Abstract: A towed antenna system employs drop-type dispensing for rapid deployment of a towed element on the end of a cable. The cable has an elastic central conductor, preferably of stranded stainless steel, which stretches to absorb the high tension of the towed element on the cable at the end of payout. The other end of the cable is anchored by a mounting portion in the launcher. A signal is fed from a coaxial signal conductor to the central conductor of the cable by a right-angle feed to a conductive sleeve on the central conductor, in order to avoid placing stress from the cable on the coaxial signal conductor.

Abstract: A gasket is formed by encapsulating a thermally conductive low melting temperature material or core in a plastic skin. The low melting temperature material conforms to the shape of the interface completely filling all voids once heated above its melting temperature. Since the low melting temperature material is encapsulated in a plastic skin, there is no danger of contaminating parts of the assembly. The gasket is easily applied and removed in all applications, is re-usable, and the thickness can be as thin as 0.010 inches.