USA As Represented by Secretary of the Navy

Steven K Whiteside

Robert M Lee

Bret R Thomson

Ronald Allen Skala

Paul C Wade

Tyler J Browe

Daniel T Bridge

The present invention provides a means by which an underwater plow can avoid large obstacles that otherwise would prevent the plow from executing its desired path. The underwater plow is released into the water, drops to the sea floor, orients itself, and begins to deploy the sensor array along a pre-programmed path. If the plow encounters a sea floor obstacle, the plowautomatically maneuvers to overcome the obstacle and continues deployment of the sensor array. The buoyancy shifting apparatusallows the plow to automatically maneuver. The present invention shifts the center of buoyancy of the underwater plow, thereby allowing the plow to float over obstructions.

Buoyancy shifting apparatus for underwater plow

A turbulent flow injector includes a ceramic injector body having an outer ylindrical wall with an inner surface, an inner cylindrical wall having an inner surface, an end wall at an outlet end of the body terminating the outer and inner walls so as to define an annular cavity between the inner and outer walls. The annular cavity is open at an inlet end of the body. A duct, defined by the inner surface of the inner wall, has an inlet at the inlet end of the body. A heat conductive insert is positioned within the annular cavity and has an outer surface in thermal contact with the inner surface of the outer wall. The insert has an external section extending beyond the inlet end of the body and cooling fins extending from the external section. An annular air chamber is defined between the insert and the inner wall of the body. An important feature of the invention is a protuberance mounted at the inlet end of the body and radially extending over the inlet of the duct for inducing turbulent flow in a fluid flowing through the duct.

Flow tripped injector

Growing community of inventors

San Diego, CA, United States of America

Steven K Whiteside