US 10,703,451 B1 · Countermeasures apparatus and method

Abstract

An orb or body deployable from a launch tube serves as a countermeasures system. Where used, a tow rocket may be used to tow the orb or body to a desired location generally in front of an oncoming threat, and the tow rocket is released. Multiple line tow rockets are then launched from the orb in every direction, each extending a line connected to the orb to define a spherical volume within which the orb and lines operate. Each line may include at least one of sensors for sensing acoustic, magnetic or other disturbances, countermeasures systems including explosives, antenna, and radiating countermeasures transducers. Explosives or transducers may also be mounted in or to the orb. Magnetic, acoustic or electrical signals or the like may be emitted to confuse a threat, and explosives may be triggered when the threat enters the spherical volume defined by the extended lines.

Claims18

Dependent claims

An apparatus for at least sensing disturbances or signals in water comprising:

a body,
a plurality of lines, each line of the plurality of lines connected at one end to the body at locations on the body so as to extend outward from the body in directions therefrom to define a generally spherical volume in the water that the plurality of lines extend through,
a plurality of line deployment mechanisms, each line deployment mechanism of the plurality of line deployment mechanisms configured so that the plurality of line deployment mechanisms, when activated, each simultaneously deploys and orients a respective said line from the body in the directions to define the generally spherical volume in the water after the body is deployed to the predetermined location,
a communications medium in at least some of the plurality of lines, a plurality of sensors, with at least one sensor of the plurality of sensors for the at least some of the lines, the at least one sensor coupled to the communications medium in a respective said line of the at least some of said lines,
a launch tube holding the body prior to launch of the body.

2 more elements

A tube launched underwater countermeasures system comprising:

a plurality of launch tubes, each launch tube of the plurality of launch tubes containing a discrete countermeasure system further comprising:
a generally spherical orb,
an orb tow rocket motor for towing the orb to a deployment point, the orb tow rocket motor configured to release the generally spherical orb at the deployment point,
a plurality of extendable lines within the generally spherical orb, the extendable lines each attached at one end to the generally spherical orb at points selected such that when the plurality of extendable lines are extended normal to a surface of the generally spherical orb, the plurality of extendable lines are within a generally spherical volume of water defined by the plurality of extendable lines,
a plurality of line tow rockets in said generally spherical orb, each line tow rocket of the plurality of line tow rockets attached to an opposite end of a respective extendable line of the plurality of extendable lines, for towing the plurality of extendable lines into an extended position generally normal to the surface of the generally spherical orb in order to define the generally spherical volume in the water,
one or more sensors on at least some of the plurality of extendable lines, for sensing signals or disturbances in the water.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Countermeasures apparatus and method

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Countermeasures apparatus and method

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims18