Systems and methods for underwater descent rate reduction
AssigneeLockheed Martin Corporation
InventorsZachary A. Grabe, Jason B. Crawford
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Systems and methods for underwater descent rate reduction are provided. In one embodiment, a method for underwater descent rate reduction for an underwater delivery vehicle is provided. The method comprises: opening a first valve based on a first hydrostatic pressure to permit water to flow into a first chamber of a hydrostatic pressure driven piston assembly; developing a pressure differential across a piston head separating the first chamber from a second chamber of the hydrostatic pressure driven piston assembly; pushing the piston head into the second chamber to extend a piston rod from the hydrostatic pressure driven piston assembly; and pivoting a deflecting flap downward into a direction of vehicle descent as the piston rod extends.
Claims17
An underwater delivery vehicle, the vehicle comprising:
- a housing body;
- and
- a plurality of flap assemblies coupled about a perimeter of the housing body, each flap assembly including a deflecting flap pivotally coupled to the housing body and a hydrostatic pressure driven piston assembly having a cylinder member and a piston member;
- wherein the hydrostatic pressure driven piston assembly is coupled to the housing body and causes the deflecting flap to pivot downward when the piston member extends from the cylinder member;
- each of the plurality of flap assemblies further comprising a backing plate pivotally coupled to the deflecting flap by a hinge member that is mounted to the housing body;
- wherein the deflecting flap is free to independently pivot about the hinge member between the backing plate and the housing body.
A method for underwater descent rate reduction for an underwater delivery vehicle, the method comprising:
- opening a first valve based on a first hydrostatic pressure to permit water to flow into a first chamber of a hydrostatic pressure driven piston assembly;
- developing a pressure differential across a piston head separating the first chamber from a second chamber of the hydrostatic pressure driven piston assembly;
- pushing the piston head into the second chamber to extend a piston rod from the hydrostatic pressure driven piston assembly;
- pivoting a deflecting flap downward into a direction of vehicle descent as the piston rod extends;
- and
- opening a second valve based on a second hydrostatic pressure to permit water to flow into the second chamber of the hydrostatic pressure driven piston assembly, wherein the second valve operates at a greater hydrostatic pressure than the first valve.
An underwater descent rate reduction system, the system comprising:
- at least one flap assembly, the flap assembly including a deflecting flap pivotally coupled to a hinge member, a backing plate pivotally coupled to deflecting flap via the hinge member, and a hydrostatic pressure driven piston assembly having a cylinder member and a piston member;
- wherein the hydrostatic pressure driven piston assembly is coupled between a vehicle housing body and the backing plate and causes the deflecting flap to pivot about the hinge member in a downward direction with respect to the vehicle housing body when the piston member extends from the cylinder member;
- the cylinder member of the hydrostatic pressure driven piston assembly comprising a water chamber and a gas chamber separated by a movable piston head of the piston member;
- and
- the water chamber including a hydrostatic pressure operated check valve that opens to allow water to flow into the water chamber at a predetermine hydrostatic pressure, wherein a pressure differential between the gas chamber and the water chamber moves the piston head to extend the piston member from the cylinder member.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.