Submersible Antenna Elastomer Grommet Vibration Decoupling
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing underwater antennas face challenges in effectively decoupling structure-borne noise, which interferes with acoustic signals, due to rigid mounting of transducer elements, leading to increased costs and complexity in noise reduction methods.
Innovation Solution
A carrier module with through-holes for elastomer grommets and printed circuit boards allows for elastic attachment of transducer elements, reducing vibration transmission and improving acoustic properties while using standard, cost-effective components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If transducer elements are firmly connected to the carrier by gluing, then the transducer elements are held in a fixed position, but structure-borne noise is transmitted to the transducer elements
Solution Approach 1:
A damping element is introduced as an intermediary component between the carrier and the transducer element. This damping element serves as a mediator that mechanically connects the two components while simultaneously attenuating structure-borne vibrations, thus resolving the contradiction between maintaining fixed position and reducing noise transmission.
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical properties of the connection between carrier and transducer element are changed by introducing a damping element with specific viscoelastic properties. This changes the transmission characteristics of vibrations while maintaining the structural connection, allowing the system to filter out harmful frequencies while preserving mechanical stability.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If transducer elements are flexibly bound to the carrier using soft rubber blocks, then structure-borne noise is decoupled, but bonding strength and resistance are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The damping element is constructed as a composite structure combining multiple materials with complementary properties. This composite design integrates the vibration-damping characteristics of elastomeric materials with enhanced mechanical strength features, achieving both noise decoupling and sufficient bonding strength simultaneously.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If complicated casting molds and post-processing are used to decouple structure-borne noise, then effective noise reduction is achieved, but production costs increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The damping element is designed as a cost-effective, standardized component that can be mass-produced using simple manufacturing processes. Rather than requiring expensive custom casting molds and complex post-processing, the solution uses economical materials and straightforward fabrication methods that reduce production costs while maintaining effective noise decoupling performance.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution effectively decouples vibrations, enhancing the antenna's acoustic performance by using elastomer grommets and printed circuit boards, allowing for better reception of high-frequency signals and reducing mechanical stress, thus improving signal quality without increasing costs.
Implementation Method 1
A grommet which is designed as an elastomer and through which a socket is guided, is inserted into this through-bore. The converter element can thus be attached elastically to the carrier module via the socket
Implementation Method 2
The vibrations propagating through the traction cables reach the converter elements as structure-borne noise. If structure-borne noise is not decoupled, structure-borne noise can reach the transducer element from the rigid mount
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
The module (30) has a carrier element (34) i.e. printed circuit board, provided with an electro-acoustic and/or opto-acoustic converter element (36) e.g. hydrophone and/or electronic component. The converter element is flexibly attachable on the module using a connector (40) and a feed-through sleeve (42) that is insertable into a bore (44) in the carrier element. The carrier element has another bore for accommodating a hauling rope and/or electrical line. A longitudinal slot is provided parallel to an axis of the module over length of the module. An independent claim is also included for a method for fastening a converter element on a carrier module.