Techniques are disclosed for providing retractable control fins on an underwater vehicle. The retractable control fins can be extended away from a main hull portion of the underwater vehicle and retracted inwards to a stowage region within the hull portion to protect the fins from damage and reduce an overall outer diameter (e.g., in the case of a cylindrical body) of the underwater vehicle. In some embodiments, the control fins are folded inwards to reduce the vehicle diameter. In other embodiments, the control fins are pulled inwards using a rotating structure designed to slide the control fins through an opening and into an inner portion of the hull to reduce the vehicle diameter. The retraction of the fins through the various retraction mechanisms reduces the envelope diameter of the underwater vehicle.


    Access

    Download


    Export, share and cite



    Title :

    Retractable control fins for underwater vehicles



    Publication date :

    2023-03-07


    Type of media :

    Patent


    Type of material :

    Electronic Resource


    Language :

    English


    Classification :

    IPC:    B63G OFFENSIVE OR DEFENSIVE ARRANGEMENTS ON VESSELS , Angriffs- oder Verteidigungsanordnungen auf Schiffen



    RETRACTABLE CONTROL FINS FOR UNDERWATER VEHICLES

    VAN VALKENBURGH CHRISTOPHER G / JORGENSON RICHARD N / SHAPIRO GARY M | European Patent Office | 2022

    Free access

    RETRACTABLE SOLAR ARRAYS FOR UNMANNED UNDERWATER VEHICLES

    KEPLER MATTHEW F / ALLEN JERROD S / COBB III JOHN C et al. | European Patent Office | 2023

    Free access

    RETRACTABLE SOLAR ARRAYS FOR UNMANNED UNDERWATER VEHICLES

    KEPLER MATTHEW / ALLEN JERROD / SMITH JEFFREY et al. | European Patent Office | 2023

    Free access

    METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR VIV SUPPRESSION UTILIZING RETRACTABLE FINS

    SHI SHAN | European Patent Office | 2019

    Free access

    Methods and systems for VIV suppression utilizing retractable fins

    SHI SHAN | European Patent Office | 2021

    Free access