Patent · US Expired

Controlled compliance acoustic baffle

US5621701A · kind A · utility

10Cited by
1References
10Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateAug 10, 1989
Grant dateApr 15, 1997
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 10, 2009

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG10K11/205
  • WIPO fieldOther consumer goods
  • WIPO sectorOther fields

Abstract

An acoustic baffle for reflecting sound waves and rejecting background interference noise for use with a hydrophone array. The baffle utilizes a plurality of lenticular resilient elements embedded in a compliant foam elastomer compound. The embedded elements provide control of overall baffle compliance for submarine applications, particularly for high hydrostatic pressure operation. The resilient members are formed from pairs of resilient lenticular shaped elements which are integrally bonded to a highly damped constrained viscoelastic layer to provide uniform noise reduction performance over a broad frequency range. The pairs of elements are joined at their ends by compliant end caps which provide minimum constraint on the motion of the ends, thus limiting bending stresses in the elements. The members are designed to freely deflect up to a maximum operating depth, at which point the elements bottom and no further deflection occurs, thereby assuring that deflections of the members do not exceed a design limit, even when the apparatus is tested at depths exceeding its operating range.

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