Retractable underwater turret
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
InventorKyrill V. Korolenko
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention, as disclosed and taught herein, comprises apparatus nd method for an underwater turret system suitable for use on surface or underwater vessels. The turret system is housed in an underwater bay from which the turret may be deployed and operated. After operational use the turret system is retracted into the bay whereupon the bay and the system are flushed with rinse water, evacuated and dried by passing drying air through the bay. In a preferred embodiment the turret is fitted with an underwater weapon and operated to attack underwater targets.
Claims20
An underwater turret system comprising:
- an underwater turret;
- an underwater, water tight bay for storing said turret therein, said bay having door means whereby said turret may be deployed therethrough for operational use;
- means for pumping water into and out of said bay;
- means for drying said turret and said bay when water has been extracted therefrom;
- and
- means for supporting, deploying, and retrieving said turret through said door means.
In an underwater turret system comprising a turret within a watertight bay wherein said bay includes door means through which said turret may be deployed and means for deploying and recovering said turret wherein said turret includes an attached, extended, equipment container, the method of deploying and retrieving said turret and attached equipment container comprising the steps of:
- filling said bay with water;
- opening said door means thereby providing an opening through which said turret and attached equipment container may pass;
- aligning the centerline of said extended equipment container with the centerline of said door opening;
- passing said turret and attached equipment container through said door opening;
- closing said door means;
- repositioning said extended equipment container to a desired operational position and operating said turret system;
- and
- retrieving said turret and attached equipment container into said bay.
An underwater turret system for use on board a vessel having an enclosed, watertight, bay, the bay having at least one wall thereof comprising a portion of said vessel's outer hull surface, the system comprising:
- operable, laterally opposed watertight doors within said portion of said vessel's outer hull surface whereby said bay may be opened to the open sea surrounding said vessel;
- means for opening and closing said watertight doors;
- a turret;
- means for supporting said turret within said bay, said means for supporting said turret;
- means for conveying an extended portion of said turret through said door opening and positioning said extended portion of said turret outside of said vessel's hull, said extended portion of said turret being laterally supported by an action of said laterally opposed doors being brought to bear against opposed surfaces of said extended portion of said turret;
- and
- remote control means for deploying and operating said turret.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.