Clamshell Bulkhead Mechanism for Towed Array Reliability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Standard thin-line towed-array systems experience poor reliability due to mechanical stresses on electrical and optical data paths during the booting process, where excess pre-hose assembly length leads to wrinking and folding of wires and fibers, causing friction and potential failure.
Innovation Solution
A clamshell-type bulkhead mechanism with pre-terminated wires and fibers allows both bulkheads to be seated simultaneously, reducing excess length and stress, and replaces traditional sealing and threaded surfaces with a clamshell locking mechanism to enhance reliability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the pre-hose assembly is pulled into the hose during booting, then the module assembly is created, but mechanical stresses cause wire and fiber wrinkling and folding leading to poor reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The connector insert is pre-installed into the bulkhead before the booting process, so that wires and fibers are already terminated and secured. This preliminary action prevents wire and fiber wrinkling and folding during the subsequent pulling operation, eliminating the mechanical stress problems that caused poor reliability in traditional systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The connector insert is nested within the bulkhead structure, with the bulkhead serving as the outer housing and the connector insert as the inner component. This nesting arrangement protects the electrical and optical connections during the booting process, preventing damage from mechanical stresses while maintaining system reliability.
2Length of moving object
If the bulkhead coupling size is reduced to fit through the hose, then the booting process can proceed, but traditional sealing and threading mechanisms become inadequate
Solution Approach 1:
The bulkhead coupling is segmented into two functional parts: the bulkhead body that fits through the hose, and the connector insert that remains stationary. This segmentation allows the coupling to be small enough for booting while maintaining reliable connections through the separate connector insert component.
Solution Approach 2:
The connector insert acts as an intermediary between the bulkhead and the hose assembly. It provides the sealing and connection functions that would otherwise require complex mechanisms in the bulkhead coupling itself, enabling a simpler, smaller design that still achieves reliable connections.
3Loss of energy
If excess pre-hose assembly length is used to accommodate hose stretch, then friction is reduced during booting, but wire and fiber stresses increase due to wrinking and folding
Solution Approach 1:
The connector insert is pre-installed in the bulkhead before booting, securing the wires and fibers in place. This preliminary securing action prevents wire and fiber wrinking and folding even when excess pre-hose length is present, allowing the system to accommodate hose stretch and reduce friction without introducing mechanical stress damage to the electrical and optical paths.
Data Source
AI summary
A connector is provided with a forward bulkhead assembly having a forward bulkhead device and an aft bulkhead assembly having an aft bulkhead device. Each of the forward bulkhead assembly and the aft bulkhead assembly includes connections for wires and optical fibers of an acoustic array. The forward bulkhead assembly includes a clamshell-type ring of two halves on opposite sides of the forward bulkhead assembly. The clamshell has a locking feature and a locking ring attached to the locking feature. The locking ring connects the forward bulkhead assembly with the aft bulkhead assembly.