Patent · US Active

Variable drag area tow system and methods

US9573664B2 · kind B2 · utility

0Cited by

3References

22Claims

0Family size

Assignee

Adaptive Methods, Inc. · US

Inventors

Jim Wiggins · Thurmont, US
Conrad Zeglin · Rockville, US
Walter Allensworth · Poolesville, US

Key dates

Filing date	Jul 29, 2013
Grant date	Feb 21, 2017
Priority date	—
Expiry date	Jul 27, 2034

Classification

Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
CPC primaryB64D3/02
WIPO fieldTransport
WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A variable drag area tow system including a tow cable, and a variable drag area device having a variable projected area, the variable drag area device is configured to have a smaller projected area as the velocity of the variable drag area device with respect to a fluid increases. A method of maintaining tension on a tow cable, the method including deploying at a first velocity a variable drag area device having a variable projected area, increasing the first velocity to a second velocity, and decreasing the projected area of the variable drag area device as the first velocity is increased to the second velocity.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.