USA As Represented by Secretary of the Navy

David A Abdow

Robert C Thibodeau

Stephen F Oliver

James C Butts

Scott E Hassan

Frank M Hrycin

George M Kotas

Donald L Cox

John D Babb

A torpedo tail mounted dispenser (TMD) for deploying an elongated, flexible article generally along a deployment axis, which includes a receptacle for storing the article in a multiple-turn, multiple-layer configuration about the deployment axis in a storage volume. There is also a torpedo connector mechanism having a terminal forward face and a lateral peripheral surface extending away from the receptacle along the deployment axis. An elastomeric cushioning feature is mounted on the lateral peripheral surface of the connector mechanism. An annular elastomeric bumper is mounted on a forward peripheral face of the cushioning feature, the annular opening of the bumper surrounding the connector mechanism to allow connection of the TMD to a torpedo. The bumper provides protection to the TMD and torpedo under certain shock and vibration levels.

Torpedo mounted dispenser incorporating a shock mount bumper

The present invention is a dispenser mounted on the aft section of a torpedo for deploying an elongated, flexible article along a deployment axis. There is a molded elastomeric encasement over the exterior perimeter of the outer weldment of the dispenser for providing shock, impact, and force protection to the dispenser. A metal stiffener plate is secured to the top portion of the encasement for distributing localized compressive loads on weak sections of the dispenser. The encasement together with the stiffener plate enlarges the dispenser to approximately the same outer diameter as the torpedo to which it is attached. The encasement incorporates a fore and aft groove at a lower position with small notches for positioning and anchoring a torpedo power cable. The encasement further incorporates a pivoting retention door assembly for restraining the torpedo power cable within the groove in the encasement.

Torpedo mounted dispenser

A hydrostatic sealing sleeve hydrostatically seals a spliced wire connect in high pressure underwater conditions. The sealing sleeve is fashioned from an elastomeric compound, such as neoprene, and is fitted over one end of an insulated wire that is to be spliced onto a butt wire splice. The other insulated wire is spliced together with the first wire and the sealing sleeve is then slid over the butt wire splice where it rests in a centrally located cavity inside the sleeve. The outer ends of the sealing sleeve include sealing baffles which compress onto the outer peripheral surfaces of the insulated wires, creating a high pressure water tight seal.

Hydrostatic sealing sleeve method for utilizing wire connections

An apparatus for measuring the loads, moments and torque at a constrained d of a cable created by the action of the cable in a fluid medium in which the cable is suspended. The cable is suspended in the medium by means of a strut. The apparatus connects the cable to the strut. The apparatus includes two flexure members, one rigidly connected to the strut, the other to the cable. A universal joint couples the two flexure members so that the flexure member connected to the strut can be fitted with strain gages to measure bending while the other flexure member has strain gages to measure axial force and torque. The universal joint enables the isolation of axial and torsional strains at the flexure member connected to the cable. The torsional loads are absorbed by the joint and the axial loads are transferred to bending loads at the flexure member attached to the strut. In operation, an object for which cable load vectors are being studied may be attached to the free end of the cable. The cable and object may then be towed through a fluid such as water by movement of the strut. Cable load vectors resulting from the action of the cable and the object in the fluid are then quantified by the apparatus.

Cable load transducer

Hydrostatic sealing sleeve for spliced wire connections

A dispenser for storing an elongated flexible article in a coil coaxially out a deployment axis. The dispenser includes a receptacle with a storage volume about the deployment axis. A partitioning structure in the storage volume includes circumferentially spaced sets of axially extending, deflectable fingers that define portions of storage channels for each turn in a coil. Flexible restraining bands attached to the receptacle overlie the storage volume to retain the turns axially within the storage channels. The structure prevents random turn positioning of individual turns of the coil. Deployment from the dispenser occurs without tangles, kinks or knots and proceeds smoothly and quietly.

Growing community of inventors

Somerset, MA, United States of America

David A Abdow