Hazeltine Corporation

Ultra Electronics Ocean Systems, Inc.

Craig V Bruengger

Thomas J Dunn

Thomas P Bourgault

Todd E Southard

Richard R Meyer

Apparatus for puncturing a gas filled bottle uses a spring force upon an inflator tack, which punctures the gas filled bottle, rather than a manual or explosive force. The spring force is retained prior to puncturing the bottle by a retention element disposed in a hole. The retention element is released upon actuation of the apparatus.

Apparatus for puncturing a gas filled bottle

A winged body has a wing structure with at least two wings coupled to a body structure, each wing having a wing tip. The wings wrap around the body structure when in a stowed configuration within a launch tube, and the wings spring outward from the body structure to a deployed configuration when the winged body is removed from the launch tube. The wings can take deformed-deployed configurations when the winged body is towed at a relatively high speed through the water.

Winged body having a stowed configuration and a deployed configuration

A volumetric/planar array structure for detection of low frequency active pulses in shallow water. The structure is such that the array can be repeatedly deployed and retrieved. The invention utilizes folding array arms that are deployed at a pre-selected depth using only gravity once the release mechanism for deployment has been initiated. Rigid vertical support rods attach to all array levels preventing rotation down below the desired horizontal position during operation. Retraction of array arms for array structure retrieval is initiated by activating an electronic underwater release mechanism which then allows compliant rubber members to pull array arms in place. Once the array arms are in place, they are protected by a skid/crash cage fixture and the array structure is then ready for retrieval.

Retrievable volumetric/planar acoustic array apparatus

A sonobuoy system and method for deploying an array of transducers in a substantially horizontal line at a desired depth below the surface of a body of water. The trailing end of the array is deployed first, allowed to descend, and suspended at the desired operating depth. The leading end of the array is then released, allowed to descend slowly, and suspended at the desired operating depth. A drag device attached to the trailing end of the array causes the trailing end of the array to be stretched out away from the leading end, thereby maintaining the array in a substantially horizontal line at the desired depth. The system and method make it possible to deploy horizontal line arrays in a minimum of time and at shallow depths.

System for deploying horizontal line array

An apparatus for use in a fluid medium which activates at a deeper depth and then releases at a lesser depth. A rod depresses a spring in a housing. The rod is prevented from being ejected from the housing by a ball bearing which engages between openings in the rod and the housing. When in use, the pressure exerted by the fluid medium forces the rod deeper into the housing. When the first depth is reached the ball bearing disengages from the rod and the device is activated. As the activated apparatus rises, the pressure on the rod decreases and the rod moves out of the housing. When the deployment depth is attained the housing floods and the rod is ejected.

Growing community of inventors

Norwell, MA, United States of America

Craig V Bruengger