Tow body arrangement for a towable device in a sonar system
AssigneeGeospectrum Technologies Inc.
InventorsJanis Nams, Dan Cunningham, Paul Yeatman, Bruce A. Armstrong
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A tow body arrangement for a towable device in a sonar system includes a bridle having a front for connecting to a first tow cable and back for connecting to a second tow cable. The tow body arrangement also includes a tow body rotatably connected to the bridle between the front and back of the bridle. The tow body is shaped to generate hydrodynamic forces tending to rotate the tow body perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the bridle.
Claims18
A towable device for towing behind a watercraft comprising:
- a bridle having a front for connecting to a first tow cable and back for connecting to a second tow cable;
- a tow body rotatably coupled to the bridle at a single pivot connection between the front and back of the bridle, the tow body rotatable about the single pivot point relative to the bridle between a recovery position in line with the front of the bridle and the back of the bridle and an approximately vertical position in use.
A towable device for towing behind a watercraft comprising:
- a bridle having a front for connecting to a first tow cable and back for connecting to a second tow cable;
- a rigid tow body rotatably coupled to the bridle between the front and back of the bridle, the rigid tow body rotatable relative to the bridle between a recovery position and an approximately vertical position in use;
- and further comprising an electronically controlled actuator for rotating the rigid tow body into the approximately vertical position.
A towable device for towing behind a watercraft comprising:
- a bridle having a front for connecting to a first tow cable and back for connecting to a second tow cable;
- a tow body rotatably coupled to the bridle between the front and back of the bridle, the tow body rotatable relative to the bridle between a recovery position and an approximately vertical position in use;
- and
- an electronically controlled actuator for rotating the tow body into the approximately vertical position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.