System of multi-hull unmanned underwater vehicles with variable-geometry hulls

Abstract

System of unmanned underwater vehicles with multiple variable-geometry internally pressurized flexible hulls (that enable the underwater vehicle to submerge/emerge and change submersion depth by varying hull's buoyancy and not the vehicle weight) and possibly at least one pressure hull housing e.g. accumulators and electronic steering system. Each flexible hull is composed of a number of flexible hull segments modules.

We claim: 
     
         1 . An underwater unmanned vehicle with variable geometry flexible hull, wherein the underwater unmanned vehicle with variable geometry flexible hull contains at least a first number N1 of flexible hulls; wherein an nth flexible hull of the first number N1 of flexible hulls is composed of an nth number n1 of flexible hull segment modules connected to one another, wherein n=1, 2, . . . , N1. 
     
     
         2 . The underwater unmanned vehicle with variable geometry flexible hull according to  claim 1 , wherein the flexible hull segment module has a central section made of a flexible pipe, wherein the central section made of a flexible pipe has a first end and a second end; wherein a first rigid frame is connected to the first end of the central section made of a flexible pipe, and a second rigid frame is connected to the second end of the central section made of a flexible pipe. 
     
     
         3 . The underwater unmanned vehicle with variable geometry flexible hull according to  claim 2 , wherein the flexible hull segment module has an actuator changing the length of the flexible hull segment module. 
     
     
         4 . The underwater unmanned vehicle with variable geometry flexible hull according to  claim 2 , wherein at least one rigid frame among the first rigid frame and the second rigid frame has a rigid baffle forming a water-tight closure of the flexible hull segment module at the first end of the central section made of a flexible pipe or at the second end of the central section made of a flexible pipe. 
     
     
         5 . The underwater unmanned vehicle with variable geometry flexible hull according to  claim 1 , wherein the underwater unmanned vehicle with variable geometry flexible hull has at least one pressure hull connected to at least one flexible hull. 
     
     
         6 . The underwater unmanned vehicle with variable geometry flexible hull according to  claim 1 , wherein the underwater unmanned vehicle with variable geometry flexible hull has at least one drive module connected to at least one flexible hull. 
     
     
         7 . The underwater unmanned vehicle with variable geometry flexible hull according to  claim 5 , wherein the underwater unmanned vehicle with variable geometry flexible hull has at least one drive module connected to at least one pressure hull. 
     
     
         8 . The underwater unmanned vehicle with variable geometry flexible hull according to  claim 6 , wherein the drive module contains at least a prime mover and a propeller, wherein the propeller is connected to the prime mover. 
     
     
         9 . The underwater unmanned vehicle with variable geometry flexible hull according to  claim 8 , wherein the prime mover is an electric motor. 
     
     
         10 . The underwater unmanned vehicle with variable geometry flexible hull according to  claim 5 , wherein said at least one pressure hull houses a source of electric current. 
     
     
         11 . The underwater unmanned vehicle with variable geometry flexible hull according to  claim 5 , wherein said at least one pressure hull houses a control unit.