Marine object able to float on water, comprising a deployable device for emitting and/or receiving electromagnetic waves

• US 10,011,334 B2
• Filed: 07/30/2014
• Issued: 07/03/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Thales SA
• Original Assignee: Thales SA
• Inventors: Pascal, Jean-Marcelin
• Primary Examiner(s): Venne, Daniel V
• Application Number:
  US14/909,588
• Publication Number:
  US 20160194065A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,434 Days
• Field of Search: 441 1, 441 6, 441 11, 441 32, 441 33
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 2022/006 specially adapted for measuring or watch purposes
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 2201/20 Antenna or mast
• CPC Class Codes: B63G 2008/002 unmanned
• CPC Class Codes: B63G 2008/004 autonomously operating
• CPC Class Codes: B63G 2008/005 remotely controlled
• CPC Class Codes: B63G 8/001 Underwater vessels adapted for special purposes, e.g. unmanned underwater vessels; Equipment specially adapted therefor, e.g. docking stations self-propelled or direction controlled diving chambers with mechanical link to a base B63C11/42
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 1/3835 measuring position, e.g. by GPS or acoustically
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/04 Adaptation for subterranean or subaqueous use

Abstract

An underwater vehicle able to float on the surface of the water comprises a body delimited at least partially by a curved surface, the body defining an enclosure, the underwater vehicle comprising an arm mounted with at least one emitter or at least one receiver of electromagnetic waves, the arm being linked to the body by an articulation joint with a degree of freedom in rotation about an axis of rotation, the articulation joint allowing the arm to pivot reversibly between a retracted position, in which the arm is housed in the enclosure and is flush with the curved surface of the body, and a deployed position in which the arm extends out of the enclosure, the arm comprising a curved outer surface along the length of the arm, being flush with the curved surface of the body when the arm is in its retracted position.

Claims

1. A submersible underwater vehicle able to float on a body of water in which the submersible underwater vehicle is placed, the submersible underwater vehicle comprising:

a body delimited at least partially by a curved surface, wherein the body defines an enclosure extending into said body from said curved surface,

a deployable device comprising an arm and at least one device for emitting and/or receiving electromagnetic waves mounted on said arm,

said at least one device for emitting and/or receiving electromagnetic waves comprising at least one of the following;

at least one emitter comprising at least a wireless communication antenna, a transceiver, or a light source; and

at least one receiver comprising at least a wireless communication antenna, a transceiver, or a camera,

said arm being linked to said body by an articulation joint with a degree of freedom in rotation about an axis of rotation (xo) of the arm about the articulation joint, the articulation joint allowing the arm to pivot reversibly between a retracted position, in which the arm is housed in the enclosure and is flush with the curved surface, and a deployed position in which the arm extends out of said enclosure,

the arm comprising a first outer surface, said first outer surface being a curved surface, said first outer surface being flush with said curved surface of the body when the arm is in the retracted position, and

wherein said deployable device is not deformed between the retracted position and the deployed position, and

wherein the body defines locally, proximate the arm, a cylinder form, the axis of rotation (xo) of the arm about the articulation joint being parallel to a longitudinal axis of said cylinder form of the body.

2. The submersible underwater vehicle as claimed in claim 1, in which the arm is curved, a curvature of the arm following a curvature of said first outer surface.

3. The submersible underwater vehicle as claimed in claim 2, in which said arm extends in a plane perpendicular to said axis of rotation (xo).

4. The submersible underwater vehicle as claimed in claim 1, in which said submersible underwater vehicle is balanced such that the axis of rotation (xo) is parallel to a water plane (F) defined as parallel to a surface of the body of water in calm conditions,

the arm extending from a first end to a second end, wherein the second end of the arm is further away from the articulation joint than the first end of the arm,

said arm comprising a first part of the arm located at a maximum distance above the water plane (F) when the arm is in the deployed position, the first part of the arm being situated on the second end.

5. The submersible underwater vehicle as claimed in claim 4, in which the deployed position is defined such that, when the arm occupies the deployed position, a vertical axis (z), passing through the first part of the arm and the articulation joint, is perpendicular to the water plane (F).

6. The submersible underwater vehicle as claimed in claim 5, in which the arm comprises a second part of the arm located at a maximum distance above the water plane (F) when the arm is in the retracted position, the second part of the arm being located on the vertical axis (z).

7. The submersible underwater vehicle as claimed in claim 4, in which the body defines a cross-sectional part of the body comprising the arm, the cross-sectional part of the body being disposed in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation (xo), the cross-sectional part of the body being circumferentially delimited by a closed curve, said closed curve having a perimeter;

wherein a portion of the perimeter over which the arm extends between the articulation joint and the first part of the arm is defined, for a given position of the articulation joint relative to the body and for a predetermined angle formed between the axis of rotation (xo) and the water plane (F), as being a minimum portion of the perimeter such that, when the arm is in the deployed position, a distance separating the first part of the arm from the articulation joint along a vertical axis (z) is a maximum distance that can be obtained for said cross-sectional part of the body.

8. The submersible underwater vehicle as claimed in claim 7, in which the closed curve is a circle, and in which said portion of the perimeter is equal to half of a circumference of the circle.

9. The submersible underwater vehicle as claimed in claim 8, in which a length of the arm is greater than half of a circumference of the circle, the arm pivoting by an angle substantially equal to 180°

between the deployed position and the retracted position.

10. The submersible underwater vehicle as claimed in claim 7, in which the arm comprises a strut linking a head to the articulation joint, the head comprising the first part of the arm and delimiting a housing in which are housed the at least one device for emitting and/or receiving electromagnetic waves.

11. The submersible underwater vehicle as claimed in claim 10, in which the head comprises a support on which are mounted the at least one device for emitting and/or receiving electromagnetic waves, the support extending substantially parallel to the water plane (F), in calm sea conditions, when the arm is in the deployed position.

12. The submersible underwater vehicle as claimed in claim 11, in which the head is wider than the strut.

13. The submersible underwater vehicle as claimed in claim 4, in which the first part of the arm is included on the first outer surface of the arm, in which the first outer surface is convex at the first part of the arm.

14. The submersible underwater vehicle as claimed in claim 1, in which the cylinder form is a cylinder of revolution.

15. The submersible underwater vehicle as claimed claim 1, said submersible underwater vehicle locally having neutral buoyancy, in a cross-sectional part comprising the arm.

16. The submersible underwater vehicle as claimed in claim 1, in which, in the retracted position, the arm substantially closes an opening formed in the curved surface of the body by said enclosure.

17. The submersible underwater vehicle as claimed in claim 1, in which the first outer surface is continuous with the curved surface of the body when the arm is in the retracted position.

18. The submersible underwater vehicle as claimed in claim 1, comprising a rotary actuator, the arm being rotated about the axis of rotation (xo) by the rotary actuator housed in the body.

19. The submersible underwater vehicle as claimed in claim 1, in which the actuator is controllable.