USA As Represented by Secretary of the Navy

Other

Anthony A Ruffa

Thomas R Stottlemyer

Norman Toplosky

John F Griffin

Brian K Amaral

Peter E Seaman

Robert Kuklinski

Fletcher A Blackmon

Sameer I Madanshetty

Frederick J Frodyma

Charles M Traweek

Richard A Erwin

A remote tension measurement system and method of use is provided for detection and estimation of tension in two-dimensional and three-dimensional inflatable structures. Given a spacing distance and a known mass of the membrane-formed structure, measurement points are determined to define a measurement region of the structure. A non-invasive sensor monitors the measurement points to detect a transverse wave moving along the measurement region at an angle to a straight path between measurement points. Propagation speed for the transverse wave is calculated and tension for the measurement region is deduced from the calculation. The solution exploits either proactively introduced, pre-existing, induced by normal environmental conditions) and/or multiple transverse vibrations in the membrane-formed structure. Propagation speed is calculated deterministically based on an analysis of the arrays of measurement points.

Remote tension measurement system

A non-invasive tension measuring system is provided with at least one pair of sensors positioned longitudinally and at a predetermined distance from each other along a linear system. At least one operationally connected processor executes instructions to detect, using the sensors, a transverse wave propagating along the linear system in order to determine a time delay of the transverse wave, to determine a propagation speed of the transverse wave based on the time delay, and to determine a tension of the unit length of the linear system based at least in part on the propagation speed and a mass per the unit length of the linear system.

Non-invasive tension measuring system

A twistless cable deployment apparatus is provided for deploying cable. The apparatus includes a level winder that can be joined to a winch. The level winder is in a fixed position relative to the cable winch. The level winder has a non-rotating fixed spool that stores the cable by wrapping the cable around the spool. A rotating base is disposed coaxially with the fixed spool and rotates around the axis of the fixed spool. A post is mounted on the rotating base, and a traveler is slidably mounted on the post. A traveling guide eye is joined to the traveler. By rotation of the rotating base, cable is deployed from the fixed spool. A primary guide eye can guide the cable to the winch.

Twistless cable deployment device

A system and method for monitoring structural health of a beam using at least one pair of data collection devices mounted along the beam at a spacing distance to define a measurement region. A computer-implemented drive system in communication with the accelerator pairs executes instructions to monitor each measurement regions for propagating transverse waves. After initialization of a propagation speed threshold for each measurement region, a continuous and real-time monitoring loop operates the accelerometers to detect propagations of a transverse wave along the measurement region. For each propagation event, a time delay is determined and, in turn, a propagation speed for the transverse wave based on the time delay and known spacing distance of the measurement region. If the propagation speed violates the threshold set for the measurement region, an alert condition for beam damage is reported and if the propagation speed satisfies the threshold, a success condition is reported.

Structural monitoring system

A distributed temperature system with at least one optical fiber is provided. Each optical fiber runs horizontally and vertically within at least one compartment of a ship. Each optical fiber connects to a distributed temperature system unit or is multiplexed to a single temperature system unit. The system employs Optical Time Domain Reflectometry to support measurements of optical pulses in processing bins defined along the fiber. The spatial fidelity of the measurement capability is sufficient to localize a fire detection in individual shipboard compartments. The system can diagnosis conflagration events that produce fire and also flooding in the compartment.

Fire detection and conflagration event monitoring and diagnosis system

An energy harvesting system is positionable at an ocean surface to harvest energy from a hydrothermal vent surrounded by cooler ocean water. The system includes an energy storage device positionable proximate to the ocean surface. A cable capable of conducting electrical energy is joined to the energy storage device. An energy harvesting structure is joined to provide electrical energy to the cable. The energy harvesting structure can be positioned proximate to the hydrothermal vent to harvest energy therefrom.

Hydrothermal vent energy harvesting, storage, and power distribution system

A non-rotary joint for connecting a static component to a rotatable component includes an adapter on a rotatable part. A motor is joined to rotate the rotatable part. A connector is joined to the static component. The connector can be moved by an actuator from a first position joined with the adapter to a second position positioned away from the adapter. A controller is joined to control the motor and the actuator. The controller signals the actuator to move to the second position when the motor is activated and signals the actuator to move to the first position when said motor is deactivated. In a practical embodiment, the non-rotary joint makes a connection between a static signal carrier and a cable on a winch drum.

Non-rotary joint

A lift based acoustic source is towable in an undersea environment by a towing vessel. A controller provides a combined lift control signal and an acoustic source signal. A control cable is joined between the towing vessel and a towed depressor having an active lift control system. The combined signal is used to control the towed depressor active lift control system. The towed depressor lift fluctuates in response to the source signal to generate the undersea acoustic signal. A hydrophone or hydrophone array can be provided for measuring the generated acoustic signal for feedback and monitoring.

Lift-based acoustic source

A system is provided to compensate for heave of a vessel in which the compensation system has a first panel with a first magnetic field having magnetic flux disposed in a first direction and a second panel parallel to the first panel. The second panel has a second magnetic field having magnetic flux disposed in a second direction with the first magnetic field parallel to the second magnetic field. A conducting loop is located between the first panel and the second panel. The conducting loop is attachable to a cable connected to a load suspended in water. Compensating force generated by the first magnetic field and the second magnetic field transfers to the cable to compensate for heaving motion of the vessel and stabilize the cable-connected load in the water.

Magnetic motion compensation system

An acoustic source positionable on a platform in an operating environment includes a pendulum arm and a transducer positioned on the pendulum arm. The combined arm and transducer have a natural frequency of oscillation dictated by gravity and a pendulum length. A signal generator is electrically joined to the transducer. The signal generator has a preferred frequency of operation at the natural frequency of the pendulum.

Compact low-frequency acoustic source

An energy harvesting pendulum device is provided to oscillate in a semi-circular path on an inclined plane with a low friction surface in response to wave motion of an ocean surface. An electrical production source is mounted to an underside of the plane to convert kinetic energy of a pendulum bob of the pendulum device into electrical energy. The pendulum device can be enclosed by an enclosure floating on the ocean surface with the pendulum moving bob on the inclined plane within the enclosure. The length of the pendulum and the angle of the inclined plane are determined so that the pendulum operates in a resonant state at the ocean motion frequency. The pendulum bob can include rollers for minimal friction when contacting the inclined plane.

Resonant wave energy harvesting device

A method for isolating vibrations from a source on a structure includes modeling the structure as a beam having a portion for isolation. A sensor is positioned proximate to the source, and at least one actuator is positioned on the structure between the source and the portion for isolation. A controller receives signals from the sensor and calculates vibrational inputs for each actuator that will isolate the structure portion. Driving signals are provided to each actuator by the controller in response to the calculated vibrational inputs, and each actuator is vibrated accordingly, isolating the structure portion from the source. This method can be implemented in multiple configurations to isolate the structure portion.

Method for spatially confining vibrational energy

A safety system and method of use is provided for a tow cable handling system. In use, the cable is from a winch and onto a sheave where a cable tension surge is transmitted to a meter and onto a software element. The software of a controller determines torque needed from a motor to increase winch speed to unreel cable to relieve the surge but not too much that the cable will unreel off the winch. Once the surge concludes, the motor reverses and decreases speed of the winch. If the tension surge is transient, then the motor can increase the winch speed and then slow down the winch before the cable completely unreels. The sheave is suspended by a spring and a dashpot for an over-damped response to increase the time for the winch to speed up to an acceptable speed.

Safety system for a towed source

An acoustic projector is provided with an enclosure having a semi-permeable membrane on one side. High salinity liquid is injected at the enclosure to increase osmotic pressure. Valves thereafter allow free flooding between the enclosure and surrounding seawater to equalize the pressure. Transient pressure in the enclosure generates a pressure pulse that propagates from the semi-permeable membrane. The timing of the injection by salt jets and the free-flooding valves enables a repeatable acoustic pulse at low frequencies and a determinable upper frequency. If the acoustic projector is mounted to be conformal to the hull of a ship; the acoustic projector includes a free-flowing region on one side of a semi-permeable membrane and valves. When the valves are opened; the other side of the membrane is free-flooded. Salt jets inject high salinity liquid into an enclosure to increase pressure with the result of an acoustic pressure pulse.

Osmotic acoustic source

A method is provided for transmitting a plurality of narrowband signals in estimating a Doppler shift of a target object. The method includes simultaneously transmitting at least two narrowband signals from a source and receiving incident signals at a receiver. Multiple narrowband signals can be sent simultaneously and in combination with broadband signals from a source. The incident signals are filtered and processed to determine range and Doppler shift of the target.

Growing community of inventors

Hope Valley, RI, United States of America

Anthony A Ruffa