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US 5,353,263 AGranted
Soft sonar suspension system
OwnerUlrich Pakker, Dennis Ferageninventors
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OwnerUlrich Pakker, Dennis Ferageninventors
Estimating the term…
An underwater transducer assembly (T or P) is mounted on an elongated cylindrical piston (32 or 90) received in a pneumatic cylinder (31 or 91). One or more springs (41 or 92) normally bias the piston (32 or 90) inward into the cylinder (31 or 91) to retract the transducer assembly (T or P) into a sea chest (S'). Air under pressure introduced into the cylinder (31 or 91) is effective to overcome the force of the springs (31 or 91) and project the transducer assembly (T or P) to a position operative for scanning. Force applied to the transducer assembly (T or P) tends to move the piston (32 or 90) inward into the cylinder and thereby increase the pressure of the system. The transducer assembly (T or P) is retracted automatically if the pressure exceeds a predetermined pressure. A separate mechanical sensor is mounted adjacent to the sea chest S' to detect the presence of obstacles or debris and automatically actuate retraction of the transducer assembly (T or P).
In an in-the-hull mount for an underwater transducer assembly including a sea chest and means for moving the assembly between a protected position retracted into the sea chest and an operative position projected from the sea chest, the improvement comprising the moving means including retraction means for normally biasing the transducer assembly to its protected position, a source of fluid under pressure, and projection means operable by fluid from said source to act against and overcome the force of the retraction means so as to move the assembly to its operative position.
In an in-the-hull mount for an underwater transducer assembly including a sea chest and means for moving the assembly between a protected position retracted into the sea chest and an operative position projecting from the sea chest, the improvement comprising the moving means including a pneumatic cylinder, a piston received in said cylinder and carrying the transducer assembly, and means for automatically retracting the transducer assembly when pressure in the pneumatic cylinder exceeds a predetermined pressure, the retracting means including spring means normally biasing the transducer assembly to its protected position.
In an in-the-hull mount for an underwater transducer assembly including a sea chest and means for moving the assembly between a protected position retracted into the sea chest and an operative position projecting from the sea chest, the improvement comprising an obstacle sensor for detecting the presence of debris adjacent to the sea chest, and control means actuated by said sensor to retract the transducer assembly automatically to its protected position when debris is sensed by said obstacle sensor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.