Underwater vehicle module connector
AssigneeFoster-Miller, Inc.
InventorsChristopher Peter Scianna, Timothy James Przybylowicz, Joshua Thomas Bricknell
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An underwater vehicle module connector includes a first mating ring connected to a first module and including a first bulkhead sealing the first module, a first electrical connector extending outward from the first bulkhead, and a first coupling mechanism. A second mating ring is connectable to a second module and includes a second bulkhead sealing the second module, a second electrical connector extending outward from the second bulkhead, and a second coupling mechanism. The first and second couplers are configured to releasably couple the first mating ring to the second mating ring and mate the first electrical connector with the second electrical connector.
Claims22
An underwater vehicle module connector comprising:
- a first mating ring connected to a first module and including a first bulkhead sealing the first module, a first electrical connector extending outward from the first bulkhead, and a first coupling mechanism;
- a second mating ring connectable to a second module and including a second bulkhead sealing the second module, a second electrical connector extending outward from the second bulkhead, and a second coupling mechanism;
- and
- the first and second couplers configured to releasably couple the first mating ring to the second mating ring and mate the first electrical connector with the second electrical connector.
An underwater vehicle comprising:
- at least a first module sealed via a first bulkhead including an external surface with a first electrical connector;
- at least a second module sealed via a second bulkhead including an external surface with a second electrical connector;
- a first mechanical coupling mechanism on the external surface of the first bulkhead;
- a second mechanical coupling mechanism on the external surface of the second bulkhead;
- and
- the second mechanical coupling mechanism configured to releasably engage the first mechanical coupler securing the first module to the second module and configured to mate the first electrical connector with the second electrical connector.
A method of connecting two modules of an underwater vehicle, the method comprising:
- connecting a first mating ring to the first module, the first mating ring including a first bulkhead sealing the first module and a first electrical connector extending outward from the first bulkhead;
- connecting a second mating ring to a second module, the second mating ring including a second bulkhead sealing the second module and a second electrical connector extending outward from the second bulkhead;
- and
- releasably coupling the first mating ring to the second mating ring while simultaneously mating the first electrical connector with the second electrical connector.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.