USA As Represented by Secretary of the Navy

Stephen F Oliver

Stanley J Olson

Robert F Doleski

Antonio M Amaral

David A Abdow

James C Butts

Donald L Cox

An apparatus for determining the strength of composite sandwich beam in which an enclosure and insertable bladder is provided. The apparatus comprises positioning a bladder within the enclosure. The beam to be tested is slid through a cutout or aperture of the enclosure with support feet holding the beam in place within the enclosure. The enclosure supports the bladder sides with one face of the bladder pressuring the composite sandwich beam. For testing, water is pumped under pressure through a fitting into the bladder. The tolerances between the beam, enclosure and an extrusion seal do not allow the bladder to squeeze outward with the result being measurable testing pressure on the face of the composite beam.

Test apparatus to determine the shear strength of a composite sandwich beam under a high hydrostatic load

A torpedo tail mounted dispenser (TMD) for deploying an elongated, flexible article generally along a deployment axis, which includes a receptacle for storing the article in a multiple-turn, multiple-layer configuration about the deployment axis in a storage volume. There is also a torpedo connector mechanism having a terminal forward face and a lateral peripheral surface extending away from the receptacle along the deployment axis. An elastomeric cushioning feature is mounted on the lateral peripheral surface of the connector mechanism. An annular elastomeric bumper is mounted on a forward peripheral face of the cushioning feature, the annular opening of the bumper surrounding the connector mechanism to allow connection of the TMD to a torpedo. The bumper provides protection to the TMD and torpedo under certain shock and vibration levels.

Torpedo mounted dispenser incorporating a shock mount bumper

A tailcone assembly for an undersea vehicle includes a first tailcone portion having a cavity and a second tailcone portion positionable in and axially extensible from the cavity. An extensible drive shaft is provided for joining the vehicle's engine to a propeller. The extensible drive shaft includes a first drive shaft joined to the engine, and a second drive shaft rotating with the first drive shaft. The second drive shaft is supported by the second tailcone portion and is axially extensible from the first drive shaft upon deployment of the second portion. The propeller is positioned on the second drive shaft outside the second portion. A biasing means is provided between the tailcone portions for deploying the second portion.

Unmanned underwater vehicle tailcone assembly

In a submarine countermeasure vehicle and launch assembly the vehicle includes a forward end portion, an aft end portion provided with a propeller and fins, a hull portion extending between the forward and aft portions, the hull portion being circular in cross-section, and a thrust ring mounted on the fins and around the propeller, the thrust ring forming a convex configuration. The launch assembly includes a launch tube for retaining and launching the vehicle, a ram plate moveable in the launch tube to push the vehicle out an end of the launch tube, the ram plate having an engagement surface for contact with the thrust ring, the engagement surface being at least in part of a concave configuration. In a launch operation, the concave surface of the ram plate engages the convex configuration of the thrust ring.

Submarine countermeasure and launch assembly

A tailcone assembly for a submarine countermeasure includes a generally hemispherically shaped shell having a planar aft end and an annular open forward end. Fins are fixed to the shell equidistantly around the shell externally thereof, each of the fins having a planar outboard surface extending aft and inboard of the shell. Connector structure is on the forward end of the shell for connecting to an aft end of the countermeasure. A first aperture is disposed in a side of the shell and a cable extends from inside the shell therethrough. A second aperture extends through one of the fins and the cable extends therethrough. An opening is disposed centrally of the shell aft end, extends therethrough, and is adapted to retain a shaft assembly therein.

Tailcone assembly for a submarine countermeasure

A torpedo mounted dispenser for a coil of flex hose and control wire includes a rigid shell round in widthwise cross section, and a circular shock mount disposed centrally of the shell, the shell and the shock mount defining an annular chamber therebetween. Hooks are mounted on an exterior wall of the shell. Slots are defined by the shell, each slot being proximate one of the hooks. A retainer ring is disposed in the chamber. Retainer loops each extend at least partly around the retainer ring, through one of the slots, and is attached to one of the hooks. The coil of flex hose and control wire is disposed in the chamber and is movable lengthwise through the retainer ring while uncoiling and paying out from the dispenser.

Torpedo mounted dispenser for a coil of flex hose and control wire

A joint band assembly secures payload and drive sections of a torpedo together and subsequently separates them while the torpedo is making a run. A pair of essentially semicircular bands is arranged in a ring shape have radially inwardly extending lip portions that compressively engage circumferential rims radially outwardly extending from a separation section having first and second parts connected to the payload and drive sections. Adjacent ends of the semicircular bands are coupled together by electro-explosive devices (EEDs) that each has a tubular body portion containing an explosive charge adjacent an annular segment of the tubular body portion. The annular segment has reduced thickness as compared to thickness of the tubular body portion to assure its rupture and separation of the body portion and the interconnected bands. The serial arrangement of bands and EEDs assures separation in the event that one of the electro-explosive devices should fail to detonate, and safety wire and a bonding agent hold separated parts together after detonation to prevent scattering of fragments and possible damage to the payload or drive sections.

Torpedo joint band with in-water separation capability utilizing frangible link EEDs

Three extender assemblies are mounted on the torpedo-mounted dispenser (TMD) of a torpedo to provide shock hardening of the TMD. In a first embodiment, the extender assemblies consist of short sections of metal tubes mounted on inner plate portions. The inner plate portions are bent to conform to the TMD radius and attach to the TMD such that the metal tubes are aligned longitudinally on the TMD. Outer plates are attached to the tubes and are in contact with the dolly used to support the torpedo and TMD. When the dolly the TMD is subjected to a shock load, the tubes deform to take up shock loads applied to the TMD through the dolly. To attach the assemblies to the TMD, slots on each inner plate are positioned over hooks on the outside surface of the TMD. The hooks are part of the TMD assembly and serve to secure o-ring or spring retainers for the cable within the TMD. An eye bolt fits over the hook and is bolted to a bent tab on the inner plate. To facilitate loading of the TMD into or out of the dolly, the ends of the tubes and plates are chamfered. In a second embodiment, the tubes are aligned circumferentially about the TMD.

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Portsmouth, RI, United States of America

Stephen F Oliver