US 4,505,442 A · Transient surface contact vehicle

Abstract

A transient surface contact vehicle for transporting a load from a surface starting point to a surface end point has a structure for carrying the load from the starting point to the end point. A vehicle support extends from the structure. A buoyancy control device mounted in the structure is coupled to the vehicle support for selectively making the support buoyant and non-buoyant whereby when the support is buoyant it abuts the surface of a body of water thereby supporting the vehicle at a predetermined distance above the surface of the body of water. An acquisition sensor mounted on the structure initiates water surface operations. A sensor is mounted on the structure and cooperates with the acquisition sensor to energize upon tracking of the target and to move the vehicle along the water surface to impact with the target at the end point. A position control mounted on the vehicle produces a negative pitching moment to maintain the structure in surface-following contact with the body of water.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A transient surface contact vehicle for transporting a load from a surface starting point to a surface end point, said vehicle comprising

a structure for carrying said load from said starting point to said end point;
vehicle support means extending from said structure;
buoyancy control means mounted on said structure and coupled to said vehicle support means for selectively making said support means buoyant and non-buoyant whereby when said support means are buoyant said support means abut the surface of a body of water thereby supporting said vehicle at a predetermined distance above said surface of said body of water;
acquisition sensing means mounted on said structure for initiating water surface operations;
sensing means mounted on said structure and cooperating with said acquisition sensing means to sense and track a target in said water at said end point upon initiation of water surface operations;
power means mounted on said structure and cooperating with said sensing means to energize upon tracking of said target and to move said vehicle along said water surface at said predetermined distance above said surface to impact with said target at said end point;
and
position control means mounted on said structure for producing a negative pitching moment to maintain said structure in surface-following contact with said body of water.

5 more elements

A combination aircraft transient surface contact vehicle for transporting a load from a surface starting point to a surface end point, said vehicle comprising

an aerodynamic structure carrying said load from said surface starting point to a first intermediate point of the surface of a body of water by air;
programmable navigation means mounted on said structure for directing said vehicle from said starting point to said first intermediate point via a flight path preset in said navigation means;
flight power means mounted on said structure for powering said vehicle for flight in a cruise path between said points programmed in said navigation means;
position control means mounted on said structure and cooperating with said navigation means at a preset point in said cruise path thereby permitting said vehicle to glide to a preset altitude above the water surface at said intermediate point whereby said vehicle settles onto said water surface from said altitude;
vehicle support means retracted during flight and extending from said structure prior to settling onto said water surface;
buoyancy control means mounted on said structure and coupled to said vehicle support means for selectively making said support means buoyant and non-buoyant whereby when said support means are buoyant said support means abut said water surface thereby supporting said vehicle at a predetermined distance above said surface of said body of water;
acquisition sensing means mounted on said structure for initiating water surface operations;
sensing means mounted on said structure and cooperating with said acquisition sensing means to sense and track a target in said water at said end point upon initiation of water surface operations;
and
surface power means mounted on said structure and cooperating with said sensing means to energize upon tracking of said target and to move said vehicle along said water surface at said predetermined distance above said water surface to impact with said target at said end point.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Transient surface contact vehicle

Life of this patent

Transient surface contact vehicle

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20