Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
DRUM FOR A TOWED ANTENNA, WINCH, TOWED ANTENNA AND WATER
VEHICLE
Field of the Invention
[01] The invention relates to a drum for a towed antenna
having a drive and a drum core, wherein a first layer of
the towed antenna can be wound and/or unwound on the drum
core. Furthermore, the invention relates to a winch for a
towed antenna, a towed antenna for towing in water and a
water-borne vehicle for towing a towed antenna.
Background
[02] A towed antenna is generally introduced into the
water and/or pulled on-board by means of a winch on the
rear of a water-borne vehicle. To this end, the towed
antenna is unwound on a drum of the winch in order to be
introduced into the water and/or wound up in order to be
pulled in.
[03] Pulling cables and/or towed antennas generally have
stabilizers which are optimized in terms of resistance (so-
called hard and soft fairings) in order to reduce
vibrations of the cable and/or the towed antenna and the
tension so that a greater depth for the provided cable
and/or the predetermined towed antenna can be adjusted. The
disadvantage with in particular hard and/or solid
stabilizers is that they in principle cannot be wound in
several layers whilst soft and/or flexible stabilizers
become damaged when wound in several layers so that the
stabilizers and consequently the pulling cable and/or the
towed antenna have only a limited service-life.
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[04] In order to reduce damage resulting from winding,
according to the prior art very wide winding drums are used
with a high drum core diameter in order with single-layer
windings to maximize the possible cable length. However,
this requires an enormous amount of space. Alternatively,
winding drums which are pushed one inside the other are
used. However, these require a correspondingly large amount
of space and a high level of complexity in terms of
handling.
Summary
[05] An object of the invention is to improve the prior
art.
[06] The object is achieved with a drum for a towed antenna
having a drive and a drum core, wherein a first layer of
the towed antenna can be wound and/or unwound on the drum
core, and, with a first spacing with respect to the drum
core, a first core element or a plurality of first core
elements can be arranged so that a second layer of the
towed antenna can be wound and/or unwound on the first core
element or the plurality of first core elements.
[07] It is particularly advantageous that as a result no
loading of the layer which is already wound occurs.
[08] Consequently, a drum is provided, on the drum core of
which only a first layer is wound and/or unwound, whilst
the second layer of the towed antenna is wound and/or
unwound on a core element or a plurality of core elements
which is/are located with spacing from the drum core.
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[09] As a result of the fact that each layer of the towed
antenna is wound up individually in a spatially separated
manner, damage to soft and/or flexible stabilizers of the
towed antenna and/or the towing cable is prevented and
further winding of hard stabilizers is enabled for the
first time.
[10] The drum core can be sized to be smaller compared with
conventional winding drums since it only receives a single
layer of the towed antenna. In addition, the drum has in
comparison with conventional winding drums a constant
smaller width. Consequently, a smaller structural form can
be produced compared with the prior art.
[11] It is particularly advantageous for a plurality of
spaced-apart winding cores to be provided in a single drum.
[12] Furthermore, as a result of the respective single-
layer winding of the towed antenna, the guiding of the
towed antenna during the winding-up and/or unwinding
operation is simplified.
[13] A significant notion of the invention is based on the
fact that not only a drum core but instead a plurality of
spatially spaced-apart winding cores are provided for
winding up a towed antenna inside a single winding drum,
wherein in each case a single-layer winding of the towed
antenna is carried out on each winding core.
[14] In addition to preventing contact of two layers, it is
further possible as a result of a corresponding spatial
spacing of the core elements to also wind up and/or unwind
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towing members and/or end fins on the towing antenna and/or
the pulling cable without them having to be manually
engaged and/or released during winding and/or unwinding on
the towed antenna or the pulling cable.
[15] The following terms are explained:
[16] A "drum" (also referred to as a "disk spool" or "cable
drum") is in particular a spool or a roller on which
material with an in particular round cross-section is wound
and/or unwound. In particular, the drum comprises at the
two outer sides flanks which limit an expansion of the
rolled-up material. On a drum, in particular a towed
antenna, a towing rope and/or cable, a wiring cable and/or
a towed sonar are wound and/or unwound. In addition, a drum
comprises in particular a drive and/or a guiding carriage
for guiding the cable and/or the towed antenna.
[17] A "drum core" is in particular the core (also "spool
member") on which a towed antenna is wound and/or unwound.
The drum core extends in particular along the longitudinal
axis of the drum.
.. [18] A "drive" is in particular a structural unit which
moves a drum by means of energy shaping. To this end, in
particular each drum has a separate drive or a drive moves
a plurality of drums. As a result of the driving of the
drum and the corresponding rotation movement of the drum,
in particular a towed antenna can be wound and/or unwound.
The drive is in particular a mechanical, electric and/or
hydraulic drive.
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[19] A "towed antenna" is in particular a long line antenna
which is towed after a pulling cable (or towing rope)
behind a ship. In particular the towed antenna has a
resilient, hose-like cover in which in particular a
plurality of hydrophones are arranged. The hose-like cover
may be filled with gel or fluid. A towed antenna is in
particular a component of a passive and/or the acoustic
receiving portion of an active towed sonar. In particular,
the towed antenna is towed at a suitable depth and
consequently operated at a distance from noises of the
towing ship. In particular, the towed antenna also
comprises a connected or separate pulling cable and/or
towing rope. The pulling cable may in particular also be a
multi-function cable.
[20] A "pulling cable" in particular starts a mechanical
process by means of pulling or maintains it. In particular,
a pulling cable transmits the pulling force of a ship to a
towed antenna which is intended to be pulled through the
water. Furthermore, the towed antenna may in particular
have one or more towed members and/or an end fin, wherein,
for example, the active transmission portion of a towed
sonar can be arranged in a towed member.
[21] "A layer" means in particular that the towed antenna
is arranged only in one winding layer. In a layer, the
windings of the towed antenna are in particular wound
around the drum core or around a core element or around a
plurality of core elements so that the windings of the
towed antenna are located laterally one on the other, but
not one above the other.
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[22] A "core element" is in particular a core on the
surface of which and/or around which a towed antenna can be
wound and/or unwound. The core element or a plurality of
core elements are arranged with spacing from the drum core
and/or the previous core element or the plurality of
previous core elements in such a manner that there is
sufficient spatial distance for the towed antenna to be
wound in each case in a single layer on the drum core
and/or a core element and/or a plurality of core elements.
For example, with spacing from the drum core on a circle
radius in a uniform manner four, preferably eight, rods are
arranged as core elements, wherein the towed antenna is
wound on the outwardly directed surfaces of the four,
preferably eight, rods. It is also possible, for example,
for eight circular arc segments to be used in a state
arranged on a circle radius in order to wind or unwind a
layer. The number and/or the shape of the core elements is
or are in particular adapted to the towed antenna and/or
the pulling cable
[23] In another embodiment of the drum, a second core
element and/or a plurality of second core elements can be
arranged with a second spacing from the drum core and/or a
third core element and/or a plurality of third core
elements can be arranged with a third spacing from the drum
core and/or a fourth core element and/or a plurality of
fourth core elements can be arranged with a fourth spacing
from the drum core and/or an additional core element and/or
a plurality of additional core elements can be arranged
with an additional spacing from the drum core so that a
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third layer and/or a fourth layer and/or a fifth layer
and/or an additional layer of the towed antenna can be
wound and/or unwound on the respective core element or the
respective plurality of core elements.
[24] Consequently, the necessary number of winding cores
for a single layer winding can be provided in accordance
with the length of a towed antenna.
[25] It is particularly advantageous for the core elements
to be able to be adapted in terms of the number and/or
shape and/or the respective spacing thereof from the drum
core to the winding radius of the towed antenna.
[26] In addition, the spacings between the drum core and
the first core elements and/or the previous core elements
and the next core elements can be freely selected and
constructed differently.
[27] It is thereby possible for the drum to be adapted in
an optimum manner to the diameter of the towed antenna
and/or to flow members and/or elements on the towed
antenna.
[28] For simple handling and flexible positioning of the
core element or the core elements on the drum, the drum
comprises a storage device for arranging the core element
or the core elements on the drum and/or for removing the
core element or the core elements from the drum.
[29] It is thereby possible for the core elements to be
provided in the immediate vicinity of the drum and arranged
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as required on the drum and/or removed therefrom. As a
result of a gradual arrangement and/or removal of core
elements, the winding of the next layer and/or the
unwinding of the layer located therebelow are simplified.
[30] In addition, as a result of the storage device, the
core elements can be provided in accordance with
requirements and arranged in a flexible manner in
accordance with the necessary winding radius of the towed
antenna.
[31] A "storage device" is a device having a container of
core elements, from which the core elements are supplied to
and/or discharged from the drum. A storage device is in
particular also a magazine. From the storage device, a core
element can be arranged manually and/or automatically on
the drum and/or removed. In particular, the storage device
automatically adjusts to the predetermined position for
introducing and/or removing a core element. The arrangement
and/or removal of core elements is carried out in
particular from above and/or laterally via the side drum
walls of the drum.
[32] In another embodiment, the drum comprises a securing
device for fixing and/or releasing the core element or the
core elements to and/or from the drum.
[33] A positional fixing of the core element or the core
elements before and during the winding and/or unwinding of
the towed antenna is thereby achieved. Consequently, during
the winding operation, the next core element or next core
elements can be arranged and fixed in position before the
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next layer of the towed antenna is wound on this core
element or these core elements. Similarly, after unwinding
a layer, the corresponding now-exposed core element or the
corresponding exposed core elements can be released from
the drum and consequently be removed from the drum in order
to enable the layer located therebelow to be unwound.
[34] Consequently, as a result of the securing device, a
stable position of each layer of the towed antenna is also
enabled.
[35] A "securing device" is a device for fixing and/or
releasing a core element or a plurality of core elements to
and/or from the drum. Consequently, as a result of the
securing device, the position of a core element or a
plurality of core elements is fixed and/or released. The
securing device may, for example, involve a simple locking
of a core element or the drum comprises step-like slots for
receiving a plurality of core elements, wherein when the
core element is introduced into the predetermined position
of the slot, it is fixed, for example, by means of a flap
adjustment mechanism. When the towed antenna is unwound,
for example, this flap adjustment mechanism can be
deactivated again by the lower pressure resulting from the
lack of weight of the towed antenna and the core element
can be released from the fixing arrangement.
[36] In order to adapt the core element or the core
elements to the winding radius of the towed antenna, the
core element or the core elements comprise(s) a solid
material and/or an angular and/or round and/or elliptical
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pipe and/or an elliptical cross-sectional surface-area
and/or a half-shell and/or a part-shell.
[37] Consequently, as a result of the shape of each
individual core element and/or as a result of the
combination of a plurality of core elements, a
corresponding support face for winding and/or unwinding a
layer of the towed antenna can be provided. For example, a
semi-circular winding core can be formed by placing a large
number of thin rods beside each other or by means of an
individual half-shell.
[38] In another aspect of the invention, the object is
achieved by a winch, wherein the winch comprises at least
one drum described above.
[39] By reducing the dimensions of the drum core and
relocation over a plurality of winding cores, the winch can
be constructed in a more compact manner. It is particularly
advantageous for the winch to haye a smaller width than
conventional winches since precisely the width available at
the rear of a water-borne vehicle is generally limited.
[40] If the spacing between core elements of the respective
layer is not sufficient to receive a floating member and/or
an end fin, as a result of the smaller width of the winch
according to the invention these can be arranged in an
optimum manner beside it and consequently be engaged
/disengaged in a simple manner to/from the towed antenna
and/or the pulling cable.
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[41] Consequently, a winch can be adapted to and used for
different towed antennas. This is particularly advantageous
since conventional winches are specifically configured for
a towed antenna and therefore a replacement of the complete
winch with towed antenna has to be carried out if another
towed antenna is intended to be used on-board.
Consequently, a winch which can be adapted directly on-
board for different intended applications and/or towed
antennas in a simple manner is provided.
[42] A "winch" (also referred to as a "windlass") is in
particular a cable winch for transmitting tensile forces.
In particular, a winch comprises a drum on which a towed
antenna or a pulling cable can be wound and/or unwound.
[43] In another aspect, the object is achieved with a towed
antenna for towing in water, wherein the towed antenna
comprises a drum described above.
[44] In another embodiment of the towed antenna, the towed
antenna comprises a flow element or a plurality of flow
elements so that the towed antenna can be wound and/or
unwound in at least two layers without any damage to the
flow element or the flow elements.
[45] Consequently, flow members which are optimized in
terms of resistance can be arranged on the towed antenna
and/or a pulling cable without becoming damaged during
winding and/or unwinding. Consequently, although the towed
antenna can be wound in several layers, since the layers
are arranged in a manner spatially separated on different
winding cores a corresponding damaging pressure which is
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present with a winding with multiple layers resting on each
other is prevented on the flow elements.
[46] A "flow element" is in particular a geometric
structure on the pulling cable and/or on the towed antenna
for guiding the flow around the pulling cable and/or the
towed antenna. As a result of the flow element, in
particular the tension is reduced and consequently for a
predetermined cable and/or a predetermined towed antenna a
greater depth and/or speed is adjusted and/or the vibration
of the pulling cable and/or the towed antenna is reduced as
a result of vortex shedding on the flow element. A flow
element may, for example, be flow-line-like, drop-like
solid shells (hard fairings) which are clamped in
particular in sections on the pulling cable and/or the
towed antenna. The flow element may also in particular be
flexible strips and/or hair-like flexible structures on a
pulling cable and/or a towed antenna (soft fairings, hairy
fairings). However, a flow element may in particular also
be a towed member, for example, for receiving the active
portion of a towed sonar, or an end fin of the towed
antenna. A flow element comprises in particular rubber
and/or plastics material.
[47] In another embodiment of the towed antenna, the flow
element or the flow elements comprise(s) a flexible
material.
[48] It is thereby also possible to use soft and/or
flexible flow elements in order to improve the flow-round
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behavior of a towed antenna without it becoming damaged by
the pressure of the layer which is located thereabove.
[49] A "flexible material" is in particular a resilient
material which changes its shape under the action of force
and, when the acting force is removed, returns to the
original shape. A flexible material may in particular also
be a plastically or partially plastically deformable
material. With a flexible material, the deformation under
the action of force may in particular be irreversible or
reversible. A flexible material is in particular rubber or
foam.
[50] In an additional aspect of the invention, the object
is achieved by a water-borne vehicle for towing a towed
antenna in water, wherein the water-borne vehicle comprises
a drum described above and/or a winch described above
and/or a towed antenna described above.
[51] Consequently, a water-borne vehicle is provided by
means of which a towed antenna, in particular with flexible
flow elements, can be wound and unwound without damage and
consequently let out into the water and/or pulled on-board
again.
[52] A "water-borne vehicle" is a vehicle which can move in
particular on water, in water and/or under water. A water-
borne vehicle may, for example, be a towing ship and/or a
submarine.
[53] In an additional aspect of the invention, the object
is achieved with a method for winding and/or unwinding a
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towed antenna by means of a drum described above and/or a
winch described above, having the following steps:
in the case of unwinding the towed antenna
- unwinding the uppermost layer of the towed antenna
from an uppermost core element or from a plurality of
uppermost core elements,
- releasing a fixing of the uppermost core element or
the plurality of uppermost core elements and removing
the uppermost core element of the plurality of
uppermost core elements from the drum,
- unwinding the next-uppermost layer of the towed
antenna by repeating the above-mentioned steps as far
as the lowest layer of the towed antenna on a drum
core,
and/or in the case of winding the towed antenna
- winding a lowest layer of the towed antenna on the
drum core,
- inserting a lowest core element or a plurality of
lowest core elements with spacing with respect to the
drum core into the drum and fixing the lowest core
element or the plurality of lowest core elements,
- winding the second-lowest layer of the towed antenna
onto the lowest core element or the plurality of
lowest core elements,
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- repeating the above-mentioned steps until sufficient
layers for winding the towed antennas are provided.
[54] Consequently, a method is provided by means of which a
towed antenna can be wound and/or unwound in a plurality of
individual layers without the towed antenna and/or a flow
element which is arranged thereon becoming damaged.
[55] It is particularly advantageous that the winding or
unwinding can be adapted in a selective manner to the type
and/or shape of the towed antenna.
Brief Description of the Figures
[56] The invention will be explained in greater detail
below with reference to embodiments, in which:
Figure la is a schematic cross-
sectional
illustration of a drum with a towed
antenna during the winding operation,
Figure lb is a schematic longitudinal sectioned
illustration of the above-mentioned drum,
Figure 2 is a schematic cross-
sectional
illustration of another drum according to
the invention,
Figure 3 is a schematic illustration of a towing
ship having a winch and a towed antenna.
Detailed Description
[57] A drum 101 is arranged in a frame 102 and has a rear
first drum side wall 105 and a front second drum side wall
which is not shown in the cross-sectional illustration. On
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the frame 102 of the drum 101, a drive 107 and a magazine
135 for storage, arrangement and removal of rods 111, 113
are arranged on the drum 101.
[58] At the center, the drum 101 comprises a drum core 103.
With a first spacing from the drum core 103, four first
rods 111 are arranged with equal spacing on a circle
radius. With a second greater spacing from the drum core,
four second rods 113 are arranged with equal spacing on a
circle radius, four holes 115 for additional third rods are
arranged with an even greater spacing from the drum core.
[59] The first rods 111 and the second rods 113 are
inserted and fixed through corresponding holes in the first
drum wall 105 and the second drum wall.
[60] The frame 102 of the drum 101 comprises at the top a
guiding carriage 137 through which a towed antenna 109 is
guided. The towed antenna 109 comprises a plurality of
portions each with six soft cable stabilizers 110.
[61] The towed antenna 109 is first wound around the inner
drum core 103 in a first layer 119. Subsequently, the towed
antenna 109 is transferred to the uppermost first rod 111
and is wound at the outer side around the additional three
first rods 111 so that a second layer 121 is present. From
the last of the first rods 111, the towed antenna is then
wound via the uppermost second rod 113 in a new, third
layer 123. The towed antenna 109 is further guided along
the outer surface of the additional second rods 113 and
extends from the last second rod 113 through the guiding
carriage 137 (in longitudinal section, the guiding of the
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towed antenna 109 through the guiding carriage 137 and the
magazine 135 is not shown for reasons of simplification).
[62] In an alternative, the drum 201 comprises a drum core
203 and a rear drum side wall 205 (the front drum side wall
is not shown).
[63] Around the drum core 203 with a spatial spacing
eccentrically from a center of the drum core 203, a first
upper half-shell 211 and a first lower half-shell 212 are
arranged. With a greater spacing with respect to the drum
core 203, a second upper half-shell 213 and a second lower
half-shell 214 are arranged eccentrically from the center
of the drum core 203.
[64] A towed antenna 209 has in portions four flexible
strips 210 as flow elements. The towed antenna 209 is wound
in a single layer around the drum core 203 (first layer
219) and subsequently merges for the second layer 221 onto
the first upper half-shell 211 followed by the first lower
half-shell 212. As a result of the eccentric arrangement of
the upper and lower half-shells 211, 212, 213 and 214, the
towed antenna 209 is guided free from a significant
curvature from the first lower half-shell 212 to the second
upper half-shell 213. In order to form the third layer 223,
the towed antenna 209 is wound along the outer surface of
the second upper half-shell 213 and the second lower half-
.. shell 214.
[65] A towing ship 330 travels on the water surface 331 and
comprises at a rear a winch 333 with two drums 101. There
is arranged on the winch 333 the first pulling cable 335
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which comprises four hair cable stabilizers 310. At the end
of the first pulling cable 335 there is arranged a towing
member 337 to which in turn a second pulling cable 339 with
three hair cable stabilizers 310 is secured. At the end of
the second pulling cable 339 there is suspended the towed
antenna 109 which comprises hydrophones 341.
[66] The following operational procedures are carried out
with the towing ship 330, the winch 333 with the two drums
101 and the towed antenna 109:
[67] On-board the towing ship 331, the winch 333 is
operated and the first drum 101 is rotated by means of the
drive 107 so that the uppermost layer of the towed antenna
109 is unwound from the four third rods in the holes 115.
As soon as the towed antenna 109 is no longer positioned on
the third rods in the holes 115, these third rods are
removed from the holes 115 by means of the magazine 135 and
received in the magazine 135. The uppermost first layer of
the towed antenna 109 is let out into the water.
[68] The first drum 101 rotates further so that the third
layer 123 of the towed antenna 109 is unwound from the
second rods 113. This unwound portion of the towed antenna
109 is in turn let out via the rear of the towing ship 330
into the water. Subsequently, the second rods 113 are again
removed by means of the magazine 135 from the drum 101 by
these second rods 113 again being pulled out of the first
drum side wall 105 and the second drum side wall.
Subsequently, the drum 101 rotates further so that the
second layer 121 of the towed antenna 109 is unwound from
the first rods 111. These first rods 111 are in turn
removed by means of the magazine 135 from the drum 101.
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Subsequently, the first layer 119 of the towed antenna 109
is unwound from the drum core 103 and at the unwound end of
the towed antenna 109 an end of the second towing rope 139
is manually secured to the towed antenna 109. Subsequently,
the second towing rope 139, the subsequent towed member 337
and the first pulling cable 335 is unwound from the second
drum 101 of the winch 333 and let out into the water.
[69] The towing ship 330 tows the towed antenna 109 with
the portions of soft cable stabilizers 110, which are not
shown, on the first pulling cable 335 and the second
pulling cable 339 through the water. The towed antenna 109
records underwater noises by means of the hydrophones 341.
[70] After the towing operation has ended, the first
pulling cable, the connected towed member 337 and the
second pulling cable 339 are wound on the second drum 101
of the winch 333 one after the other without the towed
member being unhooked. When the end of the second pulling
cable 339 is reached, on-board the towing ship 330 the
towed antenna 109 is separated from the second pulling
cable 339 and the towed antenna 109 is wound on the first
drum 101. To this end, the towed antenna 109 is first wound
on the drum core 103 in a first layer 119. Subsequently,
the first rods 111 from the magazine 135 are inserted
through the first 105 and second drum side wall and locked
at that location. Subsequently, the first drum 101 rotates
further so that the next portion of the towed antenna 109
is wound at the outer side of the first rods 111 to form a
second layer 121. Subsequently, the four second rods 113
are inserted and fixed with greater spacing from the drum
core 103 into the two drum side walls by means of the
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magazine 135. After fixing, a third layer 123 of the towed
antenna 109 is wound on the four second rods along the
outer side thereof. Subsequently, from the magazine 135,
the four third rods are inserted and locked in the holes
115 in the two drum side walls, on which the uppermost
layer of the towed antenna 109 is wound.
[71] Consequently, the towed antenna 109 with the soft
cable stabilizers 110 is wound in a plurality of individual
layers without the soft cable stabilizers 110 becoming
damaged as a result of the weight of the towed antenna.
Damage to the hair cable stabilizers 310 of the first
pulling cable 335 and the second pulling cable 339 as a
result of the winding on the drum 101 according to the
invention in this method for winding and unwinding a towed
antenna is also prevented.
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List of reference numerals
101 Drum
102 Frame
103 Drum core
105 First drum side wall
107 Drive
109 Towed antenna
110 Soft cable stabilizer
111 First rods
113 Second rods
115 Holes for third rods
119 First layer
121 Second layer
123 Third layer
135 Magazine
137 Guiding carriage
201 Drum
203 Drum core
205 Drum side wall
209 Towed antenna
210 Flexible strips
211 First upper half-shell
212 First lower half-shell
213 Second upper half-shell
214 Second lower half-shell
219 First layer
221 Second layer
223 Third layer
310 Hair cable stabilizer
330 Towing ship
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223 Third layer
310 Hair cable stabilizer
330 Towing ship
331 Water surface
333 Winch
335 First pulling cable
337 Towed member
339 Second pulling cable
341 Hydrophones
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