Westinghouse Electric Corporation

Paul R Jakubowski

Myron S Wheeler

Glenn R Beach

Ronald L Boies

A relatively small diameter tow cable including a plurality of high and low voltage electrical conductors and a high bandwidth optical fiber for both electrical and data transmission between an aircraft and a towed body. The tow cable is implemented by a coaxial arrangement of a central optical fiber encased by a stainless steel jacket surrounded by a first set of high voltage conductors. A second set of high voltage conductors concentrically surrounds the first set of conductors but is separated therefrom by a layer of high voltage insulation. A layer of high voltage insulation surrounds the second set of high voltage conductors and a set of relatively low voltage conductors and their respective return conductors are circumferentially spaced around this layer of insulation along with opposing sets of insulating spacers. A third layer of insulating material surrounds the low voltage conductors and the spacers. Outwardly of the third layer of insulating material are a pair of coaxial strength members comprised of synthetic aramid fibers and which are then covered with a polyester and metallic braid. An outermost jacket of semiconductive material is also provided which serves as an electrostatic drain to ground for the cable.

High voltage tow cable with optical fiber

An improved tether having a central strength member comprised of layers of synthetic fibers surrounded by a thin weatherproof plastic barrier. A current carrying metallic braid surrounds the weatherproof barrier and in a portion of the tether is of a higher strength and denser weave copper than in other areas. An outer protective jacket surrounds the metallic braid and one or more windows are formed by removing a short longitudinal section of the outer jacket above an area of the tether which has the high density metallic braid. The weatherproof barrier, at least in the area where windows are formed, is heat sealed to form a seamless barrier. A relatively soft copper wire is wound around the metallic braid in the window area so as to transfer lightning induced currents in the metallic braid of the tether to a grounding system. The tether may be used in conjunction with an aerostat with the mooring system for the aerostat including a flying sheave which contacts one or more of the windows formed in the tether to complete the discharge path to a ground rod electrically connected to the mooring system.

Lightning hardened tether cable and an aerostat tethered to a mooring

A unidirectional clamping mechanism for clamping a visibility enhancement device such as a strobe light to an aerostat tether subject to deployment and in-haul operation. The clamping mechanism includes diametrically opposed rollers each having a single tooth ratchet and pawl arrangement which allows unlimited rotation in one direction and limited or no rotation in an opposite direction such that when deployed, the strobe lights will not move down the tether but during an in-haul operation the mechanisms may be stacked one on top of the other while the tether is rapidly pulled through them.

Growing community of inventors

Lutherville, MD, United States of America

Paul R Jakubowski