US3301211A

US3301211A - Moisture fail-safe system

Info

Publication number: US3301211A
Application number: US345543A
Authority: US
Inventors: Leo E Novak; Jr Theodore W Quarnstrom; Thomas J Higgins
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1964-02-17
Filing date: 1964-02-17
Publication date: 1967-01-31
Anticipated expiration: 1984-01-31

Description

Jan. 31, 1967 1 E. NovAK ETAL MOISTURE FAIL-SAFE SYSTEM 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Feb. 17, 1964 THOMAS J. HIGGINS ATTORNEY Jan. 31, 1957 E. NovAK ETAL 3,301,211

MOISTURE FAIL- SAFE SYSTEM Filed Feb. 17, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 fo m 1- ln v o w g Q Q O a N. m n l!) MAGNETIC CLUTCH w LT- N INVENTORS:

LEO E. NOVA K THOMAS J. HIGGINS 0m/CMQ ATTORNEY TH EODORE W. QUAFINSTROMJRI United States Patent Filed Feb. 17, 1964, Ser. No. 345,543 9 Claims. (Cl. 114-235) The present inventi-on relates generally to safety devices for automatically placing a given apparatus in a safe, inoperative, or other preferred condition in event a predetermined unsafe, hazardous, or destructive condition inadvertently occurs thereto and specifically it is `a fail-safe system for causing an underwater vehicle to surface in the event water enters the hull thereof or the electrical power therein or thereto fails during normal operation.

In the past, underwater vehicles which became flooded or otherwise became incapacitated were sometimes lost, destroyed, or damaged considerably and thus made inoperative for most practical purposes. Als-o these adverse conditions sometimes occurred as a result of their striking the bottom of the sea, or a power failure prevented the proper attitude and depth control which, in turn, resulted in loss of useful operation and possibly the vehicle itself.

The present fail-safe system constituting this invention substantially elimina-tes such adverse conditions by causing underwater vehicles to surface in event any of the aforementioned troubles occur. Accordingly, it supplies the answer to a need long existing in the submarine art and supplies it in a simpler, more effective, and more improved manner than heretofore known.

It is therefore, an object of the invention to provide an improved fail-.safe system.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved method and means for effecting the surfacing of a towed submarine type vehicle in event it becomes flooded with water, has a power failure, or approaches too close to the sea floor for safety.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an improved method and means for supplying predetermined control or command signals to a vehicle disposed within an aqueous or other given environmental medium.

Another object of this invention is to provide a simple fail-safe system that is easily and economically constructed and maintained.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages will be readily appreciated as the subject invention becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein like reference characters designate correspondiing parts in the several views and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram `of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic representation of a unique power train for adjusting the control surfaces of -a vehicle incorporating the subject invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of the electronic and electrical circuits of the invention; and

FIG. 4 is a pictorial view of one type of vehicle which may contain and use the invention to an advantage.

Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown -a depth finder 11 of any preferred conventional type, such as for instance a sonar set `or the like, adapted for deter-mining the distance to the sea floor and producing an electrical signal proportional thereto. The output of depth finder 11 is supplied to a depth fail-safe circuit 12 which includes a cathode follower circuit 13 and control amplifier circuit 14 connected thereto. The output control amplifier 14 is coupled to actuating coil 15 of a relay switch 16 for timely 3,301,211 Patented Jan. 31, 1967 Mice energization thereof. A switch portion 17 of relay 16 is connected in series with a pressure switch 18 and in parallel with a plurality of water detection electrodes 19. Actually, electrodes 19 occur in pairs which act as switches, respectively, that conduct current therebetween when immersed in kan electrically conductive fluid such =as sea water or the like.

Electrodes 19 are yalso a part of the water-flooding 4failsafe portion of the invention and are connected in series with a rectifier 21 and an actuating coil portion 22 of another relay 23.

An alternating current power supply 24 is connected to said rectifier 21 in such manner that the latter converts it to the direct current necessary for the energization of coil 22 whenever any appropriate pair of electrodes 19 are immersed in water, closing the circuit between them.

In FIG. 2, it may be seen that a guidance system reversible motor 25 is coupled through a magnetic clutch 26 to vehicle elevators 27 for properly positioning them for vehicle control purposes during normal operation.

Continuously connected to elevators 27 is `an up-position urging spring drive 28. As illustrated diagrammatically in FIG. 2, this spring drive is effectively connected to said elevators through any desired power or gear train such as, for example, a shaft 29, a worm `gear 31, a pinion gear 32, and a shaft 33 which, in turn, is connected to elevators 27 for movement thereof. As can readily be seen, in this representative embodiment, spring 28 is continuously connected between `a frame portion of the vehicle or other relatively fixed structure and the rotatable shaft which turns in both `directions t-o respectively up-position or down-position elevators 27. 'Ihis spring is physically disposed in such manner that it is wound-up when said elevators are down-positioned :and unwinds when they are up-positioned. Hence, the resilient urging of spring 28 is towards the unwind-elevator-upposition, regardless of the actual position of said elevators at any given instant. And, of course, spring 2S is sufficiently strong in torsion to 4move said elevators to an up position whenever the drive motor 25 is effectively disconnected therefrom Iby magnetic clutch 26, as will be explained in more detail subsequently. In addition, it should be understood that reversible motor 25 is strong enough to yovercome the unwinding force or torque of spring 28 when it is driving elevators 27 t-oward a down position during normal operation.

Magnetic clutch 26 is of the conventional type that causes disengagement and engagement when the electrical power is removed therefrom and applied thereto, respectively. Connected betwen rectifier 21 and magnetic clutch 26 is the switch portion 35 of relay 23 which timely effects the disengagement or engagement condition of magnetic clutch 26 whenever switch 35 is open or closed, respectively, by actuating coil 22.

Referring now to FIG. 3, the unique electronic circuit thereof is shown as having an input terminal 41 which is adapted for receiving the aforementioned depth finder output signal, and this terminal is coupled to the grid of a triode tube 42 that is disposed in a circuit isolation cathode follower circuit. The plate thereof is connected to a B+ voltage. A resistor 43 is connected between the -cathode of triode 42 and ground. A diode 44 is connected in series with a voltage divider network consisting of series connected Variable resistor 45 and resistor 46 and the total combination thereof is connected in parallel with the aforesaid resistor 43. The junction of resistors 45 and 46 is coupled to the grid of a triode tube 47, with the plate `thereof coupled to one terminal of actuating coil 15 of relay 16, discussed in connection with FIG. 1. The cathode of triode 47 is connected through parallel connected Zener diode 48 and resistor 49 to ground. The other terminal of coil 15 is connected to B-tvoltage.

Switch 17 of relay 16 is either closed or open and in this case it is held open so long as solenoid coil 15 is energized. Of course, the circuitry of FlG. 3 discussed to this point makes up the aforementioned depth failsafe circuit 12, explained briey supra in connection with FIG. l. The movable arm and the closed-switch contact of switch 17 are respectively connected to electrical conductors Sti and 51, the former of which is connected to hydrostatic pressure switch 1S and continues on to one terminal of relay actuating coil 22 and the latter of which is connected to one of the output terminals of rectifier 21. Although many different conventional rectifier' means may be employed in the subject circuit, this preferred embodiment includes `the conventional full-wave rectifier design, containing diodes 52 through 55. The aforesaid pair or plurality of pairs of water detection electrodes is coupled between conductors Si) and 51. If more than one pair is used, such as would =be the case if both the fore and aft parts of the vessel were being monitored for water flooding, the number of pairs thereof are connected in Aparallel with each other. Thus, the shorting of any pair of electrodes closes the water-flooding fail-safe circuit at the ooding location, regardless of where it may be. Obviously, any number of pairs of water detection electrodes may be used without violating the spirit and scope of this invention, since so doing would be obvious to one skilled in the art having the benefit of the teachings herein presented.

Switch 35 of relay 23 is a double-throw-double-pole switch with the movable arms 56 and 57 thereof respectively connected to opposite polarity output terminals of rectifier 21. Contacts S through 62 are respectively connected to the junction of extended conductor 50 and one terminal of coil 22, open, and magnetic clutch 26. Accordingly, it may be seen that relay 23 is so constructed as to be locked in the energized condition once it has been energized in the first place. The input terminals of rectifier 21 are connected to the outputs of 110 volt alternating `current -power supply 24.

FIG. 4 depicts a typical towed submarine type vehicle 71 which may advantageously make use of the subject invention by having it incorporated therein as a fail-safe system. Many other types of submarine vehicles may likewise employ this invention if so desired. In this particular case, the vehicle is of the type that is towed by another ship or craft by means of a line or cable 72 which is capable of being paid out and is of sufficient length to allow vehicle 71 `to ride at any desired depth. To insure stability of iiight, a plurality of fins 73 are mounted on the rear thereof and, of course, elevators 27 are mounted thereon at any suitable position for attitude control purposes. Although in this instance, t-he elevators are shown as being located in the front end of vehicle 71, they may obviously be incorporated as part of control surfaces or fins 73. Moreover, although vehicle 71 is herein illustrated as an underwater vehicle, it should be understood that the subject inventions use is not limited thereto and that land, air, or space crafts may likewise use it to advantage with only minor design changes to the detection electrodes 19 so as to make them operable as probes or switches in any predetermined environmental medium. Likewise, the depth fail-Safe circuit may be uesd as is or so designed by the skilled artisan to be responsive to any given parameter or condition, since so doing would be obvious thereto having the benefit of the teachings herein presented.

All of the elements and components employed in this invention are well known and conventional per se and it is their new and unique interconnection and interaction that effect the new and improved results obtained therefrom.

Briefly, the operation of the invention is as follows:

Actually, the invention as herein disclosed includes several fail-safe control-disconnect systems. One involves fail-safe operations which occur in event the submerged vessel approaches too close to the sea floor. Another concerns fail-safe operations which occur if water flooding occurs at given vulnerable locations within the submerged vessel. And `stil-l vanother concerns fail-safe operations during power failure.

From a result standpoint, the subject invention merely positions the elevator control `surfaces to such a position that they cause the submerged vessel to rise toward the sea surface when any one or more of the aforementioned faults or conditions exist. Generally speaking, for instance ,when the depth find-er indicates that the submerged vessel is too close to the bottom of the sea, it produces a signal which when applied to depth fail-safe circuit 12 deenergizes coil 15 of relay 16 and closes switch 17, thereby closing the circuit to coil 22 of relay 23 to energize same and effect the opening of switch 35. The opening of switch 35 deenergizes magnetic clutch 26 and this puts motor 25 and elevator 27 in a disconnected condition.

Without the controlling force or torque of motor 25 to override the force of spring 28, spring 28 unwinds and turns worm gear 31 and pinion gear 33 in such direction to move elevators 27 to an up-position, which, of course, in turn, guides vessel 71 toward the surface as it is being pulled along by the tractor ship.

As can be readily seen, due to the fact that magnetic clutch is in a disconnect condition when `no power is applied thereto, it will automatically be placed in a disconnect condition in event a power failure ever occurs. Thus, another fail-safe operation inherently exists in the subject invention which increases its overall value.

On occasion, when the vessel 71 is traveling at less than ten feet depth, it has been found to be necessary to disable the depth fail-safe circuit 12. This is because depth finders sometimes produce erroneous altitude signals when the vehicle is at or near the sea surface, due to reflections from the air-water interface. Because these reflections signals give the erroneous apearance of being within some given distance such as, for instance, ten feet of the sea floor rather than the actual condition of being within ten feet of the sea surface, and since the subject depth failsafe circuit would cause the vessel to be surfaced under such circumstances, it is disabled or effectively disconnected by hydrostatic pressure switch 18. This is easily accomplished by setting pressure switch 18 to open whenever the vehicle has less than said given distance or exemplary ten feet depth. Of course, from the above statements it should be readily understood that a setting of ten feet depth on switch 18 is merely exemplary, and any other operable setting may be used as desired.

The water flooding aspect of the subject invention is very simple but most effective. Whenever any of the pairs of water detection electrodes 19 are immersed in water, it acts as a closed switch which energizes coil 22, opens switch 35, deenergizes magnetic clutch 26, and hence disconnects elevators 27 from motor 25, allowing coil spring 28 to take over and adjust elevators 27 to an up position to ultimately effect surfacing of the towed vessel.

Referring to the detailed schematic of FIG. 3, it may be seen that the vessel depth information is applied to the grid of cathode follower 42 and is coupled therefrom through diode 44 `and a voltage divider network comprising resistors 45 and 46. Diode 44, in this case, isolates the cathode bias circuit of triode 42 from triode 47. Variable resistor 45, in the voltage divider circuit, determines the voltage on the cathode of triode 42 which is necessary in order to cause triode 47 to conduct. Because resistance 45 may be varied, the time of conduction of triode 47 may be varied and, consequently, the maximum depth to which the vessel can go without fail-safe operation occurring may be varied accordingly. Conduction of triode 47 actually occurs as a result of the aforesaid grid signal supplied by the depth finde-r being of sufficient voltage to override the cutoff bias placed thereon by resistors 46 and 49.

Zener diode 48 regulates said cathode bias to a predetermined voltage, say of the order of twenty-two volts, when triode 47 is conducting. Because the plate of triode 47 is coupled through actuating coil 15 of relay 16 to a given B+ voltage, relay 16 is energized whenever triode 47 conducts.

When the vehicle is too close to the bottom of the sea, the potential at the cathode of cathode follower 42 is too small to cause a suicient plate current increase in triode 47 to operate relay 16. Thus, when the vehicle is operating at desirable or normal depths, relay 16 remains energized and switch portion 17 thereof is held open, and when the vehicle is operating at unsafe depths too close to the sea floor, relay 16 is deenergized and switch 17 closes, ultimately causing the up-positioning of elevators 27.

Obviously, many modifications of this embodiment or other embodiments of the subject invention will readily come to the mind of one skilled in the art having the benefit of the teachings presented herein in accompaniment with the associated drawing. Therefore, it is to ybe understood that the invention is not to be limited thereto and that said modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An automatic submarine vessel safety device comprising in combination,

a water depth fail-safe circuit,

a water detection means,

a magnetic clutch means adapted for being interposed between a drive motor and a vehicle control surface in such manner that said motor -is effectively connected to said vehicle control surface for the driving thereof only when said magnetic clutch is energized,

means for energizing said magnetic clutch means, and

means interconnecting said water -depth fail-safe circuit, said water detection means, said magnetic clutch means, and the aforesaid energizing means for disconnecting the latter from said magnetic clutch in response to a predetermined depth signal being supplied to said depth fail-safe circuit, and in response to water being detected by the aforesaid water detection means.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said water depth failsafe circuit comprises,

a diode,

a variable resistor with one terminal thereof coupled to said diode,

a ground,

another resistor with one terminal thereof joined to the other terminal of said variable resistor and the other terminal thereof coupled to said ground,

a triode having a grid, a plate, and a cathode with the grid thereof connected to the junction of said variable and second mentioned resistors,

a Zener diode coupled between the cathode of said triode and said ground,

a third resistor connected in parallel with said Zener diode,

a B+ voltage, and

a relay having an actuating coil and a switch actuated by said actuating coil with the actuating coil thereof connected -between said B+ voltage and the plate of the aforesaid triode.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein said water detection means comprises at least one pair of electrodes adapted for passage of electrical current therebetween when same submerged in water.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein said means for ener gizing said magnetic clutch means is an electrical power supply.

5. A depth-fail safe circuit for supplying an up-position command signal to a marine vehicle submerged within an aquaeous medium comprising in combination,

a cathode follower having an input and an output with the input thereof responsive to an electrical signal corresponding to the depth of a marine vehicle,

a diode coupled to the output of said cathode follower,

a first resistor connected to said diode,

a ground, n

a second resistor interconnecting said first resistor and said ground,

a triode having a grid, a plate, and a cathode with the grid thereof connected to the junction of said lirst and second resistors,

a Zener diode coupled between the cathode of said triode and said ground,

a triode resistor connected in parallel with said Zener diode,

a B+ voltage, and

a relay having an actuating coil and a switch operated by said actuating coil with the actuating coil thereof connected between the plate of said diode and said B+ voltage.

6. A depth fail-safe circuit for supplying an up-position command signal to a marine vehicle submerged with an aquaeous medium comprising in combination,

a diode coupled to the output of said cathode follower,

a first resistor connected to said diode,

a ground,

a second resistor interconnecting said first resistor and said ground,

a triode having a grid, a plate, and a cathode with the grid thereof connected to the junction of said first and second resistors,

a Zener diode coupled between the cathode of said triode and said ground,

a triode resistor connected in parallel with said Zener diode,

a B+ voltage,

a relay having an actuating coil and a switch operated by said actuating coil with the actuating coil thereof connected between the plate of said diode and said B+ voltage,

a magnetic clutch means, and

means interposed between said magnetic clutch means and the switch of the aforesaid relay for energizing said magnetic clutch means when said switch is in an open-condition.

7. The device of claim 6 wherein said means interposed between said magnetic clutch means and the switch of the aforesaid relay for energizing said magnetic clutch means when said switch is in an open condition comprises,

a power supply,

a rectier connected to said power supply,

a second relay having a second actuating coil and a second switch with the second actuating coil connected between said rectifier and the switch of said first mentioned relay in such manner that said second actuating coil is energized when said lfirst mentioned relay switch is closed and with said second relay switch connected between the switch of said first mentioned relay and said rectifier and to the aforesaid magnetic clutch in such manner that said magnetic clutch is energized only when said second relay switch is in closed condition.

8; The invention according to claim 7 further characterized by a hydrostatic pressure switch interposed between the switch of said first mentioned relay and the actuating coil of the aforesaid second relay.

9. Means for directing a towed submarine vehicle toward the surface of the water in the event there is waterflooding thereof comprising in combination,

a pair of water detection electrodes,

a power source having a pair of outputs with one of the outputs thereof connected to one of the aforesaid pairs of electrodes,

a magnetic clutch,

switch means coupled between the input of said magnetic clutch and the other output of said power source,

means connected between the other of said power source outputs and the other of said pair of water detection electrodes for actuating said switch means to an open condition when said pair of Water detection electrodes are immersed in water,

a guidance system drive motor,

elevator means effectively connected to said drive motor through said magnetic clutch when the latter is in an energized condition, and

means connected to said elevator means for resiliently urging same toward an up position continuously and for the directing of said submarine vehicle toward the surface of the Water when said resilient urging means is not overridden 'by the aforesaid drive motor as a result of disengagement thereof from said ele-` vator means due to the deenergization of said magnetic clutch.

References Cited by the Examiner MILTON BUCHLER, Primary Examiner.

T. M. BLX, Assistant Examiner.

Claims

1. AN AUTOMATIC SUBMARINE VESSEL SAFETY DEVICE COMPRISING IN COMBINATION, A WATER DEPTH FAIL-SAFE CIRCUIT, A WATER DETECTION MEANS, A MAGNETIC CLUTCH MEANS ADAPTED FOR BEING INTERPOSED BETWEEN A DRIVE MOTOR AND A VEHICLE CONTROL SURFACE IN SUCH MANNER THAT SAID MOTOR IS EFFECTIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID VEHICLE CONTROL SURFACE FOR THE DRIVING THEREOF ONLY WHEN SAID MAGNETIC CLUTCH IS ENERGIZED, MEANS FOR ENERGIZING SAID MAGNETIC CLUTCH MEANS, AND MEANS INTERCONNECTING SAID WATER DEPTH FAIL-SAFE CIRCUIT, SAID WATER DETECTION MEANS, SAID MAGNETIC CLUTCH MEANS, AND THE AFORESAID ENERGIZING MEANS FOR DISCONNECTING THE LATTER FROM SAID MAGNETIC CLUTCH IN RESPONSE TO A PREDETERMINED DEPTH SIGNAL BEING SUPPLIED TO SAID DEPTH FAIL-SAFE CIRCUIT, AND IN RESPONSE TO WATER BEING DETECTED BY THE AFORESAID WATER DETECTION MEANS.