Bat deterrent ultrasonic transducer for wind turbine applications
An ultrasonic transducer for wind turbine applications. The transducer includes a housing with a central diaphragm portion, a peripheral wall thereabout, and a flexure portion supporting the diaphragm portion relative to the peripheral wall. The apex of a cone is secured to the housing central diaphragm portion and the cone has a peripheral rim secured to the metal housing peripheral wall. A driver such as a piezoelectric element is secured to the housing central diaphragm portion opposite the cone apex.
1. An ultrasonic transducer for wind turbine applications, the transducer comprising:
a housing including a central diaphragm portion, a peripheral wall thereabout, and a flexure portion supporting the diaphragm portion relative to the peripheral wall;
a cone having an apex secured to the housing central diaphragm portion and a peripheral rim secured to the metal housing peripheral wall; and
a driver secured to the housing central diaphragm portion opposite the cone apex.
2. The transducer of claim 1 in which the driver is a piezoelectric element.
3. The transducer of claim 1 in which the housing and cone are made of metal.
4. The transducer of claim 1 in which the flexure is vertically stiff to support the housing central diaphragm portion and the metal cone and compliant in flexure allowing the housing central diaphragm portion to flex.
5. The transducer of claim 1 in which the flexure portion depends downward from the central diaphragm portion.
6. The transducer of claim 5 in which the flexure portion is connected to the peripheral wall by a lateral outwardly extending portion.
7. The transducer of claim 1 in which the flexure portion extends upward from the central diaphragm portion.
8. The transducer of claim 7 in which the flexure portion is connected to the peripheral wall by a lateral outwardly extending portion.
9. The transducer of claim 1 further including a wind screen over the cone.
10. The transducer of claim 9 in which the wind screen is made of an acoustically transparent material.
11. The transducer of claim 1 further including a printed circuit board over the driver.
12. A wind turbine hat deterrent system comprising:
a wind turbine blade; and
one or more ultrasonic transducers attached to the blade, each transducer including:
a housing including a central diaphragm portion, a peripheral wall thereabout, and a flexure portion supporting the diaphragm portion relative to the peripheral wall,
a cone having an apex secured to the housing central diaphragm portion and a peripheral rim secured to the housing peripheral wall; and
a driver secured to the housing central diaphragm portion opposite the cone apex.
13. The transducer of claim 12 in which the driver is a piezoelectric element.
14. The transducer of claim 12 in which the housing and cone are made of metal.
15. The transducer of claim 12 in which the flexure is vertically stiff to support the housing central diaphragm portion and the metal cone and compliant in flexure allowing the housing central diaphragm portion to flex.
16. The transducer of claim 12 in which the flexure portion depends downward from the central diaphragm portion.
17. The transducer of claim 16 in which the flexure portion is connected to the peripheral wall by a lateral outwardly extending portion.
18. The transducer of claim 12 in which the flexure portion extends upward from the central diaphragm portion.
19. The transducer of claim 18 in which the flexure portion is connected to the peripheral wall by a lateral outwardly extending portion.
20. The transducer of claim 12 further including a wind screen over the cone.
21. The transducer of claim 20 in which the wind screen is made of an acoustically transparent material.
22. The transducer of claim 12 further including a printed circuit board over the driver.