US 11,685,487 B2 · Systems and methods for treating a submerged surface of a target structure

Abstract

An ultrasonic system for treating a submerged surface of a target structure, the system including: an ultrasonic generator for generating electrical energy to drive first and second ultrasonic transducers, the electrical energy including at least two different frequencies including a first and second operation frequency; first ultrasonic transducers configured to be mounted as a first array to the target structure, and connectable to the ultrasonic generator and operable to generate a first ultrasound signal from the first operation frequency; and second ultrasonic transducers configured to be mounted as a second array to the target structure, and connectable to the ultrasonic generator and operable to generate a second ultrasound signal from the second operation frequency, wherein the first and second ultrasonic transducers are spaceable from one another to produce guided ultrasonic waveforms through the target structure including heterodyned frequencies from the first ultrasound signal and the second ultrasound signal.

Claims19

Dependent claims

An ultrasonic system for treating a submerged surface of a target structure, the system comprising:

at least one ultrasonic generator operable to generate electrical energy to drive at least two ultrasonic transducers, the electrical energy comprising at least two different frequencies including a first operation frequency and a second operation frequency;
the at least two ultrasonic transducers configured to be mounted to the target structure and comprising:
a first ultrasonic transducer configured to generate a first ultrasound signal from the first operation frequency;
and
a second ultrasonic transducer configured to generate a second ultrasound signal, different to the first ultrasound signal, from the second operation frequency;
wherein the at least one ultrasonic generator is configured to cause the first and second ultrasonic transducers to generate the first and second ultrasound signals substantially simultaneously in order to produce heterodyned frequencies from the first ultrasound signal and the second ultrasound signal, and wherein at least one of the first ultrasonic transducer and the second ultrasonic transducer is connected to the target structure via an ultrasonic transfer media.

3 more elements

An underwater structure, comprising:

a target surface susceptible to underwater fouling;
and
at least one ultrasonic generator operable to generate electrical energy to drive at least two ultrasonic transducers, the electrical energy comprising at least two different frequencies including a first operation frequency and a second operation frequency;
the at least two ultrasonic transducers configured to be mounted to the underwater structure and comprising:
a first ultrasonic transducer configured to generate a first ultrasound signal from the first operation frequency;
and
a second ultrasonic transducer configured to generate a second ultrasound signal, different to the first ultrasound signal, from the second operation frequency;
wherein the at least one ultrasonic generator is configured to cause the first and second ultrasonic transducers to generate the first and second ultrasound signals substantially simultaneously in order to produce heterodyned frequencies from the first ultrasound signal and the second ultrasound signal, and wherein at least one of the first ultrasonic transducer and the second ultrasonic transducer is connected to the underwater structure via an ultrasonic transfer media.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Systems and methods for treating a submerged surface of a target structure

Life of this patent

Systems and methods for treating a submerged surface of a target structure

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims19