Patents Examined by John W. Elwood
  • Patent number: 5012717
    Abstract: The invention is an air-to-subsurface missile system which has an acoustic oming torpedo and a directional sonobuoy held in the missile behind the torpedo by a cowling means which includes fins for aerodynamic stability. When the missile reaches the desired location in a body of water, the torpedo and sonobuoy are released. The sonobuoy has the ability to search for targets and to communicate both with the homing torpedo and with a tactical command station. Thus the torpedo can be guided to a target by the sonobuoy and command station, even at ranges at which the torpedo could not locate a target with its own homing system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1964
    Date of Patent: May 7, 1991
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Morton L. Metersky, James R. Howard