Cable drive system including apparatus for controlling normal force applied to cable

A cable drive system comprising:

• an inflatable member;
• means for guiding the cable so that a portion of the cable is maintained substantially in contact with said inflatable member and so that the portion of the cable is wound helically about said inflatable member, said inflatable member and said guiding means applying a normal force to the portion of the cable which is substantially in contact with said inflatable member;
• and
• means for inflating and deflating said inflatable member while the cable is being driven, so as to controllably vary the normal force applied to the cable during operation of said cable drive system.

A cable drive system for a a towed array having a cable with first and second portions coupled by a coupling, comprising:

• an inflatable member;
• guide means for guiding the able so that a portion of the cable is maintained substantially in contact with said inflatable member and so that portion of the cable is wound helically about said inflatable member, said inflatable member and said guide means applying a normal force to the portion of the cable which is substantially in contact with said inflatable member;
• and
• means for inflating and deflating said inflatable member so as to controllably vary the normal force applied to the cable while the cable is being driven, so that the normal force applied to the second portion of the cable when the second portion of the cable is in contact with said inflatable member is controlled to be different from the normal force applied to the first portion of the cable when the first portion of the cable is in contact with said inflatable member.

A cable drive system comprising:

• variable diameter support means for supporting a cable to be driven;
• guide means for guiding the cable so that it is maintained substantially in contact with said variable diameter support means, said variable diameter support means and said guide means applying a normal force to the cable;
• and
• means for varying the diameter of said variable diameter support means so as to controllably vary the normal force applied to the cable, said variable diameter support means including:
• a rotatable wheel;
• and
• an inflatable member supported on said rotatable wheel, said guide means including a plurality of sets of rollers positioned about the periphery of said inflatable member, each of said sets of rollers including:
• a shaft;
• and
• a plurality of grooves rollers mounted on the shaft so as to hold the cable between the groove of the grooves rollers and said inflatable member, and to guide the cable so that it is wound helically about said inflatable member.