Bi-material Transducer Enclosure for Ultrasonic Signal Consistency
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ultrasonic transducer enclosures fail to maintain signal strength and consistency while also providing structural strength and resistance to pressure, especially in varying humidity environments.
Innovation Solution
A transducer assembly with a bi-material enclosure, featuring a plastic housing with mechanical reinforcements like 40% glass fiber, and a fiber-free inner sleeve for improved signal conduction and consistency, along with a humidity-exhausting mechanism using a desiccant.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a single-material enclosure is used, then the manufacturing process is simple, but the enclosure cannot simultaneously provide both structural strength and optimal ultrasonic signal conduction
Solution Approach 1:
The enclosure is constructed from two different plastic materials: a fiber-reinforced plastic (e.g., 40% glass fiber) for the outer shell providing mechanical strength and pressure resistance, and a fiber-free plastic for the inner portion providing optimal ultrasonic signal conduction. This composite structure resolves the contradiction by combining materials with complementary properties, allowing the enclosure to simultaneously achieve structural integrity and signal conduction consistency.
2Strength
If a fiber-reinforced plastic is used for the entire enclosure, then the structural strength and pressure resistance are high, but the ultrasonic signal conduction and consistency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
Different portions of the enclosure are made from materials with locally optimized properties: the outer shell uses fiber-reinforced plastic where mechanical strength is critical, while the inner portion uses fiber-free plastic where ultrasonic signal conduction is critical. This local differentiation of material properties resolves the contradiction by allowing each region to excel at its primary function without compromising the other.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the enclosure is sealed tightly to protect from humidity during storage, then protection is improved, but water cannot be exhausted during operation
Solution Approach 1:
The enclosure incorporates a dynamic sealing mechanism that adapts to different operational states: a sealed configuration during storage and transport to protect from humidity, and an open configuration during operation to allow water exhaustion. This dynamic adaptability resolves the contradiction by allowing the enclosure to switch between protective and functional modes as needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The enclosure is pre-configured with a sealed configuration for storage and transport, and includes mechanisms (such as breakable seals or removable caps) that enable transition to an open configuration during operation. This preliminary preparation resolves the contradiction by ensuring protection is automatically provided when needed, while enabling operational functionality when required.
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 enhances signal strength and consistency, provides high resistance to pressure, and maintains a low humidity environment within the transducer, thereby extending its operational lifespan.
Implementation Method 1
the use of desiccant to reduce the humidity levels to 10 percent or less
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
Techniques are disclosed for configuring a bi-material enclosure for an acoustic sensor assembly, such as for use in a water or gas metering applications, or other applications using piezo and/or transducer devices. A plastic housing with mechanical reinforcements (e.g., 40% glass fiber) provides the advantage of strength and resistance to a high-pressure environment encountered during use. Use of a plastic sleeve having less or no reinforcements provides more consistent signal reception and data generation between different transducer assemblies under the same or similar conditions. Accordingly, the bi-material transducer enclosure provides a high resistance to pressure and/or high reproducibility of signal-transmission characteristics between transducer assemblies.