Ships – Torpedo launching
Reexamination Certificate
2001-02-20
2002-12-31
Carone, Michael (Department: 3641)
Ships
Torpedo launching
C114S021100, C114S021200
Reexamination Certificate
active
06499417
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
(1) Field of the Invention
The invention relates to guidance and control systems for torpedoes, and is directed more particularly to a torpedo mounted dispenser for paying out a flex hose and control wire from the dispenser during travel of the torpedo from a launch tube toward a target.
(2) Description of the Prior Art
Heavyweight torpedoes launched by submerged submarines against other submarines or surface vessels are well known. Such torpedoes are noted for their speed and accuracy. A guidance and control wire is coiled in the torpedo fuel tank and extends therefrom through a connector external to the torpedo. A dispenser is mounted on the aft end of the torpedo and is adapted to part from the torpedo upon launch of the torpedo. The dispenser has mounted therein a further annularly coiled control wire which, before launch of the torpedo, passes through the aforesaid connector. As the torpedo travels from the submarine launch tube toward a target, the wire in the torpedo fuel tank pays out of the torpedo, and the flex hose and wire coiled in the dispenser pays out. Both wires, connected together, hang downwardly from the torpedo and the submarine, and maintain communication between the submarine and the torpedo, permitting course changes and other commands to be directed from the submarine while the torpedo is in transit.
Referring to
FIG. 1
, it will be seen that the torpedo mounted dispenser (TMD)
10
is mounted on the torpedo
12
when the torpedo is loaded into a launch tube (not shown). The TMD
10
is disconnectably attached to the torpedo
12
, such that upon launch of the torpedo, the TMD which is fastened in the launch tube, parts from the torpedo and remains in the launch tube. A control wire
14
is mounted in the torpedo
12
so as to pay out from a passageway
16
in the torpedo. A fair-lead
18
is fixed to passageway
16
in torpedo
12
allowing torpedo control wire
14
to pay out therethrough.
Referring to
FIG. 2
, it will be seen in a illustrative prior art TMD
10
having a flex hose
20
and a TMD control wire
22
, the flex hose
20
is coiled around a shock mount
24
and in a wire coil chamber
38
inside circular shell
26
. A wire inlet end of the flex hose
20
is secured in wire coil chamber
38
inside TMD
10
. A flex hose connector
28
at the outlet end of the flex hose
20
is adapted for connection to the fair lead
18
(FIG.
1
). Thus, prior to launch, control wire
22
is stored within wire coil chamber
38
, passes into flex hose
20
in the TMD
10
and passes out of flex hose connector
28
.
TMD control wire
22
is spliced to torpedo control wire
14
, using a splice sleeve
15
crimped onto both control wires
14
,
22
, after TMD
10
is mounted on the torpedo
12
. After mounting TMD, flex hose connector
28
is assembled over fair lead
18
with shear screws. The shear screws allow flex hose
20
separation from fair lead
18
when the flex hose
20
is fully extended. After separation, spliced torpedo control wire
14
and TMD control wire
22
pay out from their respective coils as the torpedo moves through the water, the two control wires
14
,
22
being connected to form a single communication wire extending between the submarine and the torpedo. Flex hose
20
remains attached to TMD
10
during torpedo transit and sinks below the submarine for protecting the wire exiting from the TMD wire coil chamber
38
through hose
20
.
Still referring to
FIG. 2
, it will be seen that the prior art TMD is provided with elastomeric retainer rings
30
,
32
which serve to restrain the pay-out of flex hose
20
, such that the flex hose is dispensed in a controlled manner, without tangling of the flex hose, or bunching up thereof, in unwinding from around the shock mount
24
. Flex hose
20
or flex hose connector
28
must be positioned inside the inner diameter of retainers
30
arrangement prevents flex hose connecter
28
from hanging on retainers
30
and
32
as flex hose
20
is deployed.
The retainer rings
30
,
32
are mounted by passing through U-shaped slots
34
in the shell
26
(
FIGS. 1 and 2
) and passing over and into hooks
36
. Each retainer ring
30
,
32
is stretched to engage with two opposite hooks
36
.
In practice, it has been found that on occasion the retainer rings
30
,
32
fail to remain between the shock mount
24
and the shell
26
, and extend out over the shock mount
24
, causing the flex hose
20
to be directed inwardly toward the axis of the shockmount
24
, rather than paying out around the periphery of the shock mount, increasing friction and noise of paying-out.
In addition, the TMD devices are customarily stored in torpedo rooms in submarines for long periods of time, attached to torpedoes. The elastomeric material of the retainer rings deteriorates over time and snaps, making an audible noise and debilitating the retainer pay-out control function. Continual inspection is required. Accordingly, it is necessary under such conditions to separate the TMD from the torpedo and effect replacement of the failed retainer rings if spares are available on board.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the invention is, therefore, to provide an improved torpedo mounted dispenser having a retainer means which controls the pay-out of the flex hose and which resists deterioration and resists displacement during operation.
With the above and other objects in view, as will hereinafter appear, a feature of the present invention is the provision of a torpedo mounted dispenser for a coil of flex hose and control wire, and centrally contained wire coil inside a cylindrical structure. The dispenser comprises a rigid shell round in widthwise cross section, a circular shock mount fixed within the shell and mounted centrally of the shell, the shell and the shock mount defining an annular chamber therebetween. The wire coil is contained in a central cylindrical structure of the TMD. Hooks are mounted on an exterior wall of the shell and slots are defined by the shell respectively proximate the hooks. A retainer ring is disposed in the chamber, and retainer loops each extend around at least a portion of the retainer ring, through one of the slots, and is attached to one of the hooks. The coil of flex hose and control wire is disposed in the annular chamber and is movable lengthwise through the retainer ring while uncoiling.
The above and other features of the invention, including various novel details of construction and combinations of parts, will now be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the claims. It will be understood that the particular device embodying the invention is shown by way of illustration only and not as a limitation of the invention. The principles and features of this invention may be employed in various and numerous embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3265023 (1966-08-01), Hollingsworth
patent: 3703874 (1972-11-01), Lemieux
patent: 4165876 (1979-08-01), Pasqualini
patent: 5385109 (1995-01-01), Hrycin et al.
Oliver Stephen F.
Olson Stanley J.
Blackner H. A.
Carone Michael
Kasischke James M.
McGowan Michael J.
Oglo Michael F.
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