Patent ID: 7631611
Filing Date: 2009-12-15
Classification: B63G

Abstract:
1. An underwater vehicle having facility for maintaining station on an other marine vehicle hull, the underwater vehicle comprising: a self-propelled underwater vehicle hull configured movement underwater; maneuvering planes mounted on said underwater vehicle hull; and body panels movably fixed to said underwater vehicle hull and moveable from first positions in which said panels conform to a shape of said underwater vehicle hull, to second positions in which said panels extend outwardly from said underwater vehicle hull, free edges of said panels being engageable with the other marine vehicle hull to deter flow of water between said underwater vehicle hull and the other marine vehicle hull and guide the flow of water around the underwater vehicle hull to pin the underwater vehicle against the other marine vehicle hull; wherein said body panels include a bow panel and side panels, said bow panel being extendible forwardly from said underwater vehicle hull and said side panels being extendible from opposite sides of said underwater vehicle hull.