Unmanned underwater inspection craft - has streamlined upper hull with main buoyancy coupled to lower hull contg. propulsion equipment etc.

摘要

The (un-manned) underwater craft with external control (e.g. umbilical cable 13) is intended for inspection duties e.g. using sonar, television etc. It comprises at least two streamlined hulls (1,2) arranged above one another of which the upper hull (1) provides the main buoyancy whilst the heavier equipment for propulsion (20-22), measurements, lighting, television (32) etc. is contained in the lower hull (2). At least one of the hulls may have one or more openings to admit water from outside whilst buoyancy elements (36) and the equipment contained in the hull have water-tight enclosures. The hulls may consist of light-weight e.g. poly-ester shells which are not water-tight and are secured to frames (5), the frames of the hulls being releasably (6) connected (3).