Granted Patent B2

US 12,434,795 · App. 18/338,155 · Granted Oct 7, 2025

Inventors: Carl Kaiser (Alameda, CA); Mikael Bishop (Alameda, CA); Richard Jenkins (Alameda, CA); Oscar Viquez (Alameda, CA); John McGunnigle (Alameda, CA)

Assignee: Saildrone, Inc.

B63B32/77

Abstract

Claims (38)

1. A semi-flexible instrumentation mount for coupling an instrumentation module to a mounting location disposed on an aquatic vehicle, the semi-flexible instrumentation mount comprising:

a support assembly comprising one or more support assembly components, the support assembly configured to couple with a mounting location disposed on an aquatic vehicle;

an elastomeric segment having a channel, a vehicle end and an instrumentation end;

a first rigid connector configured to insert into the channel at the vehicle end of the elastomeric segment to couple the elastomeric segment with the support assembly; and

a second rigid connector configured to insert into the channel at the instrumentation end of the elastomeric segment to couple the elastomeric segment with an instrumentation module.

2. The semi-flexible instrumentation mount of claim 1 , wherein a longitudinal axis of the first rigid connector, a longitudinal axis of the second rigid connector, and a longitudinal axis of the channel of the elastomeric segment are aligned.

3. The semi-flexible instrumentation mount of claim 1 , wherein the elastomeric segment comprises a synthetic rubber.

4. The semi-flexible instrumentation mount of claim 1 :

wherein the first rigid connector comprises a first bolt comprising a first shank that is at least partially threaded;

wherein the first rigid connector is configured to couple with the vehicle end of the elastomeric segment by rotational insertion of a threaded end of the first shank into the channel at the vehicle end of the elastomeric segment.

5. The semi-flexible instrumentation mount of claim 4 , wherein the first rigid connector is configured to couple with the support assembly at a fastening location disposed on the support assembly, the fastening location comprising a bolt hole.

6. The semi-flexible instrumentation mount of claim 1 :

wherein the second rigid connector comprises a second bolt comprising a second shank that is at least partially threaded;

wherein the second rigid connector is configured to couple with the instrumentation end of the elastomeric segment by rotational insertion of a threaded end of the second shank into the channel at the instrumentation end of the elastomeric segment.

7. The semi-flexible instrumentation mount of claim 6 , wherein the second rigid connector is configured to couple with the instrumentation module through a bolt hole of a body insert configured to couple with the instrumentation module.

8. The semi-flexible instrumentation mount of claim 7 , wherein the body insert is configured to insert into a mounting end of an instrumentation module body comprising a tube.

9. The semi-flexible instrumentation mount of claim 1 , wherein the mounting location is disposed on a lower end of a keel of the aquatic vehicle.

10. The semi-flexible instrumentation mount of claim 9 , further comprising a keel bulb configured to cover the mounting location and the support assembly.

11. An instrumentation assembly configured to mount to a mounting location disposed on an aquatic vehicle, the instrumentation assembly comprising:

an instrumentation module comprising an instrumentation module body;

a semi-flexible instrumentation mount for coupling a mounting end of the instrumentation module body to a mounting location disposed on an aquatic vehicle, the semi-flexible instrumentation mount comprising:

a support assembly comprising one or more support assembly components, the support assembly configured to couple with a mounting location disposed on an aquatic vehicle;

an elastomeric segment having an channel, a vehicle end and an instrumentation end;

a first rigid connector configured to insert into the channel at the vehicle end of the elastomeric segment to couple the elastomeric segment with the support assembly; and

a second rigid connector configured to insert into the channel at the instrumentation end of the elastomeric segment to couple the elastomeric segment with a mounting end of the instrumentation module body.

12. The instrumentation assembly of claim 11 , wherein a longitudinal axis of the first rigid connector, a longitudinal axis of the second rigid connector, a longitudinal axis of the elastomeric segment, and a longitudinal axis of the channel of the instrumentation module body are aligned.

13. The instrumentation assembly of claim 11 , wherein the elastomeric segment comprises a synthetic rubber.

14. The instrumentation assembly of claim 11 :

wherein the first rigid connector comprises a first bolt comprising a first shank that is at least partially threaded;

wherein the first rigid connector is configured to couple with the vehicle end of the elastomeric segment by rotational insertion of a threaded end of the first shank into the channel at the vehicle end of the elastomeric segment;

wherein the second rigid connector comprises a second bolt comprising a second shank that is at least partially threaded; and

wherein the second rigid connector is configured to couple with the instrumentation end of the elastomeric segment by rotational insertion of a threaded end of the second shank into the channel at the instrumentation end of the elastomeric segment.

15. The instrumentation assembly of claim 11 , wherein the mounting location is disposed on a lower end of a keel of the aquatic vehicle.

16. The instrumentation assembly of claim 15 , further comprising a keel bulb configured to cover the mounting location and the support assembly.

17. The instrumentation assembly of claim 11 , wherein the instrumentation module includes a first plurality of hydrophones arranged in a linear array along a lower surface of the instrumentation module body.

18. The instrumentation assembly of claim 11 , wherein the instrumentation module includes a second plurality of hydrophones arranged in a tetrahedral array along a tetrahedral sonar array module coupled with a free end of the instrumentation module body.

19. The instrumentation assembly of claim 18 , wherein the second plurality of hydrophones are arranged on a tetrahedral frame comprising three hydrofoil elements.

20. The instrumentation assembly of claim 11 , further comprising an Attitude and Heading Reference System (AHRS) configured to determine an orientation of the instrumentation module body.

Assignments (2)

Continuity (2)

References Cited (12)