Patent · US Expired

Electro-acoustic transducers

US5155709A · kind A · utility

23Cited by
6References
14Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJul 10, 1991
Grant dateOct 13, 1992
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 10, 2011

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10T29/42
  • WIPO fieldOther consumer goods
  • WIPO sectorOther fields

Abstract

A transducer for use in surface ship applications includes a prestress element for providing additional compressive force to an electromechanical driver disposed within the transducer. The transducer includes a shell having inner portions, an electromechanical driver having end portions coupled to inner portions of the shell, and a block prestress element disposed between one of the end portions of the driver and the inner portions of the shell. The block prestress element is fabricated from a shape memory alloy which can be deformed within a first temperature range and reverts back to its original shape when exposed to a temperature above the first temperature range. This characteristic provides for the generation of additional stresses which may be desired for providing protection to the electromechanical driver from unwanted tensile forces. This approach for providing additional compressive force to the driver allows the insertion of the stacked ceramic electromechanical driver within the shell with prestress levels generally not achievable without possible damage to the shell.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.