Abstract: A level wind system suitable for winding an elongated sonar array onto and off from a storage drum includes a guide member which guides the array into a counterbalanced free pivoting arm having a large radius arcuate section terminating substantially in tangential relationship to said drum and which uses the tension force on the array to continually reposition itself relative to each previous wrap on the drum. A series of rollers are located on the inside surface of the arm to guide the array and to minimize the forces on the array. A pair of spring-loaded rollers are positioned between the storage drum flanges which hold the array in position and prevent slack from developing during power-off situations.

Abstract: A towed underwater transducer assembly includes a spherical housing (10) suspended from a towing vehicle at the end of a cable (12). The housing includes mounting brackets (26, 28) located less than one-half of the circumference of the housing apart along a meridian of the housing (10) centered in the direction of tow with a bridle cable (24) extending between the mounting brackets including a turnbuckle (32) to adjust its tension and a mechanical stop (30). A grooved pulley wheel (22) is mounted at the end of the towing cable (12) with the bridle cable (24) riding in the groove and the pulley wheel (22) free to seek a position along the bridle cable (24) such that the projected line of the tow cable (12) passes essentially through the geometric center of the spherical housing (10) thereby causing the spherical housing (10) to maintain an essentially vertical orientation irrespective of variations in the speed of tow.

Abstract: An elongated retaining and electromagnetic shielding member for a towed underwater acoustic array which includes a plurality of interconnected hydrophones and circuit modules protected by a plastic foam cushioning sheath, covered with a tough, essentially acoustically transparent hose-like jacket and containing a plurality of aramid fiber ropes as strength members to carry the tensile loads on the array, wherein the retaining and shielding member consists of an an elongated tube-like electrically conductive fabric member interposed between the sheath and the exterior hose jacket which is longitudinally stitched to provide a plurality of spaced parallel tubes, some of which are of just sufficient diameter to contain said strength members and a larger central tube for containing the hydrophones, circuit modules and interconnecting wires.

Abstract: A self-threading capstan drive includes two sheaves mounted in a frame, each having a spiral groove with approximately three turns. The sheaves are slightly misaligned so that an elongated sonar array is directed from one sheave to the next without lateral bending. A pair of containment troughs are aligned with the top and bottoms of the sheaves to direct the sonar array between the sheaves. At least one of the sheaves is motor-driven such that its direction of rotation is reversible, the sonar array being reeled onto and off of a storage reel. Each of the sheaves and the containment troughs includes a groove with an inner channel whose dimensions accommodate the sonar array and an outer channel of larger diameter accommodating an endless tubular belt which recirculates over both sheaves and makes contact throughout most of its length with the sonar array, positively driving and carrying the sonar array in either direction.

Abstract: A vibration isolation module (30) includes termination members (34, 36) at each end to which are connected electrical wires or cable (39), and a braided rope of aramid fiber (32). A plurality of compliant members (40) of polyurethane hose having tapered ends are inserted at intervals within the braided strands of the rope (32). Some of the compliant members (40) may be filled solid with polyurethane. Variable lengths of hose or variable diameters and wall thicknesses may be used to vary the compliance of the compliant members (40). Between the compliant members (40) are positioned a number of spacer members (38) which provide support for the hose (37) and electrical wires (39). This structure is carried within an oil filled stretchable hose (37) fastened to the termination members. When the module (30) is subjected to forces in tension, the load is carried by the aramid fiber rope (32) which, as the load is increased, tends to squeeze down and compress the compliant members (40).

Abstract: A method of bonding a metal termination member including an electrical connector to an electrical cable designed for underwater operation having a plurality of insulated electrical wires, an internal armor layer of spirally wound wires, and a tough polyurethane protective jacket including the steps of splitting the external jacket longitudinally and peeling it away from the remainder of the cable, connecting the electrical wires to the connector member, attaching the wires of the armor layer to the termination member, cleaning and priming the metal surfaces of the termination member and the armor wires with a suitable thermoplastic adhesive which will adhere to metal and to polyurethane, repositioning the split halves of the polyurethane jacket around the end of the cable and the termination member, placing the termination assembly in a mold and subjecting it to heat and pressure sufficient to cause the polyurethane jacket material to flow sufficiently to bond the split halves of the jacket together and to th

Abstract: An underwater connector for electrically and mechanically connecting elongated sections of a towed sonar array and the like includes male and female connector sections terminating array sections, each connector section including a lightweight bulkhead member sealed thereto, one of said bulkhead members including a pair of miniature check valves which are oppositely directed and the other including a fill port for filling the array section to which it is attached with a suitable acoustic liquid. Each of said bulkhead members includes a central aperture supporting one half of an electrical connector. Axially displaced from each bulkhead member in each connector section is a strength member support to which is attached a plurality of high strength ropes which carry the tensile load on the array. These strength member supports are fastened against the force from the ropes by means of retaining rings.

Abstract: A structure for connecting together separate elongated small diameter sonar arrays and nonacoustic modules includes a pair of cylindrical housings which telescope together with a keyway to prevent radial movement and each of which includes means for anchoring a plurality of strength members in the form of ropes of aramid fiber. The outside one of the two telescoping housings includes external threads and an external groove for retaining a seal. The inside cylindrical housing includes two external seals, one of which is in contact with the other housing, and an external groove and shoulder. A sleeve member surrounds the telescoping housing members and includes an internal surface in contact with the other two seals, internal threads engaged with the external threads, and a shallow internal groove carrying a radially expanding retaining ring which, in operation, wedges into the shoulder and against the sleeve to transfer the load from housing to housing.