US 4,372,239 A · Undersea weapon with hydropulse system and periodical seawater admission

Abstract

An undersea weapon comprising a warhead, a rocket motor, detection, homing and control systems and a hydropulse underwater propulsion system in an integral unit. The weapon is launched at a previously detected target, such as a submarine, on a ballistic trajectory through the air by means of the rocket motor. The weapon enters the water near the submarine, which is thereafter detected by an on-board system incorporating active and/or passive detection. The thus-determined submarine direction is utilized by the control system to guide the weapon toward the submarine under water. A hydropulse motor utilizes the empty rocket motor as the propulsion chamber and provides the underwater propulsion to propel the weapon through the water toward the submarine, where the warhead then detonates on contact with the submarine. Alternatively, the weapon may be air dropped near a previously detected target, in which case there need be no propellant in the rocket motor. The hydropulse motor operates by repeatedly filling the chamber with water and expelling the water at high velocity through a converging nozzle in succeeding pulse stages. During the intervals between pulses, the detection system monitors the submarine free of noise from the on-board propulsion motor.

Claims25

Dependent claims

A weapon for destroying an underwater target comprising:

a housing;
a warhead mounted within the housing near the forward end thereof;
means for steering the weapon under water in response to steering control signals;
a hydropulse propulsion system including a chamber within the housing near the aft end thereof, a water jet nozzle projecting aft from the chamber, and means for periodically admitting sea water to the chamber and thereafter expelling the sea water through the nozzle with substantial force to develop thrust for propelling the weapon;
and
a dual sonar system for seeking and detecting an underwater target and for generating signals to control the steering means to direct the weapon toward the target, said system including separate target seeking and detecting means which are selectively operable during different time periods in directing the weapon toward the target.

3 more elements

A weapon for destroying an underwater target comprising:

a housing;
a warhead mounted within the housing near the forward end thereof;
means for steering the weapon under water in response to steering control signals;
and
a hydropulse propulsion system including a chamber within the housing near the aft end thereof, a water jet nozzle projecting aft from the chamber, and means for periodically admitting sea water to the chamber and thereafter expelling the sea water through the nozzle with substantial force to develop thrust for propelling the weapon, the expelling means including:
a plurality of discrete gas generators mounted forward of the chamber,
a corresponding plurality of tubes individually associated with the gas generators, each connecting an associated gas generator with the chamber to transmit combusted gas to the chamber at substantial pressure, and
electrical ignition means coupled to the gas generators for selectively firing the gas generators individually in succession to develop a series of hydropulses of thrust to propel the weapon underwater.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Undersea weapon with hydropulse system and periodical seawater admission

Life of this patent

Undersea weapon with hydropulse system and periodical seawater admission

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims25