Buoyant device

• US 7,666,045 B2
• Filed: 06/02/2005
• Issued: 02/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Thales Holdings UK Plc (Thales SA)
• Original Assignee: Thales Holdings UK Plc (Thales SA)
• Inventors: Nigel, Axford
• Primary Examiner(s): Olson; Lars A
• Application Number:
  US11/570,233
• Publication Number:
  US 20080132130A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,727 Days
• Field of Search: 114/244, 114/245, 114/253, 114/305, 114/254, 441/22, 367/4, 367/153, 367/173
• US Class Current: 441/22
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 22/18 having means to control attitude or position, e.g. reaction surfaces or tether
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 22/20 Ballast means
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 22/24 container type, i.e. having provision for the storage of material

Abstract

A buoyant device has a body and an elongate tail. The body carries a payload. The tail is moveable, e.g. by pivoting, between a closed and an open position. This movement changes the position of the center of mass of the device relative to the center of buoyancy. As a result the device can move through the water, with the tail in the closed position, with minimal drag. However, when the tail moves to the open position, the body pivots in the water so that the body, and hence the payload is supported in a stable manner.

Claims

1. A towed buoyant device, comprising:

a body and a tail moveable relative to the body, the body carrying a payload and the body being such that the device is buoyant,

wherein the tail arranged on the body is rotatable relative to the body between a closed, folded position and an open, unfolded position allowing the deployment of the device,

the rotation of the tail from the closed position to the open position causes a center of mass and a center of buoyancy of the device being moved away from one another, and

the distance between the two centers in the direction of the axis of elongation causes the body and the tail adopting a vertical position.

2. The device according to claim 1, comprising a pivot point about which the tail is pivotable relative to the body, said pivot point being arranged on the body so as to be closer to one end of the body than to the center of buoyancy of the device.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the body is elongate.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the tall comprises moveable ballast.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the body has a rotatable mainplane.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the comprises a tailplane and/or a tail fin.

7. The device according to claim 1, wherein the device comprises a towing attachment.

8. The device according to claim 1, wherein the payload comprises a transmitter, a receiver or a sensor, located at an end of the body in a direction opposite to which the center of mass moves when the tail unfolds relative to the body.

9. The device according to claim 1, further comprising an extendible arm carrying a further payload such that extension of the arm from a first position to a second position extends the further payload in a direction opposite to that of the direction of movement of the center of mass relative to the centre of buoyancy when the tail moves relative to the body.

10. The device according to claim 9, wherein the further payload extends beyond the end of the body in a direction opposite to that of the direction of movement of the center of mass relative to the center of buoyancy when the tail moves relative to the body.

11. The device according claim 9, wherein the arm is pivotally connected to the body.

12. The device according to claim 10, wherein the arm is pivotally connected to the body.

13. The device of claim 8, further comprising an extendible arm carrying a further payload such that extension of the arm from a first position to a second position extends the further payload in a direction opposite to that of the direction of movement of the center of mass relative to the center of buoyancy when the tail moves relative to the body.

14. The device according to claim 13, wherein the further payload extends beyond the end of the body in a direction opposite to that of the direction of movement of the center of mass relative to the center of buoyancy when the tail moves relative to the body.

15. The device according to claim 13, wherein the arm is pivotally connected to the body.

16. The device according to claim 14, wherein the arm is pivotally connected to the body.

17. The device according to claim 1, wherein the body and the tail comprise a carbon composite.

18. The device according to claim 2, wherein the body and the tail comprise a carbon composite.

19. The device according to claim 3, comprising a pivot point about which the tail is pivotable relative to the body, said pivot point being arranged on the body so as to be closer to one end of the body than to the center of buoyancy of the device.

20. The device according to claim 4, comprising a pivot point about which the tail is pivotable relative to the body, said pivot point being arranged on the body so as to be closer to one end of the body than to the center of buoyancy of the device.