FLOATATION COLLAR FOR AN UNDERSEA ACOUSTIC RECEIVER AND A METHOD OF POSITIONING THE SAME

摘要

A floatation collar for a sensor forming part of a detection array comprises two halves that when joined together act as a protective casing that secures and orients a sensor in the optimal configuration, thus forming a positioning system for said sensor. The casing provides protection, buoyancy, and trawl-resistance and comprises a shell filled with syntactic foam with voids for improved sonar reflectance. The collar top portion includes a series of projections strategically placed to protecting the sensor's transducers against mechanical damage. These are positioned in such a manner as to minimize the degree to which the sensors are occluded, and the case's collar is shaped so as to not occlude any of the downward “field of view” that is not already occluded by the air-filled pressure casing for the instrument. Air-filled voids positioned against the interior of the flat faces providing a bright reflected sonar signal when a unit is being searched for either using a sonar located on a surface vessel or on a ROV positioned either lateral to or below the positioning system. The base of the system is conical with an integral thimble to allow the positioning system to ride down and then emerge under a passing trawl net or other fishing lines or cables by presenting a smooth aspect and a secure means of tethering said unit to a bottom anchor.