Reconfigurable attack and reconnaissance vessel II

A reconfigurable marine vessel is disclosed. The marine vessel includes an upper hull, two propulsion hulls, and two struts for coupling the propulsion hulls to the upper hull. The struts are segmented and are capable of reconfiguring the marine vessel. The upper hull includes a mission module for carrying mission specific payloads. A mission bay is disposed in at least one of the propulsion hulls. The mission bay is used to carry fuel, swimmer gear, weapons, etc. Each propulsion hull also includes wheel assembies.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to high-speed attack and reconnaissance vessels.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

When maneuvering in restricted conditions, moored, or at anchor, Navy vessels are particularly vulnerable to attack from a group of small, fast boats. Due to their size, speed, and maneuverability, these small boats can attack and then run and hide from larger navy vessels. To make matters worse, the hostiles will often be operating in their own waters where they will typically enjoy a significant numerical advantage and superior knowledge of the waterways. This type of attack, which is referred to as a “small-boat-swarm,” is the tactic of choice for terrorists.

Small-boat-swarm is best countered by similarly-sized, stealthy, fast, heavily-armed craft. An appropriately outfitted Zodiac-type raft has been used for this service. But even highly-trained navy personnel have a limited capability to withstand the repeated shock to their bodies that occurs when traveling in such craft at high speed in moderately high sea states.

Another type of craft that could be used for this type of engagement is an attack helicopter. The primary attributes of the attack helicopter include its tactical agility (e.g., speed, horizon masking, and engagement geometry), assortment of weaponry, and its ability to engage multiple targets. Its primary limitations are its signatures (e.g., radar, infrared, visual and audible) and a sortie time that is limited to only about two hours.

There is a need, therefore, for a vessel that is fast, maneuverable, and suitably equipped to engage and counter a small-boat-swarm or reconnoiter undetected in littoral waters.

SUMMARY

The present invention provides a relatively small, stable, low-signature, fast, heavily-armed marine vessel that can sortie from a larger ship and conduct surface warfare functions in shallow littoral environments.

A marine vessel in accordance with the illustrative embodiment of the present invention includes an upper hull, two lower hulls that contain propulsion units, and articulating struts that couple the lower hulls to the upper hull. The articulating struts enable the marine vessel to reconfigure, even while its underway.

In addition to its ability to reconfigure, the marine vessel incorporates other features that, like its ability to reconfigure, are unique among naval vessels and provide it with a significant tactical advantage in military engagements.

One of these features is a removable mission module. The mission module is intended to carry mission-specific payloads. Such payloads are not used for most missions and, as such, are not part of the core systems of the marine vessel. Examples of mission-specific payloads include, without limitation, certain types of weapons, specialized sensors, expendables, and even personnel.

The mission module resides in a mission-module bay, which is disposed toward the aft end of the upper hull. The mission module is inserted into and removed from the bay through an opening at the stern of marine vessel. This process can be performed, for example, while the marine vessel is aboard a mother ship (using a crane, etc.).

The use of the mission module enables a single marine vessel to conduct many different types of missions. In other words, there is no need to provide multiple marine vessels, each outfitted differently, to support different missions.

In the illustrative embodiment, when the mission module is disposed in the mission-module bay, the exterior of the mission module forms a portion of the upper hull of the marine vessel. The mission module is configured with standard mechanical, electrical, and data interfaces that couple to appropriate interfaces within the upper hull.

Marine vessel100includes four additional mission bays. Two such bays are disposed near the bow of each of the lower hulls. These lower mission bays can be used to transport various mission payloads, such as extra fuel, underwater sensors, swimmer equipment, sonobuoys, and underwater weapons such as torpedos or mine countermeasures.

Another useful feature of a marine vessel in accordance with the illustrative embodiment of the invention is the inclusion of four sets of wheels, two of which sets are housed in each of the lower hulls. The wheels enable the marine vessel to move about the operations decks of its mother ship without additional handling equipment. When the marine vessel is in its launch/recovery configuration, the wheels deploy from the lower hulls. When the articulated struts are unfolded for operation, the wheels retract. The wheels are driven, so that the vessel can move under its own power.

On board the mother ship, it is normally necessary to move small vessels laterally to clear the vessel-recovery area. But there is often little room to maneuver. In accordance with the illustrative embodiment, the wheels of the marine vessel are capable of rotating 90 degrees so that the vessel can move laterally rather than having to “turn.”

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The illustrative embodiment of the present invention provides a reconfigurable marine vessel. In the illustrative embodiment, the marine vessel is manned. There are, however, alternative embodiments in which the marine vessel is unmanned. The unmanned vessel, which is not depicted herein, has substantially the same form as the manned vessel and includes, with the exception of a manned cockpit, the same features as the manned vessel. The unmanned vessel, which can be smaller than the manned version, is typically operated by a remote, airborne operator (in a helicopter, etc.).

The Ability to Reconfigure

A key feature of the illustrative marine vessel is its ability to reconfigure. This feature is described in detail in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/119,187 entitled “Reconfigurable Attack and Reconnaissance Vessel I,” which is incorporated by reference herein. To provide context for the features of the marine vessel that are disclosed herein, a brief summary of its ability to reconfigure is provided below.

A marine vessel in accordance with the illustrative embodiment of the invention is capable of reconfiguring into any of three primary configurations, as depicted inFIGS. 1A through 1C. The three primary configurations are: a cruise-and-surveillance configuration (FIG. 1A), a minimum-draft configuration (FIG. 1B), and a launch-and-recovery configuration (FIG. 1C).

As depicted in the bow-end views ofFIGS. 1A through 1C, marine vessel100includes upper hull102, lower hulls104, and struts106. The struts are segmented into lower segment108and upper segment110by joints or hinges. Hinge109movably couples lower segment108to upper segment110and hinge111movably couples upper segment110to upper hull102.

The three primary configurations of marine vessel100are obtained by changing the position of the segments with respect to one another, with respect to upper hull102, or both. It is to be understood that, within their range of motion, the segments of strut106are substantially infinitely positionable so that are variety of other configurations are possible as well.

FIG. 1Adepicts vessel100in a cruise-and-surveillance configuration. In this configuration, lower strut108and upper strut110are co-linear and are fully extended below and slightly outward of upper hull102. Of the three primary configurations, the cruise-and-surveillance configuration provides the maximum distance between the lower hulls and the upper hull. This distance is sufficient to enable operation in significant sea states and enables marine vessel100to be operated as a SWATH.

FIG. 1Bdepicts marine vessel100in the minimum-draft configuration. In this configuration, lower strut108and upper strut110extend substantially laterally from upper hull102and the bottom surface of lower hulls104and bottom surface of upper hull102are substantially co-planar. A substantial portion of lower hulls104are above the water line and a substantial portion of upper hull102is below the water line. This configuration, which has a draft of only about 0.9 meters, enables marine vessel100to approach a beach, etc., to deploy or extract personnel, among other activities.

FIG. 1Cdepicts marine vessel100in the launch-and-recovery configuration. In this configuration, lower strut108and upper strut110are folded so that they are substantially parallel to one another. In the launch-and-recovery configuration, the manned version of marine vessel100has a width of about 3.7 meters and a height of about 3.7 meters, which is about ⅔ the height and ⅔ the width of marine vessel100as when the struts are fully extended. In this configuration, marine vessel100occupies its minimum storage volume, which is less than about 50 percent of the storage volume as when the struts are fully extended. This enables the vessel to reduce its size sufficiently to be launched, recovered and housed aboard a mother ship.

Some additional important features of marine vessel100are now described in detail.

Mission Module—Upper Hull

FIGS. 2A and 2Bdepict side views andFIGS. 3A and 3Bdepicts stern-end views of marine vessel100in accordance with the illustrative embodiment of the present invention.FIGS. 2A and 3Adepict marine vessel100sans mission module226. That is, the mission module is not in mission-module bay222.FIGS. 2B and 3Bdepicts marine vessel100with mission module226in the mission-module bay.FIG. 4depicts an embodiment of mission module226.

The mission module is intended to carry mission-specific payloads. Such payloads are not used for most missions and, as such, are not part of the core systems of the marine vessel. Examples of mission-specific payloads include, without limitation, certain types of weapons, specialized sensors, expendables, and even personnel.

As depicted inFIGS. 2A and 2B, mission-module bay222is disposed toward the aft end of upper hull102. In the illustrative embodiment, when mission module226is disposed in mission-module bay222, the exterior of the mission module serves as a portion of upper hull102of marine vessel100.

Mission module226is configured with standard mechanical, electrical, and data interfaces (not depicted), which couple to appropriate interfaces within upper hull102. In the illustrative embodiment that is depicted inFIG. 4, mission module226includes rear hatch328, top hatch(es)430, side hatch(es)432, bottom hatch434, and front hatch436.

Rear hatch328provides access to the interior of mission module226from the exterior of the marine vessel100. Top hatch430and side hatch432are used to deploy sensors, weapons, etc. from mission module326. Bottom hatch434is used to deploy systems such as towed sonar bodies and dipping sonar. To that end, bottom hatch434interfaces to a matching opening on the floor of mission-module bay222.

Front hatch436provides access to a region (not depicted) that is behind and/or underneath cockpit208. Seal438, which is disposed around front hatch436, seals mission module226to marine vessel100at this region. By virtue of this arrangement, a water-tight seal is simply and efficiently created between mission module226and marine vessel100. In some embodiments, mission module226does not incorporate front hatch436. Depending upon the layout of the region behind cockpit208, seal438might or might not be required. That is, if there is a solid wall (e.g., bulkhead, etc.) behind the cockpit, such that the forward section of upper hull102is sealed off from the aft section, then seal438is not required. In fact, in such embodiments, marine vessel100can operate without mission module226in mission-module bay222

In some embodiments, mission module226is inserted into and removed from mission-module bay222through opening324at the stern of marine vessel100. The insertion and removal process can be performed, for example, with a crane while marine vessel100is aboard its mother ship.

FIGS. 5 through 7depict mission module226outfitted for various missions.FIG. 5, which depicts an stern-end view of mission module226, shows the mission module configured to carry personnel. As depicted inFIG. 5, mission module226includes seats540and personnel542. Having a nominal width of about 2.1 meters and a nominal length of about 2.1 meters, mission module226can accommodate six seats540, disposed in a 3×2 arrangement.

FIG. 6depicts mission module226outfitted with auxiliary manned weapons644. The weapons are deployed through side hatches432. Personnel can man the weapons through top hatches430and the side hatches.

FIG. 7depicts mission module226outfitted for intelligence gathering/monitoring. For this application, mission module226includes sensor control station746, sensor processing electronics748, extendable sensor mast750, and sensors752, which depend from the extendable mast.

FIGS. 5-7provide a few illustrative configurations an outfitted mission module226. That is, these Figures depict some ways in which mission module226can be outfitted to support specific operations. Those skilled in the art, after reading this specification, will be able to configure mission module226as appropriate to support any of a variety of specific operations.

Referring now toFIGS. 8 through 11, marine vessel100includes two additional mission bays850in each of lower hulls104. These mission modules are disposed at the bow of each lower hull104. The mission bays can be used to transport various mission payloads, such as extra fuel, underwater sensors, swimmer equipment, sonobuoys, and underwater weapons such as torpedos or mine countermeasures.

As depicted inFIG. 8, which shows a top, sectional view of one of lower hulls104, one mission module850is disposed on each side of (each) lower hull104. In the illustrative embodiment of marine vessel, mission module850is disposed in the upper half of the bow end of lower hulls104, as depicted inFIG. 9.

As indicated above, it is anticipated that one tactical package for the lower mission bay is a torpedo. Since space is limited, the torpedo tube that contains the torpedo will not be substantially longer than the torpedo. Without some accommodation, if the torpedo is fired, marine vessel100will be light and tend to rise.

To address this problem, void regions that surround the torpedo tube are arranged to rapidly fill with water when a torpedo is fired. The total volume of water that is held by these voids regions and the torpedo tube (after the torpedo fires), equals the weight of the torpedo.

Wheel Assemblies

Referring again toFIGS. 8 and 9, to enable vessel100to move about the operations deck of its mother ship without additional handling equipment, each lower hull102houses two wheel assemblies860. One wheel assembly860is disposed underneath mission bays850and the other is located aft on the other side of the engine and fuel tanks.

When vessel100is in its launch/recovery configuration, wheel assemblies860deploy. When struts106are unfolded for operation (e.g., cruise-and-surveillance configuration, minimum-draft configuration, etc.), wheel assemblies860retract into lower hulls104. The wheels are driven, such that vessel100can move under its own power. Marine vessel100can be controlled (e.g., steered) by coupling a joy stick to interface electronics (i.e., wheel control electronics) located underneath a panel in one of lower hulls104.

Once on board the mother ship, it is normally necessary to move small vessels laterally to clear the recovery area. But there is often little room to maneuver. In accordance with the illustrative embodiment, the wheels of marine vessel100are capable of rotating 90 degrees so that the vessel can move laterally rather than having to “turn.”FIG. 12depicts recovery area1370of a mother ship and depicts marine vessel100moving laterally in accordance with the illustrative embodiment of the invention.

Marine vessel100moves from position1atop launch/recovery ramp1372to position2in recovery area1370. Vessel100must be moved away from position2to permit other vessels to enter or leave recovery1372. As a consequence, vessel100is moved directly ahead to position3A, laterally to4, and then back to5. Alternatively, vessel100is moved laterally to position3B. In either case, the ability to move laterally greatly simplifies maneuvering in recovery area1370.

FIGS. 13A-13Cdepict top views of one of wheel assemblies860andFIGS. 14A-14Cdepict corresponding side views of the one wheel assembly860.

FIGS. 13A and 14Adepict wheel assembly860retracted within lower hull104.FIGS. 13B and 14Bdepict wheel assembly860deployed and aligned with the long axis of lower hull104. When wheel assembly860is oriented as inFIGS. 13B and 14B, marine vessel100is capable of moving forward or backward (e.g., to position3A from position2or to position5from position4, as shown inFIG. 12.

FIGS. 13C and 14Cdepict wheel assembly860deployed and rotated 90 degrees relative to the long axis of lower hull104. The orientation of wheel assembly860that is depicted inFIGS. 13C and 14Cenable marine vessel100to move laterally, as to position3B from position2or as to position4from position3A.

In the illustrative embodiment, a simple piston (1462) and hinge (1464,1466) arrangement is used to facilitate retraction and deployment of wheel assembly860. Motor1468is used to rotate the wheels.

It is understood that the various embodiments shown in the Figures are illustrative, and are not necessarily drawn to scale. Reference throughout the specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” or “some embodiments” means that a particular feature, structure, material, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment(s) is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention, but not necessarily all embodiments. Furthermore, it is to be understood that the above-described embodiments are merely illustrative of the present invention and that many variations of the above-described embodiments can be devised by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention. It is therefore intended that such variations be included within the scope of the following claims and their equivalents.