Connector for elongated underwater towed array

Abstract

An underwater connector for electrically and mechanically connecting elongated sections of a towed sonar array and the like includes male and female connector sections terminating array sections, each connector section including a lightweight bulkhead member sealed thereto, one of said bulkhead members including a pair of miniature check valves which are oppositely directed and the other including a fill port for filling the array section to which it is attached with a suitable acoustic liquid. Each of said bulkhead members includes a central aperture supporting one half of an electrical connector. Axially displaced from each bulkhead member in each connector section is a strength member support to which is attached a plurality of high strength ropes which carry the tensile load on the array. These strength member supports are fastened against the force from the ropes by means of retaining rings. The male connecting member includes external threads which cooperate with a collar carried on the female connector section having internal threads and an internally directed shoulder. A shear ring is positioned between this shoulder and an external shoulder on the female connector section such that when the collar is threadedly engaged with the male connector member, the shear ring is compressed between the shoulders tightly fastening the connector halves together. A plurality of index pins prevent relative rotation of the connector sections and of the bulkhead members in the connector sections.