PRESSURE WAVE GENERATOR WITH A SABOT LAUNCHED PISTON

摘要

Examples of a pressure wave generator configured to generate high energy pressure waves in a medium are disclosed. The pressure wave generator can include a sabot carrying a piston. The sabot can further comprise a locking means to lock the piston in a fixed position when the locking means are activated. When the locking means are in a deactivated position, the piston can be released and can move at least partially away from the sabot. The sabot carrying the piston can be disposed within an inner bore of a housing of the pressure wave generator and can move within the inner bore of the housing from its first end toward its second end along a longitudinal axis of the bore. A transducer can be accommodated in the second end of the housing. The transducer can be coupled to the medium and can convert a portion of the kinetic energy of the piston into a pressure wave in the medium upon impact of the piston with the transducer. The sabot carrying the piston can be accelerated by applying a motive force to the sabot. Once accelerated within the inner bore of the housing the sabot can be decelerated by applying a restraining force to the sabot while the piston can be released at least partially from the sabot to continue to move toward the transducer until it impacts the transducer. Examples of methods of operating the pressure wave generator are disclosed.

主权项

1. A pressure wave generator for generating a pressure wave in a medium, the pressure wave generator comprising:
a piston having a body with a first surface and a second surface; a housing having an inner bore, a first end, and a second end; a sabot configured to carry the piston within the inner bore from the first end towards the second end along a longitudinal axis of the inner bore; an impact surface at the second end of the housing in communication with the inner bore, the impact surface coupled to the medium; a driver configured to apply a force to the sabot to accelerate the sabot towards the second end of the inner bore; and a brake configured to apply a restraining force to the sabot to slow down the sabot so that the piston becomes at least partially separated from the sabot.