Underwater vehicle inflatable housing configuration and method
US5522337A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 29, 1995 |
| Grant date | Jun 4, 1996 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 29, 2015 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF42B19/125
- WIPO fieldOther special machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
An underwater vehicle has a generally longitudinally extending housing terminating in at least one blunt end. Adjacent to and inboard of the blunt end of the longitudinally extended housing there is provided a compartment, and disposed in the compartment there is provided a folded, flexible bladder secured to a portion of the housing adjacent the blunt end and having a tapering configuration when pressurized or inflated. At or after launch of the underwater vehicle, or selectively at any other time in which it is desired to do so, an inboard mounted water pump which communicates with the interior of the bladder is operated to pressurize the bladder with regard to the surrounding ambient water, causing the tapered bladder to unfold and be extended outboard of the housing blunt end, thus streamlining the underwater vehicle.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.