Navigating drifter
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A variable frontal area craft, comprising:
- a propulsion assembly; and
a variable frontal area mechanism,the craft being configured to operate at least partially submerged in a liquid,the variable frontal area mechanism configured to operate in;
a first state; and
a second state,a minimum frontal area of the craft being greater in the first state than in the second state,wherein the variable frontal area mechanism comprises;
a fixed arm comprising;
a fixed crossbar;
a first fin at a first end of the fixed crossbar; and
a second fin at a second end of the fixed crossbar; and
a pivoting arm comprising;
a pivoting crossbar;
a first fin at a first end of the pivoting crossbar; and
a second fin at a second end of the pivoting crossbar,the fixed arm being rigidly secured to a central body of the craft, and the pivoting arm being configured to pivot about an axis parallel to a plane of the fins of the pivoting arm and parallel to a plane of the fins of the fixed arm, wherein the fins of the fixed arm are substantially perpendicular to the fins of the pivoting arm in the first state, and wherein the fins of the fixed arm and the fins of the pivoting arm are substantially parallel in the second state.
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Abstract
A variable frontal area craft for performing drift measurements. The craft includes a variable frontal area mechanism and a propulsion assembly, and is configured to operate at least partially submerged in a liquid. The variable frontal area mechanism is configured to operate in a first, high frontal area state and in a second, low frontal area state.
33 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A variable frontal area craft, comprising:
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a propulsion assembly; and a variable frontal area mechanism, the craft being configured to operate at least partially submerged in a liquid, the variable frontal area mechanism configured to operate in; a first state; and a second state, a minimum frontal area of the craft being greater in the first state than in the second state, wherein the variable frontal area mechanism comprises; a fixed arm comprising; a fixed crossbar; a first fin at a first end of the fixed crossbar; and a second fin at a second end of the fixed crossbar; and a pivoting arm comprising; a pivoting crossbar; a first fin at a first end of the pivoting crossbar; and a second fin at a second end of the pivoting crossbar, the fixed arm being rigidly secured to a central body of the craft, and the pivoting arm being configured to pivot about an axis parallel to a plane of the fins of the pivoting arm and parallel to a plane of the fins of the fixed arm, wherein the fins of the fixed arm are substantially perpendicular to the fins of the pivoting arm in the first state, and wherein the fins of the fixed arm and the fins of the pivoting arm are substantially parallel in the second state. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification