USA As Represented by Secretary of the Navy

Eric H Kirchoff

Michael J Kroger

Paul V Cavallaro

Joseph M Muhitch

Kurt M Czepizak

Andrew W Hulton

Ryan F Galego

An assembly with a first coupling having a forward bulkhead device is provided. The forward bulkhead device contains a first connector insert having first end connections for wires and optical fibers of an acoustic array. The assembly also includes a second coupling having an aft bulkhead device therein. The aft bulkhead device contains a second connector insert having second end connections for the wires and optical fibers of the acoustic array. The forward bulkhead device further includes an alignment assembly. The alignment assembly is matable with the aft bulkhead device to align the first connector insert with the second connector insert. The forward bulkhead device further includes a locking ring connecting the forward bulkhead device with the aft bulkhead device.

Hydrophone module

Thin line towed array bootable bulkhead

A launch and recovery system for a towed body is provided in which uninflated air beams extrude from winches where the beams enter a deployment frame and are inflated. Sealing rollers near the winches seal the air beams when the desired length of the air beams is inflated. To deploy the towed body, a positioning cart moves along the inflated air beams from an end of a deployment frame. A translating arch moves from the forward to the aft end of the positioning cart on the rails to where the tow body is released from the capture boom and swing support. The positioning cart can retract back into the deployment frame when not in use.

Variable length inflatable ramp launch and recovery system

Growing community of inventors

Newport, RI, United States of America

Eric H Kirchoff