Underwater Sonar Antenna Cladding with Acoustic Window
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing underwater vehicles with sonar antennas installed outside the shell experience negative impacts on flow properties due to the antennas' presence, and previous solutions like covers either absorb too much sound or fail to withstand dynamic water pressure.
Innovation Solution
A device with a cover, valve, and outlet opening is used to enclose sonar antennas, featuring an acoustic window for sound wave transmission and a waterproof design to withstand water pressure, with a valve for water exchange to maintain hydrostatic pressure equilibrium.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If sonar antennas are mounted outside the underwater vehicle hull, then sound detection capability is improved, but flow characteristics deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
An acoustic window made of acoustically transparent material is introduced as an intermediary between the sonar antenna and the external water environment. This window allows sound waves to pass through while maintaining the streamlined hull shape, thus preserving both sound detection capability and flow characteristics.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If sonar antennas are covered by a hull, then flow characteristics are improved, but sound wave transmission is absorbed
Solution Approach 1:
The hull is designed with local quality variation: most of the hull structure provides streamlined flow characteristics, while a specific local region (the acoustic window) is made of acoustically transparent material to allow sound wave transmission. This resolves the contradiction by making different parts of the hull serve different functions.
3Strength
If a thick hull is used to withstand dynamic water pressure, then structural strength is improved, but sound wave absorption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The acoustic window is designed with local quality: it is made of acoustically transparent material with optimized thickness to balance structural strength and sound transmission. The rest of the hull can be thicker for strength, while the acoustic window region is specifically designed for acoustic transparency.
4Measurement precision
If the acoustic window is made thin to reduce sound absorption, then sound transmission is improved, but resistance to dynamic water pressure decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The acoustic window is made of composite materials that combine acoustic transparency with structural strength. These composite materials allow thin construction for sound transmission while maintaining adequate resistance to dynamic water pressure through material properties rather than thickness.
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 device improves the flow properties of underwater vehicles by allowing sound wave transmission while withstanding dynamic water pressure, and ensures water composition homogeneity to enhance sound wave propagation.
Implementation Method 1
The window (30) is designed to allow sound waves from the environment of the device to pass into the interior of the device
Implementation Method 2
The valve (26) can allow water surrounding the device 20 to flow into the device 20
Implementation Method 3
The valve (26) is designed to prevent water present in the device 20 from flowing out of the device 20 through the valve (26)
Implementation Method 4
The outlet opening (28) is designed to allow water present in the device 20 to flow out of the device 20, so that a water exchange takes place in the device 20 due to the higher pressure outside the device (20) that occurs during the underwater vehicle's travel
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
Embodiments show a device for cladding an underwater sound receiver, for example a (sonar) antenna, having a covering, a valve and an outlet opening. The covering can accommodate the underwater sound receiver. The covering further has, in a first region, an (acoustic) window, said window being designed to let sound waves pass through. The valve is designed to let water surrounding the device flow into the covering and to prevent water present in the covering from flowing out of the covering. The outlet opening is designed to let water present in the covering flow out.