WO2012044900A2

WO2012044900A2 - Vectoring ring nozzle

Info

Publication number: WO2012044900A2
Application number: PCT/US2011/054159
Authority: WO
Inventors: Scott Snow
Original assignee: Marine 1, Llc
Priority date: 2010-09-30
Filing date: 2011-09-30
Publication date: 2012-04-05
Also published as: WO2012044900A3

Abstract

A nozzle system includes two or more ring segments through which fluid enters and exits. The ring segments are reconfigurable to adjust a shape of the nozzle. Additionally, the ring segments are reconfigurable to control a direction or vector of fluid exiting the nozzle system by aligning and misaligning segments of the nozzle in a coordinated manner.

Description

VECTORING RING NOZZLE

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims priority of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/388,369 filed September 30, 2010 which is incorporated herein by reference. FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The invention relates to nozzles.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Nozzles may be utilized to provide a directional output for a fluid. Generally nozzles are formed of a structural member that has a fixed fluid path and shape. The nozzle may be moved but retains the same general shape and flow characteristics. There is therefore a need in the art for a nozzle that may vary its shape and flow characteristics. There is also a need in the art for a nozzle that may be arranged to form a desired nozzle type such as convergent, divergent, convergent-divergent, neutral, or other specified nozzle. There is a further need in the art for a nozzle that allows for directional or vector control of the nozzle by aligning and misaligning segments of the nozzle in a coordinated manner.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] In one aspect, there is disclosed a nozzle system that includes two or more moveable ring segments through which fluid enters and exits wherein the ring segments are actuable controlling a shape of the nozzle.

[0005] In another aspect, there is disclosed a nozzle system that includes two or more ring segments through which fluid enters and exits wherein the ring segments are reconfigurable to adjust a shape of the nozzle.

[0006] In a further aspect, there is disclosed a nozzle system that includes two or more ring segments through which fluid enters and exits wherein the ring segments are actuable to control a direction or vector of fluid exiting the nozzle system.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a nozzle system that is in a non actuated position;

[0008] Figure 2 is a cutaway perspective view of a nozzle system that is in a non actuated position; [0009] Figure 3 is a cutaway perspective view of a nozzle system that is in an actuated position;

[0010] Figure 4 is a side view of a nozzle system that is in a non actuated position;

[0011] Figure 5 is a side view of a nozzle system that is in an actuated position;

[0012] Figure 6 is an end view of one embodiment of an actuator system for use in the nozzle system in a non actuated position;

[0013] Figure 7 is an end view of an actuator system actuated on a steering axis;

[0014] Figure 8 is an end view of an actuator system actuated on a steering axis;

[0015] Figure 9 is an end view of an actuator system actuated on a pitch axis;

[0016] Figure 10 is an end view of an actuator system actuated on a pitch and steering axis;

[0017] Figure 11 is a control diagram of an active attitude control system connected to the actuator system of the nozzle system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0018] A nozzle may be a mechanical device having a pipe or tube. The tube may have a varying cross sectional area designed to control, direct or modify the flow of a fluid medium such as a liquid or gas. Nozzles may be used to control flow characteristics of the fluid medium such as the fluid's speed, pressure, shape, or vector.

[0019] Referring to the Figures, the Vectoring Ring Nozzle (VRN) 20 of the present invention may include multiple hollow ring segments 25 that are assembled to form an articulating nozzle. The ring segments 25 may include hollow centers 30 of varying or equal cross sectional area. The ring segments 25 may be arranged to form a desired nozzle type such as convergent, divergent, convergent-divergent, neutral, or another specified nozzle. Directional or vector control of the nozzle 20 may be implemented by aligning and misaligning the hollow center sections 30 in a coordinated manner. The vector or directional control may be performed on one or more axis, including the pitch or Y-axis in Figures 6-10 and the steering axis or X-axis in Figure 6-10.

[0020] In one aspect, as best seen in Figures 6-10, articulation of the ring segments 25 can be accomplished using actuators 35 with linear X and / or Y translation of the individual ring segments 25. The vectoring ring nozzle 20 improves the flow characteristics in comparison to a traditional nozzle and maintains better control of pressure and reduces the wetted surface area of the nozzle. [0021] The Vectoring Ring Nozzle 20 may be integrated with an active attitude control, stabilization and motion damping system 50 as depicted in Figure 11 for manned and unmanned vessels for both marine and aerospace vessels. Such an attitude control system 50 sends signals to the actuators 35 controlling the shape and characteristics of the vectoring ring nozzle 20. The vectoring ring nozzle 20 improves a vessel control system through improvements in the integration technology efficiency. Various improvements of prior technology include: 1) reducing actuation force requirements for the vectoring of the nozzle 2) reducing effector or nozzle resistance to actuation and 3) improving effector or nozzle efficiency and performance.

[0022] As stated above the vectoring ring nozzle 20 may be integrated with an active attitude control, stabilization and motion damping system 50. A marine vessel active attitude control, stabilization and motion damping system 50 is a system selected, sized and integrated, based on a vessel's specific design, to achieve the effector rates required for damping in any or all of the pitch, roll and yaw axes. Active marine vessel damping is the attenuation of the value of a resonant response, such as pitch, roll and yaw of a vessel. For motion damping to be achieved, effector angular motion rates should generally be at least 10 times a vessel's angular motion rate in the pitch and roll axes. Angular motion rates of 4 degrees per second are typical of conventional high performance planing craft. This means that effector angular motion rates of 40 degrees per second are required to achieve motion damping for this specific performance class of planing craft. Control forces produced by hydrodynamic effectors (i.e. interceptors, tabs, hydrofoils, etc.) are speed dependent. These forces increase with speed as a function of velocity- squared. Thus, higher gain settings are required at lower vessel speeds in order to compensate for lower force production. Gain adjustment is accomplished automatically by a control unit based on vessel speed. Vessel speed information can be provided by GPS; Doppler or other sources of a vessel's speed.

[0023] Vessel attitude is defined relative to at least three rotational axes: Pitch is vessel rotation about the Y (transverse or sway) axis; Roll or steering is vessel rotation about the X (longitudinal or surge) axis; Yaw is vessel rotation about the Z (vertical or heave) axis. Control of vessel attitude, stability and motion damping makes possible decoupled vessel maneuvers that are "unnatural" and otherwise not possible such as, forcing a "flat turn when the natural tendency of the vessel instead would be to turn with a significant angle of heel / list.

[0024] In one aspect, the vessel motion control system 50 electronics package is an automated control system integrating a central control computer package with vessel motion sensors and closed loop servo control outputs, providing real-time automatic control of the main operating parameters of the vessel. The Central Control Computer executes ride control algorithms and coordinates system activity. The central control computer is capable of interfacing with a wide variety of devices including sensors and other systems. The central control computer is a configurable hardware assembly constructed with the appropriate internal modules to support specific control system functionality requirements. For closed-loop servo control, the central control computer may include an Input Module to acquire effector data, an Output Module to drive effector position; and an I/O Module to control the actuator package.

[0025] The vectoring ring nozzle 20 may include a Dual-Axis (X & Y) Linear actuator mechanism 55. The actuator mechanism 55 may include a Slide Table 57 for actuation of pitch and steering whereby pitch actuation is not influenced by steering and steering actuation is not influenced by pitch. Alternatively a circular table represented by 70 may be utilized. The table configuration may eliminate processor capacity robbing "loop" conflicts. The actuators 35 may be positioned in various relationships with the ring segments 25. In one aspect, the actuators 35 may be positioned to actuate a final ring segment 27 at a nozzle plate 40. The nozzle plates 40 of the various ring segments 25 may be interlocked with composite bearings 60 which control movement autonomy from adjacent plate 40 to adjacent plate 40. The nozzle plates 40 may be formed of lightweight composite materials in order to reduce both mass and required actuation force. Additionally, the plate material may have an increased lubricity when exposed to saltwater for a marine application. The ring segments 25 may include various inside cut angles 65, such as, 20°; 25°; 30°; etc. In one aspect as shown in Figures 1-5 the cut angles 65 may vary from ring segment to ring segment 25. In one aspect the ring segments 25 may be arranged with specified angles in a specified number of segments 25 to achieve a desired flow or vectoring characteristic.

[0026] In one aspect, the vectoring ring nozzle 20 may be designed such that a fluid will seek the path of least resistance. In this manner, one may optimize ring position during vectored actuation ensuring an efficient fluid transition through the vector change (unlike current nozzles which impart hard turns). Various shaped ring segments 25 may be utilized including circular, oval, eccentric shapes, square shapes or other shapes having multiple facets and various numbers of sides or curves.

[0027] In use, the actuators 35 may adjust a position of the ring segments 25 to alter a shape or vector of the ring nozzle. In the depicted embodiment of Figure 5 the actuator mechanism 55 is shown in a central or non actuated position. In Figures 7 and 8 the steering actuator 35 has been actuated moving the ring 27 to the left and to the right in the Figures, respectively. In Figure 9 the pitch actuator 35 has been actuated moving the ring 27 down, although the ring can also move freely upward in the Figure. In Figure 10 both the pitch and steering actuators have been actuated to move the ring in two axes. In this manner various orientations of ring segments 25 may provide a specified vector or shape of a nozzle 20 through independent movement on the pitch and steering axes.

[0028] In an alternative embodiment, the individual ring segments 25 may not be actuated but may be locked into a specified configuration. In such an application a pivo tally coupled nozzle 20 may utilize a frame or other housing to support multiple interchangeable fixed-position ring segments 25 with varying and / or equal cross sectional areas, enabling the nozzle type, performance, and characteristics to be modified. For example, a nozzle can be reconfigured from convergent to divergent and changed to other shapes or designs based on a desired performance characteristic of a vessel. As described above, the nozzle 20 may be integrated with an active attitude control, stabilization and motion damping system 50.

Claims

Claims:

1. A nozzle system comprising:

two or more moveable ring segments through which fluid enters and exits wherein the ring segments are actuable adjusting a shape of the nozzle.

2. The nozzle system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the individual ring segments include an opening through which fluid enters and exits

3. The nozzle system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the individual ring segments include an opening of varying and /or equal cross sectional area through which fluid enters and exits.

4. The nozzle system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the individual ring segments include an opening having common or dissimilar inlet and outlet cross sectional areas through which fluid enters and exits.

5. The nozzle system as set forth in claim 1, wherein a vector created by exiting fluid is controlled in one or more axes.

6. The nozzle system as set forth in claim 1, wherein directional or vector control includes aligning and misaligning the openings within the ring segments in a coordinated manner.

7. The nozzle system as set forth in claim 1, wherein directional or vector control includes linear X and / or Y translation of the individual ring segments.

8. The nozzle system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the individual ring segments, having openings of varying and / or equal cross sectional areas through which fluid enters and exits are arranged to define specified nozzle types.

9. The nozzle system as set forth in claim 8, wherein the individual ring segments, having openings of varying and / or equal cross sectional areas through which fluid enters and exits are rearranged upon actuation changing the nozzle type.

10. The nozzle system as set forth in claim 8, wherein the individual ring segments, having openings of varying and / or equal cross sectional areas through which fluid enters and exits, are replaceable adjusting nozzle performance and flow characteristics and including replacing individual ring segments with rings having a specified cross sectional area.

11. The nozzle system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the individual ring segments are coupled to each other allowing translation freedom of movement between adjoining rings.

12. The nozzle system as set forth in claim 1, wherein directional or vector control includes linear X and / or Y translation of the individual ring segments including affixing an actuator mechanism to a ring segment or segments at a fluid exit of the ring nozzle assembly.

13. The nozzle system as set forth in claim 4, wherein the individual ring segments includes an opening having common or dissimilar inlet and outlet cross sectional areas through which fluid enters and exits, whereby the individual rings purposefully disturb a boundary layer of a fluid.

14. A nozzle system comprising:

two or more ring segments through which fluid enters and exits wherein the ring segments are reconfigurable to control a shape of the nozzle system.

15. A nozzle system comprising:

two or more ring segments through which fluid enters and exits wherein the ring segments are actuable to control a vector of fluid exiting the nozzle system.

16. The nozzle system of claim 15 wherein the vector is controlled by aligning and misaligning ring segments of the nozzle in a coordinated manner.

17. A nozzle system comprising:

two or more ring segments coupled to each other allowing translation of the individual segments, the two or more ring segments defining a path through which fluid enters and exits; an actuator mechanism connected to at least one of the ring segments wherein the ring segments are actuable adjusting a shape of the nozzle.

18. The nozzle system of claim 17 wherein the ring segments are actuable to control a direction or vector of fluid exiting the nozzle system.

19. The nozzle system of claim 17 wherein the actuator mechanism includes actuators of both a steering and pitch axis.

20. The nozzle system of claim 17 wherein the actuator mechanism is attached to a ring segment or segments at a fluid exit of the ring nozzle assembly.