Apparatus and method for neutralizing underwater mines

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9260168-B2
Application number	US-201313840223-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 15, 2013
Priority date	Mar 16, 2012
Publication date	Feb 16, 2016
Grant date	Feb 16, 2016

Abstract

A mine neutralizing device that includes a buoy. The buoy includes a mine neutralizing device capable of swimming to an undersea mine to neutralize it. A method for neutralizing undersea mines includes locating an undersea mine, placing a buoy containing a mine neutralizer near the mine, and swimming the mine neutralizer to the undersea mine.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for neutralizing mines comprising:
a buoy that further includes:
a transceiver for sending and receiving signals;
a processor; and
memory communicatively coupled to the processor; and

a mine neutralizer housed within the buoy;
a mechanism for moving the mine neutralizer to a position clear of the buoy; and
a heading sensor for determining a heading of the mine neutralizer, the mine neutralizer controllable remotely via a communicative couple to the buoy, the heading sensor providing feedback to the buoy wherein the buoy further comprises a mechanism for pulling an arming pin of the mine neutralizer that is associated with the mechanism for moving the mine neutralizer to a position clear of the buoy.

2. The system for neutralizing mines of claim 1 wherein the heading sensor includes a plurality of hydrophones for:
detecting sounds produced by a moving mine neutralizing device; and
determining a location of the mine neutralizing device from the detected sounds.

3. The system for neutralizing mines of claim 1 wherein the buoy includes a GPS receiver for determining a position of the buoy.

4. The system for neutralizing mines of claim 1 wherein the buoy further comprises:
a fiber optic card communicatively coupled to the processor and memory;
an optical link to the mine neutralizing device.

5. The system for neutralizing mines of claim 4 wherein the optical link to the mine neutralizing device includes an optical fiber connecting the mine neutralizing device to the buoy.

6. The system for neutralizing mines of claim 1 further comprising a remote control station communicatively coupled to the buoy, the remote control station receiving data from the buoy and sending commands to the mine neutralizer by way of the buoy.

7. The system for neutralizing mines of claim 1 further comprising:
an unmanned remote control vehicle for deploying at least one buoy; and
a remote control station communicatively coupled to the unmanned remote vehicle, the remote control station receiving data from the unmanned vehicle and sending commands to the unmanned vehicle.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the unmanned vehicle further comprises:
a main body having a bow end and a stern end;
a propulsion unit attached to the stern end of the main body;
a rail system attached to the main body between the first end and the second end of the main body, the rail system adapted to hold at least one buoy assembly to the rail system as the propulsion unit drives the unmanned vehicle; and
a deployment mechanism for controllably releasing the at least one buoy from the rail system.

9. The unmanned vehicle of claim 8 wherein the propulsion unit is shrouded.

10. The unmanned vehicle of claim 8 wherein the buoy assembly includes a fairing and a neutralizer buoy, the buoy assembly attached to the rail system of the unmanned vehicle.

11. The unmanned vehicle of claim 10 wherein the main body includes at least one hook movable between a retain position and a deploy position, the hook moved to the deploy position to launch the buoy assembly from the unmanned vehicle.

12. The unmanned vehicle of claim 11 wherein the fairing includes a door through which the hook extends to the neutralizer buoy, the fairing falling away from the neutralizer buoy upon deployment.

Assignees

• Lockheed Corp

Inventors

• Fairfield Scott W
• Laviolette Kerry D
• Robertson Donald J
• Zamojski Ronald D
• Wiedemeier Gary L
• Cuschieri Joseph M
• Marchant Christopher E

Classifications

• B63G7/00

  Mine-sweeping; Vessels characterised thereby · CPC title

• B63J99/00

  Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass · CPC title

• B63G8/001

  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

• B63G2007/005

  Unmanned autonomously operating mine sweeping vessels · CPC title

• B63B22/24

  container type, i.e. having provision for the storage of material · CPC title