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Torpedo recovery device

  • US 4,717,092 A
  • Filed: 01/03/1986
  • Issued: 01/05/1988
  • Est. Priority Date: 10/29/1985
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A torpedo recovery unit positionable within a torpedo casing having a circular opening with an annular externally recessed lip for receiving the unit, comprising:

  • a substantially cylindrical body with an interior cavity substantially diametrically mountable within the torpedo casing, said body having an open end and a distal end closed by an end wall, said body being insertable into the circular opening in the torpedo casing with said body open end at the casing opening and attachable by a flange at said open end to the annular recessed lip of the casing opening to rigidly support the unit within the torpedo casing and to permit access to said interior body cavity, said flange being sized to provide a substantially nonprotruding exterior mounting;

    a non-rigid, gas inflatable airfoil foldable within said interior body cavity for deployment therefrom upon inflation, said airfoil having an inflation block;

    a substantially cylindrical bottle, containing pressurized gas, and positioned generally coaxial with said body and rigidly and removably attached to an exterior side of said body closed end wall, said bottle having a release valve at an end located toward said body closed end wall for release of the pressurized gas in said bottle upon depression of said release valve;

    an elongated valve member positioned generally coaxial with said body and rigidly attached thereto, said valve member having a first end portion extending through a fluid sealed aperture in said body closed end wall and projecting into said interior body cavity, said first end portion having an inflation needle insertable into said inflation block of said airfoil for inflation thereof, said valve member further having a second end portion positioned outside of said body and extending toward said gas bottle and operatively and sealably engaging said release valve when said bottle is attached to said body, said valve member having an interior gas passage extending between said second end portion and said inflation needle at said first end portion with gas flow through said passage being controlled by a solenoid operated valve, said passage to the bottle side being charged with pressurized gas from said bottle upon attachment of said bottle to said body, said solenoid valve being selectively operable to open said passage to allow flow of pressurized gas to said inflation needle for inflation of said airfoil;

    a reel positioned within said interior body cavity between said body closed end wall and said airfoil and coaxially mounted on said valve member first end portion, said reel having a tether line wrapped thereabout with one end attached to said airfoil, said reel being substantially free to play out said tether line upon deployment of said airfoil from said interior body cavity under the pulling force applied to said tether line by said airfoil when inflated;

    a fully removable lid positioned at said body open end and releasably engaging said body with a substantially flush mounting with the torpedo casing exterior, said lid being outwardly releasable under the force applied to an inward side thereof by said airfoil during inflation, said lid having a water opening to allow exterior water to freely enter said interior body cavity; and

    a selectively operable flood port valve in said body closed end wall for release of water in said interior body cavity into the interior of the torpedo casing for selective flooding of the torpedo casing.

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