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 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 creates a drag force which causes the second section to pivot 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 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 creates a drag force which causes the second section to pivot 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 that creates a drag force on the second section as the underwater vehicle travels through a fluid medium; pivoting the second section away from the first section as the drag force acts on the drag fin; and jettisoning the second 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, wherein the underwater vehicle comprises a first section and second section positioned forward of the first section, and wherein the second section contains fuel for the underwater vehicle; determining that the fuel contained within the second section has been depleted; and based on the determination that the fuel contained within the second section has been depleted, causing a lock to disengage that, when engaged, couples together the first section and the 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.
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Specification