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Re: [PSUBS-MAILIST] Underwater Gliders was Re: Psub for Lew
Greetings all,
More recently than the 60's or 70's, I modified our 1st Bionic Dolphin for a movie in
'94, with a 24v battery pack and a 40 pound thrust trolling motor. During wet testing and
just plain messing around I did some ballast flight testing without power and found
it to be a lot of fun.
The heavier we made it the faster it would glide but the dive / climb ratio became dangerously steep
in an unpressurized cockpit. About 10lbs negative was the best and safest glide / dive / ascent rates.
I also tested the ability to fly the currents off Santa Barbara, it's not fast but it sure saves a
lot of kicking!
We just launched the newest gas powered VASH and should have a new Speeder wet sub with a pressure
regulating hull this fall that we're going to set some new civilian speed records with.
Thinking outside the box, the world is full of possibilities and adventure.
Doc
Carsten Standfuß wrote:
> Hi Lew,
>
> The underwater glider the concept is from the late 60ies
> or early 70ies and was called Deep Voyager.
>
> The designed vessel was 24 m long with 3 pressure-hulls of 2,6 m
> diamter.
> The 3 sphere pressure hull was covered by a GRP hull inside this was a
> gas back with hydrazin. The vessel gets negative bouancy with his
> waterballast
> and glide on his wings under an angle of 9 degree down to the seabottom
> Very similar to a sonar glider plane. This means if you glide 6000 m
> deep your range would be about 24 seamiles. On the bottom the pilot
> convert some hydrazin to hydrogen gas and blow the plastic-bag with
> them. The bouancy is now positive and can by use the reserve way on the
> surface to make range. With 48 up and downs the crew of 3 can cross the
> Pacific in 16 days with a range of 2300 sm.
> You can go faster with a higher angle or make more range under slower
> speed with a smaller angle.
>
> A similar concept was the Whiper-I(W-I) from General Dynamics.
> This was a one man sub with a similar concept. I do not now if they
> build it
> or not.
>
> Sgt.Peppers orignial concept has also this small wings - but I found is
> useless.
> The normal operation of a civil sub is
> A.) On the surface or
> B) near the bottom.
> It make no sence (for me..) to run in the free water without bottom
> contact.
>
> Another concept was done by the russian. Its a mixture between a glider
> and a dragon. On the surface a motorboat runs. On a rope the sub
> without divetanks and regulator.- Just small wings for dynamic negativ
> bouancy. But with this concept you should have a good sonar and a quick
> rope
> releaser mechnism - or you live will end in the cargo hold of a long
> time forgotten shipwreck.. The russian use it to follow the fish and
> follow their
> own fish trawlers and net to see how the fishing nets works.
>
> We use this concept as scuba divers - just a small wooden plank as wing
> with to hand holders on a rope and a small motorboat on the surface.
> Really simple - and
> works good - save the divers own power and increase range and speed
> much.
> In case of a wreck - just let the thing go..
>
> See you Carsten.
>
> Lew Clayman schrieb:
> >
> > --- "Michael B. Holt" <mholt@richmond.edu> wrote:
> >
>
> > No... I didn't realize that at all. Please explain. If a "regular" sub could "sail" underwater,
> > that would be a fascinating technique and quite the fuel-saver.
> >
> > -L
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