Granted Patent B1

US 7,997,220 · App. 10/856,919 · Granted Aug 16, 2011

Abstract

Claims (52)

1. A module for a marine vessel, comprising:

a tub that includes a cavity for securing a cargo therein;

a top plate that is secured to said tub and that defines a perimeter and a top surface, said perimeter adapted to define a water-tight seal with a hull of a marine vessel and said top surface defining a smooth plane having a substantial absence of steps and gaps therein; and

attachment structure for securing said top plate into an aperture of a marine vessel hull such that said top surface of said top plate and a top surface of said attachment structure are both positioned in a plane of an exterior surface of said hull,

wherein said tub is structurally separate from a marine vessel in which said tub is installed and is secured to a marine vessel in which said tub is installed only by said top plate.

2. A module according to claim 1 wherein said hull includes an aperture of a predetermined size positioned therein, and wherein said top plate perimeter is sized to be received within said aperture to define said water-tight seal between said aperture and said perimeter.

3. A module according to claim 1 wherein said smooth plane of said top surface is contiguous with a plane of an exterior surface of said hull.

4. A module according to claim 1 wherein said top surface has an absence of steps greater than 0.1 inches and an absence of gaps greater than 0.1 inches.

5. A module according to claim 1 wherein said cargo is chosen from one of a missile launcher, a periscope, a satellite deployment system, a communication system, and a vessel mounted artillery system.

6. A module according to claim 5 wherein said missile launcher comprises a number of missile tubes chosen from one missile tube, two missile tubes, three missile tubes, and four missile tubes.

7. A module according to claim 1 wherein said top plate includes an air vent and an output aperture therein, said air vent comprising a plurality of holes and said output aperture including a cover, said cover defining an exterior surface positioned in said smooth plane of said top plate.

8. A module according to claim 7 wherein said cover is manufactured of electrically conductive glass.

9. A module according to claim 1 wherein said tub includes an access door therein so as to access said cavity.

10. A module according to claim 1 wherein said top plate defines a substantially rectangular shape.

11. A module according to claim 1 wherein said top plate is manufactured of a conductive material and defines a continuous electrical conductivity path there across.

12. A module according to claim 1 wherein said module is substantially undetectable by radar when secured to a hull.

13. A marine vessel, comprising:

a hull including an aperture therein and an exterior surface that defines a plane; and

a module secured within said aperture of said hull by attachment structure, said module including a top plate that defines a plane contiguous with said plane of said hull, wherein said module is adapted for receiving a variety of cargos therein, said module including a bottom surface and a side surface such that a cargo held within said module is separated from contact with said hull by said bottom surface and said side surface and wherein said module is secured to said hull only by said top plate,

wherein said top plate of said module, a top surface of said attachment structure, and said exterior surface of said hull together define a marine vessel outer surface having an absence of horizontal discontinuities and which is substantially undetectable by radar.

14. A marine vessel according to claim 13 wherein said top plate of said module includes an aperture therein and a closure structure positioned within said aperture, said closure structure including an exterior surface that defines a plane contiguous with said plane of said hull.

15. A marine vessel according to claim 13 wherein said top plate is welded to said hull, and wherein said weld includes a top surface positioned in said plane of said hull such that said hull, said weld and said top plate define a substantially smooth exterior surface.

16. A marine vessel according to claim 13 wherein said hull has a thickness, wherein said top plate is secured to said hull in an edge region, and wherein said edge region of said top plate has a thickness substantially similar to said thickness of said hull.

17. A marine vessel according to claim 13 wherein said module defines a cavity sized to receive said variety of cargos therein.

18. A marine vessel according to claim 13 wherein said module is releasably secured within said aperture.

19. A marine vessel according to claim 13 wherein said hull and said top plate of said module are both manufactured of an electrically conductive material, and wherein said top plate is secured to said hull so as to define a continuous electrical conductivity path from said hull and through said top plate.

20. A marine vessel according to claim 19 wherein said top plate and said hull are both manufactured of aluminum.

21. A method of sealing an aperture in a marine vessel hull, comprising:

providing a hull including an aperture therein, said hull defining an exterior surface; and

securing a cover plate of a module to said hull and within said aperture such that an exterior surface of said cover plate is aligned in a single plane with said exterior surface of said hull, said module defining a walled enclosure adapted to receive a variety of cargos therein such that a cargo received within said module is structurally disconnected from said marine vessel hull,

wherein said hull and said module are each manufactured of a conductive material, and wherein said module provides a continuous electrical conductivity path from said hull and across said module continuously and without interruption along an entire perimeter of said module, and

wherein said module is secured to said hull only at said cover plate.

22. A method according to claim 21 wherein said cover plate is welded to said hull within said aperture.

23. A method according to claim 21 wherein said walled enclosure defines an interior for receiving said variety of cargos therein.

24. A marine vessel, comprising:

a hull including an aperture; and

means for containing a variety of loads therein, said means for containing defining a bottom surface, a side surface, and a top surface having a predetermined perimeter that substantially matches said aperture, said means for containing secured within said aperture such that said top surface is positioned in a plane with a top surface of said hull,

wherein said means for containing provides a continuous electrical conductivity path through said hull and across said top surface of said means for containing along an entire length of said perimeter of said means for containing,

wherein a load contained within said means for containing is out of direct contact with said hull wherein said means for containing is secured to said hull only at said top surface.

25. A marine vessel according to claim 24 wherein said means for containing comprises a tub including said top surface, said tub defining an interior cavity adapted for containing said variety of loads therein.

26. A marine vessel according to claim 24 wherein said means for containing secures at least one missile launcher therein.

27. A marine vessel according to claim 24 wherein said module is secured to said hull so as to define a water-tight seal there between.

28. A marine vessel comprising:

a marine vessel hull including an outer surface having an aperture therein and defining a plane, and an interior cavity having a predetermined size so as to receive one of a plurality of modules therein; and

a module positioned within said interior cavity and secured to said hull only by a module cover positioned within said aperture, said cover having an outer surface that includes an air vent comprising a plurality of coverless openings that are substantially undetectable by radar and wherein said cover of said module is secured by attachment structure within said aperture and in said plane such that said outer surface of said cover, an outer surface of said attachment structure, and said outer surface of said hull define a connection region having an absence of horizontal discontinuities, and

wherein said module includes a casing that physically separates an interior of said module from said marine vessel hull.

29. A marine vessel according to claim 28 wherein said module includes an exterior that substantially matches said predetermined size, and is adapted to receive a variety of cargos therein wherein said casing physically separates said cargo from contact with said marine vessel hull.

30. A marine vessel according to claim 29 wherein said module and said hull define a substantially continuous electrical conductivity path there through.

31. A marine vessel according to claim 28 wherein said marine vessel is chosen from one of a boat, a submarine, and a plane adapted for landing on water.

32. A marine vessel according to claim 13 wherein said top plate is secured to a coaming structure that is secured to said hull by a weld, and wherein said weld and said coaming structure each include a top surface positioned substantially in said plane of said hull such that said hull, said weld, said coaming structure and said top plate define a substantially smooth exterior surface.

33. A marine vessel according to claim 24 , further comprising:

a structural interface fixedly secured within said aperture of said hull, and said means for containing releasably secured within said structural interface.

Assignments (13)