US3631829A

US3631829A - Small boat weapon retriever

Info

Publication number: US3631829A
Application number: US23214A
Authority: US
Inventors: Frederick W Kamph
Original assignee: US Department of Navy
Current assignee: US Department of Navy
Priority date: 1970-03-27
Filing date: 1970-03-27
Publication date: 1972-01-04
Anticipated expiration: 1989-01-04

Abstract

A boat with a catamaran aft portion which forms a well into which captured weapons may be floated and secured for hauling aboard is provided. A weapon is secured in the well by inflated bags which press against opposite sides thereof, causing the weapon to follow the motion of the boat. A nose harness is then fastened about the weapon after which it is drawn up a ramp over rollers to the deck where it is secured.

Description

United States Patent Frederick W. Kamph Middletown, RJ.

Mar. 27, 1970 Jan. 4, 1972 The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy Inventor Appl. No. Filed Patented Assignee SMALL BOAT WEAPON RETRIEVER 6 Claims, 3 Drawing Figs.

U.S.Cl 114/435 Int. Cl B63b 35/44 Field of Search 1 14/16 R,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,537,413 11/1970 Farrell ll4/43.5 3,492,964 2/1970 Garcia 1 14/235 R 3,507,241 4/1970 Southerland 1 14/43.5

Primary ExaminerTrygve M. Blix Att0meysR. S. Sciascia, L. l. Shrago and C. E. Vautrain, Jr.

ABSTRACT: A boat with a catamaran aft portion which forms a well into which captured weapons may be floated and secured for hauling aboard is provided. A weapon is secured in the well by inflated bags which press against opposite sides thereof, causing the weapon to follow the motion of the boat. A nose harness is then fastened about the weapon after which it is drawn up a ramp over rollers to the deck where it is secured.

PATENTED- 48?? INVENTOR.

BY %W SMALL BOAT WEAPON RETRIEVER The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States of America for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

This invention relates to means for retrieving floating weapons and, more particularly, to such means wherein the weapon is precluded from making contact with the retrieving device by being secured in the medium to the device.

It is often difficult and hazardous to acquire armed or fragile weapons or other objects from a body of water in which the sea state is sufficiently severe to cause appreciable relative movement between the floating object and the recovery vehicle. The recovery of weapons from the water such as torpedoes is always hazardous to personnel and potentially damaging to the weapon. The irregular rise and fall of the weapon and the recovery vehicle when brought alongside in conventional fashion result in the high possibility of collision, while the subsequent securing operations also are dangerous due to the motion of the recovery vehicle only.

The present invention avoids the difficulties in such a procedure by providing a well into which the weapon may be moved so that the weapon and the recovery vessel will be subjected to substantially the same motion in the existing sea state. Once the weapon has been brought within the well, it is restrained therein before the attachment of a bridle or other means for hauling it on board by inflatable bags which extend inboard from either side of the well to partially encompass the weapon. The bags are preferably of resilient material but of substantial strength so that a considerable transverse force can be exerted against the portion of the weapons surface which is contacted by the bags. After being controlled in the well, a bridle or other capture device is attached to the nose of the torpedo and the torpedo then is hauled up a ramp over rollers as holding pressure from the bags is released. The torpedoes or other recovered weapons then may be stored on the deck of the retrieving vessel.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a means for recovering weapons in sea states greater than two.

It is another object of this invention to provide means for recovery of weapons in such sea states wherein the weapon is constrained to follow the motion of the recovery vessel.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a vessel for retrieving weapons in sea states greater than two wherein the weapon is positioned in a sheltered area for capture and recovery.

Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description thereof when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like numerals represent like parts throughout and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of one embodiment of a retrieving vessel for use in recovering floating weapons;

FIG. 2 is a rear elevation of the recovery vessel shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a schematic drawing of one of the steps in recovering a weapon.

Referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates a preferred embodiment of a recovery vessel 11 which is provided with a split stern formed of hull sections 12 and 13, these hull sections defining a weapon recovery well 14. The well 14 may be of any suitable size in relation to the weapon to be recovered and, in case of torpedoes, should be preferably about 20 to 25 feet in length and 15 to feet in width to afford adequate handling space. Vessel 1] in the embodiment shown is substantially 100 feet long and is provided with a catamaran-type aft hull portion as shown in greater detail in FIG. 2. Vessel 11 also is provided with line-launching gear such as line-throwing guns l6 and 17, a ramp 18 for facilitating moving the weapon to the deck storage area, deck control stations 20 and 21 and a power source 22. Positioned along opposite sides of well 14 are

inflatable bags

25 and 26 which are shown in the inflated condition securing a torpedo 27 between them but which in the deflated condition are contained in recesses 28 and 29, respectively, in the aft hull sections. The bags are connected to pressurized gas sources 33 and 34 with the immediate control means therefor maintained at stations 20 and 21 and with safety valves 35 and 36 included between the pressure source and the bag wells. Retrieving lines, not shown, are maintained on the deck near line-throwing guns l6 and I7, and cleats 40 through 43 are provided to assist in hauling the weapon into the well and positioning it for the recovery operation. Recovered weapons are stored on deck as indicated at 46 through 48 and a winch 49 and drum 50 are positioned to haul the recovered torpedoes up ramp [8 to the main deck 51. To facilitate moving the torpedoes up ramp l8, rollers 55 through 58 may be provided. A line or cable 60, wound on drum 50 and having a weapon-handling gear 61 secured to the free end of cable 60, completes the components essential to storing recovered weapons. The aft hull sections 12 and 13 preferably are tied together by a partial transom 64 which is disposed sufficiently above the waterline of the vessel so as not to interfere with recovery operations.

FIG. 2 shows a stern view of the catamaran vessel in which the aft hull sections 12 and 13 are shown extending aft from a point at or forward of ramp 18 at which point a conventional single hull 66 begins. The

bags

25 and 26 are shown holding torpedo 27 therebetween before the torpedo has been hauled forward to ramp 18.

FIG. 3 illustrates one step in the recovery of a torpedo, showing retrieval lines 67 and 68 leading forward under partial transom 64 to line handlers, not shown, and extending aft to a bridle 69 which has been secured about the torpedo by swimmers from the vessel. The bridle may be substituted for by a net, not shown, which would be launched by line-throwing guns l6 and 17. In either recovery method, the weapon is drawn into well 14 but before entering the well is positioned in attitude by protective poles or the like so that the weapon enters the center of the well in fore and aft alignment therewith.

The weapon retriever of the present invention is primarily intended for recovery of torpedoes or other weapons in highsea states. The provision of a well, such as well 14, which is open to the sea at the stern of the boat and has platforms along either side on which personnel may move to direct and capture the weapon is an extremely desirable advance in the field of weapon capture. Although FIG. 2 illustrates a relatively calm sea in which torpedo 27 has been brought into the well, it will be appreciated that sea states, wherein the waves may be several feet higher than the vessel itself when on an even keel, may be encountered and that the well will serve to render capture much more safe and simple than past procedures.

In conventional capture methods, personnel generally are required to wear swimsuits and swim to the weapon, attaching a bridle or other means for towing the weapon back to the recovery ship. Insofar as attaching the bridle is concerned, the present invention would use this initial recovery step; however, the conventional capture method would then require that the weapon be brought alongside a ship and there tethered or otherwise held by lines until hoisted onto the appropriate deck. In the alongside position, the weapon would not be subjected to the same rolling and pitching motion as that of the ship so that capture and hauling to the deck are extremely dangerous and difficult steps. The weapon, after being tethered, must be spaced a safe distance from the ship and then hoisted only when the ship has rolled to the side along which the weapon is positioned. In hoisting thereafter, the weapon must then again be fended off from the ships hull and superstructure since it is not possible in most instances to bring the weapon to the deck during one-half a period of a ships roll.

The present invention permits the tethered weapon to be towed into the well of the vessel 11 regardless of the sea condition since at the stern of the boat the motion of boat and weapon can be simultaneous or at least sufficiently similar so that the two are moving up and down together. Under these conditions, it is relatively easy to draw the weapon into the hull under partial transom 64 and there to position it by lines which may be attached to cleats 40 through 43 before

bags

25 and 26 are inflated. In extreme cases, it may be desirable to inflate the bags before all four-tethering lines are secured. in any event, the weapon, once within the well, is secured therein by transverse pressure from

bags

25 and 26; and, in this position, the weapon and the boat will ride the waves in identical manner. With the weapon so held, a bridle such as indicated at 61 or other device adapted for securing the nose of the weapon may be attached quickly and at any time. After attachment, the weapon is hauled up ramp 18 by cable 60, its starting being guided either by reduced pressure from

bags

25 and 26 or by tether lines secured to cleats 42 and 43. The weapon is easily and quickly hauled up ramp 18 over rollers 55 through 58 and, when brought to the deck, is supported by brackets and stored on deck as indicated.

The operation of the pressurizing sources 33 and 34 is very simple and quick. Bags such as indicated at 24 and 26 may be filled in a matter of seconds and deflated as quickly. Upon deflation, the bags return substantially to positions within the recesses 28 and 29, thus being out of the way so that succeeding operations may commence. Line-throwing guns such as indicated at 16 and 17 or other devices such as a net-throwing gun, not shown, may be used and, in the case of the net-throwing gun, may capture the weapon without the requirement of a swimmer. In such an operation, the weapon would be drawn close to vessel 11 at the stern and maneuvered until appropriate tethering lines may be fastened thereabout.

It will be recognized that many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in the light of the above teachings.

What is claimed is:

l. A vessel adapted for retrieving floating objects including expended torpedoes comprising:

a'hull having a stern well open to the flotation medium on its aft end and at its bottom; the sides of said well adapted to receive therein inflatable members in deflated condition; deflated inflatable members positioned in said sides; means for drawing a floating object into and positioning said object in said well; means for inflating said inflatable members,

said inflatable members when inflated pressing against opposite sides of said floating object constraining said object to follow the motion of said vessel; and

. vessel.

3. The vessel as defined in claim 2 wherein the well is formed by dual hull sections extending aft from a single hull and having substantially the same draft as the single hull portion of the vessel.

4. The vessel as defined in claim 3 and further including a plurality of rollers centrally disposed in said ramp to facilitate hauling aboard of the torpedo.

5. The vessel as defined in claim 4 wherein the inflatable members are bags of reinforced plastic material and the inflating means include valve control means, pumping means and at least one reservoir connected thereto and to each of said bags.

6. A vessel adapted for retrieving expended floating weapons such as torpedoes comprising:

a composite craft having a single hull forward and double,

spaced hulls aft,

said spaced aft hulls fonning a well communicating with the flotation medium which is greater in length than the length of the weapon to be retrieved and on the order of several times the width of said weapon;

said well defined by substantially vertical sides, said sides having recessed areas disposed o posite one another and extending above and below e waterline for accommodating at least one inflatable member each therein;

at least one inflatable member in each recessed area,

said inflatable members substantially confined in said recessed areas in the inoperative condition;

a gas pressure source and control means therefor disposed in said craft and connected to said inflatable members;

a ramp disposed at the forward end of said well extending substantially below the waterline of the craft; and

means for hauling said weapons up said ramp from said well, whereby a weapon after being captured and moved into said well may be held therein by pressure of said inflatable members upon inflation thereof and thereafter tethered and hauled up said ramp to the deck of said craft.

Claims

1. A vessel adapted for retrieving floating objects including expended torpedoes comprising: a hull having a stern well open to the flotation medium on its aft end and at its bottom; the sides of said well adapted to receive therein inflatable members in deflated condition; deflated inflatable members positioned in said sides; means for drawing a floating object into and positioning said object in said well; means for inflating said inflatable members, said inflatable members when inflated pressing against opposite sides of said floating object constraining said object to follow the motion of said vessel; and means on said vessel for transferring said object from said well to a position on board where it may be secUred.

2. The vessel as defined in claim 1 wherein said object is a torpedo and said means for transferring the object includes a nose harness for attachment to the torpedo and a ramp at the front end of the well to assist in hauling the torpedo aboard the vessel.

6. A vessel adapted for retrieving expended floating weapons such as torpedoes comprising: a composite craft having a single hull forward and double, spaced hulls aft, said spaced aft hulls forming a well communicating with the flotation medium which is greater in length than the length of the weapon to be retrieved and on the order of several times the width of said weapon; said well defined by substantially vertical sides, said sides having recessed areas disposed opposite one another and extending above and below the waterline for accommodating at least one inflatable member each therein; at least one inflatable member in each recessed area, said inflatable members substantially confined in said recessed areas in the inoperative condition; a gas pressure source and control means therefor disposed in said craft and connected to said inflatable members; a ramp disposed at the forward end of said well extending substantially below the waterline of the craft; and means for hauling said weapons up said ramp from said well, whereby a weapon after being captured and moved into said well may be held therein by pressure of said inflatable members upon inflation thereof and thereafter tethered and hauled up said ramp to the deck of said craft.