US3781780A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Neutrally buoyant instrument suspension
Assignee: United States Department of the Navy
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Filing: 1972-07-17
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Granted: 1973-12-25
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Expires: 1992-07-17
Abstract
Abstract A hydrophone stabilizing device in which the hydrophone is maintained in neutral buoyancy and in a stabilized attitude during low speed tow and while tethered is provided. The hydrophone is suspended about the center of buoyancy of a major flotation member and is maintained in a stabilized attitude by the linkage of supporting arms which are selectively pivotable in the plane of the tow line. A smaller float is positioned at the intersection of the immediate vertical supporting arm and an intermediate arm or boom connecting the supporting arm to a vertical strut to assure that the point of intersection of the arms is always above the hydrophone.
Inventors
- 👤 W Dow
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 00:00
CPC Classifications
G; G10; G10K; G10K11/00; G10K11/004; G10K11/006; G10K2210/00; G10K2210/10; G10K2210/127
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
119 words
A hydrophone stabilizing device for supporting a hydrophone in neutral buoyancy while under tow or restrained in a current or stationary comprising: a supporting cable having a strut secured at one end of the cable for attaching said device; a weight secured at the other end of said strut to maintain said strut in a substantially vertical attitude during operation of said device; a jointed arm assembly pivotally connected to said strut and pivoted so as to stream therebehind in a current and when the cable is being towed; a hydrophone suspended from said arm assembly at a point remote from said strut; and flotation means connected to said arm assembly to suspend said hydrophone therefrom in neutral buoyancy.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
119 words
A hydrophone stabilizing device for supporting a hydrophone in neutral buoyancy while under tow or restrained in a current or stationary comprising: a supporting cable having a strut secured at one end of the cable for attaching said device; a weight secured at the other end of said strut to maintain said strut in a substantially vertical attitude during operation of said device; a jointed arm assembly pivotally connected to said strut and pivoted so as to stream therebehind in a current and when the cable is being towed; a hydrophone suspended from said arm assembly at a point remote from said strut; and flotation means connected to said arm assembly to suspend said hydrophone therefrom in neutral buoyancy.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The device as defined in claim 1 wherein said flotation means is connected to said arm assembly adjacent to the point of suspension of said hydrophone.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
73 words
The device as defined in claim 1 wherein said flotation means include a major flotation part and a minor flotation part, the major part of said flotation means connected to said arm assembly substantially at the point of suspension of said hydrophone; the minor part of said flotation means connected to said arm assembly intermediate the major part and said strut to maintain said arm assembly in a positive attitude above said hydrophone.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
125 words
An oceanographic instrument suspension system comprising: an oceanographic instrument and means for suspending said instrument in a fluid environment; said suspending means including flotation means hydrodynamically contoured to provide a minimum resistance to horizontal motion and maximum resistance to vertical motion with respect to the fluid environment; a yoke and a bridle connected to said yoke for suspending said instrument from said flotation means; said bridle connected to opposite ends of said flotation means at a transverse axis through the center of buoyancy thereof; a vessel having a tow cable connected to it for towing said instrument; and a jointed arm assembly for coupling said yoke to said cable; said yoke and said bridle both pivotally connected to said flotation means at said transverse axis.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
125 words
An oceanographic instrument suspension system comprising: an oceanographic instrument and means for suspending said instrument in a fluid environment; said suspending means including flotation means hydrodynamically contoured to provide a minimum resistance to horizontal motion and maximum resistance to vertical motion with respect to the fluid environment; a yoke and a bridle connected to said yoke for suspending said instrument from said flotation means; said bridle connected to opposite ends of said flotation means at a transverse axis through the center of buoyancy thereof; a vessel having a tow cable connected to it for towing said instrument; and a jointed arm assembly for coupling said yoke to said cable; said yoke and said bridle both pivotally connected to said flotation means at said transverse axis.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
60 words
The system as defined in claim 4 and further including a damper fin disposed astern of said flotation means with respect to flow therepast and connected to said transverse axis to maintain said flotation means substantially horizontal during vertical movement of or during application of vertical forces to said flotation member, when said suspension system is subject to horizontal tow.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
51 words
The system as defined in claim 5 wherein said flotation means includes a positively buoyant major flotation member rotatably mounted on said yoke and a positively buoyant minor flotation member mounted on said jointed arm assembly to maintain said assembly in a positive attitude with respect to said major flotation member.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
The system as defined in claim 6 wherein said major flotation member is in the form of a cylinder which is elliptical in cross section and said transverse axis extends between the planar ends of the cylinder.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
67 words
The system as defined in claim 7 and further including a vertical strut pivotally connected at one end to the end of said cable; and a weight suspended from the other end of said strut to maintain said strut and the end of said cable in a substantially vertical attitude during operation of said system, said arm assembly pivotally connected to said strut intermediate the ends thereof.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
54 words
The system as defined in claim 8 wherein said jointed arm assembly includes resilient means connecting points of said strut above and below the point of connection of said jointed arm assembly and said arm assembly to return said arm assembly to a horizontal position in the absence of vertical oscillations of said strut.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
54 words
The system as defined in claim 9 and further including fairing on said cable in thE region of said jointed arm assembly to reduce noise caused by cable strum; and fairing on said bridle to reduce strumming of the bridle caused by flow of water by it as produced by deep currents or towing.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
35 words
The system as defined in claim 10 and further including a spreader inserted across said bridle to form an opening therein through which said suspending means may rotate without coming into contact with said bridle.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
98 words
The method of suspending an oceanographic instrument in water comprising: providing a vertical reference by suspending a weighted rigid member from the end of a cable; establishing a horizontal plane from which the instrument is suspended by pivotally deploying a positively buoyant flotation member about its center of flotation from means connected to the rigid member; articulately connecting the flotation member to the rigid member so that vertical oscillations are automatically damped while the horizontal attitude of the flotation member is maintained; and adding flotation means to the articulately connecting components to render the suspension system neutrally buoyant.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
98 words
The method of suspending an oceanographic instrument in water comprising: providing a vertical reference by suspending a weighted rigid member from the end of a cable; establishing a horizontal plane from which the instrument is suspended by pivotally deploying a positively buoyant flotation member about its center of flotation from means connected to the rigid member; articulately connecting the flotation member to the rigid member so that vertical oscillations are automatically damped while the horizontal attitude of the flotation member is maintained; and adding flotation means to the articulately connecting components to render the suspension system neutrally buoyant.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-12-24 | 1977-06-25 | 1977-12-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-12-24 | 1981-06-25 | 1981-12-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-12-24 | 1985-06-25 | 1985-12-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |