Rapid Sealing Technology for Navy Undersea Surveillance System Cable Joints

An upcoming Navy program requires a substantial improvement in the speed of deploying undersea cables for communication, surveillance and control systems. Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems is working to create the new system. A critical component of the cable joint protection system is the polyethylene covering that is assembled in parts. These components must be fused to form a long-lasting watertight seal. Raytheon has determined that non-contact heating is the ideal polyethylene joining approach. Grid Logic has Susceptor-Assisted Induction Heating (SAIH) technology that can spatially-localize magnetic flux to rapidly heat conductive particles, wire or other susceptors embedded in polyethylene. As the susceptors are heated, targeted local volumes of polyethylene melt, causing polymer chains diffuse between the parts to form strong permanent joints. Grid Logic also has monitoring and process control technology that can be used in the SAIH system to create quality welds.The objective of this SBIR Phase II project is to develop and mature a polyethylene welding device, along with designs for susceptor-enhanced components, that can be used for Raytheon's application.