(19)
(11) EP 0 434 344 A3

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88) Date of publication A3:
13.11.1991 Bulletin 1991/46

(43) Date of publication A2:
26.06.1991 Bulletin 1991/26

(21) Application number: 90313788.3

(22) Date of filing: 17.12.1990
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)5: G10K 9/12
(84) Designated Contracting States:
FR GB

(30) Priority: 18.12.1989 US 451913

(71) Applicant: HAZELTINE CORPORATION
Greenlawn New York 11740 (US)

(72) Inventor:
  • Cavanagh, George H. III
    Scituate, Massachusetts 02066 (US)

(74) Representative: Wood, Anthony Charles et al
Urquhart-Dykes & Lord 91 Wimpole Street
London W1M 8AH
London W1M 8AH (GB)


(56) References cited: : 
   
       


    (54) Edge driven flexural transducer


    (57) An electro-acoustic transducer utilizing a plurality of flexural bars or staves to form an interface member between the electrorestrictive driver element and the water transmission medium. The staves are fastened to end plates to form a concave barrel-shaped structure that results in substantial mechanical amplification. The driver element consists of a stack of electrorestrictive elements with the stack's axis essentially coincident with the transducer's longitudinal axis. A tension member, threaded at both ends, passes through holes in the end plates and through an axial hole in the stack. Nuts at each end of the tension member are tightened to provide the required compressional "bias" to the stack. The transducer offers the advantages of lower cost of fabrication, increased amplification of the flexural driver interface elements and improved capability to withstand hydrostatic pressures.






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