Linear cutting assembly, linear cutting system, and net penetrating method
AssigneeAdaptive Methods, Inc.
InventorsJames Wiggins, Walter Allensworth, Conrad Zeglin, Chris Norkoski
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The problem of penetrating through nets and other objects is solved by cutting the object using a linear cutting assembly having a linear cutter arm that moves in an arc and pivots about an attachment point. The object is cut by a severing action caused by a moveable blade of the linear cutting arm moving back and forth across a stationary blade of the linear cutter arm. An underwater vehicle modified to incorporate an embodiment of the linear cutting assembly can cut a sufficiently large opening in the object to allow the vehicle to pass through.
Claims33
A cutting apparatus for an underwater vehicle comprising a housing structure attached at a forward end of the underwater vehicle, the housing structure containing a cutting unit wherein the cutting unit comprises an elongated opening on a surface of the housing structure to enable a cutter arm to rotate out of the housing structure in a forward arc, and wherein the cutter arm comprises a first blade configured to rotate about a drive shaft and a second blade parallel to the first blade and capable of moving linearly back and forth across the first blade, the first and second blades having substantially the same length and a plurality of reciprocating teeth;
- and the cutting unit further comprises an assembly for moving the second blade linearly back and forth across the first blade and for rotating the cutter arm in a forward arc about the drive shaft, wherein the cutter arm is able to rotate at least 225 degrees about the drive shaft.
A cutting apparatus for an underwater vehicle comprising a housing structure attached at a forward end of the underwater vehicle, the housing structure containing a cutting unit wherein the cutting unit comprises an elongated opening on a surface of the housing structure to enable a cutter arm to rotate out of the housing structure in a forward arc, and wherein the cutter arm comprises a first blade configured to rotate about a drive shaft and a second blade parallel to the first blade and capable of moving linearly back and forth across the first blade, the first and second blades having substantially the same length and a plurality of reciprocating teeth;
- and the cutting unit further comprises an assembly for moving the second blade linearly back and forth across the first blade and for rotating the cutter arm in a forward arc about the drive shaft, wherein the assembly for moving the second blade linearly back and forth across the first blade and for rotating the cutter arm comprise gears, a motor and a clutch assembly.
A cutting apparatus for an underwater vehicle comprising a housing structure attached at a forward end of the underwater vehicle, the housing structure containing a cutting unit wherein the cutting unit comprises an elongated opening on a surface of the housing structure, a cutter arm configured to rotate out of and/or into the housing structure in a forward and/or backward arc through the elongated opening, respectively, and a motor configured to operate a cutting motion of the cutter arm and rotate the cutter arm out of and/or into the housing structure.
A cutting apparatus for an underwater vehicle comprising a housing structure attached at a forward end of the underwater vehicle, and an unmanned underwater vehicle outer hull, wherein the housing structure of the cutting apparatus is attached to an outside of the outer hull, the housing structure containing a cutting unit wherein the cutting unit comprises an elongated opening on a surface of the housing structure to enable a cutter arm to rotate out of the housing structure in a forward arc, the cutting apparatus further comprising an outer hull front face having plural cutter guides spaced apart for keeping an object from contacting the front face of the vehicle.
A cutting apparatus for an underwater vehicle comprising a housing structure attached at a forward end of the underwater vehicle, and an unmanned underwater vehicle outer hull, wherein the housing structure of the cutting apparatus is attached to an outside of the outer hull, the housing structure containing a cutting unit wherein the cutting unit comprises an elongated opening on a surface of the housing structure to enable a cutter arm to rotate out of the housing structure in a forward arc, the cutting apparatus further comprising a control processor executing control software for controlling the assembly for moving the second blade linearly back and forth across the first blade and for rotating the cutter arm.
A method of penetrating an object by an underwater vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing an underwater vehicle having a housing structure attached to an outer hull of the underwater vehicle at a forward end thereof, the housing structure containing a cutting unit comprising an elongated opening on a surface of the housing structure, a cutter arm configured to rotate out of and/or into the housing structure in a forward and/or backward arc through the elongated opening, respectively, the cutter arm having a first blade configured to rotate about a drive shaft and a second blade in contact with and parallel to the first blade, and a motor configured to operate a cutting motion of the cutter arm and rotate the cutter arm out of and/or into the housing structure, deploying the linear cutting assembly such that the cutter arm rotates from an initial position within the housing structure in a forward arc and the second blade moves linearly back and forth across the first blade;
- cutting the object as the cutter arm contacts the object, the first and second blades having reciprocating teeth that cause a shearing action when the second blade moves linearly back and forth across the first blade;
- and retracting the cutter arm to the initial position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.