Transducer

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring now to FIG.
1, the subject transducer, in general, includes a flextensional transducing unit 10 and a radiating head 12, which includes, in general, a chamber 14, a piston-like radiating element 16, which may be in the form of a flat flexible diaphragm, and a connecting sleeve 18.
The flextensional transducing unit, in this embodiment, includes a hollow shell 20 with an oval-shaped cross section and a piezoelectric ceramic stack driving element 22 which is bonded in place between opposing interior walls of shell 20.
The piezoelectric stack is positioned by initially inwardly flexing opposing major walls 23 and 24, inserting the piezoelectric stack and releasing the walls.
The bottom of the shell is sealed by a bottom member 25 which is secured to the shell by an elastomer boot 26.
Chamber 12 is secured to the opposite end of the flextensional transducer shell by a similar boot 28.
The flextensional transducer shell and the entire chamber are filled with a working fluid which, in general, may be silicone oil such as Dow Corning 200 centistroke, depending on the particular characteristics desired and the compressability of the fluid.
In operation, when the piezoelectric stack is energized such that the stack extends as illustrated by double-ended arrow 30, opposing major walls 23 and 24 of shell 20 move inwardly as indicated by arrows 36.
Interior wall surface 38 and 40 of the shell move inwardly so as to produce a pumping action in which the fluid is pumped in the direction of arrow 42.
The motion of the oil thereafter imparts a motion to radiating element 16 as illustrated by arrow 44 by virtue of its communication with the side of the radiating element not in contact with the surrounding fluid medium.
This operation is also illustrated in connection with FIG.
2 in which an assembled transducer is shown and in which corresponding elements between the two figures carry corresponding reference characters.
As can be seen, end piece 25 may be provided with a sealing type plug 50 through which connecting wires or cables 52 pass so as to permit electrical connection to the piezoelectric or ceramic stack 22