초록 ▼

A wake absorber, wherein an aquatic vehicle with a propulsor mounted on the vehicle and operative to propel the vehicle through a water medium, has a wake absorber mounted on the vehicle aft of the propulsor. The wake absorber includes an artificial muscle surface adapted to be impinged upon by a wa

A wake absorber, wherein an aquatic vehicle with a propulsor mounted on the vehicle and operative to propel the vehicle through a water medium, has a wake absorber mounted on the vehicle aft of the propulsor. The wake absorber includes an artificial muscle surface adapted to be impinged upon by a wake created by the propulsor. The wake absorber further includes electrodes mounted on the artificial muscle surface. Pressure of the wake upon the muscle surface exercises a bending force on the surface, which creates energy that is recovered by the electrodes as electrical power that can be digitized. Energy removed from the muscle surface by the electrodes weakens the wake and renders the wake less pronounced visually and acoustically.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An apparatus for absorbing a wake created by an aquatic vehicle having a propulsor mounted on said aquatic vehicle comprising:an artificial muscle surface mounted on said aquatic vehicle aft of said propulsor, adapted to be impinged upon by a wake created by said propulsor; andat least one electr

1. An apparatus for absorbing a wake created by an aquatic vehicle having a propulsor mounted on said aquatic vehicle comprising:an artificial muscle surface mounted on said aquatic vehicle aft of said propulsor, adapted to be impinged upon by a wake created by said propulsor; andat least one electrode mounted on said artificial muscle surface wherein pressure of the wake upon said artificial muscle surface exercises a bending force on said artificial surface, which bending force creates energy that is recoverable by said at least one electrode as electrical power.2. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said artificial muscle surface is made of an electro-active polymeric material.3. The apparatus in accordance with claim 2 wherein electrodes are exposed to the electro-active polymeric material.4. The apparatus in accordance with claim 3 further comprising:at least one power source joined to said at least one electrode wherein said at least one electrode is provided with insulated electrical leads placing said at least one electrode in communication with said at least one power source; andat least one monitoring means joined to said at least one electrode wherein said at least one electrode is provided with insulated electrical leads placing said at least one electrode in communication with said at least one monitoring means.5. The apparatus in accordance with claim 4 wherein said at least one electrode is responsive to signals from the at least one power source to move said artificial muscle surface to modify the wake and thereby modify a tonal output of said propulsor.6. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said artificial muscle surface is disposed on inside wall portions of a cylindrically shaped first tube.7. The apparatus in accordance with claim 6 wherein:at least a second cylindrically shaped tube is disposed concentrically of said first tube; andan artificial muscle surface is disposed on said second tube.8. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1 further comprising:power means for directing an electrical signal to said at least one electrode to cause said muscle surface to deflect the wake so as to alter flow of the wake and thereby modify tonal signals of the propulsor.9. The apparatus in accordance with claim 8 wherein said at least one electrode is provided with insulated electrical leads placing said at least one electrode in communication with said power means.10. The apparatus in accordance with claim 9 wherein said at least one electrode is responsive to signals from said power means to move said muscle surface to modify the wake and thereby modify tonal output of said propulsor.11. An aquatic vehicle in combination with a wake modifier, the combination comprising:an aquatic vehicle;a propulsor mounted on said aquatic vehicle producing tonal signals and operative to propel said aquatic vehicle through a water medium;a wake modifier mounted on said aquatic vehicle aft of said propulsor, said wake modifier comprising an artificial muscle surface adapted to be impinged upon by a wake created by said propulsor, said wake modifier further comprising a plurality of electrodes mounted on said artificial muscle surface wherein pressure of the wake upon said artificial muscle surface exercises a bending force on said artificial muscle surface, which bending force creates energy which is recovered by said plurality of electrodes as electrical power, energy removed from said artificial muscle surface by said plurality of electrodes weakening the wake and rendering the wake less pronounced visually and acoustically; anda power source in communication with said plurality of electrodes wherein a signal selectively transmitted from said power source to said plurality of electrodes operates to cause said artificial muscle surface to deflect so as to alter flow of the wake and thereby modify tonal signals of said propulsor.12. The combination in accordance with claim 11 wherein:said artificial muscle surface is of an electro-active polymeric material; andsaid plurality of electrodes are exposed to the electro-active polymeric material.13. The combination in accordance with claim 12 wherein said plurality of electrodes are provided with insulated electrical leads placing said plurality of electrodes in communication with said power source.14. A wake detector comprising:an artificial muscle surface of an electro-active polymeric material, the surface being adapted to be impinged upon by a wake created by a propulsor of an aquatic vehicle; anda plurality of electrodes mounted on said artificial muscle surface and in contact therewith;wherein pressure exerted by a wake upon said artificial muscle surface exercises a bending force on said artificial muscle surface, which bending force creates energy that is recovered by said plurality of electrodes as electrical power and transmitted across insulated electrical leads to a monitor.15. The wake detector in accordance with claim 14 wherein the electrical power transmitted across insulated electrical leads to a monitor comprises digitized electrical signals representative of a segment of the wake.16. The wake detector in accordance with claim 14 wherein the monitor is provided with a wake identification facility, such that the wake detector is provided with a wake signature identification capability.