Hughes Aircraft Company

Litton Systems, Inc.

Northrop Grumman Guidance and Electronics Company, Inc.

Robert L Kaplan

Eric Lee Goldner

Dennis P Bevan

Gary Thomas Griffin

George A McGowan

William David Briggs

Dennis Patrick Bevan

A sensor array cable and method of construction thereof utilizing a sensor/interlink assembly to facilitate the relatively easy and inexpensive installation of a sensor device in a cable that includes a strength member to provide tensile strength to the cable, optical fibers or wires for carrying electrical or optical energy to and from the sensor device, and a protective outer jacket. A portion of the protective outer jacket is removed allowing access to the inner strength member and optical fibers. A segment of the strength member is removed and an interlink/sensor assembly is installed in its place. The interlink serves to maintain the tensile strength of the cable. Optical fibers and/or electrical wires are connected to the sensor device for operation. The interlink/sensor assembly and associated optical fibers and electrical wires are then enclosed in an overmold which is sealed to the outer protective jacket.

Sensor array cable and fabrication method

Ribbon made of long fibers has each of its ends separated into four bundles. The four bundles of each end carry the same four discrete indicia arranged in a different pattern. The bundles are inter-engaged so that the bundles of the same indicia lie together throughout the entire length of the splice. A splicing apparatus including clamps and guide loops holds the first set of bundles in place while the second set of bundles is inter-engaged therewith. Clamps are also provided to hold the ribbon ends in place.

Ribbon splicing method and apparatus

Ribbon termination member has thread therein for connection to a coupling between sections of the towed array. First and second pins have cylindrically curved front surfaces upon which legs of the flexible ribbon tension member are engaged. The curved surfaces permit transfer of tension loads between the flexible tension ribbon and the pins. The second pin has an extended bearing surface 92 for preventing damage to the ribbon when loads are out-of-line.

Ribbon termination member

Growing community of inventors

San Diego, CA, United States of America

Robert L Kaplan