Abstract: A launch and recovery system for a towed body is provided in which uninflated air beams extrude from winches where the beams enter a deployment frame and are inflated. Sealing rollers near the winches seal the air beams when the desired length of the air beams is inflated. To deploy the towed body, a positioning cart moves along the inflated air beams from an end of a deployment frame. A translating arch moves from the forward to the aft end of the positioning cart on the rails to where the tow body is released from the capture boom and swing support. The positioning cart can retract back into the deployment frame when not in use.

Abstract: An inflatable launch and recovery system for a towed body is provided. The system is containerized for ease of transport. A container houses a tow body, tow cable, a winch, winch controls, an inflatable ramp, deployment and retrieval equipment, power junctions and air line connections. Inflatable arch shaped tubes and spacer fabric form the ramp structure from which the tow body can be launched and recovered. The ramp can be ballasted to provide hydrodynamic stability and to provide sufficient system depth to accommodate retrieval of towed bodies operating below a liquid medium surface. Additional control can be achieved using inflatable or rigid fin elements or downward lifting surfaces. A rigid clamping fixture connects the ramp structure to the vessel. A snubber element dampens vibrations and transient tow loads.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for calibrating single phase voltage spikes used in testing single phase electrical equipment. Capacitance is selected from a capacitor network in order to adjust the single phase voltage spike so as to produce a predetermined voltage spike waveform having particular waveform characteristics that are required to perform survivability and compatibility tests.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for calibrating three-phase voltage spike waveforms used in testing three-phase electrical devices. The apparatus includes a circuit having a plurality of phase voltage lines and a ground line. Phase voltage outputs and a ground output are provided for connection to a device under test. A selection circuit selects one of the phase voltage lines and provides a synchronization voltage signal based on the other lines. A voltage spike generator is joined to the selection circuit for generating a voltage spike waveform synchronized with the voltage signal. Additional circuitry is joined to the voltage spike generator, the phase voltage lines and the outputs which applies the voltage spike waveform across the selected phase voltage line and the ground line.