USA As Represented by Secretary of the Navy

Ronald E Waclawik

Jeffrey L Cipolla

Kenneth M LaPointe

Charles L Elste

George M Duarte

Robert C Thibodeau

Scott D Boyd

Louis P DiNola

James L Cayer

There is presented an assembly comprising an underwater vehicle and a comation directional control and cable interconnect means therefor. The underwater vehicle remains underwater during travel of the vehicle through water. The directional control and cable interconnect means comprise arms extendible from sides of the underwater vehicle. Each of the arms includes a multiplicity of fins in a compact array for contact with the water through which the vehicle moves, each of the fins having an uncambered, neutral lift cross-section matching hydrodynamic streamline flow thereabout at predetermined vehicle speed below the cavitation threshold.

Underwater vehicle and a combination directional control and cable

There is presented an assembly comprising an underwater vehicle and a comation directional control and cable interconnect device therefor. The underwater vehicle remains underwater during travel of the vehicle through water. The directional control and cable interconnect device comprises a single arm extendible from one side of the underwater of vehicle. The arm includes a multiplicity of fins in a compact array for contact with the water through which the vehicle moves, each of the fins having an uncambered, neutral lift cross-section matching the hydrodynamic streamline flow thereabout at predetermined vehicle speed below the cavitation threshold.

Underwater vehicle and combination directional control and cable

There is presented in combination, a water vehicle and a directional cont means therefor. The water vehicle includes at least a portion thereof which is underwater during travel of the vehicle through water. The directional control means comprises a plurality of symmetrically disposed arms extendible from sides of the underwater portion of the vehicle. The arms each include a multiplicity of fins in a compact array for contact with the water through which the vehicle portion moves, each of the fins having an uncambered, neutral lift cross-section matching the hydrodynamic streamline flow thereabout at predetermined vehicle speed below the cavitation threshold.

Water vehicle and a directional control means therefor

There is presented in combination, a water vehicle and a directional cont device therefor. The water vehicle includes at least a portion thereof which is underwater during travel of the vehicle through water. The directional control device comprises a single arm extendible from one side of the underwater portion of the vehicle. The arm includes a multiplicity of fins in a compact array for contact with the water through which the vehicle portion moves, each of the fins having an uncambered, neutral lift cross-section matching the hydrodynamic streamline flow thereabout at predetermined vehicle speed below the cavitation threshold.

Water vehicle and a directional control device therefor

An apparatus for providing a pressurized liquid to a launch tube for launng projectiles into a liquid medium. The device comprises an elastomeric bladder disposed inside a cylindrical bypass tube. The bypass tube is hollow with a sealing ring disposed on the inner surface of the tube. One end of the bypass tube is open to the liquid medium, and the other end of the tube is hydraulically connected to the launch tube. The elastomeric bladder is of generally cylindrical shape with an annular thinned portion. The open end of the bladder is hydraulically connected to a valve which controls charging of the bladder, storage of liquid within the bladder and discharge of the bladder. The bladder expands when it is filled with pressurized seawater thereby causing the thinned portion of the bladder to contact the sealing ring and seal the bypass tube to prevent the external liquid medium from communicating with the launch tube through the bypass tube. Upon vehicle launch the pressurized liquid is provided from the elastomeric bladder to the launch tube. During the bladder's discharge, the seal is broken between the thinned portion of the bladder and the bypass tube, and the liquid is allowed to flow through the bypass tube into the launch tube to prevent suction from occurring at the launch tube mouth.

Flow-through elastomeric launch system for submarines

Submarines are provided with underwater self-propelled vehicles that are nched from the submarines and guided by trailing fiber optic cables. Each underwater vehicle has a hull that is separable, and that defines a socket for mating with one end of the separable forward hull portion of another identical vehicle. The separable hull portions of one vehicle, when separated remain connected by a fiber optic line so that a homing device on this line can be used to link up with the transponder aboard the other vehicle. Wings on the latter vehicle guide the line toward a socket that accepts or mates with the end of the one vehicle hull portion.

Communication system for submarines

An apparatus for ejecting a tethered underwater device, such as a communiions instrument package, from a naval vessel such a submarine is taught. The system incorporates a relatively long hydraulically operated launch tube thereby permitting slow acceleration of the device to achieve the desired muzzle velocity resulting in a reduced acoustic pressure wave upon launch.

Undersea launcher for a tethered device

A spring force loaded contact wheel mounted in a stationary position relae to a reciprocating shaft is disclosed. The apparatus of the present invention includes a tensioning assembly for maintaining absolute contact between the contact wheel and the reciprocating shaft wherein the tensioning assembly urges the contact wheel against the shaft to maintain contact therebetween so that the wheel turns as the shaft is linearly displaced. A rotary encoding device is coupled to the wheel for translating the angular and rotational movement thereof into an electronic signal for providing linear displacement information and derivative data with respect to displacement of the shaft. Absolute friction contact and cooperative interaction between the shaft and the contact wheel is further enhanced in the preferred embodiment by advantageously selecting the type of surface finish and the amount of surface area of the contact wheel relative to the surface condition of the shaft as well as by reducing the moment of inertia of the contact wheel.

Friction drive position transducer

At the output end of a piping system, components subject to vibration and ock are isolated from components at the input end of the system. The isolation is achieved by a clamping arrangement in which a plurality of deformable isolation material components are inserted between the two ends. The system operates under a high fluid pressure and is arranged to enable the high pressure to act upon the isolation material to assist in forming a seal within the flow path.

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Fairhaven, MA, United States of America

Ronald E Waclawik