US3962672A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Tethered vehicle location system
Assignee: United States Department of the Navy
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Filing: 1975-07-16
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Granted: 1976-06-08
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Expires: 1995-07-16
Abstract
Abstract The location of a tethered undersea vehicle is determined by functionally operating elements on the vehicle, the end of a main cable and a support ship. An acoustic signal is projected from the distal end of the main cable and is received by several hydrophones carried on the vehicle. Frequency multiplexing the time deployed or different phases of the received acoustic signal and transmitting them back to the support craft, permits a processing of the multiplexed signals. This processing gives a visual indication of the vehicle's location with respect to the end of the cable. Since ocean currents can cause a catenary effect in the main cable as it hangs in several thousand feet of water, or the support ship might drift off-station, the tethered vehicle cannot be pulled away from an object of interest on the ocean's floor.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert L. Watts
- 👤 Michael D. Juniper
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 01:12
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01S; G01S5/00; G01S5/18; G01S5/26
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
94 words
In a deep ocean system an apparatus for locating a tethered vehicle with respect to the distal end of a cable hanging from a support craft comprising: means extending from the distal end of the cable for coupling signals between the cable and the vehicle; means mounted on the distal end of the cable for transmitting an ensonifying signal; means carried on the vehicle for receiving phase variations of the acoustic signal; means on the support craft for processing a cycle of the phase variations of the ensonifying signal into range and bearing information.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
94 words
In a deep ocean system an apparatus for locating a tethered vehicle with respect to the distal end of a cable hanging from a support craft comprising: means extending from the distal end of the cable for coupling signals between the cable and the vehicle; means mounted on the distal end of the cable for transmitting an ensonifying signal; means carried on the vehicle for receiving phase variations of the acoustic signal; means on the support craft for processing a cycle of the phase variations of the ensonifying signal into range and bearing information.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 further including: means on the support craft coupled to the transmitting means and the processing means for simultaneously initiating the ensonifying signal and the cycle.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
An apparatus according to claim 2 further including: means on the support craft connected to the processing means for displaying the range and bearing information.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
An apparatus according to claim 3 further including: means connected along the length of the coupling means for rendering it neutrally buoyant.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
51 words
An apparatus according to claim 4 in which the transmitting means is a transducer projecting the ensonifying signal through seawater to the receiving means on the vehicle and the coupling means is an elongate whip conductor feeding power and phase variations of the ensonifying signal between the cable and the vehicle.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
An apparatus according to claim 5 in which the receiving means includes a plurality of hydrophones each providing one of the phase variations of the ensonifying signal and a frequency multiplexer unit.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
An apparatus according to claim 6 in which the processing means includes a demultiplexer unit coupled to receive the phase variations of the ensonifying signal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
An apparatus according to claim 7 in which there are four hydrophones orthogonally disposed with respect to each other for collectively receiving up to four phase variations of the ensonifying signal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus according to claim 8 in which the cable assumes the shape of a catenary between the surface craft and the distal end.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
An apparatus according to claim 9 in which the distal end of the cable is held approximately one hundred feet above the ocean floor to avoid snagging the elongate whip conductor.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3792424A
Cited
US3860900A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-06-08 | 1979-12-08 | 1980-06-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-06-08 | 1983-12-08 | 1984-06-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-06-08 | 1987-12-08 | 1988-06-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |