Ships – Submersible device
Patent
1992-12-14
1994-12-06
Avila, Stephen P.
Ships
Submersible device
114313, B63G 800
Patent
active
053700740
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method for tracking an object, especially a subsea object, there being used a mother vessel or an intermediate craft equipped with sonars for transmission and reflection of searching rays which on a display on the vessel indicate one or more objects in the subsea searching field.
The invention also relates to a device for this purpose.
The invention finds application for tracking any object, but will in the following be disclosed in connection with a special field of application, namely in connection with the removal of mines.
The removal of mines from a surface vessel includes a plurality of activities or problems. First of all the vessel has to detect the object for thereby enabling classification and thereafter destroying the object.
Today this is done by a combination of a hull mounted sonar for the detection/classification, ROV for visual classification/inspection and thereafter launching and detonation of the charge.
This process is time consuming because it requires a visual inspection from the ROV. After the ROV has positioned the charge, it must be brought to a safe distance before the charge is detonated. In addition, the charge must be large because it is a requirement to avoid a too close proximity between the mine and the costly ROV.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to present a concept for a novel system for searching for an object, especially a new system for inspection and destruction of mines, utilizing existing mine sonars and a light and inexpensive controlled weapon including a small charge. Through the TV camera in the weapon the system allows for visual classification of the mines before detonation, thereby involving a substantial reduction in time from the detection to the destruction of the target.
The object is achieved in a method which according to the invention is characterized in that there is used a searching unit which is controlled from the vessel or the craft, and which comprises at least one transponder/responder or similar for the transmission of signals corresponding to the searching ray, and that said signal(s) is registered on the display on the mother vessel and is utilized for controlling the searching unit towards the selected object along the searching rays of the sonar.
A favourable feature of the method is that signals from the transponder/responder are controlled in such a manner that the signal is received in the time interval coinciding with the displayed echo of the searching ray.
Preferably there are on the searching unit mounted sensors for measuring heading, horizontal plane angle and distance above bottom, and further there may on the mother vessel and/or the craft, possibly on the transducer of the mine searching sonar, be located a plurality of hydrophones, the measuring of the transponder/responder signal phase or the time delay at the hydrophones determining the position of the searching unit in the horizontal plane and/or the vertical plane.
The communication between the searching unit and the mother vessel and/or the craft takes place through an appropriate link, preferably a fibre optic cable arranged on a spool on the searching unit, the searching unit comprising TV equipment and light sources, as well as driving means, such that the operator on the mother vessel can control the unit as a remotely controlled unit and inspect the selected object via a TV screen.
Appropriately, the searching unit is utilized for removal of mines from a surface vessel or an intermediate craft, said unit comprising a charge, preferably a hollow charge or a directed charge which can be fired from the mother vessel, preferably after inspection via TV camera which may constitute a sight means, possibly through a signal from a proximity switch.
In addition, it is to be understood that the searching unit can be used as a training unit, comprising a gas cartridge and a gas inflatable balloon or a buoyancy chamber which can be activated by the operator.
A device for tracking for
REFERENCES:
patent: 3415068 (1968-12-01), Casey, Jr.
patent: 3880103 (1975-04-01), Talkington
patent: 4010619 (1977-03-01), Hightower et al.
patent: 4157229 (1979-06-01), Kumm
patent: 4185580 (1980-01-01), Pujol et al.
patent: 4448145 (1984-05-01), Hervieu
patent: 4462330 (1984-07-01), Campbell et al.
Popular Science, Jun. 1949, New Subs are Undersea Aircraft, Perry Githens, pp. 98-105.
Bell Labs Record, Sep. 1981, Scarab: Sea Sleuth, pp. 198-204.
Knudsen Tor
Lovik Arne
Avila Stephen P.
Bentech Subsea A/S
Forsvarets Forskningsinstitutt
Ingerman Jeffrey H.
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