A close-packed array of curved disc transducers for an airbag conformal design

Abstract

The application discloses a curved disc transducer close-packed array of airbag conformal design, which comprises a plurality of curved disc transducer array elements arranged in upper and lower rows, the curved disc transducer array elements are connected with each other by Kevlar ropes, and the outer ring of the curved disc transducer array element is provided with uniformly distributed holes in the side surface circumference; an airbag assembly can be arranged in each hole, and an O-ring groove is arranged on the hole wall to arrange an O-ring to maintain the sealing state between the airbag and the transducer array element; and the airbag assembly is composed of an airbag, a sleeve, a pressing ring and a mesh bag made of Kevlar ropes on both sides. The application can buffer the rapid increase of the inner cavity air pressure caused by the large and deep change, excessive pressure and other adverse factors, does not increase the outer diameter, is convenient for array use, has the advantages of not changing the original structure, light weight, easy replacement, low cost and high safety factor.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention belongs to the technical field of transducers, and in particular relates to a dense array of curved disk transducers with a conformal design for protecting airbags. Background Art

[0002] To enable deep-water operation, very-low-frequency (VLF) or ultra-low-frequency (ULF) curved-disk transducers utilize real-time pressure compensation to maintain internal and external pressure equilibrium, surpassing their original operating depth limit. Due to the transducer's long gas path, compensation hysteresis exists, and it is also affected by wind, waves, and currents. Large heave and sink cannot be completely avoided during operation, making constant internal and external pressure equilibrium extremely difficult. This poses the risk of damage due to exceeding the pressure limit. Because the transducer's inherent ability to withstand internal pressure exceeding external pressure is often limited to a few meters of water depth, special care must be taken to prevent events that could cause the internal pressure to exceed the external pressure, such as rapid elevation or over-inflation. Furthermore, curved-disk transducers are often used in close-packed arrays. The interconnected gas paths of each transducer element maintain a consistent internal pressure. However, the transducer elements at either end of the array experience different external pressures due to the height difference of the array, making close-packed arrays more dangerous than using individual elements.

[0003] Current methods for deepwater pressure compensation using curved disk transducers are limited by the transducer's inherent pressure tolerance, resulting in slow deployment and retrieval speeds and high risks. For example, most curved disk transducers operating at a frequency of 100-200 Hz have an external pressure tolerance of approximately 0.5 MPa, while their internal pressure tolerance is often only 0.05 MPa. This requires the pressure compensation system to possess a high level of ability to control pressure equilibrium.

[0004] Since the proposal and engineering implementation of the air pressure compensation method for deep-sea curved disc transducers have just started, there is still a lack of existing methods that can be used as a protection mechanism for curved disc transducers in an array state, and none of them considers their air pressure protection. However, their deep-water applications are overly dependent on good sea conditions, and the risks of use in harsh environments are relatively high. The application of the combination of distributed multi-group airbag protection and real-time air pressure compensation proposed in this patent has not yet been disclosed by relevant patents or articles.

[0005] At present, the most feasible method for using low-frequency curved disk transducers at great depths is still to adopt the air pressure compensation method. The existing scheme does not protect against overcharging. The patents of other industries are significantly different from the application of this patent. It does not take into account the different internal and external pressure states of each element of the densely packed array of transducers when in use, and does not provide effective protection for each transducer element in a targeted manner. Summary of the Invention

[0006] In order to solve the problem of preventing overcharging from causing a sudden rise in internal pressure and mechanical damage to the transducer during air pressure compensation of a low-frequency curved disk transducer, the present invention provides a dense array of curved disk transducers with a conformal design of a protective airbag, which can buffer the rapid increase in internal cavity air pressure caused by adverse factors such as large depth changes and excessive charging, without increasing the outer diameter, making it easy to use in an array. It has the advantages of not changing the original structure, being light in weight, easy to replace, low in cost, and having a high safety factor.

[0007] The technical solution of the present invention is as follows: a dense array of curved disk transducers with a conformal design for a protective airbag, comprising a plurality of curved disk transducer array elements arranged vertically, the curved disk transducer array elements being softly connected to each other with Kevlar ropes, the outer ring of the curved disk transducer array elements having openings evenly distributed on the side circumference, each opening being capable of housing a protective airbag assembly, and an O-ring groove being provided on the hole wall, into which an O-ring can be inserted to maintain a sealed state between the airbag and the transducer array element, the protective airbag assembly being composed of an airbag, a sleeve, a pressure ring, and a net bag woven with Kevlar ropes on both sides.

[0008] Preferably, the number of elements of the bending disk transducer array installed in the airbag is different, with a larger number of openings installed in the top opening and the number of openings gradually decreasing as the number transitions to the bottom.

[0009] Preferably, the protective airbag assembly is made of a net bag woven with Kevlar rope, which is connected to the sleeve and the pressure ring respectively, as an airbag limit protection. The airbag can freely extend inward and outward according to the internal and external pressure. When the airbag does not reach the critical deformation value on both sides, the net bag naturally hangs down to reduce space occupancy.

[0010] Preferably, the airbag, the sleeve and the pressure ring can be screwed into the bending disk transducer array element and then pressed to achieve watertightness.

[0011] Preferably, the number of the bending disk transducer array elements is four, namely array element 1 to array element 4 from top to bottom, and every two adjacent bending disk transducer array elements are softly connected by four Kevlar ropes 7.

[0012] Preferably, the cable interfaces in the inner cavity of the bending disk transducer array element are all watertight, and the inlet and outlet air cables are connected in series.

[0013] In the present invention, the cable interfaces in the inner cavity of the bending disk transducer array element are all watertight, and the piezoelectric ceramics, jumper wires and other structural components are omitted. Since they are not the core content of this patent, they are simplified into a whole. The inlet and outlet air cables are connected in series, which are also omitted in this patent.

[0014] Preferably, the airbag of the protective airbag assembly is a rubber part, which can move freely in the assembly due to pressure changes at both ends. The Kevlar rope protection net bags on both sides serve as soft limiting protection. The rope body is fixed on the sleeve and the pressure ring respectively. The sleeve and the pressure ring are provided with 4 through holes for installing screws.

[0015] Preferably, array element 1 has 16 apertures evenly distributed around its circumference, each with a diameter of 60 mm, and is equipped with mounting holes. The plane of the mounting holes is sunken to reduce the protrusion of the outer ring and prevent wear of the Kevlar rope. In addition, a groove 9 is opened on the hole wall to install an O-ring to ensure watertightness; similarly, array element 2 has 12 apertures evenly distributed around its circumference, array element 3 has 8 apertures evenly distributed around its circumference, and array element 4 has 4 apertures evenly distributed around its circumference, and each hole is equipped with a protective airbag assembly.

[0016] The present invention has the following beneficial effects: the airbag in the original protective airbag assembly of the transducer array element is in a state of extending inward and being protected by a Kevlar rope. When the transducer encounters a sudden internal pressure greater than the external pressure, the airbag deforms from the inside to the outside, thereby increasing the volume of the transducer cavity and diluting the increase in the internal pressure. At the same time, the number of protective airbag assemblies installed in the transducer array element from the top to the bottom can be gradually reduced. This is because the internal cavities of the transducer array elements are connected, so the internal pressure is consistent, and the external pressure varies due to the different depths of the transducers, which will make the external pressure value of the bottom transducer array element larger, and the probability of risk is much smaller than that of the top. This method can save costs. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a protective airbag assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0018] Figure 2 A schematic structural diagram of the present invention;

[0019] Figure 3 Schematic diagram of the airbag extending outward when the internal pressure of the array element 1 is greater than the external pressure in the present invention;

[0020] Figure 4 Schematic diagram of the airbag extending inward when the external pressure of array element 1 is greater than the internal pressure in the present invention;

[0021] Figure 5 Schematic diagram of the installation of the protective airbag assembly in 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.

[0023] Example 1

[0024] like Figure 1-2As shown in Figures 5 and 6, a curved disk transducer array with a conformal design for a protective airbag is constructed. The array comprises four elements, designated element 1 through element 4 (6-1 through 6-4) from top to bottom. The elements are connected by four Kevlar cords 7. The outer ring of the transducer elements has holes evenly distributed around its circumference. Each hole can accommodate a protective airbag assembly. O-ring grooves are provided in the hole walls to accommodate O-rings, maintaining a seal between the airbag and the transducer elements.

[0025] The airbag 3 of the protective airbag assembly is a rubber part, which can move freely in the assembly due to pressure changes at the inner and outer ends. The Kevlar rope protection net bags 1 and 5 on both sides serve as soft limit protection. The rope body is fixed on the sleeve 4 and the pressure ring 5 respectively. The sleeve 4 and the pressure ring 5 are provided with 4 through holes for installing screws 8.

[0026] Example 2

[0027] like Figure 3-5 As shown, element 1 (6-1) has 16 apertures evenly distributed around its circumference, each with a diameter of 60 mm. These apertures are equipped with mounting holes, which are recessed to reduce protrusion from the outer ring and prevent wear on the Kevlar cord. Furthermore, grooves 9 are provided in the aperture walls to accommodate O-rings and ensure watertightness. Similarly, element 2 (6-2) has 12 apertures evenly distributed around its circumference, element 3 (6-3) has 8 apertures evenly distributed around its circumference, and element 4 (6-4) has 4 apertures evenly distributed around its circumference. Each aperture houses a protective airbag assembly.

[0028] During normal transducer operation, the external pressure should be greater than the internal pressure, meaning the protective airbag assembly extends inward. If an unexpected situation causes the pressure within the transducer cavity to exceed the external pressure, the transducer can increase its volume by extending the airbag outward. If the total air volume within the transducer cavity remains constant, the resulting internal pressure decreases. It is possible that the airbag in the bottom transducer array element may extend inward while the top element may extend outward.

[0029] In the present invention, the airbag and the transducer are conformally designed. When the airbag extends from the inside to the outside, the volume of the inner cavity can be greatly increased, and the pressure buffering effect is significant. At the same time, for the phenomenon of instantaneous internal pressure increase, the airbag is light in weight, has small inertia, and responds quickly. In addition, compared with the open-circuit deflation method, water vapor will not enter the inner cavity, resulting in a decrease in insulation.

[0030] The protective airbag assembly of the present invention should be sunk inward as much as possible to prevent the net rope from protruding too much outside the transducer array element and causing wear.

[0031] The present invention can avoid the situation where the curved disk transducer for deep-depth air pressure compensation is damaged due to a sudden increase in internal pressure caused by adverse sea conditions and the like. By opening a hole in the side wall of the outer ring of the transducer and installing an airbag assembly, the transducer can provide a large volume to buffer pressure changes when the internal pressure rises to a dangerous state. This method does not change the manufacturing process of the transducer itself, is simple, efficient, responds quickly to external pressure changes, is inexpensive, and the airbag assembly is easy to install and replace.

[0032] The present invention can be applied to a deep-water air pressure-compensated curved dish transmitting transducer and used as a sound source of very low frequency or lower frequency bands.

[0033] 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 dense array of curved disk transducers with a conformal design for protecting an airbag, characterized by: The device comprises a plurality of curved disk transducer array elements arranged vertically, which are connected to each other with Kevlar ropes. The outer ring of the curved disk transducer array element has holes evenly distributed around the side circumference. Each hole can be installed in a protective airbag assembly. O-ring grooves are provided on the hole walls to accommodate O-rings to maintain a seal between the airbag and the transducer array element. The protective airbag assembly consists of an airbag, a sleeve, a pressure ring, and a net bag woven with Kevlar ropes on both sides. The number of elements of the bending disk transducer array installed in the airbag is different. The number of openings installed in the top is large, and the number of openings can be gradually reduced when transitioning to the bottom.

2. The curved disk transducer array with conformal design for protecting an airbag according to claim 1, characterized in that: The protective airbag assembly is made of a net bag woven with Kevlar rope, which is connected to the sleeve and the pressure ring respectively, serving as airbag limit protection. The airbag can freely extend inward and outward according to the internal and external pressure. When the airbag does not reach the critical deformation value on both sides, the net bag naturally hangs down to reduce space occupancy.

3. The curved disk transducer dense array with conformal design for protecting an airbag according to claim 1, characterized in that: The airbag, the sleeve and the pressure ring can be assembled into the bending disk transducer array element by screws and then pressed tightly to achieve watertightness.

4. The curved disk transducer dense array with conformal design for protecting an airbag according to claim 1, characterized in that: The number of the bending disk transducer array elements is 4, which are array element 1 (6-1) to array element 4 (6-4) from top to bottom, and every two adjacent bending disk transducer array elements are softly connected by 4 Kevlar ropes (7).

5. The curved disk transducer dense array with conformal design for protecting an airbag according to claim 1, characterized in that: The cable interfaces in the inner cavity of the bending disk transducer array element are all watertight, and the inlet and outlet air cables are connected in series.

6. The curved disk transducer dense array with conformal design for protecting an airbag according to claim 1, characterized in that: The airbag of the protective airbag assembly is a rubber part, which can move freely in the assembly under the pressure changes at the inner and outer ends. The Kevlar rope protection net bags on both sides serve as soft limit protection. The rope body is fixed on the sleeve and the pressure ring respectively. The sleeve and the pressure ring are provided with 4 through holes for installing screws.

7. The curved disk transducer dense array with conformal design for protecting an airbag according to claim 4, characterized in that: Element 1 (6-1) has 16 holes evenly distributed around its circumference, each with a diameter of 60 mm, and is equipped with mounting holes. The plane of the mounting holes is sunken to reduce the protrusion of the outer ring and prevent the wear of the Kevlar rope. In addition, a groove (9) is opened on the hole wall to install an O-ring to ensure watertightness. Similarly, element 2 (6-2) has 12 holes evenly distributed around its circumference, element 3 (6-3) has 8 holes evenly distributed around its circumference, and element 4 (6-4) has 4 holes evenly distributed around its circumference. Each hole is equipped with a protective airbag assembly.

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