대표
청구항
▼
1. An extensible torpedo, comprising: a body;a cavity being disposed within the body;an amount of a water reactive material being in communication with the cavity, wherein the water reactive material reacts violently with water to produce gas and heat; anda mechanism being in communication with the cavity and configured for introducing a volume of water into the cavity, wherein the introduced volume of water and the amount of water reactive material are stoichiometrically balanced to extend a length of the body. 2. The extensible torpedo of claim 1, wher...
1. An extensible torpedo, comprising: a body;a cavity being disposed within the body;an amount of a water reactive material being in communication with the cavity, wherein the water reactive material reacts violently with water to produce gas and heat; anda mechanism being in communication with the cavity and configured for introducing a volume of water into the cavity, wherein the introduced volume of water and the amount of water reactive material are stoichiometrically balanced to extend a length of the body. 2. The extensible torpedo of claim 1, wherein the mechanism configured to introduce a volume of water into the cavity comprises an opening through the body, and a conduit in communication with the opening and with the cavity. 3. The extensible torpedo of claim 2, wherein the body comprises a nose section and a tail section opposite the nose section, and wherein the opening is disposed in the nose section and faces a direction of travel of the torpedo. 4. The extensible torpedo of claim 2, wherein the body comprises a nose section and a tail section opposite the nose section, and wherein the opening is disposed along the body between the nose section and the tail section, and the opening faces perpendicular to a direction of travel of the torpedo. 5. The extensible torpedo of claim 2, wherein the mechanism further comprises a pump in communication with the conduit between the opening and the cavity. 6. The extensible torpedo of claim 1, wherein the mechanism is further configured to extend the length of the body from a first length to a second length, and wherein the second length is longer than the first length. 7. The extensible torpedo of claim 6, wherein the cavity comprises a first volume when the body comprises a first length and a second volume when the body comprises a second length, and wherein the cavity expands from the first volume to the second volume when the body extends from the first length to the second length. 8. The extensible torpedo of claim 6, wherein the mechanism is further configured to extend the body from the first length to the second length and to introduce the volume of water into the cavity simultaneously. 9. The extensible torpedo of claim 6, wherein the mechanism is further configured to extend a length of the body from a first length to a second length, wherein the second length is longer than the first length,wherein the body comprises a first portion, a second portion movably engaged with the first portion,wherein the mechanism further comprises a rod, which comprises a first end attached to the first portion, a second end opposite the first end, and helical threads extending along the rod from the second end,wherein the body further comprises a threaded socket attached to the second portion, the helical threads of the rod engaged in the threaded socket,wherein a motor is in communication with the rod and configured to rotate the rod, andwherein rotation of the rod by the motor advance the rod through the threaded socket and moves the first portion relative to the second portion. 10. The extensible torpedo of claim 6, wherein the mechanism is further configured to extend a length of the body from a first length to a second length, wherein the second length is longer than the first length,wherein the body comprises a first portion, and a second portion movably engaged with the first portion,wherein the second portion comprises a shaft, which extends into the second portion,wherein the first portion extends into the shaft, to define a pocket within the shaft between the first and second portions,wherein the mechanism further comprises an amount of an explosive charge disposed in the pocket, and an igniting mechanism in communication with the explosive charge, andwherein detonation of the explosive charge by the igniting mechanism advances the first portion through the shaft and moves the body from the first length to the second length. 11. The extensible torpedo of claim 6, wherein the mechanism is further configured to extend a length of the body from a first length to a second length, wherein the second length is longer than the first length,wherein the body comprises a first portion, and a second portion movably engaged with the first portion,wherein the mechanism further comprises an expandable bellows chamber in communication with the first and second portions, the cavity disposed within the expandable bellows chamber, an opening through the body, a conduit in communication with the opening and the expandable bellows chamber, and a pump in communication with the conduit, andwherein the pump is configured to transfer water from an ambient environment of the torpedo into the expandable bellows chamber, in order to expand the expandable bellows chamber and move the cavity from the first volume to the second volume and the body from the first length to the second length. 12. The extensible torpedo of claim 6, wherein the mechanism is further configured to extend a length of the body from a first length to a second length, wherein the second length is longer than the first length,wherein the body comprises a first portion, and a second portion movably engaged with the first portion,wherein the mechanism further comprises an expandable bellows chamber in communication with the first and second portions, the cavity disposed within the expandable bellows chamber, an opening through the body, a conduit in communication with the opening and the expandable bellows chamber, and a pump in communication with the conduit,wherein the pump is configured to transfer water from an ambient environment of the torpedo into the expandable bellows chamber, in order to expand the expandable bellows chamber and move the cavity from the first volume to the second volume and the body from the first length to the second length,andwherein the pump is disposed within the expandable bellows chamber. 13. The extensible torpedo of claim 1, wherein the water reactive material comprises at least one of an alkali metal, an alkali metal hydride, an alkali metal nitride, calcium carbide, phosphorus pentoxide, a non-metal halide, an inorganic acid halide, an anhydrous metal halide, an organic acid halide, an anhydride of a low molecular weight, a metal hydride, and a non-metal hydride. 14. An extensible torpedo, comprising: a body comprising a first length, and a second length, wherein the second length is longer than the first length;a cavity being disposed within the body, wherein the cavity comprises a first volume when the body comprises the first length, and a second volume when the body comprises the second length;an amount of a water reactive material being in communication with the cavity, wherein the water reactive material reacts violently with water to produce gas and heat; anda mechanism being in communication with the cavity and configured to introduce a volume of water into the cavity equal to the second volume and to extend the body from the first length to the second length simultaneously, wherein the introduced volume of water and the amount of water reactive material are stoichiometrically balanced. 15. The extensible torpedo of claim 14, wherein the mechanism comprises an opening through the body, and a conduit in communication with the opening and with the cavity. 16. The extensible torpedo of claim 15, wherein the body comprises a nose section, and a tail section opposite the nose section, and wherein the opening is disposed in the nose section and faces a direction of travel of the torpedo. 17. The extensible torpedo of claim 15, wherein the body comprises a nose section, and a tail section opposite the nose section, wherein the opening is disposed along a length of the body between the nose section and the tail section, andwherein the opening faces perpendicular to a direction of travel of the torpedo. 18. The extensible torpedo of claim 15, wherein the mechanism further comprises a pump in communication with the conduit between the opening and the cavity.
