A submarine imaging sonar

Abstract

The present invention relates to a submarine imaging sonar, comprising: a receiving transducer module, the receiving transducer module comprising a receiving plate, an annular sealing block, a socket and a front cover, a first mounting opening being opened in the middle of the front cover, the annular sealing block being arranged at the edge of the first mounting opening, the receiving plate being arranged at the first mounting opening, the annular sealing block at least partially fitting to the inner side surface and side edge of the receiving plate, the socket being arranged on the inner side surface of the receiving plate and located in the middle of the annular sealing block; a shell, a pressure balancing chamber being arranged in the shell, the pressure balancing chamber being filled with a compressible fluid medium, a second mounting opening being arranged on the side wall of the shell, the front cover being arranged at the second mounting opening, and the socket being located in the pressure balancing chamber; and a piston assembly, the piston assembly comprising a piston cylinder and a piston, the piston being movably arranged in the piston cylinder, one end of the piston cylinder being connected to the pressure balancing chamber to allow the compressible fluid medium to enter the piston cylinder.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of sonar, in particular to a seabed imaging sonar. Background Art

[0002] Deep-sea topography, mineral distribution, and biodiversity distribution are of considerable economic value. Seabed imaging sonar, when mounted on a robotic underwater vehicle (ROV) or unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV), can enable exploration of this information.

[0003] A submarine imaging sonar system consists of a housing and two transducer modules, a receiver and transmitter, mounted on the housing. These modules receive and transmit sound waves. To improve sound wave sensitivity, the receiver and transmitter modules typically employ a planar array design. Due to the high seabed pressure, additional support components are required within the housing to support the receiver and transmitter modules and minimize deformation.

[0004] However, in order to achieve the above purpose, the support assembly needs to support the receiving transducer module over a large area, which means that the support assembly will occupy a large amount of space inside the shell and interfere with other components, making it difficult to miniaturize the submarine imaging sonar. Summary of the Invention

[0005] Based on this, it is necessary to provide a submarine imaging sonar to address the problem that submarine imaging sonar cannot take into account both detection sensitivity and miniaturization.

[0006] A seabed imaging sonar, comprising:

[0007] A receiving transducer module, the receiving transducer module comprising a receiving plate, an annular sealing block, a socket, and a front cover, wherein a first mounting opening is defined in the middle of the front cover, the annular sealing block is disposed at an edge of the first mounting opening, the receiving plate is disposed at the first mounting opening, the annular sealing block at least partially adheres to an inner side surface and a side edge of the receiving plate, and the socket is disposed on the inner side surface of the receiving plate and located in the middle of the annular sealing block;

[0008] a housing, wherein a pressure balancing chamber is provided in the housing and is filled with a compressible fluid medium; a second mounting opening is provided on a side wall of the housing, the front cover is mounted at the second mounting opening, and the socket is located in the pressure balancing chamber;

[0009] A sensor assembly, the sensor assembly being located in the pressure balance chamber and being plugged into and mated with the socket;

[0010] The piston assembly includes a piston cylinder and a piston. The piston is movably arranged in the piston cylinder. One end of the piston cylinder is connected to the pressure balance chamber to allow the compressible fluid medium to enter the piston cylinder.

[0011] In one embodiment, the receiving board includes a first matching layer, a receiving array layer, and a circuit board arranged in sequence, the socket is arranged on a side of the circuit board away from the receiving array layer, the projection of the receiving array layer in the normal direction avoids the annular sealing block, and the projection of the receiving array layer in the normal direction is located within the first matching layer.

[0012] In one embodiment, a portion of the annular sealing block is located between the first matching layer and the circuit board, and the annular sealing block and the first matching layer are an integral structure, so that the receiving board is radially positioned through the edge of the first mounting opening.

[0013] In one embodiment, the piston assembly further includes a first sealing ring. A sealing groove is provided on the side wall of the piston. The first sealing ring is arranged in the sealing groove and is pressed against the inner wall of the piston cylinder.

[0014] In one embodiment, the inner wall surface of the annular sealing block is a cylindrical surface, the shape of the receiving array layer is circular, the axis of the inner wall surface of the annular sealing block passes through the center of the receiving array layer, and the seabed imaging sonar satisfies:

[0015] ;

[0016] Wherein, α is the static friction coefficient between the first sealing ring and the inner wall of the piston cylinder;

[0017] f is the dynamic friction coefficient between the first sealing ring and the inner wall of the piston cylinder;

[0018] d is the outer diameter of the first sealing ring, in mm;

[0019] e is the compression rate of the first sealing ring;

[0020] E is the elastic modulus of the first sealing ring, in MPa;

[0021] D is the inner diameter of the piston cylinder, in mm;

[0022] μ is the Poisson's ratio of the first sealing ring;

[0023] ω is the maximum deflection at the center of the receiving plate, in mm;

[0024] E1 is the elastic modulus of the first matching layer, in MPa;

[0025] t1 is the thickness of the first matching layer, in mm;

[0026] μ1 is the Poisson’s ratio of the first matching layer;

[0027] E2 is the elastic modulus of the receiving array layer, in MPa;

[0028] t2 is the thickness of the receiving array layer, in mm;

[0029] μ2 is the Poisson's ratio of the receiving array layer;

[0030] E3 is the elastic modulus of the circuit board, in MPa;

[0031] t3 is the thickness of the circuit board, in mm;

[0032] μ3 is the Poisson's ratio of the circuit board;

[0033] a is the inner diameter of the annular sealing block, in mm.

[0034] In one embodiment, the thickness of the first matching layer is not greater than 0.5 mm, the thickness of the annular sealing block is not less than 10 mm, and the first matching layer and the annular sealing block are made of PVDF or piezoelectric ceramics.

[0035] In one embodiment, an oil filling hole is provided on the piston, the oil filling hole is connected to the pressure balance chamber, and the inner wall of the piston cylinder is used to position the air extraction pipe;

[0036] The piston assembly further includes a sealing cover which is detachably mounted on the oil filling hole.

[0037] In one embodiment, the seabed imaging sonar also includes a transmitting and transducing module, and a third mounting port connected to the pressure balance chamber is opened on the side wall of the shell. The transmitting and transducing module includes a second piezoelectric layer, a sound absorbing layer and a second matching layer. The second matching layer is coated on the outer side of the second piezoelectric layer, and the sound absorbing layer is arranged on the inner side of the second piezoelectric layer. The sound absorbing layer is located at the third mounting port.

[0038] In one embodiment, the transmitting transducer module further includes a negative electrode wire, a positive electrode wire and a voltage-resistant layer, one end of the negative electrode wire and one end of the positive electrode wire are respectively arranged on two sides of the second piezoelectric layer, the negative electrode wire and the positive electrode wire pass through the sound-absorbing layer and adhere to the sound-absorbing layer, the voltage-resistant layer is arranged on the inner side of the sound-absorbing layer, and the negative electrode wire and the positive electrode wire also pass through the voltage-resistant layer.

[0039] In one embodiment, the submarine imaging sonar further includes a rear cover assembly, which includes a rear cover, a sound-absorbing pad, and a power amplifier. The sound-absorbing pad and the power amplifier are mounted on the front side of the rear cover. A fourth mounting port is provided on the side wall of the shell, and the rear cover is mounted at the fourth mounting port so that the sound-absorbing pad and the power amplifier are located in the pressure balance chamber.

[0040] The beneficial effects of the present invention are:

[0041] The annular sealing block is arranged at the edge of the first installation opening and at least partially fits the inner side and side edge of the receiving plate, which can seal the gap between the edge of the receiving plate and the edge of the first installation opening to prevent seawater from entering the shell.

[0042] The annular sealing block fits on the side edge of the receiving plate to limit the radial position of the receiving plate. The annular sealing block fits on the inner side of the receiving plate to support the inner edge of the receiving plate, thereby balancing the water pressure on the outer edge of the receiving plate.

[0043] When the water pressure outside the subsea imaging sonar changes, the piston moves within the cylinder, causing the volume and pressure of the compressible fluid to change. This ensures that the pressure of the compressible fluid always matches the water pressure outside the subsea imaging sonar. Because the annular seal avoids the middle portion of the inner side of the receiving plate, the compressible fluid can directly contact the middle portion of the receiving plate, achieving internal and external pressure balance in the middle portion of the receiving plate.

[0044] The pressure balance between the inner and outer surfaces of the receiving plate, combined with the radial positioning of the receiving plate, effectively suppresses deformation of the receiving plate, ensuring the detection sensitivity of the receiving transducer module. Furthermore, the fluidity of the compressible fluid medium allows it to effectively avoid interference with other components within the housing, thus eliminating any restrictions on the component layout within the housing. Therefore, replacing numerous support components with a compressible fluid medium to achieve pressure balance inside and outside the receiving plate can also contribute to the miniaturization of submarine imaging sonars.

[0045] In addition, the annular sealing block avoids the middle part of the inner side of the receiving plate, allowing the sensor assembly and the socket to be plugged together, thereby shortening the transmission distance between the sensor assembly and the receiving plate, significantly reducing the loss and interference during signal transmission, and improving the signal-to-noise ratio. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0046] Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the three-dimensional structure of the seabed imaging sonar in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0047] Figure 2Schematic diagram of the explosion structure of the seabed imaging sonar in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0048] Figure 3 Schematic diagram of the three-dimensional structure of the housing in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0049] Figure 4 Schematic diagram of the cross-sectional structure of the receiving transducer module in an embodiment of the present invention Figure 1 ;

[0050] Figure 5 Schematic diagram of the three-dimensional structure of the receiving transducer module in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0051] Figure 6 Schematic diagram of the three-dimensional structure of the front cover in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0052] Figure 7 Schematic diagram of the cross-sectional structure of the receiving transducer module in an embodiment of the present invention Figure 2 ;

[0053] Figure 8 Schematic diagram of the three-dimensional structure of the sensor assembly in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0054] Figure 9 Schematic diagram of the explosion structure of the piston assembly in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0055] Figure 10 Schematic diagram of the cross-sectional structure of the piston assembly in the embodiment of the present invention Figure 1 ;

[0056] Figure 11 Schematic diagram of the three-dimensional structure and schematic diagram of the cross-sectional structure of the piston in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0057] Figure 12 Schematic diagram of the cross-sectional structure of the piston assembly in the embodiment of the present invention Figure 2 ;

[0058] Figure 13 Schematic diagram of the three-dimensional structure and schematic diagram of the cross-sectional structure of the sealing cover in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0059] Figure 14 Schematic diagram of the three-dimensional structure and schematic diagram of the cross-sectional structure of a piston assembly in another embodiment of the present invention;

[0060] Figure 15 A diagram showing the assembly relationship between the piston assembly and the housing in another embodiment of the present invention;

[0061] Figure 16 A schematic cross-sectional view of a piston assembly in another embodiment of the present invention;

[0062] Figure 17Schematic diagram of the three-dimensional structure of the transmitting transducer module in an embodiment of the present invention Figure 1 ;

[0063] Figure 18 The cross-sectional structure of the transmitting transducer module in the embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. Figure 1 ;

[0064] Figure 19 Schematic diagram of the three-dimensional structure of the transmitting transducer module in an embodiment of the present invention Figure 2 ;

[0065] Figure 20 The cross-sectional structure of the transmitting transducer module in the embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. Figure 2 ;

[0066] Figure 21 Schematic diagram of the three-dimensional structure of a data transmission device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0067] Figure 22 Schematic diagram of the three-dimensional structure of the rear cover assembly in an embodiment of the present invention Figure 1 ;

[0068] Figure 23 Schematic diagram of the three-dimensional structure of the rear cover assembly in an embodiment of the present invention Figure 2 ;

[0069] Figure 24 Schematic diagram of the cross-sectional structure of the rear cover assembly in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0070] Figure 25 Schematic diagram of the three-dimensional structure of the air extraction device in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0071] Figure 26 2 is a diagram showing the use status of the air extraction device in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0072] Reference numerals:

[0073] 1. Receiver transducer module; 11. Receiver board; 111. First matching layer; 112. Receiver array layer; 113. Circuit board; 12. Ring seal block; 13. Socket; 14. Front cover; 141. First mounting port; 15. Retaining ring; 2. Housing; 21. Second mounting port; 22. Third mounting port; 23. Fourth mounting port; 3. Sensor assembly; 31. Sensor; 32. Signal acquisition board; 4. Piston assembly; 41. Piston cylinder; 411. Limiting cover; 42. Active Plug; 421, sealing groove; 422, oil filling hole; 43, first sealing ring; 44, sealing cover; 5, transmitting transducer module; 51, second piezoelectric layer; 52, sound absorption layer; 53, second matching layer; 54, negative electrode wire; 55, positive electrode wire; 56, pressure-resistant layer; 57, sleeve; 571, wiring gap; 58, base; 6, back cover assembly; 61, back cover; 62, sound-absorbing pad; 63, power amplifier; 7, exhaust device; 71, exhaust pipe; 8, data transmitter. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0074] To make the above-mentioned objects, features, and advantages of the present invention more readily apparent, specific embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The following description sets forth numerous specific details to facilitate a full understanding of the present invention. However, the present invention can be implemented in many other ways than those described herein, and those skilled in the art may make similar modifications without departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed below.

[0075] In the description of the present invention, it should be understood that the terms "center", "longitudinal", "lateral", "length", "width", "thickness", "up", "down", "front", "back", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inside", "outside", "clockwise", "counterclockwise", "axial", "radial", "circumferential" and the like to indicate orientations or positional relationships based on the orientations or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing the present invention and simplifying the description, rather than indicating or implying that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be understood as limiting the present invention.

[0076] Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of the technical features being referred to. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one such feature. In the description of the present invention, "plurality" means at least two, such as two, three, etc., unless otherwise specifically defined.

[0077] In the present invention, unless otherwise specified or limited, the terms "installed," "connected," "connect," "fixed," etc. should be understood in a broad sense. For example, they can refer to fixed connection, detachable connection, or integration; mechanical connection, electrical connection; direct connection, or indirect connection through an intermediate medium; internal communication between two components, or interaction between two components, unless otherwise specified. Those skilled in the art will understand the specific meanings of the above terms in the present invention based on specific circumstances.

[0078] In the present invention, unless otherwise expressly specified or limited, when a first feature is "above" or "below" a second feature, it may mean that the first and second features are in direct contact, or that the first and second features are in indirect contact through an intermediary. Furthermore, when a first feature is "above," "above," or "above" a second feature, it may mean that the first feature is directly above or diagonally above the second feature, or simply means that the first feature is at a higher level than the second feature. When a first feature is "below," "below," or "below" a second feature, it may mean that the first feature is directly below or diagonally below the second feature, or simply means that the first feature is at a lower level than the second feature.

[0079] It should be noted that when an element is referred to as being "fixed to" or "disposed on" another element, it may be directly on the other element or there may be an intermediate element. When an element is considered to be "connected to" another element, it may be directly connected to the other element or there may be an intermediate element. The terms "vertical," "horizontal," "upper," "lower," "left," "right," and similar expressions used herein are for illustrative purposes only and do not represent the only implementation methods.

[0080] Example:

[0081] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, this embodiment provides a seabed imaging sonar, including a receiving transducer module 1, a shell 2, a sensor assembly 3, a piston assembly 4, a transmitting transducer module 5, a rear cover assembly 6 and a data transmitter 8.

[0082] The receiving transducer module 1 is used to receive sound waves in the deep sea, and specifically includes a receiving plate 11 , an annular sealing block 12 , a socket 13 and a front cover 14 .

[0083] See also Figure 6 In this embodiment, the front cover 14 is generally a rectangular frame, and a first installation opening 141 is opened in the middle of the front cover 14.

[0084] For example, Figure 4As shown, the receiving board 11 includes a first matching layer 111, a receiving array layer 112, and a circuit board 113, which are arranged in layers. The first matching layer 111 is the outer side of the receiving board 11, and the circuit board 113 is the inner side of the receiving board 11. The overall shape of the receiving board 11 is adapted to the shape of the first mounting opening 141. The receiving board 11 is positioned at the first mounting opening 141 to shield the first mounting opening 141.

[0085] The annular sealing block 12 is disposed at the edge of the first mounting opening 141. In this embodiment, the annular sealing block 12 and the first matching layer 111 are integrally formed. The annular sealing block 12 not only adheres to the inner side surface of the receiving plate 11 (the inner side surface of the circuit board 113), thereby forming surface contact with the inner edge of the receiving plate 11, but also simultaneously abuts the side edges of the receiving plate 11 (the side edges of the circuit board 113 and the side edges of the receiving array layer 112), thereby radially limiting the receiving plate 11 at the first mounting opening 141.

[0086] Based on the above structure, the annular sealing block 12 can seal the gap between the edge of the receiving plate 11 and the edge of the first mounting opening 141. It is easy to understand that in this embodiment, the inner edge of the receiving plate 11 is blocked by the annular sealing block 12, while the middle portion of the inner side of the receiving plate 11 is not blocked by the annular sealing block 12.

[0087] The annular sealing block 12 does not need to cover a large area on the inner side edge of the receiving plate 11 , and only needs to meet the sealing requirements. Therefore, the annular sealing block 12 occupies a relatively small space.

[0088] Combine Figure 5 and Figure 8 The socket 13 can be arranged on the side of the circuit board 113 away from the receiving array layer 112, that is, the socket 13 is arranged on the inner side of the receiving board 11 and is located in the middle of the annular sealing block 12, so that the socket 13 and the annular sealing block 12 avoid each other, thereby allowing the sensor component 3 to be plugged into and matched with the socket 13. The sensor component 3 can achieve electrical connection with the receiving board 11 with a shorter electrical connection path, thereby significantly reducing the loss and interference in the signal transmission process.

[0089] More specifically, the sensor assembly 3 includes several sensors 31, such as an attitude sensor for measuring the sonar's direction and tilt angle, a pressure sensor for measuring the sonar's underwater depth, and a temperature sensor for measuring the sonar's ambient temperature. The sensor assembly 3 also includes a signal acquisition board 32, which plugs into the socket 13 to replace some of the wires, electrically connecting the array elements in the receiving array layer 112 with external circuits. This reduction in wire usage reduces mutual interference between the transmission paths corresponding to different array elements.

[0090] like Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, the housing 2 of this embodiment is generally rectangular in shape. A pressure balancing chamber is provided within the housing 2 and is filled with a compressible fluid medium. The compressible fluid medium not only has good thermal conductivity but also expands or contracts in volume when subjected to pressure changes. Specifically, the compressible fluid can be industrial white oil, silicone oil, or transformer oil.

[0091] Furthermore, a second mounting port 21 is provided on the front side wall of the housing 2, and the second mounting port 21 is connected to the pressure balance chamber. Figure 7 As shown, the outer edge of the front cover 14 is adapted to the shape of the second mounting opening 21. The front cover 14 is installed at the second mounting opening 21 so that the second mounting opening 21 is shielded by the front cover 14 and the receiving plate 11. Furthermore, a plurality of sealing members may be provided between the edge of the front cover 14 and the edge of the second mounting opening 21.

[0092] The socket 13 and the sensor assembly 3 are also located in the pressure balance chamber, and are immersed in the compressible fluid medium. The compressible fluid medium has insulating properties and can also dissipate heat for the socket 13 and the sensor assembly 3. At the same time, since the annular sealing block 12 avoids the middle part of the inner side surface of the receiving plate 11, the middle part of the inner side surface of the receiving plate 11 can also directly contact the compressible fluid medium and then withstand the oil pressure. In contrast, Figure 1 As shown, the outer side surface of the receiving plate 11 (ie, the first matching layer 111 ) can be in contact with seawater through the second installation opening 21 and then withstand water pressure.

[0093] See also Figure 1 and Figure 21 In this embodiment, there are two data transmitters 8, which are mounted on the housing 2 and electrically connected to the sensor assembly 3. One of the data transmitters 8 is used to transmit strong electrical signals, while the other is used to transmit weak electrical signals. This achieves separate transmission of strong and weak electrical signals, thereby reducing electromagnetic interference, lowering the risk of electrical failure, and improving the overall performance of the system.

[0094] See also Figure 9 and Figure 10 The piston assembly 4 includes a piston cylinder 41 and a piston 42. The piston 42 is located within the piston cylinder 41 and is movable axially along the piston cylinder 41. The end of the piston cylinder 41 can be provided with a stopper 411 or a reduced diameter to limit the travel of the piston 42, preventing the piston 42 from disengaging from the piston cylinder 41. This is prior art and will not be further described in this embodiment.

[0095] As a preference, refer to Figure 11 A sealing groove 421 is provided on the side wall of the piston 42. The sealing groove 421 is annular. Figure 9 and Figure 10 The piston assembly 4 further includes a first sealing ring 43, which is disposed in the sealing groove 421. The first sealing ring 43 is then pressed against the inner wall of the piston cylinder 41, thereby ensuring a tight seal between the piston 42 and the inner wall of the piston cylinder 41 during the movement of the piston 42. It is readily understood that the piston 42 must overcome the friction between the first sealing ring 43 and the inner wall of the piston cylinder 41 in order to move within the piston cylinder 41.

[0096] See also Figure 12 The piston cylinder 41 is mounted on the housing 2 so that one end of the piston cylinder 41 is connected to the pressure balance chamber, whereby as the piston 42 moves in the piston cylinder 41 , the compressible fluid medium in the pressure balance chamber can enter and exit the piston cylinder 41 .

[0097] In this embodiment, most of the piston cylinder 41 is exposed outside the housing 2. In other embodiments, such as Figure 14-16 As shown, most of the piston cylinder 41 can be immersed in the housing 2, thereby further reducing the volume of the submarine imaging sonar.

[0098] See again Figure 4 In this embodiment, the inner edge of the receiving plate 11 is supported by the annular sealing block 12. To ensure reliable sealing, the annular sealing block 12 is relatively thick, typically no less than 10 mm. Therefore, the upper limit of the support force it can provide on the inner edge of the receiving plate 11 is relatively high. When the submarine imaging sonar is located in the deep sea, the outer edge of the receiving plate 11 is subjected to high water pressure. At the same time, the annular sealing block 12 provides sufficient support to balance this water pressure, ensuring a relatively balanced internal and external pressure at the edge of the receiving plate 11.

[0099] Furthermore, as the depth of the seafloor imaging sonar changes in the deep sea, the water pressure on the outer surface of the receiving plate 11 also changes. This pressure change causes a pressure difference between the two sides of the piston 42, which in turn causes the piston 42 to move within the piston cylinder 41. As the piston 42 moves, the volume of the compressible fluid medium also changes, and accordingly, the pressure of the compressible fluid medium also changes, until the pressure of the compressible fluid inside the piston 42 and the water pressure outside the piston 42 are roughly balanced.

[0100] It can be seen from this that the pressure of the compressible fluid medium in this embodiment will be dynamically adjusted as the seawater pressure at the outer side of the receiving plate 11 changes. In other words, the pressure of the compressible fluid medium can always roughly match the external seawater pressure. Without the support of the annular sealing block 12, the middle part of the receiving plate 11 can use oil pressure to balance the external water pressure, thereby achieving a roughly balanced force inside and outside the middle part of the receiving plate 11.

[0101] The pressure between the inner and outer surfaces of the receiving plate 11 is roughly balanced. Combined with the radial limiting effect obtained by the annular sealing block 12 at the first mounting port 141 of the receiving plate 11, the deformation of the receiving plate 11 can be effectively suppressed, thereby improving the detection sensitivity of the seabed imaging sonar.

[0102] Because annular sealing block 12 is relatively small and the contact area between it and the inner edge of receiving plate 11 is minimal, it occupies a relatively small space within housing 2. Furthermore, the inherent fluidity of the compressible fluid medium does not interfere with the layout of sensor assembly 3, so the housing 2 does not need to be increased in volume to accommodate the compressible fluid medium. Combining these two factors, the submarine imaging sonar of this embodiment achieves further miniaturization while enhancing detection sensitivity.

[0103] Specifically, in this embodiment, the first matching layer 111 can be used to enhance the penetration depth and resolution of sound waves. It also serves to protect the receiving array layer 112 and the circuit board 113, preventing seawater from corroding the receiving array layer 112. Therefore, the normal projections of the circuit board 113 and the receiving array layer 112 are located within the first matching layer 111. To achieve effective electrical connection between the receiving array layer 112 and the circuit board 113, the normal projection of the receiving array layer 112 is located within the circuit board 113.

[0104] Furthermore, the first matching layer 111 and the annular sealing block 12 may be made of PVDF or piezoelectric ceramics.

[0105] Preferably, the projection of the receiving array layer 112 in the normal direction avoids the annular sealing block 12, and the projection of the receiving array layer 112 in the normal direction completely falls in the middle of the annular sealing block 12, thereby allowing the back side of different positions of the receiving array layer 112 to have the same medium (compressible fluid medium), thereby allowing different positions of the receiving array layer 112 to maintain relatively consistent acoustic impedance.

[0106] For example, in this embodiment, the first matching layer 111 and the circuit board 113 are both square in shape, such as Figure 5 As shown, the edge portion of the inner side surface of the circuit board 113 is blocked by the annular sealing block 12 , and the shape of the unblocked portion is consistent with the shape of the receiving array layer 112 .

[0107] Similarly, the receiving array layer 112 is circular in shape. Accordingly, the inner wall of the annular sealing block 12 is cylindrical, with the axis of the inner wall of the annular sealing block 12 passing through the center of the receiving array layer 112. Due to the mismatched shapes of the first matching layer 111, the receiving array layer 112, and the circuit board 113, a gap is created between the edge of the first matching layer 111 and the edge of the circuit board 113, and this gap is located at the edge of the receiving array layer 112.

[0108] Based on the above situation, this embodiment adopts the potting process to simultaneously prepare the annular sealing block 12 and the first matching layer 111, so that the annular sealing block 12 and the first matching layer 111 are an integrated structure. Figure 4 and Figure 5 In this embodiment, the receiving transducer module 1 further includes a retaining ring 15, which is pressed against the inner side of the circuit board 113, thereby forming a space with the front cover 14. The edge of the circuit board 113 and the receiving array layer 112 are both spaced apart from the edge of the first mounting opening 141, so that the space formed by the retaining ring 15 and the front cover 14 is connected to the side of the receiving array layer 112 facing away from the circuit board 113. By injecting potting material into the space formed by the retaining ring 15 and the front cover 14, the annular sealing block 12 and the first matching layer 111 can be simultaneously formed as an integrated structure. Accordingly, the annular sealing block 12 will be in contact with the retaining ring 15 after the final preparation, and a portion of the annular sealing block 12 will be located between the first matching layer 111 and the circuit board 113, thereby effectively ensuring the sealing at the edge of the first mounting opening 141 and also achieving the abutment of the annular sealing block 12 against the side edge of the receiving array layer 112. At this time, the first matching layer 111 , the receiving array layer 112 and the circuit board 113 can all abut against the edge of the first mounting opening 141 through the annular sealing block 12 , thereby achieving radial positioning.

[0109] It is worth noting that, based on the conventional operating frequency of the submarine imaging sonar, the thickness of the first matching layer 111 is generally less than 0.5 mm, or even only about 0.1 mm. Therefore, the first matching layer 111 cannot enable the receiving plate 11 to obtain good anti-deformation performance. Therefore, in this embodiment, the receiving plate 11 still mainly reduces deformation by balancing the oil pressure and water pressure.

[0110] In this embodiment ,in, It is the minimum pressure difference required between the inside and outside of the piston 42 when the piston 42 overcomes the friction between the first sealing ring 43 and the inner wall of the piston cylinder 41 and moves.

[0111] In this embodiment , The maximum pressure difference between the inside and outside of the receiving plate 11 that can be allowed when the acoustic detection requirements are met. In other words, when the pressure difference between the inside and outside of the receiving plate 11 is greater than When , the deformation of the receiving plate 11 is large and cannot meet the acoustic detection requirements.

[0112] Where α is the static friction coefficient between the first sealing ring 43 and the inner wall of the piston cylinder 41; f is the dynamic friction coefficient between the first sealing ring 43 and the inner wall of the piston cylinder 41; d is the outer diameter of the first sealing ring 43, in mm; e is the compression rate of the first sealing ring 43; E is the elastic modulus of the first sealing ring 43, in MPa; D is the inner diameter of the piston cylinder 41, in mm; μ is the Poisson's ratio of the first sealing ring 43; ω is the maximum deflection at the center of the receiving plate 11, in mm; E1 is the elastic modulus of the first matching layer 111 , in MPa; t1 is the thickness of the first matching layer 111, in mm; μ1 is the Poisson's ratio of the first matching layer 111; E2 is the elastic modulus of the receiving array layer 112, in MPa; t2 is the thickness of the receiving array layer 112, in mm; μ2 is the Poisson's ratio of the receiving array layer 112; E3 is the elastic modulus of the circuit board 113, in MPa; t3 is the thickness of the circuit board 113, in mm; μ3 is the Poisson's ratio of the circuit board 113; a is the inner diameter of the annular sealing block 12, in mm.

[0113] In order to meet the acoustic detection requirements of the receiving plate 11, the pressure difference between the inside and outside of the receiving plate 11 reaches Before that, the piston 42 must start to move. Therefore, it should be satisfied Less than , that is, the submarine imaging sonar of this embodiment satisfies:

[0114] .

[0115] like Figure 11 As shown, in this embodiment, an oil filling hole 422 is opened on the piston 42, and the oil filling hole 422 is connected to the pressure balance chamber. The compressible fluid medium can be poured into the pressure balance chamber through the oil filling hole 422, and the air in the pressure balance chamber can also be discharged from the pressure balance chamber through the oil filling hole 422.

[0116] like Figure 25 and Figure 26 As shown, the air extraction device 7 can be used to exhaust the air in the pressure balance chamber. During the extraction process, the inner wall of the piston cylinder 41 can be used to position the extraction pipe 71 of the extraction device 7, thereby better maintaining the negative pressure environment outside the oil filling hole 422 and improving the extraction effect. During the extraction process, the air will carry a portion of the compressible fluid medium and splash out from the oil filling hole 422. This splashed compressible fluid medium will reach the inner wall of the extraction pipe 71, then fall due to gravity and return to the pressure balance chamber through the oil filling hole 422.

[0117] like Figure 13 As shown, the piston assembly 4 of this embodiment further includes a sealing cover 44, which is assembled and disassembled with the piston 42. Figure 12 After the oil filling and exhaust operations in the pressure balance chamber are completed, the sealing cover 44 can be installed at the oil filling hole 422 to seal the oil filling hole 422.

[0118] See again Figure 2 and Figure 3 A third mounting port 22 connected to the pressure balance chamber is further provided on the front side wall of the shell 2. The transmitting transducer module 5 is installed at the third mounting port 22. The transmitting transducer module 5 is used to emit sound waves.

[0119] like Figure 17-Figure 19 As shown, the transmitting transducer module 5 includes a second piezoelectric layer 51, a sound absorbing layer 52, a second matching layer 53, a sleeve 57, and a base 58. One end of the sleeve 57 is fixed to the base 58. The second piezoelectric layer 51 is arc-shaped and disposed at the other end of the sleeve 57. The second matching layer 53 is coated on the outer surface of the second piezoelectric layer 51. The sound absorbing layer 52 is located within the sleeve 57 and disposed on the inner surface of the second piezoelectric layer 51. The sound absorbing layer 52 is radially limited by the sleeve 57.

[0120] Furthermore, the second matching layer 53 may also cover the outer wall surface of the sleeve 57 to improve the sealing performance.

[0121] like Figure 20 As shown, the base 58 is fixed on the housing 2 so that the sound absorbing layer 52 is located at the third installation opening 22 .

[0122] In other embodiments, the rear side of the sound absorbing layer 52 can directly contact the compressible fluid medium, thereby utilizing the pressure of the compressible fluid medium to balance the water pressure transmitted by the second matching layer 53. Due to the radial limiting effect obtained by the sound absorbing layer 52, the deformation of the sound absorbing layer 52 is effectively suppressed, thereby maintaining the sound absorption effect of the sound absorbing layer 52 on sound waves.

[0123] See Figure 18 The transmitting transducer module 5 further includes a negative lead 54 and a positive lead 55, which pass through the sound absorbing layer 52 and adhere to the sound absorbing layer 52. One end of the negative lead 54 and one end of the positive lead 55 are respectively disposed on opposite sides of the second piezoelectric layer 51, and the other ends of the negative lead 54 and the other ends of the positive lead 55 are connected to the sensor assembly 3.

[0124] like Figure 19As shown, a routing notch 571 is provided at the end edge of the sleeve 57, through which the negative lead 54 or the positive lead 55 can pass to connect to the outer surface of the second piezoelectric layer 51. When the second matching layer 53 is subsequently prepared, the second matching layer 53 can block the routing notch 571.

[0125] See again Figure 18 In this embodiment, the transmitting transducer module 5 further includes a pressure-resistant layer 56, which is disposed on the inner side of the sound-absorbing layer 52 and sandwiched between the sound-absorbing layer 52 and the base 58. The negative and positive conductors 54 and 55 also pass through the pressure-resistant layer 56. Although the pressure-resistant layer 56 prevents the sound-absorbing layer 52 from directly contacting the compressible fluid medium, it can directly support the sound-absorbing layer 52 to balance the water pressure, thereby suppressing deformation of the sound-absorbing layer 52. Furthermore, because the pressure-resistant layer 56 is not easily deformed, it can effectively position the negative and positive conductors 54 and 55, limiting their bending at the rear side of the sound-absorbing layer 52, thereby ensuring adhesion between the negative and positive conductors 54 and 55 and the sound-absorbing layer 52.

[0126] See also Figure 22-Figure 24 In this embodiment, the rear cover assembly 6 includes a rear cover 61, a sound absorbing pad 62 and a power amplifier 63. The sound absorbing pad 62 and the power amplifier 63 are installed on the front side of the rear cover 61. Figure 2 and Figure 3 A fourth mounting opening 23 is provided on the side wall of the shell 2, and the rear cover 61 is installed at the fourth mounting opening 23 so that the sound absorbing pad 62 and the power amplifier 63 are located in the pressure balance chamber.

[0127] The technical features of the above-mentioned embodiments can be combined arbitrarily. In order to make the description concise, not all possible combinations of the technical features in the above-mentioned embodiments are described. However, as long as there is no contradiction in the combination of these technical features, they should be considered to be within the scope of this specification.

[0128] The above-described embodiments merely illustrate several implementations of the present invention, and while their descriptions are relatively specific and detailed, they should not be construed as limiting the scope of the patent. It should be noted that a person skilled in the art would be able to make numerous variations and improvements without departing from the spirit of the present invention, all of which fall within the scope of protection of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of protection of the patent for this invention shall be determined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A submarine imaging sonar, characterized in that: include: A receiving transducer module (1), the receiving transducer module (1) comprising a receiving plate (11), an annular sealing block (12), a socket (13) and a front cover (14), a first mounting opening (141) being provided in the middle of the front cover (14), the annular sealing block (12) being arranged at the edge of the first mounting opening (141), the receiving plate (11) being arranged at the first mounting opening (141), the annular sealing block (12) being at least partially attached to the inner side surface and the side edge of the receiving plate (11), and the socket (13) being arranged on the inner side surface of the receiving plate (11) and located in the middle of the annular sealing block (12); A housing (2), wherein a pressure balancing chamber is provided in the housing (2), the pressure balancing chamber being filled with a compressible fluid medium, a second mounting opening (21) being provided on a side wall of the housing (2), the front cover (14) being mounted at the second mounting opening (21), and the socket (13) being located in the pressure balancing chamber; A sensor assembly (3), the sensor assembly (3) being located in the pressure balance chamber, the sensor assembly (3) being plugged into and mated with the socket (13); A piston assembly (4), the piston assembly (4) comprising a piston cylinder (41) and a piston (42), the piston (42) being movably arranged in the piston cylinder (41), and one end of the piston cylinder (41) being connected to the pressure balance chamber to allow the compressible fluid medium to enter the piston cylinder (41); The receiving plate (11) comprises a first matching layer (111), a receiving array layer (112), and a circuit board (113) which are sequentially arranged in layers; the socket (13) is arranged on a side of the circuit board (113) facing away from the receiving array layer (112); a projection of the receiving array layer (112) in the normal direction avoids the annular sealing block (12); and a projection of the receiving array layer (112) in the normal direction is located within the first matching layer (111); The piston assembly (4) further includes a first sealing ring (43). A sealing groove (421) is provided on the side wall of the piston (42). The first sealing ring (43) is arranged around the sealing groove (421) and is pressed against the inner wall of the piston cylinder (41). The inner wall surface of the annular sealing block (12) is a cylindrical surface, the shape of the receiving array layer (112) is circular, the axis of the inner wall surface of the annular sealing block (12) passes through the center of the receiving array layer (112), and the seabed imaging sonar satisfies: ； Wherein, α is the static friction coefficient between the first sealing ring (43) and the inner wall of the piston cylinder (41); f is the dynamic friction coefficient between the first sealing ring (43) and the inner wall of the piston cylinder (41); d is the outer diameter of the first sealing ring (43), in mm; e is the compression rate of the first sealing ring (43); E is the elastic modulus of the first sealing ring (43), in MPa; D is the inner diameter of the piston cylinder (41), in mm; μ is the Poisson's ratio of the first sealing ring (43); ω is the maximum deflection at the center of the receiving plate (11), in mm; E1 is the elastic modulus of the first matching layer (111), in MPa; t1 is the thickness of the first matching layer (111), in mm; μ1 is the Poisson's ratio of the first matching layer (111); E2 is the elastic modulus of the receiving array layer (112), in MPa; t2 is the thickness of the receiving array layer (112), in mm; μ2 is the Poisson's ratio of the receiving array layer (112); E3 is the elastic modulus of the circuit board (113), in MPa; t3 is the thickness of the circuit board (113), in mm; μ3 is the Poisson's ratio of the circuit board (113); a is the inner diameter of the annular sealing block (12), in mm.

2. The submarine imaging sonar according to claim 1, characterized in that: The thickness of the first matching layer (111) is not greater than 0.5 mm, the thickness of the annular sealing block (12) is not less than 10 mm, and the material of the first matching layer (111) and the annular sealing block (12) is PVDF or piezoelectric ceramics.

3. The submarine imaging sonar according to claim 1, characterized in that: An oil filling hole (422) is provided on the piston (42), and the oil filling hole (422) is connected to the pressure balance chamber. The inner wall of the piston cylinder (41) is used to position the air extraction pipe (71); The piston assembly (4) further comprises a sealing cover (44), wherein the sealing cover (44) is detachably mounted on the oil filling hole (422).

4. The submarine imaging sonar according to claim 1, characterized in that: A portion of the annular sealing block (12) is located between the first matching layer (111) and the circuit board (113), and the annular sealing block (12) and the first matching layer (111) are an integral structure, so that the receiving plate (11) is radially positioned through the edge of the first mounting opening (141).

5. The submarine imaging sonar according to claim 1, characterized in that: The seabed imaging sonar further comprises a transmitting transducer module (5), a third mounting port (22) connected to the pressure balance chamber is provided on the side wall of the shell (2), the transmitting transducer module (5) comprises a second piezoelectric layer (51), a sound absorbing layer (52) and a second matching layer (53), the second matching layer (53) is coated on the outer side surface of the second piezoelectric layer (51), the sound absorbing layer (52) is arranged on the inner side surface of the second piezoelectric layer (51), and the sound absorbing layer (52) is located at the third mounting port (22).

6. The submarine imaging sonar according to claim 5, characterized in that: The transmitting transducer module (5) further includes a negative electrode wire (54), a positive electrode wire (55) and a voltage-resistant layer (56), one end of the negative electrode wire (54) and one end of the positive electrode wire (55) are respectively arranged on two sides of the second piezoelectric layer (51), the negative electrode wire (54) and the positive electrode wire (55) pass through the sound-absorbing layer (52) and adhere to the sound-absorbing layer (52), the voltage-resistant layer (56) is arranged on the inner side of the sound-absorbing layer (52), and the negative electrode wire (54) and the positive electrode wire (55) also pass through the voltage-resistant layer (56).

7. The submarine imaging sonar according to claim 1, characterized in that: The seabed imaging sonar further includes a rear cover assembly (6), the rear cover assembly (6) including a rear cover (61), a sound-absorbing pad (62) and a power amplifier (63), the sound-absorbing pad (62) and the power amplifier (63) being mounted on the front side of the rear cover (61), a fourth mounting opening (23) being provided on the side wall of the shell (2), and the rear cover (61) being mounted at the fourth mounting opening (23) so that the sound-absorbing pad (62) and the power amplifier (63) are located in the pressure balance chamber.

Images