USA As Represented by Secretary of the Navy

Jimmy L Held

Gerald R Mackelburg

Robert L Wernli

Ronald S Reich

Charles E Tallerino

Steven J Cowen

Kenneth D Collins

James M Walton

Arthur E Munson

Donald M Rosencrantz

Aaron R Braun

James R Hartley

Gary D Murphy

A submarine launched expendable radio navigation system (SSXRN) buoy method and apparatus. According to one embodiment, a method for determining a submarine geographic position using a SSXRN buoy system is disclosed. The method comprising launching a radio navigation-enabled buoy and recording a launch time and DRNS submarine position. The method further comprises recording a buoy breach time and searching for radio navigation RF signals. Then, recording a radio navigation position acquisition time and an initial radio navigation position. Further, recording a subsequent radio navigation position data and a subsequent time. Moreover, determining a DRNS correction factor using a DRNS position error, a buoy drift, radio navigation position data and DRNS position data. In addition, estimating the submarine geographic position using the DRNS correction factor and a DRNS geographic position. In another embodiment, a SSXRN buoy system is disclosed.

Submarine launched expendable radio navigation buoy system

A girth hitch is secured about an object by a girth hitching mechanism hag a rotatable actuator gate which displaces a latch gate that has a parrot hook that loosely supports a portion of a closed girth loop. A latch ring joined to the girth loop by a latch ring bite is engaged by the parrot hook when the latch gate and actuator gate are rotatably displaced as the object enters the throat of a fork which supports the latch gate, actuator gate and latch ring. After the parrot hook engages the latch ring and the latch gate is rotated in the opposite direction by the object to disengage the latch ring, the girth loop is pulled from its loose support on the parrot hook into a girth hitch configuration about the object to enable its recovery via an attached lift line.

Girth hitching mechanism

A mechanical release of an object occurs after a release device is subjec to a first pressure and then is brought to a second pressure which is less than the first. The first pressure enables or arms the device so that its actuation or release takes place when the second, specific release pressure is reached. The setting and releasing pressures are substantially less than extremely high pressures which the device is capable of withstanding. A pair of opposed biasing springs and a diaphragm with a specifically contoured solid stop prevent deformation and any sliding of sealing surfaces to avoid failure.

Pressure armed release device

A hydroacoustic transducer provides an improved hemispherical radiation pern throughout a wide range of operating depths. A can-shaped transducer is nestled in the inside of a hat-shaped array of hollow spheres. Resiliently mounting the spheres with respect to each other and a hat-shaped shell holds the array away from the surface of the transducer and layering the hollow spheres assures the hemispherical pattern. Fashioning the spheres from hemispherical shells of aluminum and bonding them together makes the array insensitive to greater or lesser hydrostatic pressures and potting the array in polyurethane presents a more rugged structure capable of withstanding the routine abuses of the ocean environment.

Deep ocean wide band acoustic baffle

In improved cable cutter for undersea use is presented which has a self-cained, pressure compensated hydraulic system which allows it to operate in the deep ocean. The cable cutter is designed to operate from and mate with manipulators of Navy deep submergence vehicles. The concept of this cable cutter is a closed hydraulic system which provides driving force on a piston pushing a cutting blade against an anvil. The hydraulic power is provided by an internal gear pump. The gear pump has a drive shaft which mates with the rotary output of a deep submergence vehicle manipulator. The hydraulic fluid reservoir also serves as a pressure compensator for working in the deep ocean. The hydraulic fluid system comprises a main cylinder which contains the drive piston and a secondary cylinder which consists of a flexible tube that allows fluid pressure equalization with the environment as well as volume compensation. Both cylinders are mounted between manifold components. One manifold component is rigidly connected to the cutter end of the drive piston cylinder, and the other manifold component rigidly connected to the other end of the drive piston cylinder is in contact with an assembly containing the internal gear pump.

Deep submergence vehicle (DSV) lightweight cable cutter

A lift line tension limiter is provided which includes a lift line and a tainer which is adapted to contain the lift line. The container has a lift end and a payload end, the payload end having an aperture for the passage of the lift line therethrough. A device is spring mounted to the container for pinching the lift line at the container aperture, and after the container aperture the lift line is in frictional engagement with the pinching device so that a force on the lift line will decrease the pinching action on the lift line. With this arrangement a predetermined loading of the lift line will spring bias the pinching device to relieve the pinching force and allow a portion of the lift line to be payed out of the container until the loading has been lessened below the predetermined amount.

Growing community of inventors

San Diego, CA, United States of America

Jimmy L Held