| 摘要 |
<p>An improvement is provided in a fairlead assembly for use in a system for launching, towing and retrieving a towed sonar body which is towed by means of a faired towing cable. The system which is improved preferably includes a hoist sub-assembly and a boom sub-assembly mounted on a turntable for pivoting about a vertical axis from an inboard stow position to an outboard launch, recovery and tow position. The improvement in the fairlead assembly comprises a hooded fairlead freely rotatably mounted at the end of a boom member for rotation around its longitudinal pivot axis; engaging means, e.g., a saddle, which is pivotally mounted at the end of the hooded fairlead for pivotal movement about an axis parallel to the rotational axis of the fairlead sheave for engaging the towed body; and tilting means for positively tilting the saddle through a sufficient angle, e.g., an angle greater than 90.degree.; whereby the center of gravity of the fairlead assembly lies along the longitudinal pivot axis, and whereby the fairlead assembly is free to pivot about the longitudinal pivot axis to accommodate tow-off in response to changes in loading of the faired towing cable. By these means, a structure is provided which automatically accommodates tow-off without overstressing the faired towing cable on the saddle, and without allowing the faired towing cable to jump out of, or to scuff, the towing sheave.</p> |
