High-speed supercavitating underwater vehicle
US6739266B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 15, 2003 |
| Grant date | May 25, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 15, 2023 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF42B17/00
- WIPO fieldOther special machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A high-speed supercavitating underwater vehicle includes an elongated hull of circular cross section, the hull having a cavitator at a forward end thereof and means for ventilating gas to form a cavity around the hull in underwater travel. An expandable annular skirt is fixed on the hull and is provided with an outer surface proximate an outer surface of the hull. The skirt is expandable to increase a diameter of the skirt from proximate a diameter of the hull to proximate a diameter of the cavity to define an annular gas film between the expanded skirt and a boundary of the cavity. The expanded skirt acts to substantially reduce the flow of gas from a forward high pressure zone of gas to an after low pressure zone of gas.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.