Elongated retaining and electromagnetic shielding member for a towed underwater acoustic array

摘要

An elongated retaining and electromagnetic shielding member for a towed underwater acoustic array which includes a plurality of interconnected hydrophones and circuit modules protected by a plastic foam cushioning sheath, covered with a tough, essentially acoustically transparent hose-like jacket and containing a plurality of aramid fiber ropes as strength members to carry the tensile loads on the array, wherein the retaining and shielding member consists of an an elongated tube-like electrically conductive fabric member interposed between the sheath and the exterior hose jacket which is longitudinally stitched to provide a plurality of spaced parallel tubes, some of which are of just sufficient diameter to contain said strength members and a larger central tube for containing the hydrophones, circuit modules and interconnecting wires. The strength members are terminated at a connector at each end of the array, and a spacer member is placed near each connector to spread the strength member ropes to the desired diameter. The spacer members and the adjacent ends of the retaining members are each cemented to the strength member ropes.