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US4239012A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Homing torpedo control apparatus

Assignee: United States Department of the Navy
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Filing: 1960-12-15
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Granted: 1980-12-16
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Expires: 1980-12-15
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Abstract

Abstract 2. In an echo-ranging torpedo wherein spurious and true-target echo signalsay be received in the listening periods between repetitive search-pulse transmission instants, in combination: a receiver operative to convert received echo signals to steering command signals having characteristics corresponding to echo-source direction, said receiver including a target-recognition circuit and a gating relay which operates, with inherent delay, in response to recognition of each true-target echo signal; a steering control circuit, including steering relay and switch means, adapted to place said steering relay and switch means in a condition corresponding to echo-source direction as derived by said steering control circuit, when operative, from said steering command signals; means applying said steering command signals to said steering control circuit; means controlled by operation of said gating relay, in response to each reception and recognition of a true-target echo signal, to render said steering control circuit operative to respond to steering command signals stemming from subsequent echo signals during a predetermined interval, of the order of a few listening periods, following each said reception and recognition of a true-target echo signal, and steering apparatus responsive, when rendered effective, to said steering relay and switch means condition; said gating relay, when operated, controlling said steering apparatus to render it effective to respond to said steering relay and switch means condition.

Inventors

  • 👤 Stephen Kowalyshyn
  • 👤 John C. Voorhees

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-31 22:27
CPC Classifications
F; F41; F41G; F41G7/00; F41G7/20; F41G7/22; F41G7/2273; F41G7/228

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim 202 words
In an underwater-target direction-finding apparatus of echo-ranging type wherein spurious and true-target echo signals may be received in the listening periods between repetitive search-pulse transmission instants, in combination: a receiver operative to convert received echo signals to command signals having characteristics corresponding to echo-source direction, said receiver including a target-recognition circuit and a gating relay operating, with inherent delay, in response to recognition of each true-target echo signal; a control circuit, including control switch means, adapted to place said control switch means in a condition corresponding to echo-source direction as derived by said control circuit, when operative, from said command signals; means applying said command signals to said control circuit; means controlled by operation of said gating relay, in response to each reception and recognition of a true-target echo signal, to render said control circuit operative to respond to command signals stemming from subsequent echo signals during a predetermined interval, of the order of a few listening periods, following each said reception and recognition of a true-target echo signal; echo-source direction utilization means responsive, when operative, to said control switch means condition; and said gating relay controlling said utilization means to render it operative only upon recognition of a true-target echo signal.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 202 words
In an underwater-target direction-finding apparatus of echo-ranging type wherein spurious and true-target echo signals may be received in the listening periods between repetitive search-pulse transmission instants, in combination: a receiver operative to convert received echo signals to command signals having characteristics corresponding to echo-source direction, said receiver including a target-recognition circuit and a gating relay operating, with inherent delay, in response to recognition of each true-target echo signal; a control circuit, including control switch means, adapted to place said control switch means in a condition corresponding to echo-source direction as derived by said control circuit, when operative, from said command signals; means applying said command signals to said control circuit; means controlled by operation of said gating relay, in response to each reception and recognition of a true-target echo signal, to render said control circuit operative to respond to command signals stemming from subsequent echo signals during a predetermined interval, of the order of a few listening periods, following each said reception and recognition of a true-target echo signal; echo-source direction utilization means responsive, when operative, to said control switch means condition; and said gating relay controlling said utilization means to render it operative only upon recognition of a true-target echo signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 216 words
In an echo-ranging torpedo wherein spurious and true-target echo signals may be received in the listening periods between repetitive search-pulse transmission instants, in combination: a receiver operative to convert received echo signals to steering command signals having characteristics corresponding to echo-source direction, said receiver including a target-recognition circuit and a gating relay which operates, with inherent delay, in response to recognition of each true-target echo signal; a steering control circuit, including steering relay and switch means, adapted to place said steering relay and switch means in a condition corresponding to echo-source direction as derived by said steering control circuit, when operative, from said steering command signals; means applying said steering command signals to said steering control circuit; means controlled by operation of said gating relay, in response to each reception and recognition of a true-target echo signal, to render said steering control circuit operative to respond to steering command signals stemming from subsequent echo signals during a predetermined interval, of the order of a few listening periods, following each said reception and recognition of a true-target echo signal, and steering apparatus responsive, when rendered effective, to said steering relay and switch means condition; said gating relay, when operated, controlling said steering apparatus to render it effective to respond to said steering relay and switch means condition.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 216 words
In an echo-ranging torpedo wherein spurious and true-target echo signals may be received in the listening periods between repetitive search-pulse transmission instants, in combination: a receiver operative to convert received echo signals to steering command signals having characteristics corresponding to echo-source direction, said receiver including a target-recognition circuit and a gating relay which operates, with inherent delay, in response to recognition of each true-target echo signal; a steering control circuit, including steering relay and switch means, adapted to place said steering relay and switch means in a condition corresponding to echo-source direction as derived by said steering control circuit, when operative, from said steering command signals; means applying said steering command signals to said steering control circuit; means controlled by operation of said gating relay, in response to each reception and recognition of a true-target echo signal, to render said steering control circuit operative to respond to steering command signals stemming from subsequent echo signals during a predetermined interval, of the order of a few listening periods, following each said reception and recognition of a true-target echo signal, and steering apparatus responsive, when rendered effective, to said steering relay and switch means condition; said gating relay, when operated, controlling said steering apparatus to render it effective to respond to said steering relay and switch means condition.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US1892431A Cited
US2996028A Cited
US3003449A Cited
US2454161A Cited
US3064610A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1983-12-16 1984-06-16 1984-12-16 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1987-12-16 1988-06-16 1988-12-16 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1991-12-16 1992-06-16 1992-12-16 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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