Abstract: A flextensional transducer for use in surface ship applications requiring the capability of withstanding underwater explosive shock is described. The transducer includes a plurality of ceramic stacked drivers disposed between an elliptical outer shell having opposing slots disposed along an inner surface of the shell and a flextensional limiting support block. The drivers are mounted on ball joint sockets which allow pivoting during high acceleration loading conditions. The support block further has a pair of curved surfaces which will generally follow, in close proximity, the inner surface of the shell and a member coupled to the opposing slots of the elliptical shell. The block can be fixed to a rigid mount disposed over at least one end of the transducer using a plurality of tie rods.

Abstract: A flexural transducer includes a hollow tube that is magnetically driven by a coil/magnet assembly. A magnetic field is provided by passing a current through the coil. The filed passes through an air gap between the coil and the magnet to attract and repel the magnet during alternating portions of the current's cycle. The magnetic transducer driver mechanism permits high drive capability, high temperature operation and provides lower frequency operation than conventional ceramic drivers.

Abstract: A compliant cover for use with acoustic source transducers includes a rubber boot bonded to a shell of the transducer. The cover has a groove molded within a surface thereof to allow the shell to expand and contract with reduced resistance. Conventional transducers having rigidly mounted covers disposed on the shell which resist the motion of the shell and decrease the overall efficiency of the transducer.

Abstract: A composite split cylinder transducer comprises an electromechanical driver and a cylindrical shell having a longitudinal gap. The shell further has a portion, disposed opposite the gap, comprised of a high strength material having increased stiffness. Transducers of this configuration are capable of being employed at greater ocean depths where high hydrostatic pressure conditions exist with little effect on acoustic performance.

Abstract: A split cylinder compliant tube baffle for absorbing and/or canceling noise signals generated within a submarine or surface ship is described. The split cylinder tube baffle includes an air-filled tube having a longitudinal gap extending the length of the tube. The baffle further comprises a rubber jacket for enclosing the gap and end covers for sealing end portions of the tube. A split tube baffle assembly is generally constructed of tube baffles adjacently aligned to form a panel. The panels can then be stacked for increased attenuation of acoustic signals. The split cylinder baffle offers significant size reduction and improved performance over conventional compliant tube baffle designs.

Abstract: A bonded insulator flexural transducer for use in sonar applications includes a hollow metal tube having an inner surface, a segmented ceramic electromechanical driver disposed along an inner surface of the tube and a bonded insulator disposed between the segmented driver and the metal tube. The bonded insulator includes a high dielectric strength film, a layer of a binding fiber material, and a layer of epoxy. The dielectric film provides the electrical isolation between the driver and the shell and the binding fiber material provides a reliable bond by effectively trapping the epoxy between the driver and shell.

Abstract: A transducer for use in surface ship applications includes a prestress element for providing additional compressive force to an electromechanical driver disposed within the transducer. The transducer includes a shell having inner portions, an electromechanical driver having end portions coupled to inner portions of the shell, and a block prestress element disposed between one of the end portions of the driver and the inner portions of the shell. The block prestress element is fabricated from a shape memory alloy which can be deformed within a first temperature range and reverts back to its original shape when exposed to a temperature above the first temperature range. This characteristic provides for the generation of additional stresses which may be desired for providing protection to the electromechanical driver from unwanted tensile forces.

Abstract: A split-ring or split-cylinder transducer in which a full or partial boot covering a shell is caused to be looped into the gap of the shell so that outward radial movement and circumferential expansion of the shell causes the boot to also move outwardly thus reinforcing the sound wave generated exterior to the shell of the transducer.

Abstract: A transducer which uses paramagnetic magnetostrictive rods or bars, e.g., compositions of the lanthanide series of elements such as Tb.sub.0.3 Dy.sub.0.7 Fe.sub.2, has the bars biased with a lengthwise flux by a permanent magnet, e.g. samarium-colbalt, of high resistance to demagnetization by the alternating field applied to the bars by alternating current in a coil surrounding the bar. The magnet is outside the coil to reduce the ac field to which it is subjected. Uniformity of flux density along the length of the bars is enhanced by having adjacent ends of the bars subjected to like-polarity poles of the permanent magnets associated with each bar.

Abstract: The cable of this invention comprises a pair of solid, flat, flexible electrical conductors of beryllium-copper attached to a reinforcing webbing of braided nylon. The ends of the conductors are soldered to electrical connector sockets and pins which are supported by glass reinforced resin disks. The webbing is tensioned while being molded inside a water impermeable elastomer which also encompasses the conductors, disks, and end portion of the sockets and pins. A second molding operation covers the water impermeable elastomer with a tough elastomer to form the cable including integral connector bodies incorporating the sockets and pins.