System for effecting underwater coupling of optical fiber cables characterized by a novel pod-to-vehicle interlock
US5349916A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 13, 1993 |
| Grant date | Sep 27, 1994 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 13, 2013 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B6/4427
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A submarine trails one fiber optic cable and an undersea vehicle is contred by this first cable. A missile/torpedo trails a second cable that is to be coupled to the first cable. The second cable has a segment suspended vertically underwater between a buoyant pod and a sea anchor type buoy. The undersea vehicle, or Autonomous Undersea Vehicle, (AUV) hunts for the pod by a conventional homing transmitter, and a fork-shaped cable capture probe on the vehicle direct the cable's movement relative to the vehicle into a pod mating position in which a male plug portion in the underside of the pod mates with a female socket in a slot formed at the vertex of the fork. An interlock mechanism between the male socket and female socket holds the pod and AUV in engagement wherein optical coupling is achieved.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.