US 11,724,783 B2
Bow clamp
David F. Charles, Arlington, VA (US); Douglas L. Veilleux, II, Rochester, MA (US); and Daryl B. Slocum, La Mesa, CA (US)
Assigned to L3HARRIS TECHNOLOGIES, INC., Melbourne, FL (US)
Filed by L3Harris Technologies, Inc., Melbourne, FL (US)
Filed on May 18, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/877,004.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/875,423, filed on Jul. 17, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2021/0276676 A1, Sep. 9, 2021
Int. Cl. B63G 8/00 (2006.01); F16B 7/04 (2006.01); B63B 3/13 (2006.01)
CPC B63G 8/001 (2013.01) [B63B 3/13 (2013.01); F16B 7/0426 (2013.01); B63G 2008/002 (2013.01)] 21 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An underwater vehicle comprising a system for selectively securing components of the underwater vehicle, the underwater vehicle comprising:
an access plate secured to the bow of the vehicle and having a flange, the flange of the access plate having intermittent solid portions and intermittent open portions;
a nose cone having a flange; and
a bow clamp configured to selectively attach the nose cone to the access plate, the bow clamp comprising:
a circular body comprising two semi-circular parts joined by a hinge, the hinge being operable to open the bow clamp;
a vehicle mating flange configured to integrate with the flange of the access plate, the vehicle mating flange having intermittent solid portions and intermittent open portions;
a nose cone mating flange configured to integrate with the flange of the nose cone;
a clamp configured to selectively secure the bow clamp to the access plate and the nose cone;
wherein the intermittent solid portions and intermittent open portions are sized, shaped, and spaced so as to prevent the bow clamp from disengaging from the flange of the access plate.