Abstract: A flexible sheet in which miniaturized operational components, such as hyphones, solid-state preamplifiers and wires, can be embedded or molded into a flexible carrier. The sheet can also be built up of layers, such as an acoustic isolation layer. The sheet is affixed to a mounting surface by adhesives or otherwise and assumes the shape of the mounting surface so that conformal transducer arrays, for example, are easily formed.

Abstract: An adhesion system utilizes a pair of liquid suction systems for adhering a lanket transducer array to the external hull of a vessel. Both liquid suction systems can be individually controlled. The first suction system produces a low liquid pressure under rigid saucer-like shells and causes these shells to press against the hull surface. The second suction system operates similar to the first and is located in the area surrounding the shells. In operation it is possible to enhance the adhering ability of the system by maintaining a lower pressure in the first system. This is feasible due to the rigidity of the material in the first system.

Abstract: A mobile sonar surveillance system having a fully populated circular shaped orizontal receiving array steered in edgefired directions with overlapping coverage of beams. The array has a plurality of hydrophones randomly spaced and mounted on a series of parallel lines in the same horizontal plane and is suitable for towing by a single small ship. For alignment of a received signal one or more single beams suitable for rotation can be steered azimuthally with the proper set of synchronized variable delays. These beams will retain approximately the same parameters as they rotate.

Abstract: A compact subwavelength size monopole underwater sound radiator has chararistics to maximize resistive radiation impedance, minimize reactive radiation impedance, facilitate heat dissipation and minimize compensating air usage. This results in improved efficiency, bandwidth and use factor. The underwater sound radiator uses two back-to-back mounted, frustum shaped, hollow, radiating shells to achieve radiation characteristics approximating those of an equivalent sized pulsating sphere. An elliptically shaped, uniform cross-section magnetostrictive ring crossed by a linear piezoelectric spreader comprises a compact eclectic driver. Both the magnetostrictive ring and the piezoelectric stack contribute to the output through inverse phase cyclic changes in their respective lengths those changes being added and amplified by the flexural-bow type action of the elliptically shaped magnetostrictive ring.

Abstract: A baffled conformal blanket sonar array utilizes a corrugated or indented action plate and a sound isolation baffle of non-uniform thickness. A plurality of compliant tubes embedded in an elastomer on the interior side of the reaction plate permit the baffle's sound isolation function to remain constant in areas of differing baffle thickness. Sensors, associated components, cabling, etc. are embedded in an elastomer which fills the corrugations or indents on the exterior side of the reaction plate. An elastomer sheet covering forms a smooth even external surface. The result is an array which is thinner, lighter and more damage resistant than existing arrays.

Abstract: A baffled conformal blanket sonar array utilizes a corrugated or indented action plate and a sound isolation baffle of non-uniform thickness. A plurality of compliant tubes embedded in an elastomer on the interior side of the reaction plate permit the baffle's sound isolation function to remain constant in areas of differing baffle thickness. Sensors, associated components, cabling, etc. are embedded in an elastomer which fills the corrugations or indents on the exterior side of the reaction plate. An elastomer sheet covering forms a smooth even external surface. The result is an array which is thinner, lighter and more damage resistant than existing arrays.

Abstract: A towing system has a faired multi-strength member towcable and an associd load distribution system. The load distribution system has a plurality of hydraulic cylinders, rods, springs, frames and check valves operating in conjunction with each other such that small tensile loads are applied to one or a small number of strength members. If the load increases additional strength members are sequentially loaded to distribute the applied force.