EP0767694B1 - Individual underwater propulsion means - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an electric thruster intended for scuba diving. Traditional underwater propulsion systems are designed like torpedoes and the main flow resulting from the rotation of the propeller is ejected along the axis of symmetry of the device. The diver must therefore move away from this axis and the master couple in the direction of movement is increased.

This results in a pitching effort, pilot fatigue and loss of energy. On the other hand the maneuverability is strongly affected by the relative position of the diver in relation to the propellant. Significant speeds cannot be achieved with this type of device.

Figure 1 shows such a traditional propellant, the plunger must be offset along the axis OZ to stand above the turbulence generated by the propeller.

A technical solution consists in placing two turbo-engines on either side of the propellant according to document DE-A-35 23 758, but this solution is complex and expensive.

The present invention improves the performance of the propellant and facilitates the steering. To this end the propellant is constituted by a symmetrical symbolic hyperform by compared to the OXY movement plan, figure 2, of the diver. This form provides the equivalent of two swimming paddles profiled in the OX axis of movement.

Figure 2 shows the basic principle of such a system. The diver holds the device at arm end in the axis of movement, the water is sucked through an opening 1 located at the front. The incoming flow is then divided into two symmetrical transfers and driven back on either side of the diver. The two secondary flows 2 are partially divergent to improve hydrodynamics and propulsion is by reaction.

The shape and the holding of such a propellant, according to the invention, allow the diver to control roll and pitch.

The yaw movement is facilitated by the flattened shape of the body in the OXY plane. For the make more fin a fin 6 can be mounted as shown in Figure 3 which defines 3 views the overall shape resulting from an initial purely aesthetic study which was the subject of successive functionalizations according to the technical results sought.

Thus the wing profile chosen for the body is neutral, detail 5 in Figure 3, because when diving the weight is compensated by hydrostatic thrust and no dynamic lift should result when traveling.

Two headlights 8 and a speed control 7 can be integrated into the vehicle.

Figure 4 shows a diver equipped with such a system. In this specific case the waterproof accumulators 3 are placed outside the propellant, at the waist. They can also be attached to the back of the diver or to diving tanks. So structured the propellant is less bulky, lighter and more efficient. In addition, the batteries placed outside replace the weights usually used to balance the diver.

Hence an additional weight saving compared to a traditional propellant, a cable 4 provides electrical power to the motor integrated in the device.

In the case where a long autonomy is required, the weight corresponding to the batteries can be compensated by volumes of foam of density less than one, this compensation can also be performed via an inflatable diving vest.

Polymer batteries with a density substantially equal to 2 can also be used and require little hydrostatic compensation.

FIG. 5 shows the balance of such a propulsion system produced according to the invention. The body 9 made of materials of density less than one, produces a hydrostatic thrust directed upwards at G. The total weight of the propellant including the body and accessories interiors such as the engine 14 and the control system 11 must correspond to G so that the thruster is in balance whatever its position.

The handles 10 integrated directly into the body and the reaction forces R must be substantially aligned in a zone Z as small as possible according to OX.

This exploded view of a propellant designed according to the invention also shows the body 9 made up of two symmetrical half-shells Manufacturing, assembly and maintenance are thus considerably simplified, investment in molds is reduced.

The assembly of these two half-shells according to the OXY plane makes it possible to obtain the shape exterior with its qualities, hydrodynamics and aesthetics. On the other hand, interior shapes also result from this assembly and make it possible to obtain the basic principle of the invention concerning the separation into two symmetrical flows by two transfers.

Thus the interior shapes are harmonized with the exterior shapes to reduce the maximum submerged volume.

The motor 14 in figure 6 is placed so as to correspond with the center of thrust hydrostatic G because it is the heaviest element and an offset would require balancing by additional masses.

A chamber 15 is arranged around the engine for its cooling, circulation water is provided by a calibrated conduit 21 whose inlet is located downstream of the turbine and green evacuation rear 16

This duct is calibrated according to the power chosen for the engine and the quantity corresponding heat to be removed.

A location for the control electronics is provided at the rear of the engine, figure 6 shows such a control element 11 comprising two arms provided with sealed switches 12 leading to the level of the grab handles.

This control element is obtained by overmolding the components on a card electronic and placed in a housing directly molded on the body.

The electronic circuit includes a switching power supply, a charge controller and a safety system in case of blockage of the turbine. A simplified version includes only a control relay.

The axis of the motor comprises at its end a turbine 20 making it possible to suck up the water and repress in two transfers.

The initial flow generated by the high efficiency turbine is optimally divided. The aspect flow dynamics is described in Figure 7. First, the separation edge 28 operates a first division along the axis of geometric symmetry 27 of the transfer. A zone primary impulse 25 resulting from an asymmetrical profile 26 of the conduit makes it possible to initiate a dynamic axis 22 towards the secondary pulse zone 24

The shape of the duct is obtained by the gradual passage from 26 to 23 along the axis of geometric symmetry and this results in flow along the dynamic axis with the minimum turbulence and better hydrodynamic reaction.

Control flaps 30 can be installed at the end of wings according to FIG. 8. They allow to act on the roll and the pitch by actuating two levers 32 located near the handles and linked to the flaps by two axes 29 perpendicular to the direction of movement.

According to another embodiment, the axis 29 drives an integrated nozzle 33,

This same figure shows the possibility of mounting a plug-in battery pack 31 to the rear of the device fitted for this purpose. The corresponding housing consists of a recess rectangular with two separate contacts for power supply.

According to another design method, polymer batteries are arranged in the plane of joint according to a thickness of the order of 10 mm. They must conform to the interior profile of the thruster's body.

According to a preferred manufacturing method, the body in two parts is produced by injection / reaction in material of density less than 1, and assembly is done by screws 19 placed perpendicular to the OXY plane, figure 6.

According to another manufacturing method, the body in two parts is produced by injection of material with a density greater than 1. In this case, cells 18 are arranged according to the figure 6 and in which foam blocks are arranged in order to obtain a relative density less than 1 to compensate for the weight of internal organs.

According to another manufacturing method each part of the body is hollow and formed by the assembly of two injected parts corresponding to the shapes, exterior and interior, of this. In this case the parts forming the body can be filled with synthetic foam to increase their mechanical resistance.

According to a preferred and particularly economical manufacturing method, the body in two parts is extruded / blown in polyethylene.

Particularly light and resistant models are built in composite on a core synthetic foam.

In all cases Figure 9 shows an optimal way to perfectly balance the thruster using three additional 34 adjustable masses located at 120 ° on a circle centered on the hydrostatic thrust center.

Thus designed according to the invention, this thruster is intended for both the diver and the deep equipped with compressed air cylinders only to the snorkeler.

This thruster can also be used for beach games, underwater ballets and as emergency equipment for firefighters for example.

Its manufacture is simplified to the maximum, its performance and its aesthetics are exceptional.

Claims (10)

1. Electrical propulsion means intended for underwater diving, comprising a body (9), which encloses a hydrodynamic propulsion system producing, during its use, two discharge flows, one on each side of the diver, characterised in that the separation of a single incoming flow is effected in the same displacement plane (OXY) as the two discharge flows.
2. Electrical propulsion means intended for underwater diving according to claim 1, characterised in that the body (9) is obtained by assembling two symmetrical parts along said displacement plane (OXY).
3. Electrical propulsion means intended for underwater diving according to claim 2, characterised in that the two parts forming the body (9) form, by their assembly, two divergent transfer means from the inlet aperture situated at the front, these two transfer means combining to form a parting line for the primary flow, a location for the turbine and an inlet for the water.
4. Electrical propulsion means intended for underwater diving according to claims 2 and/or 3, characterised in that the two parts forming the body (9) form, by their assembly, a location for the motor and its electronic steering system close to its centre of hydrostatic thrust.
5. Electrical propulsion means intended for underwater diving according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the position of the centre of gravity is controllable relative to the centre of hydrostatic thrust by means of additional masses in recesses situated around the centre of hydrostatic thrust.
6. Electrical propulsion means intended for underwater diving according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the discharge flow of the fluid in the transfer means is effected along a dynamic axis generated by the progressive inversion of an asymmetrical guide profile along their axes of geometrical symmetry.
7. Electrical propulsion means intended for underwater diving according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the relative density of the body (9) is controllable by the disposition of elements formed from foam and having a density of less than one, said elements being configured to correspond to openings provided in its two constituent parts.
8. Electrical propulsion means intended for underwater diving according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that two flaps (30), which are situated at the end of the wings, or two integrated tubes (33) are controlled by a system of rods and levers from integral handles (10), along an axis of rotation in the assembly plane and perpendicular to the axis of displacement.
9. Electrical propulsion means intended for underwater diving according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the rear part receiving the power supply cable has a fitting for receiving a pluggable battery pack.
10. Electrical propulsion means intended for underwater diving according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the body (9) has, on its rear part, two openings forming integral handles near to an axis defined by the origins of the two reaction forces resulting from the discharge flow of the fluid at the outlet of the transfer means.

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