Patent ID: 7679266

Claim:
A transducer comprising: a longitudinal tubular member symmetrically disposed about a central longitudinal axis, said tubular member having a slot extending from the front end of said member to the rear end of said member, said slot extending parallel to said central longitudinal axis; a stack comprising a single element or plurality of vibratory elements arranged from a first to a second end; a mounting arrangement for mounting said stack across the inner wall of said tubular member on a line relatively transverse to said longitudinal central axis, said mounting arrangement including a layer of solid lubricant engaging opposite ends of said stack, enabling said stack to move in a direction of said central axis when said stack exhibits vibratory motion; and a first bearing surface extending from a first area of said inner wall of said tubular member towards a second area of said inner wall opposing said first area, a second bearing surface extending from said second area of said inner wall towards said first area, said first end of said stack having a first cooperating bearing surface coupled to said first bearing surface, said second end of said stack having a second cooperating bearing surface coupled to said second bearing surface to enable said stack as coupled to said tubular member to move along said longitudinal axis.