US4004265A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Self-propelled array system
Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corp
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Filing: 1976-04-28
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Granted: 1977-01-18
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Expires: 1996-04-28
Abstract
Abstract A hydrophone array system comprising a plurality of hydrophones fastened to a cable is deployed beneath the sea in a substantially horizontal straight line. A small powered thruster fastened to one end of the cable urges it in a first direction and this urging is resisted by a member, such as a drogue or an anchored subsurface float, fastened to the other end of the cable. Individual signals from each of the hydrophones are conducted to the surface where they are processed and transmitted by a radio link to a nearby aircraft or surface vessel. Beam forming and analysis is performed aboard the aircraft or surface vessel.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas E. Woodruff
- 👤 Samuel S. Ballard
- 👤 Roger I. Saunders
- 👤 Everett W. Farmer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 22:32
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01V; G01V1/00; G01V1/38; G01V1/3843; G10; G10K; G10K11/00; G10K11/004; G10K11/006; G10K11/008
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
155 words
A hydrophone array system comprising a first cable, a plurality of hydrophones connected to said first cable and spaced apart by predetermined distances thereby forming an array, a buoyant body, a transmitter within said body, a second cable extending from said body, and means including said cables for conducting signals from said hydrophones to said transmitter characterized in that said system includes a thruster connected to one end of said first cable for urging it in a preferred direction and a member connected to the other end of said first cable for resisting the urging of said thruster and in that said first cable includes a section adjacent to said thruster which section comprises a first resilient portion and a second, signal carrying portion, said second portion being longer than said first portion, said portions being fastened to each other at each of their ends so that said second portion remains in a slack condition.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
155 words
A hydrophone array system comprising a first cable, a plurality of hydrophones connected to said first cable and spaced apart by predetermined distances thereby forming an array, a buoyant body, a transmitter within said body, a second cable extending from said body, and means including said cables for conducting signals from said hydrophones to said transmitter characterized in that said system includes a thruster connected to one end of said first cable for urging it in a preferred direction and a member connected to the other end of said first cable for resisting the urging of said thruster and in that said first cable includes a section adjacent to said thruster which section comprises a first resilient portion and a second, signal carrying portion, said second portion being longer than said first portion, said portions being fastened to each other at each of their ends so that said second portion remains in a slack condition.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
70 words
A hydrophone array system in accordance with claim 1 in which said array is constructed to be substantially neutrally buoyant and in which said thruster includes a housing of generally cylindrical shape and is constructed with a weight distribution such that when submerged said thruster is urged to a predetermined preferred attitude with its longitudinal axis horizontal so as to stretch out said array in a substantially horizontal straight line.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
61 words
A hydrophone array system in accordance with claim 2 in which said thruster is constructed to make its center of gravity and its center of buoyancy lie in the same transverse plane but displaced from each other so that a force couple is generated which urges said thruster toward an attitude with its center of gravity below its center of buoyancy.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
A hydrophone array system in accordance with claim 1 which includes a plurality of preamplifiers each connected to and packaged with one of said hydrophones thereby constituting a hydrophone assembly.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
A hydrophone array system in accordance with claim 4 in which said first cable and said hydrophone assemblies are constructed so as to form an array having substantially neutral buoyancy.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
A hydrophone array system in accordance with claim 1 in which said thruster is constructed to have negative buoyancy.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
A hydrophone array system in accordance with claim 1 which includes an electronics package connected to said second cable adjacent to that end which is remote from said buoyant body.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
A hydrophone array system in accordance with claim 1 in which each of said first and second cables includes both load bearing and signal carrying elements.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
A hydrophone array system in accordance with claim 6 in which said thruster includes a housing of generally cylindrical form.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
53 words
A hydrophone array system in accordance with claim 9 in which said thruster includes a motor within said housing and a propeller mounted exteriorly at one end thereof and operatively connected to said motor and in which said one end of said first cable is connected to the other end of said housing.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
A hydrophone array system in accordance with claim 10 including a connection between said thruster and that end of said second cable which is remote from said buoyant body.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
29 words
A hydrophone array system in accordance with claim 11 in which said connection includes a rigid bracket having two arms which embrace said housing and are pivotally connected thereto.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
A hydrophone array system in accordance with claim 12 including an electronics package connected to said bracket and to said second cable.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
39 words
A hydrophone array system in accordance with claim 13 in which said thruster is constructed to make its center of gravity and its center of buoyancy when submerged lie in the same transverse plane but displaced from each other.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
16 words
A hydrophone array system in accordance with claim 1 in which said member is a drogue.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
A hydrophone array system in accordance with claim 15 in which the end of said second cable remote from said buoyant body is connected to said thruster.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
48 words
A hydrophone array system in accordance with claim 16 in which said drogue is constructed to be negatively buoyant and which includes a surface float and a third cable of the same length as said second cable extending from said float to said drogue to support said drogue.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
46 words
A hydrophone array system in accordance with claim 1 in which said member is an auxiliary buoyant body and which includes an anchor, a third cable interconnecting said member and said anchor, and in which said first and second cables are also connected to said member.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
41 words
A hydrophone array system in accordance with claim 1 which includes a weight and in which the end of said second cable remote from said buoyant body is connected to said other end of said first cable and to said weight.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
27 words
A hydrophone array system in accordance with claim 19 including a second buoyant body and a third cable extending from said second buoyant body to said thruster.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
23 words
A hydrophone array system in accordance with claim 1 which includes means for controlling the direction in which said thruster exerts said urging.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
32 words
A hydrophone array system in accordance with claim 1 including means on said first cable for generating a first signal indicative of the orientation of said array with respect to geographic coordinates.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
49 words
A hydrophone array system in accordance with claim 22 which includes means including a programmer for generating a second signal indicative of the desired orientation of said array and means jointly responsive to said first and second signals for controlling the direction in which said thruster exerts said urging.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
38 words
A hydrophone array system in accordance with claim 1 including a receiver within said buoyant body for receiving command signals and means responsive to said command signals for controlling the direction in which said thruster exerts said urging.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
48 words
A hydrophone array system in accordance with claim 1 including a housing containing said thruster and means within said housing for selectively either paying out said first cable and said array so as to extend exteriorly of said housing or retrieving said array to lie within said housing.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
88 words
A hydrophone array assembly in accordance with claim 1 including a housing containing said thruster and in which said second cable includes a first end fastened to said buoyant body and a second end fastened to said housing and which includes means within said housing for selectively either paying out said second cable so as to extend between said buoyant body and said housing or reeling in said second cable so as to lie substantially entirely within said housing with said housing in engagement with said buoyant body.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
25 words
A hydrophone array system in accordance with claim 1 which includes an extensible mast mounted on said buoyant body to facilitate recovery of said system.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
49 words
A hydrophone array system in accordance with claim 1 in which said thruster includes a motor, a housing, a plurality of vibration isolators mounting said motor to said housing, a propeller mounted for rotation exteriorly of said housing, and a flexible coupling operatively connecting said motor to said housing.
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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) | 1980-01-18 | 1980-07-19 | 1981-01-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-01-18 | 1984-07-19 | 1985-01-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-01-18 | 1988-07-19 | 1989-01-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |