Underwater vehicle deceleration and positive buoyancy assembly
US7250568B1 · kind B1 · utility
8Cited by
5References
19Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 30, 2006 |
| Grant date | Jul 31, 2007 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 30, 2026 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF42B10/50
- WIPO fieldOther special machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
An assembly for vehicle deceleration and buoyancy comprises a pair of doors enclosing flotation bags inflatable for buoyant recovery of the torpedo. In operation, the doors are controllably forced open to an initial angle off a longitudinal axis of the assembly to a fully-deployed position by hydrodynamic forces of the movement of the vehicle. From the doors blocking the hydrodynamic forces, the vehicle decelerates. The hydrodynamic braking action of the doors reduces the time required to reach terminal velocity, thus reducing the depth the vehicle sinks and enabling recovery with less gas required for inflation.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.