Linear payout leader holder

Abstract: A linear optical fiber waveguide dispenser (10) comprising a linear payout leader holder (15) including an optical fiber waveguide having an unjacketed portion (16) and leader (17) comprising a coiled jacketed portion disposed within a housing (11). The housing (11) has an exit aperture (14) through which the jacketed fiber waveguide protrudes. A fiber optic connector (18) is connected onto the end of the jacketed portion of the waveguide. The linear dispenser (10) accommodates the leader (17) without having to increase the size of the payout helix generated thereby. The linear payout leader holder (15) may be used with a balloon assisted dispenser that has its helix sufficiently dampened to create a linear payout. It allows a strengthened leader (17) to be coiled inside the dispenser (10), an arrangement that would not normally fit into the exit of a conventional linear payout dispenser. Also, in situations where there is the need for the fiber to payout close to the dispenser (10), the linear payout leader holder (15) provides a smooth nonabrasive mechanism to accomplish this. Payouts with a helix as small as four fiber waveguide diameters are achievable using the present invention, and the waveguide is protected during the high stress payout initiation phase. A plurality of single pylon launchers (20a-20d) having dual payout capability are provided and incoporate a payout initiation system with the use of the present invention and a balloon assisted dispenser (10).

Description: The present invention relates generally to missile launchers, and more particularly, to a linear payout leader holder for use in deploying an optical fiber waveguide from such missile launchers. In nonlinear waveguide payout systems, a leader is attached to a fiberpack that comprises an optical fiber waveguide wound around a bobbin. The transition from the leader to an unprotected fiber is accomplished in a manner consistent with the wound fiber. The leader lays on the fiberpack and creates no extra stress on the fiber/jacket transition point. This non-stress environment is not possible with conventional linear payout leader holders because the size of the dampening exit is too small to include a lightweight protective fiber jacketing around the waveguide. Previous linear payout systems had no stable area to put a protective leader. The fiber was left hanging outside the dispenser, creating a strain on the fiber at the point where the fiber was inserted into the jacketing. In the case of dual payout systems, one proposed method for payout initiation has the optical fiber waveguide attached to the outside of the launcher dispenser with adhesive tape. In the case of a conventional fiber dispenser, it has a square comer that is located physically close to the optical fiber waveguide during deployment, and as a result creates undue stress on the waveguide. EP-A-0404367 describes an optical fiber dispensing arrangement for a missile. In this arrangement, the optical fiber, including part of the leader, is wound on the tapered aft fairing of a missile so as to form a tapered wound pack conforming to the aft fairing. It would be an advance in the waveguide deployment art to have a linear payout system that is usable in optical fiber payload deployment systems. It would also be advantageous to have a linear payout system that allows a strengthened leader to be coiled inside a leader housing to provide protection for the optical fiber. The present invention provides an optical fiber dispenser comprising a housing, a bobbin, and an optical fiber waveguide having an unjacketed portion wound around the bobbin and a leader comprising a coiled jacketed portion of the waveguide coupled to the unjacketed portion of the waveguide, characterised in that the bobbin is disposed within the housing, in that a leader holder in the form of an enclosure is attached to an end of the housing, the leader holder having an exit aperture disposed at the end of the leader holder distal from the housing, the aperture being adapted to allow the optical fiber waveguide to exit therethrough, and in that the leader is disposed within the leader holder. The present linear payout leader holder accommodates a relatively thick "fatjacketed" leader without having to increase the size of the payout helix. The present invention has at least two particular applications. The linear payout leader holder attaches to a balloon assisted dispenser that has its helix sufficiently dampened to provide a linear payout. It allows a strengthened leader to be coiled inside the balloon assisted dispenser which eliminates strain on the fiber at the point where the fiber was inserted into the jacketing, and which provides for a smooth, nonabrasive fiber waveguide deployment. This is accomplished although the liner payout leader holder of the present invention would not normally fit into the exit of a conventional linear payout dispenser. Furthermore, in situations where there is the need for the optical fiber waveguide to pay out close to the dispenser or hug the dispenser prior to launch, the linear payout leader holder provides for a smooth nonabrasive system that accomplishes this. The linear payout leader holder of the present invention provides for a more reliable linear payout system. Payouts having a helix as small as four fiber diameters are achievable using the present invention and the waveguide is protectable during the high stress payout initiation phase. The present invention also provides a single pylon missile launching system comprising a missile, a single pylon launcher, a first optical fiber dispenser according to the present invention disposed in or attached to the missile, and a second optical fiber dispenser according to the present invention in or attached to the single pylon launcher, the respective leaders of said first and second optical fiber dispensers being coupled together. Specific embodiments of the optical fiber dispenser and system according to the present invention will now be described in detail, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate like structural elements, and in which: Fig. 1 illustrates an optical fiber dispenser incorporating a linear payout waveguide leader holder in accordance with the principles of the present invention; Fig. 2 illustrates the interior of the balloon assisted dispenser of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 illustrates a first embodiment of a single pylon launcher incorporating a dual payout leader holder in accordance with the principles of the present invention; Fig. 4 illustrates a second embodiment of a single pylon launcher incorporating a dual payout leader holder in accordance with the principles of the present invention; Fig. 5 illustrates a third embodiment of a single pylon launcher incorporating a dual payout leader holder in accordance with the principles of the present invention; and Fig. 6 illustrates a fourth embodiment of a single pylon launcher incorporating a dual payout leader holder in accordance with the principles of the present invention. Referring to the drawing figures, Fig. 1 illustrates a balloon assisted dispenser 10 incorporating a linear payout waveguide leader holder 15 in accordance with the principles of the present invention. Additional information and details concerning the balloon assisted dispenser can be found in copending application EP-A-0 467 354 (a document falling within the terms of Article 54(3) EPC). The balloon assisted dispenser 10 is shown having a shroud or housing 11, which typically has a cylindrical shape and a cone-shaped leader holder 12 that is secured to the housing 11. The cone-shaped leader holder 12 has an exit aperture 14 disposed in its distal end that is adapted to allow an optical fiber waveguide (shown in Fig. 2) to exit therefrom. The cone shaped leader-holder 12 attaches to the aft end of the housing 11 of the balloon assisted dispenser 10. With reference to Fig. 2, it illustrates the interior of the balloon assisted dispenser 10 of Fig. 1. An optical fiber waveguide having an unjacketed portion 16 and a leader 17 comprising coiled jacketed portion is disposed within the balloon assisted dispenser 10. The unjacketed portion 16 is wound around a bobbin 13 disposed in the housing 11 and passes through an interior aperture 19 having a smoothly rounded contour. The leader 17 is coiled inside and is generally disposed in contact with the inner wall of the cone-shaped leader holder 12. A connector 18 is coupled to the end of the optical fiber waveguide and is secured to the leader 17. The exit aperture 14 of the cone-shaped leader holder 12 is large enough to allow the connector 18 to pass therethrough. In operation, the connector 18 is connected to a missile or vehicle (shown in Figs. 3-6) and a portion of the leader 17 extends out of the end of the leader holder 15. When the missile, for example, is launched, the coiled jacketed portion of the leader 17 acts to protect the optical fiber waveguide during the initial payout phase, wherein the waveguide is apt to experience large acceleration forces. Once the missile is airborne, and flying along its desired trajectory, the forces exerted on the unjacketed portion 16 of the waveguide are relatively minimal. Using the present invention, a payout helix as small as four fiber waveguide diameters is achievable and the waveguide is protected during the high stress payout initiation phase. Figs. 3-6 illustrate four embodiments of single pylon launchers 20a-20d, each incorporating a dual payout initiation system 21a-21d in accordance with the principles of the present invention. The single pylon launchers 20a-20d are used in a missile launching system comprising a missile 22 and the launcher 20a-20d, and wherein the balloon assisted dispenser 10 of the present invention is disposed in or attached to both the missile 22 and the launcher 20a-20d of each system 21a-21d. The single pylon launchers 20a-20d incorporating the dual payout initiation system 21 a-21d and the balloon assisted dispensers 10 comprise the following components and structural arrangement. With reference to Fig. 3, the missile 22 comprises a first balloon assisted dispenser 10a, or fuse dispenser 10a, coupled to the aft end thereof, and the missile 22 is mounted in a first launcher 20a. The fuse dispenser 10a is attached to the missile 22 and is configured substantially as described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2 above. A second balloon assisted dispenser 10b, or launcher dispenser 10b, is attached to the launcher 20a. The jacketed fiber optic waveguide of the fuse dispenser 10a extends out of the exit 14 and is attached along the side of the housing 11. The jacketed fiber optic waveguide of the launcher dispenser 10b extends out of the exit 14 and extends back along the side of the housing, and is attached thereto. The waveguide from the launcher dispenser 10b is connected to the waveguide of the fuse dispenser 10a via the optical connector 18. When the missile 22 is launched the fiber optic waveguide attached to the housing 11 detaches therefrom and thus initiates deployment having the waveguide disposed in the air stream. With reference to Figs. 4-6, the arrangements of the fuse and launcher dispensers 10a, 10b are oriented such that their respective leader holders 15 are adjacent each other, as are clearly shown in the drawing figures. The deployment of the optical fiber waveguide from the fuse and launcher dispensers 10a, 10b of Figs. 4-6 is accomplished in a manner described above with reference to the dispenser 10 of Fig. 2. Each of the four single pylon launchers 20a-20d shown in Figs. 3-6 incorporate the dual payout initiation system of the present invention and utilize the linear balloon assisted dispenser 10 generally described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2. Figs. 3 and 4 show dual payout arrangements where the optical fiber waveguide is deployed close to the dispenser 10 during deployment. Fig. 3 has the optical fiber waveguide attached to the dispenser 10 prior to payout initiation. The two arrangements shown in Figs. 3 ad 4 have additional benefits due to the smooth outer surface the cone-shaped leader holder 12 of the balloon assisted dispenser 10. More specifically, the single pylon launcher 20a of Fig. 3 has an L-shape and the launcher dispenser 10b is disposed adjacent the end of the L. The launcher dispenser 10b is oriented in a direction substantially parallel to the orientation of the missile 22. The fuse dispenser 10a is disposed in the aft end of the missile 22 adjacent the launcher dispenser 10b and is also oriented in a direction substantially parallel to the orientation of the missile 22. In the single pylon launcher 20b shown in Fig. 4, the launcher dispenser 10b is disposed adjacent an aft end of the launcher 20b and is oriented generally orthogonal to the orientation of the missile 22. The fuse dispenser 10a is disposed in the aft end of the missile 22 adjacent the launcher dispenser 10b and is oriented in a direction substantially parallel to the orientation of the missile 22. In the single pylon launcher 20c shown in Fig. 5, the launcher dispenser 10b is disposed at a forward end of the launcher 20c and is oriented orthogonal to the orientation of the missile 22. The fuse dispenser 10a is disposed in a forward end of the missile 22 proximate the launcher dispenser 10b and is oriented in a direction orthogonal to the orientation of the missile 22, and is generally aligned in a direction parallel to the launcher dispenser 10b. In the single pylon launcher 20d shown in Fig. 6, the launcher dispenser 10b is disposed adjacent an aft end of the launcher 20d and is oriented in a direction generally parallel to the orientation of the missile 22. The fuse dispenser 10a is disposed in a forward end of the missile 22 and is oriented in a direction generally orthogonal to the orientation of the missile 22. Thus there has been described new and improved balloon assisted dispensers incorporating a linear payout leader holder for use in missile launchers, and a plurality of single pylon launchers that incorporate a dual payout initiation system using the linear balloon assisted dispenser. It is to be understood that the above-described embodiments are merely illustrative of some of the many specific embodiments which represent applications of the principles of the present invention. Clearly, numerous and other arrangements can be readily devised by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the accompanying claims.

Claims: An optical fiber dispenser (10) comprising: a housing (11); a bobbin (13); and an optical fiber waveguide having an unjacketed portion (16) wound around the bobbin (13) and a leader (17) comprising a coiled jacketed portion of the waveguide coupled to the unjacketed portion (16) of the waveguide; characterised in that the bobbin (13) is disposed within the housing (11); in that a leader holder (15) in the form of an enclosure is attached to an end of the housing (11), the leader holder (15) having an exit aperture (14) disposed at the end of the leader holder (17) distal from the housing (11), the aperture (14) being adapted to allow the optical fiber waveguide to exit therethrough; and in that the leader (17) is disposed within the leader holder (15). An optical fiber dispenser (10) according to claim 1, wherein the leader (17) is disposed in contact with the inner wall of the leader holder. An optical fiber dispenser (10) according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a connector (18) coupled to the end of the leader (17), the exit aperture (14) of the leader holder (15) being large enough to permit the connector (18) to pass therethrough. An optical fiber dispenser (10) according to any preceding claim, wherein the leader holder (15) is cone-shaped and there is an interior aperture (19) having a smoothly rounded contour disposed between the housing (11) and the leader holder (15). An optical fiber dispenser (10) according to claim 4, wherein the dispenser (10) is balloon assisted. A single pylon missile launching system comprising: a missile (22) a single pylon launcher (20a-20d); a first optical fiber dispenser (10a) according to any of claims 1 to 5 disposed in or attached to the missile (22); and a second optical fiber dispenser (10b) according to any of claims 1 to 5 disposed in or attached to the single pylon launcher (20a-20d), the respective leaders of said first and second optical fiber dispensers (10a, 10b) being coupled together. The system according to claim 6, wherein the single pylon launcher (20a) has an L shape and wherein the second said dispenser (10b) is disposed adjacent the end of the L and is oriented in a direction substantially parallel to the orientation of the missile (22), and wherein the first said dispenser (10a) is disposed in the aft end of the missile (22) adjacent the second said dispenser (10b) and is oriented in a direction substantially parallel to the orientation of the missile (22). The system according to Claim 6, wherein the second said dispenser (10b) is disposed adjacent an aft end of the single pylon launcher (20b) and is oriented generally orthogonal to the orientation of the missile (22), and wherein the first said dispenser (10a) is disposed in the aft end of the missile (22) adjacent the second said dispenser (10b) and is oriented in a direction substantially parallel to the orientation of the missile (22). The system according to Claim 6, wherein the second said dispenser (10b) is disposed at a forward end of the single pylon launcher (20c) and is oriented orthogonal to the orientation of the missile (22), and wherein the first said dispenser (10a) is disposed in a forward end of the missile (22) proximate the second said dispenser (10b) and is oriented in a direction orthogonal to the orientation of the missile (22) and generally aligned with the second said dispenser (10b). The system according to Claim 6, wherein the second said dispenser (10b) is disposed adjacent an aft end of the single pylon launcher (20d) and is oriented in a direction generally parallel to the orientation of the missile (22), and wherein the first said dispenser (10a) is disposed in a forward end of the missile (22) and is oriented in a direction generally orthogonal to the orientation of the missile (22).

Inventors: CHRISTIE NANCY J, CHRISTIE, NANCY J.
Applicants: HUGHES AIRCRAFT CO, HUGHES AIRCRAFT COMPANY
Application year: 1992
Main classification: G02B6
IPC codes: G02B6, B65H49, F41F3, F42B15, B65H57, F41G7