Minesweeping
AssigneeThe Commonwealth of Australia
InventorJohn W. Hill
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A magnetic mine sweep has at least one block of permanent magnet material connected on each side in flux conducting relationship to respective distributor elements, typically of mild steel, which are secured to respective steel pipes which are closed to form cavities for providing buoyancy and for distributing the flux for mine sweeping purposes. Rigid plastic foam can be provided in the cavities for reserve buoyancy and stiffening purposes. A non-magnetic shroud extends around the block of permanent magnet material.
Claims19
A sweep comprising an elongated rigid buoyant body dimensioned and constructed for deployment in water as a magnetic mine sweep and being resistant to explosive forces released by a magnetic mine when activated by the sweep, the rigid body including:
- at least one block of permanent magnet material having pole faces;
- and
- distributor elements of a material of high magnetic permeability and high saturation level, the distributor elements being mounted with faces thereof in intimate proximity to the pole faces for conducting the flux with little loss of magnetomotive force, the distributor elements associated with the or each said block extending away from the pole faces thereof in opposite directions and along the direction of elongation of said rigid body for distributing the magnetic flux so as to establish a magnetic field extending through the water for magnetic mine sweeping purposes and whereby the sweep has long service life between remagnetizations and a high ratio of magnetic moment to mass.
A mine sweep comprising a buoyant elongated body adapted to be towed through water, a block of permanent magnet material mounted within the body, and distributor elements of high magnetic permeability and low coercivity steel each providing a sealed, rigid, hollow casing for the body and for providing buoyancy for the body, and the distributor elements having respective flat distributor surfaces in intimate flux conducting contact with and extending away from respective pole faces of said block of permanent magnet material.
A sweep for use in magnetic mine sweeping, the sweep comprising a buoyant body which includes:
- at least one sealed cavity containing a block of permanent magnet material;
- distributor elements of high magnetic permeability and saturation level, each distributor element comprising a flat steel plate in magnetic flux conducting relationship with a corresponding face of the block of permanent magnet material, the flat steel plates distributing the magnetic flux, when the sweep is in use, to establish an extended magnetic field for magnetic mine sweeping purposes, and a steel connecting wall welded to and extending at an angle to the axis of the body from each flat steel plate to a welded connection with a steel casing for the body;
- and
- the body being resistant to explosive forces released by a magnetic mine when activated by the sweep.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.