Patent US3906884A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3906884A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Acoustic minesweeping generator
Assignee: United States Department of the Navy
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Filing: 1974-03-04
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Granted: 1975-09-23
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Expires: 1994-03-04
Abstract
Abstract A noisemaker is disclosed which includes an elongated metal pipe with screwthread-like fins that are connected to the outside surface thereof and that extend along substantially the length thereof. One or more clangor rods are disposed within said pipe, and one or more various and sundry shelf-like protrusions are optionally connected to the inside surface of said pipe. The ends of said pipe are effectively closed in such manner as to form a pressure tight chamber therewithin which may be filled with a predetermined pressurized fluid for effecting the resonance frequency tuning thereof. A tractor vehicle tows, by means of suitable cables and swivels, the aforesaid pipe assembly through water or any other environmental medium compatible therewith for the purpose of making it rotate about its longitudinal axis, thereby causing said clangor rods to bang against the inside surface of said pipe, said shelf-like protrusion, and each other, so as to make a noise which, in turn, is broadcast by said pipe throughout the environmental medium ambient thereto.
Inventors
- 👤 Paul F Gould
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 13:35
CPC Classifications
G; G10; G10K; G10K1/00; G10K1/06; G10K1/068; B; B63; B63G; B63G7/00; B63G7/02; G01; G01V; G01V1/00; G01V1/02; G01V1/143; G01V1/147
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
237 words
An underwater minesweeping system, comprising in combination: an open-ended elongated pipe having a longitudinal axis; a nose cap of predetermined geometrical configuration connected to one of the open ends of said elongated pipe in such manner as to effect the closure thereof; another cap of predetermined geometrical configuration connected to the other of the open ends of said pipe in such manner as to effect the enclosure thereof; a fin having edges along the length thereof and a predetermined width therebetween, with one of said edges thereof connected to the outer surface of the aforesaid elongated pipe in such manner as to make said fin form a substantially helical configuration around and along the length of said elongated pipe and extend outwardly therefrom, whereby said fin has such angle of attack with respect to water ambient thereto and to said elongated pipe as to effect the rotation of said elongated pipe about its longitudinal axis whenever it is propelled along an underwater course; means effectively connected to one of the aforesaid end closure caps of said elongated pipe for effecting tHe propelling thereof along said underwater course with the longitudinal axis thereof substantially parallel thereto; and means disposed within said end-capped elongated pipe for banging against the internal surface thereof in response to the rotation thereof about the longitudinal axis thereof as a result of the propelling thereof along said underwater course by the aforesaid propelling means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
237 words
An underwater minesweeping system, comprising in combination: an open-ended elongated pipe having a longitudinal axis; a nose cap of predetermined geometrical configuration connected to one of the open ends of said elongated pipe in such manner as to effect the closure thereof; another cap of predetermined geometrical configuration connected to the other of the open ends of said pipe in such manner as to effect the enclosure thereof; a fin having edges along the length thereof and a predetermined width therebetween, with one of said edges thereof connected to the outer surface of the aforesaid elongated pipe in such manner as to make said fin form a substantially helical configuration around and along the length of said elongated pipe and extend outwardly therefrom, whereby said fin has such angle of attack with respect to water ambient thereto and to said elongated pipe as to effect the rotation of said elongated pipe about its longitudinal axis whenever it is propelled along an underwater course; means effectively connected to one of the aforesaid end closure caps of said elongated pipe for effecting tHe propelling thereof along said underwater course with the longitudinal axis thereof substantially parallel thereto; and means disposed within said end-capped elongated pipe for banging against the internal surface thereof in response to the rotation thereof about the longitudinal axis thereof as a result of the propelling thereof along said underwater course by the aforesaid propelling means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
72 words
The underwater minesweeping system of claim 1, wherein said means effectively connected to one of the aforesaid end caps of said elongated pipe for effecting the propelling thereof along said underwater course with the longitudinal axis thereof substantially parallel thereto comprises: a boat adapted for traveling along a predetermined course within a body of water; and a swivel effectively connected between said boat and said one of the aforesaid end closure caps.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
44 words
The underwater minesweeping system of claim 1, wherein said means effectively connected to one of the aforesaid end caps of said elongated pipe for effecting the propelling thereof along said underwater course with the longitudinal axis thereof substantially parallel thereto comprises a tractor vehicle.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
76 words
The underwater minesweeping system of claim 1, wherein said means disposed within said end-capped elongated pipe for banging against the internal surface thereof in response to the rotation thereof about the longitudinal axis thereof as a result of the propelling thereof along said underwater course by the aforesaid propelling means comprises at least one rod, the length of which is such as to cause it to extend substantially along the entire length of said elongated pipe.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
56 words
The underwater minesweeping system of claim 1, wherein said means disposed within said end-capped elongated pipe for banging against the internal surface thereof in response to the rotation thereof about the longitudinal axis thereof as a result of the propelling thereof along said underwater course by the aforesaid propelling means comprises at least one metalic ball.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
57 words
The underwater minesweeping system of claim 1, wherein said means disposed within said end-capped elongated pipe for banging against the internal surface thereof in response to the rotation thereof about the longitudinal axis thereof as a result of the propelling thereof along said underwater course by the aforesaid propelling means comprises a plurality of freely moving clangors.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
The invention of claim 1, further characterized by at least one means protruding from the inside surface of said end-capped elongated pipe for timely deflecting the aforesaid banging means during the rotation of said pipe.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
The invention of claim 1, further characterized by an angle iron connected to and extending along the length of the inside surface of said end-capped elongated pipe in substantial parallel with the longitudinal axis thereof.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
35 words
The invention of claim 1, further characterized by fluid means, pressurized in a predetermined manner, disposed within said end-capped elongated pipe for effecting the tuning of the resonant frequency thereof to a predetermined acoustical frequency.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
273 words
A system for sweeping acoustic marine mines that have been deployed within a body of water, comprising in combination: an open-ended elongated pipe having a longitudinal axis; a nose cap of predetermined geometrical configuration connected to one of the open ends of said elongated pipe in such manner as to effect the closure thereof; a tail cap of predetermined geometrical configuration connected to the other of the open ends of said pipe in such manner as to effect the closure thereof; a fin connected to the outer surface of said elongated pipe in such manner as to make said fin form a substantially helical configuration around and along the length of said elongated pipe and extend outwardly therefrom, so as to make said fin have such angle of attack with respect to the water of said body of water that is ambient thereto and to said elongated pipe As to effect the rotation of said elongated pipe about its longitudinal axis whenever it is propelled along an underwater course within said body of water; at least one freely moving clanger disposed within said end-capped elongated pipe for falling and banging against the inside surface thereof in response to the rotation thereof about the longitudinal axis thereof; a tractor vehicle; a first cable, with one end thereof connected to said tractor vehicle; a swivel, with one end thereof effectively connected to the other end of said cable; a second cable, with one end thereof connected to the other end of said swivel; and means connected between the other end of said second cable and the aforesaid nose cap for effecting the connection thereof thereto.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
273 words
A system for sweeping acoustic marine mines that have been deployed within a body of water, comprising in combination: an open-ended elongated pipe having a longitudinal axis; a nose cap of predetermined geometrical configuration connected to one of the open ends of said elongated pipe in such manner as to effect the closure thereof; a tail cap of predetermined geometrical configuration connected to the other of the open ends of said pipe in such manner as to effect the closure thereof; a fin connected to the outer surface of said elongated pipe in such manner as to make said fin form a substantially helical configuration around and along the length of said elongated pipe and extend outwardly therefrom, so as to make said fin have such angle of attack with respect to the water of said body of water that is ambient thereto and to said elongated pipe As to effect the rotation of said elongated pipe about its longitudinal axis whenever it is propelled along an underwater course within said body of water; at least one freely moving clanger disposed within said end-capped elongated pipe for falling and banging against the inside surface thereof in response to the rotation thereof about the longitudinal axis thereof; a tractor vehicle; a first cable, with one end thereof connected to said tractor vehicle; a swivel, with one end thereof effectively connected to the other end of said cable; a second cable, with one end thereof connected to the other end of said swivel; and means connected between the other end of said second cable and the aforesaid nose cap for effecting the connection thereof thereto.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system of claim 10, further characterized by a magnetic pipe connected between the other end of said first cable and said one end of said swivel.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-09-22 | 1979-03-24 | 1979-09-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-09-22 | 1983-03-24 | 1983-09-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-09-22 | 1987-03-24 | 1987-09-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |