Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
  • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
  • B63B3/00—Hulls characterised by their structure or component parts
  • B63B3/13—Hulls built to withstand hydrostatic pressure when fully submerged, e.g. submarine hulls
• • 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
  • B63G8/001—Underwater vessels adapted for special purposes, e.g. unmanned underwater vessels; Equipment specially adapted therefor, e.g. docking stations
• • 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
  • B63G8/38—Arrangement of visual or electronic watch equipment, e.g. of periscopes, of radar
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
  • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
  • B63B2231/00—Material used for some parts or elements, or for particular purposes
  • B63B2231/40—Synthetic materials
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
  • B63C—LAUNCHING, HAULING-OUT, OR DRY-DOCKING OF VESSELS; LIFE-SAVING IN WATER; EQUIPMENT FOR DWELLING OR WORKING UNDER WATER; MEANS FOR SALVAGING OR SEARCHING FOR UNDERWATER OBJECTS
  • B63C11/00—Equipment for dwelling or working underwater; Means for searching for underwater objects
  • B63C11/48—Means for searching for underwater objects
  • B63C11/49—Floating structures with underwater viewing devices, e.g. with windows ; Arrangements on floating structures of underwater viewing devices, e.g. on boats

Definitions

• This invention relates to submersible vessels such as (without prejudice to the generality) submarines.
• hollow submersible bodies of spherical shape are capable of withstanding approximately twice the external pressure of a substantially cylindrical body of comparable diameter and wall thickness.
• Submersible vessels having pressure hulls formed from a number of interconnected sections in the form of truncated spheres are already known, as disclosed for example in GB 279 483, GB 2 223 716 A and US 5 477 798.
• windows or viewports may also be formed with a part-spherical shape for strength.
• a common material used in the manufacture of such viewports is acrylic plastics, since this has a refractive index close to that of seawater and therefore minimises visual distortion.
• the viewport mounting must be capable of maintaining an effective seal over a wide range of external pressures and operating temperatures.
• a radial face of the viewport surrounding a circular opening is seated against a part- conical surface with provision of suitable seals.
• the viewport is held in position by a clamping ring which holds a peripheral edge of the viewport against the part-conical seat.
• Such arrangements may be used to effectively secure viewports of substantial size.
• the present invention seeks to provide a new and inventive form of submersible vessel having a number of adjacent part-spherical transparent sections in which the size of the internal compartment is maximised whilst maintaining an effective seal throughout a wide range of external pressures.
• the present invention provides a submersible vessel having a pressure hull which includes:
• the cage preferably comprises a tension ring and a plurality of anchoring members projecting from the tension ring and each connected with a respective tension element.
• a thrust member is interposed between adjacent transparent sections, and the tension elements pass slidably through the thrust member.
• the thrust member may thus locate the tension elements whilst balancing the sealing pressures on opposite sides of the thrust member.
• Figure 1 is an external side view of a submarine in accordance with the invention
• Figure 2 is a plan view of the submarine;
• Figure 3 is an end view of the submarine as seen from the bow end;
• Figure 4 is a side view of an internal pressure hull of the submarine
• Figure 5 is a plan view of the pressure hull which comprises a body section and two transparent sections;
• Figure 6 is an end view of the pressure hull as seen from the bow end
• Figure 7 is a transverse section through the pressure hull, the right hand side of the drawing showing the section A-A of Fig. 4 and the left hand side showing the section B-B;
• Figure 8 is a section through the area of the thrust ring which separates the two transparent sections, including an inset detail
• Figure 9 is a section through the area where the transparent sections join the body section.
• Fig.s 1 to 3 show a vessel which is commonly referred to as a submarine.
• the vessel is capable of both surface and sub-surface use.
• the vessel has an external hull 10 which is shaped for surface cruising, having a leading bow end 11 and an aft end 12 with a propeller 15.
• the propeller 15 may be driven by an internal diesel engine to provide economical use over a considerable distance, but during dives the propeller may be driven by an internal electric motor powered by a rechargeable battery.
• the external hull is surmounted by a deck area 16, which is surrounded by an upstanding safety wall 17.
• the bow end 11 is provided with a transparent window 18 which extends on both sides of the vessel.
• the external hull 10 contains an internal pressure hull 20, shown in Fig.s 4 to 7, which is designed to withstand the high external pressures encountered during sub-surface dives.
• the pressure hull includes a bow section 21 , an intermediate section 22, a mid section 23, and an aft section 24.
• the bow and intermediate sections 21 and 22 are both formed of transparent acrylic plastics (other suitable transparent materials could be used, of course) whereas the mid and aft sections 23 and 24 form a metal body section, both being generally of cylindrical shape with circumferential, axialiy-spaced reinforcing rings 25.
• the aft section 24 is closed by a part-spherical end 26 and is joined to the mid section 23 by conventional flange seals 27.
• the transparent sections 21 and 22 form part of an internal passenger compartment 30 within the pressure hull, which extends into the mid and aft sections.
• the passenger compartment is accessed through a cylindrical access hatch 32 which passes through the top of the mid section 23 into the deck area 16 and is closed during dives by a pressure cover 33.
• the remainder of the body section 23, 24 outside the passenger compartment contains service equipment such as the drive motors, batteries, air supply equipment etc.
• a space is formed between the body section 23, 24 of the pressure hull and the external hull 10, containing one or more enclosed ballast tanks which are part-flooded to control the diving depth.
• the transparent sections 21 and 22 of the pressure hull are disposed behind the bow window 18 so that the external environment is clearly visible to people in the passenger compartment.
• the intervening space between the sections 21 , 22 and the window 18 may be flooded to reduce pressure forces on the window 18 during dives.
• the bow section 21 is formed as a truncated sphere with a single opening subtending an angle C at the centre of the sphere of about 120°.
• the intermediate section 22 is similarly formed as a truncated sphere of the same radius, but this section has two opposing openings each subtending the same angle (about 120 degrees) from the centre of the sphere.
• a metal thrust ring 38 is interposed between the transparent sections 21 and 22 whereas the mid section 23 is provided with a ring-shaped seat 39 against which the intermediate section 22 is held.
• a cage 40 is shaped to partially surround the bow section 21 , in contact with its external surface.
• the cage includes a tension ring 41 and a number of anchoring members 42 which project aft from the tension ring, each terminating, adjacent to the thrust ring 38, in a pair of spaced pivot plates 43.
• a respective tension rod 44 is pivotally connected with each of the anchoring members by means of a pivot pin inserted through the plates 43.
• the tension rods 44 extend externally of the intermediate section 22 substantially parallel to the fore-aft axis of the pressure hull, each terminating in a clevis 45.
• Each of the tension rods 44 is pivotally secured to the mid section 23 by means of a respective external anchorage plate 46.
• the two uppermost tension rods are secured to circumferential anchorage plates on the access hatch 32 whereas the remaining plates 46 project radially from the mid section.
• the anchorage plates 46 are all located within the ballast tanks, but the tie rods pass slidably through low pressure seals at the point of entry 47 into the ballast tanks.
• the cage 40 and tension rods 44 clamp the transparent sections 21 and 22 to the mid section 23.
• Eight tension rods are provided in the present embodiment. However four of the rods are disposed at the upper region of the transparent sections 21 and 22 and four are disposed at the lower region.
• the rods 44 do not therefore impede the side view from the passenger compartment but the balanced arrangement enables the cage 40 to apply even clamping pressure to the transparent sections.
• a base platform 48 projects forwardly from the mid section 23 below the transparent sections 21 and 22, which supports the transparent sections during assembly and maintenance of the pressure hull.
• the thrust ring 38 is provided with outwardly-projecting flanges 49 through which the tension rods 44 are slidably inserted to ensure accurate circumferential and radial location of the rods.
• Fig. 8 shows how the thrust ring 38 is interposed between the two transparent sections 21 and 22 whilst Fig. 9 shows how the intermediate section 22 is held against the seat 39 of the mid section 23.
• the adjacent opening of each section is surrounded by a radially-extending face 50 which is supported against a respective part-conical seat 51.
• the outer circumferential limit of each seat is formed by an abutment face 53 which projects substantially perpendicularly from the seat 51.
• the pressure hull may include two or more intermediate sections 22 with a similar thrust ring 38 interposed between each adjacent pair of sections.
• the size of the passenger compartment is maximised whilst maintaining effective seals over a wider range of external hydrostatic pressures.
• the high pressures to which the seals may be subjected during a dive remain substantially balanced throughout the intended operating range.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Aviation & Aerospace Engineering (AREA)
• Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
• Ocean & Marine Engineering (AREA)
• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Radar, Positioning & Navigation (AREA)
• Pressure Vessels And Lids Thereof (AREA)
• Catching Or Destruction (AREA)
• Filling Or Discharging Of Gas Storage Vessels (AREA)
• Polishing Bodies And Polishing Tools (AREA)
• Crystals, And After-Treatments Of Crystals (AREA)
• Surgical Instruments (AREA)

Priority Applications (5)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

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Cited By (1)

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Citations (10)

Family Cites Families (1)

• 2004
  • 2004-05-28 GB GB0411984A patent/GB2414441B/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2005
  • 2005-05-24 EP EP05746954A patent/EP1755940B1/en not_active Not-in-force
  • 2005-05-24 ES ES05746954T patent/ES2310355T3/es active Active
  • 2005-05-24 PT PT05746954T patent/PT1755940E/pt unknown
  • 2005-05-24 PL PL05746954T patent/PL1755940T3/pl unknown
  • 2005-05-24 AT AT05746954T patent/ATE400493T1/de not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2005-05-24 WO PCT/GB2005/002064 patent/WO2005118386A1/en active IP Right Grant
  • 2005-05-24 US US11/569,665 patent/US20080149016A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2005-05-24 DE DE602005008054T patent/DE602005008054D1/de not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2009
  • 2009-05-26 US US12/472,308 patent/US20090229507A1/en not_active Abandoned

Patent Citations (10)

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