Controlled towed array depressor

• US 8,479,676 B2
• Filed: 03/26/2009
• Issued: 07/09/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Inventors: Kurpiewski, Thaddeus J.
• Primary Examiner(s): SWINEHART, EDWIN L
• Application Number:
  US12/412,151
• Publication Number:
  US 20100242823A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,566 Days
• Field of Search: 114/244, 114/245, 114/249, 367 15- 18
• US Class Current: 114/245
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 21/66 Equipment specially adapted for towing underwater objects or vessels, e.g. fairings for tow-cables paravanes for dragging fishing nets A01K73/02; salvaging underwater vessels or objects B63C7/00; towed underwater vessels B63G8/42
• CPC Class Codes: B63G 8/42 Towed underwater vessels

Abstract

A depressor for towed hydrophone arrays is contemplated having a remotely controllable tow point to allow array depth to be modified without requiring manual reconfiguration. The tow cable is attached to the depressor in an adjustable manner also providing improved depth control precision.

Claims

1. A towed array depressor comprising:

a depressor body having an exterior surface defining lateral sides and a top surface, said to surface having a longitudinal opening defined there-through, wherein said longitudinal opening has a pair of longitudinal edges, said pair of longitudinal edges defining a pair of rails within said depressor body;

a pair of fixed wings extending from the lateral sides of said depressor body;

a coupling mechanism configured to be fixedly coupled to a tow cable and slidably coupled to the depressor body along a longitudinal axis of the depressor body, the coupling mechanism thereby adjustably coupling the tow cable to said depressor body at an adjustable tow point, said tow point remotely adjustable relative to a center of gravity of said depressor, wherein said coupling mechanism comprises a sled mechanism having rail guides configured to mate with said pair of rails within said depressor body and having geared notches; and

a motor adapted to drive a worm screw, said motor and worm screw housed substantially within said depressor body, wherein said worm screw is positioned relative to said longitudinal opening and configured to mesh with said geared notches, and wherein said motor drives said worm screw for incrementally adjusting said position of the coupling mechanism along the longitudinal axis of the depressor body, and thereby adjusting the position of the tow point, said motor adapted to receive adjustment instructions remotely through said tow cable, wherein adjustment of said adjustable tow point relative to the center of gravity of the depressor changes an angle of attack of said pair of fixed wings to thereby control an operating depth of said depressor.

2. The towed array depressor of claim 1, wherein said coupling mechanism slidably couples said tow cable to said depressor body.

3. The towed array depressor of claim 2, wherein said coupling mechanism further comprises:

a cutout section for fixedly attaching said tow cable to said coupling mechanism.

4. A towed array depressor comprising:

a depressor body having an exterior surface defining lateral sides;

a pair of fixed wings extending from the lateral sides of said depressor body;

a coupling mechanism adapted to adjustably couple a tow cable to said depressor body at an adjustable tow point, said tow point remotely adjustable relative to a center of gravity of said depressor; and

a motor for incrementally adjusting said coupling mechanism, said motor adapted to receive adjustment instructions remotely through said tow cable, wherein adjustment of said adjustable tow point relative to the center of gravity of the depressor changes an angle of attack of said pair of fixed wings to thereby control an operating depth of said depressor, wherein said coupling mechanism rotationally couples said tow cable to said depressor body and said coupling mechanism further comprises;

a pulley reel coupled to said motor by a connecting rod; and

a pulley cable having a first section fixedly attached to said depressor body, a second section capable of being fixedly attached to said tow cable and

a third section fixedly attached to said pulley reel.

6. The towed array depressor of claim 4, wherein said motor is adapted to receive power remotely through said tow cable.

5. A towed array depressor comprising:

a depressor body having an exterior surface defining lateral sides;

a pair of fixed wings extending from the lateral sides of said depressor body;

a coupling mechanism adapted to adjustably couple a tow cable to said depressor body at an adjustable tow point, said tow point remotely adjustable relative to a center of gravity of said depressor; and

a motor for incrementally adjusting said coupling mechanism, said motor adapted to receive adjustment instructions remotely through said tow cable, wherein adjustment of said adjustable tow point relative to the center of gravity of the depressor changes an angle of attack of said pair of fixed wings to thereby control an operating depth of said depressor, wherein said coupling mechanism rotationally couples said tow cable to said depressor body and said coupling mechanism further comprises;

a fin coupled to said motor, said fin having a cutout section for fixedly attaching said tow cable to said coupling mechanism;

wherein said fin is adapted to receive a rotational force imparted by said motor and upon receiving said rotational force, rotate between a first position in which said fin is substantially enclosed within said depressor body and a second position in which said fin extends substantially above the surface of said depressor body.

7. A towed array depressor comprising:

a depressor body having an exterior surface defining lateral sides;

a pair of fixed wings extending from the lateral sides of said depressor body; and

an attachment mechanism having a tow cable attachment element for attaching a tow cable to the attachment mechanism, said attachment mechanism adapted to be adjustably attached to said depressor body to allow a location of the tow cable attachment element to be incrementally adjustable relative to a center of gravity of said depressor body, wherein adjustment of said attachment mechanism relative to the center of gravity of the depressor body changes an angle of attack of said pair of fixed wings to thereby control an operating depth of said depressor;

a motor for adjusting said attachment mechanism;

wherein said attachment mechanism rotationally attaches to said depressor body and wherein said attachment mechanism further comprises;

a pulley reel coupled to said motor by a connecting rod; and

a pulley cable having a first section fixedly attached to said depressor body, a second section capable of being fixedly attached to said tow cable and a third section fixedly attached to said pulley reel.

8. A towed array depressor comprising:

a depressor body having an exterior surface defining lateral sides;

a pair of fixed wings extending from the lateral sides of said depressor body; and

an attachment mechanism having a tow cable attachment element for attaching a tow cable to the attachment mechanism, said attachment mechanism adapted to be adjustably attached to said depressor body to allow a location of the tow cable attachment element to be incrementally adjustable relative to a center of gravity of said depressor body, wherein adjustment of said attachment mechanism relative to the center of gravity of the depressor body changes an angle of attack of said pair of fixed wings to thereby control an operating depth of said depressor;

a motor for adjusting said attachment mechanism;

wherein said attachment mechanism, wherein said attachment mechanism further comprises;

a fin coupled to said motor, said fin having a cutout section for fixedly attaching said tow cable to said attachment mechanism;

wherein said fin is adapted to receive a rotational force imparted by said motor and upon receiving said rotational force, rotate between a first position in which said fin is substantially enclosed with said depressor body and a second position in which said fin extends substantially above the surface of said depressor body.

9. A towed array depressor comprising:

a body having a longitudinal opening through a top surface of said body, wherein the longitudinal opening has a pair of longitudinal edges defining a pair of rails within said body;

one or more winged sections coupled to said body;

a worm screw housed substantially within said body and disposed relative to said longitudinal opening;

a motor substantially housed within said body and coupled to said worm screw; and

a sled mechanism having rail guides that matingly engage said rails for slidably coupling said sled mechanism to said body along a longitudinal path on top of said body, one or more notched sections for meshing with said worm screw to allow a rotational force of the worm screw to be transferred to the sled mechanism to effect linear motion and an attachment section for attaching a tow cable to said sled mechanism wherein sliding said sled mechanism along the longitudinal path on top of said body changes a position of said attachment section relative to a center of gravity of said depressor, and changes an angle of attack of said one or more winged sections, thereby controlling an operating depth of said depressor.