US 4,356,788 AGranted

Deepwater propellant embedded anchor having emergency release mechanism

AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy

InventorsMelvin Stern, Daniel G. True

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A deepwater propellant embedded anchor system having emergency release menism for separating an anchor fluke assembly from the gun assembly. In an emergency, a sear pin is rotated by a lever and release line to disengage the fluke assembly, thus allowing the fluke assembly and explosive cartridge to drop away and allow water to flood the gun barrel and soak the primer for disarming the anchor system.

Claims12

Dependent claims

A propellant embedded anchor system having an emergency release mechanism for safely disarming the system in case of malfunction or misfire, comprising:

a. a gun assembly, including:
a gun barrel;
an explosive charge within said gun barrel;
and
a firing means operable to detonate said explosive charge within the gun barrel;
b. a fluke assembly, including:
an anchor fluke means;
a mooring means connected to said anchor fluke means;
and
a piston means fitting within the open end of said gun barrel and having one end thereof extending from the open end of said gun barrel and mated with one end of said anchor fluke means;
said piston means being operable to be forcefully expelled from said gun barrel upon firing the explosive charge in said gun barrel to propel said anchor fluke means into the seafloor;
c. an emergency release means mounted on said gun assembly and connecting said gun assembly to said fluke assembly;
said emergency release means including at least one release mechanism;
d. each said at least one release mechanism, comprising:
an elongated anchor link means having an upper end and a lower end;
the lower end of said anchor link means being connected to said anchor fluke means with a break-away means;
said break-away means being operable to be sheared by the force of said piston means against said anchor fluke means when said explosive charge is fired to propel said piston means from the gun barrel and embed said anchor fluke means into the seafloor;
a vertical guide channel mounted on said gun assembly;
the upper end of said elongated anchor link means being operable to slidingly fit within said vertical guide channel;
the upper end of said vertical guide channel being provided with a latch means;
said latch means, when in a locked position, operating to lockingly engage the upper end of said elongated anchor link means;
and
disengage means which, when actuated, is operable to unlock said latch means from the upper end of said anchor link means for allowing said anchor link means to slide free from said vertical guide channel;
whereby release of the upper end of said anchor link means permits said anchor fluke means to fall away from said gun assembly allowing said piston means and said explosive charge to fall out of said gun barrel and permit seawater to enter the gun barrel thereby disarming said gun assembly.

21 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

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Abstract

A propellant embedded anchor system having an emergency release mechanism for safely disarming the system in case of malfunction or misfire, comprising:

a. a gun assembly, including:
a gun barrel;
an explosive charge within said gun barrel;
and
a firing means operable to detonate said explosive charge within the gun barrel;
b. a fluke assembly, including:
an anchor fluke means;
a mooring means connected to said anchor fluke means;
and
a piston means fitting within the open end of said gun barrel and having one end thereof extending from the open end of said gun barrel and mated with one end of said anchor fluke means;
said piston means being operable to be forcefully expelled from said gun barrel upon firing the explosive charge in said gun barrel to propel said anchor fluke means into the seafloor;
c. an emergency release means mounted on said gun assembly and connecting said gun assembly to said fluke assembly;
said emergency release means including at least one release mechanism;
d. each said at least one release mechanism, comprising:
an elongated anchor link means having an upper end and a lower end;
the lower end of said anchor link means being connected to said anchor fluke means with a break-away means;
said break-away means being operable to be sheared by the force of said piston means against said anchor fluke means when said explosive charge is fired to propel said piston means from the gun barrel and embed said anchor fluke means into the seafloor;
a vertical guide channel mounted on said gun assembly;
the upper end of said elongated anchor link means being operable to slidingly fit within said vertical guide channel;
the upper end of said vertical guide channel being provided with a latch means;
said latch means, when in a locked position, operating to lockingly engage the upper end of said elongated anchor link means;
and
disengage means which, when actuated, is operable to unlock said latch means from the upper end of said anchor link means for allowing said anchor link means to slide free from said vertical guide channel;
whereby release of the upper end of said anchor link means permits said anchor fluke means to fall away from said gun assembly allowing said piston means and said explosive charge to fall out of said gun barrel and permit seawater to enter the gun barrel thereby disarming said gun assembly.

21 more elements