DE102020201630A1 - Submersible device for underwater vehicles - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for controlling a diving device (100) for an underwater vehicle (1000), the diving device (100) comprising: a chamber (20) which has a substantially solid shape; a pump (21) configured to deliver the fluid into the chamber (20) and a valve (23) configured to allow the fluid to drain from the chamber (20). The chamber (20) is prefilled with a predetermined amount of pressurized gas during preparation for a dip. In the immersion mode, the fluid is conveyed into the chamber (20) by the pump (21), or the fluid is released from the chamber (20) through the valve (23) without gas escaping from the chamber (20) to influence the overall density of the chamber (20) and thus the buoyancy of the diving device (100). In addition, the present invention comprises a dipping device for the method described above.

Description

TECHNICAL PART

The present invention relates to the technical field of drive technology and subsea technology. In particular, the present invention relates to a diving device for underwater vehicles and a method for controlling the diving device.

STATE OF THE ART

Today, underwater vehicles have diving chambers that are filled with compressed air or with water in order to influence the density of the boats, which leads to the diving or surfacing of the vehicles (static diving). Furthermore, dynamic diving is possible by means of drives which generate their drive power in the opposite direction to the diving direction, whereby the underwater vehicle is pushed into the depths.

During dynamic diving, energy is constantly required to keep the underwater vehicle at the diving depth against the buoyancy force.

With static diving, a gas supply is required to fill the ballast chambers with gas, to influence the density of the U-vehicle and thus to influence the diving depth. This gas supply must be generated before the dive trip and stored in the underwater vehicle.

For greater diving depths, the external pressure means that the ballast chambers are statically so massive that the weight / volume ratio no longer enables static diving with reasonable effort.

The aim of the present invention is therefore to enable static diving of underwater vehicles without high energy consumption.

For this reason, this invention offers an energy-efficient diving device for underwater vehicles in order to reduce power supplies and thus increase diving times.

SHORT VERSION

The present invention is based on the idea of equipping the submersible device of the U-vehicle with a prestressed ballast chamber which is prestressed with a gas to such an extent that it withstands the water pressure.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a method of controlling a diving device for an underwater vehicle, the diving device comprising: a chamber having a substantially solid shape; a pump configured to deliver the fluid into the chamber; a valve configured to allow the fluid to drain from the chamber. Whereby, when preparing for a dive, the chamber is pre-filled with a predetermined amount of pressurized gas and, in the immersion mode, the fluid is pumped into the chamber by the pump, or the fluid is released from the chamber through the valve without gas escaping from the chamber, to influence the overall density of the chamber and thus the buoyancy of the diving device. This solution makes it possible to produce an energy-saving immersion device, since the weight of the chamber can actually be reduced by pre-filling the chamber. The reason for this is that the inventor came up with the idea that an internal pressure can be easily implemented with a light construction. This then enables static diving of the underground vehicle without high energy consumption.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, a method is provided, wherein a pressure which is reached in the preparation for diving of the above-mentioned step by the predetermined amount of pressurized gas is determined taking into account the desired maximum diving depth. This solution allows the pressure inside the ballast chamber to be higher than the external water pressure in any operating state, so that the ascent is possible without additional energy, since the internal pressure in the ballast chamber pushes the liquid (water or oil) out of the ballast chamber without pumps.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, a method is provided wherein as the submerged device descends, a fluid is introduced into the chamber by the pump to increase the density of the chamber. This solution enables the diving depth to be influenced by means of the pump.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, a method is provided wherein the chamber includes a storage bladder configured to separate the fluid and gas in the chamber. This solution is particularly advantageous because it effectively separates the gas from the fluid through the storage bladder 24 enables. In this case, this is a separation medium known from the prior art, preferably mineral oil.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, a method is provided, wherein the pump and the valve are arranged parallel to one another and with a fluid container in which the Fluid is stored, communicate, wherein the fluid container is configured such that the volume of the fluid container decreases with the depth of the diving device. This solution makes it possible to influence the density of the vehicle by changing the volume of the chamber. The mass of the immersion device will thus remain constant, since there is no exchange of substances with the outside due to the closed circuit of the separating medium.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, a method is provided wherein upon surfacing of the immersion device, the fluid is released from the chamber through the valve to decrease the density of the chamber, the valve preferably being closed when a predetermined pressure is reached in the chamber . This solution enables the connection between the ballast chamber and the outside to be closed after all the fluid has been released from the ballast chamber, so that the amount of gas in the ballast chamber remains constant and the gas does not escape.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a diving device for an underwater vehicle is provided. The diving device comprises: a chamber which has a substantially solid shape and in which a gas and a fluid can be stored in order to influence the overall density and thus the buoyancy of an underwater vehicle in which the diving device is arranged; a pump configured to deliver the fluid into the chamber; a valve configured to control an outflow of the fluid from the chamber. The chamber is pre-filled with a predetermined amount of pressurized gas and the immersion device is configured such that when the fluid is fed into the chamber, the amount of the gas in the chamber remains constant and the volume of the gas decreases.

In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a diving device wherein the chamber includes a storage bladder configured to separate the fluid and gas in the chamber.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, a diving device is provided, wherein the diving device further comprises a fluid container in which the fluid can be stored and the fluid container is configured such that its volume decreases with the diving depth of the diving device, and wherein the pump and the Valve are arranged parallel to each other and establish a connection between the chamber and the fluid container.

Figure list

• 1 zeigt schematisch eine Schnittdarstellung einer Tauchvorrichtung für Unterwasserfahrzeuge gemäß einer Ausführungsform der vorliegenden Erfindung;
• 2 zeigt schematisch eine Schnittdarstellung einer Tauchvorrichtung für Unterwasserfahrzeuge gemäß einer weiteren Ausführungsform der vorliegenden Erfindung.

The present invention is described with reference to the accompanying figures, wherein like reference characters refer to like parts and / or to like parts and / or to corresponding parts of the system. To the figures:

• 1 Fig. 11 schematically shows a sectional view of a diving device for underwater vehicles according to an embodiment of the present invention;
• 2 shows schematically a sectional view of a diving device for underwater vehicles according to a further embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following, the present invention will be described with reference to specific embodiments as shown in the accompanying figures. Nevertheless, the present invention is not limited to the particular embodiments described in the following detailed description and shown in the figures, but the described embodiments merely illustrate some aspects of the present invention, the scope of which is defined by the claims.

Other changes and variations of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The present description thus includes all changes and / or variations of the present invention, the scope of which is defined by the claims.

The following paragraphs refer to 1 a first embodiment is described.

The underwater vehicle 1000 (from now on simply called “vehicle”) includes a drive that is used in dynamic diving to move the vehicle against the buoyancy of the vehicle 1000 to keep at diving depth and to reach a specified diving depth.

The vehicle 1000 further comprises a dipping device 100 responsible for the surface and submergence of the vehicle 1000 is used.

The immersion device 100 further comprises a ballast chamber 20th which has a substantially solid shape. The present invention is not limited to any particular form of ballast chamber 20th limited. As will become clearer in the course of the description, in the ballast chamber 20th a gas and a fluid are stored to make up the total density (Weight of the vehicle 1000 / Volume of the same) of the vehicle 1000 to change and thus to influence the buoyancy of the diving device.

One pump 21 that is configured to move the fluid into the ballast chamber 20th to promote is to the ballast chamber 20th connected. In this embodiment the outflow of the pump is into the ballast chamber 20th preferably at a lower position of the ballast chamber 20th arranged. The pump 21 is powered by an engine 22nd driven. The pump 21 is configured to bring seawater into the ballast chamber 20th to promote so that the overall density of the vehicle is increased so that a diving depth can be regulated. According to the invention, the pressure is within the ballast chamber 20th higher than the external water pressure in every operating state.

One valve 23 , (e.g. a 2/2-way valve) configured to discharge the fluid from the ballast chamber 20th to control so the amount of sea water in the ballast chamber 20th can be lowered and thus the overall density of the vehicle is reduced.

The following sections describe the procedure for controlling the immersion device 100 described in detail.

The ballast chamber 20th is first filled with a predetermined amount of pressurized gas to make the ballast chamber 20th is biased with a predetermined pressure. The pressure reached by the predetermined amount of pressurized gas is determined taking into account the highest diving depth.

In particular, the highest diving depth that can be reached is first decided. Then the water pressure of the water is determined at such a diving depth. Then this value is determined by the pressure in the ballast chamber 20th achieved by the pressurized gas. This ensures that when the vehicle reaches the highest diving depth, the pressure in the ballast chamber 20th higher than the water pressure. This allows the ballast chamber 20th withstand the water pressure when submerged.

For example, when a diving depth of 3500 meters has to be reached, the ballast chamber 20th applied with a pressure, which is, for example, around 350 bar, but must be so high that the fluid filling at the immersion depth and the maximum pressure resistance of the ballast chamber 20th is designed from the outside so that the ballast chamber 20th can withstand the pressure. (For example, 350 bar is only reached when diving at a depth of 3500 meters).

When submerged, the fluid is pumped through it 21 in the ballast chamber 20th promoted without gas from the ballast chamber 20th escapes to the overall density of the ballast chamber 20th and thus to influence the buoyancy of the diving device.

By pumping water into the ballast chamber 20th , the volume of the gas will decrease and thus its pressure will increase. Therefore, when the maximum diving depth is reached, the pressure inside the ballast chamber 20th be higher than the water pressure.

In particular, by pumping water into the ballast chamber 20th , becomes the total density of the ballast chamber 20th (and consequently the overall density of the vehicle 1000 ) increase and thereby decrease the lift force, so that the vehicle 1000 can reach higher diving depths.

When surfacing, the valve will 23 opened to let the water out of the ballast chamber 20th is discharged. This goal is through the pressure of the ballast chamber 20th that is higher than the water pressure. Ascent is also possible without additional energy, as the internal pressure in the ballast chamber 20th the liquid without pumping out of the ballast chamber 20th presses. This actually increases the safety of the vehicle.

The discharge of the water increases the overall density of the vehicle 1000 sink and thereby increase the lift force, with it the vehicle 1000 can reach a lower diving depth.

The valve 23 can then be used effectively to increase the lift of the vehicle 1000 and thus to control its diving depth.

For safety reasons it is important that the valve 23 can open without current, so that in the event of a power failure or loss of the vehicle 1000 , the vehicle appears automatically.

The valve 23 is then closed when all the water is out of the ballast chamber 20th was released to reduce the amount of gas in the ballast chamber 20th remains constant and the gas does not escape.

This process can be repeated as long as energy is available for pumping.

In the 2 a second embodiment of the present invention is shown.

The main difference to the embodiment of 1 is that the ballast chamber 20th a memory bubble 24 that is configured to include the fluid and the gas in the ballast chamber 20th to separate from each other. In this case the fluid is a separating medium, for example mineral oil.

The immersion device 100 further comprises a fluid container 25th in which the separation medium can be stored. The fluid container 25th is configured so that its volume changes with a higher diving depth (due to changes in water pressure) of the diving device 100 reduced in size (see dashed line 25a of 2 ).

In this embodiment the mass of the immersion device remains 100 constant, as there is no exchange of substances with the outside due to the closed circuit of the separating medium.

Since the method of this embodiment is completely similar to that described with respect to the embodiment of FIG 1 , a repetition of the description is avoided.

While the present invention has been described with reference to the embodiments described above, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that it is possible to implement various modifications, variations, and improvements of the present invention in light of the above teachings and within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the scope of the invention.

In addition, in order not to unnecessarily obscure the described invention, the areas that would be skilled in the art have not been described here.

Accordingly, it is intended that the invention not be limited by the specific illustrative embodiments, but only by the scope of the appended claims.

List of reference symbols

1000

Underwater vehicle;

100

Immersion device;

10

Drive;

20th

Ballast chamber (chamber);

21

Pump;

22nd

Engine;

23

Valve;

24

Memory bladder;

25th

Fluid container;

Claims (9)

A method of controlling a diving device (100) for an underwater vehicle (1000), the diving device (100) comprising: a chamber (20) having a substantially solid shape; a pump (21) configured to deliver the fluid into the chamber (20); a valve (23) configured to allow the fluid to drain from the chamber (20); characterized in that: a) during preparation for immersion, the chamber (20) is prefilled with a predetermined amount of pressurized gas; and b) in immersion mode, the fluid is conveyed into the chamber (20) by the pump (21), or the fluid is released from the chamber (20) through the valve (23) without gas escaping from the chamber (20) in order to influence the overall density of the chamber (20) and thus the buoyancy of the diving device (100). Procedure according to Claim 1 , wherein a pressure which is reached in the preparation for diving in step a) by the predetermined amount of pressurized gas is determined taking into account the desired maximum diving depth. Method according to one of the Claims 1 or 2 wherein, as the immersion device (100) descends, a fluid is introduced into the chamber (20) by the pump to increase the density of the chamber (20). Method according to one of the Claims 1 until 3 wherein the chamber (20) comprises a storage bladder (24) configured to separate the fluid and gas in the chamber (20) from one another. Procedure according to Claim 4 wherein the pump (21) and the valve (23) are arranged parallel to one another and communicate with a fluid container (25) in which the fluid is stored, the fluid container (25) being configured so that the volume of the fluid container increases decreased with the immersion depth of the immersion device (100). Method according to one of the Claims 1 until 5 , wherein when the immersion device (100) emerges, the fluid is released from the chamber (20) through the valve so that the density of the chamber (20) decreases, the valve (23) preferably being closed when a predetermined pressure in the chamber (20) is achieved. A diving apparatus (100) for an underwater vehicle (1000) comprising: a chamber (20) which is substantially solid in shape and in which a gas and a fluid are contained can be stored in order to influence the overall density and thus the buoyancy force of an underwater vehicle in which the diving device (100) is arranged; a pump (21) configured to deliver the fluid into the chamber (20); a valve (23) configured to control an outflow of the fluid from the chamber (20); characterized in that the chamber (20) is pre-filled with a predetermined amount of pressurized gas, and in that the immersion device (100) is configured so that when the fluid is conveyed into the chamber (20), the amount of the gas in the Chamber (20) remains constant and the volume of the gas decreases. Immersion device (100) according to Claim 7 wherein the chamber (20) comprises a storage bladder (24) configured to separate the fluid and gas in the chamber (20) from one another. Immersion device (100) according to one of the Claims 7 or 8th , wherein the immersion device (100) further comprises a fluid container (25) in which the fluid can be stored and the fluid container (25) is configured such that its volume decreases with the immersion depth of the immersion device (100), and wherein the pump (21) and the valve (23) are arranged parallel to one another and establish a connection between the chamber (20) and the fluid container (25).

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