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GB2377018A - Marine sonar arrays - Google Patents

Marine sonar arrays Download PDF

Info

Publication number
GB2377018A
GB2377018A GB8213101A GB8213101A GB2377018A GB 2377018 A GB2377018 A GB 2377018A GB 8213101 A GB8213101 A GB 8213101A GB 8213101 A GB8213101 A GB 8213101A GB 2377018 A GB2377018 A GB 2377018A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
cable
capsule
water
anchor
antenna
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
GB8213101A
Other versions
GB2377018B (en
GB8213101D0 (en
Inventor
Lyndon Reginald Spicer
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
STC PLC
Nortel Networks Optical Components Ltd
Nortel Ltd
Original Assignee
Northern Telecom Europe Ltd
Standard Telephone and Cables PLC
Nortel Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Northern Telecom Europe Ltd, Standard Telephone and Cables PLC, Nortel Ltd filed Critical Northern Telecom Europe Ltd
Priority to GB8213101A priority Critical patent/GB2377018B/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Publication of GB8213101D0 publication Critical patent/GB8213101D0/en
Publication of GB2377018A publication Critical patent/GB2377018A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of GB2377018B publication Critical patent/GB2377018B/en
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • GPHYSICS
    • G01MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01SRADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES
    • G01S7/00Details of systems according to groups G01S13/00, G01S15/00, G01S17/00
    • G01S7/52Details of systems according to groups G01S13/00, G01S15/00, G01S17/00 of systems according to group G01S15/00
    • G01S7/521Constructional features
    • GPHYSICS
    • G10MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; ACOUSTICS
    • G10KSOUND-PRODUCING DEVICES; METHODS OR DEVICES FOR PROTECTING AGAINST, OR FOR DAMPING, NOISE OR OTHER ACOUSTIC WAVES IN GENERAL; ACOUSTICS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G10K11/00Methods or devices for transmitting, conducting or directing sound in general; Methods or devices for protecting against, or for damping, noise or other acoustic waves in general
    • G10K11/004Mounting transducers, e.g. provided with mechanical moving or orienting device
    • G10K11/006Transducer mounting in underwater equipment, e.g. sonobuoys

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Acoustics & Sound (AREA)
  • Multimedia (AREA)
  • Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Radar, Positioning & Navigation (AREA)
  • Remote Sensing (AREA)
  • Measurement Of Velocity Or Position Using Acoustic Or Ultrasonic Waves (AREA)

Abstract

A sonar array is packaged in a capsule C with anchor 1, buoy 2 and a propulsion unit 3, for launching into water and will be automatically deployed at a predetermined depth. The two parts C1,C2 of the capsule are propelled apart to stretch out the transducer cable 4 against springs 10,11.

Description

<Desc/Clms Page number 1>
MARINE SONAR ARRAYS This invention relates to marine sonar arrays.
Various systems have been devised for carrying hydrophones or other transducers in an array under water and generally these arrangements comprise a flexible streamer towed by a vessel at a selected depth, such as for seismic use. For example a marine seismic detection cable or streamer can include a lead-/-cable and a number of active sections connected in series and formed of a plastic tube filled with a buoyancy liquid. If however a sonar array is to be left unattended then some form of aerial transmission system is required, connected to the array so that signals detected by the array can be transmitted to a listening station.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a marine sonar array which can be left unattended.
According to the present invention there is provided a marine sonar array device comprising, packaged in.acapsule,. a wound transducer cable, a surface buoyant antenna connected to the cable, an anchor connected to the cable, and propulsion means which will carry one end of the cable away from the other end to deploy and anchor the cable and antenna in the water automatically after the capsule has been launched into the water.
Preferably the capsule is in two portions which separate and are carried apart by the propulsion means to unwind the cable prior to deployment of the antenna and/or the anchor. Preferably the device has two surface
<Desc/Clms Page number 2>
buoyant antennas and two anchors, the first anchor and one of the antennas being connected to one end of the cable and the second anchor and the second antenna being connected to the other end of the cable. Conveniently there are one or more resilient members which maintain the cable in tension between the two anchors when they are deployed.
In order that the invention can be more clearly understood reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings in which :- Fig. I shows schematically a marine sonar array device according to an embodiment of the invention and Figs. 2 to 5 show various stages in the deployment of the device.
Referring to Fig. 1 a marine sonar array device comprises a capsule C formed in two separate portions C and C2 each including a drogue anchor and tension leg dispenser 1 with a wound connecting cable la, acting as the tension leg, a sea surface buoyant antenna 2 with compliant section and electronic module connected by a fibre optic connecting cable 2a which is coiled and connected through to a common fibre optic dispenser and propellant and buoyancy system 3. This incorporates a solid fuel tank and a buoyancy cylinder together with an electronic module.
This in turn is connected to a wound fibre optic transducer cable 4. This is reverse wound and comprises an-. in-line array dispenser 5 with helical springs to tension the cable when deployed. There is an anchor point 6 for a parachute drogue so that the capsule can be launched from an aircraft into the sea, the drogue acting as a sea anchor during descent in the water.
When the capsule is launched into the sea, at a predetermined external water pressure representing a predetermined depth sensed by pressure sensors 3a connected to the electronic modules the two portions Cl, C2 part company (Fig. 2), the drogue is jettisoned and the
<Desc/Clms Page number 3>
solid fuel propellant is ignited to drive the two portions Cl'C2 of the device in opposite directions. These actions are controlled and implemented by the electronic modules. Possibly only one pressure sensor 3a would be required to initiate this stage of the deployment of the cable.
In the next stage (Fig. 5) the array is deployed with the tension springs 10 and 11 tensioning the deployed cable. At this point the anchor tension legs 1 and antenna buoys 2 are released while the solid fuel propellants are still working to extend the cable helical springs 10 and 11. (See Fig. 4).
In the final stage (Fig. 3) the tension legs (l, la) become anchored to the seabed and the surface buoyant antennas 2 reach the surface to transmit information from the sonar cable 4 and to receive information to control sonar cable activity, if desired.

Claims (9)

CLAIMS:
1. A marine sonar array device comprising, packaged in a capsule, a transducer cable, a surface buoyant antenna connected to the cable, an anchor connected to the cable, and propulsion means which will carry one end of the cable away from the other end to deploy and anchor the cable and antenna in the water automatically after the capsule has been launched into the water.
2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the capsule is in two portions which are carried apart by the propulsion means to unwind the cable prior to depoyment of the antenna and/or the anchor
3. A device as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 comprising a second surface buoyant antenna and a second anchor connected to one end of the cable, the first mentioned antenna and anchor being connected to the other end of the cable.
4. A device as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3 as appended thereto, wherein each portion of the capsule has a respective propulsion means.
5. A device as claimed in claim 3 or claim 4 as appended thereto, comprising a resilient member which maintains the cable in tension between the two anchors when deployed.
6. A device as claimed in any preceding claim comprising a pressure sensor which initiates deployment of the transducer cable by sensing a predetermined external water pressure.
7. A device as claimed in any preceding claim including a drogue which acts in air and water to lower the capsule to a predetermined depth.
8. A device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
9. A method of deploying a sonar array in water, comprising ; providing a capsule containing a transducer cable, a surface buoyant antenna connected to
<Desc/Clms Page number 7>
the cable, an anchor connected to the cable, and propulsion means for automatically propelling one end of the cable away from the other end after the capsule has been launched into water; and launching the capsule with a drogue above the water, the drogue acting both as a parachute in the air and a sea anchor in water to lower the capsule to a predetermined depth in the water at which deployment of the cable is automatically initiated.
9. A method of deploying a sonar array in water, comprising ; providing a capsule containing a transducer cable, a surface buoyant antenna connected to
<Desc/Clms Page number 5>
the cable, an anchor connected to the cable, and propulsion means for automatically propelling one end of the cable away from the other end after the capsule has been launched into water; and launching the capsule with a drogue above the water, the drogue acting both as a parachute in the air and a sea anchor in water to lower the capsule to a predetermined depth in the water at which deployment of the cable is automatically initiated.
<Desc/Clms Page number 6>
Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows
1. A marine sonar array device comprising, packaged in a capsule, a transducer cable, a surface
buoyant antenna connected to the cable, an anchor connected to the cable, and propulsion means which will
carry one end of the cable away from the other end to y
deploy and anchor the cable and antenna in the water automatically after the capsule has been launched into the water.
2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the capsule is in two portions which are carried apart by the propulsion means to unwind the cable prior to deployment ouf the antenna and/or the anchor
3. A device as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 comprising a second surface buoyant antenna and a second anchor connected to one end of the cable, the first mentioned antenna and anchor being connected to the other end of the cable.
4. A device as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3 as appended thereto, wherein each portion of the capsule has a respective propulsion means.
5. A device as claimed in claim 3 or claim 4 as appended thereto, comprising a resilient member which maintains the cable in tension between the two anchors when deployed.
6. A device as claimed in any preceding claim comprising a pressure sensor which initiates deployment of the transducer cable by sensing a predetermined external water pressure.
7. A device as claimed in any preceding claim including a drogue which acts in air and water to lower the capsule to a predetermined depth.
8. A device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
GB8213101A 1982-05-06 1982-05-06 Marine sonar arrays Expired - Lifetime GB2377018B (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB8213101A GB2377018B (en) 1982-05-06 1982-05-06 Marine sonar arrays

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB8213101A GB2377018B (en) 1982-05-06 1982-05-06 Marine sonar arrays

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB8213101D0 GB8213101D0 (en) 2002-05-22
GB2377018A true GB2377018A (en) 2002-12-31
GB2377018B GB2377018B (en) 2003-06-25

Family

ID=10530191

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB8213101A Expired - Lifetime GB2377018B (en) 1982-05-06 1982-05-06 Marine sonar arrays

Country Status (1)

Country Link
GB (1) GB2377018B (en)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EA038101B1 (en) * 2020-07-13 2021-07-06 Общество с ограниченной ответственностью Научно-производственное предприятие "Форт XXI" (ООО НПП "Форт XXI") Device for external flaw detection of underwater vertical hydraulic structures

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN114063083A (en) * 2022-01-17 2022-02-18 北京理工大学 Arrangement method and device of underwater arbitrary-shape detection array

Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2020021A (en) * 1978-05-01 1979-11-07 Bendix Corp Deployable sonar array with inter-connected transducers operated in the bending mode

Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2020021A (en) * 1978-05-01 1979-11-07 Bendix Corp Deployable sonar array with inter-connected transducers operated in the bending mode

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EA038101B1 (en) * 2020-07-13 2021-07-06 Общество с ограниченной ответственностью Научно-производственное предприятие "Форт XXI" (ООО НПП "Форт XXI") Device for external flaw detection of underwater vertical hydraulic structures

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB2377018B (en) 2003-06-25
GB8213101D0 (en) 2002-05-22

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