Laterally and vertically controllable underwater towed vehicle

摘要

A towed underwater vehicle that is laterally and vertically movable with respect to a towing vessel connected by a tow cable to the vehicle. Such movement of the vehicle is obtained by the interaction of a horizontally and vertically movable point of attachment of the tow cable to the vehicle, horizontal and vertical planing surfaces provided on the vehicle, and appropriate stabilization of the vehicle. Such stabilization is obtained by adding buoyant materials to upper portions of the vehicle, ballast to lower portions of the vehicle, use of adjustable ailerons or adjustable horizontal and vertical planing surfaces, or a combination of the preceding. When the point of attachment between the cable and the towed vehicle is changed, the forces exerted by the cable on the vehicle are changed so that the planing surfaces of the vehicle present an increased frontal area to water flowing past the vehicle. The increased frontal area struck by the water results in movement of the vehicle to minimize the frontal area. Such movement of the vehicle carries with it the point of attachment to the two cable and varies the position of the towed vehicle with respect to the towing vessel. Such movement is in lateral, vertical, or in both directions.