Warren A Sandham

US Patent:

53620143, Nov 8, 1994

Filed:

Jan 31, 1992

Appl. No.:

7/829993

Inventors:

Warren A. Sandham - Lilburn GA

Assignee:

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air
Force - Washington DC

International Classification:

F42B 1510

US Classification:

244 312

Abstract:

A lightweight, ejectable cover assembly for a fiber optic cable payout system comprises a foam plastic cover, one or more nylon bolts, one or more compression springs, and one or more parachute reefing line cutters for severing on command the nylon bolts to cleanly eject the cover without any debris damaging the optical fiber as it pays out. A disk shaped cover covers an aircraft wing-mounted payout canister and its enclosed spool of optical fiber. An annular shaped cover covers a glide weapon-mounted payout canister and its enclosed spool of optical fiber. A reefing line cutter or cutters severs the nylon bolt or bolts and the compression springs then forcibly eject the cover into the air stream out of the way of the paying out loop of optical fiber.