USA As Represented by Secretary of the Navy

Charles H Beauchamp

William H Nedderman

Anthony V Raffa

James L Dick

Thomas J Gieseke

Christopher F Hillenbrand

William P Krol

Stephen A Huyer

Stephen J Plunkett

Benoit G Gauthier

Laurence M Dean

Fred Nussbaum

Manuel Cincotta

A system and method of use for a marine vehicle to compensate for the effects of forward velocity of the vehicle and ambient currents of a water medium on lateral thrust from a lateral tunnel in the vehicle. A thruster in the tunnel has a variable pitch propeller rotated by a motor at a maintained constant speed to produce lateral thrust of flowing water through the tunnel. A power supply provides input power to the motor, and voltage and amp meters provide signals representative of the power. A computer generates pitch control signals from the representative signals, and a pitch actuator connected to the propeller and the computer is responsive to the pitch control signals to change the blade pitch of the propeller in order to maintain the lateral thrust at a predetermined level.

Side thruster performance improvement with power optimization controller

A muzzle break for a gun comprising a baffle, a series of slots in the housing of the muzzle break in which the slots exhaust gas of a pressure wave deflected by the baffle during firing of the gun. A membrane seals the slots for underwater use and is separable by the deflected exhaust gas. Another membrane seals a sabot separation chamber of the muzzle break adjacent to the baffle and in a projectile path from the baffle. The membrane for the separation chamber is detachable by a projectile fired from the gun.

Muzzle break with gas relief membrane for an underwater gun

A mast for use on a submarine is disclosed. The shape of the mast includes a sharp leading edge. The leading edge widens to an angle greater than the maximum angle of angle of attack that the mast will experience during maneuvering. The shape produces a stagnation zone that minimizes flow separations at the bow wave and has a pressure coefficient that approaches zero such that wake signatures of the mast are reduced. The surface of the mast is roughened to be capable of producing a turbulent boundary layer of the mast further reducing wake signatures from the bow wake.

Mast wake reduction by shaping

A dynamically reconfigurable wind turbine blade assembly includes a plurality of reconfigurable blades mounted on a hub, an actuator fixed to each of the blades and adapted to effect the reconfiguration thereof, and an actuator power regulator for regulating electrical power supplied to the actuators. A control computer accepts signals indicative of current wind conditions and blade configuration, and sends commands to the actuator power regulator. Sensors measure current wind conditions and current configurations and speed of the blades. An electrical generator supplies electrical power to the assembly. Data from the sensors is fed to the control computer which commands the actuator power regulator to energize the actuators to reconfigure the blades for optimum performance under current wind conditions.

Dynamically reconfigurable wind turbine blade assembly

The present invention relates to a windmill power generation system which includes at least two variable camber blades fastened to a rotatable hub, which blades are driven by a fluid such as wind. Each of the variable camber blades has embedded shape memory alloy members. The system also includes a source of electrical power connected to the shape memory alloy members for varying the shape of the blades in response to changes in the speed of the fluid driving the blades. The power generating system further includes a power regulator connected to the electrical power source for regulating the electrical power being supplied to the shape memory alloy members and a controller for transmitting a power command signal to the power regulator. The controller preferably comprises a preprogrammed computer having an algorithm for generating the optimum blade shape for a particular wind speed or condition.

Controllable camber windmill blades

The present invention relates to an improved steering system for a water craft and an improved method of steering. The steering system includes at least two variable camber plates or rudders mounted to a hull of the water craft for imparting a steering force to the water craft. Each of the variable camber plates is preferably formed from a flexible material and has a leading edge affixed to the hull. A linkage mechanism is attached to a steering device on the water craft and causes at least one of the plates to move relative to the hull and thereby vary the camber of the at least one plate.

Side plate rudder system

The present invention having enhanced maneuverability that has hull at least partially submerged in fluid, which will ordinarily be water. The vehicle has a forward bow, a longitudinal axis extending rearwardly from said bow and opposed first and second sides. The first and second sides have respectively a first major opening and a first small opening and a second opening. A fluid-conducting tunnel extends generally transversely through the hull from the first major opening on the first side of the hull to the second major opening on the said side of the hull. There is a propeller for causing fluid to flow through the tunnel. In order to compensate for the detrimental effect on thrust (T) caused by increases in forward vehicle velocity (Vv), angular speed (N) of the propeller is increased proportionally to measured increases in axial fluid velocity (Vx).

Side thruster performance improvement with speed control

A method and system is provided that improves the maneuverability of a marine vehicle having a lateral tunnel thruster. When the marine vehicle moves at a forward speed through water, a water flow having a fluid velocity moves through the thruster. The thruster's propeller is turned at a substantially constant rate of rotation and the fluid velocity in the tunnel is measured. The pitch angle of the propeller is adjusted based on the measured fluid velocity.

Lateral tunnel thruster propeller control method and system

A baffle system for mitigating thruster wake deficit is provided in the environment of an underwater vehicle. The baffle system includes at least one baffle member initially housed within a thruster housing of the underwater vehicle and an actuating member for selectively positioning the at least one baffle member into a fluid flow over an outer surface of the underwater vehicle. The baffle members deflect the fluid flow from the thruster into surface contact with the outer surface of the underwater vehicle aft of the thruster housing on a discharge side thereof and directs the fluid flow into the thruster housing on an intake side thereof. The baffles may be as few as two and as many as four, and are selectively introduced into the fluid flow passing over the outer surface of the vehicle to direct the fluid flow accordingly.

Baffle system for mitigation of thruster wake deficit

A marine vehicle having enhanced maneuverability, which has a hull at least partially submerged in water. The vehicle has a forward bow, a longitudl axis extending rearwardly from said bow and opposed first and second sides. The first and second sides have respectively a first major opening and a first small opening and a second major opening and a second small opening. The small openings are positioned rearwardly of the first small opening. A major water conducting tunnel extending generally transversely through the hull from the first major opening on the first side of the hull to the second major opening on the said side of the hull. There is a propeller for causing water to flow through the tunnel. A small water conducting system extends between the first small opening on the first side of the hull to the second small opening on the second side of the hull. This system has a first tube that connects the first small opening with the tunnel, and a second tube, which connects the tunnel with the second small opening.

Passive system for mitigation of thruster wake deficit

An underwater vehicle sonar system has sonar sensors provided in arms to plement a nose mounted array. The arms are capable of use in an extended position to provide a large diameter sonar array offering improved image resolution in the forward direction. In the extended position the arms also are capable of acting as active hydrodynamic control surfaces. Additionally, the arms can be used in a stowed position to provide a linear array for side viewing.

Underwater vehicle sonar system with extendible array

In a fluid such as water the direction of a vessel is controlled by a fin ving at least one fixed chordwise segment and at least one cantilever mounted movable segment secured to the fixed segment by a backbone or spine spring at the neutral axis, and by differently tensioned control wires that are used to achieve camber variations under the influence of the vessel's control system. An elastomeric skin is supported on stiffeners to maintain the general fin cross section during such camber changes.

Controllable camber fin

An articulated control surface is provided for hydrodynamic control utilig a moldable control surface. The central surface is shaped by contracting and elongating wire bundles fabricated with shape-memory alloys located in an adjacent cooling chamber. The shape-memory alloys contract when heated via an applied electric current and elongate when cooled, i.e., the electric current is removed. A pair of wire bundles is anchored inside the cooling chamber. Each bundle is routed over several pulleys in such a manner that a lateral movement is produced at the actuator end of the wire. A pair of bundles act in opposition to maintain dynamic tension at the actuator end. Cooling flow to opposing wire bundles is controlled independently to enhance response time and reduce power requirements. The actuator is a post extending from the cooling chamber to the trailing edge structure of the control surface.

Growing community of inventors

Jamestown, RI, United States of America

Charles H Beauchamp