Hydrophone damper assembly

Abstract

A damper for use in submerged hydrophone suspension systems including an elongated mass cylinder defined by a tube of flexible synthetic plastic film utilizing a check valve located at each end permitting water to enter the tube and preventing egress. Additionally, each tube end is provided with a disk transversely disposed to the tube length and of a diameter substantially greater than that of the tube to provide drag and hydrodynamic mass damping. The tube and disk are of a configuration to eliminate vortex shedding and the entire damper assembly is capable of being folded and packed within a concise configuration prior to deployment.

I claim: 
     
       1. A hydrophone damper assembly comprising, in combination, an elongated tube of flexible material having first and second ends, a check valve attached to each tube end and sealing the associated end, said check valves permitting water to enter the tube and preventing water egress, and attachment means associated with said tube for attaching hydrophone structure thereto. 
     
     
       2. In a hydrophone damper assembly as in claim 1 wherein said attachment means is mounted upon at least one of said check valves. 
     
     
       3. In a hydrophone damper assembly as in claim 1 wherein said tube is formed of a synthetic plastic film. 
     
     
       4. In a hydrophone damper assembly as in claim 1, a disk attached to said tube, said disk having a generally flat planar configuration and transversely related to the length of said tube and having a diameter greater than the diameter of said tube. 
     
     
       5. In a hydrophone damper assembly as in claim 4 wherein said disk is affixed to said tube adjacent one of said ends. 
     
     
       6. In a hydrophone damper assembly as in claim 5 wherein a disk is attached to each end of said tube. 
     
     
       7. In a hydrophone damper assembly as in claim 5 wherein said check valves include tube and disk mounting means, said valve at said one tube end attaching said disk to said tube. 
     
     
       8. A hydrophone damper assembly comprising, in combination, an elongated tube of flexible material having first and second ends, a check valve affixed to each tube end and closing the associated end permitting water to enter the tube and preventing water egress therefrom, a substantially flat disk member affixed to said tube adjacent each end whereby the general plane of said disks is transversely disposed to the tube length, and attachment means mounted upon said tube adjacent said ends for attaching hydrophone structure thereto. 
     
     
       9. In a hydrophone assembly as in claim 8 wherein said tube and disks are formed of a synthetic plastic film, each of said disks including a deformable resilient ring forming and maintaining the disk periphery. 
     
     
       10. In a hydrophone damper assembly as in claim 9 wherein said check valves include film retaining means, said film retaining means interconnecting and maintaining the assembly of the associated tube end, disk and check valve. 
     
     
       11. In a hydrophone damper assembly as in claim 8, disk orientation means interposed between said disks and said tube obliquely angularly orienting the plane of said disks to the length of said tube. 
     
     
       12. In a hydrophone damper assembly as in claim 11 wherein said tube is of a curved configuration relative to its length. .Iadd. 13. A hydrophone damper comprising, in combination, an envelope of flexible material, a check valve defined in said envelope directly communicating with the environment surrounding said envelope, said check valve permitting water to directly enter the envelope whereby said envelope confines the water therein and preventing said water from leaving said envelope, and attachment means associated with said envelope for attaching hydrophone structure thereto. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 14. In a hydrophone damper assembly as in claim 13 wherein said envelope comprises a tube having first and second ends, and said check valve is located in one of said ends. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 15. In a hydrophone damper assembly as in claim 13 wherein said envelope comprises a tube having first and second ends, a disk attached to said tube adjacent at least one of said ends, said disk having a generally flat planar configuration and transversely related to the length of said tube and having a diameter greater than the diameter of said tube. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 16. In a hydrophone damper assembly as in claim 15 wherein said disk is formed of a flexible synthetic plastic film and has a generally circular periphery, an annular resilient spring element within said disk engaging the periphery thereof and having a normal expanded circular configuration, said element capable of being twisted and folded into a plurality of loops of a dimension less than said elements' normal expanded configuration and expanding into its normal configuration when unrestrained. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 17. In a hydrophone damper as in claim 13, said envelope having an elongated tubular configuration and an inflated cylindrical transverse cross-sectional configuration, said check valve having a flat configuration having a circular diameter substantially corresponding to the inflated diameter of said envelope. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 18. A hydrophone damper comprising, in combination, an envelope of flexible material having first and second ends, a check valve defined in one of said envelope ends directly communicating with the environment surrounding said envelope, said check valve permitting water to directly enter the envelope whereby said envelope confines the water therein and preventing water from leaving said envelope, and attachment means associated with said envelope for attaching hydrophone structure thereto. .Iaddend.