Releasable forward section of an underwater vehicle
First Claim
1. An underwater vehicle comprising:
- a first section detachably coupled to a second section, wherein the second section is positioned forward of the first section;
a hinge detachably coupling the first section to the second section, wherein the hinge creates a pivot between the first section and the second section;
a lock having a locked position and an unlocked position, wherein, in the locked position, the lock couples the first section and the second section together, and wherein, in the unlocked position, the second section is capable of decoupling from the first section; and
a drag fin associated with the second section, wherein the drag fin is movable to an extended position away from the second section to create a drag force which causes the second section to pivot about the hinge away from the first section when the underwater vehicle is traveling through a fluid medium.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An example underwater vehicle includes a first section detachably coupled to a second section that is positioned forward of the first section, and a hinge detachably coupling the first section to the second section, where the hinge creates a pivot between the first section and the second section. The underwater vehicle includes a lock having a locked position and an unlocked position, where, in the locked position, the lock couples the first section and the second section together, and where, in the unlocked position, the second section is capable of decoupling from the first section. The underwater vehicle also includes a drag fin associated with the second section that is movable to an extended position away from the second section to create a drag force which causes the second section to pivot about the hinge, away from the first section, when the underwater vehicle is traveling through a fluid medium.
18 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An underwater vehicle comprising:
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a first section detachably coupled to a second section, wherein the second section is positioned forward of the first section; a hinge detachably coupling the first section to the second section, wherein the hinge creates a pivot between the first section and the second section; a lock having a locked position and an unlocked position, wherein, in the locked position, the lock couples the first section and the second section together, and wherein, in the unlocked position, the second section is capable of decoupling from the first section; and a drag fin associated with the second section, wherein the drag fin is movable to an extended position away from the second section to create a drag force which causes the second section to pivot about the hinge away from the first section when the underwater vehicle is traveling through a fluid medium. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of operating an underwater vehicle comprising:
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disengaging a lock that couples together a first section and a second section of the underwater vehicle, wherein the second section is positioned forward of the first section, and wherein the second section is associated with a drag fin; moving the drag fin to an extended position away from the second section to create a drag force on the second section as the underwater vehicle travels through a fluid medium; pivoting the second section about a hinge as the drag force acts on the second section, wherein the hinge detachably couples the first section to the second section; and jettisoning the second section by pivoting the second section about the hinge beyond a release point such that the second section disengages from the first section. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon instructions that, when executed by a computing device, cause the computing device to perform functions comprising:
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causing an underwater vehicle to be propelled in a forward direction through a fluid medium; causing a lock to disengage that, when engaged, couples together a first section and a second section of the underwater vehicle, wherein the second section is positioned forward of the first section, and wherein the second section is associated with a drag fin; and causing the drag fin to move to an extended position away from the second section to create a drag force on the second section as the underwater vehicle is propelled in the forward direction through the fluid medium.
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Specification