EP0357441B1 - Unterwasser-Kommunikationsvorrichtungen - Google Patents

Unterwasser-Kommunikationsvorrichtungen Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0357441B1
EP0357441B1 EP19890308857 EP89308857A EP0357441B1 EP 0357441 B1 EP0357441 B1 EP 0357441B1 EP 19890308857 EP19890308857 EP 19890308857 EP 89308857 A EP89308857 A EP 89308857A EP 0357441 B1 EP0357441 B1 EP 0357441B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
sonar
beacon
enclosure
beacons
vessel
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP19890308857
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0357441A1 (de
Inventor
Bernard Dollman Parker
Christopher Daniel Dowling Hickey
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Lawborough Consultants Ltd
Original Assignee
Lawborough Consultants Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Lawborough Consultants Ltd filed Critical Lawborough Consultants Ltd
Publication of EP0357441A1 publication Critical patent/EP0357441A1/de
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0357441B1 publication Critical patent/EP0357441B1/de
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01Q—ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
    • H01Q1/00—Details of, or arrangements associated with, antennas
    • H01Q1/04—Adaptation for subterranean or subaqueous use

Definitions

  • This invention relates to underwater communication devices.
  • a major problem which is experienced by Hunter type weapons of the anti-submarine variety is the limited range of acoustic-sonar detectors and hence the short range at which a target can be identified.
  • This drawback can be overcome if sensing devices are positioned well away from, and peripheral to, the weapons. Signals received by such sensing devices could be analysed, a vessel identified by comparison with a library of voice prints, and a coded message transmitted to a weapon, all well in advance of the approach of a possible target. Alternatively, the voice print could be broadcast in its entirety. In either event, the response time available to the weapon system could be significantly enhanced.
  • sensors and weapons could be positioned on the sea bed in such a manner as to form not only a "safe haven” for friendly vessels, but also as a trap for enemy shipping which tried to penetrate the safe area. It would be particularly useful for friendly vessels which believe they may be being shadowed/followed, to run through a series of underwater communication devices which could detect and disseminate information on the shadowing vessel and prepare weapon systems to destroy it.
  • weapon systems could be of a type described or illustrated in EP-A-0110554.
  • This invention provides an underwater communications device comprising an enclosure, means to anchor the enclosure to the sea bed, sonar listening equipment in the enclosure for receiving sonar signals from the surrounding water, a plurality of communications beacons enclosed in individual buoyant containers, means for releasably holding the beacon in the enclosure and means for releasing a beacon from the enclosure in response to receipt of a sonar signal by said sonar receiving means to allow the beacons to surface and to transmit a signal pursuant to the receipt of said sonar signal.
  • the sonar receiving apparatus may include means to store different sonar signals emitted by different surface or underwater vessels whether hostile or friendly, means to receive and compare a sonar signal with said stored sonar signals and means to initiate release of a beacon in response to any sonar signal identified as being that of a hostile vessel to transmit a signal indicating the presence of a hostile vessel.
  • the sonar receiving apparatus may be arranged to supply information to the beacon including the identity of the vessel detected to be transmitted by said beacon after release from the enclosure and on reaching the surface.
  • the beacons may embody radio transmitters for transmitting radio signals on surfacing indicating the detection of a "hostile" vessel.
  • the apparatus may be provided with means for communicating with one or more remote weapon systems for activating the weapon systems to be used against a target detected by the sonar equipment.
  • the enclosure may have an upper part containing the sonar equipment and said beacons and a lower part having means to bury the lower part in the sea bed.
  • an underwater communication device comprising a watertight elongate vertically extending container 10 which is intended to be partially or wholly buried in the sea bed 11.
  • the upper part of the container 10 contains a first, inner canister 12 in which a plurality of individually releasable communication beacons 13 are housed and the lower part of the container houses a second canister 14 containing a burying mechanism for the container 10.
  • the outer container 10 is, as indicated above, of elongate form and generally cylindrical cross-section.
  • the container is buried or partially buried within the sea bed 11 as illustrated in the drawing to minimise the risk of the device being detected or damaged.
  • the container has self-burying means comprising, firstly a centrifugal pump 15 for removing sand or silt from under the bottom end of the container; secondly a spiral or helical agitator/auger 16 for loosening the material on the sea bed and thirdly a high pressure pump 17 for pumping sea water to nozzles 18 disposed around the periphery of the lower end of the container 10 and for loosening sand or silt under the container.
  • the centrifugal pump 15 is driven by an electric drive motor 19 through a gear train 20, the motor being powered by batteries 21.
  • This pump sucks up sand and silt from the sea bed, as indicated by chain lines 22, and forces it radially outwardly to the lower end of an annular region 23 between the outer container 10 and the inner canisters 12 and 14.
  • the sand and silt are forced upwardly through this annular region to be expelled as indicated by arrows 24 at the upper end of the container 10.
  • the agitator/auger 16 is driven from the drive shaft of the pump 15. This shaft also drives a high pressure pump 17.
  • the device is laid in position by dropping it into the sea and it is so constructed that when released in water, it falls with the burying mechanism downwards so this end settles on the sea bed.
  • Operation of the drive motor 19 driving pump 15 and 17 and the agitator/auger 16 forces sand or silt or the like in the sea bed away from the underneath of the container thereby allowing the container to sink into the sea bed in a substantially upright position.
  • the container would be substantially wholly buried to minimise the risk of detection by underwater search equipment or accidental damage by equipment moving along the sea bed. Sand or silt may get washed over the container by the sea with the result that the container may be completely covered.
  • Control of the self-burial means may be effected using appropriate sensors.
  • a first sensor 25 to detect initial contact with the sea bed and initiate operation of the motor 19 is mounted at the lower end of the container 10 and a second sensor 26 is mounted adjacent the upper end of container 10 to detect burial of the container to the required depth.
  • the upper canister 12 is formed with a central vertically extending housing 30 the lower part of which contains a control assembly 31 including a sonar receiver, a data processing device and an interface device for interfacing the sonar receiver with the radio beacons 13.
  • the upper part of the housing 30 is an aerial housing 32 containing an extendible sonar aerial mechanism 33 which extends automatically once the container is fully buried as detected by the sensor 26.
  • each of the tubes 35 there are four vertically extending tubes 35 each of which has an open end 36 closed by a watertight seal 37.
  • a "torpedo" shaped communications beacon 38 comprising, from its upper end, a nose 39, and ground plane antenna with flexible ground plane 40, a buoyancy tank 41, an electronics bay 42, a battery pack 43 and a bottom end base 44.
  • the base 44 of each beacon forms a piston in the lower end of its tube 35 and the lower end of the tube is connected by a passage 46 to a pneumatically or hydraulically operated ram 47 containing a vertically operating piston assembly 48.
  • the cylinder 47 is connected by a lateral passage 49 through a non-return inlet valve 50 to the aforesaid annular passage 23 to receive a charge of water therefrom when the ram 48 is returned.
  • Ram 48 is advanced to displace water from the cylinder 47 through passage 46 into the lower end of tube 35 to force the beacon 38 contained in the tube upwardly fracturing the watertight seal 37 to project out of the tube. Once the seal 37 has been fractured, the tube 35 will flood and the beacon will float upwardly out of the tube to the surface under the influence of its own positive buoyancy. Operation of the hydraulic/pneumatic rams connected to piston assemblies 48 is effected by a rotary switch construction (not shown) triggered by a signal from the control assembly 31 described above.
  • the seals 37 could be frangible or held in position with vacuum differential on an "O" ring and solenoid controlled valves may be provided connecting the tubes to the annular chamber to flood the tube of a beacon to be deployed. Once the tube has been flooded to bring the tube into equilibrium, the beacons could be driven out with hydro-static pressure or a gas charge such as that provided by firing a pyro-technic type cartridge could be utilised.
  • the control assembly 31 of the underwater communication device receives sonar signals from vessels passing within range of the device. It is well known that each vessel has its own individual noise pattern and the control assembly has a memory in which the noise patterns of all known friendly and enemy vessels are recorded.
  • the control assembly has facilities for analysing received sonar signals to determine whether they are of friendly or enemy vessels and, if of enemy vessels, to initiate the firing of one of the radio beacons 38 to the surface to transmit a signal by radio warning that an enemy vessel has been detected.
  • the radio beacons broadcast coded messages on surfacing and, following a set period of broadcasting and after acknowledgement that a message has been received, a programme to self-destruct the beacon is initiated automatically.
  • the control assembly may also be arranged to cause the radio to transmit a signal identifying the vessel detected.
  • each of the tubes 35 tapers towards its lower end and the bodies of the beacons 38 taper in a corresponding manner and are dimensioned to provide a narrow gap 55 between the outer wall of the beacon 38 and the encircling wall of the tube 35.
  • annular resilient "O" ring seals 56 are mounted around the upper open ends of the tubes 35 and each of the beacons 38 has an annular rim adjacent its upper end to engage the encircling seal 56 of the respective tube 35 in which the beacon is housed.
  • each beacon 38 is formed with an annular skirt 58 having an inner annular rib 59.
  • a plurality of latches 60 are mounted on pivots 61 around the lower end of the tube 35 to project into the skirt 58 of the beacon and are spring loaded by tension springs 62 to engage with the rib 59 and retain the beacon in the tube. The latches are retracted to release the beacon by solenoids indicated at 63.
  • a heavy compression spring 64 is disposed in the underside of the beacon 38 and the bottom wall 65 of the tube 35 to assist in spacing the beacon from the tube when the latches 60 have been released.
  • the beacon could, equally, be discharged with the assistance of a gas charge or hydraulic pressure applied to the underside of the beacon.
  • each container tube 35 housing the beacons is initially filled with a nitrogen atmosphere to minimise corrosion of the beacons and their release mechanisms when the communication device is installed on the sea bed. There will be a considerable pressure differential depending on the depth of water in which the device is located tending to hold the beacons in the container tubes.
  • each container tube has a solenoid controlled valve (not shown) connecting the tube to the encircling annular region 23 between the inner and outer canisters to allow water to bleed into the tubes 35 when the solenoid controlled valve is open. Both the solenoid controlled valves and the solenoid controlled latches holding the beacons in the tubes are triggered by said rotary switch from the control assembly when a beacon is to be released as described above.
  • the "O" ring seals 56 are omitted as are the solenoid controlled valves for the tubes 35 and the tubes are allowed to flood with sea water on immersion of the device in the sea.
  • the solenoid controlled latches holding the beacons in place in the tubes are constructed and arranged so as not to be affected by sea water present in the tubes.
  • the container of the beacon itself is constructed to serve as the transmitting aerial for the beacon, that is the dome of the beacon embodies the aerial.
  • the dome could also be provided with a gas-filled balloon which is deployed automatically once the beacon reaches the surface of the sea to enable a radio signal to be transmitted over a greater range.

Landscapes

  • Measurement Of Velocity Or Position Using Acoustic Or Ultrasonic Waves (AREA)

Claims (6)

  1. Eine Unterwasserverbindungsvorrichtung, die folgendes enhält: Einen Behälter, Mittel zur Verankerung des Behälters im Meeresboden, Sonarhorchgerät in dem Behälter für den Empfang von Sonarsignale von dem umgebenden Wasser, mehrere Verkehrssender, die in individuellen Behältern mit Auftrieb verschlossen sind, Mittel für die Festhaltung der Sender im Behälter, so dass sie freigemacht werden können, und Mittel für die Freimachung eines Senders von dem Behälter als Folge des Empfangs eines Sonarsignals durch das erwähnte Sonargerät, um es dem Sender zu ermöglichen, die Wasseroberfläche zu erreichen und Signale nach dem Empfang des erwähnten Sonarsignals auszusenden.
  2. Ein Apparat wie im Anspruch 1 gefordert, in welchem der Sonarempfangsapparat folgendes enthält: Mittel zum Speichern von verschiedenen Sonarsignalen, die von verschiedenen Überwasser- und Unterwasserfahrzeugen (feindliche oder freundliche) ausgestrahlt werden, Geräte für den Empfang und den Vergleich eines Sonarsignals mit den erwähnten gespeicherten Sonarsignalen und Geräte um die Freimachung eines Senders zu bewerkstelligen in Verbindung mit dem Empfang jeden Sonarsignals, das als von einem feindlichen Fahrzeug kommend identifiziert wird, um ein Signal zu senden, das die Anwesenheit eines feindlichen Fahrzeuges meldet.
  3. Apparat, wie in Anspruch 2, in dem das Sonarempfangsgerät so gestaltet ist, dass es Information an den Sender leistet, sowie die Identität des entdeckten Fahrzeuges, um von dem erwähnten Sender weitergesendet zu werden, nachdem der Sender vom Behälter freigemacht worden ist und die Oberfläche erreicht hat.
  4. Apparat, wie in vorher erwähnten Ansprüchen gefordert, in welchem die erwähnten Sender Radiosender für die Sendung von Radiosignalen enthalten, die, wenn die Oberfläche erreicht, die Entdeckung eines "feindliches" Fahrzeuges melden.
  5. Apparat, wie in vorher erwähnten Ansprüchen gefordert, in dem Mittel für den Verkehr mit einem oder mehreren entfernten Waffensystemen enthalten sind, um die Waffensysteme für den Gebrauch auf ein Ziel zu aktivieren, das vom Sonargerät entdeckt worden ist.
  6. Ein Apparat, wie in vorher erwähnten Ansprüchen gefordert, in dem der Behälter einen oberen Teil hat, der das Sonargerät und die erwähnten Sender enhält, und einen unteren Teil, der mit Geräten für das Vergraben des unteren Teils in den Meeresboden versehen ist.
EP19890308857 1988-09-02 1989-09-01 Unterwasser-Kommunikationsvorrichtungen Expired - Lifetime EP0357441B1 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB8820719A GB2222805B (en) 1988-09-02 1988-09-02 Improvements in or relating to underwater communication devices
GB8820719 1988-09-02

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0357441A1 EP0357441A1 (de) 1990-03-07
EP0357441B1 true EP0357441B1 (de) 1993-11-10

Family

ID=10643043

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP19890308857 Expired - Lifetime EP0357441B1 (de) 1988-09-02 1989-09-01 Unterwasser-Kommunikationsvorrichtungen

Country Status (4)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0357441B1 (de)
DE (1) DE68910620T2 (de)
DK (1) DK436489A (de)
GB (1) GB2222805B (de)

Families Citing this family (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6130642A (en) * 1997-03-04 2000-10-10 The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Navy Method and system to improve GPS navigation
GB9924246D0 (en) * 1999-10-13 2000-09-06 Lawborough Consultants Improvements in or relating to enclosures for installations on the seabed
GB2377412A (en) * 2000-11-03 2003-01-15 Lawborough Consultants Ltd Support vessel for self-burying mines
RU184783U1 (ru) * 2018-01-31 2018-11-08 Федеральное Государственное Казенное Военное Образовательное Учреждение Высшего Образования "Тихоокеанское Высшее Военно-Морское Училище Имени С.О. Макарова" Министерства Обороны Российской Федерации (Г. Владивосток) Радиогидроакустический буй на микроконтроллере

Family Cites Families (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3460058A (en) * 1960-10-25 1969-08-05 Itt Radio sonobuoy
US4189786A (en) * 1962-06-29 1980-02-19 Adler Ronald E Radio buoy assembly
GB1534852A (en) * 1967-11-23 1978-12-06 Ultra Electronics Ltd Underwater detection equipment
DE2209544A1 (de) * 1972-02-29 1973-09-13 Dynamit Nobel Ag Signaleinrichtung fuer schiffe in seenot
EP0110554B1 (de) * 1982-10-28 1989-07-26 Underwater Storage Limited Unterwasser-Waffensysteme
GB2148798B (en) * 1983-08-15 1987-06-03 Cochrane Subsea Acoustics Inc Subsea accoustic relocation system
EP0214134A1 (de) * 1985-02-19 1987-03-18 Cochrane Subsea Acoustics, Inc. Akustisches unterwasserortungssystem

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE68910620D1 (de) 1993-12-16
DK436489A (da) 1990-03-03
DE68910620T2 (de) 1994-03-03
DK436489D0 (da) 1989-09-04
GB8820719D0 (en) 1989-03-30
EP0357441A1 (de) 1990-03-07
GB2222805A (en) 1990-03-21
GB2222805B (en) 1992-04-29

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