Air-delivered monocoque submersible vehicle system

• US 6,640,739 B2
• Filed: 03/08/2001
• Issued: 11/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: United States Incorporated
• Original Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Inventors: Garcia, Felipe, Woodall, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Sotelo, Jesus D.
• Application Number:
  US09/800,844
• Publication Number:
  US 20020134294A1
• Time in Patent Office: 971 Days
• Field of Search: 114/312, 102/411
• US Class Current: 114/312
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 22/003 adapted for being launched from an aircraft or water vehicle;, e.g. with brakes deployed in the water
• 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

Abstract

An air-delivered submersible vehicle system has a monocoque-construction shell made from a fiber-reinforced plastic material selected from the group consisting of thermoplastics and thermoset plastics. The shell is equipped with a wing kit so that it can be deployed from an aircraft and fly through the air to a destination at a surface of a body of water. The shell is further equipped as a submersible vehicle so that it can be propelled through the water once it has reached its water destination.

Claims

1. An air-delivered submersible vehicle system, comprising:

a monocoque-construction shell made from a fiber reinforced plastic material selected from the group consisting of thermoplastics and thermoset plastics;

at least one door formed integrally in said shell for gaining entrance thereto;

first means coupled to said shell for guiding said shell through the air to a destination at a surface of a body of water; and

second means coupled to said shell for propelling and guiding said shell through said body of water.

2. An air-delivered submersible vehicle system as in claim 1 wherein said first means includes a wing kit coupled to said shell.

3. An air-delivered submersible vehicle system as in claim 2 wherein said wing kit is equipped for at least one of GPS navigation and inertial navigation.

4. An air-delivered submersible vehicle system as in claim 1 further comprising a plurality of strength members embedded in said shell.

5. An air-delivered submersible vehicle system as in claim 4 wherein said plurality of strength members includes strength members extending longitudinally along said shell.

6. An air-delivered submersible vehicle system as in claim 4 wherein said plurality of strength members includes strength members extending laterally about said shell.

7. An air-delivered submersible vehicle system as in claim 1 wherein said shell is at least partially transparent.

8. An air-delivered submersible vehicle system as in claim 1 wherein said shell is at least partially translucent.

9. An air-delivered submersible vehicle system as in claim 1 wherein said shell is colored.

10. An air-delivered submersible vehicle system as in claim 1 wherein a perimeter of said at least one door forms a complementary fit with said shell.

11. An air-delivered submersible vehicle system as in claim 1 wherein said second means includes a propulsion system, a navigation system, and a ballast and trim system.

12. An air-delivered submersible vehicle system, comprising:

a monocoque-construction shell made from a fiber-reinforced plastic material selected from the group consisting of thermoplastics and thermoset plastics;

a plurality of strength members embedded in said shell;

at least one door formed integrally in said shell for gaining entrance thereto;

a wing kit coupled to said shell for guiding said shell through the air to a destination above a surface of a body of water;

a drag device coupled to said shell for slowing said shell descending from said destination above the surface of said body of water to a destination at the surface of said body of water; and

means coupled to said shell for propelling and guiding said shell through said body of water.

13. An air-delivered submersible vehicle system as in claim 12 wherein said wing kit is equipped for at least one of GPS navigation and inertial navigation.

14. An air-delivered submersible vehicle system as in claim 12 wherein said plurality of strength members includes strength members extending longitudinally along said shell.

15. An air-delivered submersible vehicle system as in claim 12 wherein said plurality of strength members includes strength members extending laterally about said shell.

16. An air-delivered submersible vehicle system as in claim 12 wherein said shell is at least partially transparent.

17. An air-delivered submersible vehicle system as in claim 12 wherein said shell is at least partially translucent.

18. An air-delivered submersible vehicle system as in claim 12 wherein said shell is colored.

19. An air-delivered submersible vehicle system as in claim 12 wherein a perimeter of said at least one door forms a complementary fit with said shell.

20. An air-delivered submersible vehicle system as in claim 12 wherein said means includes a propulsion system, a navigation system, and a ballast and trim system.