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Title:
DEVICE FOR UNDERWATER VOICE COMMUNICATION
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/2017/048145
Kind Code:
A1
Abstract:
The object of the invention is a device for underwater voice communication which may, in particular, be used in underwater communication between divers and scuba divers. The device is composed of a rigid body (1) to which an acoustic head (2) is attached, the latter being in the form of a thin-walled, hollow block, on the walls of which there are bends. The interior of the acoustic head (2) is connected to the interior of the body (1) via an opening. A mouthpiece (4) is attached to the body and tightly covers the part of the face which surrounds the mouth. In the lower part of the body, there is an outlet opening or openings (6), aimed at leading out into water the breathing gases that are exhaled while the user speaks to the device. The device can be also provided with a cover for the acoustic head (3) in the form of an openwork structure, protecting the acoustic head (2) from mechanical damages, and with a handle (5) allowing grasping of the device in a manner allowing it to be turned with the mouthpiece towards the mouth of the person holding it.

Inventors:
NOWAK LUKASZ (PL)
PENKOWSKI MICHAL (PL)
DETKOS RAFAL (PL)
Application Number:
PCT/PL2016/050036
Publication Date:
March 23, 2017
Filing Date:
September 13, 2016
Export Citation:
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Assignee:
NOWAK LUKASZ (PL)
PENKOWSKI MICHAL (PL)
DETKOS RAFAL (PL)
International Classes:
B63C11/26
Foreign References:
US20040182641A12004-09-23
US4527657A1985-07-09
US5877460A1999-03-02
US3828887A1974-08-13
US6253763B12001-07-03
US2844212A1958-07-22
US20130288596A12013-10-31
US20130121113A12013-05-16
US4183422A1980-01-15
US5877460A1999-03-02
US6253763B12001-07-03
US4527657A1985-07-09
US4071110A1978-01-31
US3348539A1967-10-24
US2844212A1958-07-22
US3828887A1974-08-13
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
KRZYMOWSKA, Marta (PL)
Download PDF:
Claims:
Claims

1. A device for underwater voice communication composed of a rigid body having a mouthpiece and an acoustic head, both attached to the body in a permanent or releasable manner, the acoustic head being made of rigid material, preferably metal, in the form of a closed, sealed and hollow block with an opening or openings connecting its interior to the interior of the body, characterised in that

• walls of the acoustic head have a thickness at least 20 times lower than the greatest linear dimension of the head and there are at least two bends on their surfaces,

• the body of the device is provided with an outlet opening or outlet openings allowing water or gas to flow from the interior of the body towards the outside, wherein the opening or openings are located in the lower part of the body,

• the mouthpiece has a shape allowing tight contact with the part of the face which surrounds the mouth, after it is applied to the face, and it is provided with an opening connecting its interior to the interior of the body,

• the mouthpiece is located at a side of the body other than the acoustic head and the outlet opening or openings,

• total internal volume of the body together with the internal volume of the acoustic head connected thereto is not greater than 2000 cm3.

2. The device for underwater voice communication according to claim 1, characterised in that a handle is attached to the body in a permanent or releasable manner, the handle allowing grasping of the device in a manner allowing it to be turned with the mouthpiece towards the mouth of the person holding it.

3. The device for underwater voice communication according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the body is provided with an integrated or releasable cover surrounding the acoustic head and protecting it from mechanical damages, the cover being in the form of an openwork structure ensuring free flow of water in the space surrounding the head from the side of the outer part of its surface.

4. The device for underwater voice communication according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, characterised in that the outlet opening or outlet openings located in the body are covered with a mesh having the largest linear dimension at least 5 times lower than the largest linear dimension of the outlet opening or outlet openings.

The device for underwater voice communication according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5, characterised in that it comprises one or more springs, preferably in the form of helical springs made of metal, one end of which is attached in a permanent manner to a point on the inner surface of the acoustic head, while the other end is attached to another point on the same surface or to a point on the surface of the device body.

The device for underwater voice communication according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5, characterised in that the part of the body in which there is the outlet opening or outlet openings protrudes downwardly with the outlet opening or outlet openings located at the bottom, and provided with a releasable sleeve made of elastic material, preferably of rubber, having dimensions and shape allowing it to be tightly applied onto the part of the body with the outlet opening or outlet openings at one side, while the opposite side of this sleeve has dimensions and shape allowing it to be tightly applied onto the part of the diving regulator which is designed for the mouthpiece to be applied thereon.

Description:
Device for underwater voice communication

The object of the invention is a device for underwater voice communication which may, in particular, be used in underwater communication between divers and scuba divers.

Many devices for underwater voice communication use electroacoustic transducers and systems for wired or wireless transmission based on ultrasounds in order to transmit voice between divers and scuba divers under water or between a diver or a scuba diver under water and people on the water surface. These devices can be used only in combination with full face masks or nasal masks which have integrated automatic breathing apparatus which allow breathing under water and provide air space in front of the face, whereby the person wearing such a mask can speak freely. In the air space in front of the face, a microphone attached to an electronic sound transmission system is mounted. A speech signal is converted into an electrical signal which is then transmitted via a cable or an ultrasonic transmitter to a receiver, where it is converted back to a sound signal through a loudspeaker. All electronic systems for speech transmission for divers and scuba divers require a source of electrical power, comprise electroacoustic transducers (microphones, loudspeakers) and electronic transmission systems, and their use is possible only in combination with full face masks or nasal masks designed for diving - therefore, these devices constitute a separate class in relation to the object of the present application.

Patent application US 2013/0288596(A1) describes an electronic system for underwater communication, wherein a contact microphone (laryngophone) and a loudspeaker which makes use of the effect of bone conduction of sound are used as electroacoustic transducers. The object of this application includes an active, electronic system the structure and mode of operation of which are completely different from the object of the present application.

Patent JPH02141387(A) presents a mask which allows speaking under water. Voice transmission takes place via an electroacoustic transducer in the form of a microphone placed inside the mask, so that both the structure and mode of operation are different from the object of the present application. Patent application US 2013/0121113(A1) describes a system and method for underwater communication for divers and scuba divers, based on a transmitter, a receiver and a processor processing the transmitted speech signal. Also in this case, the described solution has the nature of an active electronic telecommunications system the structure and mode of operation of which are substantially different from the object of the present application.

Patent JPH0490992(A) describes a wired system for underwater communication using an underwater microphone and a loudspeaker, both connected to a transmission circuit and an amplifier, which is to allow conversation under water. Due to the use of the electroacoustic transducers and the active electronic sound transmission system, this system is significantly different in terms of its structure and mode of operation from the object of the present invention.

Patent US0057651(A) describes a mouthpiece and a system for underwater voice communication, which makes use of the effect of bone conduction of sound through teeth. Since the object of this application makes use of electroacoustic transducers and is based on an electronic sound transmission system, its structure and mode of operation are significantly different from the object of the present application.

Patent US4183422(A) describes a passive device for underwater voice communication, composed of a tubular body, open on one side and ended with a mouthpiece, and on the other side with an inflatable air bag which may take the form of an elongated, stretchable balloon. The process of speech transmission consists in applying the mouthpiece to the mouth and in inflating the air bag located at the second end of the tubular body. The device does not have any openings, so that there are not any air bubbles escaping while speaking, and all the air blown in is located in the air bag. Due to exhalation in the process of speaking, the bag must be subject to stretching during use, and must increase its volume. Because of the intended use of the stretchable air bag and lack of any air vents for the air exhaled while speaking, both the structure of the described device, as well as intended mechanism of operation and method of use make the described solution significantly different from the object of the present application.

Patent US5877460(A) describes a passive device for underwater voice communication, composed of a body in which two openings are located - a small one and a large one, wherein the smaller opening is ended with a mouthpiece adapted to the face, and the larger one is closed with a thin membrane. In the body, additionally, at least one one-way exhalation valve is to be located. According to the description, speaking under water to the mouthpiece applied to the face is intended to cause vibrations of the membrane closing the larger opening and to transmit sound to the surrounding water, while the exhaled air is to escape through a one-way valve or valves installed in the walls. Due to the construction in the form of a body with two openings having different dimensions, the larger one of which is closed with a thin membrane - planar structure coinciding with the shape of the opening on which it is pulled over - that is intended to transmit sound to water, and due to the use of one-way valves in the walls of the body, the structure of the described device and intended mechanism of operation make the described solution significantly different from the object of the present application.

Patent US6253763(B1) describes a passive system for underwater voice communication intended for use with a diving regulator in scuba diving or with a snorkel in snorkelling. The described device consists of a mouthpiece containing protruding elements held by teeth while breathing through a diving regulator or a snorkel, and of a surface surrounding the mouth allowing speaking to the mouthpiece, and of an underwater loudspeaker connected to the mouthpiece by a connector which allows the dividing regulator or a snorkel to be connected to the device. Claims relating to the underwater loudspeaker of the described device present it in the form of two flexible membranes joined at the edges, which, while speaking, are to be inflated and to vibrate to the rhythm of transmitted sounds, located in a housing. Due to the described structure of the mouthpiece with leaves to be held by teeth, the structure of the acoustic transducer in the form of a mechanical loudspeaker made up of joined flexible membranes, and the construction of the entire device in the form allowing its use only when continuously combined with the diving regulator or a snorkel, the described device in terms of its construction, intended mechanisms of operation and method of use differs significantly from the object of the present application.

Patent US4527657(A) describes a device for underwater voice communication consisting of an air chamber located in front of the diver's mouth, and at least one tapered pipe, closed at its tapered end. According to the presented description, principle of operation of this device is based on capturing the acoustic energy from the diver's mouth in the air chamber, and then on concentrating it in the narrowed portion of the pipe, from where it would be radiated into the water. A breathing apparatus supplying the air to the diver can be attached to the device. The construction of this device with the use of tapered pipes as acoustic radiators, and its intended mechanism of operation differ substantially from analogous characteristics of the object of the present application.

Patent US4071110(A) describes a device for underwater voice communication consisting of an air chamber in front of the diver's mouth, a membrane located inside the air chamber and a vibrating element which is in contact with water and mechanically connected to the membrane in the air chamber. According to the description included, vibrations of the membrane in the air chamber caused by the diver's voice would be transmitted to vibrations of the element in contact with water, and thereby, the voice would be radiated into water. The presented structure, with the membrane operating in air mechanically connected to the vibrating radiating element, makes the described solution, in terms of construction and intended method of operation, significantly different from the object of the present invention.

Patent US3348539(A) describes a diving mask covering the diver's face, with a part forming an air space in front of the diver's mouth, allowing breathing from the air source and comprising a flexible membrane. As a result of the diver speaking in the mask, the membrane would be, according to the description, stimulated to vibrations and would transmit sound into water. Due to the construction of the device in the form of a complete diving mask and the use of the flexible membrane as an element aimed at radiating sound into water, structure of this device, intended mechanisms of operation and method of use substantially differ from the object of the present application.

Patent US2844212(A) describes a device for underwater voice communication intended for use in combination with a diving regulator. The device consists of a mouthpiece connected to a flexible membrane circular in shape and located in a housing. Construction of this device, with the use of the flexible circular membrane as an element intended to transmit sound into water, and its intended method of use, only in combination with a diving regulator, make the described solution substantially different from the object of the present application.

Patent US3828887(A) describes a device for underwater voice communication in the form of a pipe divided into two parts by a membrane, ended at one end with a seal surrounding the mouth of the person speaking, and a system for venting air from the section between a mouthpiece and the membrane. According to the description, the membrane is to be made vibrating by the voice of the person speaking, and thereby transmit sound into water. Due to the construction of the device in the form of the pipe divided into two parts and the use of the membrane inside the pipe as an element intended to radiate sound, the structure of this device and intended method of operation are substantially different from the object of the present application.

The essence of the invention is that the device for underwater voice communication is composed of a rigid body, having a mouthpiece and an acoustic head, both attached to the body in a permanent or releasable manner, the acoustic head being made of rigid material, preferably metal, in the form of a closed, sealed and hollow block with an opening or openings connecting its interior to the interior of the body. Walls of the acoustic head have a thickness at least 20 times lower than the greatest linear dimension of the head and there are at least two bends on their surfaces. The rigid material of the head and its shape in the form of a closed block (therefore a three dimensional structure which differs significantly from e.g. the flat membranes) with relatively thin walls on which there are bends allow preferable mechanical characteristics of this element - mechanical Q-factor and distribution of natural frequencies. As a result, the head is stimulated to vibrations by voice of the person speaking, and vibrations of its walls cause transmission of sound to the surrounding water. The body of the device is provided with an outlet opening or outlet openings allowing water or gas to flow from the interior of the body towards the outside, wherein the opening or openings are located in the lower part of the body. Therefore, while speaking, air or other outlet gases used in diving and exhaled by the person speaking fill the interior of the acoustic head and the body, and excess thereof is led out into water, allowing easy speech while also providing evacuation of water from the acoustic head - provided that the head is directed upwards, and the openings are located at the bottom. Evacuation of water from the acoustic head allows it to be made vibrating and allows proper operation of the device. The mouthpiece has a shape allowing tight contact with the part of the face which surrounds the mouth, after it is applied to the face and is provided with an opening connecting its interior to the interior of the body. Therefore, it is possible to fill the body and the head with air or other breathing gases and to transmit voice to the device and further to the surrounding water. The mouthpiece is located at a side of the body other than the acoustic head and the outlet opening or openings. This allows for proper spatial orientation of the device, while speaking, with the acoustic head directed upwards and the outlet opening or openings directed downwards. Total internal volume of the body together with the internal volume of the acoustic head connected thereto is not greater than 2000 cm 3 . Fulfilment of this condition allows filling the device with air or other exhalation gases during a single exhalation or exhalation combined with speech, and also reduces the buoyancy force acting in water on the device during its operation.

The described device for underwater voice communication can be provided with a handle which is attached to the body in a permanent or releasable manner and which allows grasping the device in a manner allowing it to be turned with the mouthpiece towards the mouth of the person holding it. The handle facilitates proper grasping of the device, by the user, in a position allowing its proper operation under water.

The described device for underwater voice communication can be also provided with an integrated or releasable cover surrounding the acoustic head, the cover being in the form of an openwork structure ensuring free flow of water in the space surrounding the head from the side of the outer part of its surface. This cover protects the head from mechanical damages which could arise, for example, as a result of the head hitting a hard surface, and on the other hand - thanks to the openwork structure and the free flow of water around the outer part of the head - does not deteriorate significantly its acoustic parameters in the transmission of sound into water.

The outlet opening or openings located in the body of the described device can be covered with a mesh having the largest linear dimension at least 5 times lower than the largest linear dimension of the outlet opening or outlet openings. Therefore, exhalation gases escaping through the openings form smaller bubbles, which is intended to reduce the noise caused by bubbles in water.

The described device for underwater voice communication can be also provided with one or more springs, preferably in the form of helical springs made of metal, one end of which is attached in a permanent manner to a point on the inner surface of the acoustic head, while the other end is attached to another point on the same surface or to a point on the surface of the device body. Attaching the springs increases the mechanical Q-factor of the head and changes the frequency characteristics of its natural vibrations, so that a more efficient transmission of sound to the surrounding water is possible. The body part with the outlet opening or outlet openings of the described device for underwater voice communication can have the shape of an elliptical cylinder with the outlet opening or outlet openings located at the base and having dimensions allowing it to be inserted to the interior of the mouthpiece of the diving regulator. Thereby, it is possible to lead out the exhaled breathing gases directly through the exhalation valve of the diving regulator and to breathe through the described device for underwater voice communication via the diving regulator attached in this manner.

One of the possible methods of use of the described device for underwater voice communication consists in that in order to give a message, the diver or scuba diver removes, from his mouth, the mouthpiece of the diving regulator, applies, to his mouth, the mouthpiece of the device for underwater voice communication in such a manner that the outlet opening or outlet openings located in the body are directed downwards, and then he speaks to the device, and the sound is radiated through the acoustic head into water and can be heard by other people nearby, under water, without any additional devices. This method ensures filling of the acoustic head with breathing gases, while speaking, with simultaneous leading out of the excess thereof through the outlet opening or outlet openings located in the lower part of the body. The voice message is transmitted during a single exhalation, which allows for the transfer of important information to people nearby, under water. Once the speaking is finished, the diver removes the mouthpiece of the device for underwater voice communication from his mouth and puts the mouthpiece of the diving regulator again. If it is necessary to communicate additional voice information, the diver takes a breath through the regulator, and then he repeats the described procedure.

Another possible method of use of the described device for underwater voice communication, in the embodiment with the diving regulator attached in the place of the outlet opening or outlet openings, consists in that in order to give a message, the diver or scuba diver removes the mouthpiece of the diving regulator from his mouth, applies to his mouth the mouthpiece of the device for underwater voice communication, to which another diving regulator is attached, in such a manner that the outlet opening or outlet openings together with the attached diving regulator are directed downwards, and then he speaks to the device, and the sound is radiated through the acoustic head into water and can be heard by other people nearby, under water, without any additional devices. Once a part of the message is finished, the diver can take a breath directly through the mouthpiece of the device for underwater voice communication held at the mouth, and then he can continue to communicate his message.

The main advantage of using the device which is the object of the present application is to provide for the possibility of free voice communication for divers and scuba divers staying under water and using standard diving regulators with mouthpieces applied into the mouth (not in the form of full face masks or nasal masks). The possibility of free voice communication under water can significantly improve the comfort and safety of diving. At the same time, the use of the solutions described in the present application does not require any modifications of diving regulators, and the device alone can constitute a separate independent piece of equipment of the diver. Thanks to the adopted structure of the acoustic head in the form of a rigid, three-dimensional, thin-walled block with walls having at least two bends, an effective transmission of sound into water is possible, so that other people nearby are able to hear the communicated voice message without any additional devices. Additionally, the described structure of the acoustic head allows such a selection of its acoustic parameters that transmission of sound into water is ensured over a wide range of frequencies so that speech is clear and fully understandable. The described structure of the device ensures fast and efficient evacuation of water from its interior, while speaking with the acoustic head directed upwards, which has a positive effect on its efficiency.

The object of the invention in an embodiment is illustrated in the drawing, in which Fig. 1 shows an isometric view of the device for underwater voice communication from the mouthpiece side, Fig. 2 shows a side view of this device, Fig. 3 shows a side view of this device in a cross-sectional plane which is the plane of symmetry of all elements of the device (half of the device with outlines of its interior made visible), Fig. 4 shows a view of this device from the mouthpiece side, Fig. 5 shows a bottom view of this device (from the side of the outlet openings).

The device for underwater voice communication is composed of a rigid body (1) in the upper part of which an acoustic head (2) is tightly attached. The acoustic head (2) has a prismatic shape with its base in the shape of a four-pointed star. Walls of the acoustic head (2) are made of thin sheet metal and are characterised by eight bends which form edges of the star. In the place of the lower base of the acoustic head (2), there is an opening connecting its interior to the interior of the body (1). The acoustic head is covered from outside by an openwork cover (3) of the head, integrated with the body (1). In the front part of the body, there is a mouthpiece connected to it tightly, the shape of which allows including a part of the face surrounding the mouth. The opening of the mouthpiece (4) communicates with the interior of the body (1). In the rear part of the body (1), there is a handle (5) integrated to it, which allows grasping of the device in a manner allowing turning it with the mouthpiece (4) towards the mouth of the person holding the device. In the lower part of the body (1), there are outlet openings (6). While speaking to the device under water through the mouthpiece (4) with the acoustic head (2) directed upwards, the interior of the body (1) and of the acoustic head (2) is filled with air, the excess of which escapes to the surrounding water through the outlet openings (6). The sound makes the walls of the acoustic head (2) vibrate which causes transmission of the acoustic waves into the surrounding water, where the speech can be heard by people nearby, under water. The part of the body (1) in which there are the outlet openings (6) has the shape of an elliptical cylinder and the size allowing inserting this part into the opening of the mouthpiece of the diving regulator in a manner ensuring a tight attachment of the walls of the body (1) in the part comprising the outlet openings (6) to the interior surface of the mouthpiece. The use of such an optional connection additionally allows breathing with air from the diving regulator directly through the mouthpiece (4) of the device for underwater voice communication.