US 5,443,027 A · Lateral force device for underwater towed array

Abstract

A lateral force device for displacing a towed underwater acoustic cable piding displacement in the horizontal and vertical directions having a spool and a rotationally mounted winged fuselage. The hollow spool is mounted on a cable with cable elements passing therethrough. The winged fuselage is made with the top half relatively positively buoyant and the bottom half relatively negatively buoyant. The winged fuselage is mounted about the hollow spool with clearance to allow rotation of the fuselage. The difference in buoyancy between the upper and lower fuselage maintains the device in the correct operating position. The wings are angled to provide lift in the desired direction as the fuselage is towed through the water.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A lateral force device for controlling lateral displacement of an underwater towed cable comprising:

a hollow spool having forward and rear annular shoulders and a cylindrical body disposed along said towed cable with said towed cable extending through the hollow portion thereof;
a fuselage having a cylindrical inner surface disposed rotatably about said cylindrical body of said spool and retained horizontally on said spool by said forward and rear annular shoulders of said spool;
a wing fixed to said fuselage, said wing being oriented substantially vertically and angled with respect to the centerline of said fuselage and said spool;
a positively buoyant member disposed on the upper half of said wing/fuselage combination of said lateral force device;
and
a negatively buoyant member disposed on the lower half of said wing/fuselage combination of said lateral force device for producing a righting moment in combination with said positively buoyant member when said fuselage rotates from the preselected position.

3 more elements

A lateral force device for controlling lateral displacement of an underwater towed cable comprising:

a hollow spool having forward and rear annular shoulders and a cylindrical body disposed along said towed cable with said towed cable extending through the hollow portion thereof;
an upper fuselage half having an upper hollow half cylindrical portion and a transverse wing portion disposed on said cylindrical portion, said wing portion being angled from the centerline of said cylindrical portion;
a lower fuselage half having a lower hollow half cylindrical portion and a transverse wing portion disposed on said cylindrical portion, said wing portion being angled from the centerline of said cylindrical portion;
a joining means for attaching said upper and lower fuselage halves about said spool with said cylindrical body of said spool disposed between said cylindrical portions of said upper and lower fuselage halves;
a positively buoyant member disposed on said upper fuselage half of said lateral force device;
and
a negatively buoyant member disposed on said lower fuselage half of said lateral force device for producing a righting moment in combination with said positively buoyant member when said combined fuselage halves rotate from the preselected position.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Lateral force device for underwater towed array

Life of this patent

Lateral force device for underwater towed array

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20