Debris deflector
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
InventorsJohn J. Vaillancourt, Neil J. Dubois, Stacy J. Hills
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A debris deflector protects an underwater vehicle's control. surface while ntroducing little or no flow disturbance around the control surface. The deflector extends outward from the vehicle to peninsulate the control surface. The deflector's cross-section is defined by a wedge shape subtended by an arc with the apex of the wedge shape always pointing towards the control surface.
Claims20
A debris deflector for protecting a control surface that extends outward from a control surface tower, said debris deflector comprising:
- a base mounted about the control surface tower;
- and
- a bar attached to said base and extending outward from said base to peninsulate the control surface tower and the control surface, said bar having a cross-section defined by a wedge shape subtended by a curve, said wedge shape having an apex pointing towards the control surface tower and the control surface as said bar peninsulates thereabout.
A debris deflector for protecting an underwater vehicle's control surface that pivots about a shaft extending outward from the vehicle's control surface tower, said debris deflector comprising:
- a contoured base mounted in a substantially flush fit fashion to the vehicle about the control surface tower;
- and
- a shaped bar attached to said contoured base and extending outward from the vehicle, said shaped bar lying in substantially the same plane as the shaft, said shaped bar further having a cross-section defined by a wedge shape subtended by a curve, said wedge shape having an apex continually pointing towards the control surface tower and the control surface.
A debris deflector for protecting an underwater vehicle's control surface, said debris deflector comprising a bar extending outward from the vehicle to peninsulate the control surface, said bar having a cross-section defined by a wedge shape subtended by an arc, said wedge shape having an apex pointing towards the control surface as said bar peninsulates thereabout.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.