Radial depressor
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
InventorsAlbert E. Wallen, Paul L. Whitehead
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A depressing force in the form of negative lift is hydrodynamically generd on a towed underwater vehicle as a result of fluid in motion passing static fluid separated by a membrane so as to cause a negative pressure zone externally of the membrane. The external negative pressure enhances distension of the membrane into a water foil generating additional negative lift.
Claims7
A vehicle adapted to be towed in a submerged state through a body of water and to generate vehicle depressing forces as a result of apparent flow of water relative to the exterior of said vehicle, said vehicle comprising:
- an elongated hull having rigid walls defining an interior cavity, said walls being characterized by openings communicating between said cavity and the exterior of said walls;
- means for flooding said cavity with water that is substantially static relative to said vehicle;
- distensible membrane means disposed at predetermined areas of said walls and overlying said openings so as to separate said static water in said cavity from said flow of water relative to said vehicle and responsive thereto to distend into a negative pressure zone enhancing waterfoil;
- and
- said membrane means having its maximum distension confined to the lower regions of said hull, whereby the resultant of radial forces acting radially about said hull is a depressing force urging said vehicle to sound.
A vehicle adapted to be towed underwater by cable, said vehicle comprising:
- an elongated hull comprising cylindrical nose, mid, and aft sections, a first radial depressor section disposed between said nose and mid sections, and a second radial depressor section disposed between said mid and aft sections;
- said first and second radial depressor sections each comprising hull walls characterized by a plurality of openings at least in the lower regions of the circumference thereof, and an elastomeric, distensible membrane disposed on the outer side said hull walls in overlying relation to said openings and having its edge portions fixed in watertight relation to said hull;
- water intake ports, defined in said hull and communicating with said openings so as to admit substantially static water between said hull walls and each membrane of said radial depressor sections, whereby said membranes distend and present curved waterfoil surfaces in the lower regions of said depressor sections so that negative lift is effected on said depressor sections and said vehicle will sound to a towing depth limited by the length of said cable.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.