Navy mine hunting helicopters benefit from new technology

Concurrent Technologies Corporation (CTC) announced today that it has been awarded United States Patent No. 7,950,113 for the "Device for Retaining Splitting Forces of a Cable Stop." This device, also referred to as a "cable ferrule," is currently in use on the Navy's MH-60S mine hunting helicopter. The device provides an improved structural interface between the electro-optic tow cable and CTC's Carriage Stream Tow and Recovery System (CSTRS).

To connect the tow cable to the helicopter's tow point, the cable has several bulged areas along its length to facilitate attachment and provide multiple tow depths for the mine counter measure systems. Because of the attachment point's wedge shape, significant splitting forces are generated on the connecting device when load is applied. Previously, connecting devices were very large and heavy in order to withstand the splitting forces. When CTC's cable ferrule is installed over a bulged area, it covers the wedge shape with a flat bearing surface and dissipates the splitting forces. This enables significant weight and size reduction of the connecting device because the need to withstand the high splitting forces has been eliminated. This size reduction has a cascading effect on critical components of the CSTRS system, allowing for significant weight reduction as well as improved system reliability.

"As exhibited by these inventors, CTC's technical experts are passionate about the work we do and uncompromising in their quest for the best solution," said Frank Cooper, CTC's Chief Technical Officer. "The appropriate solution for this project was not one commercially available, so the inventors designed something never seen before. They identified inefficiencies in the design of previous clamping devices, collaborated on an innovative design to reduce weight while still providing the strength needed, and have enhanced mine detection efforts for the US Navy for over four years."

The ferrule consists of two stainless steel sleeves that are placed over the cable bulge, which are then wrapped with aramid composite material. The stainless steel sleeves provide a simple flat interface for clamping devices, and the aramid composite contains the splitting forces. This composite design allows the cable ferrule to be small and lightweight, while still providing very high strength.

CTC inventors Park O. Cover, Jr., Thomas C. Kiesling, John Ryan, and Ed Peretin invented, refined, and tested the cable ferrule to ensure its strength, endurance, functionality and performance met the challenging requirements and quality expected by the client. The CTC invention has been successfully deployed by the US Navy in flight operations since 2007. This invention offers a solution for other applications, both for the Department of Defense and private industry.

Source: Concurrent Technologies Corporation