CA2997196C

CA2997196C - Sound transducer assembly, towed array sonar, winch, towboat and deployment and retrieval method

Info

Publication number: CA2997196C
Application number: CA2997196A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Thorsten Bochentin
Original assignee: Atlas Elektronik GmbH
Current assignee: Atlas Elektronik GmbH
Priority date: 2015-09-17
Filing date: 2016-08-29
Publication date: 2021-03-02
Anticipated expiration: 2036-08-29
Also published as: WO2017045665A1; CA2997196A1; DE102015115693A1; EP3350627A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a sound transducer assembly for receiving and/or transmitting waterborne sound signals, wherein the sound transducer assembly has a first antenna with a plurality of sound transducers and a first towing cable, and wherein the sound transducer assembly can be pulled in the water by a towboat, and the first antenna and/or the first towing cable have or has a coupling element or a plurality of coupling elements, with the result that the first antenna and/or the first towing cable can be reversibly connected to a second antenna and/or a second towing cable. Furthermore, the invention relates to a towed array sonar, a winch for a towboat, a towboat and a method for deploying and/or retrieving a sound transducer assembly and/or a towed array sonar and for receiving and/or transmitting waterborne sound signals.

Description

Sound transducer assembly, towed array sonar, winch, towboat and deployment and retrieval method FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[01] The invention relates to a sound transducer assembly for receiving and/or transmitting waterborne sound signals, wherein the sound transducer assembly has a first antenna with a plurality of sound transducers and a first towing cable and wherein the sound transducer assembly can be pulled in the water by means of a towboat. Furthermore, the invention relates to a towed array sonar for receiving and/or transmitting waterborne sound signals, a winch for a towboat, a towboat and method for deploying and/or retrieving a sound transducer assembly and/or a towed array sonar and for receiving and/or transmitting waterborne sound signals by means of a sound transducer assembly.
BACKGROUND

[02] Conventional towed array sonar systems usually have a buoyancy-neutral reception antenna with hydrophones whose running depth (towing depth) is set by means of the length and/or the density of the deployed the towing cable and the velocity of the towboat. In this context, the towing depth is always a compromise between coverage of the water column and the maximum horizontal location-determining range.

[03] Generally, the location-determining performance depends on the profile of the speed of sound plotted against the depth of the water. A disruption in the location-determining process can occur as a result of sound anomalies arising at what is referred to as a thermocline and/or convergence zone (junction between water layers with different temperatures, pressures etc.). Owing to the locally high refraction of the soundwaves, a thermocline acts like a reflective horizontal separating wall for the sonar Date Recue/Date Received 2020-06-23 location-determining process, wherein the waterborne sound is deflected to form a series of curves which curve to the surface of the water and to the seafloor. With the exception of very small angles, sonar systems can only determine locations on the side of the thermocline on which they are located themselves.
Convergence zones arise, in particular, as a result of the fact that sound beams are bent in the water in such way that blind zones and zones with compression are produced. While the compression effect permits on an individual basis relatively large location-determining ranges, the blind zones or shadow zones prevent continuous determination of locations.

[04] The thermocline problem can conventionally be avoided by positioning two physically separate sonar systems respectively above and below the thermocline. In a customary procedure, for example a submarine selectively positions its towed array sonar on the one side of the thermocline, while the submarine itself remains with its sonar systems attached to the hull on the other side of the thermocline, and performs location-determining processes there. Therefore, it is also possible to avoid and/or utilize blind zones or shadow zones which occur when there are convergence phenomena.

[05] However, a surface vessel with its sonar systems mounted fixedly on the hull has a higher intrinsic interference level and is therefore limited in its application-determining performance. For this reason, the procedure described above is suitable only to a limited degree for surface craft. Also, in contrast to submarines, with such surface craft it is not possible to freely select the position which the sonar systems mounted on the hull will assume in the water column.

[06] Surface craft can overcome this problem by having two separate towed array sonar systems each with a separate winch, wherein the respective sound transducers are then positioned above and below the thermocline.

Date Recue/Date Received 2020-06-23

[07] The large requirement for space and weight on board the towboat are disadvantageous here. In addition there is the risk of the large number of different towing cables becoming intertwined and/or twisted, resulting in an increased risk of drag loss. In addition, when a plurality of individual towed array sonar systems are used there is a large amount of expenditure on operator control and care.
SUMMARY

[08] The object of the invention is to improve the prior art.

[09] The object is achieved by means of a sound transducer assembly for receiving and/or transmitting waterborne sound signals, wherein the sound transducer assembly has a first antenna with a plurality of sound transducers and a first towing cable, and wherein the sound transducer assembly can be pulled in the water by a towboat, and the first antenna and/or the first towing cable have or has a coupling element or a plurality of coupling elements, with the result that the first antenna and/or the first towing cable can be reversibly connected to a second antenna and/or a second towing cable.

[10] Some embodiments provide a sound transducer assembly for receiving or transmitting waterborne sound signals, wherein the sound transducer assembly has a first antenna with a plurality of sound transducers and a first towing cable, and wherein the sound transducer assembly is configured to be pulled in the water by a towboat, wherein the first antenna, the first towing cable, or both the first antenna and the first towing cable has or have a coupling element or a plurality of coupling elements, with the result that one or both of the first antenna and the first towing cable are reversibly connectable in parallel to a second antenna or a second towing cable; and wherein the sound transducer assembly comprises the second antenna or the second towing cable, with the result that when making a connection the first antenna and the second antenna are spaced apart in the water when the Date Recue/Date Received 2020-06-23 coupling element opens or the plurality of the coupling elements open.

[11] As result of the fact that two antennas can be connected and disconnected again by means of coupling elements, they can be used separately above and below a thermocline and provide better coverage of the water column in the profile of the speed of sound. It is therefore possible to carry out a location-determining process, in particular, even with a highly pronounced thermocline and/or convergence zone.

[12] Consequently, the coverage of the water column and the maximum location-determining range can be optimized simultaneously.

[13] Furthermore, the distance between the antennas can be set by means of the number and/or the positions of the uncoupled (opened) coupling elements and/or by means of the pulling speed of the towboat.

[14] It is therefore possible both to optimize and to vary the relative running depths of the antennas during the towing process. Selectively opening individual coupling elements permits the relative running depths of the antennas with respect to one another to be varied. The distance between the antennas in the water column is increased by opening coupling elements.

[15] A significant idea of the invention is that on board a towboat a first antenna with a towing cable is connected via coupling elements to a second antenna with a second towing cable, and in the water some of the coupling elements are opened, with the result that the two antennas become spatially separated and are positioned at different running depths during the towing process.

[16] As result, the connected antennas and towing cables are handled jointly on board and require less space. There is Date Recue/Date Received 2020-06-23 therefore also no risk of the antennas and towing cables becoming intertwined during the deployment and/or retrieval processes.

[17] The following terms are to be understood as follows:

[18] A "sound transducer assembly" is, in particular, an assembly of a plurality of sound transducers for receiving and/or transmitting waterborne sound signals. The sound transducer assembly can be, particular, a trailing antenna and/or a towed array sonar. In addition to an antenna or a plurality of antennas, the sound transducer assembly also has, in particular, a towing cable or a plurality of towing cables.

[19] The term "waterborne sound signals" is to be understood as meaning, in particular, sound signals which are emitted and/or received in the water.

[20] An "antenna" is, in particular, a technical device for transmitting and/or receiving sound waves. An antenna is, in particular, a liquid- and/or gel-filled hose sheath in which a plurality of spaced apart electro-acoustic sound transducers are arranged in a row. The antenna has, in particular, passive sound transducers, such as, for example, hydrophones, which receive waterborne sound signals. For the acoustic isolation with respect to the towing cable (also referred to as pulling rope or pulling cable), the antenna has, in particular, a damping module or a plurality of damping modules. An antenna is, in particular, a trailing antenna for extending the antenna, and, in particular, an end piece can be arranged at the end which floats freely in the water.

[21] A "sound transducer" is, in particular, a device for transmitting and/or receiving acoustic underwater sound signals such as is used in active and/or passive sonar systems. The sound transducer receives underwater sound signals and converts them into an electrical signal for further processing (receiver) and/or converts an electrical signal into an acoustic signal, Date Recue/Date Received 2020-06-23 wherein the latter is emitted (transmitter). For example, hydrophones are used underwater as sound transducers, in order to pick up underwater sound there. In this context, a hydrophone converts the waterborne sound into an electrical variable corresponding to the sound pressure. In the case of use underwater, in particular a frequency range between approximately 10Hz and 1MHz is used.

[22] A "towing cable" (also referred to as pulling cable or pulling rope) is, in particular, a cable which sets a mechanical process in train through pulling. In particular, the pulling cable transmits the pulling force of the towboat to a trailing antenna, with the result that the latter is towed in the water.
In order to transmit the towing force as far as possible without delay or loss, the towing cable is, in particular, embodied in a stretch-resistant fashion, for example as a solid wire. In particular, the towing cable also has one or more lines for exchanging data and/or for transmitting energy.

[23] A "coupling element" (also referred to as connecting element) is, in particular, an element for the detachable, reversible connection of two antennas and/or two towing cables and/or an antenna and a towing cable. In particular, the coupling element can be arranged on one antenna and connect to a second antenna, or the coupling element can be arranged divided between the two antennas. A coupling element can be, for example, a sheath which is arranged in such a way that it can be slid onto both antennas. In particular, the coupling element can have an electromagnet, with the result to form a connection the components of the electromagnetic coupling element which are arranged, for example, on both antennas are attracted, and to bring about disconnection of the antennas the two components of the electromagnet on the two antennas repel one another. For this purpose, for example coils through which current flows are arranged on the coupling elements, assigned to one another, of the two antennas. The coupling element can be arranged, in Date Recue/Date Received 2020-06-23 particular, as an elongated element along the antenna and/or the towing cable, or a plurality of coupling elements can be arranged at different positions at a predefined distance along the length of the antenna and/or of the towing cable. In particular, the coupling elements can be spaced equally apart along the antenna and/or the towing cable or be at different distances. In particular, the coupling elements of two antennas and/or towing cables which are to be connected are arranged respectively opposite one another on the same length, with the result that the antennas and/or towing cables are connected in a flush fashion and no loops are produced by lengths which are not connected. The coupling elements can, in particular, assume different shapes. In particular, a coupling element can be arranged as a uniform ring about a trailing antenna and/or a towing cable, and/or the coupling element itself has an irregular shape. For example, the coupling element can be attached by flanges to the direct connecting location and/or the coupling elements can have more material and/or more density and/or a different shape and/or a different orientation of the magnetic field on the side opposite the connecting location, with the result that this side of the antenna and/or of the towing cable is pulled downward. In particular, the orientation of the antenna and/or of the towing cable in the water can also be influenced by the shape of the coupling element. In particular, the distance between two antennas in the water column is increased by opening coupling elements. In order to close the coupling elements, in particular the towed array sonar is retrieved to such an extent that the distance between the two antennas is reduced, with the result that the coupling elements can be closed again.

[24] The term "reversibly connectable" is understood to mean, in particular, that the connection of the antennas and/or of the towing cables via a coupling element or a plurality of coupling elements is reversible, with the result that the connection can Date Recue/Date Received 2020-06-23 be released again. In particular, the coupling elements can be repeatedly connected and released.

[25] In a further development of the sound transducer assembly, the coupling element has, or the coupling elements have, a switching element, in particular an electromechanical switch.

[26] As a result, the coupling element or the coupling elements can be opened or closed in a targeted fashion, with the result that the antennas and/or the towing cables can connect to one another or be released from one another. In addition, the switching element can be actuated and switched by a controller.
Therefore, some of a plurality of coupling elements can be opened and/or closed in a targeted fashion.

[27] Consequently, it is possible to open one or more coupling elements in a targeted fashion by actuating the switching element or switching elements after the deployment of the connected antennas and towing cables into the water. The distance between the antennas in the water can be set by the targeted opening of the coupling element and/or coupling elements. Consequently, the running depth and orientation of the antennas with respect to one another can be set in conjunction with the pulling speed of the towboat.

[28] A "switching element" is, in particular, a component which establishes or disconnects an electrically conductive connection (switching contact) by means of two electrically conductive materials or a semiconductor element. As result, in particular the switching element causes a coupling element to open or close, with the result that two antennas and/or two towing cables and/or an antenna and a towing cable are disconnected and/or connected.
In particular, the switching element can be actuated by a controller, in particular by a control unit of a sonar system and/or of the towboat.

Date Recue/Date Received 2020-06-23

[29] In order to be able to use two antennas at different running depths in the water, the sound transducer assembly has a second antenna and/or a second towing cable, with the result that when making a connection the first antenna and the second antenna can be spaced apart in the water when the coupling element opens or a plurality of the coupling elements open.

[30] As result, two antennas can be positioned in a targeted fashion at different water depths and oriented horizontally. One antenna can preferably be positioned above, and the second antenna below, a thermocline, with the result that an interference-free location-determining process is possible.

[31] It is in particular advantageous that in one embodiment variant the direct arrangement of two antennas with differing architecture, a thin long antenna (thin line array) and a relatively thick, so-called triplet antenna or quadlet antenna, relatively near one on top of the other in the water column, permits, on the one hand, a spatial location-determining process with a relatively large range and, on the other hand, a right-left differentiation of the detection.

[32] Therefore, a relatively large range and/or better resolution with two low-frequency antennas with different designs can be achieved. The coupling elements are mounted here on the antennas and towing cables in such a way that the relatively thick and relatively short triplet antenna or quadlet antenna is positioned centrally above the thin line array.

[33] In a further development of the sound transducer assembly, the sound transducer assembly has a third antenna and/or third towing cable and/or a fourth antenna and/or a fourth towing cable and/or a fifth antenna and/or a fifth towing cable and/or further antennas and/or further towing cables.

[34] Therefore, optimum "illumination" of the water column can be achieved while avoiding blind zones and shadow zones, and at Date Recue/Date Received 2020-06-23 the same time the maximum horizontal location-determining range can be improved. In addition, by using a plurality of antennas with different designs and/or with different frequency ranges it is also possible to improve the location-determining quality and location-determining resolution further. Likewise, the expenditure on operator control and monitoring during the retrieval and deployment of a plurality of connected antennas can be reduced further.

[35] In order to be able to carry out different location-determining tasks, the antennas and/or the towing cables have different lengths and/or different diameters.

[36] By virtue of different lengths, a relatively short antenna with relatively short towing cable can be used at a relatively shallow depth, and can be connected to a relatively long antenna and/or the associated relatively long towing cables thereof.

[37] As result, it is possible to use both antennas of different lengths and antennas with different sound transducers, with the result that the antennas can cover different frequency ranges.

[38] So that the antennas can be positioned at different depths from an averaged surface of the water when a coupling element is open or a plurality of coupling elements are open, the towing cables have different masses and/or different densities.

[39] As a result, in the case of buoyancy-neutral antennas it is possible to set the distance between the antennas and their positions in the water column directly by means of the mass and/or the density of the towing cables. Consequently, a more lightweight cable is used for an antenna which is to be oriented in a relatively shallow water depth than for the further feeding to the second antenna at a relatively large water depth. It is also ensured in this way that the various antennas disconnect when the coupling elements open. If a coupling element which connects a heavy towing cable to a lightweight towing cable is Date Recue/Date Received 2020-06-23 opened while the towboat is traveling, the water resistance acts on the lightweight towing cable and the antenna connected thereto as an opening torque.

[40] In a further embodiment of the sound transducer assembly, the coupling elements have different shapes, in particular asymmetrical shapes.

[41] As a result, intertwining of the antennas and towing cables can be avoided, in particular, by virtue the fact that the local mass distribution of each asymmetrical coupling element and/or the mechanical influences of the asymmetrical shape and/or the orientation of a magnetic field in the case of magnetic coupling elements and/or the distance between coupling elements is used in a targeted fashion. For this purpose, for example the coupling elements have, on the sides lying opposite the connecting locations, respectively more mass in the case of the first antenna and less mass in the case of the second antenna, with the result that owing to the masses these sides are always oriented downward in the case of the first antenna and upward in the case of the second antenna. In addition, the connection and release of the coupling elements can be improved by means of an asymmetrical shape. In addition, this asymmetry can, where appropriate, compensate different diameters of the towing cables.

[42] So that the connected towing line can be wound on and/or unwound from a winch, particular a single winch drum, of a towboat, the antennas and the towing cables form a connected towing line when the coupling element is closed or the coupling elements are closed.

[43] As a result, it is possible to achieve a saving in terms of space and weight on board the towboat, and expenditure on operator control can be reduced. In addition, the individual towing cables can be made thinner, since the towing occurs at the connected part of all the towing cables.

Date Recue/Date Received 2020-06-23

[44] A "winch" is, in particular, a device with which a trailing antenna and/or a plurality of trailing antennas and/or a towing cable and/or a plurality of towing cables and/or a connected towing line can be deployed into the water and/or retrieved from the water from a towboat. In particular, a winch has a rotatable winch drum for winding on and/or unwinding a connected towing line and/or an antenna and/or a towing cable.

[45] A "winch drum" (also referred to as a double-flanged spool or cable drum) is, in particular, a spool or reel which material with an, in particular, round cross-section is rolled onto and/or unrolled from. In particular, the spool or the reel has, on the two outer sides, edges which limit the spreading out of the rolled material. In particular a connected towing line, an antenna, a towed array seminar and/or a towing cable is rolled onto and/or unrolled from a winch drum.

[46] In a further aspect of the invention, the object is achieved by means of a towed array sonar for receiving and/or transmitting waterborne sound signals, wherein the towed array sonar has a sound transducer assembly as described above.

[47] As a result, a space-saving and weight-saving user-friendly towed array sonar with two or more antennas which can be towed at various water depths can be made available. This permits a high-quality location-determining process of waterborne sound sources even when there is a thermocline and/or convergence zone.

[48] A "towed array sonar" is, in particular, a device for determining the location of objects in space and underwater by means of emitted and/or received sound pulses. In particular, a towed array sonar is used for seismic measurement of the sea floor and/or for determining the location of objects and watercraft underwater. For this purpose, the towed array sonar is, in particular, immersed by a towboat and pulled through the water on a towing cable. A towed array sonar can be an active sonar system which itself emits sound signals and receives the Date Recue/Date Received 2020-06-23 reflected signals thereof, or a passive sonar which has only a receiver part. A towed array sonar can also be, in particular, part of a bistatic sonar in which the transmitter is located on a different platform or in a different antenna than the receiver.
In particular, the towed array sonar is assigned a plurality of antennas and/or towing cables which can be connected via coupling elements.

[49] In a further aspect, the object is achieved by means of a winch for a towboat, wherein a sound transducer assembly as described above and/or a towed array sonar as described above can be wound on and/or unwound by means of the winch.

[50] As result, a space-saving winch for winding on and/or unwinding antennas and towing cables which are connected to a towing line is made available. Therefore, the expenditure on operator control and care during the deployment and retrieval are reduced.

[51] In a further embodiment of the winch, the winch is assigned a guide device, with the result that during the deployment process the antennas and/or the respectively associated towing cables are placed at a spatial distance from one another and/or during the retrieval process they are moved into spatial proximity to one another.

[52] Therefore, a guide device assists the connection and/or disconnection of the coupling elements of the antennas and/or towing cables. In particular, the guiding of the antennas and towing cables with respect to one another is important in the case of electromagnetic coupling elements, so that they can attract one another.

[53] A "guide device" is, in particular, a device which moves antennas and/or towing cables into spatial proximity with respect to one another and/or to a spatial distance from one another. In this context, the guide device can be arranged Date Recue/Date Received 2020-06-23 directly on the winch or in a freely positionable fashion on and/or at the ship or boat. For example, the guide device can be on the outside of the side of the ship or boat. A guide device is, in particular, a guide funnel, guiding rails and/or guiding panels.

[54] In a further aspect, the object is achieved by a towboat, wherein the towboat has a sound transducer assembly as described above and/or a towed array sonar as described above and/or a winch as described above.

[55] As a result, a towboat can be made available for high-quality location determination, which towboat can have various types of sound transducer assemblies and/or a towed array sonar for different running depths. In addition, the towboat has a relatively large reserve in terms of space and/or weight.

[56] In a further aspect of the invention, the object is achieved by means of a method for deploying and/or retrieving a sound transducer assembly and/or a towed array sonar and for receiving and/or transmitting waterborne sound signals by means of a sound transducer assembly as described above and/or a towed array sonar as described above and/or a winch as described above, and/or a towboat as described above, comprising the following steps:
- deploying the sound transducer assembly and/or the towed array sonar in a connected towing line into the water by means of the winch of the towboat, - switching the coupling element or coupling elements, with the result that the coupling element opens or the coupling elements open, - spacing apart from one another the first antenna and/or a part of the first towing cable and the second antenna and/or a part of the second towing cable on the basis of the opened coupling element and/or the opened coupling elements, Date Recue/Date Received 2020-06-23 - horizontally orienting the first antenna and the second antenna at different depths from an average surface of the water when towing the sound transducer assembly and/or the towed array sonar with a connected part of the first towing cable and of the second towing cable by means of the towboat, - transmitting and/or receiving a waterborne sound signal and/or a plurality of waterborne sound signals by means of the first antenna and/or of the second antenna, with the result that the waterborne sound signal or the waterborne sound signals can be used free of interference, in particular by a thermocline and/or a convergence zone, for a location-determining process, - spatially approximating the first antenna and/or the uncoupled part of the first towing cable and the second antenna and/or the uncoupled part of the second towing cable during the retrieval of the sound transducer assembly and/or of the towed array sonar by means of the winch of the towboat, - switching the coupling element or coupling elements, with the result that the coupling element closes or the coupling elements close, - connecting the first antenna and/or the uncoupled part of the first towing cable and the second antenna and/or the uncoupled part of the second towing cable to form a towing line on the basis of the closed coupling element or the closed coupling elements, and - winding the connected towing line onto a winch drum of the winch of the towboat.

[57] As result, a reliable method for deploying and retrieving a sound transducer assembly and/or a towed array sonar with a Date Recue/Date Received 2020-06-23 plurality of antennas and a precise method for receiving and/or transmitting waterborne sound signals and for determining locations even in the case of interference by, for example, a thermocline can be made available.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[58] Furthermore, the invention will be explained in more detail on the basis of exemplary embodiments. In the drawings:
Figure 1 shows a highly schematic illustration of a towboat with a towed array sonar, und Figure 2 shows a highly schematic sectional illustration of a winch with a guide funnel.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[59] A towboat 101 is traveling on the sea and has a towed array sonar 102. The towed array sonar 102 has a first antenna 103 with a first towing cable 104 and a second antenna 106 with a second towing cable 107. The first antenna 103 has seven different reception modules 105, and the second antenna 106 has ten reception modules 108. The first antenna 103 and the second antenna 106 are embodied in a buoyancy-neutral fashion, while the first towing cable 104 is lighter in weight than the second towing cable 107.

[60] The first antenna 103 is oriented horizontally at a depth of 50m and the second antenna 106 at a depth of 250m. The first antenna 103 is located above, and the second antenna 106 is located below, a thermocline 112. Owing to the thermocline 112, a profile 113 of the speed of sound is curved both toward the surface of the water 111 and toward the sea floor.

[61] The first antenna 103 and the first towing cable 104 as well as the second towing cable 107 have electromagnetic couplings 109. The electromagnetic couplings 109 are open at the Date Recue/Date Received 2020-06-23 first antenna 103, part of the first towing cable 104 and part of the second towing cable 107. The other electromagnetic couplings 109 of the first towing cable 104 and the second towing cable 107 are closed and form a connected part of the first and second towing cables 110. The towed array sonar 102 is connected to the connected part of the first and of the second towing cables 110 to a winch 114 of the towboat 101.

[62] The winch 114 is arranged in a frame 221. The winch 114 has a rotatable drum 222 with the axis of rotation 226. A motor 227 is arranged laterally on the frame 221. A guide carriage 224 and a guide funnel 223 are arranged at the top of the frame 221.

[63] The following working steps are implemented with the towboat 101 and the towed array sonar 102:

[64] The first antenna 103, the first towing cable 104, the second antenna 106 and the second towing cable 107 are placed as a connected towing line 225 in the water by means of the winch 114 of the towboat 101 when the electromagnetic couplings 109 are closed.

[65] As soon as the connected towing line 225 is deployed in the water, the electromagnetic couplings 109 are switched. As a result, the electromagnetic couplings 109 open, and owing to the different densities of the first towing cable 104 and of the second towing cable 107 and the pulling speed of the towboat 101, which tows the first antenna 103 and the second antenna 106 at the connected part of the first and second towing cables 110, the first antenna 103 and the second antenna 106 are oriented horizontally at the different water depths of 50m and 250m from the averaged surface of the water 111. As result, the first antenna 103 is located above, and the second antenna 106 below, the thermocline 112.

[66] Both antennas 103 and 106 receive waterborne sound signals by means of their reception modules 105 and 108. In the process, Date Recue/Date Received 2020-06-23 the first antenna 103 covers the region above the thermocline 112, and the second antenna 106 covers the region below the thermocline 112. The waterborne sound signals are evaluated on board the towboat 101 and are used for the determination of the location of an unknown submarine.

[67] After the conclusion of the mission, the towed array sonar 102 is retrieved by means of the winch 114 by firstly winding on the connected part of the first and second towing cables 110 by means of the rotational movement of the drum 222, driven by the motor 227. As soon as the lower, disconnected parts of the first towing cable 104 and of the second towing cable 107 with the opened electromagnetic couplings 109 move into the region of the guide funnel 223 of the winch 114 and as a result are placed in spatial proximity, the electromagnetic couplings 109 are switched and they close in order to connect the disconnected parts of the first towing cable 104 and of the second towing cable 107. Then, the relatively short antenna 103 is also connected in the region of the guide funnel 223 to the remaining disconnected part of the second towing cable 107 and subsequently to a part of the second antenna 106 by closing the electromagnetic couplings 109. As a result, a single connected towing line 225 is formed which is wound onto the drum 222 of the winch 214.

Date Recue/Date Received 2020-06-23 List of reference numerals 101 Towboat 102 Towed array sonar 103 First antenna 104 First towing cable 105 Reception modules 106 Second antenna 107 Second towing cable 108 Reception modules 109 Electromagnetic couplings 110 Connected part of the first and second towing cables 111 Surface of the water 112 Thermocline 113 Profile of the speed of sound 114 Winch 221 Frame 222 Drum 223 Guide funnel 224 Guide carriage 225 Connected towing line 226 Axis of rotation 227 Motor Date Recue/Date Received 2020-06-23

Claims

Claims:

1. A sound transducer assembly for receiving or transmitting waterborne sound signals, wherein the sound transducer assembly has a first antenna with a plurality of sound transducers and a first towing cable, and wherein the sound transducer assembly is configured to be pulled in the water by a towboat, wherein the first antenna, the first towing cable, or both the first antenna and the first towing cable has or have a coupling element or a plurality of coupling elements, with the result that one or both of the first antenna and the first towing cable are reversibly connectable in parallel to a second antenna or a second towing cable;
and wherein the sound transducer assembly comprises the second antenna or the second towing cable, with the result that when making a connection the first antenna and the second antenna are spaced apart in the water when the coupling element opens or the plurality of the coupling elements open.

2. The sound transducer assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the coupling element or the coupling elements has or have a switching element.

3. The sound transducer assembly of claim 2, wherein the switching element is an electromechanical switch.

4. The sound transducer assembly as claimed in claim 2 or 3, wherein the switching element is configured to be actuated and switched by a controller.

5. The sound transducer assembly as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the sound transducer assembly has one or more of a third antenna, a third towing cable, a fourth antenna, a fourth towing cable, a fifth antenna, a fifth towing cable, further antennas or further towing cables.

6. The sound transducer assembly as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the antennas or the towing cables have different lengths, different diameters or both.

7. The sound transducer assembly as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the towing cables have different masses or different densities, with the result that the antennas are positionable at different depths from an averaged surface of the water when a coupling element is open or a plurality of coupling elements are open.

8. The sound transducer assembly as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the coupling elements have different shapes.

9. The sound transducer assembly as claimed in claim 8, wherein the coupling elements have asymmetrical shapes.

10. The sound transducer assembly as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein, in the case of a closed coupling element or closed coupling elements, the antennas and the towing cables form a connected towing line, with the result that the connected towing line is configured to be wound on, unwound from, or both wound on and unwound from a winch of a towboat.

11. The sound transducer assembly as claimed in claim 10, wherein the winch is a single winch drum of the towboat.

12. A towed array sonar for receiving or transmitting waterborne sound signals, wherein the towed array sonar has a sound transducer assembly as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 11.

13. A winch for a towboat, wherein the winch is configured to wind thereon or unwind therefrom a sound transducer assembly as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 11 or a towed array sonar as claimed in claim 12.

14. The winch as claimed in claim 13, wherein the winch is assigned a guide device, with the result that during a deployment process the antennas or the respectively associated towing cables are placed at a spatial distance from one another, or during a retrieval process they are moved into spatial proximity to one another.

15. A towboat comprising a sound transducer assembly as claimed in one of claims 1 to 11, or a towed array sonar as claimed in claim 12 or a winch as claimed in claim 13 or 14.

16. A method for deploying or retrieving a sound transducer assembly or a towed array sonar and for receiving or transmitting waterborne sound signals by means of a sound transducer assembly as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 11 or a towed array sonar as claimed in claim 12 or a winch as claimed in claim 13 or 14 or a towboat as claimed in claim 15, comprising the following steps:
- deploying the sound transducer assembly or the towed array sonar in a connected towing line into the water, - switching the coupling element or coupling elements, with the result that the coupling element opens or the coupling elements open, - spacing apart from one another the first antenna or a part of the first towing cable and the second antenna or a part of the second towing cable on the basis of the opened coupling element or the opened coupling elements, - horizontally orienting the first antenna and the second antenna at different depths from an average surface of the water when towing the sound transducer assembly or the towed array sonar with a connected part of the first towing cable and of the second towing cable, - transmitting or receiving a waterborne sound signal or a plurality of waterborne sound signals by means of the first antenna, the second antenna, or both the first antenna and the second antenna, with the result that the waterborne sound signal or the waterborne sound signals are suitable for use free of interference for a location-determining process, - spatially approximating the first antenna or the uncoupled part of the first towing cable and the second antenna or the uncoupled part of the second towing cable during a retrieval of the sound transducer assembly or of the towed array sonar, - switching the coupling element or coupling elements, with the result that the coupling element closes or the coupling elements close, - connecting the first antenna or the uncoupled part of the first towing cable and the second antenna or the uncoupled part of the second towing cable to form a towing line on the basis of the closed coupling element or the closed coupling elements, and - winding up the connected towing line.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the waterborne sound signal or the waterborne sound signals are suitable for use free of interference by a thermocline or a convergence zone for a location-determining process.