GB2191845A - Submarine snort induction mast head valve - Google Patents
Submarine snort induction mast head valve Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2191845A GB2191845A GB08515469A GB8515469A GB2191845A GB 2191845 A GB2191845 A GB 2191845A GB 08515469 A GB08515469 A GB 08515469A GB 8515469 A GB8515469 A GB 8515469A GB 2191845 A GB2191845 A GB 2191845A
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- Prior art keywords
- valve
- poppet valve
- snort
- submarine
- mast
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- ZPUCINDJVBIVPJ-LJISPDSOSA-N cocaine Chemical compound O([C@H]1C[C@@H]2CC[C@@H](N2C)[C@H]1C(=O)OC)C(=O)C1=CC=CC=C1 ZPUCINDJVBIVPJ-LJISPDSOSA-N 0.000 title claims abstract description 43
- 230000006698 induction Effects 0.000 title claims abstract description 43
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims abstract description 37
- 150000001875 compounds Chemical class 0.000 claims abstract description 10
- 230000001052 transient effect Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 10
- 239000012530 fluid Substances 0.000 claims description 81
- 238000007654 immersion Methods 0.000 claims description 8
- 230000004888 barrier function Effects 0.000 claims description 5
- 238000004891 communication Methods 0.000 claims description 5
- 239000012528 membrane Substances 0.000 claims description 5
- 238000010586 diagram Methods 0.000 claims description 4
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 claims description 3
- 239000011800 void material Substances 0.000 claims description 3
- 230000003190 augmentative effect Effects 0.000 claims 4
- 210000004379 membrane Anatomy 0.000 claims 2
- 230000001681 protective effect Effects 0.000 claims 2
- 238000007789 sealing Methods 0.000 description 4
- 238000010276 construction Methods 0.000 description 3
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 3
- 230000007717 exclusion Effects 0.000 description 3
- 230000004044 response Effects 0.000 description 3
- 230000008901 benefit Effects 0.000 description 2
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- 241000239290 Araneae Species 0.000 description 1
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- 238000007906 compression Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000001934 delay Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000000994 depressogenic effect Effects 0.000 description 1
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- 239000007787 solid Substances 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
- B63G—OFFENSIVE OR DEFENSIVE ARRANGEMENTS ON VESSELS; MINE-LAYING; MINE-SWEEPING; SUBMARINES; AIRCRAFT CARRIERS
- B63G8/00—Underwater vessels, e.g. submarines; Equipment specially adapted therefor
- B63G8/36—Adaptations of ventilation, e.g. schnorkels, cooling, heating, or air-conditioning
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- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Aviation & Aerospace Engineering (AREA)
- Details Of Valves (AREA)
Abstract
A compound head valve assembly is adapted to cooperate with the mast head structure 2 of a hollow submarine snort induction mast 1, the mast having an inlet opening at its upper end and the head valve assembly being arranged, when mounted to cooperate with the upper end of the mast, to define therewith a generally cylindrical air intake which is communicable with the air inlet. The valve assembly comprises a buoyant annular float valve 4 which is movably mounted in the assembly so as to be capable of carrying out wave-induced motion between open and closed positions with respect to the cylindrical air intake when the upper end of the mast is at or close to the water surface, this float valve providing shut-off in transient wave conditions during normal snorting. However, to provide permanent closure of the mast head, when the submarine is at depth, a valve member 7 is provided which is movably mounted in the assembly for movement between open and closed positions with respect to the air inlet, an operating device 9, 10 being provided which is coupled with the valve member 7 and which is power operated to move the valve member to the closed position. <IMAGE>
Description
SPECIFICATION
Submarine snort induction mast head valve
The present invention relates to snort induction mast head valves for submarines.
The snort induction mast on a submarine allows air to be drawn into the vessel while it is submerged at periscope depth. Clearly, depending upon sea state and the height of the snort induction mast head above the mean surface of the water, waves will periodically overtop the mast. In order to minimise the ingress of water it is known to use a float valve which will rise with the waves and seal the top of the mast; when the wave has receded, the valve falls and induction of air is resumed. Float valves are excellent in response to transient conditions, but suffer from the disadvantage that when the submarine dives, air trapped in the float is compressed, progressively reducing its volume as the vessel dives deeper.As the volume of air reduces, so does the buoyancy and at a certain depth, becomes insufficient to maintain a seal against ingress of water, even though the valve is still in the raised (seal) position. Thus when this depth is reached, the float valve begins to leak and eventually opens, the snort induction mast filling with water. When it is required to resume snorting, the submarine must return to some depth fairly close to the surface before the mast can be drained, incurring a considerable time delay.
The only known submarine snort induction mast head valves capable of withstanding other than shallow transient immersion are of the poppet valve type and are servo operated in response to a signal from a water-level sensor. They perform both the transient water exclusion duty on being overtopped by a wave, when the submarine is operating with normal diesel engine propulsion at periscope depth, and provide a barrier to maintain a dry snort induction system at greater depths. Because of the latter requirement, they must be comparatively heavy and hence require powerful operating gear to avoid a sluggish response to the water-level sensor when functioning in the transient water exclusion mode.
Another disadvantage is that they are not 'fail safe' and a failure of the operating system would force the submarine to surface if the engines were to be run.
There is a considerable advantage to be obtained if the transient water exclusion function can be separated from the one of providing a water tight barrier at depth, especially if by so doing, the need for sensors and servo operation can be eliminated by continuing to use the well proven buoyant ring float valve to accommodate transient conditions.
According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a compound head valve assembly which is adapted to cooperate with the upper end of a hollow submarine snort induction mast, said mast having an inlet opening at its upper end and said head valve assembly being arranged, when mounted to cooperate with the upper end of the mast, to define therewith a generally cylindrical air intake which is communicable with said air inlet, and in which the valve assembly comprises:
a buoyant annular float valve which is movably mounted in the assembly so as to be capable of carrying out wave-induced motion between open and closed positions with respect to said cylindrical air intake when the upper end of the mast is at or close to the water surface;
a valve member which is movably mounted in the assembly for movement between open and closed positions with respect to the air inlet; and
an operating device which is coupled with the valve member and which is power operable at least to move the valve member to the closed position.
Thus, in use of the compound head valve assembly according to the invention, when mounted to cooperate with the upper end of the mast, the buoyant annular float valve can function satisfactorily, and automatically, to prevent ingress of water to the interior of the mast during shallow transient immersion by closing the cylindrical air intake, whereas the valve member can be power operated to the closed position on the air inlet by the operating device in advance of, or when the upper end of the mast has descended to or is approaching a depth at which the buoyant annular valve is no longer effective to provide a satisfactory seal against ingress of water.
Accordingly, upon return of a submarine from depth to a snorting depth, the mast will remain substantially free of water ingress, and can be rapidly brought into operation to provide an air supply to the engines of the submarine. The head valve assembly is brought into operation by release of power actuation of the valve member, either by reduction in depth pressure or by activating the power operable device in the reverse sense of direction, or by a combination of both means, thereby leaving the opening and closing of air access to the mast solely under the control of the buoyant annular valve.
Preferably, the valve member, which is power operable at least to its closed position by the operating device, takes the form of a poppet valve, though other constructions of valve member may be used, provided that they are-capable of providing a satisfactory seal of the air inlet at the upper end of the snort mast at all operating depths of a submarine.
In order to promote release of the poppet valve from the closed position when the forces holding the valve closed are sufficiently reduced, it is preferred that a resilient biasing arrangement is provided which applies a permanent restoring force tending to lift off the poppet valve from closure on the air inlet opening.
According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided a compound submarine snort induction float valve able to seal a cylindrical air intake gap to the mast end against ingress of water during shallow transient immersion, and a power operated poppet valve able to seal the mast end against ingress of water at great depths and located within the region adjacent to but not occupied by said float valve.
Embodiments of compound head valve assembly according to the invention will now be described in detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of a compound head valve assembly according to the invention, mounted to cooperate with the upper end of a hollow submarine snort induction mast;
Figure 2 is a detail view of an alternative arrangement of poppet valve for use in the head valve assembly;
Figure 3 is a detailed view of a further poppet valve arrangement;
Figure 4 is a detail view of another poppet valve arrangement;
Figure 5 is a hydraulic circuit diagram of a power circuit for operating the poppet valve in the valve assembly;
Figures 6a and 6b are views, similar to Figures 1 and 2 respectively, of constructions of still further poppet valve arrangements;;
Figure 7 is a detail view of another operating arrangement for a poppet valve;
Figure 8 is another hydraulic circuit diagram of a power circuit for operating a poppet valve;
Figures 9a and 9b, 10a and 10b show further poppet valve arrangements, having an additional built-in valve to promote release of the poppet valve; and
Figures 11 and 12 show further relief valve arrangements for promoting release of the poppet valve.
As will be described in more detail below, with reference to the preferred embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings, there is disclosed herein a compound head valve assembly which is adapted to cooperate with the upper end of a hollow submarine snort induction mast, in which the mast has an inlet opening at its upper end and the head valve assembly is arranged, when mounted to cooperate with the upper end of the mast, to define therewith a generally cylindrical air intake which is communicable with the air inlet.
The compound head valve assembly comprises a buoyant annular float valve which is movably mounted in the assembly so as to be capable of carrying out wave-induced motion between open and closed positions with respect to the cylindrical air intake when the upper end of the mast is at or close to the water surface. The valve assembly also includes a valve member, preferably a poppet valve, which is movably mounted in the assembly for movement between open and closed positions with respect to the air inlet.
An operating device is coupled with the valve member and is power operable at least to move the valve member to the closed position.
Referring now to Figure 1, a mast tube 1 carries a mast head structure 2 supported on short columns 3. A ring float valve 4 is shown in the partly open position. The ring float valve carries lower and upper seals 5 and 6 able to make contact with mast annular seating surface 11 and the head structure annular seating surface 12. When the mast head is subjected to shallow immersion in water the buoyancy of the float causes it to rise bringing the seals 5 and 6 into contact with the surfaces 11 and 12 respectively, sealing the cylindrical gap between the mast head structure and the upper end of the mast tube against ingress of water. If the ring float 4 is of the lightest possible metal construction to achieve the maximum net buoyancy, it will of necessity have vent-holes 29 to allow it to flood progressively as the pressure increases with depth of immersion.At a certain depth the net buoyancy will become negative and float valve 4 will sink to its lower position leaving the cylindrical gap between mast head structure and the top of the mast tube open to the ingress of water. On the other hand, if the ring float is made of syntactic foam, even though the float is capable of surviving very high pressures, the net buoyancy, which is also the seating force, remains unchanged with increasing depth and incapable of sustaining a seal against ingress of high pressure water.
In the present invention, this shortcoming of the ring float valve at depth is overcome by providing a valve 7 sensibly concentric with the ring float valve 4 and carrying seals 13 able to seat on the top of the mast tube annular surface 14. An operating cylinder 8 is attached to the mast head structure 2 and the piston rod 10 carrying a piston 9 at one end of the rod has its opposite end attached to the poppet valve 7 by some appropriate means. The operating cylinder 8 is powered by an electric motor driven pump 15 immersed in a reservoir 17 housing the hydraulic operating fluid. This fluid is separated from the water surrounding the immersed mast head by a flexible membrane 16 and is thus maintained at depth pressure which becomes the datum operating pressure for the hydraulic system. This feature has the great advantage of precluding in-leakage of water due to pressure differential. The sliding seal 10a between the piston rod 10 and the end of the cylinder 8 now fulfils the duty of preventing outward leakage of hydraulic fluid and the electric cable penetrations (not shown) into the hydraulic fluid reservoir 17 are there purely as barriers between hydraulic fluid and water and do not have to withstand a pressure differential.
A plurality of tension springs 18 is provided each with one end attached to the inner wall 2a of the mast head structure 2 and the other end attached to the poppet valve 7. The effect of these springs is that when the operating cylinder 8 is vented to the hydraulic fluid reservoir 17, the poppet valve 7 will, when only small external pressure forces tend to hold it in the shut position on the annular seat 14, rise to the fully open position.It will be appreciated that by virtue of the hydraulic circuitry adopted and to be described in detail later, this movement of the poppet valve will always occur in the absence of power to the electric motor driven pump, thus making the system 'fail safe' in the event of an electrical power, motor or pump failure, when the head valve system would revert to operation using the float valve alone, ensuring that the diesel propulsion engines can still run without the necessity for surfacing.
The water within the chamber 2b housing the operating cylinder will be trapped when the submarine approaches the surface with the ring float valve dewatered through vents 29 and with annular seals 5 and 6 in contact with seats 11 and 12. Thus, unless special provisions are made, the poppet valve cannot be opened until the mast head breaks surface and the ring float valve opens. Advance opening of the poppet valve at shallow depth of immersion can be assured however by providing a vent or vents 30 connecting the chamber 2b to the zone outside the wall 2 of the reservoir 17. This ensures that depth pressure always prevails within the chamber 2b when the poppet valve 7 is shut.
Thus, when poppet valve 7 is shut, depth pressure will always act on its upper surface to maintain the valve closed; only when the submarine is very close to the surface will springs 18 overcome the effect of depth pressure and open valve 7. Consequently, unless the submarine is very close to the surface, there is no need to maintain the hydraulic system operational to keep the valve closed.
Upon opening valve 7, the small amount of water contained within chamber 2b will find its way down the mast 1 to a drain tank.
Whilst the use of tension springs is indicated in Figure 1, it is equally possible to arrange to use compression springs, whether a plurality of springs are located around the outside of the operating cylinder 8, or possibly a single spring 1 8a within the cylinder itself and concentric with the piston rod 10, as shown in
Fig.2. A plurality of concentric springs may also be used.
Fig.3 shows the configuration where the operating cylinder 8 is attached to the poppet valve 7 and the piston rod 10 carrying piston 9 is attached to the mast head structure by some appropriate means.
Where an inverted cylinder is used as in
Fig.3, or whenever the operating cylinder is attached to and moves with the poppet valve, it is convenient to arrange the hydraulic connections as shown in Fig.4. The pipe connection 25 is led down through the hollow piston rod 10 with fluid exit 19 on the underside of the piston 9. The pipe connection 26 leads into the annulus between pipe 25 and the hollow piston rod 10, which annulus leads the hydraulic fluid to an exit hole 20 supplying the zone above the piston 9. As an alternative means for suppying the cylinder 8 with hydraulic fluid, flexible pipes may be connected direct to the cylinder. These connections may also be made by using drilled holes in a solid piston rod.
Referring now to the hydraulic circuit shown in Fig.5, spring forces F comprising action and reaction tend to cause hydraulic fluid to be expelled from the operating cylinder 8 via pipe connection 25 and restriction 29 and the piston 9 to rise relative to the cylinder 8. At the same time hydraulic fluid is drawn into the cylinder 8 via pipe connection 26, non return valve 23 and pipe 22. The volume of hydraulic fluid passing through the pipe 22 will be less than that passing through restriction 29 due to the volume of the piston rod 10, the balance passing through pipe 21 to the hydraulic fluid reservoir 17. The increase in volume of fluid now contained by reservoir 17 is accommodated by a small distension of the membrane 16.Running the pump 15 to create a flow from 27 to 28 will speed up this process since ail the hydraulic fluid passing connection 25 does not now have to pass through restriction 24 and an additional pressure force is available acting upon the piston rod side of the piston 9. This is the means by which the poppet valve is opened. If pump assisted opening is not required, the non-return valve 23 can be omitted. To close the poppet valve, hydraulic fluid is pumped from 28 to 27, the suction being supplied in part by fluid displaced through connection 26 and partly by fluid flowing through non return valve 23 and pipe connection 22. A portion of the pumped fluid passing through 27 passes through the connection 25 and hence into the operating cylinder causing the piston 9 to move downwards relative to the cylinder 8.The rest of the pumped fluid recycles through restriction 24, pipe 22 and non-return valve 23. The difference in volume of the two sides of the cylinder is supplied through pipe from the hydraulic fluid resevoir 17, the change in volume of reservoir contents being again compensated for by the flexible membrane 16. In the absence of a critical minimum
external water pressure due to depth, the poppet valve will only stay closed so long as the pump 15 is kept running.
Fig.6 shows an alternative arrangement in which the operating cylinder is placed below the poppet valve 7 and within the mast 1.
Again, either the piston rod 10 or the cylinder
8 may be attached to the poppet valve 7, these alternatives being shown in diagrams (a) and (b) of Fig.6. Attachment of the operating cylinder to the mast 1 as shown in Fig.6(a) or the piston rod 10 as shown in Fig.6(b) is by
means of a spider 32. It will be noted that
pipe connections 33 and 34 of the associated
hydraulic circuit as shown in Fig.8 are now
reversed as compared with 25 and 26 shown
in Fig.5, since the piston rod 10 must now be extended in order to open the poppet valve 7 and retracted in order to close the poppet valve. Fig.7 shows the hydraulic connections
required when the piston rod 10 is attached to the mast 1, as shown in Fig.6(b).
In preparing for snorting, it is highly desirable to minimise delays by being able to open the poppet valve 7 as soon as the ring float valve 4 is sufficiently firmly seated to maintain a leak proof seal against depth pressure and well before the mast head breaks the surface.
With the simple poppet valve so far described, provided the pressure differential acting across the poppet valve 7 and holding it shut is not excessive, it is quite easy to design springs which, when fully deformed, will overcome forces due to a small depth pressure load, weight and friction, causing the poppet valve 7 to open when the operating cylinder 8 is either passively vented, or, for operation at a greater pressure differential, when the cylinder is pressurised in the sense which augments the spring forces, by one or other of the methods already described.However, if the atmospheric pressure within the submarine hull is depressed, thereby causing an additional load upon the poppet valve 7, this could delay or even preclude the opening of the poppet valve 7, unless an inconveniently high hydraulic fluid supply pressure is provided to the operating cylinder, with associated increase in power demand from the electric motor driving the pump 15.
The potential difficulties and limitations cited above can be avoided by providing a means of opening a vent to establish fluid connection between the zone subject to submarine hull atmospheric pressure regime, within the mast tube 1 and the zone enclosed by the chamber 2b above the poppet valve 7 which is initially at depth pressure. Thus the pressure differential across the poppet valve 7 can be reduced to any desired degree, depending upon the relative effective cross sectional areas of the vent(s) 30 and of the fluid connection to be established between the upper and lower sides of the poppet valve 7 once the ring float valve 4 is adequately seated.
Referring now to figure 9(a), in the present invention, this reduction of pressure differential across the first poppet valve 7 is achieved without the need for further controls or operating mechanism by providing a small second poppet valve 35 attached to the piston rod
10 and seating on the upper surface and at the centre of the first poppet valve 7. A face seal 36 is interposed between the second and first poppet valves. The second poppet valve 35 is rigidly secured to the piston rod 10 and covers and seals a plurality of passages or vent holes 38 giving fluid communication between the upper and lower sides of the first poppet valve 7. The first poppet valve 7 is slidably mounted upon an extension 39 of the piston rod 10 such that axial movement of the second poppet valve 35 is possible relative to the first poppet valve, limited by a stop collar 40.A small movement of the piston 9 in the operating cylinder 8 initiated by running the motor driven pump 15 is sufficient to open the second poppet valve 35 and allow the pressure differential across the first poppet valve 7 to fall thereby allowing the springs 18 to cause the first valve to open without further intervention by the crew member controlling the system. It will be appreciated that the non-return valve 23 in the hydraulic circuit as shown in Figure 5 is an essential component in the functioning of the second poppet valve 35 in the manner described above. A restriction similar to the restriction 24 could be used instead, but a non-return valve is much more efficient in operation.
Again referring to Figure 9(a), a member 41 projecting upwards from the first poppet valve 7 has an upper surface 42 which can engage and seal the vent or vents 30 when the first poppet valve 7 is fully raised. In the case where the second poppet valve 35 is used, this upwardly projecting member is in the form of a cylindrical sleeve having a bearing 43 which slidably engages the outside surface of the cylinder 8 in order to steady the main poppet valve 7 which in turn is slidably engaging the extension 39 of the piston rod 10.
The sleeve would be perforated to give direct fluid communication between the void space above the first poppet valve 7 and the space surrounding the second poppet valve 36.
The provision of a guide sleeve 41, made desirable by the use of first and second poppet valves 7 and 35 respectively, interferes with making a fluid connection to the lower part of the operating cylinder 8. Whilst it is possible to cut an elongated access hole in the guide sleeve giving sufficient clearance for a fluid connection to be made so as not to interfere with the movement of the sleeve relative to the cylinder, there is another and more convenient solution. Referring now to
Figure 9(b), a tube 47 coaxial with the piston rod 10 penetrates through the upper end of cylinder 8 and is able to slide through a gland 48 located near the upper surface of the piston 9 and project into a space 49 within the piston rod 10, which is itself tubular.A vent hole 20 in the tubular piston rod 10 gives fluid connection between the space 49 within the rod 10 and the operating cylinder volume below the piston 9. The upper end of the tube 47 is in effect the connection 26 of Figure 5. A second tube 25 gives fluid connection to the upper end of the operating cylinder 8. Again, this may be compared with the connection 25 of Figure 5.
Figures 10(a) and 10(b) show the case in which the piston rod 10 is attached to the inner wall 2a of the mast head 2. The second poppet valve is now formed by the base 37 of the operating cylinder 8 and a face seal 36 is interposed between the base 37 and the upper surface of the first poppet valve 7. A rod 39 projects from the base 37 of the cylinder 8 and carries a collar 90. The first poppet valve 7 is slidably mounted upon the rod 39 such that axial movement of the cylinder 8 and its base 37 relative to the first poppet valve 7 can unseal a plurality of passages or vent holes 38 giving fluid communication between the upper and lower sides of the first poppet valve 7. Again, a perforated sleeve 91 attached to the upper side of the first poppet valve 7 carries a guide bearing 43 which slidably engages the outside surface of the cylinder 8.It may also carry an upper surface 42 which is able to seal the vent or vents 30 when the poppet valve 7 is fully open, as shown in Figure 10(a), or, alternatively, as shown in Figure 10(b), this sealing function may be achieved by means of a seal 44 mounted on the end of the cylinder 8, the sleeve 41 carrying only the steady bearing 43 in this case.
Figure 11 shows the case in which the operating cylinder 8 is housed within the mast 1 and attached to a cross member 32 which in turn is attached to the mast tube 1. In this configuration, the second poppet valve 35 is mounted upon the upper end of the piston rodextension 39 with a stop collar 90 to limit relative motion attached coaxially to the piston rod 10 and below the first poppet valve 7. A sleeve pendant from the first poppet valve 7 and slidably engaging the outer surface of cylinder 8, analogous to that shown in Figure
10(b) (but not shown in Figure 11 for the sake of clarity) would be used to steady the first poppet valve 7. Sealing of the vent or vents 30 when the first poppet valve 7 is fully open is accomplished by a rod 45 which is an upward continuation of the rod 39 and carries a pad 46 at its upper end.
Figure 12 shows the case in which the operating cylinder 8 is mounted within the mast
1, but with the piston rod 10 attached to the cross member 32 and the cylinder 8 uppermost. The first poppet valve 7 is slidably mounted upon an axially orientated rod 39 which in turn is attached to the upper end of the operating cylinder 8 and carries a second poppet valve 35 which is able to seal a plurality of holes or passages 38 giving fluid communications between the upper and lower surfaces of the first poppet valve 7. Again, sealing of the vent or vents 30 when the first poppet valve 7 is fully open is accomplished by a rod 45 which is an upward continuation of the rod 39 and carries a pad 46 at tis upper end.In direct analogy with Figures 10(a) and 10(b), a pendant sleeve attached to the first poppet would slidably engage the outer surface of the operating cylinder 8 in order to steady the first poppet valve 7.
It will be appreciated that in all the cases described, it is also possible to operate the poppet valve 7 by using a pressurised fluid supply to the cylinder 8, which fluid supply originates elsewhere than at the mast head and is ducted thereto by a suitable pipe system. The operating fluid may be either liquid or gaseous . Under these circumstances, the mast head pump and pressure compensated hydraulic fluid reservoir 17 become superfluous to poppet valve operating requirements.
While hydraulic fluid is the preferred fluid pressure medium to operate the poppet valve 7, and particularly a conventional oil based hy drauiic fluid, other fluids, including fresh water may be used. Also, gaseous fluids may be used, including gases pumped from the submarine.
Claims (28)
1. A compound head valve assembly which is adapted to cooperate with the upper end of a hollow submarine snort induction mast, said mast having an inlet opening at its upper end and said head valve assembly being arranged, when mounted to cooperate with the upper end of the mast, to define therewith a generally cylindrical air intake which is communicable with said air inlet, and in which the valve assembly comprises::
a buoyant annular float valve which is movably mounted in the assembly so as to be capable of carrying out wave-induced motion between open and closed positions with respect to said cylindrical air intake when the upper end of the mast is at or close to the water surface;
a valve member which is movably mounted in the assembly for movement between open and closed positions with respect to the air inlet; and
an operating device which is coupled with the valve member and which is power operable at least to move the valve member to the closed position.
2. A valve assembly according to claim 1, in which the valve member comprises a poppet valve.
3. A valve assembly according to claim 2, in which a resilient biasing arrangement is provided which applies a permanent restoring force tending to lift-off the poppet valve from closure on the air inlet opening.
4. A compound submarine snort induction mast head valve which comprises a buoyant annular ring float valve able to seal a cylindrical air intake gap to the mast end against ingress of water during shallow transient immersion, and a power operated poppet valve able to seal the mast end against ingress of water at great depths and located within the region adjacent to but not occupied by said float valve.
5. A valve assembly according to any one of claims 2 to 4, in which the poppet valve is actuatable by an operating cylinder located above or below the poppet valve and energisable by a pressurised fluid supply originating from a power pack or other pressure source to be located inside or outside the pressure hull of the submarine.
6. A valve assembly according to claim 5, in which the poppet valve is actuatable by an operating cylinder energised by a pressurised hydraulic fluid supply from an electrically driven pump with associated valve system mounted upon or within the upper part of a submarine snort induction mast.
7. A valve assembly according to claim 6, in which a part or the whole of the boundary of a hydraulic fluid reservoir is formed by a flexible membrane acting as a barrier between the hydraulic fluid and the water in which the submarine is immersed in use such that depth pressure forms the datum pressure for the hydraulic system.
8. A valve assembly according to claim 7, in which the electrically driven pump is housed within the hydraulic fluid reservoir to be immersed in use in the fluid.
9. A valve assembly according to claim 8, in which the hydraulic fluid is an insulating liquid which may also fill the electric motor.
10. A valve assembly according to claim 9, in which any electrical terminal connections for the pump motor or for other electrical equipment sited at the mast head are situated within the protective environment of the pressure compensated hydraulic fluid reservoir.
11. A valve assembly according to claim 5, in which the poppet valve is arranged to be held shut either by the force due to fluid pressure acting upon the piston of the operating cylinder, or by the force due to depth pressure acting upon the upper surface of the poppet valve, or by a combination of said forces.
12. A valve assembly according to any one of claims 2 to 11, in which the effort required to open the poppet valve is supplied wholly or in part by springs.
13. A valve assembly according to claim 12, in which egress of hydraulic fluid from the operating cylinder, when opening the poppet valve, is controllable by a restriction in the flow path back to the reservoir, augmented if required by running the pump in the appropriate direction.
14. A valve assembly according to claim 13, in which ingress of hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic fluid reservoir to the operating cylinder is unimpeded when the poppet valve is opening under spring effort alone, with the flow rate of hydraulic fluid able to be augmented by running the pump in the appropriate direction.
15. A valve assembly according to claim 13 or 14, in which the fluid flow connection from one side of the pump is to the reservoir via a flow restriction and to the poppet valve operating cylinder via an unrestricted pipe, and the connections from the other side of the pump are from the reservoir via a non return valve and to the operating cylinder via an unrestricted pipe.
16. A valve assembly according to claim 15, in which the non-return valve between one side of the pump and the reservoir is omitted.
17. A valve assembly according to claim 5, in which the poppet valve operating cylinder is attached to, and is movable with the poppet valve, and the piston rod is fixed to the mast or to the mast head structure.
18. A valve assembly according to claim 17, in which the hydraulic fluid supply to the operating cylinder is ducted through the fixed piston rod.
19. A valve assembly according to claim 17, in which the hydraulic fluid supply to the operating cylinder is via flexible pipe connections to the pipe cylinder.
20. A valve assembly according to claim 5, in which the poppet valve operating cylinder is fixed to the mast, or to the mast head structure, and the piston rod is attached to and is movable with the poppet valve.
21. A valve assembly according to claim 20, in which the pressurised fluid supply to the lower part of the operating cylinder is ducted via a hollow piston rod slidable over a fixed coaxial tube which, in turn, passes through the upper end of the cylinder and is connected to the pressurised fluid supply.
22. A valve assembly according to any one of claims 5 to 21, in which the poppet valve is arranged to be openable, at or near zero depth pressure, in the absence of power to pressurise the fluid supply to the operating cylinder.
23. A valve assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, and mounted on a submarine mast head, in which a restricted passage or vent is provided for communication between the water external to the mast head and the volume void immediately above the poppet valve.
24. A valve assembly according to claim 23, in which an upward projecting member is attached to the poppet valve, or to a member movable with the poppet valve, to engage and seal the vent when the poppet valve is in the fully open position.
25. A valve assembly according to claim 5, in which a plurality of controllable vents are provided between the upper and lower side of the poppet valve.
26. A valve assembly according to claim 25, in which the control of the vents is by means of a second poppet valve mounted upon the piston rod of an actuating cylinder and substantially coaxially with the piston rod, said second poppet valve being arranged to undergo limited movement relative to a first and larger poppet valve so as to uncover the vents and to establish a passage for fluid between the upper and lower sides of the first poppet valve.
27. A valve assembly according to claim 1 and substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in the accompanying drawings.
28. A submarine snort induction mast provided with a valve assembly according to any one of the preceding claims.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB8515469A GB2191845B (en) | 1985-06-19 | 1985-06-19 | Submarine snort induction mast head valve |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB8515469A GB2191845B (en) | 1985-06-19 | 1985-06-19 | Submarine snort induction mast head valve |
Publications (3)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB8515469D0 GB8515469D0 (en) | 1987-10-21 |
| GB2191845A true GB2191845A (en) | 1987-12-23 |
| GB2191845B GB2191845B (en) | 1989-07-12 |
Family
ID=10580955
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB8515469A Expired GB2191845B (en) | 1985-06-19 | 1985-06-19 | Submarine snort induction mast head valve |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| GB (1) | GB2191845B (en) |
Cited By (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP2301839A3 (en) * | 2009-09-25 | 2011-05-04 | Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft GmbH | Ventilation device for a submerged damaged submarine |
| WO2015185901A3 (en) * | 2014-06-02 | 2016-02-25 | Mactaggart Scott (Holdings) Limited | Snorkel valve |
| EP3793894B1 (en) | 2018-05-18 | 2023-11-01 | Naval Group | Fresh-air supply system for a submarine and submarine including such a system |
-
1985
- 1985-06-19 GB GB8515469A patent/GB2191845B/en not_active Expired
Cited By (6)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP2301839A3 (en) * | 2009-09-25 | 2011-05-04 | Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft GmbH | Ventilation device for a submerged damaged submarine |
| WO2015185901A3 (en) * | 2014-06-02 | 2016-02-25 | Mactaggart Scott (Holdings) Limited | Snorkel valve |
| AU2015270283B2 (en) * | 2014-06-02 | 2016-11-24 | Mactaggart Scott (Holdings) Limited | Snorkel valve |
| KR101770539B1 (en) | 2014-06-02 | 2017-09-05 | 맥태거트 스코트 (홀딩스) 리미티드 | Snorkel valve |
| US9851011B2 (en) | 2014-06-02 | 2017-12-26 | Mactaggart Scott (Holdings) Limited | Snorkel valve |
| EP3793894B1 (en) | 2018-05-18 | 2023-11-01 | Naval Group | Fresh-air supply system for a submarine and submarine including such a system |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB8515469D0 (en) | 1987-10-21 |
| GB2191845B (en) | 1989-07-12 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCNP | Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee |
Effective date: 19950619 |