Patent US550157A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US4004540A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4004540A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Galvanic detector for detecting the cutting of a command wire
Assignee: United States Department of the Navy
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Filing: 1968-01-10
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Granted: 1977-01-25
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Expires: 1988-01-10
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus and method for detecting the presence of, and severing commandables submerged in an aqueous medium, utilizing a galvanic current pulse generated by a galvanic cell with one electrode thereof serving as a cable cutter.
Inventors
- 👤 Francis J. Higgins
- 👤 Charles T. McGraw
- 👤 Edward L. Sanderson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 13:57
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01V; G01V3/00; G01V3/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
173 words
An apparatus for indicating the presence and cutting of an electrical wire located within an aqueous medium in contiguous disposition with the floor thereof, comprising: a cutting assembly, adapted for being towed by a predetermined tractor vehicle along the floor of said aqueous medium, having at least one sharpened metallic blade and at least one reference electrode of the same metallic material as said sharpened metallic blade disposed within said aqueous medium in close proximity therewith but electrically insulated therefrom; means connected to said cutting assembly for the towing thereof by said tractor vehicle, said towing means including a plurality of electrical conductors, one of which is electrically connected to said sharpened metallic blade, and another of which is connected to said one reference electrode; and means connected to said electrical conductors for utilizing the pulses of galvanic current which flows between said sharpened metallic blade and the aforesaid one reference electrode and within said electrical conductors as a result of the contact of said sharpened metallic blade with the aforesaid electrical wire.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
173 words
An apparatus for indicating the presence and cutting of an electrical wire located within an aqueous medium in contiguous disposition with the floor thereof, comprising: a cutting assembly, adapted for being towed by a predetermined tractor vehicle along the floor of said aqueous medium, having at least one sharpened metallic blade and at least one reference electrode of the same metallic material as said sharpened metallic blade disposed within said aqueous medium in close proximity therewith but electrically insulated therefrom; means connected to said cutting assembly for the towing thereof by said tractor vehicle, said towing means including a plurality of electrical conductors, one of which is electrically connected to said sharpened metallic blade, and another of which is connected to said one reference electrode; and means connected to said electrical conductors for utilizing the pulses of galvanic current which flows between said sharpened metallic blade and the aforesaid one reference electrode and within said electrical conductors as a result of the contact of said sharpened metallic blade with the aforesaid electrical wire.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 in which said utilization means includes an amplifier connected to said metallic blade.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 in which said utilization means includes an impedance matching transformer connected to said metallic blade.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
44 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 in which said cutting assembly further includes a second electrode disposed in close proximity to said one sharpened metallic blade and said first electrode, with said second electrode being electrically connected to still another of said electrical conductors.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
An apparatus according to claim 4 in which said second electrode is sharpened to form a second metallic blade.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
An apparatus according to claim 5 in which said first and second metallic blades are located on opposite sides of said one reference electrode and co-act therewith to serve as a pair of galvanic cells.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
47 words
An apparatus according to claim 6 in which the outputs of said pair of galvanic cells are connected to said utilization means in such a manner as to produce no output for simultaneous equal and opposite variations in the output of each of said pair of cells.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus according to claim 7 in which said utilization means includes an indicator to display a visual signal in response to an unbalanced output from said two galvanic cells.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
137 words
A method of neutralizing river type marine mines and locating the command cables thereof, comprising the steps of: streaming a cutter assembly having sharpened wire severing blades which are associated with other electrodes to constitute galvanic cells in a waterway containing said command cables; playing out a predetermined amount of tow line attached to said cutter assembly to permit said cutter assembly to sink to the bottom of said waterway; towing the cutter by said tow line along the bottom of said waterway to impact and thereby sever said command cable; utilizing the galvanic voltage pulse resulting from impact of said cutter on said command cable to indicate the presence of said tow line; and recording the position of the cutter at the time of indication of said galvanic pulse to locate the point for subsequent investigation.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
137 words
A method of neutralizing river type marine mines and locating the command cables thereof, comprising the steps of: streaming a cutter assembly having sharpened wire severing blades which are associated with other electrodes to constitute galvanic cells in a waterway containing said command cables; playing out a predetermined amount of tow line attached to said cutter assembly to permit said cutter assembly to sink to the bottom of said waterway; towing the cutter by said tow line along the bottom of said waterway to impact and thereby sever said command cable; utilizing the galvanic voltage pulse resulting from impact of said cutter on said command cable to indicate the presence of said tow line; and recording the position of the cutter at the time of indication of said galvanic pulse to locate the point for subsequent investigation.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method according to claim 9 in which said towing step comprises towing at velocities between 6 and 15 knots.
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) | 1980-01-25 | 1980-07-26 | 1981-01-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-01-25 | 1984-07-26 | 1985-01-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-01-25 | 1988-07-26 | 1989-01-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |