WO2013152778A2

WO2013152778A2 - Submersible vessel with dry cabin and permanent positive buoyancy

Info

Publication number: WO2013152778A2
Application number: PCT/DO2013/000001
Authority: WO
Inventors: Elena BELOUSOVA
Original assignee: Belousova Elena
Priority date: 2012-04-10
Filing date: 2013-04-08
Publication date: 2013-10-17
Also published as: WO2013152778A3

Abstract

The invention relates to a submersible vessel with a dry cabin and permanent positive buoyancy. This vessel includes an outboard-type motor (2) that includes a drive unit and a propeller shaft and is positioned in a motor compartment (1) which is sealed in the upper part thereof; the lower part of said motor compartment (1) has an opening (7, 7a) for the passage of the propeller shaft; the pressure of the air contained in said motor compartment (1) prevents water rising from said opening (7, 7a) to the level of the drive unit.

Description

SUBMERSIBLE BOAT TO DRY CABIN AND TO

PERMANENT POSITIVE FLOATABILITY

The present invention relates to a submersible boat with a dry cabin and permanent positive buoyancy. A submersible vessel according to the invention can be used advantageously in recreational navigation with the realization of jumps and barrels above the surface of the water.

At present, such vessels propelled by an "inboard" type engine are known. However, the size and complexity of the installation of such engines require technical expertise and a production tool appropriate to the technology used. The conception as well as the use to which the known machines are destined do not allow, due to their ability to navigate in immersion, the use of an outboard motor. In addition, the shocks generated in the receptions of jumps or in the realization of barrels induce structural forces too strong to be absorbed by a motor support of classic conception conceived to support the weight of an outboard motor whose fixing system of series is intended for conventional use. An inboard engine firmly fixed inside a hull perfectly watertight from all contact with water, is the only known example currently applicable on equivalent vessels.

Devices are also known in relation to the immersion of an outboard motor under the surface of the water.

For example, document US 68 1 7912 describes an engine that can be stored, transported or discharged from a submarine under water or without any damage before being started and used in a normal way outdoors in order to propel a surface vessel.

Document US 557336 describes a device whose operation is comparable to the water traps equipped by some all-terrain vehicles or motorized water vehicles {jet ski), installed on the air inlet of the deck of an outboard motor, which propels a surface vessel, and are intended to protect Carefully drive the moisture block, separating the water and air and redirecting the water to the outside, when the air intake draws water, for example, during a brief step under a wave. Boats are also known that contain the inclined wings allowing them to submerge. But when the boat is under water, these wings must support all the forces, produced by the pressure of the water, necessary to keep the boat submerged. The capacity of these wings is limited by their reduced surface and in the absence of ballast, it is necessary to reach high navigation speeds in order to obtain a water pressure, which exerts on said wings a sufficient force to make them operative with the fi n to keep the dive. This feature requires that an engine be used, whose power is sufficient to allow these vessels to reach the speed necessary for their operation. The wings of larger dimensions would allow a more efficient operation at a lower speed that requires much less powerful engines, but the hydrodynamic trail that the wings generate and that delays the ship, and especially the risks of pressure rupture, constitute problems, which the current state of the art does not allow to solve at a competitive price.

As known vessels are equipped with a ventilation system designed to renew the air and maintain an acceptable temperature inside the cabin, electrical or mechanical or hydraulic ventilation systems are used whose complexity influences manufacturing prices and whose consumption of energy influences engine operation. In addition, the mobile elements that constitute such ventilation systems present additional risks of breakdowns. Also in known vessels when the air intake of the surface respirator is closed during the immersion phases, the engine continues to run for a few seconds, sucking a part of the air contained inside the cabin and causing a strong decompression in the cabin , which implies physical discomfort for the crew, in particular, pain in the eardrums. Finally, stopping the engine operation, deprived of air supply, when the surface respirator is closed, limits the duration and immersion depth of the known devices. The present invention aims to mitigate these drawbacks.

For this purpose, the invention has as its object a submersible boat with a dry cabin and permanent positive buoyancy; said vessel comprises an outboard type engine, which includes a motor block and an ice propeller shaft arranged in a sealed engine compartment in its upper part, the lower part of said motor compartment contains an opening for the passage of the ice propeller shaft ; the pressure of the air contained in said engine compartment obstructs the rise of water from said opening to the level of the engine block. Optionally, a seal, which fits in the shape of the part of the motor that crosses said opening, can be provided.

In a particular method of embodiment, the vessel according to the invention contains a horizontal dividing watertight dividing wall that divides the engine compartment into two compartments; said watertight dividing wall is placed at a variable height within the engine compartment to allow air circulation above said dividing wall. Advantageously, such a horizontal dividing wall can serve as a support function of the drive block, allowing to absorb the vibrations of the ice propeller and dampen the weight of the engine in the crashes entered on the waves or in the receptions of the jumps of the boat . A horizontal partition wall according to the invention can compensate for the stresses suffered by a support of the classic engine and thus significantly reduce the risks of rupture of such support, which the person skilled in the art has to face with the vessels currently available.

In another particular method of embodiment, the vessel according to the invention contains a protective cover of the drive block. In a realization version of the invention said protective cover contains an outflow of air exhaust and an outflow of engine cooling water. This cover can contain an opening located in front of the engine air inlet, designed in such a way that it contains a fixing means that can be composed of a rigid plastic tube, which allows the tight connection of the end of a air inlet duct, the other end of which is connected to an outside source of air supply intended to feed the running engine under the surface of the water. An opening that can consist of a sealed connection box, allows the passage of control systems, electrical cables and the legacy of gasoline. An airtight hull, which may consist of the second sealed connection box, may be installed on the hull of the ship to allow the passage of said cables and hoses into the interior of the ship.

Likewise, in a particular embodiment, the vessel according to the invention contains a sealed air circulation duct that connects the air inlet of a motor to an outside air cooler so as to allow the operation of said engine in low immersion. The surface of the water. Similarly, in a particular embodiment, the vessel according to the invention comprises a valve, which connects the inside of the engine compartment to the outside air and an immersion detector to control said valve. When the boat is on the surface of the water, the immersion detector drives the opening of the valve creating an open air passage, which allows the internal pressure of the engine compartment to balance with the external atmospheric pressure and which allows idling to escape operate at the expected atmospheric pressure in the factory outboard engine settings designed for an out-of-doors exit. Before each dive of the boat the immersion detector comes into contact with the surface of the water and automatically starts the closing of the valve, allowing to maintain the hermetic motor compartment and prevent any loss of the pressure of the compressed gases it contains.

Similarly in a particular embodiment, an air supply circuit contains a conduit, the end of which is connected. to an outside air source and the other end is connected to the inside of the cabin.

Thus my smo, the volume of air sucked by the operating air inlet of the engine, provided with a passage leading directly or indirectly into the cabin, produces a stream of air that crosses the cabin between the other end and the inlet of air and allows to renew in a permanent way the air of the cabin of a volume of fresh air equal to the volume of air consumed by the engine in operation.

In a particular embodiment of the invention, the air supply circuit conduit contains at least one valve, possibly synchronized by a cable, which allows the cabin to be protected from decompression phenomena capable of intervening.

Similarly, in a particular method of realization, the shape of at least a part of the vessel forms an asymmetric profile, whose upper surface forms an intrados and the lower surface forms an extrados in a way that allows the depth of the immersion of the vessel to be modified. boat modifying its travel speed underwater.

A device can be provided to maintain a stable atmospheric pressure inside the cabin. This device, for example, consists of an outside air inlet opening by imposing an opening, which allows an air passage between the engine air inlet and the cabin. The openings can be closed by a device that can be constituted by valves, which open and close if simultaneously thanks to a synchronization mechanism regulating the atmospheric pressure. When the vessel enters immersion, the closing of one of the valves deprives the incoming vessel of fresh air, while the closure of the other valve closes the air passage between the cabin and the engine air inlet preventing it In this way, said engine can aspirate the air inside the cabin and cause the depression to cause physical discomfort to the passengers. Likewise in a particular embodiment, at least one compressed air tank allows the imitation of the air motor during the immersion phases; A compressor is ready to feed said tank. A method of embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example and in a non-restrictive manner, in reference to the attached schematic drawings, in which:

- Figure 1 is a sectional view of the invention describing the operation of the propeller group, the air supply of the mechanics and the crew cabin, the immersion depth control,

Figure 2 is a sectional view of an engine air supply device according to the invention,

Figure 3 is a sectional view of another embodiment of the air supply of the motor according to the invention,

Figure 4 is a sectional view of a compact version of the engine air supply according to the invention,

- Figure 5 is a sectional view of a simplified embodiment of the invention.

Figure 1 represents the propellant group according to the invention, which contains a compartment (1) into which an outboard type motor (2) is installed, comprising a drive block (3), a drive shaft (4) and a propeller or a turbine (5), all fixed on a support (6). The compartment (1) is hermetic except for an opening (7, 7a) on its lower part of sufficient size to allow the transmission shaft (4) of the outboard motor to pass and immersion of its propeller or turbine (5 ) in water.

When the boat merges, the water level rises inside the compartment (1) due to the effect of the water pressure proportional to the depth of immersion. The increase in the volume of water inside the compartment (1) bought me the air placed in the engine compartment until the air and water reach an equivalent pressure. The balance of air and water pressure implies the level of water rising higher inside the compartment and flooding the drive block (3). The idle exhaust (8) of the engine serves as an air compressor, permanently injecting a part of the gases burned by the engine into the compartment (1), which contributes to increasing the amount of compressed gas required to remove the water outward and improve the effectiveness of the device. An opening, which can consist of a valve

(9), is placed in such a way that it connects the inside of the compartment (1) to the outside outdoors. An immersion detector, which may consist of a float (10), located as close as possible to the waterline, controls the opening and closing of this valve (9)

When the ship is on the surface of the water, the immersion detector

(10) drives the opening of the valve (9) creating a free air passage, which allows the internal pressure of the compartment (1) to balance with the external atmospheric pressure and which allows the idle exhaust (8) to run under pressure Atmospheric setting in the factory settings of the outboard engine designed for an exhaust outlet (8) in the open air, which corresponds to a reference pressure of 1 bar Before each dive of the vessel the immersion detector (1 0) It comes into contact with the surface of the water and automatically starts the closing of the valve (9), allowing to keep the engine compartment (1) airtight and prevent any loss of pressure of the compressed gases it contains.

When the ship travels under the surface of the water, the power developed by the engine that allows to cause and maintain the immersion of the boat produces an evacuation pressure of the burned gases, required to put into operation the outflow of main underwater exhaust (1 1), when the valve (9) is closed.

The engine controls (12), the cabls are electric (1 3), as well as the fuel inlet duct (14) pass through watertight hulls (12a, 13 a, 14a) to connect the compartment (1) to the rest of the ship according to the invention

The present device allows the invention the installation and use in underwater immersion of any outboard motor of a series sufficient power, which contains a propeller or a turbine, and without said engine requiring modification, adaptation, or particular technical adjustment.

The fresh air supply necessary for the operation of the engine is carried out by a supply circuit, hermetic to the ambient air, of the engine compartment (1), intended to prevent the engine from aspirating the air contained in the compartment (1) in order to prevent a drop in the internal pressure of the gases contained within the compartment (1) and prevent the water level from rising and flooding the drive block (3).

A conduit (15) contains a limb equipped with a seal (16), which is connected directly over the air inlet (17) of the engine, and the other end (18) is connected to a passage (19), which joins the inside to the outside of the engine compartment; The assembly forms a single whole by directly connecting the air inlet (17) of the engine to the outside of the engine compartment, which can be inside the cabin (20), and indirectly the air intake of the surface respirator (21).

The ventilation and the renewal of the fresh air of the cabin necessary for the immersion navigation according to the invention is carried out by a device that does not contain any moving part supplied by an energy source, intended to press the air, and involves a duct (15 ), which connects the cabin (20) through a passage (19) to the engine air inlet (17). A duct (22) whose end (23) is located as far as possible from the end (18) of the duct (15) connects the cabin to the outside air (21). The air sucked into the duct (15) by the air inlet (17) of the engine (2) in operation produces an air current that crosses the cabin between the end (23) of the duct (22) and the end (18) of the duct (15) permanently renovating the cabin air (20) of a volume of fresh air of several tens of liters per second, equal to the volume of air consumed by the engine (2) in operation.

The present device reduces the complexity of construction and operation of the ventilation circuit according to the invention and greatly increases its reliability and performance. The circuit for supplying fresh air outside the engine and cabin contains a sealed shutter, which can consist of a valve (24), which can be activated by an immersion detector, which can consist of a float (25), which in case of immersion too deep causes the closure of the respirator (2 1) preventing water from entering the vessel through the respirator (2 1), and retains a stable atmospheric pressure inside the cabin. During the closing of the valve (24) of the respirator air intake (2 1), a synchronization means, which may consist of a cable (27), which brings the valve (24) together to a valve (26), placed on the passage (19), which connects the cab (20) and the engine compartment (1), operates the valve (26) in a way that closes the air passage from the cabin (20) and prevents Inlet of the air (1 7) from the engine, aspirate the air contained inside the cabin and cause depression inside the cabin that can cause physical discomfort to the passengers.

The immersion depth control means necessary for the operation of the present invention can operate alone or in association with a tiltable depth rudder, or a ballast, or both, or the three sets The shape of the helmet or part of the helmet according to the present invention, it consists of an asymmetric profile (28), whose upper plane forms an intrados (29) and lower plane forms an extrados (30). When the hull travels in immersion, water circulates more rapidly along the intrados (29) and causes an overpressure that results in a downward thrust, while water that circulates less rapidly along the extrados (30) , it forms a depression, which results in a downward aspiration.

Since the intensity of these overpressures and depressions is proportional to the speed of travel of the boat underwater, the device allows the pilot to modify the depth of immersion by modifying the speed of the boat. Thus, the present device makes it possible to reproduce the action of the orientable depth rudders (3 1, 32) using a fixed surface devoid of a much larger mobile and dimensioning mechanism allowing the present invention to be effective at lower speeds being in At the same time more solid and more reliable.

This device also has the advantage of allowing the present invention to use outboard motors of much lower power. that of the inboard engines that are currently used in the state of the art.

Figure 2 represents another variant embodiment of the fresh air supply circuit necessary for the operation of the engine, which contains a watertight dividing wall of horizontal separation (33) that separates the compartment (1) into two compartments la, I b, and which is placed inside the compartment 1 at a height, which allows the circulation of air above said dividing wall (33) between the air inlet (1 7) and the valve (26), which communicates with the outside of the engine compartment (20, 2 1). The dividing wall (33) contains in its center an opening (34, 34a) whose shape and dimension fits tightly with the shape of the base of the drive block (3) thanks to a gasket (35), allowing the passage from the drive shaft (4) and exhaust gas discharge (8) and engine cooling water (36) to the lower compartment (I b) so as not to flood the drive block (3) and preserve air quality in the compartment (la) in order to ensure optimum combustion engine operation (2). A device that allows immersion navigation without being permanently connected to the surface by an air supply line (22), consists of one or more compressed air tanks (4 1), which can be recharged by a external or onboard compressor (42). The compressor (42) is connected to the outside air inlet (21) through the ducts (43, 22). When the air inlet (2 1) is located above the water surface, the valves (24, 26) are open in a way that allows the compressor (42) to aspirate fresh air through the ducts (22, 43) and fill the tank (4 1) with compressed air. When the ship is sailing, while the air inlet (21) is submerged, the valves (24, 26) are closed and deprive the engine of fresh air. As soon as the valve (26) closes, the engine sucks the air contained inside the engine compartment (1) causing a depression inside the engine compartment. Also simultaneously, a valve (45) opens under the effect of depression, created in this way, and releases the air contained in the compressed air tank (4 1).

A pressure regulator regulated to the bar (46), which can operate independently or in association with the valve (45), delivers the volume of air required for engine operation at a pressure equal to the measurable atmospheric pressure on the surface of the water, which is 1 bar. It must be borne in mind that in order to transpose this embodiment into Figure 1 without the dividing wall (33), a conduit (44) connects the valve (45) to the conduit (1 5).

The present device is intended to feed the engine with air during the immersion phases whose depth no longer allows the use of the conduit (22) as the main source of air intake.

Figure 3 represents that depending on the shape of the different outboard motors available on the market or depending on the shape and space available in the compartment (1), a dividing wall (33) of Figure 2, called here (33 a) and its seal (35a) can be installed higher or lower than the base of the engine block, where the exhaust outlets at idle speed (8) and the salt left of cooling water ( 36).

An extraction device intended to evacuate the cooling water (36) and the exhaust gases (8) towards the outside of the ship can be constituted by ducts (37, 38), whose ends are connected to the outlets (8, 36) by gaskets (37a, 38a). The other ends of the ducts are connected to watertight hulls (37b, 38b) that communicate with the outside of the boat. A water pump (39) and a gas extraction fan (40) can complete the device.

Figure 4 represents another compact variant of the compartment (1) intended to protect the motor from contact with water while ensuring the fresh air supply necessary for the operation of the engine during the immersion phases of the present invention, and It is characterized by a compartment made of a material that is preferably flexible and water impermeable (49) that covers the drive block (3) of the outboard motor in order to protect all openings that allow water to enter the inside of the drive block. , with the exception of the outgoing air idle exit salt (8) and the outgoing salt of the engine cooling water (36). The compartment (49) contains an opening (50) located in front of the air inlet (1 7) of the engine cover. This opening is designed in such a way, that it contains a fixing mode, which can be constituted of a tube in rigid plastic material (5 1) that allows a tight connection of an air inlet duct (52) destined to feed the engine during operation under water surface.

An opening that can consist of a sealed connection box (53) allows the passage of the control systems (1 2), the electric cables (1 3) and the legacy of gasoline (14). This last embodiment allows the installation of a second assistance motor placed directly outside the helmet. The present flood protection and air supply device according to the present invention allows any outboard motor of sufficient power to propel a submersible vessel to operate immersed in a dry environment without sucking water that could damage it.

Claims

1. Submersible boat to dry cabin and permanent positive buoyancy, characterized in that it contains an outboard type engine (2), which includes a drive block and a propeller shaft, placed in a sealed engine compartment (1) in its upper part ; the lower part of said engine compartment (1) contains an opening (7, 7a) for the passage of the propeller shaft; the air pressure contained in said engine compartment (1) prevents the rise of water from said opening (7, 7a) to the level of the engine block (3).

2. Boat according to claim 1 containing a dividing wall horizontal separation (33, 33a) that divides the engine compartment (1) into two compartments (la, Ib) and is placed at a variable height inside the engine compartment (1) to allow free air circulation over said dividing wall (33).

3. Boat according to claim 1 or 2 containing a protective cover (49) of the drive block (3).

4. Boat according to claim 3 characterized in that said protective cover (49) of the drive block (3) contains an air exhaust outlet (8) and an engine cooling water outlet (36).

5. Boat according to any of the preceding claims, containing a sealed air circulation duct (15, the) connecting the air inlet (17) of a motor (2) to an outside air supply source (21) of a mode, which allows the operation of said motor immersed under the surface of the water.

6. Boat according to any of the preceding claims, which contains a valve (9), which connects the inside of the compartment (1) to the outdoor outside and an immersion detector (10) to control said valve.

A vessel according to any one of the preceding claims, in which an air supply circuit contains a conduit (22), whose end (2 1) is connected to an outside air source and the other end (23) is connected to the cabin interior (20).

8. Boat according to the previous claim, in which the duct (22) of the air supply circuit contains at least one valve (24, 26).

9. Boat according to any of the preceding claims, whose form of at least one part of the hull forms an asymmetric profile (28) whose upper surface forms an intrados (29) and the lower surface forms an extrados (30) of a way allowing to modify the depth of the immersion of the boat, modifying its speed of displacement low or the water.

10. Boat according to any of the preceding claims, which contains at least one compressed air tank (4 1) for feeding the air motor during the immersion phases and a compressor (42) for feeding said tank.