Depth sensitive mechanical acoustic signal generating device
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
InventorsEdmund J. Sullivan, Robert W. Gauthier
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A simple, mechanical device is provided which produces an acoustic signal a specified depth. The device consists of a shear plug in an exterior wall of the device housing which prevents the movement of a spring biased piston. The plug is subjected to increasing differential pressure between the exterior and interior of the housing as the depth of the device beneath the water surface increases. At a known pressure differential, corresponding to a specified depth, the shear plug fails, allowing for the actuation of the piston. The spring biased piston strikes against a ledge in the device, creating the acoustic signal.
Claims16
A device for generating an acoustic signal comprising:
- a housing having an interior chamber;
- a piston movably mounted within the housing chamber;
- a means for biasing the piston in a direction towards a piston seat within the housing chamber;
- and
- a plug for sealing an opening to the housing chamber, the plug retaining the piston in a position distant from the piston seat, the plug failing in response to a pressure differential between the chamber and an environment exterior to the housing, failure of the plug releasing the piston towards the piston seat, the piston striking the piston seat to generate the acoustic signal.
A device for generating an acoustic signal comprising:
- a housing having an interior chamber;
- a piston movably mounted within the housing chamber;
- a spring biasing the piston in a direction towards a piston seat within the housing chamber;
- a plug for sealing an opening to the housing chamber, the plug being subjected to a differential pressure between the chamber and an environment exterior to the housing;
- a hook attached to the piston;
- and
- an eye attached to a side of the plug exposed to the chamber, the hook engaging the eye to retain the piston in a position distant from the piston seat, the pressure differential creating a shear force within the plug, failure of the plug at a predetermined shear force releasing the piston to strike the piston seat and generate the acoustic signal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.