Towed array condition appraisal system
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
InventorGeorge O. Pickens
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A device is structured to pass along a towed array of hydrophones, from the orward end thereof to the rearward end thereof. The device carries a small acoustic projector to project test signals to respective hydrophones as the device passes them by. The responses of respective individual hydrophones to the test signals are recorded to enable calibration of the array in situ, and additionally, or alternatively, are recorded to determine the departure of the array from the ideal straight, (generally) horizontal line.
Claims23
Apparatus for determining selected parameters related to the operation of an acoustic array which contains a number of interconnected sensor elements, said apparatus comprising:
- means for projecting test signals of selected acoustic frequencies;
- cart means for successively bringing said projecting means into selected, closely spaced relationship with each of said sensor elements included in a length of said array, said cart means comprising a supporting frame to which said projecting means is fixably joined, and roller means for enabling said array to be moved along its centerline in relation to said cart means and said projecting means;
- means for controlling the operation of said cart means;
- and
- means coupled to said sensor elements for monitoring the response of a given one of said sensor elements to said test signals when said projecting means and said given sensor element are in said closely spaced relationship.
A method for determining selected parameters related to the operation of a linear array of acoustic sensor elements deployed in a marine environment, one end of said linear array comprising a forward end and the other end of said linear array comprising an after end, said forward end receiving a towing force, said method comprising the steps of:
- deploying said array in said environment to gather acoustic data;
- operating acoustic projecting means to project test signals of acoustic frequencies;
- selectively retaining said projecting means at said forward end of said linear array until a selected time;
- selectively releasing said projecting means from said forward end to enable relative motion to occur between said projecting means and said linear array;
- guiding said projecting means along said linear array from said forward end to said after end after said projector is released;
- and
- monitoring the response of a given one of said acoustic sensor elements when said given sensor element and said projecting means are brought into a closely spaced relationship.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.