Abstract: The invention relates to a dual frequency sonar transducer assembly which may be operated at low and/or high frequencies in a sonar array. The assembly comprises a low frequency unit of tonpilz design including a low frequency driver, a low frequency tail mass and a composite head mass, the composite head mass acting as a single low frequency water driving piston and comprising a plurality of high frequency units forming individual high frequency water driving pistons. The high frequency units are also of tonpilz design, with independent drivers, independent head masses, and a common tail mass. The use of a common tail mass simplifies the design without compromising high frequency operation. The design leads to more efficient operation at both frequencies by minimizing the head mass to tail mass ratios.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
July 10, 1989
Date of Patent:
May 7, 1996
Assignee:
Martin Marietta Corporation
Inventors:
Cleo M. Stearns, David J. Erickson, Louis M. Izzo