Claims
- 1. An apparatus for generating underwater pressure waves, comprising:a firing tube having a combustion chamber that is adapted to be submerged to allow water to enter the combustion chamber through the firing tube; means for supplying an aluminum fuel to said combustion chamber; and means for igniting the aluminum fuel within said combustion chamber, wherein the aluminum fuel mixes with the water in the combustion chamber before igniting the aluminum fuel, and wherein the aluminum fuel and water burn instead of exploding when the aluminum fuel is ignited to generate prolonged pulses of pressure through the firing tube.
- 2. An apparatus for generating underwater pressure waves, comprising:a main body; a plurality of firing tubes located within said main body, wherein each of said firing tubes has a combustion chamber that is adapted to be submerged to allow water to enter the combustion chamber through the firing tube; means for supplying an aluminum fuel to at least one of the combustion chambers; and means for igniting the aluminum fuel within the one combustion chamber, wherein the aluminum fuel mixes with the water in the combustion chamber before igniting the aluminum fuel, and wherein the aluminum fuel and water burn instead of exploding when the aluminum fuel is ignited to generate prolonged pulses of pressure through the firing tube.
- 3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said plurality of firing tubes are arranged in an array on at least one side of said main body.
- 4. A method of generating underwater pressure waves, comprising the steps of:submerging a main body having at least one firing tube with a combustion chamber to allow water to enter the combustion chamber through the firing tube in a body of water; supplying an aluminum fuel to the combustion chamber; and igniting the aluminum fuel in the combustion chambers in the presence of water, wherein the aluminum fuel mixes with the water in the combustion chamber before igniting the aluminum fuel, and wherein the aluminum fuel and water burn instead of exploding when the aluminum fuel ignited to generate prolonged pulses of pressure through the firing tube.
Parent Case Info
This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 09/511,679 filed Feb. 23, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,324,956.
US Referenced Citations (15)
Continuations (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09/511679 |
Feb 2000 |
US |
Child |
10/005540 |
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US |