Patent US3783441A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3783441A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Air launched, wire guided torpedo
Assignee: United States Department of the Navy
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Filing: 1965-06-30
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Granted: 1974-01-01
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Expires: 1985-06-30
Abstract
Abstract A submarine detecting and tracking system which utilizes sonouoys to track both a target submarine and a guided torpedo. The sonobuoy signals are received and processed on a surface vessel or aircraft and the torpedo is guided by remote control to intercept the target submarine.
Inventors
- 👤 Z Slawsky
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 21:13
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01S; G01S5/00; G01S5/0009; F; F41; F41G; F41G7/00; F41G7/20; F41G7/22; F41G7/2273; F41G7/228; F41G7/30; F41G7/301; F41G7/306; F41G7/32; F42; F42B; F42B19/00; F42B19/01; F42B19/10; G01S3/00; G01S3/80; G01S3/802; G01S3/808
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
249 words
The method of intercepting a submarine with a torpedo comprising the steps of planting a first and second pair of sonobuoys by a tracking vehicle within the vicinity of said submarine thereby to transmit channeled radio signals from each of said sonobuoys corresponding to acoustic signals emanating from said submarine and from said torpedo and being received at each sonobuoy, launching a wire guided torpedo, receiving channeled signals transmitted from each sonobuoy corresponding to said acoustic signals received from said submarine and said torpedo, generating a first and a second correlation signal from said channeled signals corresponding to the pairs of acoustic signals emanating from said submarine and received at said first and second pair of sonobuoys respectively, generating a third and fourth correlation signal from said channeled signals corresponding to the pairs of acoustic signals emanating from said torpedo and received at said first and second pair of sonobuoys respectively, visibly displaying said first and third correlation signals on a first display device and said second and fourth correlation signals on a second display device, steering said torpedo to a bearing where the peaks of the correlation signals appearing on said first display device are superimposed, maintaining the toRpedo on said bearing which yields the superimposed correlation signals on said first display device and concurrently therewith, positioning the torpedo until the peaks of said second and fourth correlation signals are superimposed on said second display device thereby to give an indication that said torpedo has intercepted the submarine.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
249 words
The method of intercepting a submarine with a torpedo comprising the steps of planting a first and second pair of sonobuoys by a tracking vehicle within the vicinity of said submarine thereby to transmit channeled radio signals from each of said sonobuoys corresponding to acoustic signals emanating from said submarine and from said torpedo and being received at each sonobuoy, launching a wire guided torpedo, receiving channeled signals transmitted from each sonobuoy corresponding to said acoustic signals received from said submarine and said torpedo, generating a first and a second correlation signal from said channeled signals corresponding to the pairs of acoustic signals emanating from said submarine and received at said first and second pair of sonobuoys respectively, generating a third and fourth correlation signal from said channeled signals corresponding to the pairs of acoustic signals emanating from said torpedo and received at said first and second pair of sonobuoys respectively, visibly displaying said first and third correlation signals on a first display device and said second and fourth correlation signals on a second display device, steering said torpedo to a bearing where the peaks of the correlation signals appearing on said first display device are superimposed, maintaining the toRpedo on said bearing which yields the superimposed correlation signals on said first display device and concurrently therewith, positioning the torpedo until the peaks of said second and fourth correlation signals are superimposed on said second display device thereby to give an indication that said torpedo has intercepted the submarine.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
62 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of continuously dispensing a material into the wake of the torpedo which material may be visually detected by aircraft and also may be detected by infrared radar, whereby an aircraft may follow the torpedo wake to the submarine for subsequent detection and location of the submarine by magnetic detection gear on the aircraft.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
125 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of: planting one other sonobuoy within the vicinity of the submarine having a pair of vertically spaced hydrophones thereby to transmit channeled radio signals corresponding to the acoustic signals emanating from said submarine and from said torpedo, receiving channeled signals transmitted from said other sonobuoy indicative of the depths of said submarine and said torpedo, generating fifth and sixth correlation signals from said channeled signals corresponding to the acoustic signals received at said pair of vertically spaced hydrophones, visibly displaying said fifth and sixth correlation signals on a third display device, and controlling the depth of the torpedo so that the peaks of the correlation signals appearing on each of the three display devices are superimposed.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
56 words
The method of claim 3 wherein the depth and bearing of the torpedo is controlled by transmitting radio frequency torpedo command signals from a transmitter in the tracking vehicle, and receiving said radio frequency torpedo command signals with a radio frequency receiver on a floating buoy having an electrical communication link with said wire guided torpedo.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
368 words
The method of tracking a target submarine and directing a torpedo to intercept said submarine comprising the steps of: planting a first and second pair of sonobuoys from a tracking vehicle within the vicinity of said submarine to transmit channeled radio signals from each of said sonobuoys corresponding to acoustic signals emanating from said submarine and said torpedo and being indicative of the bearings of the submarine and torpedo, planting one other sonobuoy having a pair of vertically spaced hydrophones from said tracking vehicle within the vicinity of said submarine to transmit radio signals from said other sonobuoy corresponding to acoustic signals emanating from said submarine and said torpedo and being indicative of the depths of said submarine and said torpedo, planting a torpedo control buoy having a wire guided torpedo connected thereto, receiving channeled signals transmitted from each sonobuoy corresponding to said acoustic signals emanating from said submarine and from said torpedo, generating a first and second correlation signal from said channeled signals corresponding to the pairs of acoustic signals emanating from said submarine and received at said first and second pair of sonobuoys respectively, generating a third and fourth correlation signal from said channeled signals corresponding to the pairs of acoustic signals emanating from said torpedo and received at said first and second pair of sonobuoys respectively, generating a fifth and sixth correlation signal from said channeled signals corresponding to the acoustic signals emanating from said torpedo and from said submarine and received at said other sonobuoy, visibly displaying said first and third correlation signals on a first display device and said second and fourth correlation signals on a second display device and said fifth and sixth correlation signals on a third display device, transmitting command signals to said torpedo control buoy to steer the torpedo to a bearing and depth where the peaks of the correlation signals appearing on said first and third display devices are superimposed respectively, and controlling said bearing and depth of the torpedo which yields the superimposed correlation signals on said first and third display devices until the correlation signals displayed by all three display devices are superimposed thereby to give an indication that said torpedo has intercepted said target submarine.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
368 words
The method of tracking a target submarine and directing a torpedo to intercept said submarine comprising the steps of: planting a first and second pair of sonobuoys from a tracking vehicle within the vicinity of said submarine to transmit channeled radio signals from each of said sonobuoys corresponding to acoustic signals emanating from said submarine and said torpedo and being indicative of the bearings of the submarine and torpedo, planting one other sonobuoy having a pair of vertically spaced hydrophones from said tracking vehicle within the vicinity of said submarine to transmit radio signals from said other sonobuoy corresponding to acoustic signals emanating from said submarine and said torpedo and being indicative of the depths of said submarine and said torpedo, planting a torpedo control buoy having a wire guided torpedo connected thereto, receiving channeled signals transmitted from each sonobuoy corresponding to said acoustic signals emanating from said submarine and from said torpedo, generating a first and second correlation signal from said channeled signals corresponding to the pairs of acoustic signals emanating from said submarine and received at said first and second pair of sonobuoys respectively, generating a third and fourth correlation signal from said channeled signals corresponding to the pairs of acoustic signals emanating from said torpedo and received at said first and second pair of sonobuoys respectively, generating a fifth and sixth correlation signal from said channeled signals corresponding to the acoustic signals emanating from said torpedo and from said submarine and received at said other sonobuoy, visibly displaying said first and third correlation signals on a first display device and said second and fourth correlation signals on a second display device and said fifth and sixth correlation signals on a third display device, transmitting command signals to said torpedo control buoy to steer the torpedo to a bearing and depth where the peaks of the correlation signals appearing on said first and third display devices are superimposed respectively, and controlling said bearing and depth of the torpedo which yields the superimposed correlation signals on said first and third display devices until the correlation signals displayed by all three display devices are superimposed thereby to give an indication that said torpedo has intercepted said target submarine.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
93 words
The method of claim 5 further comprising the steps of detonating an underwater explosive charge in the vicinity of the target submarine for illuminating the submarine''s position in the event that the submarine goes silent, visibly detecting the correlation signals obtained by detecting the acoustic sound wave produced by said charge and reflected off of the target submarine, whereby the position of the illuminated submarine correlation signal on the display device may be compared with the last observed correlation signal of the submarine to detect any changes in position of the target submarine.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
189 words
The method of tracking a submerged submarine and directing a torpedo to intercept said submarine from a surface vessel tracking vehicle comprising the steps of: launching a wire guided torpedo in a direction toward the target submarine, receiving acoustic signals generated by said submarine and by said torpedo at a pair of horizontally spaced apart hydrophones mounted upon the surface vessel and by a pair of vertically spaced apart hydrophones connected to the surface vessel, generating a first and second correlation signal corresponding to the acoustic signals received at said horizontally spaced hydrophones, generating third and fourth correlation signals corresponding to the acoustic signals received at said vertically spaced hydrophones, visibly displaying said first and second correlation signals on a first display device and said third and fourth correlation signals on a second display device, directing the torpedo to a bearing and depth where the peaks of the correlation signals appearing on said first display device are superimposed and the peaks of the correlation signals on said second display device are superimposed thereby to give an indication that said torpedo is on an intercept course with said target submarine.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
189 words
The method of tracking a submerged submarine and directing a torpedo to intercept said submarine from a surface vessel tracking vehicle comprising the steps of: launching a wire guided torpedo in a direction toward the target submarine, receiving acoustic signals generated by said submarine and by said torpedo at a pair of horizontally spaced apart hydrophones mounted upon the surface vessel and by a pair of vertically spaced apart hydrophones connected to the surface vessel, generating a first and second correlation signal corresponding to the acoustic signals received at said horizontally spaced hydrophones, generating third and fourth correlation signals corresponding to the acoustic signals received at said vertically spaced hydrophones, visibly displaying said first and second correlation signals on a first display device and said third and fourth correlation signals on a second display device, directing the torpedo to a bearing and depth where the peaks of the correlation signals appearing on said first display device are superimposed and the peaks of the correlation signals on said second display device are superimposed thereby to give an indication that said torpedo is on an intercept course with said target submarine.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
66 words
The method of claim 7 further comprising the steps of detonating at least one underwater explosive charge in the vicinity of the submarine for illuminating the target position in the event that the target goes silent, and displaying the correlation signals derived from a reflected acoustic wave produced by the explosive charge upon the display devices for comparison with the last observed position of the submarine.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
203 words
The method of tracking a target submarine and directing a torpedo to intercept said submarine from an attack submarine comprising the steps of launching a wire guided torpedo in the direction of the target submarine, detecting acoustic signals emanating from said torpedo and from said target submarine at a pair of horizontally spaced hydrophones mounted upon the attack submarine, detecting acoustic signals emanating from said torpedo and said target submarine by a pair of vertically spaced hydrophones suspended from said attack submarine, generating a first and second correlation signal corresponding to the acoustic signals received by said pair of horizontally spaced hydrophones and being indicative of the target and torpedo bearings, generating a third and fourth correlation signals corresponding to the acoustic signals detected by said vertically spaced hydrophones and being indicative of the depths of said torpedo and target submarine, displaying said first and second correlation signals on a first display device, visually displaying said third and fourth correlation signals on a second display device, and directing the torpedo to a bearing and depth where the first and second correlation signals are superimposed on said first display device and said third and fourth correlation signals are superimposed on said second display device.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
203 words
The method of tracking a target submarine and directing a torpedo to intercept said submarine from an attack submarine comprising the steps of launching a wire guided torpedo in the direction of the target submarine, detecting acoustic signals emanating from said torpedo and from said target submarine at a pair of horizontally spaced hydrophones mounted upon the attack submarine, detecting acoustic signals emanating from said torpedo and said target submarine by a pair of vertically spaced hydrophones suspended from said attack submarine, generating a first and second correlation signal corresponding to the acoustic signals received by said pair of horizontally spaced hydrophones and being indicative of the target and torpedo bearings, generating a third and fourth correlation signals corresponding to the acoustic signals detected by said vertically spaced hydrophones and being indicative of the depths of said torpedo and target submarine, displaying said first and second correlation signals on a first display device, visually displaying said third and fourth correlation signals on a second display device, and directing the torpedo to a bearing and depth where the first and second correlation signals are superimposed on said first display device and said third and fourth correlation signals are superimposed on said second display device.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
64 words
The method of claim 9 further comprising the steps of: transmitting a signal from said attack submarine to said torpedo to activate a homing system incorporated in the torpedo to produce acoustic echo signals for detection, processing and displaying said signals on said first and second display devices in the event that the target submarine goes silent during the running period of the torpedo.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
69 words
The method of claim 9 further comprising the steps of: transmitting a signal from the attack submarine to the torpedo to dispense at least one explosive charge from said torpedo to illuminate the target submarine in the event said target submarine goes silent, and displaying the correlation signal derived from the reflected acoustic wave generated by the explosive charge upon the display devices to ascertain the target submarine''s position.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
65 words
In a system for tracking a submarine by an aircraft and directing a torpedo to intercept said submarine, in combination; a radio receiver carried by an aircraft for receiving channeled signals, a transmitting station having means for receiving acoustic signals emanating from said submarine and from said torpedo, and having means for transmitting channeled signals to said radio receiver corresponding to said received acoustic signals.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
65 words
In a system for tracking a submarine by an aircraft and directing a torpedo to intercept said submarine, in combination; a radio receiver carried by an aircraft for receiving channeled signals, a transmitting station having means for receiving acoustic signals emanating from said submarine and from said torpedo, and having means for transmitting channeled signals to said radio receiver corresponding to said received acoustic signals.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
156 words
In a system for tracking a submarine by an aircraft and directing a torpedo to the submarine, in combination; a torpedo control buoy having a wire guided torpedo connected thereto and having a first radio receiver mounted thereon, a second radio receiver carried by said aircraft for receiving channeled signals, a plurality of sonobuoys each having an antenna and a transmitter for sending channeled signals to said aircraft and acoustic signal receiving means positioned for detecting acoustic signals emanating from said submarine and said torpedo for determining any differences in the bearings and depth of the submarine and the torpedo, signal display means connected to said second receiver for processing said channeled signals thereby indicating any difference in the relative positions of said torpedo and said submarine, and a radio frequency transmitter carried by said aircraft for transmitting command signals to the torpedo control buoy for directing the torpedo on an intercept course with said submarine.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
156 words
In a system for tracking a submarine by an aircraft and directing a torpedo to the submarine, in combination; a torpedo control buoy having a wire guided torpedo connected thereto and having a first radio receiver mounted thereon, a second radio receiver carried by said aircraft for receiving channeled signals, a plurality of sonobuoys each having an antenna and a transmitter for sending channeled signals to said aircraft and acoustic signal receiving means positioned for detecting acoustic signals emanating from said submarine and said torpedo for determining any differences in the bearings and depth of the submarine and the torpedo, signal display means connected to said second receiver for processing said channeled signals thereby indicating any difference in the relative positions of said torpedo and said submarine, and a radio frequency transmitter carried by said aircraft for transmitting command signals to the torpedo control buoy for directing the torpedo on an intercept course with said submarine.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3161168A
Cited
US3183478A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-12-31 | 1977-07-02 | 1978-01-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-12-31 | 1981-07-02 | 1982-01-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-12-31 | 1985-07-02 | 1986-01-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |