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US3786403A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Underwater acoustical detection system

Assignee: United States Department of the Navy
•
Filing: 1968-05-10
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Granted: 1974-01-15
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Expires: 1988-05-10
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Abstract

Abstract An air-launched multiple deployment depth sonobuoy having mechanical apparatus and electrical circuitry for intermittently lowering the sonobuoy to a plurality of predetermined depths. The mechanical apparatus includes a cable wrapped around a free wheeling roller which may be braked by a motor-driven, springloaded clutch while a second roller urges the cable against the free wheeling roller by means of a second spring-loaded clutch driven by the motor of the first clutch. The electrical circuitry includes a plurality of switch banks responsive to rotation of a motor shaft, a plurality of hydrostatic pressure responsive switches, a plurality of limit switches, and a plurality of relays. Time delay circuits including electrically energizable explosive squibs are also included to provide appropriate separation functions.

Inventors

  • 👤 A Will
  • 👤 S Wolf
  • 👤 W Barnum

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-05 03:17
CPC Classifications
G; G10; G10K; G10K11/00; G10K11/004; G10K11/006

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim 42 words
In an underwater acoustical detection system, the combination comprising: a multiple deployment depth sonobuoy having a submerged portion, and means operatively coupled to said sonobuoy for sequentially suspending said submerged portion of said sonobuoy at a plurality of predetermined discrete ocean depths.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 42 words
In an underwater acoustical detection system, the combination comprising: a multiple deployment depth sonobuoy having a submerged portion, and means operatively coupled to said sonobuoy for sequentially suspending said submerged portion of said sonobuoy at a plurality of predetermined discrete ocean depths.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 53 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein said suspending means comprises: a cable having one end thereof capable of being secured to a floating body, and means secured to the other end of said cable and to said submerged portion of said sonobuoy for selectively paying out a predetermined discrete length of said cable.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 32 words
The combination of claim 2 wherein said means for paying out said cable comprises: a free-wheeling roller about which said cable is wound, and means for preventing rotation of said free-wheeling roller.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 25 words
The combination of claim 3 wherein said means for preventing rotation of said free-wheeling roller comprises means for gradually preventing rotation of said free-wheeling roller.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 24 words
The combination of claim 3 wherein said means for preventing rotation of said free-wheeling roller comprises a spring-loaded clutch engageable with said free-wheeling roller.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 28 words
The combination of claim 5 wherein said means for preventing rotation of said free-wheeling roller further comprises a reversible D.C. motor by which said spring-loaded clutch is driven.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 28 words
The combination of claim 3 wherein said means for paying out said cable further comprises spring-loaded idler roller means for selectively urging said cable against said free-wheeling roller.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 33 words
The combination of claim 7 wherein said means for paying out said cable further comprises means for actuating said idler roller means in response to the prevention of rotation of said free-wheeling roller.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 39 words
The combination of claim 6 wherein said means for selectively paying out a predetermined discrete length of said cable further comprises electrical circuit means for selectively applying a voltage to said D.C. motor intermittently and alternately in opposite polarity.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 33 words
The combination of claim 9 wherein said electrical circuit means comprises: a power source, and a plurality of parallel hydrostatic pressure responsive switches serially connected between said power source and said D.C. motor.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

CA728451A Cited
US2422337A Cited
US3222634A Cited
US3275976A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1977-01-14 1977-07-16 1978-01-15 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1981-01-14 1981-07-16 1982-01-15 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1985-01-14 1985-07-16 1986-01-15 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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