Cruise missile deployed sonar buoy

• US 6,498,767 B2
• Filed: 04/11/2001
• Issued: 12/24/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Original Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Inventors: Carreiro, Paul J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pihulic, Daniel T.
• Application Number:
  US09/832,114
• Publication Number:
  US 20020149996A1
• Time in Patent Office: 622 Days
• Field of Search: 367/3, 367/4, 367/5, 367/131, 367/128, 342/357.06, 244/137.3, 244/120, 441/30
• US Class Current: 367/4
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 22/003 adapted for being launched from an aircraft or water vehicle;, e.g. with brakes deployed in the water
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 22/16 specially adapted for marking a navigational route signalling or lighting devices B63B45/00
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 3/02 using an independent line of sight
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 12/60 the submissiles being ejected radially

Abstract

A sonar buoy adapted to be deployed by a cruise missile. This sonar buoy includes a flotation device for keeping a portion of the buoy afloat, a hydrophone, a transmitter for communicating contact and position information and releasable means for attaching the sonar buoy to the cruise missile. By means of this device, a means of monitoring littoral and other waters for enemy submarines and other threats is provided with a low degree of risk to friendly forces. A system for deploying this sonar buoy in a sonar buoy field is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A sonar bouy deployment system comprising:

a pilotless aircraft having subminition compartments therein;

a sonar buoy positionable in one said submunition compartment of said pilotless aircraft and deployable from said subminition compartment, said sonar buoy comprising;

a flotation means for keeping said sonar buoy afloat while deployed in an aquatic environment;

a hydrophone positionable for collecting information in said aquatic environment;

a communication means joined to said hydrophone and said flotation means for transmitting collected information;

releasable means for attaching said sonar buoy to said pilotless aircraft; and

a separable tether joined between said pilotless aircraft and said sonar buoy, said tether separating when being subjected to tension after deployment of said sonar buoy.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein:

said pilotless aircraft has a plurality of compartment covers, each capable of covering an associated one of said submunition compartments; and

said separable tether being joined to one said compartment cover whereby said tether acts to close said compartment cover on deployment of said sonar buoy.

3. The device of claim 1 further comprising a rigid shell housing said flotation means, said hydrophone and said communication means prior to deployment from said pilotless aircraft.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein said rigid shell defines:

a float well containing said flotation means; and

a hydrophone well containing said hydrophone.

5. The device of claim 4 further comprising a tear-through covering positioned on said rigid shell over said float well, said floatation means tearing through said tear-through covering upon deployment.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein said communication means comprises:

a control unit for controlling components of said sonar buoy, said hydrophone being joined to said control unit for transmitting collected information thereto;

an antenna joined to said floatation means wherein after deployment said antenna is maintained above the surface of aquatic environment;

a transceiver joined to said antenna and said control unit for transmitting information; and

a global positioning system joined to said transceiver and said control unit for determining the coordinates of said sonar buoy.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein said flotation means further comprises:

an inflatable float; and

a compressed gas means in communication with said inflatable float for inflating said inflatable float upon deployment.

8. The device of claim 7 wherein said communication means comprises an antenna joined to said inflatable float wherein after deployment said antenna is maintained above the surface of said aquatic environment.

9. The device of claim 7 wherein said flotation means further comprises an inflation valve joined between the inflatable float and the compressed gas means for expanding the inflatable float on activation of the inflation valve.

10. The device of claim 9 further comprising:

a control circuit positioned in said shell and joined to said inflation valve; and

a sensor joined to said control circuit, said control circuit activating said inflation valve to transmit compressed gas from said compressed gas means to said inflatable float after receipt of a signal from said sensor indicating that said device has entered the aquatic environment.