Modular Sonar Hydrophone Elements for Underwater Vehicles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sonar devices for underwater vehicles face challenges in replacing individual hydrophones without replacing the entire stave, due to encapsulation with potting material, which is difficult to remove and requires complex calibration and multiple molds for precise positioning.
Innovation Solution
A sonar system with detachable hydrophone elements encased in seawater-resistant plastic bodies, allowing for easy replacement and flexible arrangement, featuring a base body with metal sections for enhanced sound reflection and a rubber layer for vibration decoupling, enabling precise positioning and adaptation to underwater vehicle contours.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If hydrophones are encapsulated with potting material in a mold, then the hydrophones are protected and sealed, but individual hydrophones cannot be replaced and the entire stave must be replaced if one fails
Solution Approach 1:
The stave is divided into modular elements where each hydrophone is housed in its own replaceable unit. The carrier structure separates hydrophones into individual slots, allowing one hydrophone element to be removed and replaced without affecting others. This segmentation enables partial replacement rather than complete stave replacement.
Solution Approach 2:
The potting material is completely removed from the design. Instead of embedding hydrophones in permanent casting material, each hydrophone is mounted in a separate holder on the carrier. This extraction of the encapsulation function allows individual hydrophones to be accessed, removed, and replaced independently.
2Manufacturing precision
If a single casting mold is used for each stave to achieve precise hydrophone positioning, then positioning accuracy is improved, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase due to requiring multiple molds for different positions
Solution Approach 1:
A single standardized carrier design with predefined hydrophone positions serves multiple staves. The same carrier template can be used for different stave configurations by simply placing hydrophones in the appropriate slots. This universal carrier design eliminates the need for custom molds for each stave position while maintaining precise positioning through the standardized slot locations.
Solution Approach 2:
The carrier is pre-manufactured with precisely positioned slots and mounting locations determined during design. This preliminary positioning structure eliminates the need for complex positioning operations during assembly. Hydrophones are simply placed into pre-defined slots that guarantee correct positioning without requiring custom molds or complex calibration procedures.
3Measurement precision
If hydrophones are arranged in fixed positions on a carrier, then beamforming capability is improved, but adaptability to different installation locations on curved vehicle surfaces is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The stave elements are designed to be movable and adjustable on the vehicle surface rather than fixed in rigid positions. The elements can be positioned at different locations on curved surfaces while maintaining their internal hydrophone geometry. This dynamic positioning capability allows the array to adapt to various installation locations while preserving beamforming functionality through electronic calibration.
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
Enables simple and cost-effective replacement of hydrophones, increased signal strength, and improved flexibility in adapting to underwater vehicle shapes, reducing the need for complex calibration and multiple molds.
Implementation Method 1
The piezoelectric material is provided with a conductive coating on the inside and outside, so that sound waves and their pressure changes acting on the piezoelectric material can be measured on the electrically conductive coatings.
Implementation Method 2
The holder and the hydrophone element are set up in such a way that they can be detachably connected to one another. In this case, the hydrophone element has a hydrophone which is encased in a seawater-resistant plastic body.
Implementation Method 3
featuring a base body with metal sections for enhanced sound reflection and a rubber layer for vibration decoupling
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~4
AI summary
The invention relates to a system (10) for a sonar device, comprising a base body (12) having at least one holder (30) for a hydrophone element (32). The holder (30) and the hydrophone element (32) are configured to be releasably connected to one another. The hydrophone element (32) also comprises a hydrophone (33) which is enveloped with a plastic body (45) for seawater resistance. The invention also relates to a sonar system and to an underwater vehicle having the system as well as to a method therefor.