Guide tube bend fluid bearing
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
InventorVictor J. Marolda
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Disclosed is an apparatus for deploying and retrieving a towed array from a ehicle. This apparatus includes a cable storage device positioned inside the vehicle hull. A winch is positioned adjacent this cable storage device for paying out the array and retrieving the array from and to the cable storage device. The array extends in a first length from the cable storage device to the winch to a hull exit point. A fluid bearing is positioned between the first and second length of the array. This fluid bearing comprises an internal arcuate cable conveying passageway and a fluid inlet for introducing a fluid to said internal cable conveying passageway so as to reduce stress and friction on the array.
Claims9
An apparatus for deploying and retrieving an array from a vessel with a cable exit means comprising:
- a cable storage means positioned inside the vessel;
- a winch means positioned adjacent said cable storage means for paying out and retrieving a cable of the array to said cable storage means;
- a guide tube having a first length and a second length, said first length extending from said cable storage means to said winch means in a first direction, said second guide tube length extending from said winch means to said cable exit means in an angularly different second direction;
- and
- a fluid bearing positioned between the first length of the guide tube and the second length of the guide tube at said winch means, said fluid bearing comprising a housing having an internal arcuate cable conveying passageway and means for introducing a fluid to said cable conveying passageway.
A fluid bearing comprising:
- opposed side walls;
- a cable supporting arcuate base having a plurality of orifices therein positioned between said side walls;
- a fluid supply tube having an inlet end and an outlet end;
- a scoop joined to said fluid supply tube inlet end for funneling fluid into the fluid supply tube;
- an internal fluid containing chamber having a fluid inlet formed therein and connected to said fluid supply tube outlet end;
- and
- fluid conveying means positioned between said fluid containing chamber and said orifices in the cable supporting arcuate base.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.