Device for reducing effective radar cross section

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10173760-B2
Application number	US-201515126374-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 3, 2015
Priority date	Mar 17, 2014
Publication date	Jan 8, 2019
Grant date	Jan 8, 2019

Abstract

A device for reducing the effective radar cross section (RCS) of a naval vessel is proposed, the device comprising a cladding panel, which can be mounted on vessel superstructures or cargo of the naval vessel, the cladding panel being permeable to radar beams, the device also comprising a reflection means, which reflects radar beams, and the reflection means also being embedded in the cladding panel and being aligned at least partially inclined with respect to a main plane of extent of the cladding panel.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A device for reducing the effective radar cross section (RCS) of a naval vessel, the device comprising:
a cladding panel configured to be mounted on one of vessel superstructures and cargo of the naval vessel, the cladding panel being permeable to radar and comprising:
two outer layers; and
a core disposed between the two outer layers; and

a radar reflector, which reflects radar beams, wherein the radar reflector is encased inside the core and is at least partially inclined with respect to (i) a main plane of an extent of the cladding panel and (ii) an outer planar surface of the cladding panel, the outer planar surface extending substantially parallel to the main plane of extent.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the radar reflector is formed in such a way that radar beams that are incident on the radar reflector along a direction of incidence that is substantially perpendicular to the main plane of extent are reflected by the radar reflector in a direction of reflection that deviates from the antiparallel direction of incidence.

3. The device of claim 2 , wherein the radar reflector comprises a sawtooth profile.

4. The device of claim 2 , wherein the radar reflector is made up of a plurality of first and second reflection slopes, which are arranged alternately along a main direction of extent of the radar reflector.

5. The device of claim 4 , wherein a first angle is formed between the main plane of extent and the first reflection slope and wherein a second angle is formed between the main plane of extent and the second reflection slope, the first angle being smaller than the second angle.

6. The device of claim 5 , wherein the first angle lies between 5 and 60 degrees.

7. The device of claim 6 wherein the first angle lies between 10 and 30 degrees.

8. The device of claim 7 wherein the first angle lies between 15 and 25 degrees.

9. The device of claim 5 wherein the second angle lies between 60 and 100 degrees.

10. The device of claim 9 wherein the second angle lies between 70 and 90 degrees.

11. The device of claim 10 wherein the second angle lies at substantially 85 degrees.

12. The device of claim 4 , wherein each first reflection slope includes a first end and an opposite second end, and each second reflection slope includes a first end and an opposite second end,
wherein the first reflection slope first end is disposed at a first acute angle relative to the main plane of extent and a second acute angle relative to an adjacent second reflection slope first end, and
wherein the first reflection slope second end is disposed at a third acute angle relative to the main plane of extent and a fourth acute angle relative to an adjacent second reflection slope second end.

13. The device of claim 1 , wherein the outer layers respectively comprise glass-fibre reinforced plastic and the core comprises a foam core.

14. The device of claim 1 , wherein the radar reflector comprises a conductive film.

15. The device of claim 1 , wherein the radar reflector comprises at least one of a metal inlay, a woven fabric and a carbon-fibre reinforced plastic inlay.

16. A naval vessel comprising a vessel superstructure or cargo, the naval vessel having mounted thereto:
a cladding panel being permeable to radar beams and including a core disposed between first and second layers; and
a radar reflector, which reflects radar beams, wherein the radar reflector is encased inside the core and is at least partially inclined with respect to the first and second layers of the cladding panel.

17. A device for reducing the effective radar cross section (RCS) of an object, the device comprising:
a cladding panel configured to be mounted on the object, the cladding panel being permeable to radar and comprising:
opposed first and second outer layers, the first outer layer configured to be coupled to the object, and the second outer layer defining an outer planar surface of the cladding panel, wherein the first outer layer and the second outer layer extend along a main direction of extent of the cladding panel; and
a core disposed between the first outer layer and the second outer layer; and

a radar reflector which reflects radar beams, wherein the radar reflector is encased inside the core of the cladding panel and is inclined with respect to the outer planar surface of the cladding panel.

18. The device of claim 17 , further comprising:
wherein the outer planar surface of the cladding panel is arranged to face away from the object toward a radar source,
wherein the radar reflector includes a plurality of first and second reflection slopes arranged alternately along the main direction of extent of the cladding panel.

19. The device of claim 17 , wherein the first and second outer layers are parallel such that the outer planar surface of the cladding panel does not include any regions with an alignment that is inclined with respect to a main plane of extent of the cladding panel.

Assignees

• Thyssenkrupp Marine Sys Gmbh
• Thyssenkrupp Ag

Inventors

• Ewers Dirk
• Determann Wolfram

Classifications

• B63G8/34

  Camouflage (for other vessels B63G13/02; in general F41H3/00) · CPC title

• B63G13/02 Primary

  Camouflage (for submarines B63G8/34) · CPC title

• H01Q15/18 Primary

  comprising plurality of mutually inclined plane surfaces, e.g. corner reflector {(H01Q15/16 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• B63G2013/027

  using stealth design, i.e. superstructures, hulls, or other vessel's components shaped or constructed for minimizing reflection of radar or sonar beams, or the like · CPC title

• F41H3/00

  Camouflage, i.e. means or methods for concealment or disguise (for vessels B63G8/34, B63G13/02 {; sound camouflage, i.e. simulating gun fire noise, F41A33/04; dummy or decoy targets F41J; chaff per se F41J2/00; ammunition for dispensing chaff F42B5/15, F42B12/70; radar absorbing fabrics H01Q17/005}) · CPC title