USA As Represented by Secretary of the Navy

Stephen J Plunkett

Neil J Dubois

Charles H Beauchamp

Richard E Dooley

Stephen A Huyer

Benoit G Gauthier

Francis C Spicola

Dawn M Vaillancourt

An apparatus having an array plate and an isolation section joined to the perimetrical edge of the plate. The isolation section has a plurality of isolation layers and a plurality of intermediate layers alternately arranged wherein an intermediate layer is positioned between consecutive isolation layers. An innermost isolation layer is joined to the perimetrical edge of the array plate and an outermost isolation layer is adapted to be joined to a hull structure of an underwater vehicle. Each isolation layer is made from energy absorbing material and each intermediate layer is made from generally rigid material. The isolation section substantially reduces vehicle self-noise from traveling to the array plate. Interchangeable depth stop members having various geometries are used to adjust the stiffness of the isolation section so as to maximize the isolation characteristics of the isolation section at particular water depths at which the underwater vehicle operates.

Array plate apparatus having tunable isolation characteristics

A launch tube system has two concentric sleeves. An inner sleeve having holes formed therethrough defines a launch tube, and an outer sleeve surrounds the inner sleeve and is spaced apart therefrom. One or more flexible bladders are disposed between the inner outer sleeves. When filled with fluid, the flexible bladder(s) expands and extends into and through the holes and into confines of the inner sleeve to thereby form shock isolation for a projectile housed in the inner sleeve.

Launch tube system having inflatable bladder shock isolation

A launch capsule assembly having a buoyant main body for a payload of a missile or other unmanned vehicle. The main body includes a plurality of lobes contributing to its interior. The lobes project perpendicular to and away from the longitudinal axis of the main body with the interior of each projecting lobe sized to accommodate at least one projecting fin of the payload. The top of the main body removably attaches to a top cap projecting hydrodynamically from the main body. The bottom of the main body removably attaches to a bottom cap machined to have a matching cross-section to the main body of the capsule.

Multi-lobed buoyant launch capsule

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

A pressure vessel insert comprises a plate having an outboard surface and an inboard surface interconnected by outer edge surfaces, and defining an aperture extending therethrough from the outboard surface to the inboard surface. The plate is provided with a modulus of elasticity within about 30% of a first modulus of elasticity of inboard and outboard skins of a wall portion of the pressure vessel shell around an opening in which the insert is disposed, in directions through the thickness of the skins.

Insert for an opening in a composite material pressure vessel

A submarine hull has integrally defined fuel tankage tubes surrounding an ner skin, and a structural foam core in the interstitial annular space not occupied by the tubing. An outer skin completes the structure, both inner and outer skins are of composite construction.

Growing community of inventors

Middletown, RI, United States of America

Stephen J Plunkett