Underwater explosive acoustic signature device
AssigneeAlliant Techsystems Inc.
InventorRobert L. Aske
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An explosive actuated acoustic device emits sound to be used in torpedo countermeasures. Numbered devices are delivered over an extended area and sink through the water. The devices are actuated at different times as they sink, to provide sound masking over an extended period of time. The devices also include safety devices which prevent premature actuation from jarring or jolting and from impact with the water.
Claims26
An explosive actuated acoustic apparatus for deployment in water, comprising a multiplicity of explosive actuated acoustic devices, wherein the acoustic devices include means for dispersing the devices over an extended area and wherein the multiplicity of acoustic devices have a plurality of sink rates for distributing activation of the acoustic devices over an extended period of time.
An explosive actuated apparatus for deployment in water comprising a multiplicity of explosive actuated devices, wherein each of the acoustic devices comprises:
- a body having opposed ends and end plates covering the ends;
- a detonator located within the body;
- a piston sliding within the body, the piston including means for actuating the detonator;
- a column supporting the piston within the body;
- means for dispersing the devices over an extended area;
- and
- means for distributing activation of the acoustic devices over an extended period of time.
An explosive actuated acoustic device for creating sounds underwater, comprising:
- a body having opposed ends and end plates cover the ends;
- a detonator located within the body;
- a piston sliding within the body, the piston including means for actuating the detonator;
- a column supporting the piston within the body;
- and
- spin lock means for preventing premature actuation.
An acoustic device for creating sounds underwater, comprising:
- a body having opposed ends and end plates covering the ends;
- a detonator located within the body;
- a piston sliding within the body, the piston including means for actuating the detonator;
- a column supporting the piston within the body;
- and
- means for preventing early detonation having centrifugal weights and conical springs which prevent the detonator from impact with the actuating means of the piston.
A method of creating an underwater acoustic pattern over an extended period of time with an acoustic apparatus including a plurality of acoustic devices having a body and having a piston sliding along an inner portion of the body, and a detonator within the body, wherein the piston is retained by a support column, comprising the steps of:
- launching a multiplicity of acoustic devices into the water;
- providing a plurality of support column strengths in the devices;
- allowing the multiplicity of acoustic devices to sink in the water until pressure on the devices forces the piston into the detonator, wherein the detonators are actuated at different depths and at different times corresponding to the strength of the support columns.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.