Transducer assembly

Abstract

A support member preferably made of a metal such as cold rolled steel is disposed in a looped configuration and is provided with a gap. A transducer member preferably made of a piezoelectric material such as a ceramic is disposed within the support member. The transducer member is provided with a gap at a position corresponding to the gap in the support member. A closure member made from a suitable springlike material such as an alloy steel is attached to the opposite ends of the support member at the position of the gap as by welding. The closure member extends in a U-shaped configuration into the looped configuration (in section) defined by the support member and the ceramic member. The axial length of the closure member defines the bandwidth of the frequency vibrations generated by the transducer member. When the closure member extends from the gap into the looped configuration to a position near the end of the transducer member and the support member opposite the gap, a bracing member may be disposed between the closure member and the transducer member to brace the closure member. The opposite ends of the closure member are closed as by end caps.

I claim:  
     
       1. In combination, 
       a transducer member disposed in a looped configuration and having a gap in the looped configuration and made from a material providing for the introduction of electrical energy and the conversion of this electrical energy to mechanical vibrations,  
       a support member disposed on the transducer member in the looped configuration and having a gap disposed at the same position as the gap in the transducer member, the support member having substantially the same looped configuration as the transducer member, and  
       a member attached to the support member at the opposite ends of the gap in the support member and extending in a U-shaped looped configuration between the opposite ends of the gap in the support member.  
     
     
       2. In a combination as set forth in claim  1 , 
       the gap in the transducer member providing an interruption in the looped configuration of the transducer member,  
       the gap in the support member providing an interruption in the looped configuration of the support member, and  
       the attached member extending into the looped configuration defined by the transducer member and the support member, the attached member having a gap providing an interruption in the looped configuration of the attached member.  
     
     
       3. In a combination as set forth in claim  2 , 
       the attached member being welded to the support member at the opposite ends of the gap.  
     
     
       4. In a combination as set forth in claim  3 , 
       end caps disposed on the support member at the opposite ends of the support member,  
       the end caps and the attached member being made from a non-corrosive material.  
     
     
       5. In combination, 
       a transducer member having a gap and made from a material providing for the introduction of electrical energy and the conversion of this electrical energy to mechanical vibrations,  
       a support member disposed on the transducer member and having a gap disposed at the same position as the gap in the transducer member, and  
       a member attached to the support member at the opposite ends of the gap in the support member and extending in a closed loop between the opposite ends of the gap in the support member,  
       the transducer member and the support member having a particular axial length, and  
       the attached member extending partially along the axial lengths of the transducer member and the support member for adjusting the frequency characteristics of the transducer member.  
     
     
       6. In a combination as set forth in claim  5 , 
       the transducer member and the support member having corresponding looped configurations and the attached member having a looped configuration different from the looped configurations of the support member and the transducer member.  
     
     
       7. In combination, 
       a transducer member having a looped configuration and a gap in the looped configuration, the transducer member being responsive to electrical energy to vibrate at a particular frequency,  
       a support member having the looped configuration and having a gap in the looped configuration, the support member enveloping the transducer member with the gap in the support member coinciding in position with the gap in the transducer member, and  
       a member attached to the support member at the opposite ends of the gap and extending into the looped configurations of the transducer member and the support member in a U-shaped looped configuration and having a configuration to close the support member.  
     
     
       8. In combination, 
       a transducer member having a looped configuration and a gap in the looped configuration, the transducer member being responsive to electrical energy to vibrate at a particular frequency,  
       a support member having a looped configuration and a gap in the looped configuration, the support member enveloping the transducer member with the gap in the support member coinciding in position with the gap in the transducer member, and  
       a member attached to the support member at the opposite ends of the gap and extending into the looped configurations of the transducer member and the support member and having a configuration to close the support member,  
       the transducer member and the support member having a particular axial length, the attached member extending only partially along the particular axial length for adjusting the frequency characteristics of the transducer member and  
       means for closing the support member at the opposite ends of the axial length of the support member.  
     
     
       9. In a combination as set forth in claim  8 , 
       the attached member being welded to the support member at the opposite ends of the gap in the support member along the axial length of the attached member.  
     
     
       10. In a combination as set forth in claim  8 , 
       the attached member extending in a looped configuration into the looped configuration defined by the transducer member and the support member.  
     
     
       11. In a combination as set forth in claim  10 , 
       the looped configuration of the attached member being different from the looped configurations of the support member and the transducer member.  
     
     
       12. In a combination as set forth in any of claims  8 ,  9 ,  10 andor  11 , 
       the gaps in the support member and the closure member extending only partially along the lengths of the support member and the transducer member,  
       the associated means extending along the lengths of the gaps in the support member and the transducer member.  
     
     
       13. In combination, 
       a support member disposed in a looped configuration and having a gap at one position in the looped configuration,  
       a transducer member disposed with the support member in the looped configuration and having a gap at a position corresponding to the gap in the support member, and  
       means associated with the support member at the gap in the support member and extending into the looped configuration defined by the support member and the transducer member for closing the support member and the transducer member at the gap, and  
       means for closing the support member at the opposite ends of the support member the associated means being supported by the support member at the opposite ends of the gap and having a U-shaped looped configuration.  
     
     
       14. In a combination as set forth in claim  13 , 
       the transducer member being constructed to receive electrical energy and to convert the electrical energy into vibrations,  
       the support member, the transducer member and the associated means being constructed to provide the vibrations at a particular frequency.  
     
     
       15. In a combination as set forth in claim  14 , 
       the associated means being attached to the support member at the gap in the support member and having a configuration for closing the gap in the support member and the transducer member while providing for the vibration of the support member and the transducer member at the particular frequency,  
       the closure means at the opposite ends of the support member constituting end caps.  
     
     
       16. In a combination as set forth in claim  15 , 
       the support member and the associated means and the caps being made from metallic materials and the transducer member being made from a piezoelectric material.  
     
     
       17. In combination, 
       a transducer member made from a piezoelectric material and having a looped configuration and a gap at a particular position in the looped configuration,  
       a support member disposed on the transducer member and having a looped configuration corresponding to the looped configuration of the transducer member and having a gap at a position corresponding to the gap in the transducer member,  
       a closure member attached to the support member at the opposite ends of the gap in the support member and extending from the attached positions into the looped configuration of the transducer member, and  
       a bracing member disposed in the looped configuration of the transducer member in continuously abutting relationship at one end to the transducer member at the position diametrically opposite to the gap in the transducer member and in abutting relationship to the closure member at its opposite end.  
     
     
       18. In a combination as set forth in claim  17 , 
       the closure member having a looped configuration different from the looped configurations of the transducer member and the support member.  
     
     
       19. In a combination as recited in claim  18 , 
       end caps closing the support member at the opposite ends of the support member,  
       the closure member extending along the support member only partially through the distance between the end caps.  
     
     
       20. In a combination as recited in claim  17 , 
       the closure member having springlike properties and the bracing member being made from an electrically insulating material.  
     
     
       21. In a combination as recited in claim  20 , 
       end caps closing the support member at the opposite ends of the support member,  
       the closure member extending along the support member only partially through the distance between the end caps.  
     
     
       22. In a combination as set forth in claim  21 , 
       the support member, the closure member and the end caps being made from metallic materials.  
     
     
       23. In a combination as set forth in claim  22 , 
       the transducer member and the support member having hollow cylindrical configurations and the transducer member being formed from a plurality of segments defining the cylindrical configuration.  
     
     
       24. In a combination as set forth in claim  17 , 
       end caps closing the support member at the opposite ends of the support member.  
     
     
       25. In combination, 
       a transducer member disposed in a looped configuration and having a gap in the looped configuration and made from a material providing for the introduction of electrical energy to mechanical vibrations,  
       a support member disposed on the transducer member in the looped configuration and having a gap disposed at the same position as the gap in the transducer member, the support member having substantially the same looped configuration as the transducer member, and  
       a member attached to the support member at the opposite ends of the gap in the support member and extending in a looped configuration, different from the looped configuration in the transducer member and the support member, between the opposite ends of the gap in the support member,  
       the gaps in the support member and the closure member extending only partially along the lengths of the support member and the transducer member for adjusting the frequency characteristics of the transducer member,  
       the attached member extending along the length of the gap.  
     
     
       26. In combination, 
       a transducer member having a looped configuration and a gap in the looped configuration, the transducer member being responsive to electrical energy to vibrate at a particular frequency,  
       a support member having the looped configuration and having a gap in the looped configuration, the support member enveloping the transducer member with the gap in the support member coinciding in position with the gap in the transducer member, and  
       a member attached to the support member at the opposite ends of the gap and extending into the looped configurations of the transducer member and the support member in a looped configuration different from the looped configurations of the transducer member and the support member and having a configuration to close the support member,  
       the gaps in the support member and the closure member extending only partially along the lengths of the support member and the transducer member for adjusting the frequency characteristics of the transducer member,  
       the attached member extending along the length of the gap.  
     
     
       27. In combination, 
       a support member disposed in a looped configuration and having a gap at one position in the looped configuration,  
       a transducer member disposed with the support member in the looped configuration and having a gap at a position corresponding to the gap in the support member, and  
       means associated with the support member at the gap in the support member and extending into the looped configuration defined by the support member and the transducer member for closing the support member and the transducer member at the gap, and  
       means for closing the support member at the opposite ends of the support member,  
       the gaps in the support member and the closure member extending only partially along the lengths of the support member and the transducer member for adjusting the frequency characteristics of the transducer member,  
       the associated means extending along the lengths of the gaps in the support member and the transducer member.  
     
     
       28. In combination, 
       a transducer member made from a piezoelectric material and having a looped configuration and a gap at a particular position in the looped configuration,  
       a support member disposed on the transducer member and having a looped configuration corresponding to the looped configuration of the transducer member and having a gap at a position corresponding to the gap in the transducer member,  
       a closure member attached to the support member at the opposite ends of the gap in the support member and extending from the attached positions into the looped configuration of the transducer member, and  
       a bracing member disposed in the looped configuration of the transducer member in abutting relationship at one end to the transducer member at the position diametrically opposite to the gap in the transducer member and in abutting relationship to the closure member at its opposite end,  
       the gaps in the support member and the closure member extending only partially along the lengths of the support member and the transducer member for adjusting the frequency characteristics of the transducer member,  
       the closure member extending along the lengths of the gaps in the support member and the transducer member.