Catamaran surface vessel with removable mission-specific payload module

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9291438-B2
Application number	US-201314090955-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 26, 2013
Priority date	Nov 26, 2013
Publication date	Mar 22, 2016
Grant date	Mar 22, 2016

Abstract

A system includes a catamaran configured for use in a body of water and having twin hulls, the catamaran comprising an opening between the twin hulls, the opening having a size and shape substantially the same as a payload module. The system also includes the payload module removably coupled to the catamaran in the opening between the twin hulls. The system further includes a common interface coupled to the payload module and the catamaran, the common interface configured to exchange utilities between the payload module and the catamaran.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system comprising:
a catamaran configured for use in a body of water and having twin hulls, the catamaran comprising a vertically-oriented opening between the twin hulls;
a payload module removably coupled to the catamaran in the opening between the twin hulls, the opening having a size and shape substantially the same as the payload module; and
a common interface removably coupled to the payload module and the catamaran, the common interface configured to exchange utilities between the payload module and the catamaran,
wherein the opening (i) allows the payload module to be vertically lowered from a position above the catamaran into the opening and (ii) allows at least one of the payload module or a payload in the payload module to be lowered into the water after the payload module is coupled to the catamaran in the opening.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the payload module comprises at least one door on a bottom surface, the at least one door configured when opened to allow the lowering of the payload in the payload module down between the twin hulls of the catamaran.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the opening allows the payload module to be lowered from the catamaran between the twin hulls into the water.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the payload module comprises a first payload module, the system further comprising a second payload module having an overall size and shape substantially the same as the first payload module, the second payload module configured to house a different type of payload than the first payload module.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the utilities comprise at least two of power, data, air, hydraulics and fuel.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the payload module comprises a winch and cable configured to reel out the payload into the water through an opening on a bottom surface of the payload module, tow the payload in the water, and reel in the payload back into the payload module.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the twin hulls of the catamaran are comprised of carbon fiber surrounding a foam core.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the payload module comprises a command unit configured to control the catamaran.

9. A system comprising:
a catamaran configured for use in a body of water and having twin hulls, the catamaran comprising a vertically-oriented opening between the twin hulls;
a first payload module removably installed in the opening between the twin hulls, the first payload module having a size and shape substantially the same as the opening;
a second payload module having a size and shape substantially the same as the opening, the second payload module configured to be installed in the opening between the twin hulls during a time period when the first payload module is removed from the opening; and
a connection point on the catamaran for a common interface that is configured to couple to a second connection point for the common interface on the first payload module or the second payload module, the common interface configured to exchange utilities between either payload module and the catamaran,
wherein the opening (i) allows the first or second payload module to be vertically lowered from a position above the catamaran into the opening and (ii) allows a payload stored in either payload module to be lowered through the opening into the body of water after either payload module is coupled to the catamaran in the opening.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the first payload module comprises at least one door on a bottom surface, the at least one door configured when opened to allow the lowering of the payload in the payload module down between the twin hulls of the catamaran.

11. The system of claim 9 , wherein the opening allows either payload module to be lowered from the catamaran between the twin hulls into the water.

12. The system of claim 9 , wherein the utilities comprise at least two of power, data, air, hydraulics and fuel.

13. The system of claim 9 , wherein the first payload module comprises a winch and cable configured to reel out the payload into the water through an opening on a bottom surface of the first payload module, tow the payload in the water, and reel in the payload back into the first payload module.

14. The system of claim 9 , further comprising a command unit configured to control the catamaran.

15. A method comprising:
vertically lowering a payload module from a position above a catamaran into a vertically-oriented opening in the catamaran;
coupling the payload module to the opening in the catamaran;
coupling a first connection point for a common interface on the payload module to a second connection point for the common interface on the catamaran, the common interface configured to exchange utilities between the payload module and the catamaran; and
lowering a payload from the payload module into a body of water in which the catamaran is positioned,
wherein the catamaran has twin hulls, the opening is located between the twin hulls, and the opening has a size and shape substantially the same as the payload module.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the payload module comprises at least one door on a bottom surface, the method further comprising:
opening the at least one door before lowering the payload from the payload module down between the twin hulls of the catamaran.

17. The method of claim 15 , further comprising lowering the payload module down from the catamaran between the twin hulls into the water.

18. The method of claim 15 , wherein the payload module is a first payload module, the method further comprising:
unloading the first payload module from the opening in the catamaran; and
loading a second payload module into the opening in the catamaran, the second payload module having an overall size and shape substantially the same as the first payload module, the second payload module configured to house a different type of payload than the first payload module.

19. The method of claim 15 , wherein the utilities comprise at least two of power, data, air, hydraulics and fuel.

20. The method of claim 15 , wherein the payload module comprises a winch and cable configured to reel out the payload into the water through an opening on a bottom surface of the payload module, tow the payload in the water, and reel in the payload back into the payload module.

Assignees

• Raytheon Co

Inventors

• Item Erik F

Classifications

• Y10T29/49117

  Conductor or circuit manufacturing · CPC title

• Y10T29/49826

  Assembling or joining · CPC title

• F41F3/10 Primary

  from below the surface of the water · 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

• Y10T29/49716

  Converting · CPC title