Abstract: An apparatus for filament wrapping a composite material around an object includes a fixture onto which the object can be rotationally fixed at a selected angle from vertical designated ?, where 90°>?>0°. The fixture is secured to a rotatable planar platform. The rotatable platform permits the fixture to be rotated about an axis perpendicular to the planar platform. An eyelet is provided wherethrough a composite material filament can be released to wrap the object rotationally fixed onto the fixture. Also provided are corresponding or associated methods for filament wrapping a composite material around an object and helically wrapping a composite material filament around an inflator device subassembly.

Abstract: An apparatus for filament wrapping a composite material around an object includes a fixture onto which the object can be rotationally fixed at a selected angle from vertical designated ?, where 90°>?>0°. The fixture is secured to a rotatable planar platform. The rotatable platform permits the fixture to be rotated about an axis perpendicular to the planar platform. An eyelet is provided wherethrough a composite material filament can be released to wrap the object rotationally fixed onto the fixture. Also provided are corresponding or associated methods for filament wrapping a composite material around an object and helically wrapping a composite material filament around an inflator device subassembly.

Abstract: An acoustic array of special utility in deep operating antisubmarine torpedoes comprises a plurality of individual transducer elements supported by a back-plate member. An acoustic window made of an elastomeric or plastic material is mounted against the front faces of the transducer elements and forms part of the water-proof housing of the torpedo. The backplate provides abuttive support to the transducer elements against crush pressure exerted by ambient water against the acoustic window. Inserts, made of an acoustic decoupling material which exhibits high crush strength characteristics, are interposed between each transducer element and the backplate. The backplate is made of body sections having interposed therebetween very thin layers of a compliant material, with the layers bondingly confined between the body sections. The compliant material is chosen to be of a type which damps acoustic vibrations which may be present in the backplate by the mechanism of "coulomb friction damping".

Abstract: An acoustic homing torpedo having an array of transducers wherein each transducer has a head mass, tail mass, and a main active element therebetween. An auxiliary active element is placed on the tail mass so that when given a predetermined signal it will cause the main element to provide a corresponding output signal so as to simulate the reception of an actual acoustic wave. By energizing the main element, the response of the auxiliary element may be examined for testing the transducer and the array in a transmit mode of operation.

Abstract: An acoustic homing torpedo which has an acoustic window and a nose section with the window-torpedo shell interface being positioned at a location aft of the acoustic transducers in the nose so as to minimize unwanted flow noise.

Abstract: 1. A channel defining system for aiding the navigation through a body of er of a vessel equipped with a high resolution pulsed catacoustic system adapted to scan the bottom in range abeam of the vessel comprisingAn elongated buoyant ridge-like strip of acoustic reflecting material extending lengthwise of the channel on the channel bottom and laterally spaced from the center line of the channel by a substantially constant known distance, andAnchoring weights secured to said strip at spaced positions along its length.