Arcuate-winged submersible vehicles
US6276294A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 19, 1999 |
| Grant date | Aug 21, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 19, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB63C11/49
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
Arcuate-winged submersible vehicles having improved hydrodynamic stability and maneuverability for use in, for example, underwater payload delivery and data acquisition. In one embodiment, a submersible vehicle includes a body having a pair of outwardly projecting at least partially arcuate wings, an adjustably positionable wing steering flap hingeably attached to each wing, at least one wing flap actuator coupled to the hull and to the wing steering flaps to controllably adjust the position of the wing steering flaps, an adjustably positionable hingeable tail steering flap attached to the hull, and at least one tail flap actuator coupled to the hull and to the tail steering flap to controllably adjust the position of the tail steering flap. The arcuate wings provide improved stability and maneuverability characteristics of the vehicle. In alternate embodiments, a vehicle may include arcuate wings having a swept leading edge or a swept trailing edge, or both. In another embodiment, a vehicle has a tow assembly attached to the hull and coupleable with a tow cable for towing the vehicle behind a surface vessel or for launching and recovery of the vehicle. In yet another embodiment, a…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.