Lift bail assembly and structural member for unmanned underwater vehicle

A structural member for strengthening an external structure of an unmanned underwater vehicle, comprising:

• a backing plate, wherein the backing plate is rigidly fixed to an internal wall of the unmanned underwater vehicle;
• a top mounting bracket, wherein the top mounting bracket is rigidly fixed to the backing plate;
• a starboard bracket and a port bracket, wherein the starboard bracket and port bracket are rigidly fixed to the top mounting bracket and a top cap;
• two bottom braces, wherein the two bottom braces are located on a port side and a starboard side of the backing plate rigidly fixed to the backing plate;
• and
• two environmental anodes, wherein one environmental anode each is rigidly fixed to the starboard bracket and the port bracket;
• wherein the structural member is located internally within the unmanned underwater vehicle at one distal side or both distal sides of the unmanned underwater vehicle.

A lift attachment system for an unmanned underwater vehicle, comprising:

• a lift bail assembly, wherein the lift bail assembly includes:
• a lift bail frame, wherein the lift bail frame includes an attachment cutout to attach the lift bail frame to a lifting device and the lift bail frame extends at least half of a body length of the unmanned underwater vehicle where at least ⅔ of a weight of the unmanned underwater vehicle is directly supported below the lift bail;
• two distal lift clamps, wherein the two distal lift clamps are positioned opposite each other at each end of the lift bail frame;
• two or more proximal lift clamps, wherein the two or more proximal lift clamps are positioned anywhere on the lift bail frame between the two distal lift clamps;
• and
• two stops, wherein the two stops fit into two stop cutouts on the unmanned underwater vehicle and are centered on the lift bail frame adjacent to the attachment cutout;
• wherein the two distal lift clamps and the two or more proximal lift clamps encompass the unmanned underwater vehicle and are rigidly fixed to the lift bail frame;
• one or more structural members, wherein the one or more structural members include:
• a backing plate, wherein the backing plate is rigidly fixed to an internal wall of the unmanned underwater vehicle;
• a top mounting bracket, wherein the top mounting bracket is rigidly fixed to the backing plate;
• a starboard bracket and a port bracket, wherein the starboard bracket and port bracket are rigidly fixed to the top mounting bracket and a top cap;
• two bottom braces, wherein the two bottom braces are located on a port side and a starboard side of the backing plate rigidly fixed to the backing plate;
• and
• two environmental anodes, wherein one environmental anode each is rigidly fixed to the starboard bracket and the port bracket;
• wherein the structural member is located internally within the unmanned underwater vehicle at one distal side or both distal sides of the unmanned underwater vehicle.