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 Title: |
US4975543:
Energy-absorbing towline with embedded electrical conductors and drogue deployment system including same
[ Derwent Title ]
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| Country: |
US United States of America
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| Inventor: |
Saunders, Roger I.; Hollis, NH
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| Assignee: |
Sanders Associates, Inc., Nashua, NH
other patents from SANDERS ASSOCIATES INC. (491460) (approx. 551)
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| Published / Filed: |
1990-12-04
/ 1989-06-30
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| Application Number: |
US1989000373425
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| IPC Code: |
Advanced:
B64D 3/02;
D07B 1/00;
H01B 7/04;
H01B 7/06;
IPC-7:
B60D 1/18;
B63B 21/56;
F41J 9/10;
H01B 7/06;
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| ECLA Code: |
H01B7/06; B64D3/02; D07B1/14C; H01B7/04C; N07B201/10E80A; N07B201/20C40B; N07B205/20L; N07B205/20L10; N07B401/20B;
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| U.S. Class: |
Current:
174/069;
057/216;
057/225;
114/253;
174/131.A;
244/003;
280/480;
Original:
174/069;
057/216;
057/225;
114/253;
174/131.A;
244/003;
280/480;
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| Field of Search: |
174/069,101.5,108,113 C,131 A,131 B
057/216,220,222,225,230,237
114/244,245,247,253,254
191/12 R
244/1 TD,3,33,115
267/069
280/480
340/852
367/020,130,144,154,177
440/034
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| Priority Number: |
| 1989-06-30 |
US1989000373425 |
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| Abstract: |
An energy-absorbing towline (14) comprises an elastomeric core (16) having a set of internal polymeric strands (18) helically wound around the outer surface (20) of the core in a first direction and a set of external polymeric strands (22) helically wound around the outer surface (24) of the internal strands in a direction opposite to the first direction. There may be more internal strands than external strands in order to maintain torque balance as the cable elongates. Each of the internal and external strands consists of a plurality of filaments (30), and each external strand (22) may have fewer strand filaments than each internal strand (18) so as to aid in torque balancing. Electrical conductors (26) may be helically disposed between turns of the external or the internal strands. When the towline experiences tension, the elastomeric core elongates, as do the helixes. But the diameters of the helixes contract, so the strands themselves do not elongate. Consequently, the towline can elongate in response to tension and thereby absorb energy without placing any significant tensile stress on the electrical conductors used for electrical communication between a moving craft and a deployed drogue.
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| Attorney, Agent or Firm: |
Nutter, McClellen & Fish ;
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| Primary / Asst. Examiners: |
Askin, Laramie E.;
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| INPADOC Legal Status: |
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| Family: |
None
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First Claim:
Show all 17 claims |
What is claimed is:
1. A drogue deployment system comprising:
- A. a towing vehicle;
- B. a towable drogue; and
- C. an energy-absorbing towline connecting the towing vehicle to the drogue, the towline comprising:
- ii. a plurality of closely wound internal strands helically wound around the outer core surface of the elastomeric core in a first direction; and
- iii. a plurality of closely wound external strands helically wound around the outer surface of the internal strands in a second direction opposite to the first direction.
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| Background / Summary: |
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| Drawing Descriptions: |
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| Description: |
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| Forward References: |
Show 11 U.S. patent(s) that reference this one
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