Navy SBIR: Liquid Cargo UNREP

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Client Need:

US Navy requested development of system that would reduce manning and associated hazardous and strenuous work involved in hauling over fuel rigs and manually connecting spanwires during liquid Cargo Underway Replenishment.

D&K Solution:

D&K Engineering, along with other technology partners, analyzed the power and control systems required to power the messenger, spanwire and probe to the DD(X) from the delivery ship. Concepts were also developed for replacing rope lashings between the messenger and the spanwire and developed a concept for an improved probe receiver swivel arm to reduce the process of attaching the spanwire end fitting to the receiver.

Results:

The process of attaching the spanwire end fitting to the receiver was reduced from 4 steps to 1. The improved swivel arm and the spanwire-to-messenger attachment had immediate application to all single probe receivers world wide. The powered gypsy winch also allowed receiving ships to have reduced manning, from 20+ down to 3.