USA As Represented by Secretary of the Navy

Stephan J Diodato

Michael R Williams

A rotary joint between a towed array and its towing vessel is provided having a drive plate, shaft and rotor attached to the towed array payout and take-in stowage drum and rotating with the drum. A thrust washer and bearing provide a rotating mechanical connection between these rotating components and the stationary housing and connector portions of the joint. The housing is fixed within the vessel and has an internal stator surrounding, and in electrical communication with the rotor. Electrical feeds from the towed array are connected to contact rings within the rotor, and the stator includes spring loaded pins in radial electrical contact with the rings as the rings rotate with the rotor. Electrical leads from the pins pass through the housing to the connector which is connected to the vessel's signal processing systems. In addition, the housing contains a pressure compensator within a passageway between the interior and exterior of the joint. The compensator has a piston sealed in the passageway and springs are provided to either side of the piston, such that the opposed expansion and contraction of the springs maintain a pressure differential over the piston.

Growing community of inventors

West Kingston, RI, United States of America

Stephan J Diodato