Ultrasonic Transducer Housing With Spring Biasing for High Temperature
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ultrasonic transducer arrangements face challenges in high temperature and pressure environments due to incompatible thermal expansion coefficients and pressure-induced deformation, leading to bonding failures and reduced performance.
Innovation Solution
A mechanical hardware apparatus featuring a housing with a plateau surface and a transducer assembly biased by springs, using a high-temperature couplant for efficient ultrasonic wave transmission through a metallic barrier, allowing for flexible attachment and minimizing reflections.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a piezoelectric transducer is rigidly bonded to a barrier, then mechanical coupling and ultrasonic transmission are improved, but the bonding fails under temperature variations and pressure changes due to incompatible thermal expansion coefficients
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a dynamic spring-loaded mechanism instead of rigid bonding. The spring allows the transducer to maintain contact with the barrier while accommodating thermal expansion differences and pressure variations, enabling the system to adapt to changing environmental conditions without bonding failure
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the mechanical coupling parameter from rigid fixed bonding to elastic spring-loaded contact. This parameter change allows the system to tolerate dimensional changes due to temperature and pressure variations while maintaining adequate acoustic coupling for ultrasonic transmission
2Force
If biasing pressure is applied centrally to a transducer, then contact force is maximized, but the transducer becomes distorted and performance degrades
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the single central biasing force into multiple distributed contact points around the transducer perimeter. This segmentation of the force application prevents localized distortion while maintaining adequate overall contact force for acoustic coupling
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies biasing force at specific locations around the transducer perimeter rather than centrally. This local quality approach ensures even pressure distribution across the transducer surface, preventing distortion while maintaining effective acoustic coupling
3Temperature
If transducers are used in high temperature environments, then operational capability is extended, but thermal expansion differences cause bonding failure
Solution Approach 1:
The spring-loaded mechanism provides dynamic adjustment capability that allows the transducer assembly to accommodate thermal expansion differences between dissimilar materials at high temperatures, maintaining bonding reliability across extended temperature ranges
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the mechanical coupling from rigid to elastic, allowing the system to tolerate thermal expansion parameter variations at high temperatures without bonding failure
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 enables reliable ultrasonic data and power transmission across thick metallic barriers in high-temperature and pressure environments, maintaining performance and preventing bonding failures by using a viscous couplant and spring-based biasing, achieving efficient power transfer and communication.
Implementation Method 1
When an AC electrical signal is applied to one transducer, the transducer will convert that energy into acoustic vibrations which are transmitted through the solid medium
Implementation Method 2
A viscous, high-temperature couplant is provided between the vibration surface and raised plateau for enhancing transmission of the ultrasonic waves
Implementation Method 3
A plurality of springs spaced around the transducer perimeter are each engaged between the cap and the push plate for biasing the vibration surface against the raised plateau
Data Source
AI summary
An ultrasonic transducer with housing contains a transducer assembly, an outer housing surface being fixed against a barrier surface for transferring ultrasonic waves to and from a barrier. The housing has an inner surface with plateau. A cap closes the housing and the transducer assembly has a piezoelectric transducer with a pressure surface around its outer perimeter and an opposite vibration surface engaging the plateau. A ring engages the pressure surface for biasing the vibration surface against the plateau. A holder engages the cap, transducer and ring for positioning and a plurality of springs are spaced around the transducer perimeter and between the cap and ring for biasing the vibration surface toward or against the raised plateau. A viscous couplant is between the vibration surface and plateau for enhancing transmission of the ultrasonic waves.