Patent US3818523A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3818523A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Subsurface current utilizing buoy system
Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corp
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Filing: 1971-10-18
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Granted: 1974-06-25
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Expires: 1991-10-18
Abstract
Abstract A sonobuoy system is described in which the buoy proper is anchored by a slack cable from which an array of hydrophones is suspended. The sonobuoy is deployed beneath the surface and its depth is controlled by varying the attitude of the buoy so that ocean currents, which are present virtually everywhere in the sea, act on the buoy to generate positive or negative lift thereby increasing or decreasing the depth in accordance with a predetermined program or on command. Vanes attached to the buoy augment the lift of the body of the buoy. Attitude is changed by pumping water between fore and aft tanks. Provision is made for bringing the buoy to the surface from time to time to abstract the information which has been gathered.
Inventors
- 👤 S Stillman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 12:09
CPC Classifications
B; B63; B63B; B63B22/00; B63B22/18; G; G10; G10K; G10K11/00; G10K11/004; G10K11/006; B63B2207/00; B63B2207/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
47 words
A buoy system for deployment in a body of flowing water, comprising, a housing, an anchor, a slack cable interconnecting said housing and said anchor, and means responsive to a signal for varying the lift produced by the flow of water over the surface of said housing.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
47 words
A buoy system for deployment in a body of flowing water, comprising, a housing, an anchor, a slack cable interconnecting said housing and said anchor, and means responsive to a signal for varying the lift produced by the flow of water over the surface of said housing.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
A buoy system in accordance with claim 1 in which said means for varying includes means for varying the attitude of said housing.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
A buoy system in accordance with claim 1 in which said signal is indicative of water pressure incident on said housing, whereby the depth may be controlled.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
A buoy system in accordance with claim 1 in which said housing, its contents and the cable have an overall positive buoyancy.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
A buoy system in accordance with claim 1 which includes vanes attached to the exterior of said housing to increase the lift.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
A buoy system in accordance with claim 1 in which said signal is indicative of depth.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
A buoy system in accordance with claim 1 in which said signal is an externally originating command.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
A buoy system in accordance with claim 1 in which said signal is indicative of acceleration.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
A buoy system in accordance with claim 1 in which said signal is indicative of vertical acceleration above a threshold level caused by surface waves.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
A buoy system in accordance with claim 1 in which said signal is indicative of a predetermined program.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
A buoy system in accordance with claim 10 in which said program includes a command to bring said housing to the surface.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
52 words
A buoy system in accordance with claim 11 including means for detecting a rough condition of the sea surface upon ascent and means responsive to the detection of a roughness exceeding a predetermined threshold for overriding a command to bring said housing to the surface and for commanding said housing to descend.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
A buoy system in accordance with claim 1 in which said cable is connected to said housing by means of a bridle fastened near opposite ends thereof.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
A buoy system in accordance with claim 1 in which said cable includes conductors for the transmission of data and power.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
A buoy system in accordance with claim 1 in which said means for varying includes means for maintaining said housing at a predetermined depth.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
A buoy system in accordance with claim 1 which includes a plurality of hydrophones supported by said cable.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
A buoy system in accordance with claim 16 having means including an antenna for transmitting the information received by said hydrophones.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
30 words
A buoy system in accordance with claim 17 in which said means for varying includes means for bringing said housing to the surface of the water to transmit said information.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
39 words
A buoy system in accordance with claim 18 which includes a gas tight bag, means for inflating said bag when said housing is on the surface and means for mounting said antenna on the upper portion of said bag.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
26 words
A buoy system in accordance with claim 1 in which said means for varying includes means for varying the distribution of the weight within said housing.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
41 words
A buoy system in accordance with claim 20 in which said means for varying includes fore and aft tanks partially filled with water and a positive displacement pump operatively connected to transfer water from one to the other of said tanks.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
23 words
A buoy system in accordance with claim 1 including means for reducing the buoyancy of said housing after its deployment in the water.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
119 words
A buoy system for deployment beneath the surface of a body of flowing water, comprising, a buoy having positive buoyancy, an anchor disposed on the bottom of the body of water, and a flexible cable having a length substantially greater than the depth of said body of water interconnecting said buoy aNd said anchor, said buoy including a pressure sensitive instrument for generating a signal indicative of the depth of said buoy beneath the surface, said buoy also including means responsive to said signal for varying the weight distribution of said buoy, the attitude of said buoy, and lift due to the flow of water over the surface of said buoy, whereby the depth of said buoy is varied.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
119 words
A buoy system for deployment beneath the surface of a body of flowing water, comprising, a buoy having positive buoyancy, an anchor disposed on the bottom of the body of water, and a flexible cable having a length substantially greater than the depth of said body of water interconnecting said buoy aNd said anchor, said buoy including a pressure sensitive instrument for generating a signal indicative of the depth of said buoy beneath the surface, said buoy also including means responsive to said signal for varying the weight distribution of said buoy, the attitude of said buoy, and lift due to the flow of water over the surface of said buoy, whereby the depth of said buoy is varied.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
32 words
A buoy system in accordance with claim 23 in which said means for varying includes fore and aft tanks partially filled with water and a pump for transferring water between said tanks.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-06-24 | 1977-12-24 | 1978-06-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-06-24 | 1981-12-24 | 1982-06-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-06-24 | 1985-12-24 | 1986-06-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |