US20040194684A1 - System for alternatively or concomitantly mine hunting and minesweeping - Google Patents

System for alternatively or concomitantly mine hunting and minesweeping Download PDF

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Publication number
US20040194684A1
US20040194684A1 US10/406,327 US40632703A US2004194684A1 US 20040194684 A1 US20040194684 A1 US 20040194684A1 US 40632703 A US40632703 A US 40632703A US 2004194684 A1 US2004194684 A1 US 2004194684A1
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
minesweeping
mine hunting
hunting
mine
vehicle
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.)
Abandoned
Application number
US10/406,327
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Martin Ellner
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.)
Edo Corp
Original Assignee
Edo Corp
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 Edo Corp filed Critical Edo Corp
Priority to US10/406,327 priority Critical patent/US20040194684A1/en
Assigned to EDO CORPORATION reassignment EDO CORPORATION ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: ELLNER, MARTIN V.
Priority to KR1020057018584A priority patent/KR20060019506A/ko
Priority to PCT/US2004/010183 priority patent/WO2005000670A2/fr
Priority to JP2006532371A priority patent/JP2006528584A/ja
Priority to EP04775865A priority patent/EP1608549A4/fr
Publication of US20040194684A1 publication Critical patent/US20040194684A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
    • B63G—OFFENSIVE OR DEFENSIVE ARRANGEMENTS ON VESSELS; MINE-LAYING; MINE-SWEEPING; SUBMARINES; AIRCRAFT CARRIERS
    • B63G7/00—Mine-sweeping; Vessels characterised thereby
    • B63G7/02—Mine-sweeping means, Means for destroying mines
    • B63G7/06—Mine-sweeping means, Means for destroying mines of electromagnetic type
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
    • B63G—OFFENSIVE OR DEFENSIVE ARRANGEMENTS ON VESSELS; MINE-LAYING; MINE-SWEEPING; SUBMARINES; AIRCRAFT CARRIERS
    • B63G7/00—Mine-sweeping; Vessels characterised thereby
    • B63G7/02—Mine-sweeping means, Means for destroying mines
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
    • B63G—OFFENSIVE OR DEFENSIVE ARRANGEMENTS ON VESSELS; MINE-LAYING; MINE-SWEEPING; SUBMARINES; AIRCRAFT CARRIERS
    • B63G7/00—Mine-sweeping; Vessels characterised thereby
    • B63G7/02—Mine-sweeping means, Means for destroying mines
    • B63G7/08—Mine-sweeping means, Means for destroying mines of acoustic type
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
    • B63G—OFFENSIVE OR DEFENSIVE ARRANGEMENTS ON VESSELS; MINE-LAYING; MINE-SWEEPING; SUBMARINES; AIRCRAFT CARRIERS
    • B63G7/00—Mine-sweeping; Vessels characterised thereby
    • B63G2007/005—Unmanned autonomously operating mine sweeping vessels

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a single system that combines mine hunting or minesweeping of underwater mines.
  • the present invention combines in a single system, a towed body, for example, the mine hunting and minesweeping functions.
  • the single system results in a maximizing of on-station time for each operation and minimizes the manning requirements to install, launch, operate and retrieve the mine hunting and minesweeping sensors, and yet performs both the mine hunting and the minesweeping missions.
  • the system wherein a single towed body utilizes the Shallow Water Influence Minesweep System (SWIMS), incorporated by reference herein, and described at page 388 of the above-identified Jane's volume, a minesweeping system, integrated with a side scan sonar (mine hunting system) on the exterior of said towed body.
  • SIMS Shallow Water Influence Minesweep System
  • the single system hunt/sweep may employ other sweep and hunt systems.
  • the minesweep system may be a small light-weight open-loop sweeping system that has the ability to efficiently produce large magnetic and acoustic influence fields capable of sweeping substantial areas.
  • U.S. Pat. No. 6,286,431 '431
  • U.S. Pat. No. 6,286,431 '431
  • a further open loop magnetic minesweeping system, wherein the cable towing the body 10 bearing one of the electrodes is described in pending U.S.
  • electro-optical sensors such as LIDAR and highly sensitive magnetic anomaly sensors to detect (hunt) the mines may be utilized.
  • the towed body is controlled by an operator, which may be located in a remote location, many miles away, or co-located with the hunt/sweep systems, depending on the host tow platform and tactical requirements.
  • the operator may switch between mine hunting and minesweeping or use both systems simultaneously, depending on mission needs.
  • the supporting electronics used to control the SONAR transducers may be housed in a water tight compartment located within the towed body. Signals may be sent from the water tight compartment through an electro-mechanical-optical tow cable to the command and control console.
  • the multi-mission towed body is installed on the host platform, which platform could be an airborne platform such as a manned or unmanned flight vehicle, e.g., a helicopter or a surface vehicle, e.g., an eleven meter Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat (RHIB).
  • a manned or unmanned flight vehicle e.g., a helicopter or a surface vehicle, e.g., an eleven meter Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat (RHIB).
  • RHIB Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat
  • the USV In the instance of the RHIB, also referred to as an Unmanned Surface Vehicle (USV), the USV would be lowered into the water from a larger mother ship. An operator aboard the mother ship would remotely operate the USV and direct it to the area of operation. Once on station, the USV performs mine hunting or minesweeping operations, depending on environmental conditions and tactical requirements.
  • UUV Unmanned Surface Vehicle
  • the operator would command the deployment of the towed body via the USV's launch and retrieval system.
  • the hunting sensor SONAR, for example, is energized and commences the mine hunting aspect of the mission.
  • the mission switches to the minesweeping or clearance phase, the SONAR is de-energized and the minesweeping system is activated or energized.
  • a command is issued to return the towed body to the USV and, subsequently, the USV with the towed body aboard is returned to the mother ship.
  • minesweeping/mine hunting missions may be reversed or carried out simultaneously.
  • FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a towed body of the subject invention schematically illustrating a mine hunting system employing a side scan sonar array and a minesweeping system employing dipole magnetic and acoustic signature technology.
  • FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a USV having a towed body of the invention carried thereon and schematically illustrating components of the mine hunting/minesweeping combination.
  • a towed body generally designated as 10
  • the towed body being generally shaped in a torpedo-like streamlined fashion for smooth, fast and stable passage through water.
  • Body 10 when towed, may be submerged and includes rear hydrodynamic fins 12 and possibly forwardly disposed hydrodynamic wings 14 to control the orientation, depth and direction of the towed body.
  • a tow cable 15 may be connected at one end to a connector mechanism 17 and at the other end to a winch mechanism (not shown) on the towing platform (for example, on a towing helicopter or USV).
  • the mechanisms for connecting the tow cable to the towed body 10 and the towing platform are well understood and known to those skilled in the art and do not form a part of this invention. Also the towing platform will have means to cradle and carry the towed body 10 when not in mine hunting/minesweeping use; all as known to those skilled in the art.
  • FIG. 1 there is stowed on the body 10 a magnetic influence signature system shown schematically at cut-out 18 for minesweeping such as described in the aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 6,286,431 and pending application Ser. No. 09/855,290.
  • FIG. 1 Additionally illustrated in FIG. 1 is an electrodynamic acoustic device 20 that may take various well-known forms such as an electrodynamic moving coil transducer.
  • One or more transducers may be located in towed body 10 . Accordingly, towed body 10 provides complimentary magnetic and acoustic influence signatures for minesweeping.
  • FIG. 1 there is also schematically shown at cut-out 22 a side scan SONAR transducer array.
  • the USV generally designated as 24 , has a fuel supply 6 at midship, a minesweeping and mine hunting electronics control unit 28 , a data link processor 30 , an electric power generating source 32 . Rearwardly, is disposed a winch 34 connected to a towed body 10 incorporating the mine hunting and minesweeping sensing equipment, the towed body shown nesting in a cradle 36 .
  • the sweep system When the hunt system was fully removed, the sweep system would have to be installed taking another 3-6 hours to complete the installation phase. Add to that the transit time required to get back out to the operational area, and clearly, by combining the two systems the invention eliminates a tremendous amount of non-mission time.
  • the single towed body system will result in a much lower life cycle cost than two separate systems that require separate maintenance, training and logistics.
  • the benefit in space and storage requirements can be significant, especially when the systems are embarked on naval combatants, where space is always at a premium.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Aviation & Aerospace Engineering (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Electromagnetism (AREA)
  • Acoustics & Sound (AREA)
  • Measurement Of Velocity Or Position Using Acoustic Or Ultrasonic Waves (AREA)
  • Thermotherapy And Cooling Therapy Devices (AREA)
US10/406,327 2003-04-03 2003-04-03 System for alternatively or concomitantly mine hunting and minesweeping Abandoned US20040194684A1 (en)

Priority Applications (5)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US10/406,327 US20040194684A1 (en) 2003-04-03 2003-04-03 System for alternatively or concomitantly mine hunting and minesweeping
KR1020057018584A KR20060019506A (ko) 2003-04-03 2004-04-02 기뢰 탐색 및 기뢰 제거를 선택적으로 또는 동시에 하기위한 시스템
PCT/US2004/010183 WO2005000670A2 (fr) 2003-04-03 2004-04-02 Systeme de chasse aux mines et de dragage de mines en alternance ou de façon concomitante
JP2006532371A JP2006528584A (ja) 2003-04-03 2004-04-02 機雷探索および機雷掃海を選択的または付随的に行うためのシステム
EP04775865A EP1608549A4 (fr) 2003-04-03 2004-04-02 Systeme de chasse aux mines et de dragage de mines en alternance ou de fa on concomitante

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US10/406,327 US20040194684A1 (en) 2003-04-03 2003-04-03 System for alternatively or concomitantly mine hunting and minesweeping

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US20040194684A1 true US20040194684A1 (en) 2004-10-07

Family

ID=33097296

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US10/406,327 Abandoned US20040194684A1 (en) 2003-04-03 2003-04-03 System for alternatively or concomitantly mine hunting and minesweeping

Country Status (5)

Country Link
US (1) US20040194684A1 (fr)
EP (1) EP1608549A4 (fr)
JP (1) JP2006528584A (fr)
KR (1) KR20060019506A (fr)
WO (1) WO2005000670A2 (fr)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20110128182A1 (en) * 2009-12-01 2011-06-02 Isao Yamaguchi Apparatus for position notification of vehicle, method and computer-readable medium

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
KR101276977B1 (ko) * 2010-06-04 2013-06-24 고경완 이동식 통신부이를 구비한 무인잠수정 및 그 사출 시스템

Citations (23)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3613626A (en) * 1970-03-20 1971-10-19 Raymond E Kelly Remote operated lift control device
US3906884A (en) * 1974-03-04 1975-09-23 Us Navy Acoustic minesweeping generator
US3946696A (en) * 1969-12-05 1976-03-30 The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Navy Automatically controlled magnetic minesweeping system
US4019453A (en) * 1965-11-18 1977-04-26 The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Navy Underwater vehicle
US4185326A (en) * 1960-02-25 1980-01-22 The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Navy Minehunting vehicle with a built-in search pattern
US4220108A (en) * 1968-09-27 1980-09-02 Burt Wayne E Minesweeping method and apparatus
US4562789A (en) * 1983-05-03 1986-01-07 Thomson-Csf Arrangement for remote sweeping of mines sensitive to magnetic fields
US4975888A (en) * 1967-03-22 1990-12-04 The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Navy Mine neutralization system
US5007346A (en) * 1967-10-11 1991-04-16 United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Navy Device for detecting and/or sweeping electrically controlled mines
US5241314A (en) * 1991-08-16 1993-08-31 Kaman Aerospace Corporation Image lidar transmitter downlink for command guidance of underwater vehicle
US5253605A (en) * 1992-12-21 1993-10-19 Applied Remote Technology, Inc. Method and apparatus for deploying and recovering water borne vehicles
US5425001A (en) * 1994-06-07 1995-06-13 Westinghouse Electric Corporation Navigation system for an underwater vehicle
US5570222A (en) * 1992-03-04 1996-10-29 Lockheed Martin Corporation Underwater viewing system for remote piloted vehicle
US5675117A (en) * 1995-10-11 1997-10-07 The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Navy Unmanned undersea weapon deployment structure with cylindrical payload configuration
US5673645A (en) * 1996-04-01 1997-10-07 The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Navy Agile water vehicle
US5686694A (en) * 1995-10-11 1997-11-11 The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Navy Unmanned undersea vehicle with erectable sensor mast for obtaining position and environmental vehicle status
US5690041A (en) * 1995-10-11 1997-11-25 The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Navy Unmanned undersea vehicle system for weapon deployment
US5698817A (en) * 1995-10-11 1997-12-16 The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Navy Unmanned undersea weapon deployment structure with cylindrical payload deployment system
US5749312A (en) * 1995-10-11 1998-05-12 The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Navy System for deploying weapons carried in an annular configuration in a UUV
US5844159A (en) * 1994-10-28 1998-12-01 Thomson-Csf Method and system for destroying submerged objects, in particular submerged mines
US6213021B1 (en) * 1999-12-16 2001-04-10 The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Navy Electromagnetic sea mine detonation system
US6286431B1 (en) * 2000-04-07 2001-09-11 Edo Corporation Open loop minesweeping system
US6359834B1 (en) * 2001-01-29 2002-03-19 The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Navy Mine neutralization device

Family Cites Families (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3922630A (en) * 1964-12-03 1975-11-25 Us Navy Automatic vehicle positioning system
GB2215281B (en) * 1988-03-15 1992-01-22 Plessey Co Plc Improvements in or relating to minehunting systems

Patent Citations (23)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4185326A (en) * 1960-02-25 1980-01-22 The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Navy Minehunting vehicle with a built-in search pattern
US4019453A (en) * 1965-11-18 1977-04-26 The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Navy Underwater vehicle
US4975888A (en) * 1967-03-22 1990-12-04 The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Navy Mine neutralization system
US5007346A (en) * 1967-10-11 1991-04-16 United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Navy Device for detecting and/or sweeping electrically controlled mines
US4220108A (en) * 1968-09-27 1980-09-02 Burt Wayne E Minesweeping method and apparatus
US3946696A (en) * 1969-12-05 1976-03-30 The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Navy Automatically controlled magnetic minesweeping system
US3613626A (en) * 1970-03-20 1971-10-19 Raymond E Kelly Remote operated lift control device
US3906884A (en) * 1974-03-04 1975-09-23 Us Navy Acoustic minesweeping generator
US4562789A (en) * 1983-05-03 1986-01-07 Thomson-Csf Arrangement for remote sweeping of mines sensitive to magnetic fields
US5241314A (en) * 1991-08-16 1993-08-31 Kaman Aerospace Corporation Image lidar transmitter downlink for command guidance of underwater vehicle
US5570222A (en) * 1992-03-04 1996-10-29 Lockheed Martin Corporation Underwater viewing system for remote piloted vehicle
US5253605A (en) * 1992-12-21 1993-10-19 Applied Remote Technology, Inc. Method and apparatus for deploying and recovering water borne vehicles
US5425001A (en) * 1994-06-07 1995-06-13 Westinghouse Electric Corporation Navigation system for an underwater vehicle
US5844159A (en) * 1994-10-28 1998-12-01 Thomson-Csf Method and system for destroying submerged objects, in particular submerged mines
US5675117A (en) * 1995-10-11 1997-10-07 The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Navy Unmanned undersea weapon deployment structure with cylindrical payload configuration
US5686694A (en) * 1995-10-11 1997-11-11 The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Navy Unmanned undersea vehicle with erectable sensor mast for obtaining position and environmental vehicle status
US5690041A (en) * 1995-10-11 1997-11-25 The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Navy Unmanned undersea vehicle system for weapon deployment
US5698817A (en) * 1995-10-11 1997-12-16 The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Navy Unmanned undersea weapon deployment structure with cylindrical payload deployment system
US5749312A (en) * 1995-10-11 1998-05-12 The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Navy System for deploying weapons carried in an annular configuration in a UUV
US5673645A (en) * 1996-04-01 1997-10-07 The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Navy Agile water vehicle
US6213021B1 (en) * 1999-12-16 2001-04-10 The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Navy Electromagnetic sea mine detonation system
US6286431B1 (en) * 2000-04-07 2001-09-11 Edo Corporation Open loop minesweeping system
US6359834B1 (en) * 2001-01-29 2002-03-19 The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Navy Mine neutralization device

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20110128182A1 (en) * 2009-12-01 2011-06-02 Isao Yamaguchi Apparatus for position notification of vehicle, method and computer-readable medium
US9341717B2 (en) * 2009-12-01 2016-05-17 Nec Corporation Apparatus for position notification of vehicle, method and computer-readable medium

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO2005000670A2 (fr) 2005-01-06
WO2005000670A3 (fr) 2005-05-19
JP2006528584A (ja) 2006-12-21
KR20060019506A (ko) 2006-03-03
EP1608549A4 (fr) 2011-01-19
EP1608549A2 (fr) 2005-12-28

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AS Assignment

Owner name: EDO CORPORATION, NEW YORK

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:ELLNER, MARTIN V.;REEL/FRAME:013941/0318

Effective date: 20030402

STCB Information on status: application discontinuation

Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION