The present disclosure generally relates to a monocoque body for an unmanned underwater vehicle (“UUV”) comprising a nose portion, a tail portion, a body interior surface, a body exterior surface. The monocoque body can be a one-piece structural shell made of fiber reinforced polymer. The UUV may further include transverse structural members.

The present disclosure generally relates to a monocoque body for an unmanned underwater vehicle (“UUV”) comprising a nose portion, a tail portion, a body interior surface, a body exterior surface. The monocoque body can be a one-piece structural shell made of fiber reinforced polymer. The UUV may further include transverse structural members.

Implementations described and claimed herein provide an underwater vehicle includes a vehicle body having a frame enclosed by a fairing. The vehicle body extends between a proximal end and a distal end and defining an interior. A nose is disposed at the proximal end of the vehicle body. The nose has a tow system configured to move between a tow position and a stow position. A propulsion system is disposed at the distal end of the vehicle body. The propulsion system includes a plurality of control fins and a thruster. A power distribution system is housed in the interior of the vehicle body. The power distribution system includes a first power system housed in a first pressure vessel and a second power system housed in a second pressure vessel. The first pressure vessel is isolated from the second pressure vessel.

A subsea buoy comprises a rigid watertight external shell extending continuously around a supporting internal structure that is sealed and fully enclosed by the shell. The shell is formed integrally and simultaneously with the internal structure by the same additive manufacturing process. The internal structure comprises cavities disposed between structural members, such as struts of a lattice or webs of a matrix. The structural members and cavities can be in a hierarchical or fractal array comprising a relatively narrow outer tier adjoining the shell and at least one relatively wide inner tier within the outer tier.

A subsea buoy comprises a rigid watertight external shell extending continuously around a supporting internal structure that is sealed and fully enclosed by the shell. The shell is formed integrally and simultaneously with the internal structure by the same additive manufacturing process. The internal structure comprises cavities disposed between structural members, such as struts of a lattice or webs of a matrix. The structural members and cavities can be in a hierarchical or fractal array comprising a relatively narrow outer tier adjoining the shell and at least one relatively wide inner tier within the outer tier.

A deep-sea manned submersible and a design method for a pressure resistant hull curved structure thereof, the deep-sea manned submersible comprising a main hull body, a propeller assembly, annular sliding channels, a brake disc, and a brake. Two annular sliding channels are provided, and are fixed symmetrically on two opposite side surfaces of the main hull body. The main hull body is inserted vertically through the upper surface of the propeller assembly, and by means of the two annular sliding channels is slidingly connected to the propeller assembly, such that the outer contour of the whole body formed by the impeller assembly and the main hull body takes a nautilus shell shape. The brake disc is of an annular shape, and fixed on an outer ring of the main hull body, and the brake is mounted on the propeller assembly and corresponds matchingly with the brake disc.

A deep-sea manned submersible and a design method for a pressure resistant hull curved structure thereof, the deep-sea manned submersible comprising a main hull body, a propeller assembly, annular sliding channels, a brake disc, and a brake. Two annular sliding channels are provided, and are fixed symmetrically on two opposite side surfaces of the main hull body. The main hull body is inserted vertically through the upper surface of the propeller assembly, and by means of the two annular sliding channels is slidingly connected to the propeller assembly, such that the outer contour of the whole body formed by the impeller assembly and the main hull body takes a nautilus shell shape. The brake disc is of an annular shape, and fixed on an outer ring of the main hull body, and the brake is mounted on the propeller assembly and corresponds matchingly with the brake disc.

Structures designed to mitigate implosion pressure spikes through the use of an external sacrificial confining structure. Such improved structures can, in some embodiments, completely surround the existing structures that are at a high risk of imploding. The improved structures can slow the rate at which the surrounding fluid media volume is consumed by providing resistance to flow into the enclosure.

A pressure-resistant hull for a submersible, includes unit hulls, reinforcing ribs, connecting channels, and closure heads. A plurality of unit hulls are provided, and are sequentially strung together spiralling upward or spiralling downward, the closure heads being arranged on the unit hulls at the first position and the last position respectively, an observation window being provided on each unit hull respectively, adjacent two unit hulls in a horizontal direction being respectively connected by means of a reinforcing rib, and at least two connecting channels being provided between adjacent two rings of the unit hulls in the vertical direction. The design method includes using a spiral joining structure to facilitate organic adjustment of the number of unit hulls, thus having better utilization of space and aiding to greatly expand the space. The sensitivity of the limit load to defects is low, increasing axial rigidity, improving the overall pressure-resistive ability.

A quick release bow clamp comprising a hinged circular body having a vehicle mating flange and a nose cone mating flange configured to selectively attach to an access plate on the bow of an underwater vehicle and a nose cone for the same, respectively. The flanges of the bow clamp and the corresponding flanges of the access plate and nose cone may include an intermittent pattern of open and solid portions for weight reduction. The bow clamp may also include a quick release clamp having an adjustable draw latch configured to attach to a clip on the body of the bow clamp and a safety latch configured to prevent the draw latch from inadvertently disengaging with the clip.