Abstract: An acoustic baffle for reflecting sound waves and rejecting background interference noise for use with a hydrophone array. The baffle utilizes a plurality of lenticular resilient elements embedded in a compliant foam elastomer compound. The embedded elements provide control of overall baffle compliance for submarine applications, particularly for high hydrostatic pressure operation. The resilient members are formed from pairs of resilient lenticular shaped elements which are integrally bonded to a highly damped constrained viscoelastic layer to provide uniform noise reduction performance over a broad frequency range. The pairs of elements are joined at their ends by compliant end caps which provide minimum constraint on the motion of the ends, thus limiting bending stresses in the elements.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
August 10, 1989
Date of Patent:
April 15, 1997
Assignee:
Lockheed Martin Tactical Systems, Inc.
Inventors:
Alfred Denaro, Thomas J. Bertram, John D. Lea