USA As Represented by Secretary of the Navy

Danny L Smith

Robert L Peebles

William R Walton

Robert P Gibson

Jack R O'Rourke

Edward Hendrickson

Sauer Brian

A hydrostatic force/displacement measuring device measures the force and displacement exerted by a rotating tire in soil/aggregate. The measuring device has a hydrostatic actuation assembly having a pressure plate at near surface depths of soil/aggregate to provide hydrostatic pressures in a liquid representative of force and displacement created by the downward forces exerted by a rotating tire in the soil/aggregate at the near surface depths. A hydrostatic hose transmits the hydrostatic pressure forces in the liquid to a surface manifold assembly. The surface manifold assembly receives the hydrostatic pressure forces and has a gauge providing visual readouts of the hydrostatic pressure forces representative of the downward forces. The surface manifold assembly also has an axially displaceable piston defining an interface chamber. The piston is connected to an electronic sensor to provide visual readouts representative of displacements caused by the downward force.

Hydrostatic force/displacement measuring device

A system operable by a single workman safely launches and recovers an unmanned undersea vehicle (UUV) using a motor-driven carriage to transport the UUV to the water. The UUV is fitted to a reconfigurable sabot. An elevating ramp on the carriage supports the sabot and UUV on an elongate conveyer assembly having inclined rollers aligned with motor-driven belts to selectively outwardly and inwardly displace the UUV between the carriage and the water. Hinge members are used to rotatably connect the elevating ramp to the carriage, and a lifting mechanism connected to the carriage and ramp rotatably displaces the ramp about the hinge members. The rollers and belts displace the UUV on the conveyer assembly. A winch on the elevating ramp has a line connected to the UUV to lower and raise the UUV during launch and recovery operations.

Launch and recovery system for unmanned undersea vehicles

Growing community of inventors

Panama City, FL, United States of America

Danny L Smith