Ultrasonic Transducer Acoustic Insulation Decoupling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ultrasonic transducers face interference from housing vibrations, which complicates accurate measurement due to undesired signal superimposition, and existing solutions for acoustic insulation either fail to completely decouple the transducer or are inefficient.
Innovation Solution
The ultrasonic transducer employs a first acoustic insulation comprising multiple insulators with different acoustic impedances, radially constrained and oscillating, to decouple the acoustic transformer and transducer element from the housing, using materials like metal, ceramic, and elastomers, and additional mechanical connections to maintain insulation even under pressure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If acoustic insulation is provided between the ultrasonic transducer element and the housing, then interference from housing vibrations is reduced, but the transducer element becomes mechanically constrained which may affect its vibration properties
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an acoustic insulation element as an intermediary component between the ultrasonic transducer element and the housing. This mediator allows mechanical mounting while acoustically decoupling the transducer from housing vibrations, resolving the contradiction between providing acoustic insulation and maintaining transducer vibration freedom.
Solution Approach 2:
The acoustic insulation element provides localized acoustic damping at the critical interface between the transducer element and housing, without constraining the transducer element's radiating surface or active vibration areas. This localized approach maintains transducer performance while reducing housing vibration interference.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a filter contacts the bending plate at its outer edge to ensure acoustic separation, then acoustic decoupling is achieved, but the filter has a strong influence on the vibration properties of the bending plate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the acoustic insulation function from the mounting structure itself and implements it as a separate, dedicated acoustic insulation element. This separation ensures that the mounting structure provides only mechanical support while the acoustic insulation element handles vibration decoupling, preventing interference with the bending plate's natural vibration properties.
3Strength
If the acoustic transformer is completely enclosed in the housing, then mechanical protection is improved, but acoustic insulation becomes more difficult without contact with the radiating surface
Solution Approach 1:
The acoustic insulation element serves as a mediator that provides both mechanical mounting functionality and acoustic insulation simultaneously. It is positioned to contact the acoustic transformer for mechanical support while acoustically decoupling it from the housing, achieving both protection and insulation without enclosing the radiating surface.
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
This configuration effectively reduces interference by attenuating and shifting noise signals into less disruptive frequency ranges, ensuring accurate signal transmission and measurement by minimizing structural noise transmission.
Implementation Method 1
The first acoustic insulation comprises multiple insulators with different acoustic impedances, radially constrained and oscillating, to decouple the acoustic transformer and transducer element from the housing
Implementation Method 2
at least one piezoelectric transducer element, which is set up to generate and detect ultrasonic signals
Implementation Method 3
at least one acoustic transformer, the acoustic transformer being acoustically and mechanically coupled to the transducer element
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to an ultrasonic transducer (3) having a housing (31), in which a transducer element (11) for producing and detecting ultrasonic signals and an acoustic transformer (12) are arranged, wherein the acoustic transformer (12) is acoustically and mechanically coupled to the transducer element (11). The housing (31) has at least one housing body with at least one housing chamber (32) having a housing wall (33), the housing wall (33) enclosing at least in sections the acoustic transformer (12), wherein the housing is acoustically and mechanically connected to a measuring tube wall or a container wall, and wherein the acoustic transformer (12) is mechanically connected or connectable to the housing (31) via a lateral surface (M) of the acoustic transformer (12) by means of a first acoustic, in particular ring-shaped insulation.