Communications – electrical: acoustic wave systems and devices – Signal transducers – Underwater type
Reexamination Certificate
1998-09-30
2001-03-13
Pihulic, Daniel T. (Department: 3662)
Communications, electrical: acoustic wave systems and devices
Signal transducers
Underwater type
Reexamination Certificate
active
06201767
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND
Many watercraft are provided with an electronic sonar system such as a depth finder or a fish finder. These systems usually include a disc shaped piezoelectric transducer element acoustically coupled to the surrounding water for generating soundwaves in the water. Typically the transducer element is mounted to the inside surface of the hull for protection, or extends into the water either through a hole in the hull or from a bracket on the stern of the hull. In each mounting arrangement, the transducer element is preferably aimed vertically downwardly into the water for optimum performance.
Transducer elements which are mounted inside the hull are typically enclosed within a housing bonded to the interior surface of the hull. The transducer element is encapsulated and suspended within the housing with potting material. The transducer element is oriented relative to the housing in a manner to aim the transducer element vertically downward. The bottom of the housing is sometimes angled to approximately match the hull deadrise angle so that a wedge-shaped region of potting material is formed between the transducer element and the bottom of the housing.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The problem with such a mounting arrangement is that hulls of different styles of watercraft commonly vary in angle from about 0 degrees to about 22 degrees. As a result, a transducer housing designed for one particular hull style (or angle) is usually not suitable for installation in other hull styles because the transducer element does not get aimed in the direction which provides a vertical soundbeam for optimum performance.
The present invention is directed to a transducer assembly which can be mounted to the interior surface of a hull of any standard hull without sacrificing performance. The transducer assembly of the present invention includes a base for securing the assembly to the interior surface of the hull. A mounting member for mounting to the base is rotatably positionable relative to the base about a rotational axis. A transducer element for generating soundwaves is secured or fixed to the mounting member in an orientation such that soundwaves generated by the transducer element travel in an acute angular direction relative to the rotational axis. Rotation of the mounting member relative to the base about the rotational axis changes the direction of travel of the soundwaves.
In preferred embodiments, a retaining device or member locks the mounting member and transducer element in place relative to the base once the optimum position of the transducer element is determined. The transducer element is preferably locked in place so that the direction of travel of the soundwaves is vertically downward into the water. The base forms an outer housing including a generally cylindrical tube extending along the rotational axis and has an angled mounting surface for securing to the interior surface of the hull. The mounting member forms an inner housing including a generally cylindrical tube which extends along the rotational axis. The inner housing has an angled end wall to which the transducer element is acoustically coupled. A portion of the inner housing extends within the outer housing. The transducer element is surrounded within the inner housing with potting material. An acoustic coupling medium is positioned between the outer housing and the inner housing for acoustically coupling the inner housing to the hull. The inner housing includes a flange for securing the inner housing to the retaining device. The retaining device includes protrusions for engaging with recesses in the outer housing for locking the retaining device to the outer housing. The inner housing preferably includes alignment markings for aligning the inner housing in proper rotational position with the outer housing for a given hull deadrise angle. The outer housing also preferably includes alignment markings for aligning the outer housing in proper rotational position relative to the hull.
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patent: 2 577 341 (1985-11-01), None
Cullen Robert
Lagace Maurice
Airmar Technology Corporation
Hamilton Brook Smith & Reynolds PC
Pihulic Daniel T.
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