Line array winding and deployment system
AssigneeRaytheon Company
InventorsJoseph Misulia, Curtis B. Carlsten
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A packed sensor line array system includes sensors mounted outboard of cable packs wrapped around a central mandrel. The system may have multiple rows (layers) of the sensors and cable packs, surrounded by a cannister. Cable retainers may be used to retain cable ends near sensors, to keep the cable ends out of the way of subsequent winding operations. The winding may be done in situ, with the mandrel mounted to a rotatable chuck that is rotated to wind the individual cable packs sequentially around the mandrel, with positioning of the sensors outboard of the windings occurring between the winding operations. A positionable indexing tool may be coupled to and moved along the mandrel, to define a space along the mandrel for each cable pack winding.
Claims20
A packed sensor line array system comprising:
- a central mandrel oriented in an axial direction;
- a plate beneath the central mandrel;
- a plurality of sensors connected by a plurality of cable packs that are between successive sensors of the plurality of sensors, the plurality of sensors and the plurality of cable packs together constituting a sensor line array;
- wherein the plurality of cable packs are wound around the central mandrel;
- and
- wherein the plurality of sensors are aligned in the axial direction and are outboard of the plurality of cable packs.
A packed sensor line array system comprising:
- a central mandrel;
- and
- sensors connected by cable packs that are between successive of the sensors, the sensors and the cable packs together constituting a sensor line array;
- wherein the cable packs are wound around the central mandrel;
- wherein the sensors are outboard of the cable packs;
- wherein the packed sensor line array is in combination with equipment for winding the plurality of cable packs around the central mandrel;
- wherein the equipment includes an indexing tool;
- wherein the indexing tool includes an annular disk, and a hollow rod attached to the plate;
- and
- wherein the hollow rod is configured to fit around the central mandrel, and to be secured to the central mandrel in any of multiple positions.
A method of loading a sensor line array of alternating cable packs and sensors for a packed sensor line array system, the method comprising:
- iteratively, for each of the cable packs in succession, winding the cable pack around a central mandrel, wherein the central mandrel is oriented in an axial direction, and
- placing a sensor next to and outboard of a cable pack, wherein at least the sensor is oriented in the axial direction.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.