The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 06, 1987
Filed:
Dec. 23, 1985
James Appling, Canoga Park, CA (US);
John M Franchuk, Lynnwood, WA (US);
Other;
Abstract
A self-threading capstan drive includes two sheaves mounted in a frame, each having a spiral groove with approximately three turns. The sheaves are slightly misaligned so that an elongated sonar array is directed from one sheave to the next without lateral bending. A pair of containment troughs are aligned with the top and bottoms of the sheaves to direct the sonar array between the sheaves. At least one of the sheaves is motor-driven such that its direction of rotation is reversible, the sonar array being reeled onto and off of a storage reel. Each of the sheaves and the containment troughs includes a groove with an inner channel whose dimensions accommodate the sonar array and an outer channel of larger diameter accommodating an endless tubular belt which recirculates over both sheaves and makes contact throughout most of its length with the sonar array, positively driving and carrying the sonar array in either direction.