A variable drag area tow system including a tow cable, and a variable drag area device having a variable projected area, the variable drag area device is configured to have a smaller projected area as the velocity of the variable drag area device with respect to a fluid increases. A method of mainta
A variable drag area tow system including a tow cable, and a variable drag area device having a variable projected area, the variable drag area device is configured to have a smaller projected area as the velocity of the variable drag area device with respect to a fluid increases. A method of maintaining tension on a tow cable, the method including deploying at a first velocity a variable drag area device having a variable projected area, increasing the first velocity to a second velocity, and decreasing the projected area of the variable drag area device as the first velocity is increased to the second velocity.
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1. A tow system apparatus comprising: a variable drag area device including, a support structure;a forward end and an aft end, the forward end having an attachment point for being towed in a forward directionat least one moveably attached arm connected to the support structure at a connection point,
1. A tow system apparatus comprising: a variable drag area device including, a support structure;a forward end and an aft end, the forward end having an attachment point for being towed in a forward directionat least one moveably attached arm connected to the support structure at a connection point, andan expansion mechanism adapted to exert a force on the at least one arm in a direction toward the forward end, wherein the connection point is between the forward end and the expansion mechanism,wherein the variable drag area device has a variable projected area and the variable drag area device is adapted to have a larger projected area as a relative velocity of the variable drag area device with respect to a fluid decreases. 2. The tow system apparatus of claim 1, wherein the variable drag area device is adapted to have a smaller projected area as the velocity of the variable drag area device with respect to the fluid increases. 3. The tow system apparatus of claim 1, wherein the variable drag area device comprises at least one drag fin configured to vary the projected area of the variable drag area device when the at least one moveable drag fin is moved. 4. The tow system apparatus of claim 3, wherein the at least one moveably attached arm is at least one pivotably attached arm. 5. The tow system apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one arm is connected via at least one mechanical linkage to the expansion mechanism. 6. The tow system apparatus of claim 2, wherein the expansion mechanism is adapted to resist the movement of the at least one arm when the arm is being moved from a higher projected area to a lower projected area. 7. The tow system apparatus of claim 5, wherein the expansion mechanism is at least one spring. 8. The tow system of claim 5, wherein the expansion mechanism is a compressible fluid. 9. The tow system apparatus of claim 3, wherein the at least one drag fin comprises a drag surface attached to the at least one arm. 10. The tow system apparatus of claim 3, wherein the variable drag area device includes a membrane attached to the at least one drag fin, wherein the membrane is more flexible than the at least one drag fin. 11. A method of maintaining tension on a tow cable, the method comprising: deploying at a first velocity a variable drag area device having a variable projected area;decreasing the first velocity to a second velocity; andincreasing the projected area of the variable drag area device as the first velocity is decreased to the second velocity, wherein the variable drag area devices includes,a support structure;a forward end and an aft end, the forward end having an attachment point for being towed in a forward direction,at least one moveably attached arm connected to the support structure at a connection point, andan expansion mechanism adapted to exert a force on the at least one arm in a direction toward the forward end, wherein the connection point is between the forward end and the expansion mechanism. 12. The method of claim 11, further comprising; increasing the second velocity to a third velocity;decreasing the projected area of the variable drag area device as the second velocity is increased to the third velocity. 13. The method of claim 12, wherein increasing the projected area comprises expanding or partially expanding at least one drag fin. 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the expansion mechanism is adapted to expand or partially expand the at least one drag fin. 15. The method of claim 14, wherein the expansion mechanism is at least one spring. 16. The method of claim 14, wherein the expansion mechanism is a compressible fluid. 17. The method of claim 11, further comprising: storing the variable drag area device in a variable drag area tow system storage compartment in a collapsed or partially collapsed configuration. 18. The tow system apparatus of claim 10, wherein the membrane comprises poly-urethane. 19. The tow system apparatus of claim 1, wherein the variable drag area device is adapted to have a larger projected area automatically caused by the decrease of the relative velocity and a force of the expansion mechanism. 20. The tow system apparatus of claim 2, wherein the variable drag area device is adapted to have a smaller projected area automatically caused by the increase of the relative velocity exerting a force to overcome a force of the expansion mechanism. 21. The tow system apparatus of claim 6, wherein the expansion mechanism is configured to resist the decrease in projected area as the relative velocity of the variable drag area device with respect to the fluid increases. 22. The tow system apparatus of claim 1, wherein the variable drag area device is adapted to have a continuously larger projected area as the relative velocity of the variable drag area device with respect to a fluid decreases.
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