USA As Represented by Secretary of the Navy

John J Vaillancourt

Daniel W French

Theodore C Gagliardi

Steven L Camara

David Michael Nugent

Neil J Dubois

Paul M Dunn

Richard R Shell

Robert N Carpenter

James E Mulherin

Stacy J Hills

Rolf G Lueck

Edward R Levine

Thomas W Hedly, Jr

The present invention relates to a system for collecting ocean turbulence data without interference from the hydrodynamic effects of the vehicle. The ocean turbulence data collection system comprises an underwater vehicle, such as an unmanned underwater vehicle, at least one sensor for collecting the ocean turbulence data, and a stinger arrangement mounted to the nose portion of the vehicle for positioning the at least one sensor sufficiently forward of the nose portion of the vehicle to avoid interference from the hydrodynamic effects of the vehicle. The collection system is also provided with at least one accelerometer for compensating for motion not induced by turbulence.

Rigid sting extension for ocean turbulence measurement from an unmanned underwater vehicle

A bottom activated retractable control device includes a fin member having a front edge, a trailing edge opposite to the front edge, a bottom edge between the front edge and the trailing edge, and an arm portion extending from and coextensive with the leading edge and away from the bottom edge. The arm portion includes a pivot pin extending in a perpendicular direction from each side of the arm portion. A pivot housing having an aperture is provided for receiving the pivot pin of the arm portion, the housing enabling both a vertical pivot of the fin member upon contact of the fin with, an object and axial rotation of the fin about the arm portion of the fin member. A well is formed in the bottom surface of an underwater vehicle corresponds in depth to a fully retracted position of the fin member and in width to any rotated position of the fin member. A spring member is joined between the pivot housing and the pivot pin, the spring member normally biasing the fin member away from the vehicle, the fin member pivoting into as much as an entirety of the well in response to a force against the control fin.

Bottom activated retractable control surface for an unmanned undersea vehicle

An antenna extension system for extending an antenna from an underwater vehicle. The system comprises a housing disposed wholly within the vehicle and a plurality of telescopically connected tiers extendible from a base tier disposed within the housing, an innermost of the tiers being adapted to support the antenna. A cable extends from a base portion of the housing and is fixed at a distal end to the antenna. A plurality of telescopically connected fairings are extendible from the housing and are disposed around the tiers and the cable. A cap is fixed to a distal end of a distalmost of the fairings for enclosing the antenna. Extension of the telescopically connected tiers from the base tier moves the antenna from wholly inside the housing to a position extending outwardly from the vehicle, and extends the cable and fairings with the tiers.

Antenna extension system

A launch platform for a host vehicle. There is a cradle having a cylindrical shape with peripheral axial recesses formed therein and arranged around the cradle. A release mechanism is positioned within the cradle. The release mechanism releasably joins small cylindrical undersea vehicles positioned in said peripheral axial recesses.

Small vehicle launch platform

A system for equalizing buoyancy of a submersible vehicle. The buoyancy elization system includes a submersible vehicle having a plurality of releasable objects. Ballast release means are positioned on the submersible vehicle, and a plurality of ballast vessels are joined to said submersible vehicle by the ballast release means. One ballast vessel is released upon release of one of said releasable objects in order to equalize buoyancy.

Submersible underwater vehicle ballast equalization system

An underwater testing platform assembly includes first and second rails for disposition in part in a body of water, each of the rails having facility for connection to a surface vessel. The rails are disposed vertically, parallel to each other. A cage comprising a network of struts is mounted on the rails. A skid is mounted on, and is movable in, the cage, and can receive and retain an apparatus to be tested. First and second travelers are fixed to the cage and are movably mounted, respectively, on the rails, such that the cage is vertically movable on the rails. Instrumentation is mounted on the cage. A transmission line is connected at a first end to the instrumentation and extends to the surface vessel. A receiver on the surface vessel has a second end of the transmission line connected thereto and receives data signals from the instrumentation.

Underwater depolyable testing platform

An aligning and lifting device is disclosed. The invention may be for use th an underwater cage including a top portion and a bottom portion. The aligning and lifting device includes a male member having a support surface fixed to the top portion of the cage, an integrally formed wedge shaped portion depending from the support surface for lateral alignment capabilities, and an alignment pin projecting from the distal end of the depending wedge shaped portion for facilitating vertical alignment. The device also has a female member that includes integrally formed side walls and complementary support surfaces opposed to the support surface of the male member, thereby defining a complementary wedge shaped opening for receiving the depending wedge portion of the male member. An alignment pin hole is formed at the base of said complementary wedge shaped opening for receiving the alignment pin of the depending wedge. The male member is aligned with the female member in a vertical direction by insertion of the alignment pin into the alignment pin hole and in a lateral direction by mating of the male wedge with the complementary shaped female opening.

Alignment lifting fixture

A ballast weight system for releasably attaching a ballast weight to an urwater vehicle is disclosed where the system comprises a ballast weight, a housing disposed about the ballast weight, a fairing connected to the ballast weight to facilitate a flush connection of the ballast weight to the underwater vehicle, and a bolt coupler where one end of the bolt receives a lanyard pin therethrough and the second end connects a spring loaded bolt connected to the ballast weight. A linear actuator is connected to the lanyard pin. The lanyard pin placed through the bolt maintains the spring loaded bolt in spring compression such that when the pin is removed, the spring compression propels the ballast weight away from the housing.

Ballast system for underwater vehicle

A debris deflector protects an underwater vehicle's control. surface while ntroducing little or no flow disturbance around the control surface. The deflector extends outward from the vehicle to peninsulate the control surface. The deflector's cross-section is defined by a wedge shape subtended by an arc with the apex of the wedge shape always pointing towards the control surface.

Debris deflector

An induced flow underwater vehicle motor cooling jacket adaptable to an urwater vehicle motor is provided. The cooling jacket has a self-priming inlet incorporated into the afterbody motor shell section which ingests seawater during either vehicle movement through the water or operation of the vehicle motor. The motor cooling jacket has a coiled tubing assembly, forming a heat exchanger with a variable tube cross-section, wrapped tightly around the motor. One end of the tubing is attached to the self-priming inlet and the coolant discharge nozzle at the opposite end of the tubing exhausts to the region immediately ahead of the vehicle propeller. Solder is applied between each coil to maintain strength and the tightly wrapped configuration of the cooling jacket.

Growing community of inventors

Tiverton, RI, United States of America

John J Vaillancourt