摘要 |
An undersea streamline vehicle having a unique system for gliding ascent, gliding descent, both with and without engine power, and for hovering in the sea for exploratory or research purposes by the provision in the vehicle of buoyancy chambers or bladders offset from the vehicle center of gravity, wherein the chambers include a piston element in a cylinder open to the sea environment. A control system effects selected positioning of the piston, thereby to regulate inflow of the sea into the cylinder or expulsion of sea water from the cylinder, thereby to vary the buoyancy of the vehicle vis-à-vis its center of gravity to control the rate of glide of the vehicle upwardly or downwardly, or to attain a stationary hover position. Ailerons and tail planes facilitate controlled direction of travel. A compressed air system precludes leakage of seawater into the buoyancy chamber.
|