Ships – Miscellaneous
Reexamination Certificate
2000-10-30
2001-12-04
Sotelo, Jesus D. (Department: 3617)
Ships
Miscellaneous
C114S24000E
Reexamination Certificate
active
06325015
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates generally to the capture of a fleeing seagoing vessel, and more particularly to a system that slows and/or incapacitates a fleeing seagoing vessel from a pursuing platform.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Military and law enforcement operations need the ability to stop or significantly slow a rapidly fleeing maritime vessel without harming the occupants of the fleeing craft. In certain situations, it may also be necessary to incapacitate the occupants of the fleeing vessel. Often, the operators of such vessels are involved with illegal smuggling operations. For effective legal prosecution, law enforcement must capture these individuals with contraband. The problem is that smugglers tend to run when confronted by law enforcement. Resulting high-speed boat chases may last for several hours. In many cases, the fleeing vessel is fast and filled with enough fuel that the law enforcement agency can reach but not catch the fleeing vessel before it enters foreign waters or before the law enforcement watercraft runs out of fuel. Since most smugglers do not fire upon law enforcement when they run, law enforcement is precluded from using lethal means to stop the fleeing vessel.
Previous methods used to stop such fleeing vessels use ropes and/or metallic lines launched ahead of the fleeing vessel with the hope that it will travel over the extended line and pull it into the vessel's propeller. This method is limited in area of coverage and thus is often eluded by maneuverable vessels that simply steer away from the line in the water. Additionally, vessels that do travel over the line often do not get entangled in the line and continue on their way. Further, large vessels with large propellers simply shred the line, cut the line using propeller guards or line cutters, or carry the line along without any degradation in speed. Impeller jet propelled vessels are not susceptible to entanglement with such lines.
Other currently-used capture methods include the use of lines with harpoon-like devices that are fired and attached to the fleeing vessel. The opposite end of the line is secured to the pursuing vessel. This method is limited because it can only be used on fiberglass and wooden hulls and is virtually useless on a hull of substantial thickness or a hull made of steel. Additionally, this method adds an element of risk to the pursuing vessel since dynamic loads between the two vessels connected by a line can be formidable. The loads can cause hull failure, sinking of the vessel and inadvertent injuries and/or loss of life. Further, the tension in the line itself can be sufficient to break the line and send it flying with great lethal capacity toward people on either vessel.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a system that can slow and/or incapacitate a fleeing seagoing vessel.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a system that can be deployed from a pursuing vehicle to arrest a fleeing seagoing vessel.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a system that can slow and/or incapacitate a fleeing seagoing vessel and initiate activation of a non-lethal weapon against the seagoing vessel and/or its occupants.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a system for slowing and/or incapacitating a fleeing seagoing vessel without endangering personnel on a pursuing vehicle.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become more obvious hereinafter in the specification and drawings.
In accordance with the present invention, a system for arresting a fleeing seagoing vessel includes a net having a periphery. The net is deployed by one or more self-propelled vehicles from a platform. The net is flown over and draped onto a seagoing vessel of interest such that a portion of the net's periphery resides in the water. Drag devices are coupled to the net to generate drag forces at the portion of the net's periphery in the water as the seagoing vessel moves through the water. The drag forces are imparted to the net which, in turn, imparts the drag forces to the vessel and slow the speed thereof. The use of the net disperses the dynamic drag forces throughout the entirety thereof thereby limiting the potential for failure of single or multiple strength members of the net. Continuing forward motion of the vessel can ultimately cause overheating and destruction of the engines of the vessel. Still further, the net may become entangled in the propulsion system (e.g., propellers) of the vessel thereby quickly incapacitating same. A variety of non-lethal weapon systems can also be coupled to or incorporated with the net. The weapon systems are designed to subdue the crew of the vessel and/or the vessel's engine and electronic components.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4768417 (1988-09-01), Wright
patent: 5069109 (1991-12-01), Lavan, Jr.
Doyle Christopher
Garcia Felipe
Woodall Robert
Gilbert Harvey A.
Peck Donald G.
Sotelo Jesus D.
The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of
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