Underwater vehicle having a hollow charge with variable action

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12195151-B2
Application number	US-202017642503-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 4, 2020
Priority date	Sep 12, 2019
Publication date	Jan 14, 2025
Grant date	Jan 14, 2025

Abstract

A watercraft may have a shaped charge and a gas reservoir. The gas reservoir may be adjacent to the shaped charge in a direction of action of the shaped charge. The gas reservoir can be varied in length in the direction of action of the shaped charge. Further, the shaped charge may be movable parallel to the direction of action of the shaped charge. A threaded rod can be used to move the shaped charge. In some cases a length of the gas reservoir is variable between 0.1-times and 10.0 times a diameter of the shaped charge. The watercraft may be configured in some instances as an unmanned underwater vehicle.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A watercraft comprising:
a shaped charge;
a gas reservoir adjacent to the shaped charge in a direction of action of the shaped charge, wherein the gas reservoir is variable in length in the direction of action of the shaped charge, wherein the shaped charge is movable parallel to the direction of action of the shaped charge;
a distance detection device configured to detect a distance between the watercraft and an object arranged in front of the watercraft;
a movement device for changing the length of the gas reservoir;
a control device configured to determine an optimum length of the gas reservoir based on the distance that is detected between the watercraft and the object in front of the watercraft and control a direction of movement for adjustment of the length of the gas reservoir based on the determined optimum length;
wherein the shaped charge is movable by way of a threaded rod.

2. The watercraft of claim 1 wherein a length of the gas reservoir is variable between 0.1-times and 10.0 times a diameter of the shaped charge.

3. The watercraft of claim 1 configured as an unmanned underwater vehicle.

Assignees

• Atlas Elektronik Gmbh
• Thyssenkrupp Ag

Inventors

• Huecking Christian

Classifications

• B63G7/02

  Mine-sweeping means, Means for destroying mines · CPC title

• B63G6/00

  Laying of mines or depth charges; Vessels characterised thereby (arrangements on submarines for mine laying B63G8/33) · CPC title

• B63G3/06

  for mines or depth charges · CPC title

• B63G8/001 Primary

  Underwater vessels adapted for special purposes, e.g. unmanned underwater vessels; Equipment specially adapted therefor, e.g. docking stations (self-propelled or direction controlled diving chambers with mechanical link to a base B63C11/42) · CPC title

• F42B19/00 Primary

  Marine torpedoes, e.g. launched by surface vessels or submarines (having additional propulsion means for movement through air F42B17/00); Sea mines having self-propulsion means (F42B12/00 takes precedence; launching means F41F; locating by use of radio or other waves G01S; automatic control of course G05D1/00; firing directors or calculators G06G) · CPC title