US3885515A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Rigid line array suspension system
Assignee: United States Department of the Navy
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Filing: 1974-06-07
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Granted: 1975-05-27
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Expires: 1994-06-07
Abstract
Abstract A towed negatively buoyant rigid linear array has three forward floats of double ogival shape with a buoyancy equal to or slightly greater than the negative buoyancy of the array attached to a tow cable. The distance between the array and the middle float is equal to the desired array depth. The separation between the centers of the floats is equal to 2 pi times the minimum bend radius. A drogue line at the aft end of the array is adjusted to equal the depth at which the array is to be suspended.
Inventors
- 👤 Jr Hamlin A Caldwell
- 👤 Iii Ralph R Miller
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 04:13
CPC Classifications
B; B63; B63G; B63G8/00; B63G8/42; B63C; B63C11/00; B63C11/48
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
216 words
An array suspension system suitable for towing in water comprising: a tow cable; weighting means connected near the fore end of said tow cable for adding negative buoyancy to the system; first buoyant means adapted for being towed totally submerged underwater and further adapted for rising to the surface of the water at zero speed connected to said tow cable aft of said weighting means; an array of negative buoyancy having forward and aft ends, said forward end connected to said tow cable a predetermined distance from said floating means to enable said forward end of said array of negative buoyancy to be suspended at a predetermined depth in water when the system is at zero speed; a drogue system including a drogue line with a second buoyant means connected to the aft end of said drogue line, said second buoyant means adapted for being towed totally submerged underwater and further adapted for rising to the surface of the water at zero speed, said second buoyant means comprising a drogue, said drogue line having its forward end connected to said aft end of said array and said drogue line being a predetermined length to enable said array of negative buoyancy to be suspended at said predetermined depth when the array suspension system is at zero speed.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
216 words
An array suspension system suitable for towing in water comprising: a tow cable; weighting means connected near the fore end of said tow cable for adding negative buoyancy to the system; first buoyant means adapted for being towed totally submerged underwater and further adapted for rising to the surface of the water at zero speed connected to said tow cable aft of said weighting means; an array of negative buoyancy having forward and aft ends, said forward end connected to said tow cable a predetermined distance from said floating means to enable said forward end of said array of negative buoyancy to be suspended at a predetermined depth in water when the system is at zero speed; a drogue system including a drogue line with a second buoyant means connected to the aft end of said drogue line, said second buoyant means adapted for being towed totally submerged underwater and further adapted for rising to the surface of the water at zero speed, said second buoyant means comprising a drogue, said drogue line having its forward end connected to said aft end of said array and said drogue line being a predetermined length to enable said array of negative buoyancy to be suspended at said predetermined depth when the array suspension system is at zero speed.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
An array suspension system according to claim 1 wherein the positive buoyancy of the combination of said first buoyant means and said second buoyant means are at least equal to the negative buoyancy of said array of negative buoyancy.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
75 words
An array suspension system according to claim 2 wherein said first buoyant means further comprises a first, second and third float connected to said tow cable and separated from each other a distance equal to 2 pi times the minimum bend radius of said cable, the distance from a point intermediate the first and third floats to said forward end of said array of negative buoyancy being equal to the length of said drogue line.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
An array suspension system according to claim 3 wherein said first, second and third floats further comprise three identical floats of double ogival shape made of syntactic foam.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
An array suspension system according to claim 4 wherein said array of negative buoyancy comprises a sonar passive rigid line array.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-05-26 | 1978-11-25 | 1979-05-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-05-26 | 1982-11-25 | 1983-05-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-05-26 | 1986-11-25 | 1987-05-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |