external pressures due to drastic depth changes underwater, thereby causing damage to the transducer, the present invention provides a bending disk transducer with a conformal design of an air pressure buffer device. When the pressure of the transducer changes suddenly, the volume of the transducer's inner cavity is changed by a piston-like device, thereby buffering the drastic pressure change. At the same time, the transducer has a conformal design to ensure the safety of its working state. The circumference of the bending disk transducer is equipped with multiple piston devices that can buffer large internal and external pressures respectively. The devices do not occupy additional space and do not affect the size of the transducer. They are easy to install and disassemble and easy to replace. The volume change of the inner cavity provided by the piston can buffer the pressure imbalance problem caused by the sudden change of the transducer's underwater depth.

[0008] The technical solution of the present invention is as follows: a bending disk transducer with a conformal design of an air pressure buffer device, the bending disk transducer has a cable outlet at the end, holes are evenly opened on the circumferential side, and is equipped with multiple boosting devices and pressure reducing devices. The pressure reducing device includes a pressure reducing housing, a pressure reducing piston installed in the pressure reducing housing, a sealing ring, a guide cylinder, a compression spring and a limit plate; the boosting device includes a boosting housing, and a boosting piston installed in the boosting housing, a sealing ring, a tension spring, a positioning plate and a guide column.

[0009] Preferably, the bending disk transducer is an air-backed low-frequency transmitting transducer with a frequency as low as 50 Hz. It has multiple evenly distributed holes on its circumference for installing an air pressure buffer device, which can maximize the transducer cavity volume to buffer pressure.

[0010] Preferably, the pressure reducing device acts to buffer the air pressure when the internal pressure increases. Through the combination of a spring and a piston, the piston is displaced by the pressure difference to provide a larger inner cavity volume, and the air pressure can be reduced when the air volume remains unchanged.

[0011] Preferably, the boosting device acts to buffer the air pressure when the external pressure increases. Through the combination of a spring and a piston, the piston is displaced by the pressure difference to provide a smaller inner cavity volume, and the air pressure can be increased when the air volume remains unchanged.

[0012] Preferably, the bending disk transducer has cables extending from both ends, one end being an electrical cable and the other end being an air cable.

[0013] Preferably, the bending disk transducer has 18 holes uniformly opened around its circumference, each with a diameter of 60 mm, and threaded holes for mounting the pressure increasing device and the pressure reducing device are provided on both sides of each hole.

[0014] Preferably, the number of the boosting devices and the depressurizing devices of the bending disk transducer are 9 and are distributed at intervals. The inner cavity of the bending disk transducer has a diameter of 400 mm and a height of 70 mm.

[0015] Preferably, in the pressure reducing device, when the internal pressure of the transducer increases, the two sides of the transducer pressure reducing piston contact the inner cavity gas and the outer seawater respectively, and it has a sealing function. Under the action of the internal pressure, it moves radially outward from the center of the bending disk transducer, and the small diameter compression spring is stretched along the three guide columns. The limiting plate and the screw are designed to prevent them from falling out. They are installed and watertight with the transducer ring through the pressure reducing housing and the sealing ring.

[0016] Preferably, in the boosting device, when the internal pressure of the transducer becomes smaller, the two sides of the transducer boosting piston contact the inner cavity gas and the outer seawater respectively, and it has a sealing function. Under the action of external pressure, it moves radially from the outside to the center direction of the bending disk transducer, and the small-diameter tension spring is compressed along the guide tube limit, wherein the screw serves to fix the positioning plate, which is installed and watertight with the transducer ring through the boosting shell and the sealing ring.

[0017] Preferably, 9 boosting devices and 9 pressure reducing devices are spaced and evenly loaded on the circular holes of the transducer. The cylinder diameter of the pressure reducing shell and the boosting shell is 50mm, and the displacement stroke is 35mm. Through calculation, it can be obtained that the maximum buffer volume of the transducer accounts for 7% of the original cavity volume, which can greatly improve safety.

[0018] The present invention has the following effects: the transducer with real-time air pressure compensation can change with depth, and the air pressure buffer device can achieve a volume change of not less than 5% of the transducer without inflation or deflation. This indicator can increase the heave safety margin by an additional 50m at a water depth of 1000m, and can ensure that the transducer is not damaged. At the same time, the air pressure buffer device is low in cost, easy to replace, and conformal in design with the transducer, and does not take up additional space. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] Figure 1 A bending disk transducer and a cross-sectional view thereof according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0020] Figure 2 A pressure reducing device and a cross-sectional view thereof according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0021] Figure 3 A boosting device and a cross-sectional view thereof according to an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0022] The present invention will be further described in detail below through specific examples. It should be understood that the specific examples described herein are only used to illustrate the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. Example 1

[0023] like Figure 1-3 As shown, a bending disk transducer with a conformal design of a pneumatic buffer device is shown. The overall transducer 1 comprises a cable 2, a pressure reducing device 3, and a pressure increasing device 4. The pressure reducing device 3 comprises a pressure reducing housing 5, a pressure reducing piston 6, a sealing ring 7, a guide cylinder 8, a compression spring 9, a stopper 10, and a screw 11; the pressure increasing device 4 comprises a pressure increasing housing 12, a pressure increasing piston 13, a sealing ring 14, a tension spring 15, a positioning plate 16, a screw 17, and a guide post 18.

[0024] Cables 2 exit from both ends of the curved disk transducer. This cable can be an electric cable at one end and an air cable at the other, or the cable can be inserted using other methods. The transducer has 18 holes evenly spaced around its circumference, each with a diameter of 60 mm. Threaded holes for mounting the boost and depressurization devices are located on either side of each hole. The number of boost and depressurization devices required for the transducer needs to be determined based on the transducer's actual pressure resistance. For ease of explanation, this embodiment uses a spacing of nine each. Furthermore, the transducer's inner cavity has a diameter of 400 mm and a height of 70 mm.

[0025] In the pressure-reducing device 3, when the internal pressure of the transducer increases, the transducer's pressure-reducing piston 6 contacts the internal gas and the external seawater on either side, providing a sealing function. Under the pressure of the internal pressure, it moves downward in the figure, and the small-diameter compression spring 9 is stretched along the three guide posts 18. The stopper 10 and screw 11 are designed to prevent it from falling out. The pressure-reducing housing 5 and sealing ring 7 complete the installation and watertightness of the transducer ring.

[0026] In the booster device 4, when the internal pressure of the transducer decreases, the two sides of the transducer booster piston 13 contact the internal gas and the external seawater, respectively, providing a sealing function. Under external pressure, it moves upward in the figure, and the small-diameter tension spring 15 is compressed along the guide tube 8. Screws 17 secure the positioning plate 16. The booster housing 12 and sealing ring 14 complete the installation and watertightness of the transducer ring.

[0027] Nine boosters and nine depressurizers are spaced and evenly spaced around the transducer's circumferential aperture. The depressurizer and booster housings have a 50mm diameter and a 35mm displacement. Calculation indicates that the transducer's buffer capacity accounts for 7% of the original cavity volume, significantly improving safety. Furthermore, the number of boosters and depressurizers can be adjusted based on the transducer's inherent pressure resistance; they do not need to be identical. Example 2

[0028] In this invention, the curved disk transducer's buffer volume occupies at least 5% of the original space, providing a high safety factor. Furthermore, the installation method utilizes a conformal design with the transducer, maintaining the original dimensions. Unlike safety valves, the booster and pressure-reducing devices lack a venting function, providing protection against high-pressure gas and improving operational efficiency. Furthermore, the number of booster and pressure-reducing devices installed is controllable, with the number of each device allocated determined based on the transducer's inherent pressure resistance. This results in a simple structure, high reliability, and low cost.

[0029] The booster and depressurization devices of the curved disk transducer of the present invention are embedded in the circumferential side, conforming to the shape and occupying no additional space. Furthermore, the number of booster and depressurization devices can be adjusted and optimized based on the pressure resistance of the transducer itself.

[0030] The present invention can be used for a deep-water low-frequency acoustic signal transmitting system, has the characteristics of small size and light weight, is easy to retract, has high speed, high efficiency and high safety.

[0031] The above description of the specific embodiments is only used to help understand and apply the present invention, and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make various modifications to the embodiments without departing from the principles of the present invention. Therefore, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments in this application. Modifications and improvements made by those skilled in the art based on the disclosure of the present invention should all fall within the scope of protection claimed by the present invention.

Claims

1. A bending disk transducer with a conformal design of an air pressure buffer device, characterized in that: The bending disk transducer has an end-to-end cable outlet, holes are evenly opened on the circumferential side, and is equipped with multiple boosting devices and pressure reducing devices. The pressure reducing device includes a pressure reducing housing, a pressure reducing piston installed in the pressure reducing housing, a sealing ring, a guide cylinder, a compression spring and a limit plate; the boosting device includes a pressure increasing housing, a pressure increasing piston installed in the pressure increasing housing, a sealing ring, a tension spring, a positioning plate and a guide column.

2. The bending disk transducer with conformal design of the air pressure buffer device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The bending disk transducer is an air-backed low-frequency transmitting transducer with a frequency as low as 50Hz. It has multiple evenly distributed holes on its circumference for installing an air pressure buffer device, which can maximize the volume of the transducer cavity to buffer the pressure.

3. The bending disk transducer with conformal design of the air pressure buffer device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The pressure reducing device acts to buffer the air pressure when the internal pressure increases. Through the combination of the spring and the piston, the pressure difference causes the piston to displace, thereby providing a larger inner cavity volume and reducing the air pressure when the air volume remains unchanged.

4. The bending disk transducer with conformal design of the air pressure buffer device according to claim 3, characterized in that: The booster device acts to buffer the air pressure when the external pressure increases. Through the combination of the spring and the piston, the pressure difference causes the piston to displace, thereby providing a smaller inner cavity volume, and the air pressure can be increased when the air volume remains unchanged.

5. The bending disk transducer with conformal design of the air pressure buffer device according to claim 2, characterized in that: The bending disk transducer has cables at both ends, one end is an electric cable and the other end is an air cable.

6. The bending disk transducer with conformal design of the air pressure buffer device according to claim 2, characterized in that: The bending disk transducer has 18 holes evenly opened on its circumference, each with a diameter of 60 mm, and threaded holes for mounting a pressure-increasing device and a pressure-reducing device are provided on both sides of each hole.

7. The bending disk transducer with conformal design of the air pressure buffer device according to claim 4, characterized in that: The number of the boosting devices and the depressurizing devices of the bending disk transducer are 9 and are distributed at intervals. The inner cavity of the bending disk transducer has a diameter of 400 mm and a height of 70 mm.

8. The bending disk transducer with conformal design of the air pressure buffer device according to claim 7, characterized in that: In the pressure reducing device, when the internal pressure of the transducer increases, the two sides of the transducer pressure reducing piston contact the inner cavity gas and the outer seawater respectively, which has a sealing function. Under the action of the internal pressure, it moves radially outward from the center of the curved disk transducer. The small-diameter compression spring is stretched along the three guide columns. The limiting plate and screw are designed to prevent them from falling out. They are installed and watertight with the transducer ring through the pressure reducing housing and the sealing ring.

9. The bending disk transducer with conformal design of the air pressure buffer device according to claim 7, characterized in that: In the boosting device, when the internal pressure of the transducer becomes smaller, the two sides of the transducer boosting piston contact the inner cavity gas and the outer seawater respectively, which has a sealing function. Under the action of external pressure, it moves radially from the outside to the center of the bending disk transducer. The small-diameter tension spring is compressed along the guide tube limit, and the screw serves to fix the positioning plate, which is installed and watertight with the transducer ring through the boosting shell and the sealing ring.

10. The bending disk transducer with conformal design of the air pressure buffer device according to claim 7, characterized in that: 9 boosting devices and 9 reducing devices are spaced and evenly loaded on the circular holes of the transducer. The cylinder diameter of the reducing and boosting shells is 50mm, and the displacement stroke is 35mm. Through calculation, it can be obtained that the maximum buffer volume of the transducer accounts for 7% of the original cavity volume, which can greatly improve safety.

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