A communication buoy launched from an underwater craft or installation comprising remote radio communications in a surface module and acoustic communications in a submergible module, wherein the entire hermetically sealed buoy ascends to the surface after launch under its own positive buoyancy, deploys flotation means at the surface, then separates the modules wherein the submergible module partially floods, becomes negatively buoyant and descends to a predetermined depth on an umbilical communication cable that connects the modules together. The sonobuoy may be launched from a submarine with its centre of mass above its centre of buoyancy so that it rights itself after launch until the centre of mass is below the centre of buoyancy during ascent. A control means may trigger deployment of a flotation bag with an antenna after a predetermined time. The module separation may occur after a second predetermined time or once a GPS fix is achieved using the antenna. A drogue, spool, and cable damping may prevent the modules uncoupling after the submergible module descends. A ring transducer may be used for transmitting and receiving acoustic communications.
COMMUNICATION BUOY AND METHOD OF DEPLOYMENT
KOMMUNIKATIONSBOJE UND EINSATZVERFAHREN DAFÜR
BOUÉE DE COMMUNICATION ET PROCÉDÉ DE DÉPLOIEMENT
2019-06-26
Patent
Electronic Resource
English
IPC: | B63B Schiffe oder sonstige Wasserfahrzeuge , SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS |