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US 8,910,743 B2Granted
Acoustic Reflectors
AssigneeSubsea Asset Location Technologies Limited
InventorsCarl Peter Tiltman, Andrew Malcolm Tulloch
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AssigneeSubsea Asset Location Technologies Limited
InventorsCarl Peter Tiltman, Andrew Malcolm Tulloch
Estimating the term…
An acoustic reflector primarily for underwater use comprising a shell surrounding a core in which holes are provided in the shell to allow air and water freely to enter and leave the interior of the shell when the reflector is immersed in water. Various embodiments are described including the use of a metal shell matched to a water core, the use of a mounting bar, provision of a frame to reflect acoustically alpha numeric characters, a soluble plug to delay operation of the reflector, and coating the reflector with polyurethane to limit damage. Also proposed is a pulse pattern to improve the identification of an acoustic reflector in some circumstances. Designs of reflectors particularly suitable for use with the relatively low frequency sonars found in the fishing industry with an aluminum or aluminum alloy shell are described, as are reflectors with a non-metal shell suitable for use with the higher frequency sonars in the underwater exploration industry. The reflectors can be spherical, toroidal, ovoid, or cylindrical provided that they have at least on circular cross section. A particularly important development with the current invention is the ability to mark and trace underwater non-ferromagnetic pipes.
An acoustic reflector for use underwater and comprising a shell surrounding a core said shell configured to permit acoustic waves at at least one frequency to at least partially enter and pass through the shell at one location, to pass into the core and to be reflected back from the shell opposite said one location, wherein the shell has one or more holes therein permitting water freely to enter and leave the inside of the shell when the reflector is deployed in water.
An acoustic reflector for use underwater and comprising a shell surrounding a core wherein the shell has one or more holes therein permitting water freely to enter and leave the inside of the shell when the reflector is deployed in water wherein said reflector has a circular cross section and comprises a shell surrounding a core, said shell permitting acoustic waves at one or more frequencies to pass, in part at least, through the shell into the core to be reflected back from the portion of the shell opposite the entry of the acoustic wave and in part to pass around within the shell to combine with the reflected wave and be reradiated from the reflector.
A spherical acoustic reflector for underwater deployment comprising a shell and a core;
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.