Todd E Whitaker

US Patent:

6378383, Apr 30, 2002

Filed:

Jun 12, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/592509

Inventors:

Michael R. Williams - West Kingston RI
Todd E. Whitaker - East Lyme CT

Assignee:

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy - Washington DC

International Classification:

G01L 126

US Classification:

73862393, 367 20

Abstract:

An apparatus for measuring tensile and bending forces applied to a fat-line towed-array. Tension sensors are configured within a modified fat-line towed-array bulkhead to measure axial tension applied to the front of the fat-line towed-array, while bending sensors mounted further downstream along the fat-line canister interior walls, measure the bending load. The sensor outputs are encoded and digitized before transmitted through a tow line for further data conditioning and processing. The tension and bending sensor data provide information to evaluate the force exerted on the towed-array, allowing a measure of the deployment capability. Measurements taken at various fluid flow rates provide data regarding deployment effectiveness.

US Patent:

45277494, Jul 9, 1985

Filed:

Feb 9, 1984

Appl. No.:

6/578738

Inventors:

William G. Matthews - Baltic CT
Todd E. Whitaker - New London CT

Assignee:

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy - Washington DC

International Classification:

B65H 8106
B65H 5404

US Classification:

242 715

Abstract:

A machine for winding, in a selected and consistent manner, a fiber optic lament on a compliant elastomeric mandrel, which assembly responds to acoustic waves by producing variations in diameter and light transmission characteristics of the fiber optic means. A motor rotates the mandrel at a selectable speed. A timing belt couples the mandrel rotation to a traversing mechanism supporting an optical fiber carrying reel and is adjustable to variably convert the rotary to linear motion. The shaft supporting the reel has brake means for adjusting the tension on the fiber. The fiber feeds over an idler roll which operates to count the number of meters of fiber wound on the mandrel, and then passes under a tension sensing roll. By varying mandrel rotation speed, traversing speed and reel drag, compliant hydrophone mandrels can have optical fibers wrapped therearound having many different fiber lay angles and fiber tensions, thus permitting production of hydrophones of desired characteristics.

US Patent:

62536273, Jul 3, 2001

Filed:

Jun 12, 2000

Appl. No.:

9/592507

Inventors:

Michael R. Williams - West Kingston RI
Todd E. Whitaker - East Lyme CT

Assignee:

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy - Washington DC

International Classification:

G01L 126

US Classification:

73862393

Abstract:

An apparatus for measuring the force applied to a thin-line towed array having a towed array hose formed as part of a thin-line towed array. Coupling components divide the interior of the towed array hose into compartments. Axial tension measurement devices are located within one compartment, and bend measurement devices are located in another compartment. These measurement devices are electrically connected to a digitization and encoding module which is in turn connected to a processing device for providing measurements of the forces on the array.