Patent US4550045B1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US5933839A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3886491A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Expandable sonar array
Assignee: Bendix Corp
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Filing: 1973-09-12
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Granted: 1975-05-27
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Expires: 1993-09-12
Abstract
Abstract A transducer array for a dip sonar system is disclosed in which a central body is attached to a suspending cable and a substantial number of vertically oriented hydrophone staves are attached to the outside of the body by means of parallelogram linkages which are buoyant and which are caused to swing outwardly when the array is deployed at the desired depth, thus placing the hydrophones in a cylindrical array at a substantial distance outwardly from the body. Also deployed are a number of projector transducers which are attached to a weighted base member which drops from the lower end of the body. Latching means are employed to hold the parallelogram linkages against the body when the array is being stored, lowered into the water, or recovered. Because it is desirable that the staves be of greater length than the body, one section of each stave is attached through gearing means to the remainder of the stave such that it can fold 180 degrees against the body.
Inventors
- 👤 Loren M Jonkey
- 👤 Eugene Markus
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 06:21
CPC Classifications
G; G10; G10K; G10K11/00; G10K11/004; G10K11/006; G10K11/008
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
169 words
An underwater array structure constructed to be successively lowered into and raised out of a body of water at the end of a suspension and signal-conducting cable, said structure comprising a body member attached to said cable, a plurality of essentially identical hydrophone support members connected to the exterior of said body member through connection means, said connection means including a parallelogram linkage arrangement and gear drive means whereby after said hydrophone support members are lowered into the water they are extendable radially a substantial distance from said body, an upper part of each of said hydrophone support members is maintained essentially parallel to its support on said body member and a lower part thereof is connected through said gear drive means to be rotated 180* from an upwardly extending position to a downwardly extending position as said linkage is extended, a plurality of hydrophones carried on said support members, and a plurality of projector elements carried in said body and means deploying said projector elements below said body.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
169 words
An underwater array structure constructed to be successively lowered into and raised out of a body of water at the end of a suspension and signal-conducting cable, said structure comprising a body member attached to said cable, a plurality of essentially identical hydrophone support members connected to the exterior of said body member through connection means, said connection means including a parallelogram linkage arrangement and gear drive means whereby after said hydrophone support members are lowered into the water they are extendable radially a substantial distance from said body, an upper part of each of said hydrophone support members is maintained essentially parallel to its support on said body member and a lower part thereof is connected through said gear drive means to be rotated 180* from an upwardly extending position to a downwardly extending position as said linkage is extended, a plurality of hydrophones carried on said support members, and a plurality of projector elements carried in said body and means deploying said projector elements below said body.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
46 words
An underwater array structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein said support members are buoyant and extend upwardly and outwardly as said means deploying said projector elements is actuated, and fold against said body member as said array is pulled upwardly out of the water.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
47 words
An underwater array structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein latch means are fastened to said support members holding said support members against said body member until released and which secure and hold said support members against said body member upon ascent out of the water.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
42 words
An underwater array structure as set forth in claim 3 wherein said latch means is actuated to release said support members when said projector elements are deployed and to secure said support members when said projector elements are secured in said body.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
40 words
An underwater array structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein said housing includes a releasable base plate member and a latch plate attached thereto and said projector elements are deployed following release of said base plate from said housing.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
185 words
In a vehicle-borne sonar system wherein a transducer array is reeled into and out of a body of water at the end of a cable, said array comprising: a housing fastened to said cable containing electronic equipment, a plurality of deployable projector elements, means deploying said projector elements, and means connecting said projector elements together and to said electronic equipment; a plurality of hydrophone staves attached to said housing, each stave attachment including a parallelogram linkage wherein one link thereof includes part of an associated stave, said linkage when retracted positioning itself and its associated stave against said housing and when extended supporting said stave a substantial distance outwardly from said housing, a length of each said stave being folded against said housing when said linkages are retracted, and means for rotating said length into axial alignment with the remainder of said stave when said staves are deployed such that each said stave is longer than said housing, said linkages and staves being positively buoyant in water; and means securing said linkages against said housing until released at a desired depth of said transducer array.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
185 words
In a vehicle-borne sonar system wherein a transducer array is reeled into and out of a body of water at the end of a cable, said array comprising: a housing fastened to said cable containing electronic equipment, a plurality of deployable projector elements, means deploying said projector elements, and means connecting said projector elements together and to said electronic equipment; a plurality of hydrophone staves attached to said housing, each stave attachment including a parallelogram linkage wherein one link thereof includes part of an associated stave, said linkage when retracted positioning itself and its associated stave against said housing and when extended supporting said stave a substantial distance outwardly from said housing, a length of each said stave being folded against said housing when said linkages are retracted, and means for rotating said length into axial alignment with the remainder of said stave when said staves are deployed such that each said stave is longer than said housing, said linkages and staves being positively buoyant in water; and means securing said linkages against said housing until released at a desired depth of said transducer array.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
An underwater transducer array as set forth in claim 6 wherein said securing means includes latch means responsive to deployment of said projector elements for releasing said linkages.
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 |