CA2909164C - Reeling device and method for releasing and retrieving a towed array sonar - Google Patents
Reeling device and method for releasing and retrieving a towed array sonar Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- CA2909164C CA2909164C CA2909164A CA2909164A CA2909164C CA 2909164 C CA2909164 C CA 2909164C CA 2909164 A CA2909164 A CA 2909164A CA 2909164 A CA2909164 A CA 2909164A CA 2909164 C CA2909164 C CA 2909164C
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- Prior art keywords
- tow
- towed
- connection
- towed body
- tow cable
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Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01V—GEOPHYSICS; GRAVITATIONAL MEASUREMENTS; DETECTING MASSES OR OBJECTS; TAGS
- G01V1/00—Seismology; Seismic or acoustic prospecting or detecting
- G01V1/38—Seismology; Seismic or acoustic prospecting or detecting specially adapted for water-covered areas
- G01V1/3843—Deployment of seismic devices, e.g. of streamers
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
- B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING
- B63B21/00—Tying-up; Shifting, towing, or pushing equipment; Anchoring
- B63B21/56—Towing or pushing equipment
- B63B21/66—Equipment specially adapted for towing underwater objects or vessels, e.g. fairings for tow-cables
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
- B63G—OFFENSIVE OR DEFENSIVE ARRANGEMENTS ON VESSELS; MINE-LAYING; MINE-SWEEPING; SUBMARINES; AIRCRAFT CARRIERS
- B63G8/00—Underwater vessels, e.g. submarines; Equipment specially adapted therefor
- B63G8/42—Towed underwater vessels
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B66—HOISTING; LIFTING; HAULING
- B66D—CAPSTANS; WINCHES; TACKLES, e.g. PULLEY BLOCKS; HOISTS
- B66D1/00—Rope, cable, or chain winding mechanisms; Capstans
- B66D1/26—Rope, cable, or chain winding mechanisms; Capstans having several drums or barrels
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B66—HOISTING; LIFTING; HAULING
- B66D—CAPSTANS; WINCHES; TACKLES, e.g. PULLEY BLOCKS; HOISTS
- B66D1/00—Rope, cable, or chain winding mechanisms; Capstans
- B66D1/28—Other constructional details
- B66D1/36—Guiding, or otherwise ensuring winding in an orderly manner, of ropes, cables, or chains
- B66D1/38—Guiding, or otherwise ensuring winding in an orderly manner, of ropes, cables, or chains by means of guides movable relative to drum or barrel
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
- B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING
- B63B21/00—Tying-up; Shifting, towing, or pushing equipment; Anchoring
- B63B21/56—Towing or pushing equipment
- B63B21/66—Equipment specially adapted for towing underwater objects or vessels, e.g. fairings for tow-cables
- B63B2021/666—Equipment specially adapted for towing underwater objects or vessels, e.g. fairings for tow-cables for intermittent towing
Abstract
The invention relates to a reeling device for releasing and retrieving a towed array sonar (4) towed in water (6). The reeling device comprises a connection unit (15) arranged on at least one tow cable (12/14), said connection unit being designed to allow a towed body (8) to be automatically coupled to, or uncoupled from, the tow cable (12/14). In addition, the connection unit (15) according to the invention comprises two coupling units (72, 74) which are arranged at a distance from one another and which can be used to create a respective detachable coupling of the towed body (8) and the tow cable (12/14), in particular an electrical and/or optical connection and a mechanical coupling. The invention further relates to a corresponding method for releasing and retrieving a towed array sonar (4).
Description
.27935-37 REELING DEVICE AND METHOD FOR RELEASING AND RETRIEVING A
TOWED ARRAY SONAR
The invention relates to a reeling device for releasing and retrieving a towed array sonar towed in water. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for releasing and retrieving a towed array sonar.
Towed array sonars are conventionally used for seismic survey of the seabed from research vehicles or to locate watercraft, by determining bearing, distance, speed and heading of a target by means of a sonar installation. Here, the towed array sonar is pulled by a tow vehicle through the water.
Such a towed array sonar has a tow strand as acoustic receiving part, with a plurality of hydrophones arranged in an elastic, tubular sheath. In addition, the towed array sonar has a towed body as acoustic transmitting part, as shown for example in DE 195 16 727 C1. The tow strand end the towed body are mechanically and electrically or optically connected via a tow cable to the tow vehicle. Finally, an end piece for stretching the tow strand by generating a tensile force opposite to the towing direction and one or more attenuation modules for acoustic decoupling of the tow strand from the tow cable and of the end piece can be arranged on the towed array sonar.
To release and retrieve the towed array sonar from the tow vehicle a reeling device is present on board the tow vehicle. DE 197 19 306 C2 shows a reeling device in which the towed body is manually connected or disconnected from the tow strand by an operator during releasing and retrieving of the towed array sonar.
Due to the high weight and low permissible radius of curvature of the towed array sonar, a large and heavy winch construction is required to store the entire towed array sonar safely and stably on the tow vehicle. Especially for small watercraft the accommodation of the towed array sonar on board causes huge space problems, so that there is hardly room for movement for an operator when releasing and retrieving the towed array sonar. In addition, under certain circumstances heavy seas endanger ' 27935-37
TOWED ARRAY SONAR
The invention relates to a reeling device for releasing and retrieving a towed array sonar towed in water. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for releasing and retrieving a towed array sonar.
Towed array sonars are conventionally used for seismic survey of the seabed from research vehicles or to locate watercraft, by determining bearing, distance, speed and heading of a target by means of a sonar installation. Here, the towed array sonar is pulled by a tow vehicle through the water.
Such a towed array sonar has a tow strand as acoustic receiving part, with a plurality of hydrophones arranged in an elastic, tubular sheath. In addition, the towed array sonar has a towed body as acoustic transmitting part, as shown for example in DE 195 16 727 C1. The tow strand end the towed body are mechanically and electrically or optically connected via a tow cable to the tow vehicle. Finally, an end piece for stretching the tow strand by generating a tensile force opposite to the towing direction and one or more attenuation modules for acoustic decoupling of the tow strand from the tow cable and of the end piece can be arranged on the towed array sonar.
To release and retrieve the towed array sonar from the tow vehicle a reeling device is present on board the tow vehicle. DE 197 19 306 C2 shows a reeling device in which the towed body is manually connected or disconnected from the tow strand by an operator during releasing and retrieving of the towed array sonar.
Due to the high weight and low permissible radius of curvature of the towed array sonar, a large and heavy winch construction is required to store the entire towed array sonar safely and stably on the tow vehicle. Especially for small watercraft the accommodation of the towed array sonar on board causes huge space problems, so that there is hardly room for movement for an operator when releasing and retrieving the towed array sonar. In addition, under certain circumstances heavy seas endanger ' 27935-37
- 2 -the safety of the operator because the connection and disconnection of the towed body is carried out at the rear edge of the watercraft.
The invention is therefore based on the problem to improve the reeling device and the method of releasing and retrieving the towed array sonar so that a releasing and retrieving of the towed array sonar is easy and safe to carry out with minimal operator intervention.
According to some embodiments of the invention, there is provided reeling device for releasing and retrieving a towed array sonar towed in water which has at least one tow cable, a towed body, a tow strand and a connector unit for automatically coupling and decoupling of the towed body to/from the tow cable, wherein the connector unit comprises two spaced-apart connection units, wherein in case of connection the two spaced-apart connection units produce respectively one releasable connection between the towed body and the tow cable or the tow cables, so that an electrical and/or optical connection between the towed body and the tow cables as well as a mechanical coupling between the towed body and the tow cable are usable.
According to some embodiments of the invention, there is provided method for releasing and retrieving a towed array sonar towed in water which has at least one tow cable, a towed body and a tow strand, wherein the towed body is automatically coupled to the tow cable or decoupled from the tow cable by means of a connector unit, wherein the connector unit has two spaced apart connection units, which are used for establishing respectively one releasable connection between the towed body and the tow cable, so that an electrical and/or optical connection between the towed body and the tow cables and a mechanical coupling between the towed body and the tow cable are used.
The reeling device according to the invention has a connector unit for this which is configured to connect a towed body of the towed array sonar to a tow cable of the towed array sonar or disconnect from the tow cable. The connector unit has two spaced-apart connecting units, which are useable for the manufacture of =
¨ 3 ¨
each of a releasable connection between the towed body and the tow cable. This is a mechanical coupling as well as an electrical and/or optical connection.
With such a connection unit advantageously a fully automatic releasing or retrieving the entire towed array sonar with towed body and tow strand is possible. Thus, the reeling device according to the invention advantageously provides for more safety for an operator during releasing and retrieving the towed array sonar because no manual operator intervention is now required during normal operation.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the towed body has a sliding guide to guide the tow strand and the tow cable through the towed body. Thus, the towed body advantageously serves as a guide part during releasing and retrieving of a tow strand serving as an acoustic receiver to let this run without damage over the rear edge of the tow vehicle.
According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the sliding guide has a tube shape with two axial openings, whereby the rear-end opening is widened conically. The conical extension of the opening in the sliding guide advantageously serves to avoid a too strong curvature of the tow strand, and the tow cable during releasing or retrieving.
In a further preferred embodiment of the invention a motor-driven rubber conveyor belt is arranged behind the towed body, which supports the releasing and retrieving operation of the tow strand. In order to avoid kinking of the tow strand, and thus to bypass damage to the tow strand, the rubber conveyor belt has a curved surface, which is adapted to the minimum radius of curvature of the tow strand. The rubber conveyor belt serves as a guide for the tow strand and can be swung sideways after the release of the complete tow strand.
¨ 4 ¨
According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the first connection unit is configured as a plug connector with two connection elements, to establish an electrical and/or optical connection between the towed body and the tow cable. Here, one connection element is fixedly arranged on the tow cable and one connection element is arranged on the towed body, wherein the connection element arranged on the towed body can be subsequently introduced into the towed body or already be taken into account in the manufacturing process of the sliding guide.
Preferably, the two connection elements have at least one plug connector as a male part and at least one socket as a female part of the connector for electrical connection of the towed body to the tow cable. However, the connection elements may also have plug connectors of both male and female types or suitable embodiments for optical signal transmission connection for optical fibers to optically bond the towed body to the tow cable. Also multipolar plug connectors as well as several contact points, in particular multiple plug / socket units of the two connection elements are conceivable.
The first connection unit thus advantageously enables a supply of a transmitting antenna arranged in the towed body with electric energy, as well as data exchange between towed body and tow cable, in particular over optical fibers.
According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the tow cable attached to the connection element is configured as a substantially cylindrically designed fitting. This fitting has a larger diameter than the tow cable.
Further, the connection element arranged on the towed body is designed so that a face side of the fitting arranged on the tow cable partially rests on the connection element arranged on the towed body. Preferably, the connection element is designed annular as a constriction of the sliding guide in the towed ¨ 5 ¨
body. This has the advantage that while leading the tow cable through the sliding guide in the towed body the fitting which is arranged on the tow cable gets stuck at the constriction in the sliding guide of the towed body, and thus the outward-facing contact pins with the inward pointing contact openings of the two connection elements establish an electrical or optical plug connection between the tow cable and the towed body.
A further preferred embodiment of the invention provides an automatic recognition and assignment of a contact allocation for more than two contact points of both connection elements. If the two connection elements for producing an electrical and/or optical connection between the towed body and the tow cable have more than two contact points, at least one contact point has a readout unit to recognize the contact allocation of the plug connector. Subsequently, an automatic assignment of the respective contact allocation of the connector takes place such that if more than two contact points establish a connection between towed body and tow cable, the connection is independent of the orientation of the tow cable.
In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, a positive guide is integrated in the sliding guide, which enables an automatic alignment of the connection elements. This has the advantage that the outward facing contact pins are automatically introduced into the inward pointing contact openings, if the two connection elements are brought together. The same applies to the optical plug connections of existing optical fibers, so that an optical connection is automatically established due to the positive guide.
According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the second connection unit is configured with two connection elements to establish a mechanical coupling between the towed body and the tow cable. Here, one connection element is fixedly arranged at the tow cable in the form of two ¨ 6 ¨
opposite pins and one connection element is configured at the towed body as two opposite guide grooves.
Thus, the mechanical tow point of the towed body with released towed array sonar is not arranged at the electrical or optical connection point but advantageously at the pins attached to the tow cable. Via the design of the opposite guide grooves in the towed body a movable turning and sliding connection is made by reception of the two pins. If the tow cable, in particular by means of a guide wheel, is pivoted upwards, the tow cable is mechanically locked with the towed body. If the tow cable is pivoted downward, the connection is unlocked and thus released.
The turning and sliding connection advantageously provides that the minimum radius of curvature of the tow cable can be maintained despite the different pitch angles of the tow cable to the towed body. Since the turning and sliding connection is a movable connection, the pitch angle of the tow cable to the towed body can advantageously vary without straining the pull cable itself, as it would be the case with for example in a simple reinforcement of the tow cable to comply with the minimum radius of curvature.
According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the guide grooves in the towed body show a horizontally proceeding portion. This advantageously allows an automatic bringing together of the two connection elements by insertion of the pins into the horizontally proceeding portion.
In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the connection unit has a constant distance between the connection units, wherein one or both connection units has or have a funnel-shaped end on the side facing one another. Since the second connection unit is a turning and sliding connection and the distance between the connection units is constant, the funnel shape advantageously ¨ 7 provides that the tow cable is neither stretched nor compressed when the pitch angle of the tow cable on the towed body changes due to a varying depth of the towed body.
According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the reeling device according to the invention has a winch with at least two winch drums which are operable by a common motor. Since the tow strand and the tow cable usually have different cross-sections, they have also different minimum allowable radii of curvature. To comply with these radii of curvature for each the tow strand and the tow cable a winch drum with modified drum diameter is required. If the towed array sonar has further tubular sonar sections with a different minimum radius of curvature, a use of further winch drums is conceivable.
A winch with several winch drums advantageously requires only one motor drive, a slip ring and takes up less space on board the towing vehicle than two separately operated winches. Preferably, a gap is provided between the winch drums, which is adapted as to receive the connection unit. Further, the motor of this winch is configured to automatically adjust the speed depending on the winch drum to be unwound.
In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the reeling device has a displacement device with parallelogram guide for automatic releasing and retrieving the towed body into or out of the water, whereby the displacement device is preferably operated hydraulically. The parallelogram guide advantageously allows a releasing or retrieving of the towed body without changing its relative position in space. A change of the position of the towed body could adversely cause the tow cable to be strained beyond its minimum radius of curvature. The towed body thus has the same horizontal orientation as the deck of the tow vehicle.
¨ 8 ¨
To implement the parallelogram guide, the displacement device comprises two arms in the form of two mutually coupled parallelograms on a movable mounting at the base and at the suspension point of the towed body. Such a displacement device advantageously allows a complete immersion of the towed body before releasing of the towed body from this displacement device so that a release of the towed body is possible even in rough seas.
The invention solves the above-mentioned task further with a method to releasing and retrieving a towed array sonar in water comprising at least one tow cable, a towed body and a tow strand. The method according to the invention advantageously enables an automatic connection and disconnection of the towed body to or from the tow cable via a connection unit. For this purpose, the connector unit has two spaced apart connection units, which are used for producing of respectively one detachable connection between the towed body and the tow cable, in particular an electrical and/or optical connection and a mechanical coupling.
Advantageously, no operator needs to be present on the open deck of the tow vehicle during the normal releasing or retrieving operation. Thus the method according to the invention is easy and safe for an operator to perform.
According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the release and retrieval of the towed array sonar is monitored by a video system. The video system is preferably installed close to the winch and displays the current status of the released towed array sonar.
In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, each process step for releasing and retrieving of the towed array sonar is displayed at a control panel, in particular a portable control panel.
¨ 9 ¨
The reeling device preferably has a plurality of sensors for monitoring the release operation or the retrieval operation of the towed array sonar. Via the operator console, an operator can monitor the process and if necessary interrupt at any time.
Further advantageous embodiments of the invention emerge from the dependent claims and also in connection with the accompanying drawings illustrated in detailed embodiment examples. In the drawing is shown:
Fig. 1 a schematic representation of a tow vehicle with a towed towed array sonar, Fig. 2 a schematic representation of a reeling device arranged on the deck of a tow vehicle, Fig. 3 a schematic representation of a winch device, Fig. 4 a schematic sectional representation of a side view of the towed body, Fig. 5 a schematic sectional view of the side view of the towed body with introduced connector unit and Fig. 6 a schematic sectional view of the side view of the towed body with connected connector unit and Fig. 1 shows a schematic representation of a surface vessel as tow vehicle 2, which draws a towed array sonar 4 through the surrounding water 6, whereby the towed array sonar 4 in a known manner has a towed body 8 as acoustic transmitter part and a tow strand 10 as acoustic receiver unit. The towed body ¨10¨
*
is connected via a first tow cable 12 to the tow vehicle 2. A second tow cable connects the towed body 8 to the tow strand 10, in which a receiving antenna is arranged in a tubular sheath with a plurality of successively arranged hydrophones. A connector unit 15 according to the invention, however, only partially shown in Fig. 1 is located between the first tow cable 12 and the second tow cable 14 to connect the tow cables 12, 14 to one another and to the towed body 8. In order to improve the hydrodynamic properties of the towed array sonar 4, the tow cables can be 12, 14 designed with a streamlined cover.
Furthermore, the tow strand 10 typically has an end piece 18 to stretch the receiving antenna 16 by generating a pulling force via the end piece 18 in a direction opposite to the towing. Finally, one or more attenuation modules 20 for acoustic decoupling of the receiving antenna 16 from the tow cable 14 and the end piece 18 are arranged on the tow strand 10.
To release and retrieve the towed array sonar 4 from the tow vehicle 2 a reeling device is present on board the tow vehicle 2. Fig. 2 shows a detail of a reeling device according to the invention for automatic releasing and retrieving of a towed array sonar 4 during a release or retrieval operation. For this purpose a sled 28 is arranged on the deck 24 of the tow vehicle 2 mounted on rails 26, to which a displacement device 30 is movably mounted. Further, the sled 28 and the displacement device 30 each have a guide wheel 32 which can be mounted at different heights for guiding the tow strand 10 or the tow cables 12, 14.
At the back of the sled 28 two rotatably mounted rollers 34 are arranged with vertical axes of rotation, between which the tow strand 10 or the tow cables 12, 14 are guided.
The tow strand 10 according to Fig. 1 is guided by a winch, not shown here, but explained in detail in Fig. 3, through the rollers 34 and the guide wheels 32 automatically through the towed body 8.
11 ¨
Behind the towed body 8, a rubber conveyor belt 38 is optionally arranged to release the tow strand 10 from the towed body 8 via the rear wall 40 of the tow vehicle 2 into the surrounding water 6, whereby a minimum radius of curvature of the tow strand 10 is maintained by the arched shape of the rubber conveyor belt 38. In support of the release or retrieval operation the rubber conveyor belt 38 is preferably provided with an electric drive. The rubber conveyor belt 38 serves as a guide for the tow strand and can be swung sideways after the release of the complete tow strand 10.
The tow strand 10 as well as the second tow cable 14 are guided during releasing of towed array sonar 4 by the towed body 8 as long until the connector unit 15 is inserted in the towed body 8 and then automatically establishes an electrical and / or optical connection between the towed body 8 and the tow cables 12, 14. To establish a mechanical coupling between the tow cables 12, and the towed body 8 at least one guide wheel 32 is vertically pivoted upwardly so that the tow cable 12 is raised by the guide wheel 32 and thus changes its pitch angle to the towed body 8. The automatic tying of the towed body 8 to the tow cables 12, 14 by means of the connector unit 15 is explained with reference to Figs. 4 to 6 in detail below.
After the automatic tying of the towed body 8 to the tow cables 12, 14 the sled 28 is moved on the rails 26 to the rear wall 40, so that the towed body 8 projects beyond the rear wall 40 of the tow vehicle 2 and the displacement device 30 can bring the towed body 8 fastened to a saddle 42 into the water 6.
The displacement device 30 comprises two arms in form of parallelograms coupled together, in order to attach the towed body 8 with the saddle 42 to the sled 28. The guide of the parallelogram of the displacement device 30 advantageously allows a releasing and retrieving of the towed body 8, without changing the horizontal alignment of the towed body 8 to the tow vehicle 2.
Thus ¨ 12 the maintenance of the minimum radius of curvature of the tow cable 14 is ensured during releasing or retrieving the towed body 8.
The reeling device according to the invention further comprises a winch which is illustrated in detail in Fig. 3. Fig. 3 namely shows a motorized twin winch 46 according to the invention at one side of which an electrically operated motor is arranged and at the other side of which a slip ring 50 is arranged. It is preferable that the slip ring 50 is a combination of electrical and optical slip rings to allow a continuous data and power exchange between the tow vehicle 2 and the tow cable 12 present on the winch 46 even during operation of the winch 46.
The winch 46 is rotatably mounted on a stationary reference frame 51, wherein the reference frame 51 is fixed to the deck 24 of the tow vehicle 2.
The twin winch 46 is divided into a first winch drum 52 and a second winch drum 54 whereby a predetermined gap 56 is provided between the first winch drum 52 and the second winch drum 54.
To avoid damage to the inside of the towed array sonar 4, the tow cables 12, as well as the tow strand 10 may be drummed only with a relatively large radius of curvature. As the tow strand 10 and the tow cables 12, 14 can also have different minimum radii of curvature due to different cross-sections, the winch drums 52, 54 may have different drum diameters.
Preferably, the first tow cable 12 is reeled onto the winch 46 according to the invention on the first winch drum 52 and the second tow cable 14 and the tow strand 10 on the second winch drum 54.
¨ 13 ¨
=
The gap 56 between the winch drums 52, 54 is used for receiving the connector unit 15 according to the invention, because the connector unit 15 due to their construction has a substantially larger radius of curvature than the tow cables 12, 14 and the tow strand 10 and thus can not be stored on one of the two winch drums 52, 54.
To release the towed array sonar 4 first the tow strand 10 is led through a guide block 58 with two guide rollers via the sled 28 into the towed body 8.
Afterwards the second tow cable 14, the connector unit 15 and the first tow cable 12 follow.
Depending on which winch drum 52; 54 is being operated, the guide block 58 follows the tow cable 12, 14 to be wound off or on, the connector unit 15 or the tow strand 10.
By turning of the twin winch 46 according to the invention an automatic releasing or retrieving of the towed arrayed sonar 4 is carried out. The motor drive 48 automatically matches the rotational speed of the winch 46, so that cables of different diameters can be wound off or on at a constant speed.
For automatically releasing or retrieving of the towed array sonar 4, the towed body 8 comprises an embodiment according to the invention, which is further illustrated by fig. 4, 5 and 6.
Fig. 4 shows a schematic sectional view of the towed body 8 for description of the general construction of the towed body 8. This has in a known manner a hollow body 60 with a rigid shell, which is preferably aerodynamically shaped. In the body 60 is arranged a transmitting antenna not shown here with omnidirectional characteristics.
The tubular rear part 62 of the towed body 8 has two the stabilizers forming wings 64 which project radially. Thus, the towed body 8 obtains a very stable trim and a ¨ 14 ¨
good stabilization of the omnidirectional transmitting antenna in the vertical direction when towing.
At the lower end of the body 60 depressors 66 are arranged on both sides. They are used for variably adjusting the towing depth by a dynamic output. Thus, an approximately constant diving depth of the towed body 8 and thus the tow strand can be maintained at different towing speeds, the diving depth of the towed body 8 can be varied by means of the depressors 66.
In the interior of the towed body 8 a sliding guide 68 is introduced to pull through the tow strand 10 and the tow cable 14, which the rear-end opening is widened 10 conically in order to avoid kinking of the tow strand 10 during releasing and retrieving of the tow strand 10.
Fig. 5 shows a schematic sectional view of the towed body 8 with inserted connector unit 15. The connector unit 15 has a first connection unit 72 and a second connection unit 74, whereby the two connection units 72, 74 are arranged with a constant distance 76 to each other as a link between the first tow cable 12 and the second tow cable 14.
The first connection unit 72 allows for an automatic electrical and / or optical connection between the towed body 8 and the tow cables 12, 14 and has for this purpose two connection elements, which are preferably designed as plug connectors.
To establish such a connection, the sliding guide 68 within the towed body 8, in particular substantially centrally of the tubular slide guide 68, a cross-sectional reduction on whose annular surface 78 forms as shown in fig. 4, a connection element of the first connection unit 72.
¨ 15 ¨
The first connection unit 72 further comprises a substantially circular cylindrical shape formed fitting which is firmly attached to the tow cable 14. Here, the fitting is adapted approximately to the diameter of the sliding guide 68. That is, a circular cylindrical portion of the fitting is initially arranged on the tow wire 14, whose diameter corresponds to the cross-sectional reduction of the sliding guide 68, so that this section of the fitting is passed through the cross-sectional reduction during releasing of the towed array sonar 4. In the further course, the fitting has a larger cross section, so that also an annular surface 80 is formed on the fitting which forms the second connection element of the first connection unit 72.
When inserting the connector unit 15 in the towed body 8, the two annular surfaces 78, 80 of the first connection unit 72 are merged automatically.
Preferably, the annular surfaces 78, 80 are configured each with at least one contact point. The contact points can be designed as a plug or socket for establishing an electrical connection between the tow cable 14 and the towed body 8 or a suitable embodiment for the connection of optical fiber to enable an optical connection of the towed body 8 to the tow cable 14 for transmission of optical signals.
In the event that the first connection unit 72 has more than two contact points, at least one contact point has, for example a readout unit to detect the contact allocation. Thus an automatic assignment of the contact allocation can advantageously ensue, so that the plug connection is independent of the position of the contact point, which is dependent of a rotational movement of the tow cable 14 or the fitting attached to the tow cable 14.
Further, it is possible to integrate a positive guide in the interior of the sliding guide 68, which enables an automatic alignment of the connection elements 78, 80 to one another so that the outwardly facing contact pins coincide with the ¨ 16 ¨
inwardly pointing contact openings. The positive guide ensures a corresponding rotational movement of the fitting of the first connection unit 72 during the insertion of the connector unit 15 into the towed body 8.
As shown in Fig. 5, the connector unit 15 has a second connection unit 74 at a constant distance 76 to the first connecting unit 72. The second connection unit 74 also has two connection elements and is used for mechanical coupling of the tow cable 12 with the towed body 8 according to fig. 6. For this purpose, a substantially circular cylindrical shaped fitting is firmly fixed as well to the tow cable 12. Further, two pins 82 are arranged on both sides opposite to the fitting as a first connection element.
For establishing the mechanical coupling, the pins 82 of the second connector unit 74 are introduced into guide grooves 84 provided on both sides of the towed body 8 during insertion of the connector unit 15 into the towed body 8, wherein the guide grooves 84 constitute the second connection element of the second connection unit 74.
After the pins 82 have been guided through a horizontally extending portion 86 of the guide grooves 84 extending on both sides of the towed body, a vertical upward movement of the tow cable 12 can take place. Thus, a movable turning and sliding connection between the tow cable 12 and the towed body 8 is advantageously established. Preferably, the vertical movement of the tow cable 12 is establishd by an upward pivoting of the guide wheel 32 of the reeling device.
The course of the guide grooves 84 together with the constant gap 76 between the connection units 72, 74 and a funnel-shaped end of the fitting of the first connection unit 72 is configured so, that regardless of the pitch angle of the tow ¨ 17 ¨
cable 12 to the towed body 8 the minimum radius of curvature of the tow cable is maintained.
Thus, the mechanical tow point of the towed body 8 with released towed array sonar 4 is not arranged at the electrical or optical connection point but at the pins 82 attached to the tow cable 12. The diving depth of the towed body 8 can be advantageously varied by the decoupling of the electrical / optical connection from the mechanical coupling according to the invention. Different diving depths of the towed body 8 establish different pitch angles of the tow cable 12 to the towed body 8. The pitch angle can be advantageously varied by the turning and sliding connection, whereby the minimum radius of curvature of the tow cable is always maintained.
The release of the turning and sliding connection is made in the reverse manner by moving the tow cable 12 by means of the guide wheel 32 while retrieving the towed array sonar 4 downwards, so that both tow cables 12, 14 are in alignment.
Thereby, the mechanical coupling of the second connection unit 74 to the towed body 8 is released and the connector unit 15 can be towed by winch ing the tow cable 12 onto the winch 46 from the towed body 8.
The device according to the invention with a connector unit 15 described above has the advantage that no manual connection or releasing of the towed body 8 with / from the tow cables 12/14 is provided. The releasing or retrieving operation happens fully automatic and is therefore easily and safely executable for an operator.
Preferably, the releasing or retrieving is monitored by a video system. For this purpose cameras are installed close to the reeling device to display the current status of the released towed array sonar 4.
¨ 18 ¨
Furthermore, the use of a portable control console at release and retrieval of the towed array sonar 4 is conceivable. The signals from the cameras and / or different attached sensors for monitoring of the release or retrieval operation are detected by the control panel, so that each method step can be displayed. Via such an operator console, an operator can monitor the operation and if necessary interrupt the operation at any time.
All the characteristics mentioned in the above description and in the claims can be used according to the invention both individually and in any combination with each other. The disclosure of the invention is hence not restricted to the described or claimed combinations of the characteristics. Rather, all the combinations of individual characteristics should be considered as disclosed.
The invention is therefore based on the problem to improve the reeling device and the method of releasing and retrieving the towed array sonar so that a releasing and retrieving of the towed array sonar is easy and safe to carry out with minimal operator intervention.
According to some embodiments of the invention, there is provided reeling device for releasing and retrieving a towed array sonar towed in water which has at least one tow cable, a towed body, a tow strand and a connector unit for automatically coupling and decoupling of the towed body to/from the tow cable, wherein the connector unit comprises two spaced-apart connection units, wherein in case of connection the two spaced-apart connection units produce respectively one releasable connection between the towed body and the tow cable or the tow cables, so that an electrical and/or optical connection between the towed body and the tow cables as well as a mechanical coupling between the towed body and the tow cable are usable.
According to some embodiments of the invention, there is provided method for releasing and retrieving a towed array sonar towed in water which has at least one tow cable, a towed body and a tow strand, wherein the towed body is automatically coupled to the tow cable or decoupled from the tow cable by means of a connector unit, wherein the connector unit has two spaced apart connection units, which are used for establishing respectively one releasable connection between the towed body and the tow cable, so that an electrical and/or optical connection between the towed body and the tow cables and a mechanical coupling between the towed body and the tow cable are used.
The reeling device according to the invention has a connector unit for this which is configured to connect a towed body of the towed array sonar to a tow cable of the towed array sonar or disconnect from the tow cable. The connector unit has two spaced-apart connecting units, which are useable for the manufacture of =
¨ 3 ¨
each of a releasable connection between the towed body and the tow cable. This is a mechanical coupling as well as an electrical and/or optical connection.
With such a connection unit advantageously a fully automatic releasing or retrieving the entire towed array sonar with towed body and tow strand is possible. Thus, the reeling device according to the invention advantageously provides for more safety for an operator during releasing and retrieving the towed array sonar because no manual operator intervention is now required during normal operation.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the towed body has a sliding guide to guide the tow strand and the tow cable through the towed body. Thus, the towed body advantageously serves as a guide part during releasing and retrieving of a tow strand serving as an acoustic receiver to let this run without damage over the rear edge of the tow vehicle.
According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the sliding guide has a tube shape with two axial openings, whereby the rear-end opening is widened conically. The conical extension of the opening in the sliding guide advantageously serves to avoid a too strong curvature of the tow strand, and the tow cable during releasing or retrieving.
In a further preferred embodiment of the invention a motor-driven rubber conveyor belt is arranged behind the towed body, which supports the releasing and retrieving operation of the tow strand. In order to avoid kinking of the tow strand, and thus to bypass damage to the tow strand, the rubber conveyor belt has a curved surface, which is adapted to the minimum radius of curvature of the tow strand. The rubber conveyor belt serves as a guide for the tow strand and can be swung sideways after the release of the complete tow strand.
¨ 4 ¨
According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the first connection unit is configured as a plug connector with two connection elements, to establish an electrical and/or optical connection between the towed body and the tow cable. Here, one connection element is fixedly arranged on the tow cable and one connection element is arranged on the towed body, wherein the connection element arranged on the towed body can be subsequently introduced into the towed body or already be taken into account in the manufacturing process of the sliding guide.
Preferably, the two connection elements have at least one plug connector as a male part and at least one socket as a female part of the connector for electrical connection of the towed body to the tow cable. However, the connection elements may also have plug connectors of both male and female types or suitable embodiments for optical signal transmission connection for optical fibers to optically bond the towed body to the tow cable. Also multipolar plug connectors as well as several contact points, in particular multiple plug / socket units of the two connection elements are conceivable.
The first connection unit thus advantageously enables a supply of a transmitting antenna arranged in the towed body with electric energy, as well as data exchange between towed body and tow cable, in particular over optical fibers.
According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the tow cable attached to the connection element is configured as a substantially cylindrically designed fitting. This fitting has a larger diameter than the tow cable.
Further, the connection element arranged on the towed body is designed so that a face side of the fitting arranged on the tow cable partially rests on the connection element arranged on the towed body. Preferably, the connection element is designed annular as a constriction of the sliding guide in the towed ¨ 5 ¨
body. This has the advantage that while leading the tow cable through the sliding guide in the towed body the fitting which is arranged on the tow cable gets stuck at the constriction in the sliding guide of the towed body, and thus the outward-facing contact pins with the inward pointing contact openings of the two connection elements establish an electrical or optical plug connection between the tow cable and the towed body.
A further preferred embodiment of the invention provides an automatic recognition and assignment of a contact allocation for more than two contact points of both connection elements. If the two connection elements for producing an electrical and/or optical connection between the towed body and the tow cable have more than two contact points, at least one contact point has a readout unit to recognize the contact allocation of the plug connector. Subsequently, an automatic assignment of the respective contact allocation of the connector takes place such that if more than two contact points establish a connection between towed body and tow cable, the connection is independent of the orientation of the tow cable.
In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, a positive guide is integrated in the sliding guide, which enables an automatic alignment of the connection elements. This has the advantage that the outward facing contact pins are automatically introduced into the inward pointing contact openings, if the two connection elements are brought together. The same applies to the optical plug connections of existing optical fibers, so that an optical connection is automatically established due to the positive guide.
According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the second connection unit is configured with two connection elements to establish a mechanical coupling between the towed body and the tow cable. Here, one connection element is fixedly arranged at the tow cable in the form of two ¨ 6 ¨
opposite pins and one connection element is configured at the towed body as two opposite guide grooves.
Thus, the mechanical tow point of the towed body with released towed array sonar is not arranged at the electrical or optical connection point but advantageously at the pins attached to the tow cable. Via the design of the opposite guide grooves in the towed body a movable turning and sliding connection is made by reception of the two pins. If the tow cable, in particular by means of a guide wheel, is pivoted upwards, the tow cable is mechanically locked with the towed body. If the tow cable is pivoted downward, the connection is unlocked and thus released.
The turning and sliding connection advantageously provides that the minimum radius of curvature of the tow cable can be maintained despite the different pitch angles of the tow cable to the towed body. Since the turning and sliding connection is a movable connection, the pitch angle of the tow cable to the towed body can advantageously vary without straining the pull cable itself, as it would be the case with for example in a simple reinforcement of the tow cable to comply with the minimum radius of curvature.
According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the guide grooves in the towed body show a horizontally proceeding portion. This advantageously allows an automatic bringing together of the two connection elements by insertion of the pins into the horizontally proceeding portion.
In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the connection unit has a constant distance between the connection units, wherein one or both connection units has or have a funnel-shaped end on the side facing one another. Since the second connection unit is a turning and sliding connection and the distance between the connection units is constant, the funnel shape advantageously ¨ 7 provides that the tow cable is neither stretched nor compressed when the pitch angle of the tow cable on the towed body changes due to a varying depth of the towed body.
According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the reeling device according to the invention has a winch with at least two winch drums which are operable by a common motor. Since the tow strand and the tow cable usually have different cross-sections, they have also different minimum allowable radii of curvature. To comply with these radii of curvature for each the tow strand and the tow cable a winch drum with modified drum diameter is required. If the towed array sonar has further tubular sonar sections with a different minimum radius of curvature, a use of further winch drums is conceivable.
A winch with several winch drums advantageously requires only one motor drive, a slip ring and takes up less space on board the towing vehicle than two separately operated winches. Preferably, a gap is provided between the winch drums, which is adapted as to receive the connection unit. Further, the motor of this winch is configured to automatically adjust the speed depending on the winch drum to be unwound.
In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the reeling device has a displacement device with parallelogram guide for automatic releasing and retrieving the towed body into or out of the water, whereby the displacement device is preferably operated hydraulically. The parallelogram guide advantageously allows a releasing or retrieving of the towed body without changing its relative position in space. A change of the position of the towed body could adversely cause the tow cable to be strained beyond its minimum radius of curvature. The towed body thus has the same horizontal orientation as the deck of the tow vehicle.
¨ 8 ¨
To implement the parallelogram guide, the displacement device comprises two arms in the form of two mutually coupled parallelograms on a movable mounting at the base and at the suspension point of the towed body. Such a displacement device advantageously allows a complete immersion of the towed body before releasing of the towed body from this displacement device so that a release of the towed body is possible even in rough seas.
The invention solves the above-mentioned task further with a method to releasing and retrieving a towed array sonar in water comprising at least one tow cable, a towed body and a tow strand. The method according to the invention advantageously enables an automatic connection and disconnection of the towed body to or from the tow cable via a connection unit. For this purpose, the connector unit has two spaced apart connection units, which are used for producing of respectively one detachable connection between the towed body and the tow cable, in particular an electrical and/or optical connection and a mechanical coupling.
Advantageously, no operator needs to be present on the open deck of the tow vehicle during the normal releasing or retrieving operation. Thus the method according to the invention is easy and safe for an operator to perform.
According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the release and retrieval of the towed array sonar is monitored by a video system. The video system is preferably installed close to the winch and displays the current status of the released towed array sonar.
In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, each process step for releasing and retrieving of the towed array sonar is displayed at a control panel, in particular a portable control panel.
¨ 9 ¨
The reeling device preferably has a plurality of sensors for monitoring the release operation or the retrieval operation of the towed array sonar. Via the operator console, an operator can monitor the process and if necessary interrupt at any time.
Further advantageous embodiments of the invention emerge from the dependent claims and also in connection with the accompanying drawings illustrated in detailed embodiment examples. In the drawing is shown:
Fig. 1 a schematic representation of a tow vehicle with a towed towed array sonar, Fig. 2 a schematic representation of a reeling device arranged on the deck of a tow vehicle, Fig. 3 a schematic representation of a winch device, Fig. 4 a schematic sectional representation of a side view of the towed body, Fig. 5 a schematic sectional view of the side view of the towed body with introduced connector unit and Fig. 6 a schematic sectional view of the side view of the towed body with connected connector unit and Fig. 1 shows a schematic representation of a surface vessel as tow vehicle 2, which draws a towed array sonar 4 through the surrounding water 6, whereby the towed array sonar 4 in a known manner has a towed body 8 as acoustic transmitter part and a tow strand 10 as acoustic receiver unit. The towed body ¨10¨
*
is connected via a first tow cable 12 to the tow vehicle 2. A second tow cable connects the towed body 8 to the tow strand 10, in which a receiving antenna is arranged in a tubular sheath with a plurality of successively arranged hydrophones. A connector unit 15 according to the invention, however, only partially shown in Fig. 1 is located between the first tow cable 12 and the second tow cable 14 to connect the tow cables 12, 14 to one another and to the towed body 8. In order to improve the hydrodynamic properties of the towed array sonar 4, the tow cables can be 12, 14 designed with a streamlined cover.
Furthermore, the tow strand 10 typically has an end piece 18 to stretch the receiving antenna 16 by generating a pulling force via the end piece 18 in a direction opposite to the towing. Finally, one or more attenuation modules 20 for acoustic decoupling of the receiving antenna 16 from the tow cable 14 and the end piece 18 are arranged on the tow strand 10.
To release and retrieve the towed array sonar 4 from the tow vehicle 2 a reeling device is present on board the tow vehicle 2. Fig. 2 shows a detail of a reeling device according to the invention for automatic releasing and retrieving of a towed array sonar 4 during a release or retrieval operation. For this purpose a sled 28 is arranged on the deck 24 of the tow vehicle 2 mounted on rails 26, to which a displacement device 30 is movably mounted. Further, the sled 28 and the displacement device 30 each have a guide wheel 32 which can be mounted at different heights for guiding the tow strand 10 or the tow cables 12, 14.
At the back of the sled 28 two rotatably mounted rollers 34 are arranged with vertical axes of rotation, between which the tow strand 10 or the tow cables 12, 14 are guided.
The tow strand 10 according to Fig. 1 is guided by a winch, not shown here, but explained in detail in Fig. 3, through the rollers 34 and the guide wheels 32 automatically through the towed body 8.
11 ¨
Behind the towed body 8, a rubber conveyor belt 38 is optionally arranged to release the tow strand 10 from the towed body 8 via the rear wall 40 of the tow vehicle 2 into the surrounding water 6, whereby a minimum radius of curvature of the tow strand 10 is maintained by the arched shape of the rubber conveyor belt 38. In support of the release or retrieval operation the rubber conveyor belt 38 is preferably provided with an electric drive. The rubber conveyor belt 38 serves as a guide for the tow strand and can be swung sideways after the release of the complete tow strand 10.
The tow strand 10 as well as the second tow cable 14 are guided during releasing of towed array sonar 4 by the towed body 8 as long until the connector unit 15 is inserted in the towed body 8 and then automatically establishes an electrical and / or optical connection between the towed body 8 and the tow cables 12, 14. To establish a mechanical coupling between the tow cables 12, and the towed body 8 at least one guide wheel 32 is vertically pivoted upwardly so that the tow cable 12 is raised by the guide wheel 32 and thus changes its pitch angle to the towed body 8. The automatic tying of the towed body 8 to the tow cables 12, 14 by means of the connector unit 15 is explained with reference to Figs. 4 to 6 in detail below.
After the automatic tying of the towed body 8 to the tow cables 12, 14 the sled 28 is moved on the rails 26 to the rear wall 40, so that the towed body 8 projects beyond the rear wall 40 of the tow vehicle 2 and the displacement device 30 can bring the towed body 8 fastened to a saddle 42 into the water 6.
The displacement device 30 comprises two arms in form of parallelograms coupled together, in order to attach the towed body 8 with the saddle 42 to the sled 28. The guide of the parallelogram of the displacement device 30 advantageously allows a releasing and retrieving of the towed body 8, without changing the horizontal alignment of the towed body 8 to the tow vehicle 2.
Thus ¨ 12 the maintenance of the minimum radius of curvature of the tow cable 14 is ensured during releasing or retrieving the towed body 8.
The reeling device according to the invention further comprises a winch which is illustrated in detail in Fig. 3. Fig. 3 namely shows a motorized twin winch 46 according to the invention at one side of which an electrically operated motor is arranged and at the other side of which a slip ring 50 is arranged. It is preferable that the slip ring 50 is a combination of electrical and optical slip rings to allow a continuous data and power exchange between the tow vehicle 2 and the tow cable 12 present on the winch 46 even during operation of the winch 46.
The winch 46 is rotatably mounted on a stationary reference frame 51, wherein the reference frame 51 is fixed to the deck 24 of the tow vehicle 2.
The twin winch 46 is divided into a first winch drum 52 and a second winch drum 54 whereby a predetermined gap 56 is provided between the first winch drum 52 and the second winch drum 54.
To avoid damage to the inside of the towed array sonar 4, the tow cables 12, as well as the tow strand 10 may be drummed only with a relatively large radius of curvature. As the tow strand 10 and the tow cables 12, 14 can also have different minimum radii of curvature due to different cross-sections, the winch drums 52, 54 may have different drum diameters.
Preferably, the first tow cable 12 is reeled onto the winch 46 according to the invention on the first winch drum 52 and the second tow cable 14 and the tow strand 10 on the second winch drum 54.
¨ 13 ¨
=
The gap 56 between the winch drums 52, 54 is used for receiving the connector unit 15 according to the invention, because the connector unit 15 due to their construction has a substantially larger radius of curvature than the tow cables 12, 14 and the tow strand 10 and thus can not be stored on one of the two winch drums 52, 54.
To release the towed array sonar 4 first the tow strand 10 is led through a guide block 58 with two guide rollers via the sled 28 into the towed body 8.
Afterwards the second tow cable 14, the connector unit 15 and the first tow cable 12 follow.
Depending on which winch drum 52; 54 is being operated, the guide block 58 follows the tow cable 12, 14 to be wound off or on, the connector unit 15 or the tow strand 10.
By turning of the twin winch 46 according to the invention an automatic releasing or retrieving of the towed arrayed sonar 4 is carried out. The motor drive 48 automatically matches the rotational speed of the winch 46, so that cables of different diameters can be wound off or on at a constant speed.
For automatically releasing or retrieving of the towed array sonar 4, the towed body 8 comprises an embodiment according to the invention, which is further illustrated by fig. 4, 5 and 6.
Fig. 4 shows a schematic sectional view of the towed body 8 for description of the general construction of the towed body 8. This has in a known manner a hollow body 60 with a rigid shell, which is preferably aerodynamically shaped. In the body 60 is arranged a transmitting antenna not shown here with omnidirectional characteristics.
The tubular rear part 62 of the towed body 8 has two the stabilizers forming wings 64 which project radially. Thus, the towed body 8 obtains a very stable trim and a ¨ 14 ¨
good stabilization of the omnidirectional transmitting antenna in the vertical direction when towing.
At the lower end of the body 60 depressors 66 are arranged on both sides. They are used for variably adjusting the towing depth by a dynamic output. Thus, an approximately constant diving depth of the towed body 8 and thus the tow strand can be maintained at different towing speeds, the diving depth of the towed body 8 can be varied by means of the depressors 66.
In the interior of the towed body 8 a sliding guide 68 is introduced to pull through the tow strand 10 and the tow cable 14, which the rear-end opening is widened 10 conically in order to avoid kinking of the tow strand 10 during releasing and retrieving of the tow strand 10.
Fig. 5 shows a schematic sectional view of the towed body 8 with inserted connector unit 15. The connector unit 15 has a first connection unit 72 and a second connection unit 74, whereby the two connection units 72, 74 are arranged with a constant distance 76 to each other as a link between the first tow cable 12 and the second tow cable 14.
The first connection unit 72 allows for an automatic electrical and / or optical connection between the towed body 8 and the tow cables 12, 14 and has for this purpose two connection elements, which are preferably designed as plug connectors.
To establish such a connection, the sliding guide 68 within the towed body 8, in particular substantially centrally of the tubular slide guide 68, a cross-sectional reduction on whose annular surface 78 forms as shown in fig. 4, a connection element of the first connection unit 72.
¨ 15 ¨
The first connection unit 72 further comprises a substantially circular cylindrical shape formed fitting which is firmly attached to the tow cable 14. Here, the fitting is adapted approximately to the diameter of the sliding guide 68. That is, a circular cylindrical portion of the fitting is initially arranged on the tow wire 14, whose diameter corresponds to the cross-sectional reduction of the sliding guide 68, so that this section of the fitting is passed through the cross-sectional reduction during releasing of the towed array sonar 4. In the further course, the fitting has a larger cross section, so that also an annular surface 80 is formed on the fitting which forms the second connection element of the first connection unit 72.
When inserting the connector unit 15 in the towed body 8, the two annular surfaces 78, 80 of the first connection unit 72 are merged automatically.
Preferably, the annular surfaces 78, 80 are configured each with at least one contact point. The contact points can be designed as a plug or socket for establishing an electrical connection between the tow cable 14 and the towed body 8 or a suitable embodiment for the connection of optical fiber to enable an optical connection of the towed body 8 to the tow cable 14 for transmission of optical signals.
In the event that the first connection unit 72 has more than two contact points, at least one contact point has, for example a readout unit to detect the contact allocation. Thus an automatic assignment of the contact allocation can advantageously ensue, so that the plug connection is independent of the position of the contact point, which is dependent of a rotational movement of the tow cable 14 or the fitting attached to the tow cable 14.
Further, it is possible to integrate a positive guide in the interior of the sliding guide 68, which enables an automatic alignment of the connection elements 78, 80 to one another so that the outwardly facing contact pins coincide with the ¨ 16 ¨
inwardly pointing contact openings. The positive guide ensures a corresponding rotational movement of the fitting of the first connection unit 72 during the insertion of the connector unit 15 into the towed body 8.
As shown in Fig. 5, the connector unit 15 has a second connection unit 74 at a constant distance 76 to the first connecting unit 72. The second connection unit 74 also has two connection elements and is used for mechanical coupling of the tow cable 12 with the towed body 8 according to fig. 6. For this purpose, a substantially circular cylindrical shaped fitting is firmly fixed as well to the tow cable 12. Further, two pins 82 are arranged on both sides opposite to the fitting as a first connection element.
For establishing the mechanical coupling, the pins 82 of the second connector unit 74 are introduced into guide grooves 84 provided on both sides of the towed body 8 during insertion of the connector unit 15 into the towed body 8, wherein the guide grooves 84 constitute the second connection element of the second connection unit 74.
After the pins 82 have been guided through a horizontally extending portion 86 of the guide grooves 84 extending on both sides of the towed body, a vertical upward movement of the tow cable 12 can take place. Thus, a movable turning and sliding connection between the tow cable 12 and the towed body 8 is advantageously established. Preferably, the vertical movement of the tow cable 12 is establishd by an upward pivoting of the guide wheel 32 of the reeling device.
The course of the guide grooves 84 together with the constant gap 76 between the connection units 72, 74 and a funnel-shaped end of the fitting of the first connection unit 72 is configured so, that regardless of the pitch angle of the tow ¨ 17 ¨
cable 12 to the towed body 8 the minimum radius of curvature of the tow cable is maintained.
Thus, the mechanical tow point of the towed body 8 with released towed array sonar 4 is not arranged at the electrical or optical connection point but at the pins 82 attached to the tow cable 12. The diving depth of the towed body 8 can be advantageously varied by the decoupling of the electrical / optical connection from the mechanical coupling according to the invention. Different diving depths of the towed body 8 establish different pitch angles of the tow cable 12 to the towed body 8. The pitch angle can be advantageously varied by the turning and sliding connection, whereby the minimum radius of curvature of the tow cable is always maintained.
The release of the turning and sliding connection is made in the reverse manner by moving the tow cable 12 by means of the guide wheel 32 while retrieving the towed array sonar 4 downwards, so that both tow cables 12, 14 are in alignment.
Thereby, the mechanical coupling of the second connection unit 74 to the towed body 8 is released and the connector unit 15 can be towed by winch ing the tow cable 12 onto the winch 46 from the towed body 8.
The device according to the invention with a connector unit 15 described above has the advantage that no manual connection or releasing of the towed body 8 with / from the tow cables 12/14 is provided. The releasing or retrieving operation happens fully automatic and is therefore easily and safely executable for an operator.
Preferably, the releasing or retrieving is monitored by a video system. For this purpose cameras are installed close to the reeling device to display the current status of the released towed array sonar 4.
¨ 18 ¨
Furthermore, the use of a portable control console at release and retrieval of the towed array sonar 4 is conceivable. The signals from the cameras and / or different attached sensors for monitoring of the release or retrieval operation are detected by the control panel, so that each method step can be displayed. Via such an operator console, an operator can monitor the operation and if necessary interrupt the operation at any time.
All the characteristics mentioned in the above description and in the claims can be used according to the invention both individually and in any combination with each other. The disclosure of the invention is hence not restricted to the described or claimed combinations of the characteristics. Rather, all the combinations of individual characteristics should be considered as disclosed.
Claims (15)
1. Reeling device for releasing and retrieving a towed array sonar towed in water which has at least one tow cable, a towed body, a tow strand and a connector unit for automatically coupling and decoupling of the towed body to/from the tow cable, wherein the connector unit comprises two spaced-apart connection units, wherein in case of connection the two spaced-apart connection units produce respectively one releasable connection between the towed body and the tow cable or the tow cables, so that an electrical and/or optical connection between the towed body and the tow cables as well as a mechanical coupling between the towed body and the tow cable are usable.
2. Reeling device according to claim 1, further comprising a sliding guide in the towed body, for guiding the tow strand and the tow cable through the towed body.
3. Reeling device according to claim 2, further comprising a tubular embodiment of the sliding guide with two axial openings, wherein the rear-side opening of the sliding guide is widened conically.
4. Reeling device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising an embodiment of the first connection unit as a plug connector having two connection elements for producing an electrical and/or optical connection between the towed body and the tow cable, wherein one connection element is fixedly arranged on the tow cable and one connection element is arranged in the towed body.
5. Reeling device according to claim 4, further comprising an embodiment of the connection element attached to the tow cables having a substantially cylindrical fitting, which has a larger diameter than the tow cable and an embodiment of the connection element arranged at the towed body in such a way that an end face of the fitting of the connection element attached to the tow cable partially rests on the connection element arranged on the towed body.
6. Reeling device according to claim 4, further comprising an automatic recognition and assignment of a contact allocation with more than two contact points of the two connection elements for producing an electrical and/or optical connection between the towed body and the tow cable.
7. Reeling device according to any one of claims 4 to 6, further comprising a positive guide, which is integrated in the sliding guide, to allow automatic alignment of the connection elements.
8. Reeling device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising an embodiment of the second connection unit having two connection elements for establishing the mechanical coupling between the towed body and the tow cable, wherein one connection element is fixedly arranged on the towed cable as two opposing pins and one connection element is arranged in the towed body as guide grooves.
9. Reeling device according to claim 8, further comprising a horizontally extending portion of the guide grooves on the towed body.
10. Reeling device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, further comprising an embodiment of the connector unit with a constant gap between the connection units, wherein one or both connection units have a funnel-shaped end on the side facing one another.
11. Reeling device according to any one of claims 1 to 10, further comprising a winch with at least two winch drums which are operable by a common motor.
12. Reeling device according to any one of claims 1 to 11, further comprising a displacement device with parallelogram guide for releasing and retrieving of the towed body into or out of the water.
13. Method for releasing and retrieving a towed array sonar towed in water which has at least one tow cable, a towed body and a tow strand, wherein the towed body is automatically coupled to the tow cable or decoupled from the tow cable by means of a connector unit, wherein the connector unit has two spaced apart connection units, which are used for establishing respectively one releasable connection between the towed body and the tow cable, so that an electrical and/or optical connection between the towed body and the tow cables and a mechanical coupling between the towed body and the tow cable are used.
14. Method according to claim 13, wherein the releasing and retrieving of the towed array sonar is monitored by a video system.
15. Method according to claim 13 or 14 wherein each method step for releasing and retrieving of the towed array sonar is displayed on an operator console.
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| DE102013105593.1 | 2013-05-30 | ||
| DE102013105593.1A DE102013105593A1 (en) | 2013-05-30 | 2013-05-30 | Transfer device and method for deploying and retrieving a towing sonar |
| PCT/DE2014/100143 WO2014190973A1 (en) | 2013-05-30 | 2014-04-25 | Reeling device and method for releasing and retrieving a towed array sonar |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2909164A1 CA2909164A1 (en) | 2014-12-04 |
| CA2909164C true CA2909164C (en) | 2017-11-07 |
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| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA2909164A Active CA2909164C (en) | 2013-05-30 | 2014-04-25 | Reeling device and method for releasing and retrieving a towed array sonar |
Country Status (4)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| EP (1) | EP3003844B1 (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2909164C (en) |
| DE (1) | DE102013105593A1 (en) |
| WO (1) | WO2014190973A1 (en) |
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| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US10457356B2 (en) | 2015-02-27 | 2019-10-29 | Thales | Method for handling a faired cable towed by a vessel |
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| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB2517756B (en) | 2013-08-30 | 2018-01-31 | Polarcus Dmcc | Winch for composite seismic cable |
| DE102015100735A1 (en) * | 2015-01-20 | 2016-07-21 | Atlas Elektronik Gmbh | Underwater cable manufacturing method, submarine cable, submarine cable, towing sonar and vehicle |
| NO337664B1 (en) * | 2015-04-09 | 2016-05-30 | Inapril As | Node handling device |
| DE102015117482A1 (en) * | 2015-10-14 | 2017-04-20 | Atlas Elektronik Gmbh | Towing body for towing in the water, towed antenna, towed sonar, spreader and ship with a towed body |
| FR3045953B1 (en) * | 2015-12-21 | 2018-01-12 | Dcns | COMMUNICATION BUOY AND AQUATIC VEHICLE COMPRISING SUCH A BUOY |
| FR3046129B1 (en) * | 2015-12-24 | 2019-01-25 | Kietta | AUTONOMOUS SURFACE SHIP |
| US10270541B2 (en) * | 2016-04-27 | 2019-04-23 | Magseis Ff Llc | Optical link management |
| FR3054890B1 (en) | 2016-08-02 | 2019-07-05 | Kietta | CHECKING THE HORIZONTAL POSITION OF A SEISMIC CABLE |
| DE102018201251A1 (en) * | 2018-01-26 | 2019-08-01 | Fugro N.V. | Detecting objects that are submerged in a body of water or at least partially hidden in a body of water |
| CN110816789B (en) * | 2018-08-09 | 2021-03-16 | 上海中车艾森迪海洋装备有限公司 | Underwater exploration system |
| DE102019202604A1 (en) * | 2019-02-26 | 2020-08-27 | Atlas Elektronik Gmbh | Drag sonar carrier |
| DE102019203090A1 (en) | 2019-03-06 | 2020-01-09 | Atlas Elektronik Gmbh | Watercraft with a towing sonar |
| RU193837U1 (en) * | 2019-05-14 | 2019-11-18 | Акционерное Общество "Концерн "Океанприбор" | HYDRODYNAMIC MUFFLER FOR A HYDROACOUSTIC STATION WITH A FLEXIBLE TOWED ANTENNA FOR A SPREAD SHIP |
| FR3101848B1 (en) * | 2019-10-10 | 2022-01-28 | Thales Sa | UNDERWATER DEVICE TRAILER AND UNDERWATER DEVICE HANDLING SYSTEM |
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| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DE19516727C1 (en) | 1995-05-06 | 1996-02-22 | Stn Atlas Elektronik Gmbh | Underwater sound transmitter for bistatic towed sonar location array |
| DE19719306C2 (en) | 1997-05-07 | 2000-05-18 | Stn Atlas Elektronik Gmbh | Towed body |
| FR2907263B1 (en) * | 2006-10-13 | 2010-06-04 | Thales Sa | DEVICE FOR AUTOMATICALLY ARRIMINATING AND DETRATING A SONAR TRANSMITTER TRAILING TO A TOWING LINE OF AN ACTIVE SONAR. |
| FR2925231B1 (en) * | 2007-12-18 | 2009-11-27 | Thales Sa | TRANSMIT SONAR ANTENNA WITH VERTICAL AXIS WINDABLE ON A WINCH |
| FR2982579B1 (en) * | 2011-11-10 | 2015-12-25 | Thales Sa | ARTICULATED CHAUMARD TOWING DEVICE |
| FR2994559B1 (en) * | 2012-08-17 | 2015-06-05 | Thales Sa | DEVICE FOR LAUNCHING THE RECOVERY OF A SONAR TRAILER |
-
2013
- 2013-05-30 DE DE102013105593.1A patent/DE102013105593A1/en not_active Withdrawn
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2014
- 2014-04-25 EP EP14728420.2A patent/EP3003844B1/en active Active
- 2014-04-25 WO PCT/DE2014/100143 patent/WO2014190973A1/en active Application Filing
- 2014-04-25 CA CA2909164A patent/CA2909164C/en active Active
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US10457356B2 (en) | 2015-02-27 | 2019-10-29 | Thales | Method for handling a faired cable towed by a vessel |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| CA2909164A1 (en) | 2014-12-04 |
| EP3003844A1 (en) | 2016-04-13 |
| EP3003844B1 (en) | 2020-05-06 |
| WO2014190973A1 (en) | 2014-12-04 |
| DE102013105593A1 (en) | 2014-12-04 |
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