Patent ID: 6945187
Filing Date: 2005-09-20
Classification: B63B,B63G,B65D

Abstract:
1. A fuel depot for autonomously and clandestinely providing fuel to ships and craft comprising: an elongate streamlined flexible bladder member having flexible hull walls and divider walls forming compartments for containing fuel, said compartments each having a fuel valve and fuel pump, said hull walls and said divider walls being separated by uniform spaces, said bladder member having a controllable buoyancy permitting surface and submerged transit to a remote destination; a fuel and water tight composition in communication with said hull walls and divider walls along said spaces for preventing fuel leaks to ambient water and fuel and water leaks between said compartments; a submersible propulsion system connected by towing lines to said bladder member for towing said bladder member to said remote destination; and a command/control system on said submersible propulsion system for coupling driving signals to said propulsion system to tow and steer said flexible bladder member to said remote destination, said command/control system having a preprogrammed computer, an inertial navigation system (INS), a global positioning system (GPS), and RF transceiver to generate said driving signals.