JOHN ROBERT DALE
Engineers in Willow Grove, PA

5398214, Mar 14, 1995

Mar 2, 1981

6/239703

John R. Dale - Willow Grove PA

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy - Washington DC

G01S 1500

367 4

An underwater acoustic surveillance system for obtaining data related to nd sources of interest in a large geographic area over long periods. A number of acoustic sensors are dropped from an aircraft for placement on the bottom of the sea at known locations. Each sensor automatically deploys a parachute to retard the descent in the air. A parachute riser weak link releases the parachute upon immersion in the water, and a latch operable at a preselected depth allows cylindrical staves to spread apart and form a stable platform on the bottom from which a hydrophone suspends and an acoustic projector tethers. A web-like flow shield unfolds between adjacent staves of the platform to provide additional retardation during the descent in the water and to reduce hydrophone noise due to water currents at the bottom. A water-activated battery at the lower extremity of each stave ensures upright orientation of the sensor when it reaches the bottom, and provides electrical power for storing and transmitting acoustic data. Acoustic data stored in the sensor is retrieved by a sonobuoy deployed on the surface near the previously recorded location of the sensor. An r. f.

3980985, Sep 14, 1976

Apr 1, 1974

5/458927

John R. Dale - Willow Grove PA
William F. Brenner - Chalfont PA
James F. McEachern - Hatboro PA
Walter L. Leupold - Hadden Heights NJ
Edward A. McDemus - Ambler PA

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy - Washington DC

H04B 1300

340 8S

A system for suspending a gradient hydrophone from a flotation member at the surface of a body of fluid by a single compliant member attached closely above the center of gravity of the hydrophone, in order to minimize the number of principal vibration modes, such as the rocking mode, and group the frequencies of such principal vibration modes in a band far enough below the operational acoustical bands of the hydrophone to allow effective electronic rolloff.

4114137, Sep 12, 1978

Dec 19, 1974

5/535332

Russell I. Mason - Doylestown PA
John R. Dale - Willow Grove PA

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy - Washington DC

G01V 100

340 85

A sonobuoy having a directional hydrophone centrally enclosed in a flexib acoustically transparent, spherical bag which upon deployment is filled with water to form a hydrosphere. A first embodiment comprises a plurality of upper and lower spreaders which form the bag into a spherical shape having a valve at the bottom most portion thereof for entry of water into the bag during oscillatory motion of the hydrophone. A second embodiment comprises a flexible, acoustically transparent, spherical bag which is time-filled with water by a pump to inflate the bag to a predetermined pressure. The hydrosphere forms a large virtual mass of static water around the hydrophone which reduces near field affects due to flow and motion noise and which also operates as a sea anchor.