Marine measurement device
AssigneeSippican Ocean Systems, Inc.
InventorsAlan T. Hudson, David P. Gagnon, David W. Johns, II, William J. Langenhein, Jr.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A sonobuoy having a terminal weight and sensor for deployment beneath the surface of the water after the buoy has been launched from an aircraft and impacted the water. A circuit assembly and antenna for processing output from the sensor and for transmitting a signal is provided. A cable for connecting the sensor and circuit assembly is also included. A housing for the sonobuoy is a blow molded seamless thermoplastic shell which surrounds the circuit assembly.
Claims29
A sensor buoy such as a sonobuoy, said buoy comprising
- a terminal weight and sensor for deployment beneath the surface of the water after said buoy impacts the water,
- a circuit assembly and antenna for processing the output of said sensor and transmitting a signal,
- a cable for connecting said sensor to said circuit assembly, and a housing, said housing comprising a blow molded seamless thermoplastic shell, said housing surrounding said circuit assembly.
The method of fabricating a sensor buoy such as a sonobuoy, comprising the steps of
- installing a circuit assembly on a ballast cup or other base,
- extruding a tube of molten thermoplastic material fully around said circuit assembly and base,
- molding said tube between sections of a mold and injecting high pressure gas into the interior of said material so as to blow mold a thermoplastic shell around said circuit assembly and base.
A sensor buoy such as a sonobuoy, said buoy comprising
- a housing for being ejected from an aircraft and falling freely without the assistance of a parachute to the water surface,
- an electronic circuit assembly contained within said housing, said circuit assembly including a transmitter, and
- an antenna attached to said housing and connected to said transmitter,
- said antenna extending from said housing and with means for being deployed during the fall of said buoy,
- wherein means are provided for stowing said antenna prior to ejection by wrapping the antenna around the exterior of said housing, and
- wherein said antenna is a narrow projection, narrower in width than said housing, and provides aerodynamic stability during the fall of said buoy, by maintaining the buoy in an orientation in which the antenna extends rearwardly, in a direction opposite that of the buoy's falling motion.
The method of fabricating an electronic circuit assembly and surrounding housing, said method comprising the steps of
- installing high-temeprature-intolerant electronic components on a circuit board, said components including semiconductor components having a maximum exposure temperature,
- extruding a tube of molten thermoplastic material fully around said circuit board and components, the temperature of said molten material exceeding said maximum exposure temperature,
- molding said tube between sections of a mold and injecting high pressure gas so as to blow mold a thermoplastic shell around said circuit board,
- completing said extruding and molding steps quickly enough to prevent said semiconductor components from being heated to said maximum exposure temperature.
The method of fabricating a sensor buoy such as a sonobuoy, said method comprising the steps of
- supporting at least the circuit assembly of said buoy in a blow-molding apparatus,
- extruding a tube of molten thermoplastic material fully around said circuit assembly,
- molding said tube between sections of a mold and injecting high pressure gas so to blow mold a seamless, thermoplastic shell around said circuit assembly, and
- assembling an antenna, a terminal weight, an underwater sensor, and underwater cable of said buoy, some or all of which may be included with said circuit assembly within said blow molded housing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.