US 5,175,712 AGranted

Underwater sound source with timed actuator

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

InventorsMark J. Vaccaro, Thomas R. Stottlemyer, William L. Konrad

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Abstract

An autonomous underwater acoustic charge deployment buoy that can deploy ustic charges at preselected time periods. The device can operate away from any control vessels or structures. The device comprises a plurality of launch tubes disposed within a frame supported by an elastomeric floatation collar. An electrical control circuit is fastened to the upper surface of the frame to control acoustic charge release times. A hinged door that is held closed by a burn wire is disposed on lower end of each launch tube. Activation of the control circuit causes the burn wire to part, releasing the hinged door. When the hinged door opens, gravity causes the acoustic charge to drop from the launch tube. The device can deploy a plurality of acoustic charges at preselected times remote from control vessels or structures.

Claims7

Dependent claims

A buoy for deploying acoustic charges comprising:

a frame having a plurality of vertical members and a plurality of horizontal members disposed so as to form a rectangular open-sided box having a longitudinal axis;
a buoyant collar disposed about and affixed to said frame, said buoyant collar providing buoyant force to support the buoy partially above the surface of the ocean in such a way that said longitudinal axis remains substantially vertical;
a plurality of hollow launch tubes open on the upper and lower ends thereof for holding and launching said acoustic charges, said launch tubes being disposed vertically within said frame;
a plurality of hinged doors, each of said hinged doors being disposed upon the lower end of each of said launch tubes and hinged to said launch tube at the periphery of the door to allow the door to fall freely from the horizontal position covering the lower end of said launch tube to the vertical position uncovering the lower end of said launch tube;
a plurality of electrically controllable fastening means, one fastening means being disposed on the lower end of each of said launch tubes, said fastening means retaining said hinged doors in the horizontal position;
and
an electrical control means positioned on the top of said frame, so as to remain above the surface of the ocean when said buoy is deployed, said electrical control means being electrically connected to said fastening means and programmed to cause said fastening means to release each of said hinged doors at preselected times.

4 more elements

A buoy for deploying acoustic charges comprising:

a frame having vertical and horizontal members forming a hollow open sided box;
a lower mounting bracket disposed horizontally about said frame midway up said vertical members of said frame and fixed thereto;
a buoyant collar positioned with a clearance fit over said frame and resting on said lower mounting bracket, said buoyant collar providing buoyant force to support the buoy partially above the surface of the ocean;
an upper mounting bracket disposed horizontally about said frame above said buoyant collar and fixed to said frame said upper mounting bracket preventing said buoyant collar from moving in a vertical direction;
a plurality of hollow launch tubes open on the upper and lower ends thereof for holding and launching said acoustic charges, said launch tubes being disposed vertically within said frame;
a plurality of hinged doors with each of said hinged doors disposed upon the lower end of each of said launch tubes and hinged to said launch tube at the periphery of the door to allow the door to fall freely from the horizontal position covering the lower end of said launch tube to the vertical position uncovering the lower end of said launch tube;
and
a plurality of burn wires with one burn wire affixed to the lower end of each of said launch tubes and to the periphery of each of said hinged doors, said burn wires retaining said hinged doors in the horizontal position.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.