# US 2019/0168853 A1 · Deep-Water Submersible System > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0168853 A1 - Document ID: US20190168853A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/829,692 - Filed: 2017-12-01 - Published: 2019-06-06 - Earliest claimed: 2017-12-01 - Assignees: Raytheon Company - Applicants: Raytheon Company - Inventors: Brian M. White - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190168853A1 ## CPC - B63B 1/14: the hulls being interconnected resiliently {or having means for actively varying hull shape or configuration (collapsible, foldable, inflatable or like vessels B63B7/00)} - 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)} - B63G 8/41: Capsules, chambers, water-tight boats or the like, detachable from the submarine - H05K 7/1404: {by edge clamping, e.g. wedges} - H05K 7/1434: {for electronics exposed to high gravitational force; Cylindrical housings} - H05K 7/20445: {the coupling element being an additional piece, e.g. thermal standoff} - B63B 2241/24: for facilitating transport, e.g. hull shape with limited dimensions - B63G 2008/004: {autonomously operating} - B63B: SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING (arrangements of vessel ventilation, heating, cooling, or air-conditioning B63J2/00; floating substructures as supports of dredgers or soil-shifting machines E02F9/06) - B63G: OFFENSIVE OR DEFENSIVE ARRANGEMENTS ON VESSELS; MINE-LAYING; MINE-SWEEPING; SUBMARINES; AIRCRAFT CARRIERS (means of attack or defence in general, e.g. turrets F41H) - H05K: PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS ## Abstract A deep-water submersible system is disclosed. The system can include a pressure vessel and an internal assembly. The internal assembly can include a housing and a wedge lock assembly coupleable to the housing. The wedge lock assembly can include a plurality of wedge members arranged along a longitudinal axis and including end wedge members at each end and one or more intermediate wedge members between the end wedge members. The wedge lock assembly can also include a displacement device along the longitudinal axis and connecting the end wedge members. The displacement device can be actuatable in one direction to move the end wedge members toward one another to displace adjacent wedge members relative to one another in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis to engage and apply a clamping force to the housing and the pressure vessel. In addition, the wedge lock assembly can include a variable gap compensation mechanism operable to exert a biasing force on the plurality of wedge members to accommodate the relative transverse movement of the adjacent wedge members and maintain the clamping force on the housing and the pressure vessel within a predetermined range as a distance between the housing and the pressure vessel varies. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A wedge lock assembly, comprising: a plurality of wedge members arranged along a longitudinal axis and including end wedge members at each end and one or more intermediate wedge members between the end wedge members; a displacement device supported along the longitudinal axis and connecting the end wedge members, the displacement device actuatable in one direction to move the end wedge members toward one another to displace adjacent wedge members relative to one another in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis to engage and apply a clamping force to two components; and a variable gap compensation mechanism operable to exert a biasing force on the plurality of wedge members to accommodate the relative transverse movement of the adjacent wedge members and maintain the clamping force on the two components by the plurality of wedge members within a predetermined range as a distance between the two components varies. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The wedge lock assembly of claim 1, wherein the displacement device comprises a screw extending along and rotatable about the longitudinal axis. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The wedge lock assembly of claim 2, wherein the variable gap compensation mechanism comprises a spring associated with the screw and configured to exert the biasing force on the wedge members. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The wedge lock assembly of claim 3, wherein the variable gap compensation mechanism comprises a spring retainer associated with the screw and the spring, such that rotation of the screw moves the spring retainer to preload the spring and apply the clamping force to the two components. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The wedge lock assembly of claim 3, wherein the spring comprises a compression spring, a Belleville washer, or a combination thereof. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The wedge lock assembly of claim 3, wherein the spring is positioned between the spring retainer and one of the end wedge members. ### Claim 7 (depends on 3) The wedge lock assembly of claim 3, further comprising a resilient bumper disposed between the spring and one of the end wedge members to accommodate a rapid transient reduction in the distance between the two components sufficient to cause full compression of the spring. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The wedge lock assembly of claim 1, further comprising at least one of a roller and a slider coupled to at least one of the wedge members to facilitate positioning the wedge lock assembly relative to at least one of the two components. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The wedge lock assembly of claim 1, wherein each end wedge member comprises a wedge surface, and each intermediate wedge member comprises wedge surfaces at opposite ends, such that the wedge surfaces of adjacent wedge members engage one another. ### Claim 10 A deep-water submersible system, comprising: a pressure vessel; and an internal assembly comprising a housing, and a wedge lock assembly coupleable to the housing, the wedge lock assembly including a plurality of wedge members arranged along a longitudinal axis and including end wedge members at each end and one or more intermediate wedge members between the end wedge members, a displacement device along the longitudinal axis and connecting the end wedge members, the displacement device actuatable in one direction to move the end wedge members toward one another to displace adjacent wedge members relative to one another in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis to engage and apply a clamping force to the housing and the pressure vessel, and a variable gap compensation mechanism operable to exert a biasing force on the plurality of wedge members to accommodate the relative transverse movement of the adjacent wedge members and maintain the clamping force on the housing and the pressure vessel within a predetermined range as a distance between the housing and the pressure vessel varies. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein the displacement device comprises a screw extending along and rotatable about the longitudinal axis. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein the variable gap compensation mechanism comprises a spring associated with the screw and configured to exert the biasing force on the wedge members. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein the variable gap compensation mechanism comprises a spring retainer associated with the screw and the spring, such that rotation of the screw moves the spring retainer to preload the spring and apply the clamping force to the housing and the pressure vessel. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein the spring comprises a compression spring, a Belleville washer, or a combination thereof. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein the spring is positioned between the spring retainer and one of the end wedge members. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, further comprising a resilient bumper disposed between the spring and one of the end wedge members to accommodate a rapid transient reduction in the distance between the housing and the pressure vessel sufficient to cause full compression of the spring. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, further comprising at least one of a roller and a slider coupled to at least one of the wedge members to facilitate positioning the wedge lock assembly relative to at least one of the housing and the pressure vessel. ### Claim 18 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein the housing comprises contact pads for interfacing with the pressure vessel. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The system of claim 18, further comprising further comprising a heat generating component supported by the housing, wherein the contact pads comprise a thermally conductive material. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The system of claim 19, wherein the thermally conductive material comprises an elastomer. ### Claim 21 A deep-water submersible system, comprising: a pressure vessel; and an internal assembly comprising a housing, and a wedge lock assembly coupleable to the housing, the wedge lock assembly including a plurality of wedge members arranged along a longitudinal axis and including end wedge members at each end and one or more intermediate wedge members between the end wedge members, a displacement device along the longitudinal axis and connecting the end wedge members, the displacement device actuatable in one direction to move the end wedge members toward one another to displace adjacent wedge members relative to one another in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis to engage and apply a clamping force to the housing and the pressure vessel, and at least one of a roller and a slider coupled to at least one of the wedge members to facilitate positioning the wedge lock assembly relative to at least one of the housing and the pressure vessel. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The system of claim 21, wherein the displacement device comprises a screw extending along and rotatable about the longitudinal axis. ### Claim 23 (depends on 21) The system of claim 21, further comprising a variable gap compensation mechanism operable to exert a biasing force on the plurality of wedge members to accommodate the relative transverse movement of the adjacent wedge members and maintain the clamping force on the housing and the pressure vessel within a predetermined range as a distance between the housing and the pressure vessel varies. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The system of claim 23, wherein the variable gap compensation mechanism comprises a spring associated with the screw and configured to exert the biasing force on the wedge members. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The system of claim 24, wherein the variable gap compensation mechanism comprises a spring retainer associated with the screw and the spring, such that rotation of the screw moves the spring retainer to preload the spring and apply the clamping force to the housing and the pressure vessel. ### Claim 26 (depends on 24) The system of claim 24, wherein the spring comprises a compression spring, a Belleville washer, or a combination thereof. ### Claim 27 (depends on 24) The system of claim 24, wherein the spring is positioned between the spring retainer and one of the end wedge members. ### Claim 28 (depends on 24) The system of claim 24, further comprising a resilient bumper disposed between the spring and one of the end wedge members to accommodate a rapid transient reduction in the distance between the housing and the pressure vessel sufficient to cause full compression of the spring. ### Claim 29 (depends on 21) The system of claim 21, wherein the housing comprises contact pads for interfacing with the pressure vessel. ### Claim 30 (depends on 29) The system of claim 29, further comprising further comprising a heat generating component supported by the housing, wherein the contact pads comprise a thermally conductive material. ### Claim 31 (depends on 30) The system of claim 30, wherein the thermally conductive material comprises an elastomer.