Measuring and testing – Dynamometers – Responsive to force
Reexamination Certificate
2000-06-12
2001-07-03
Fuller, Benjamin R. (Department: 2855)
Measuring and testing
Dynamometers
Responsive to force
C073S862570, C073S862627, C367S020000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06253627
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to thin-line towed-arrays, and more particularly to an apparatus that measures tension on thin-line towed-arrays during towed-array deployment and retrieval processes.
(2) Description of the Prior Art
Submarines deploy thin-line towed-arrays using mechanical handling systems. A thin-line array element includes an outer sheath or hose that contains hydrophones and supporting electronics. When the towed-array is deployed or retrieved, it is fed through a guide tube by a handling system. There is a great interest to quantify the handling system effects on the thin-line towed-array and its internal elements. Such quantitative information is useful for thin-line towed-array maintenance scheduling and design. By knowing the amount of stress applied to the thin-line towed-array during a typical deployment or retrieval process, faults may be predicted more accurately. Additionally, new sensor and material durability may be evaluated against existing designs.
There is currently no reliable method to evaluate the tension applied to a thin-line towed-array by the handling system during deployment and retrieval.
What is needed is an apparatus and method that measure the forces exerted upon a thin-line towed-array by the handling system during deployment and retrieval.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is a general purpose and object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and method to measure the force applied to a thin-line towed-array by the handling system that deploys and retrieves the towed-array.
It is a further object to use a combination of tension and bending measurements to evaluate the handling system.
It is another object to provide such measurement device as part of a module that can be incorporated within a thin-line towed-array hose or outer-sheath.
It is yet a further object to integrate the measurement device to a tow cable for communication to a data processing system for evaluation.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become more obvious hereinafter in the specification and drawings.
These objects are accomplished with the present invention by several modules that are incorporated within the standard thin-line towed-array configuration and positioned within the thin-line towed-array hose. The modules comprise tension sensors, bend sensors, and system electronics. Tension sensors are configured to measure axial tension applied to the towed-array during the deployment and retrieval processes, while bending sensors measure the bending load applied to simulated telemetry canisters. The sensor outputs are encoded and digitized by system electronics before transmitted through a towline for further data conditioning and processing. The tension and bending sensor data provide information to evaluate the force exerted by the handling system on the thin-line towed-array and its elements.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4554650 (1985-11-01), Brown et al.
patent: 4685090 (1987-08-01), Krevor
patent: 5046055 (1991-09-01), Ruffa
patent: 5777954 (1998-07-01), Hepp
patent: 5948959 (1999-09-01), Peloquin
patent: 6088297 (2000-07-01), Stottlemeyer
Lee An-Keun Peter
Whitaker Todd E.
Williams Michael R.
Allen Andre
Fuller Benjamin R.
Kasischke James M.
Lall Prithvi C.
McGowan Michael J.
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