60results about "Mine-sweeping" patented technology

A remote operated, underwater non-destructive ordnance recovery system, includes a powered remote controller, a floating remote controlled transceiver wired to a remote disposal unit having a hydraulic grapple, an ordnance recovery basket, and the method in which these devices are used to extract unexploded underwater ordnance. The remote disposal unit includes an electrically driven internal hydraulic pump with biodegradable hydraulic fluid in a closed loop system. A base includes variable footplates to stabilize the hydraulic grapple by remotely adjustable telescoping legs. A control head that receives signals from control cables and transfers them into hydraulic value actuation, an extendable fully rotating boom, two ballast tubes, a rotating grapple, and lighted underwater cameras on the control box and ballast tubes are also included in remote disposal unit.

A plurality of sensing modules are deployed by positioning thereof in spaced relation to each other on a seafloor surface at a shallow depth to establish a targeted seawater zone within which certain conditions are detected, such as those produced by the presence of a sea vessel such as a submarine within the targeted zone. Data signals are generated within the deployed sensing modules in response to said detection of the submarine for radio frequency transmission above the seawater targeted zone from floating transmitters ejected from the sensing modules positioned on the seafloor surface after detection of the submarine.

A mine neutralizing device that includes a buoy. The buoy includes a mine neutralizing device capable of swimming to an undersea mine to neutralize it. A method for neutralizing undersea mines includes locating an undersea mine, placing a buoy containing a mine neutralizer near the mine, and swimming the mine neutralizer to the undersea mine.

An underwater mine warfare countermeasure system is disclosed in which an air cushion vehicle carries a magnetic field generating system capable of generating a magnetic field pattern beneath the vehicle which extends sufficiently far from the vehicle in all directions to activate a magnetically responsive detonator in a mine while the vehicle is out of range of the explosive force of the mine. The magnetic field generating system generally is composed of a plurality of closed loop coils mounted on the deck of the vehicle, one coil being horizontal and in the plane of the deck, and another three being in vertical planes spaced along the length of the vehicle.

The present invention relates to a method of cutting (1) a small first orifice (1-1) in a wall (6) at the bottom of the sea and of opening/closing said first orifice, the method comprising anchoring a base (2) that includes a large second orifice (2-1) and a cutter device comprising: a said base, a deformable stopper (3) connected to said base and enabling said large second orifice to be opened or closed depending on the position of the stopper on the base, circular cutter means (4) secured to said base, and anchor means (5) secured to said base and suitable for anchoring said base reversibly on said wall (6). The present invention also provides a method of recovering a viscous fluid that is lighter than water, such as a polluting effluent, and that is contained in a tank of a sunken and/or damaged vessel resting on the sea bottom.

A dual rod apparatus for coupling and decoupling of attachment hooks to facilitate the mooring of a boat. The apparatus comprises an attachment front end which includes a hook, a hook attachment base connected onto the hook by a wedge. The hook attachment base having a pair of pull line apertures and a pair of rod channels. The apparatus includes a pair of rods, a pair of pull lines. A fixed guide provides stability for the rods and pull lines. A handle controls the apparatus. A slide is positioned between the guide and handle and opens the hook when the slide is pulled with sufficient force to overcome locking tensions placed by the hook.

A robotic amphibious mine breaching system including a hybrid chassis with deployable Mat Modules provides a detection and navigation grid with breaching mechanisms to range from underwater to edge of shore, the beach and continue inland. A computer-controlled transmitter and receiver unit integrates signals from different spatial locations establishing a grid. The surface and underwater mine counter-measure system deploys transponders and sensors to detect anomalies in the electromagnetic field caused by both magnetic and non-magnetic objects therein during underwater travel creating a cleared navigational grid establishing landing lanes for Force Protection and Maneuver Capabilities.

A method of destroying mines in a minefield buried under the surface includes deploying a munition including a plurality of kinetic energy rods each having a stabilizer into a position above the minefield and deploying the rods above the minefield to fall towards the minefield each aligned along a velocity vector to penetrate the surface and destroy the mines.

A device for destroying subsea objects comprising a first part 2 provided with propulsion means, a second part 4 which can pivot relative to the first part on an axis, so that the device can approach a subsea object from different directions, and a fairing 3 protecting the second part 4.

An appliance for lowering and tracking an underwater vessel includes a carrier arranged on an end of a holding cable; a holding device on the carrier used to receive/release the underwater vessel with a controllable holding element; and a tracking device arranged on the carrier and used for acoustically determining the position of the underwater vessel lowered into the water. As a result, a light, compact lowering appliance is provided that is suitable for handling vessels on small platforms and ensures acoustically undisturbed operation of the tracking device, which is arranged on one end of the carrier, the carrier being mounted such that it can be pivoted on the holding cable in an articulated manner in a central longitudinal region thereof. Following release of the underwater vessel from the holding element, a pivoting device pivots the carrier including the tracking device out of a lowering position, into a tracking position.

A device (10) for cutting through cables (6) is provided with a jaw (30) having a top portion (31) and a bottom portion (32) which together define a notch (35). The device (10) is provided with a first and second stationary and co-operating sharp edges (33, 34) arranged at a downstream end (35′) of the notch (35) so as to form an angle between each other. The device further includes a rotary blade (50) provided with a body (51) having a tapering side (52), the body (51) being fastened to one of the portions (31, 32) of the jaw (33) so that the tapering side (52) is arranged in the notch (35) upstream from the first and second sharp edges (33, 34).

An improved corrosion-resistant magnetic influence minesweeping cable is provided. The cable produces a magnetic field that simulates a ship's magnetic signature as the ship passes through the sea. It has an outer anode conductor made of titanium-clad copper with mixed metal oxide at its aft end, an outer cathode conductor made of nickel-clad copper at its forward end, an inner conductor made of aluminum that runs the length of the cable, and a steel core strength member that also runs the length of the cable. The outer anode conductor is in electrical contact with the inner conductor. The outer cathode conductor is insulated from the inner conductor. The outer cathode conductor and the inner conductor can be connected to an electrical power source onboard a towing vessel.

A ship has interchangeable mission modules. For example, a ship has a frame with a mission-module bay disposed therein. The bay is operable to receive a mission module having a mission-module system and an interface that facilitates the coupling between the mission-module system and the ship. As such, a plurality of different types of mission modules can be interchanged quickly and easily to provide the ship with different mission capabilities. Each mission-module is generally self-contained such that all the equipment necessary to perform the specific mission is contained within the single mission-module. Each mission-module is either a single unit or multiple units combined together to form an integrated unit. Thus, the ship is capable of transitioning from one mission to another simply by ejecting one mission module and replacing with another mission module.

A magnetic anomaly sensing system and method uses two triaxial magnetometer (TM) sensors arranged in a one-dimensional array with the sensors' magnetic sensing axes being parallel to one another. The sensors are spaced-apart from one another along one of the sensing axes by a distance D with a midpoint between the sensors along the one sensing axis being located a distance Z from a reference datum. A processor implements an iterative process to include generating scalar magnitudes of a magnetic anomaly field measured at each of the sensors where the magnetic anomaly field is associated with a magnetic object. A scalar range from the sensors to the magnetic object is generated based on the distance D, the distance Z, and the scalar magnitudes. A magnetic dipole moment of the magnetic object is generated using the scalar range and the scalar magnitudes.

A remote jettison system is provided to disconnect a mine roller from a tactical vehicle. The system enables personnel conducting mine roller operations to disengage the vehicle from the mine roller without leaving the vehicle. The remote jettison system has two assemblies: A mine roller assembly and a tactical vehicle assembly. The mine roller assembly, which is connected to the mine roller, can be remotely disconnected from the tactical vehicle assembly, which is mounted on the vehicle. The system utilizes one mechanized latch to release the mine roller assembly from the tactical vehicle assembly, allowing the force of gravity to cause them to separate.