Did You Know...
...that the first rickshaw was invented in 1869 by an American Baptist minister, the Rev. E. Jonathan Scobie, to transport his invalid wife around the streets of Yokohama?
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7278347 | Submarine A submarine is equipped with an extending apparatus on whose free end a container (4) resistant to underwater pressure is arranged, in which an essentially recoil-free gun (5) lies. The container (4) in the submerged condition of the submarine m... | 10/09/2007 |
| 7249567 | Submarine short-range defense system Disclosed is a launch system of an affixed lower section of launch tubing and an upper section of launch tubing configured to telescope vertically from a stowed position within the hull of a submarine to a position just above the ocean surface for a launch operation... | 07/31/2007 |
| 7243609 | Telescoping buoyancy capsule The present invention relates to a capsule sized to contain a weapon for launching and to withstand depth pressures. A telescoping nose section of the capsule, normally unextended around the weapon, extends at launch along a longitudinal axis of the capsule to provi... | 07/17/2007 |
| 7159501 | Stackable in-line surface missile launch system for a modular payload bay An underwater missile launch system includes one or more missile loading modules for supporting a plurality of missiles in a stackable, in-line configuration within a pressure vessel. The missiles are arranged inside the modules, which may be stacked in groups insid... | 01/09/2007 |
| 7140289 | Stackable in-line underwater missile launch system for a modular payload bay An underwater missile launch system includes one or more missile loading modules for supporting a plurality of missiles disposed within protective capsules in a stackable, in-line configuration within a pressure vessel. The missiles are arranged inside the modules, ... | 11/28/2006 |
| 7093552 | Electrically pressurized torpedo launch system A torpedo launch system for a marine vessel includes an impulse tank connected via a straight water inlet tube to an inlet orifice in an outer casing of the vessel. A launch tube extends through the impulse tank to the outer casing, and through a pressure hull of th... | 08/22/2006 |
| 7032530 | Submarine air bag launch assembly An air bag launch assembly is disclosed which allows for modular loading onto a submarine, the launch of weapons or vehicles external to the submarine pressure hull, while also achieving greater packing density. The air bag launch assembly includes a large, watertig... | 04/25/2006 |
| 6932016 | Vortex-assisted pressure control at inlet of underwater launch system A vortex-assisted pressure control system is provided for controlling fluid flow into an inlet formed in a vehicle where such fluid flow into the inlet occurs during vehicle movement. Vortex generator(s) is (are) positioned forward of the inlet with respect to forwa... | 08/23/2005 |
| 6923105 | Gun-armed countermeasure A device for countermeasuring an underwater target is provided. The device generally comprises a module having inflatable buoyancy chambers that allow the module to hover at a desired water depth, at least one acoustic array to detect the underwater target, a propul... | 08/02/2005 |
| 6904859 | Inlet free torpedo launch system A launcher for torpedoes and underwater vehicles includes an inlet recess in fluid communication with a shutterway recess. A primary shutterway is provided both for ejection of the vehicle and for supplying fluid intake to the launcher. A pump circulates fluid from ... | 06/14/2005 |
| 6871610 | Assembly for launching bodies from an underwater platform An assembly for launching bodies from an underwater platform having a pressure hull, and an outer hull subject to free flooding. The assembly includes a module having a proximal end outboard of the pressure hull portion of the platform, a distal end disposed proxima... | 03/29/2005 |
| 6848386 | Underwater weapon system having a rotatable gun An underwater weapon system having a housing formed by first and second halves thereof sandwiched about a gun system that is rotatably mounted to and between the first and second halves. The gun system includes a gun and ammunition sealed within a waterproof housing... | 02/01/2005 |
| 6834608 | Assembly of underwater bodies and launcher therefor An assembly of underwater bodies and a launcher therefor. The assembly is adapted for mounting on a submarine outside the pressure hull. The assembly includes a launcher having a housing for enclosing an underwater body, a body support structure within the housing f... | 12/28/2004 |
| 6776079 | Asymetrically contoured elastomeric disk An elastomeric disk for use in an elastomeric ejection system in which a thickened curvature protrudes from both sides of a central plane of the disk. Integral to each curvature is an annulet which dovetails from the curvatures to a periphery of the disk. The thickn... | 08/17/2004 |
| 6701819 | Apparatus for launching an object in a fluid environment An apparatus for launching an object in a fluid environment having a tubular member with a forward muzzle end, an opposed rearward end. The object is positioned in the tubular member. Ends of the tubular member are closed by expellable members. Flood valv... | 03/09/2004 |
| 6672239 | Elastomeric launch assembly and method of launch A launch assembly having an elastomeric tube for launching a device is disclosed. To launch the device an outboard end of the tube is movable outwardly along the length of a housing by an extending device, while the inboard end of the tube is restrained b... | 01/06/2004 |
| 6600695 | Method and apparatus for retrieving an unmanned underwater vehicle A system and method is disclosed for retrieving an untethered submarine tube-retrievable UUV in which the untethered submarine tube-retrievable UUV may be retrieved through the torpedo tube of a submarine. The untethered submarine tube-retrievable UUV has... | 07/29/2003 |
| 6584924 | Apparatus for controlling pressure recovery An apparatus for controlling fluid pressure recovery includes an elongated housing having an opening at a first end thereof, an opening at a second end thereof, an inner peripheral surface, and a fluid flow passageway therethrough. The apparatus further i... | 07/01/2003 |
| 6536365 | Shock-mitigating nose for underwater vehicles A flexible nose assembly for an underwater vehicle provides increased energy-absorbing capabilities and facilitates recovery and handling of the vehicle. The flexible nose assembly includes a flexible nose cap, at least one retrieval device, and at least ... | 03/25/2003 |
| 6532886 | Multi-functional cellular surface for underwater vehicles A system of sensors and weapons in the form of individual cells forming a multi-functional cellular skin is provided to cover the outer surface of an underwater vehicle. The cells are engineered to have specific functional capabilities, e.g., acoustic sen... | 03/18/2003 |
| 6502527 | Submarine torpedo tube underwater vehicle recovery system A system for recovering submerged devices uses two recovery tubes of an underwater recovery vehicle. A recovery member is disposed within a first recovery tube. A second recovery tube receives the submerged device. To recover the submerged device, the rec... | 01/07/2003 |
| 6382123 | Multicaliber torpedo tube The invention relates in particular, to a torpedo tube having supporting devices able to support the torpedo and limit its friction when launched, such as slides. These supporting devices may be variable-geometry devices able to assume at least two positi... | 05/07/2002 |
| 6376762 | Small vehicle launch platform A launch platform for a host vehicle. There is a cradle having a cylindrical shape with peripheral axial recesses formed therein and arranged around the cradle. A release mechanism is positioned within the cradle. The release mechanism releasably joins sm... | 04/23/2002 |
| 6330866 | Missile support and alignment assembly A missile support and alignment assembly for use on a moving vehicle having a fixed missile launch tube mounted thereon. The assembly comprises a missile support assembly including (i) a loading tray for supporting a missile, (ii) a storage structure for ... | 12/18/2001 |
| 6305263 | Appended pod underwater gun mount An appended pod underwater gun mount for a submersible host vessel includes a strut member having a base end fixed to an outer hull of the submersible host vessel and a distal end protruding outwardly from the host vessel, the distal end being angled with... | 10/23/2001 |
| 6164179 | Submarine deployable vertical launch spar buoy The present invention relates to a system and a method for launching an anautical vehicle from a submerged platform such as a submarine. The system includes a buoy configured to be deployed from a launching tube onboard the submerged platform, which buoy... | 12/26/2000 |
| 6112667 | Underwater mine placement system A mine placement system is provided for determining mine launch parameters ased on launcher vehicle position, speed, and direction and on latitude. The system includes an input module for receiving launcher vehicle position, speed, and direction having a s... | 09/05/2000 |
| 6016453 | Method for the collection and replay of submarine operational data A method for recording operational data relating to submarine operations is provided including means for playing back the recorded data thereby proing a near real time playback and analysis for the submarine's crew and/or shore based facilities.... | 01/18/2000 |
| 5979354 | Submarine A submarine has a forward pressure hull, an aft pressure hull, and a third pressure hull vessel which is connectable to each of the forward and the aft pressure hulls, wherein the submarine is provided with an array of tubes suitable for launching missile... | 11/09/1999 |
| 5964175 | Conformal detachable platform array The invention provides a system for attaching one or more unmanned, hydroamically shaped, autonomous, undersea platforms to the bow of a submarine. An array of depressions, each matching the shape of the platforms, is provided in the bow of the submarine... | 10/12/1999 |
| 5890449 | Torpedo tube test plug A combination torpedo tube test plug and muzzle door for a torpedo tube iudes a circumferential land formed at an extreme muzzle end of the torpedo tube. The circumferential land has an inner peripheral diameter less than an inner peripheral diameter of ... | 04/06/1999 |
| 5834674 | Device for ejecting a weapon from a submegible launch tube and method A device for ejecting a weapon from a submergible launch tube includes a nt door and a rear door. The device has an inner tube inside the launch tube and shaped to receive a weapon. The device also has holder elements for holding the inner tube in the la... | 11/10/1998 |
| 5809927 | Device for controlling pivoting elements The invention relates to a device for controlling the kinematics of pivoting elements designed to open substantially simultaneously to allow a clear passage of a weapon in a weapon launch tube equipped with a weapon launch circuit via an air distributor o... | 09/22/1998 |
| 5786545 | Unmanned undersea vehicle with keel-mounted payload deployment system An unmanned undersea vehicle system comprises a remote-controlled, unmanned ndersea vehicle and a mother vehicle interconnected by a communication link. The unmanned undersea vehicle includes a weapon compartment and a control element. Within the weapon co... | 07/28/1998 |
| 5675116 | Unmanned undersea vehicle including keel-mounted payload deployment arrangement with payload compartment flooding arrangement to maintain axi-symmetrical mass distribution An unmanned undersea vehicle system comprises an axi-symmetrical cylindrily-shaped self-propelled undersea deployment vehicle of predetermined diameter, the undersea deployment vehicle having an amidships undersea weapon compartment. The weapon compartme... | 10/07/1997 |
| 5666900 | Method and apparatus for deploying an expendable autonomous underwater vehicle from a submarine An expendable autonomous underwater vehicle is deployed from a trash disposal unit of a submarine into a body of water. The vehicle and one or more launch-aiding components are inserted into the trash disposal in an arrangement that results in safe and re... | 09/16/1997 |
| 5615847 | Submarine launched unmanned aerial vehicle A submarine launched unmanned aerial vehicle comprises an elongated genery cylindrically-shaped body. Tail fins are stored in the body and are self-deployable to extend outwardly from the body. A booster motor is fixed to an aft end of the body and is se... | 04/01/1997 |
| 5477803 | Torpedo tube and slide valve grates A grate for a torpedo tube flow slot consists of a rigid metal frame and a ire chain link structure extending across the interior area of the frame. The chain link structure significantly reduces the surface area of the grate and permits greater flow throu... | 12/26/1995 |
| 5462003 | Minimum displacement submarine arrangement A submarine arrangement comprising a double hull construction forward having a wasp waist section minimizes ship displacement and permits storage of weapons in the wasp waist section.... | 10/31/1995 |
| 5448962 | Torpedo tube slide valve A torpedo tube and slide valve assembly includes a torpedo tube having a rality of circumferentially spaced slots therein and an impulse tank surrounding the torpedo tube wherein the slots provide a flow path between the impulse tank and the interior of ... | 09/12/1995 |
