The Bendix Corporation

Gregory W Harsha

James Appling

Robert E Schaeffer

Minoru Takaki

A structure for connecting together separate elongated small diameter sonar arrays and nonacoustic modules includes a pair of cylindrical housings which telescope together with a keyway to prevent radial movement and each of which includes means for anchoring a plurality of strength members in the form of ropes of aramid fiber. The outside one of the two telescoping housings includes external threads and an external groove for retaining a seal. The inside cylindrical housing includes two external seals, one of which is in contact with the other housing, and an external groove and shoulder. A sleeve member surrounds the telescoping housing members and includes an internal surface in contact with the other two seals, internal threads engaged with the external threads, and a shallow internal groove carrying a radially expanding retaining ring which, in operation, wedges into the shoulder and against the sleeve to transfer the load from housing to housing. A series of radial passages permits entry of a tool or tools to compress the retaining ring into the external groove on the inside cylindrical housing to permit separation of the cylindrical housing from the sleeve. Multipin electrical connector members are keyed and sealed into each of the cylindrical housings with wiring from the sonar arrays separated into individual conductors and connected to the proper connecting pins with the wires, connections and the pins encapsulated in potting compound.

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Sylmar, CA, United States of America

Gregory W Harsha