Abstract: An ocean plow device and accompanying method which incorporate a passive plow blade and a jetter tool working in conjunction with one another to lower drawbar and increase cable deployment speeds. In order to avoid cavitation due to sand dilation, in one embodiment of the plow device, the jetter tool includes nozzles oriented in a downward and backward direction relative to the plow device which creates a flow pattern to turbulently remove surface soil in front of the jetter tool in a rapid manner. The jetter tool is pivotally suspended from a point in front of the passive plow blade, such that the jetter will be free to find its own equilibrium position. That is, the pivotal mounting enables the jetter tool to rotate upward in harder soils and become fully extended in softer soils in order to reach the equilibrium position. The passive plow blade behind the jetter tool provides a constant burial depth for the cable and also provides protection from side loads encountered during deployment.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for supporting a beam having a longitudinal axis. The apparatus includes a clamping assembly that surrounds and grips a portion of the beam. The clamping assembly is relatively compliant to deflections of the beam in at least one direction transverse to the axis, but relatively resistant to axial displacements of the beam and to torsional rotations of the beam about the axis. The apparatus further includes at least one actuator situated externally to the beam and arranged to urge the beam in the compliant direction or directions.

Abstract: An eddy current sensor comprises a generally E-shaped core having three parallel legs joined together by a bridge. Current carrying coils are mounted on each of the outer legs and a signal coil is mounted on the central leg. Identical a.c. currents are caused to flow through the two outer coils for generating two magnetic fields which combine to form a sensing magnetic field extending outwardly from the ends of the legs for sensing purposes but which cancel one another within the central leg. The sensor is disposed within an E-shaped, hollow shield of an eddy current producing, electrically conductive material. The sensor fits within the shield as fingers in a glove with the parallel legs of the sensor magnetically separated from one another by walls of the shield. Only the ends of the sensor legs are exposed through apertures through the shield for emergence of the various magnetic fields. The shield cancels unwanted fringing fields and better guides the magnetic fields in desired directions.