The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 21, 2013
Filed:
Dec. 29, 2011
James Wiggins, Thurmont, MD (US);
Walter Allensworth, Poolesville, MD (US);
Kevin Kieffer, Germantown, MD (US);
Peter Owen, Monrovia, MD (US);
Conrad Zeglin, Rockville, MD (US);
James Wiggins, Thurmont, MD (US);
Walter Allensworth, Poolesville, MD (US);
Kevin Kieffer, Germantown, MD (US);
Peter Owen, Monrovia, MD (US);
Conrad Zeglin, Rockville, MD (US);
Adaptive Methods, Inc., Rockville, MD (US);
Abstract
The problem of providing a submerged vehicle with above-the-surface communications to a nearby vessel, shore platform, or satellite while traveling at operating speed is solved by an efficiently deployable tethered tow body having a hydrodynamic and buoyant hull body and incorporating a lift-generating wing that provides hydrodynamic lift to efficiently lift the tow body containing antennas and other communications devices to the surface. The tow body allows for stable operation during underwater tow, surface tow, and transitions between underwater tow and surface tow. Disclosed embodiments include communications apparatuses encompassing the principles of the tethered tow body, as well as various underwater systems that incorporate a tethered tow body or communications apparatus for establishing communications with a nearby vessel, shore platform, or satellite.