Ships – Submersible device
Patent
1983-03-08
1984-06-26
Basinger, Sherman D.
Ships
Submersible device
114 56, 114124, 114147, 114151, 114330, 114331, 114338, 244 23C, 244 51, 416247A, 440 71, B63G 808, B63G 816, B63G 824
Patent
active
044559623
ABSTRACT:
A spherical vehicle for operation in a fluid medium utilizes an actuator disk or propeller of approximately half the diameter of the sphere for propulsion. In addition to providing the energy for driving the sphere, the actuator disk acts to draw the flow of fluid smoothly over the after part of the sphere, thus avoiding or minimizing the tendency of the flow to separate from the surface of the sphere and create turbulence. For aircraft launch, a heavy shroud protects the actuator disk propeller and assures that the vehicle will sink rapidly after impact. The shroud is jettisoned at a desired depth. Steering in pitch and yaw planes is effected through the use of a plurality of powered thrusters located at or just behind the circle of maximum diameter (with respect to the direction of motion) and selectively actuated by a guidance or control system. Alternatively a single reversible thruster may be used for steering in yaw combined with a movable internal weight for pitch control. A plurality of stub vortex generators are also located on the aft side of the sphere and are angled or controlled to oppose the torque created by the propeller or to effect other guidance functions. For stability, the center of gravity preferably is located substantially below the geometric center of the sphere. The particular embodiment shown is an electrically (battery) powered underwater vehicle, but the same general configuration also applies to a manned submarine vehicle having the usual propulsion means.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1343630 (1920-06-01), Locarni
patent: 2906227 (1959-09-01), Smith
patent: 3096739 (1963-07-01), Smith
patent: 3156207 (1964-11-01), Giles
patent: 4034696 (1977-07-01), Kureth
patent: 4377982 (1983-03-01), Gongwer
Basinger Sherman D.
Smith Robert C.
The Bendix Corporation
Thornton W. F.
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