1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to the movement of towed underwater lines and is directed more particularly to a winglet for mounting on a trailing end of such lines and operating to improve stability of the line during towing.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Underwater vehicles, such as submarines and unmanned underwater vehicles (UUV), may be provided with a somewhat flexible line which can be paid out of the submerged vehicle and towed through the water by the vehicle. Typically, the line extends from a bow portion of the vehicle. The line is often provided with a multiplicity of acoustic sensor elements. While the line is somewhat flexible, it also exhibits some rigidity, such that when the line is being towed through the water, the line tends to bend rearwardly and well outwardly from the vehicle.
The vehicle is provided with a stabilizing tether which is paid out from the stern area of the vehicle and at its distal end is fastened to the towed line proximate the distal end thereof. The stabilizing tether is reeled in to bring the trailing end of the towed line in nearer the vehicle. The tether is under tension and provides some measure of stability to the towed line.
Nonetheless, the trailing end of the towed line is subject to substantial vibration which is unwanted inasmuch as the acoustic, or other measuring devices or sensors carried in the towed line, may be highly position dependent. That is, to gain the most from the measuring devices or sensors, it is required that the precise positions of the devices be known on a continuing basis. There is thus a need to diminish and limit the vibrational movement of the trailing end of the towed line.
An object of the invention is, therefore, to steady and stabilize the towed line so as to improve pin-pointing the positions of instruments carried in the line.
With the above and other objects in view, a feature of the invention is the provision of a winglet for mounting on a trailing end of a flexible line to be towed by an underwater vehicle. The winglet comprises an internal collar member for connection to an inside surface of the line at the trailing end thereof, and an outer collar member for connection to an outside surface of the line outboard of the internal collar. Connection means are provided for fixing the internal and outer collar members to the line trailing end, and a plurality of fins are mounted on an outside surface of the outer collar member and extend outwardly from the outer collar member.
The above and other features of the invention, including various novel details of construction and combinations of parts, will now be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the claims. It will be understood that the particular device embodying the invention is shown by way of illustration only and not as a limitation of the invention. The principles and features of this invention may be employed in various and numerous embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention.
Reference is made to the accompanying drawings in which are shown illustrative embodiments of the invention, from which its novel features and advantages will be apparent, wherein corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings and wherein:
Referring to
To further stabilize the line 12 and the devices 14, and in accordance with the invention, there is provided a winglet device 20 for attachment to the trailing end 18 of the line 12.
Referring to
Connection means 30, usually fasteners, such as bolts, are provided for fixing the internal and outer collar members 22, 26 to the line trailing and 18, as shown in
A plurality of fins 32 are mounted on an outside surface 34 of the outer collar member 26 and extend outwardly, or outboard, from the outer collar member 26.
While the winglet 20 may be molded of the same material as the line 12, it is presently preferred that the winglet be fabricated from a light-weight, corrosion-resistant metal, such as aluminum. Such a winglet, along with mechanical connection means 30, facilitate use of the winglet as an “add-on” to lines 12 currently in use.
Referring to
The embodiment of
There is thus provided a winglet which may be affixed to the trailing end of a line to be towed by an underwater vehicle to steady and stabilize the trailing end of the towed line, to improve positional accuracy of instruments carried in the line.
It will be understood that many additional changes in the details, materials, and arrangement of parts, which have been herein described and illustrated in order to explain the nature of the invention, may be made by those skilled in the art within the principles and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.
The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States of America for Governmental purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
3375800 | Buller et al. | Apr 1968 | A |
3440992 | Chance | Apr 1969 | A |
3605674 | Weese | Sep 1971 | A |
3943483 | Strange | Mar 1976 | A |
3987745 | Chaverebiere de Sal et al. | Oct 1976 | A |
4759001 | Keckler et al. | Jul 1988 | A |
5402745 | Wood | Apr 1995 | A |
5596943 | Horton | Jan 1997 | A |
5673644 | Vanasse et al. | Oct 1997 | A |