Underwater vessel

Abstract

According to the present invention there is provided an underwater vessel comprising: a body; a thruster operable to produce thrust, wherein the thruster is deployable from the body; an actuator assembly connected to the thruster and operable to deploy the thruster, wherein the actuator assembly is operable to deploy the thruster in a first configuration in which the thruster is oriented to produce a thrust having a vertical component when the thruster is operated.

1 . An underwater vessel comprising:
 a body;   a thruster operable to produce thrust, wherein the thruster is deployable from the body; and   an actuator assembly connected to the thruster and operable to deploy the thruster, wherein the actuator assembly is operable to deploy the thruster in a first-configuration in which the thruster is oriented to produce a thrust having a vertical component when the thruster is operated.   
     
     
         2 . The underwater vessel according to  claim 1 , wherein the actuator assembly is operable to deploy the thruster by rotation about an axis. 
     
     
         3 . The underwater vessel according to  claim 1 , wherein the thruster is stowable in the body. 
     
     
         4 . The underwater vessel according to  claim 3 , wherein the actuator assembly is operable to stow the thruster. 
     
     
         5 . The underwater vessel according to  claim 1 , wherein the configuration is a first configuration, and the actuator assembly is operable to deploy the thruster in a second configuration in which the thruster is oriented to produce a thrust having a horizontal component when the thruster is operated. 
     
     
         6 . The underwater vessel according to  claim 5 , wherein the actuator assembly is operable to move the thruster from the first configuration to the second configuration. 
     
     
         7 . The underwater vessel according to  claim 5 , wherein the actuator assembly is operable to deploy the thruster by rotation about a first axis, and the actuator assembly is operable to move the thruster from the first configuration to second configuration by rotation about a second axis. 
     
     
         8 . The underwater vessel according to  claim 5 , wherein the actuator assembly is operable to deploy the thruster in the second configuration in the event of failure of a primary propulsion system of the submarine, thereby to provide a secondary propulsion system. 
     
     
         9 . The underwater vessel according to  claim 1 , comprising a control system arranged to control operation of the thruster based on an operating condition of the vessel. 
     
     
         10 . The underwater vessel according to  claim 9 , wherein the control system is arranged to control operation of the thruster to maintain a substantially constant operating condition. 
     
     
         11 . The underwater vessel according to  claim 9 , wherein the control system is arranged to:
 control the actuator assembly to deploy the thruster in the configuration; and   control operation of the thruster based on the operating condition of the vessel, to maintain a substantially constant operating condition.   
     
     
         12 . The underwater vessel according to  claim 1 , wherein the thruster comprises a rim driven thruster. 
     
     
         13 . The underwater vessel according to  claim 1 , wherein the thruster is one of a plurality of thrusters. 
     
     
         14 . The underwater vessel according to  claim 13 , wherein the thrusters are independently operable. 
     
     
         15 . The underwater vessel according to  claim 1 , wherein the underwater vessel is a submarine. 
     
     
         16 . The underwater vessel according to  claim 1 , wherein the thruster is stowable completely within the body. 
     
     
         17 . The underwater vessel according to  claim 1 , wherein the thruster is one of four thrusters. 
     
     
         18 . An underwater vessel comprising:
 a body;   a thruster operable to produce thrust, wherein the thruster is deployable from the body; and   an actuator assembly connected to the thruster and operable to
 move the thruster between a stowed position within the body to a deployed position outside the body, 
 deploy the thruster in a first deployed configuration in which the thruster is oriented to produce a thrust having a vertical component when the thruster is operated, and 
 deploy the thruster in a second deployed configuration in which the thruster is oriented to produce a thrust having a horizontal component when the thruster is operated. 
   
     
     
         19 . The underwater vessel according to  claim 18 , comprising a control system configured to control operation of the thruster based on an operating condition of the vessel, to:
 maintain a substantially constant operating condition; and   provide a secondary propulsion system for the vessel.   
     
     
         20 . An underwater vessel comprising:
 a body;   first and second thrusters each independently operable to produce thrust, wherein the first and second thrusters are deployable from the body; and   a first actuator assembly connected to the first thruster and operable to move the first thruster between stowed and deployed positions,
 rotate the first thruster about a first axis so the first thruster can provide vertical thrust, and 
 rotate the first thruster about a second axis so the first thruster can provide horizontal thrust; and 
   a second actuator assembly connected to the second thruster and operable to
 move the second thruster between stowed and deployed positions, 
 rotate the second thruster about a first axis so the second thruster can provide vertical thrust, and 
 rotate the second thruster about a second axis so the second thruster can provide horizontal thrust.