AU691701B2

AU691701B2 - Mine sweeper

Info

Publication number: AU691701B2
Application number: AU40619/95A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Peter Ortlepp
Original assignee: Fr Luerssen Werft GmbH and Co
Current assignee: Fr Luerssen Werft GmbH and Co
Priority date: 1994-12-22
Filing date: 1995-12-21
Publication date: 1998-05-21
Anticipated expiration: 2015-12-21
Also published as: DK0719703T3; EP0719703B1; DE59501602D1; DE9420497U1; EP0719703A1; AU4061995A

Description

S F Ref: 322031

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT l,990 COMPLETE SPEC4 HOATlON FOR A STANDARD PATENT

ORIGINAL

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SS S Name and Address of Applicant: Fr. Lurssen Werft (GmbH Co.) Friedrich-Ki ippert-Strasse 27859 Bremen

GERMANY

Peter Ortlepp Actual Inventor(s)., -Address for Service: invention Title: Spruson Ferguson, Patent Attorneys Level 33 St Martins Tower, 31 Market Street Sydney, New South Males, 2000, Australia Mine Sweeper The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of perforiring it known to me/us:-I 5845 1/- MINE SWEEPER Description The invention relates to a vessel for the sweeping of sea mines by magnetic simulation of ship signatures.

Drones are known for the sweeping of sea mines by the simulation of a ship's magnetic field. For the creation of a magnetic field the drones are provided with electromagnetic coils which are situated on the outer skin of the drone or on a tank body.

The problem addressed by the invention is to devise such a vessel for the )0 sweeping of mines with an improved target vessel similarity.

For the solution of the problem there is provided a vessel for the sweeping of mines by magnetic simulation of ship's signature comprising an arrangement of electromagnetic coils which utilizes the ferritic parts of the vessel. The electromagnetic coils are situated both at the front and at the back of the vessel, each 1 coil having several part-windings each of which being independently connected to an own power supply with all power supplies being connected to a single controlling computer and programmer.

The invention enables, in dependence on the number of part-windings, creation of individual dipoles with differing polarity and differing magnetic field strength. This ,0 allows an increase of the vertical field component BZ, which is very important for some -2mine firing devices, by total polarity reversal of the front and rear part-windings with respect to each other. Also possible is field reversal of the vehicle signature by polarity irversal of certain part-windings. In some sea mine firing devices this manipulated field reversal results in triggering, because this field reversal is interpreted by the mine as the passing of a target. The invention can also be used for magnetic pulse sweeping operation. Finally, the invention may be used for the necessary demagnetization of the sweeper after mine sweeping.

SThe invention will now be explained, by way of example, in greater detail with •reference to an embodiment illustrated in the drawing. In the drawing:

S

Fig. 1 shows a vessel vvith front and rear electromagnetic part-windings, and F. Fg. 2 a block circuit diagram.

According to Fig. 1 an unmanned vessel 1 is provided both at its front and at its o••oo.

rear with an electromagnetic coil, each of which is comprised of a number of partwindings 2. The part-windings 2 are situated directly on the outer skin of the a. a vessel. They may also be placed on a special tank body. Every part-winding 2 is energized by an individual bipolar, programmable mains unit or power supply 3, all units being programmed and controlled by a common controlling computer and programmer 4.

Ip I I -3- Vessel 1 is a self propelled unit suitable for extended mine sweeping operations said vessel being provided with well known means (not shown) for allowing full remote control of the vessel. The remote control means include means for receiving and transmitting information needed for remote operation of said controlling computer and programmer 4 or for remote controlling the individual mains units.

In a preferred embodiment (not shown) the controlling computer and programmer 0** is partly or fully situated on board of a vehicle such as a vessel or aircraft from .which vessel 1 is remote controlled. In that case the link connecting said controlling and said controlled vehicles includes in a known per se manner a sufficient ]0 number of transmission channels for exchanging data between said individual 9* mains units 3 and said remote centralized computer and programmer 4.

o 0° As is obvious for a person of ordinary skill said computer and programmer 4 is 0*:046 provided with a plurality of programs adapted to different mine sweeping options.

5 Dependend on the program in use at any time the part-windings 2 through their individual mains units 3 are energized to perform as explained above individual mains units 3 are energized to perform as explained above.

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Claims

1. A vessel for the sweeping of sea mines by magnetic simulation of ship signatures comprising an arrangement of electromagnetic coils utilizing the ferritic parts of the vessel, said vessel being provided both at its front and at its rear part with electromagnetic coils, each of the coils having a number of part-windings each of which being independently connected to its own power supply or mains unit with all mains units being connected to a single controlling computer and programmer.

2. The vessel of claim 1 including means and a separate vehicle for remote controlling the vessels entire operation during minesweeping, said remote controlling means including means for exchanging signals with o* o said vehicle being adapted to remote control said vessel.

3. The vessel of claim 2 in which said signals include signals for control- ling individual ones or groups of said mains units, said single controlling computer and programmer being situated aboard said vehicle and being adapted to at least transmit said signals to said mains units.

4, The vessel of any of claims 1-3 in which said mains units in cooperation with their respective part-windings are adapted to create individal dipoles with differing polarity and/or differing magnetic field strength.

The vessel of claim 1 in which said individual mains units are adapted to be controlled by said single controlling computer and programmer individually or in groups so as to energize said part-windings according- ly. a

6. The vessel of claim 1 characterized in that it is d;eigned as a selfprop- elled unmanned vessel. a DATED this TWENTY-FIRST day of DECEMBER 1995 Fr. Lurssen Werft (GmbH Co.) Patent Attorneys for the Applicant SPRUSON FERGUSON a I- ~-e-u Mine Sweeper ABSTRACT A vessel is disclosed for the sweeping of sea mines by magnetic simulation of ship signatures comprising an arrangement of electromagnetic coils utilizing the ferritic parts of the vessel, said vessel being provided both at' its front and at its rear part with said electromagnetic coils, each of the coils having a number of part-windings each of which is independently connected to its own power supply or mains unit with all mains units being connected to a single controlling computer and programmer S *.SS *5055 o eab:4927W as,