Long life coaxial sparker for underwater sound source

摘要

An efficient sparker for a pulse powered underwater acoustic source for minesweeping is capable of repetitive discharges at about 15 Hz for at least one hour without replacement or maintenance. The sparker has a tubularly-shaped cathode spaced apart from an elongate anode that coaxially extends the length of the tubularly-shaped cathode and a cylindrically-shaped insulator that fills the space between the cathode and anode. The cathode, anode, and insulator are secured to a collar and are shaped to have minimal drag when towed through the water at speeds up to 35 knots. The configuration and selection of fabrication materials for the sparker assure that a nominal constant gap is maintained between the cathode and anode.