Abstract: A submergible towed body system carries an acoustic transmission/reception evice under the surface of the water and relays signals between the acoustic transmission/reception device and a surface platform. An elongated support frame has upper and lower horizontal frame sections maintained in a parallel spaced apart relationship by a plurality of vertical frame supports. A float is attached on top of the upper horizontal frame section and a tow point depends from the upper horizontal frame section. Attached to the upper and lower horizontal frame sections is a combination tilt and pan mechanism that allows the acoustic transmission/reception device to pan through a prescribed horizontal angle and tilt through a prescribed vertical angle. Circuitry is mounted between the upper and lower horizontal frame sections and aft of the tilt and pan mechanism for electrically connecting the surface platform to the acoustic transmission/reception device.

Abstract: A fiber optic bundle towed line array having a central strength member and plurality of longitudinal optical fibers spaced around the bundle near the array outer circumference. Each fiber has at least one in-line intensity modulated optical fiber hydrophone inserted at different preselected locations therealong. Patting material is molded around and embeds the optical fibers and the strength member so as to form a small diameter integral array unit.

Abstract: A dual frequency, polymer hydrophone, array for a submersible vehicle is closed. A mid-frequency transducer array is employed in the forward end of a submersible vehicle. Between the mid-frequency array and a nose portion of the submersible vehicle is a single or multiple board piezoelectric polymer array employed to implement a secondary, high-frequency transducer array. Amplifying and signal conditioning units are mounted adjacent or on one metallic electrode layer or formed integrally thereon to minimize signal lead loss. The piezoelectric polymer material is chosen to have a density coefficient and sound velocity substantially equivalent to an acoustic window in the nose portion of the submersible vehicle and to be substantially transparent to the mid-frequency array. Minimal degradation of the mid-frequency received or transmitted signals occurs due to the transparency of the high-frequency array.

Abstract: A method of acoustic processing for acoustic image classification of an underwater target from a set of known target hypotheses is provided. An acoustic waveform is transmitted into a test volume of water containing the target to be classified. The test volume is divided into test cells such that each test cell contains a portion of the target or scatterer that will scatter the transmitted waveform. Scattering of the transmitted waveform at each test cell is described by a scattering coefficient that is unique for each of the targets in the set of known hypotheses. Accordingly, the scattering coefficient serves as an identifier of the target to be classified. The relationship of the set of scattering coefficients for each of the known target hypotheses is provided by a known covariance matrix. An acoustic receive array receives a portion of the scattered waveform from each of the test cells in the test volume.

Abstract: The invention disclosed is a method and apparatus for expanding particles of cured tobacco by means of liquid and gaseous carbon dioxide which is sprayed into a mass of the tobacco in a closed pressure vessel. The thus treated tobacco is removed from the vessel and heated such that rapid release of the carbon dioxide effects expansion of the tobacco.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for expanding particles of cured tobacco by means of liquid and gaseous carbon dioxide which is sprayed into a mass of the tobacco in a closed pressure vessel. The thus treated tobacco is removed from the vessel and heated such that rapid release of the carbon dioxide effects expansion of the tobacco.

Abstract: Apparatus for increasing the filling capacity of a total blend of cut tobacco comprising first unit for elevating the temperature and moisture content of the tobacco such that the heating and moisturizing are performed for a time sufficient to permit cut tobacco to open from its crimped and compressed condition, an assembly for forming a relatively thin dispersion of the opened tobacco in a gas, and an apparatus operatively connected to said first unit for rapidly lowering the moisture content of the thin dispersion of tobacco to about its making moisture within about five seconds such that the tobacco has achieved an expanded and opened condition.

Abstract: The filling capacity of shredded tobacco tissue is increased by being first conditioned by treating the tobacco to raise its temperature to at least about 130.degree. F. and its moisture content above about 15% and then hot-gas drying the tobacco in the form of a thin laminar dispersion, about 1 inch thick, in the gas at a temperature such that the moisture content of the tobacco will be lowered within about 5 seconds to the optimum moisture content to maintain improved filling capacity in the tobacco end products made from such material.