Inventors:
Christopher M. Peckham - Nashua NH, US
Thomas E. Gay - Milford NH, US
Keith Lepine - Manchester NH, US
John A. Zahoruiko - North Andover MA, US
John J. Devlin - Weare NH, US
Scott Colby - Waltham MA, US
Assignee:
BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc. - Nashua NH
International Classification:
B64D 3/00
US Classification:
244 1TD, 244 3, 2441374, 273360, 242386, 2423991, 242484, 242128
Abstract:
In a method and apparatus for controlling the deployment of a towline connecting a mooring craft to an ejected object comprising the steps of monitoring velocity to determine when a point for optimum braking has been achieved and then engaging a brake system to retard deployment of the towline, a DC motor augments and controls the brake system. The DC motor further controls the retrieval of the object. A cutter mechanism uses a first blade to grip the towing cable to maintain tension thereon as a second blade cuts the cable. A spring biased boom in combination with spring biased fins on the ejected object rapidly deploys the object from its storage housing. A locking mechanism secures the deployment mechanism in a stable locked position upon the object reaching its fully extended position.