Winch mounted optical data transmission cable with fluid coupling

Claim 1

An oceanographic winch for handling optical data transmission cable comprising: a base member for attachment to a marine vessel; a cylindrical support rotatably journaled in said support member; an optical data transmission cable spoolably wound upon said cylindrical support for selectively paying-out therefrom and reeving-in thereon; a rotatable optical window axially mounted on said cylindrical support for rotation therewith and optically connected to said optical data transmission cable as a terminal therefor; a stationary optical window mounted on said base member positioned closely adjacent and in spaced relation to said rotatable optical window to provide an enclosed space therebetween and to pass optical data signals transmitted by said optical data transmission cable through said rotatable optical window; seal means carried by said base member and cooperating with said cylindrical support to render said enclosed space fluid tight; optically transparent fluid filling said enclosed space between said rotatable optical window and Said stationary window so as to provide an optical path therebetween; a channel extending through said base member from said enclosed space to the exterior of said base member; and optical means operatively connected to said stationary optical window for cooperation therewith in transmission of the optical signals and, thus, permit optical signal transmission along a variable length communication path in dependence on the length of optical data transmission cable unwound from said cylindrical support.