Multi-depth acoustic signal generating device

A device for generating acoustic signals at multiple depths beneath a water surface, the device comprising:

• a housing having an interior chamber;
• a first extension of the housing forming an elongated passageway between the water and the chamber;
• a piston disposed within the passageway and forming a movable seal between the housing chamber and the surrounding water, the piston moving with a defined relationship in response to a pressure differential between the chamber and the water, the pressure differential corresponding to the depth beneath the water surface;
• a second extension of the housing disposed opposite the first extension in relation to the chamber, the second extension forming a pocket of the chamber;
• a first biasing means disposed within the pocket, the first biasing means biasing the movement of the piston in a direction away from the chamber, the pressure differential overcoming the first biasing means to move the piston in a direction towards and into the chamber;
• a connecting bar spanning across the chamber and connected between the first biasing means and the piston, the connecting bar having a slot extending therethrough in a direction perpendicular to the spanning direction, the slot extending partially therethrough in a direction parallel to the spanning direction;
• a striking means for each acoustic signal to be generated, each striking means disposed within the chamber and movable between a first restrained position and a second strike position;
• a second biasing means for each striking means, each second biasing means biasing movement of its associated striking means in a direction from its first position to its second position;
• a rod connection for each striking means, each rod connection connected to a respective one of the striking means and extending through the slot in the connecting bar;
• and
• a bulbous restraint for each striking means, each bulbous restraint connected to a respective one of the rod connections such that the bulbous restraints and each of the striking means are positioned on opposite sides of the connecting bar, the bulbous restraints each having a dimension greater than a first width of the slot to restrain each striking means in its first position, the movement of the piston causing relative movement of the connecting bar and the bulbous restraints, each of the bulbous restraints passing through the slot when a second width of the slot greater than the dimension of each of the bulbous restraints is aligned therewith, the passing of each of the bulbous restraints releasing one of the striking means from its first position, the respective second biasing means causing the released striking means to move from its first position to its strike position to generate one of the acoustic signals.

A device for generating acoustic signals at multiple depths beneath a water surface, the device comprising:

• a housing having an interior chamber;
• an extension of the housing forming an elongated passageway between the water and the chamber;
• a piston disposed within the passageway and forming a movable seal between the housing chamber and the surrounding water, the piston moving with a defined relationship in response to a pressure differential between the chamber and the water, the pressure differential corresponding to the depth beneath the water surface;
• a rod for each acoustic signal to be generated, each rod disposed within the chamber and movable between a first restrained position and a second strike position, each rod being bent into its first position, an elastic behavior of each rod biasing each respective rod to return to its second position;
• a hook for each rod, each hook engaging one of the rods to restrain the rods in their first positions;
• a support bar disposed within the chamber in a parallel relationship to the piston, each hook being pivotally attached to the support bar in a spaced apart relation;
• an appendage for each hook, each appendage attached to and extending from the piston in a distinct spaced apart relationship with the hooks, a portion of each hook being disposed in a path of movement of one of the appendages, contact of the appendages against the hooks releasing the rods from the hooks, the elastic biasing of the rods returning the rods to their second positions;
• a strike for each rod, each of the strikes attached to one of the rods at a location so as to contact a strike portion of the housing when the respective rod returns to its second position, each of the contacts vibrating the strike portion to generate one of the acoustic signals, the distinct spaced apart relationship of the appendages and hooks resulting in successive generation of the acoustic signal from each strike.