초록 ▼

A submersible vessel having wing and keel assemblies that are extendable for wind-powered surface operation and retractable to reduce drag for submerged operation or to place the vessel in a more compact configuration. A deployment mechanism including an actuator and linkage pivots the wing and keel

A submersible vessel having wing and keel assemblies that are extendable for wind-powered surface operation and retractable to reduce drag for submerged operation or to place the vessel in a more compact configuration. A deployment mechanism including an actuator and linkage pivots the wing and keel assemblies simultaneously between the deployed and retracted configuration. The vessel may have first and second pressure hulls flanking the wing and keel assemblies. A drive mechanism including a motor and a gear train employing pulley-and-cable assemblies rotates either the wing and flap together such that the flap angle relative to the wing is constant, or to change the flap angle relative to the wing with the wing angle of incidence held constant. The invention also provides a retractable wind-powered propulsion apparatus that is mountable to the hull assembly of a submersible or non-submersible vessel.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A submersible vessel, comprising: a hull assembly;a wing assembly comprising at least one substantially rigid wing member;a keel assembly comprising at least one keel member; anda deployment mechanism comprising at least one actuator and a linkage interconnecting said wing assembly and said keel

1. A submersible vessel, comprising: a hull assembly;a wing assembly comprising at least one substantially rigid wing member;a keel assembly comprising at least one keel member; anda deployment mechanism comprising at least one actuator and a linkage interconnecting said wing assembly and said keel assembly, that in response to operation of said actuator pivots said wing assembly and said keel assembly simultaneously between the (i) a deployed configuration in which said wing assembly and said keel assembly extend outwardly above and below said hull assembly for wind-powered surfaced operation of said vessel and (ii) retracted configuration in which said wing assembly and said keel assembly are angled back to retract towards a stern end of said hull assembly to reduce drag for submerged operation of said vessel. 2. The submersible vessel of claim 1, wherein said linkage of said deployment mechanism comprises: a crank member that is supported from said hull assembly for rotation about a first substantially horizontal axis. 3. The submersible vessel of claim 2, wherein said actuator comprises: a linear actuator pivotally connected to the crank member for rotation about a second axis that is offset below said first axis so as to form a lever arm between the first axis and second axis, so that said crank member pivots in a generally vertical plane in response to operation of said actuator. 4. The submersible vessel of claim 3, wherein said linear actuator comprises at least one hydraulic cylinder having a first end mounted to said hull assembly and a second end mounted to said crank member. 5. The submersible vessel of claim 3, wherein said crank member of said operating linkage comprises: an upper portion having said wing assembly mounted thereto, so that said wing member is raised in response to said crank member being pivoted towards a vertical orientation and lowered in response to said crank member being pivoted towards a horizontal orientation. 6. The submersible of claim 5, wherein said crank member of said operating linkage further comprises: a lower portion having said keel member of said keel assembly mounted thereto, so that said keel member is lowered in response to said crank member being pivoted towards a vertical orientation and is raised in response to said crank member being pivoted towards a horizontal orientation. 7. The submersible vessel of claim 6, wherein said operating linkage further comprises: a connection joining said lower portion of said crank member with an upper portion of said keel member for rotation about a third horizontal axis, about which said keel assembly and said wing assembly pivot so as to converge and diverge angularly as said keel assembly and wing assembly are retracted and extended. 8. The submersible vessel of claim 1, wherein said hull assembly comprises: an opening that receives said wing assembly when lowered to said retracted configuration. 9. The submersible vessel of claim 8, wherein said opening that receives said wing assembly when lowered to said retracted configuration comprises: a longitudinal channel shaped to receive and support said wing assembly in said retracted configuration. 10. The submersible vessel of claim 1, wherein said wing assembly comprises: a wing member; anda flap member located proximate a trailing edge of said wing member. 11. The submersible vessel of claim 10 wherein said drive mechanism further comprises: a motor; anda gear train that selectively applies an output of said motor to:(a) rotate said wing member and said flap member together when in said extended configuration such that said flap member is held at a constant angle relative to said wing member; and(b) rotate said flap member to different angles relative to said wing member with said wing member being held at a constant angle of incidence. 12. The submersible vessel of claim 1, wherein said wing assembly further comprises: a drive mechanism that orientates said wing member relative to said hull assembly and to wind direction to produce propulsive force when said wing assembly is in said extended configuration. 13. The submersible vessel of claim 12, wherein said drive mechanism further comprises: a pulley and cable assembly that rotates said flap member about first and second axes so as to lie flat against a side of said wing member when said wing assembly is in said retracted configuration. 14. The submersible vessel of claim 1, wherein said keel assembly further comprises: a keel bulb pivotally mounted to a lower portion of said keel member for rotation about a fourth horizontal axis; anda linkage that maintains the keel bulb in a generally horizontal orientation as the keel assembly is extended and retracted. 15. The submersible vessel of claim 14 wherein said linkage that maintains said keel bulb in a generally horizontal orientation as the keel assembly is extended and retracted comprises: a forward stay having a first end mounted to said hull assembly at a second end;a horizontal axis pivot member connecting said second end of said link member to said keel bulb; anda guide track that confines movement of said horizontal axis pivot member to a path relative to said horizontal axis pivot connection between said keel member and said keel bulb such that said keel bulb is held in a horizontal configuration as the keel member is lowered and raised. 16. The submersible vessel of claim 1, wherein said hull assembly comprises: first and second outboard pressure hulls that flank said wing assembly and said keel assembly. 17. The submersible vessel of claim 16, wherein said first and second outboard pressure hulls each comprise: at least one ballastable chamber operable so as to submerge and surface said vessel. 18. The submersible vessel of claim 17, wherein said hull assembly further comprises: a longitudinal channel located intermediate said first and second pressure hulls that receives said wing assembly when said wing assembly is in said retracted configuration. 19. The submersible vessel of claim 17, wherein said hull assembly further comprises: a pair of angled control planes located proximate an aft end of said hull assembly, said angled control planes extending outwardly and downwardly from said hull assembly so as to be immersed during both surfaced and submerged operation of said vessel; anda pair of horizontal control planes mounted proximate a forward portion of said hull assembly so as to control an attitude of said vessel during submerged operation. 20. A submersible vessel, comprising: a hull assembly;a wing assembly comprising at least one substantially rigid wing member;a keel assembly comprising at least one keel member; anda deployment mechanism comprising at least one actuator and a linkage interconnecting said wing assembly and said keel assembly, that in response to operation of said actuator pivots said wing assembly and said keel assembly simultaneously between the (i) a deployed configuration in which said wing assembly and said keel assembly extend outwardly above and below said hull assembly for wind-powered surfaced operation of said vessel and (ii) retracted configuration in which said wing assembly and said keel assembly are angled back towards said hull assembly to reduce drag for submerged operation of said vessel; said linkage of said deployment mechanism comprising a crank member that is supported from said hull assembly for rotation about a first substantially horizontal axis; andsaid actuator comprising a linear actuator pivotally connected to the crank member for rotation about a second axis that is offset below said first axis so as to form a lever arm between the first axis and second axis, so that said crank member pivots in a generally vertical plane in response to operation of said actuator. 21. The submersible vessel of claim 20, wherein said linear actuator comprises at least one hydraulic cylinder having a first end mounted to said hull assembly and a second end mounted to said crank member. 22. The submersible vessel of claim 20, wherein said crank member of said operating linkage comprises: an upper portion having said wing assembly mounted thereto, so that said wing member is raised in response to said crank member being pivoted towards a vertical orientation and lowered in response to said crank member being pivoted towards a horizontal orientation. 23. The submersible of claim 22, wherein said crank member of said operating linkage further comprises: a lower portion having said keel member of said keel assembly mounted thereto, so that said keel member is lowered in response to said crank member being pivoted towards a vertical orientation and is raised in response to said crank member being pivoted towards a horizontal orientation. 24. The submersible vessel of claim 23, wherein said operating linkage further comprises: a connection joining said lower portion of said crank member with an upper portion of said keel member for rotation about a third horizontal axis, about which said keel assembly and said wing assembly pivot so as to converge and diverge angularly as said keel assembly and wing assembly are retracted and extended. 25. The submersible vessel of claim 24, wherein said wing assembly and said keel assembly converge towards a stern end of said hull assembly as said wing assembly and keel assembly are retracted. 26. A submersible vessel, comprising: a hull assembly;a wing assembly comprising at least one substantially rigid wing member said wing assembly comprising: a wing member;a flap member located proximate a trailing edge of said wing member; anda drive mechanism that orientates said wing member relative to said hull assembly and to wind direction to produce propulsive force when said wing assembly is in said extended configuration, said drive mechanism comprising: a pulley and cable assembly that rotates said flap member about first and second axes so as to lie flat against a side of said wing member when said wing assembly is in said retracted configuration;a motor; anda gear train that selectively applies an output of said motor to:(a) rotate said wing member and said flap member together when in said extended configuration such that said flap member is held at a constant angle relative to said wing member; and(b) rotate said flap member to different angles relative to said wing member with said wing member being held at a constant angle of incidence. 27. A submersible vessel, comprising: a hull assembly;a wing assembly comprising at least one substantially rigid wing member;a keel assembly comprising at least one keel member; anda deployment mechanism comprising at least one actuator and a linkage interconnecting said wing assembly and said keel assembly, that in response to operation of said actuator pivots said wing assembly and said keel assembly simultaneously between the (i) a deployed configuration in which said wing assembly and said keel assembly extend outwardly above and below said hull assembly for wind-powered surfaced operation of said vessel and (ii) retracted configuration in which said wing assembly and said keel assembly converge towards a stern side of said hull assembly to reduce drag for submerged operation of said vessel;said keel assembly further comprising: a keel bulb pivotally mounted to a lower portion of said keel member for rotation about a fourth horizontal axis; anda linkage that maintains the keel bulb in a generally horizontal orientation as the keel assembly is extended and retracted. 28. The submersible vessel of claim 27 wherein said linkage that maintains said keel bulb in a generally horizontal orientation as the keel assembly is extended and retracted comprises: a forward stay having a first end mounted to said hull assembly at a second end;a horizontal axis pivot member connecting said second end of said link member to said keel bulb; anda guide track that confines movement of said horizontal axis pivot member to a path relative to said horizontal axis pivot connection between said keel member and said keel bulb such that said keel bulb is held in a horizontal configuration as the keel member is lowered and raised. 29. A submersible vessel, comprising: a hull assembly, said hull assembly comprising: first and second outboard pressure hulls that flank said wing assembly and said keel assembly, said first and second outboard pressure hulls each comprising: at least one ballastable chamber operable so as to submerge and surface said vessel;a pair of angled control planes located proximate an aft end of said hull assembly, said angled control planes extending outwardly and downwardly from said hull assembly so as to be immersed during both surfaced and submerged operation of said vessel;a pair of horizontal control planes mounted proximate a forward portion of said hull assembly so as to control an attitude of said vessel during submerged operation;a wing assembly comprising at least one substantially rigid wing member;a keel assembly comprising at least one keel member; anda deployment mechanism comprising at least one actuator and a linkage interconnecting said wing assembly and said keel assembly, that in response to operation of said actuator pivots said wing assembly and said keel assembly simultaneously between the (i) a deployed configuration in which said wing assembly and said keel assembly extend outwardly above and below said hull assembly for wind-powered surfaced operation of said vessel and (ii) retracted configuration in which said wing assembly and said keel assembly are angled back towards said hull assembly to reduce drag for submerged operation of said vessel. 30. A retractable wind-powered propulsion apparatus that is mountable in a hull assembly of a submersible vessel, said apparatus comprising: a deployment mechanism comprising at least one actuator and a linkage interconnecting said wing assembly and said keel assembly, that in response to operation of said actuator pivots said wing assembly and said keel assembly simultaneously between the (i) a deployed configuration in which said wing assembly and said keel assembly extend outwardly above and below said hull assembly for wind-powered surfaced operation of said vessel and (ii) retracted configuration in which said wing assembly and said keel assembly are angled back to converge towards a stern end of said hull assembly to reduce drag for submerged operation of said vessel;a keel assembly comprising at least one keel member; anda linkage assembly interconnecting said wing assembly and said keel assembly, that in response to operation of said at least one actuator pivots said keel assembly simultaneously with said wing assembly to a retracted configuration where said keel assembly is angled back towards said hull assembly with said wing assembly to reduce drag for submerged operation of said vessel, said linkage of said deployment mechanism comprising: a crank member that is supported from said hull assembly for rotation about a first substantially horizontal axis, said actuator comprising: a linear actuator pivotally connected to the crank member for rotation about a second axis that is offset below said first axis so as to form a lever arm between the first axis and second axis, so that said crank member pivots in a generally vertical plane in response to operation of said actuator. 31. The retractable wind-powered propulsion apparatus of claim 30, wherein said linear actuator comprises at least one hydraulic cylinder having a first end mounted to said hull assembly and a second end mounted to said crank member. 32. The retractable wind-powered propulsion apparatus of claim 30, wherein said crank member of said operating linkage comprises: an upper portion having said wing assembly mounted thereto, so that said wing member is raised in response to said crank member being pivoted towards a vertical orientation and lowered in response to said crank member pivoted towards a horizontal orientation.