Tethered tow body, communications apparatus and system

Abstract

The problem of providing a submerged vehicle with above-the-surface communications to a nearby vessel, shore platform, or satellite while traveling at operating speed is solved by an efficiently deployable tethered tow body having a hydrodynamic and buoyant hull body and incorporating a lift-generating wing that provides hydrodynamic lift to efficiently lift the tow body containing antennas and other communications devices to the surface. The tow body allows for stable operation during underwater tow, surface tow, and transitions between underwater tow and surface tow. Disclosed embodiments include communications apparatuses encompassing the principles of the tethered tow body, as well as various underwater systems that incorporate a tethered tow body or communications apparatus for establishing communications with a nearby vessel, shore platform, or satellite.

1 - 49 . (canceled) 
     
     
         50 . An underwater vehicle comprising:
 an outer hull having a tow body stowage area;   a communication apparatus capable of being stored in the tow body stowage area and providing above the surface communications, the apparatus comprising:
 a tow body tethered to the underwater vehicle with a tether, the tow body comprising a hydrodynamic hull body including a top surface, wherein the top surface conforms to a portion of the outer hull of the underwater vehicle when the communications apparatus is stored in the tow body stowage area. 
   
     
     
         51 . The underwater vehicle of  claim 50 , further comprising an electronics assembly located inside the hydrodynamic hull body. 
     
     
         52 . The underwater vehicle of  claim 51 , wherein the electronics assembly includes a processor. 
     
     
         53 . The underwater vehicle of  claim 51 , wherein the electronics assembly includes a wireless receiver. 
     
     
         54 . The underwater vehicle of  claim 51 , wherein the electronics assembly includes a wireless transmitter. 
     
     
         55 . The underwater vehicle of  claim 51 , wherein the electronics assembly includes a geo-location receiver. 
     
     
         56 . The underwater vehicle of  claim 52 , wherein the electronics assembly is ventilated with cooling water entering through a plurality of vent holes. 
     
     
         57 . The underwater vehicle of  claim 52 , wherein the tether transports power between the underwater vehicle and the electronics assembly. 
     
     
         58 . The underwater vehicle of  claim 52 , wherein the tether transports signals between the underwater vehicle and the processor. 
     
     
         59 . The underwater vehicle of  claim 50 , wherein the communication apparatus further comprises an antenna mounted to the tow body. 
     
     
         60 . The underwater vehicle of  claim 59 , wherein the antenna is spring-loaded for keeping the antenna substantially upright during surface tow and retracted during stowage. 
     
     
         61 . The underwater vehicle of  claim 50 , wherein the tow body comprises a lifting wing for providing hydrodynamic lift to lift the tow body from below the water surface to at least partially above the water surface. 
     
     
         62 . The underwater vehicle of  claim 61 , wherein the lifting wing has a curved upper surface. 
     
     
         63 . The underwater vehicle of  claim 61 , wherein the lifting wing extends at least an entire length and width of the hydrodynamic hull body of the tow body. 
     
     
         64 . The underwater vehicle of  claim 50 , wherein the tow body is towed at an attack angle between 10 to 20 degrees relative to the surface. 
     
     
         65 . The underwater vehicle of  claim 50 , wherein the tow body comprises a vertical stabilizer projecting from a keel slot located on the hull body.