METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR HULL ATTACHMENT FOR SUBMERSIBLE VEHICLES
First Claim
1. A submersible vehicle adapted to operate within a fluid medium, comprising:
- an enclosed, substantially fluid-tight hull surrounding an interior region and having an external surface including a non-planar portion, the hull further having a channel formed at least partially within the non-planar portion the channel being at least partially disposed below an upper surface of the fluid medium during operation of the submersible vehicle within the fluid medium;
a sliding member disposed within the channel and moveable along at least a portion of the channel; and
a mounting assembly attached to the sliding member and including an engagement member coupled to the sliding member, the engagement member being moveable between a first position wherein the sliding member is moveable within the channel and a second position wherein the sliding member is secured in a fixed position within the channel.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and apparatus for hull attachment for submersible vehicles are disclosed. In one embodiment, a submersible apparatus includes a hull having an elongated channel, a sliding member moveably disposed in the channel, and a mounting assembly attached to the sliding member. The mounting assembly includes an engagement member selectively engageable between a first position wherein the mounting assembly is moveable along the channel, and a second position wherein the mounting assembly is secured in a fixed position along the channel. The apparatus advantageously permits a wide variety of equipment or devices (e.g. tow point assemblies, wing assemblies, tail assemblies, propulsion units, illumination devices, imaging devices, instrumentation, sensors, etc.) to be adjustably attached to the hull, and provides improved adjustability, maintainability, integrity, reliability, and overall improved mission performance.
9 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A submersible vehicle adapted to operate within a fluid medium, comprising:
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an enclosed, substantially fluid-tight hull surrounding an interior region and having an external surface including a non-planar portion, the hull further having a channel formed at least partially within the non-planar portion the channel being at least partially disposed below an upper surface of the fluid medium during operation of the submersible vehicle within the fluid medium;
a sliding member disposed within the channel and moveable along at least a portion of the channel; and
a mounting assembly attached to the sliding member and including an engagement member coupled to the sliding member, the engagement member being moveable between a first position wherein the sliding member is moveable within the channel and a second position wherein the sliding member is secured in a fixed position within the channel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A submersible vehicle adapted to operate within a fluid medium, comprising:
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an enclosed, substantially watertight hull surrounding an interior region and having a non-planar external surface configured to form an elongated channel at least partially within the non-planar external surface, the channel being at least partially disposed below an upper surface of the fluid medium during operation of the submersible vehicle within the fluid medium;
a sliding member at least partially disposed within the channel and moveable along at least a portion of the channel, and a mounting assembly attached to the sliding member and including an engagement member coupled to the sliding member, the engagement member being selectively engageable between a first position wherein the mounting assembly is moveable along the channel, and a second position wherein the mounting assembly is secured in a fixed position along the channel. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification