Towed array test rotator platform
A towed array test rotator platform with a catwalk assembly, motor assembly, lower shaft assembly, and cage assembly is provided. The catwalk assembly includes a support base mounted with a guide rail system adjacent to a substantially-central void about which the motor-table assembly is selectively positioned. The lower shaft assembly connects to a drive shaft of the motor assembly and projects coaxially downward through the void into a water-filled tank. With the motor assembly disconnected from the lower shaft assembly and moved away from the void, the motor-table assembly elevates the cage transfer assembly to allow the addition or removal of shaft sections. The cage assembly connects to the lower shaft assembly and carries a towed array being calibrated. Rotational force from the motor through the drive shaft is transferred through the lower shaft assembly to the cage assembly.
1 . A rotator platform for calibration of a towed array in a water-filled tank, said rotator platform comprising:
a catwalk assembly having a support base with a guide rail system with a substantially-central void formed in the support base, the support base having at least one sliding track positioned proximate to the substantially-central void;
a motor assembly having a motor table moveably carried by said guide rail system and configured to carry a power train including a motor mechanically fixed to a drive shaft; and
a lower shaft assembly with at least one shaft section configured to mechanically mount coaxially at a starting end to said drive shaft and capable of projecting from said motor assembly through the substantially-central coid.
2 . The rotator platform in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said at least one shaft section of said lower shaft assembly further comprises a shaft linkage configured to mechanically mount to a drive shaft bearing of said drive shaft of said power train.
3 . The rotator platform in accordance with claim 2 further comprising:
a cage assembly configured to carry the towed array; and
a cage transfer shaft joined to said cage assembly and configured to mechanically mount coaxially to said at least one shaft section at a terminating end of said lower shaft assembly opposite said starting end.
4 . The rotator platform in accordance with claim 3 , wherein said power train is configured to transfer rotational force from said motor through said drive shaft and through said at least one shaft section of said lower shaft assembly to said cage transfer shaft of said cage assembly.
5 . The rotator platform in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said at least one sliding track of said guide rail system further comprises a plurality of locking cars adjustably mounted upon a plurality of linear rails mechanically fixed along opposing sides of the substantially-central void of said catwalk assembly.
6 . The rotator platform in accordance with claim 5 further comprising a support table moveably carried by an innermost pair of said plurality of linear rails of said guide rail system and configured to carry said lower shaft assembly as mechanically removed from said drive shaft and projecting from said motor assembly through the substantially-central void of said catwalk assembly.
7 . The rotator platform in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said catwalk assembly further comprises a plurality of structural supports mounted above the water-filled tank.
8 . A method of operating a rotator platform for calibration of a towed array in a water-filled tank, said method comprising the steps of:
mounting a support table moveably on at least one sliding track of a guide rail system of a catwalk assembly at a first position proximate to a substantially-central void in a support base of said catwalk assembly;
mounting a motor assembly moveably on the at least one sliding track of the guide rail system at a second position separate from the substantially-central void in the support base;
mechanically mounting a cage transfer shaft of a cage assembly coaxially to a terminating end of at least one shaft section of a lower shaft assembly; and
receiving, using the support table, the at least one shaft section of the lower shaft assembly at a starting end of the at least one shaft section opposite the cage assembly.
9 . The method in accordance with claim 8 , said method further comprising the step of deploying, using a shaft lifting assembly of the lower shaft assembly, the at least one shaft section onto the support table at the first position.
10 . The method in accordance with claim 9 , said method further comprising the steps of:
repositioning a motor table of the motor assembly along the at least one sliding track of the guide rail system to the first position proximate to the substantially-central void; and
mechanically mounting, using a power train carried by the motor assembly and characterized by a motor mechanically fixed to a drive shaft, a shaft linkage of the at least one shaft section to a drive shaft bearing of the drift shaft.
11 . The method in accordance with claim 10 , said method further comprising the steps of:
coaxially lifting, with respect to the motor table, the power train, the lower shaft assembly, the cage assembly to unload the support table; and
repositioning the support table along the at least one sliding track of the guide rail system to a third position separate from the substantially-central void.