Method and apparatus for launch and retrieval of a line array attached to a towbody
AssigneeLockheed Martin Corporation
InventorThomas M. Canavan
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system and method of operating a sonar system is provided. The sonar system comprises a towed body, such as a depressor body, with a towed line array attached thereto configured to be towed behind a host vessel. A line feed mechanism is operative to recover and/or deploy the towed line array from the vessel while the towed line array remains attached to the towed body.
Claims17
A system comprising:
- a towed sonar body configured to be deployed aft of a host vessel;
- a deployment and recovery mechanism for deploying and recovering the towed sonar body from and to, respectively, the host vessel;
- a towed line array attached to a portion of the towed sonar body, the towed line array configured to remain attached to the towed sonar body during recovery and deployment;
- and
- a line feed mechanism comprising:
- a guide configured to receive a portion of the towed sonar body when the towed sonar body is in a recovered position on the vessel;
- and
- a driven roller arranged externally from the towed sonar body and configured to engage with the towed line array when the towed sonar body is received by the guide and in the recovered position on the vessel, the driven roller operative to a) move the towed line array relative to the towed sonar body along a first direction to recover the towed line array into a recovered position on the vessel, such that a majority of the towed line array is disposed on the vessel and remote from the towed sonar body;
- and b) move the towed line array relative to the towed sonar body along a second direction to deploy the towed line array from the recovered position on the vessel.
An apparatus adapted to be mounted on a vessel for at least one of deploying and recovering a towed line array (TLA) attached to a towed body, the apparatus comprising:
- a line feed system comprising a driven roller arranged externally from the towed body and configured to engage with the towed line array when the towed body is in a recovered position on the vessel, the driven roller operative to a) move the towed line array relative to the towed body along a first direction to recover the towed line array into a recovered position on the vessel, such that a majority of the towed line array is disposed on the vessel and remote from the towed body;
- and b) move the towed line array relative to the towed body along a second direction to deploy the towed line array from the recovered position on the vessel,
- wherein the TLA remains attached to the towed body during recovery and deployment.
A method for at least one of deploying and recovering a towed line array (TLA) attached to a towed body from a vessel, the method comprising the steps of:
- holding the towed body in a recovered position on the vessel;
- activating a driven roller of a line feed system arranged externally from the towed body and engaged with the TLA for a) moving the TLA relative to the towed body along a first direction to recover the TLA into a recovered position on the vessel, such that a majority of TLA is disposed on the vessel and remote from the towed body;
- and b) moving the TLA relative to the towed body along a second direction to deploy the TLA from the recovered position on the vessel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.