WO2018185203A1

WO2018185203A1 - Contactless electrical energy transmission system, particularly for a drone

Info

Publication number: WO2018185203A1
Application number: PCT/EP2018/058689
Authority: WO
Inventors: Luc PALABE; Marc RICHARD
Original assignee: Naval Group
Priority date: 2017-04-06
Filing date: 2018-04-05
Publication date: 2018-10-11
Also published as: FR3065121A1; FR3065121B1

Abstract

This contactless electrical energy transmission system by electromagnetic induction, particularly for supplying an underwater craft (2) of the drone type and particularly for recharging electrical energy storage means thereof when it is received in means (6) for receiving said craft, is characterised in that it comprises at least one inductive emitting coil (30) associated with the means for receiving the drone and a corresponding receiving coil (32) associated with the drone, placed opposite the emitting coil when the drone is received in the reception means, and the coils being associated with composite support structures.

Description

NON-CONTACT ELECTRIC POWER TRANSMISSION SYSTEM

NOTABLY FOR DRONE

The present invention relates to a system for transmitting electrical energy without contact by electromagnetic induction, particularly for feeding a UAV-type underwater vehicle.

Such underwater gear is increasingly used for the control, monitoring and inspection of submerged facilities.

Underwater drones are used in sectors such as the offshore oil and gas industry, in the underwater mining industry, in coastal and maritime surveillance operations, and even in scientific ocean observatories.

At present, operational maintenance operations for this type of gear require surface recovery, for example on board a platform such as a support vessel, where operational restoration operations are carried out. performed.

This allows for example on the one hand to clean the underwater vehicle and its various sensors, and on the other hand to recharge its power supply batteries.

However, it is conceivable that these recovery operations are relatively restrictive, time consuming and expensive.

The object of the invention is therefore to take into account these constraints.

For this purpose, the subject of the invention is a non-contact electrical energy transmission system by electromagnetic induction for feeding a UAV-type underwater vehicle and recharging means for storing electrical energy from that when it is received in means of reception of this machine, characterized in that it comprises at least one inductive transmitter coil associated with the reception means of the machine and a corresponding receiver coil associated with the machine placed next to the transmitting coil when the machine is received in the reception means and the coils being associated with composite support structures and in that the coils are connected to the rest of the circuits of the reception means and the machine by means forming flexible / immersible cable.

According to other features of the system according to the invention taken alone or in combination: - The inductive transmitter coil is connected to the output of a voltage / frequency converter connected to a source of electrical power supply;

- The receiver coil is connected to a frequency converter / power supply of the rest of the machine and in particular means for storing electrical energy therefrom;

the or each transmitting or receiving coil is made of Litz wires;

the or each transmitting or receiving coil is associated with a composite support structure comprising at least one ferrite plate interposed between an insulating plate and an aluminum plate, the coil being associated with the insulating plate;

the transmitting or receiving coil is housed in a resin envelope;

the receiver envelope of the receiver coil also includes the frequency / voltage converter.

The invention will be better understood on reading the description which follows, given solely by way of example and with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 represents a perspective side view with parts in transparency, of a submerged system for storing and keeping in operational condition according to the invention,

FIGS. 2 and 3 represent partial views of this system illustrating the operation of input and output gate means of this system,

FIG. 4 represents a detail view illustrating an exemplary embodiment of means forming a cradle for receiving an underwater vehicle, forming part of the constitution of a system according to the invention,

FIG. 5 represents a detailed view of means in the form of a clamp for holding the machine in position in such a structure,

FIG. 6 represents a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of an underwater vehicle,

FIG. 7 illustrates the operation of filling / emptying means forming part of the constitution of an immersed system according to the invention,

FIG. 8 illustrates the structure and operation of the inductive coupling means forming a system according to the invention, and

- Figure 9 illustrates the structure and operation of power supply means forming part of a system according to the invention. In these figures, and in particular in FIG. 1, a submerged system for storing and maintaining in operational condition a submarine machine of the drone type has indeed been illustrated.

The system is designated by the general reference 1, while the underwater vehicle is designated by the general reference 2.

In general and as illustrated, such a system comprises means forming a base base, designated by the general reference 3, on which are provided bell-shaped means for receiving the underwater vehicle 2, in position storage, these bell-shaped means being designated by the general reference 4.

This system also comprises means for filling / emptying these bell-shaped means 4 with the aid of a preservation fluid of the underwater vehicle 2.

These means will be described in more detail later.

Such a system 1 is intended to be immersed and for example to rest on the bottom such as the seabed.

It is then used to carry out basic operational maintenance operations of the underwater vehicle 2, such as for example the recharging of electrical energy storage means thereof, as will be described in more detail by the after.

For this purpose and more particularly, the bell-shaped means 4 thereof have for example at one end, means forming a door allowing the underwater vehicle 2 to enter and exit bell-shaped means 4.

In fact, these door means are designated by the general reference 5 in these Figures 1 to 3, and are for example in the form of an articulated door deployable between a retracted position, illustrated in Figure 2, and an active position. deployed, illustrated in Figure 3.

In the retracted position, that is to say the open door, the underwater vehicle 2 can then enter the bell-shaped means 4 to be stored therein.

Once the machine in the storage position in the bell-shaped means 4, the door can then be closed.

As indicated above, the system comprises means for receiving the underwater vehicle 2 in the storage position.

An exemplary embodiment of these receiving means is illustrated in these figures and in particular in FIGS. 1, 4 and 5.

These reception means comprise in fact elongated means forming a cradle for receiving the underwater vehicle 2 in the storage position. These cradle means are designated by the general reference 6 in these figures.

In fact and as illustrated in particular in FIG. 1 and in FIG. 4, these cradle means 6 comprise an elongated tubular element, designated by the general reference 7, comprising at one of its ends, that is to say at the end opposite the means forming a door 5 of the bell 4, a guide cone of the machine in the storage position therein.

In these figures, the cone is designated by the general reference 8.

At the other of its ends, that is to say the end opposite to the entrance of the bell 4, the means forming a home cradle comprise a front stop cap for the front end of the machine submarine 2.

This cap is for example designated by the general reference 9 in these figures and is connected to the rest of the system for example by means of damping means designated by the general reference 10.

These damping means comprise for example a block of elastically deformable material.

In its intermediate part, this tubular element, constituting the means forming a cradle for receiving the underwater vehicle, comprises means in the form of a clamp for holding the machine in position.

These clip-shaped means are designated by the general reference January 1 in these figures and are illustrated in detail in Figure 5.

In fact, these clamp-shaped means comprise two gripper legs, respectively 12 and 13, extending on either side of the tubular element 7 receiving means of the underwater vehicle and are actuated for example by means such as a cylinder, designated by the general reference 14, to come to seize the underwater vehicle and hold it in position.

As indicated above, in this storage position, it is possible to provide basic operations for maintaining in operational condition the underwater vehicle 2, such as the recharging of energy storage means for example electric of it or other operations of exchange of information between the machine and the rest of the structure, etc.

For this purpose, electrical coupling means may be provided between the means forming a home cradle and the underwater vehicle 2.

These coupling means are, for example, inductive coupling means. An example embodiment of these means has been illustrated, in particular in the figures

4 and 6.

It can be seen in FIG. 4 that the reception cradle means 6 and in particular the tubular element 7 thereof may comprise, for example near its front end, inductive electrical coupling means. , designated by general reference 15.

These are then adapted, when the underwater vehicle 2, is in the storage position in these means forming a cradle 6, to extend facing complementary coupling means 16 of the underwater vehicle 2.

Of course, this makes it possible, for example, not only to transfer electrical energy to recharge the means for storing electrical energy of the underwater vehicle 2, but also to ensure an exchange of information between the gear and means cradle shaped 6.

This then makes it possible, for example, to retrieve information from the underwater vehicle or, on the contrary, to update information in this underwater vehicle from the rest of the system.

It goes without saying of course that other embodiments can still be envisaged.

It is conceivable that this entire structure is intended to allow the reception of the underwater vehicle 2 in storage position in a cradle for receiving a submerged structure, to ensure the preservation thereof and the increase of its operational life.

As has been indicated previously also, it is possible to use a preservation fluid of the underwater vehicle 2, when the latter is in the storage position in the bell-shaped means 4.

This fluid is for example constituted by oil which is intended to be injected into the bell-shaped means 4, to replace the seawater to ensure the preservation of the underwater vehicle 2.

In fact, this preservation fluid can for example be stored in containers or corresponding receiving means, integrated for example in the base forming means 3.

Thus, for example in these figures and in particular in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, these receiving means consist of tanks, for example flexible and compensated, placed in the base means 3 and one of which is designated by the general reference 17. As indicated above, this preservation fluid can then be pumped or drained bell-shaped means 4 for receiving the underwater vehicle 2 in the storage position, in order to ensure the preservation thereof.

FIG. 7 diagrammatically illustrates the operation of filling / emptying means for these bell-shaped means 4.

These bell-shaped means are always designated by the general reference 4 in this FIG. 7, and one of the tanks for example 17 is illustrated.

The means for filling / emptying the bell-shaped means 4 are then associated with means for channeling and circulating the fluid between the bell-shaped means 4 and the tanks for example 17, depending on the filling or drain.

These means then comprise for example pump means, designated by the general reference 18, comprising a pump associated with a motor, and connected by channeling means 19 to the tank 17, and by channeling means 20 to the means in the form of bell 4.

According to the wishes, the motor associated with the pump is then controlled to pump the reservoir fluid in the bell-shaped means or vice versa.

It will be noted, as illustrated in these figures, that the bell-shaped means 4 may comprise a buffer volume in their upper part, designated by the general reference 21 in this FIG.

FIGS. 8 and 9 show an embodiment of the complementary coupling means, 15 and 16, without contact by electromagnetic induction, making it possible in particular to transfer electrical energy to the underwater vehicle 2 in order to feed it and for example to recharge its energy storage means.

In these figures, the receiving means 6, the underwater vehicle 2 and the complementary inductive coupling means 15 and 16 are recognized.

These non-contact coupling means comprise the inductive electrical coupling means 15 of the cradle means 6 for receiving the underwater vehicle 2 and the complementary coupling means 16 of this underwater vehicle 2.

In fact, the coupling means 15 of the receiving means 6 of the underwater vehicle 2 comprise a transmitting coil, denoted by the general reference 30 in these figures.

This coil 30 is associated with a composite support structure and these members are housed in a resin protective casing 31. This protective envelope 31 has a section of complementary shape to that of the portion of underwater vehicle 2 corresponding.

The composite support structure comprises at least one ferrite block or plate 31a interposed between an insulating plate 31b and an aluminum plate 31c.

The coil 30 being associated with the insulating plate 31b of this composite support structure.

This transmitting coil 30 is integrated in a support of the receiving means 6 of the underwater vehicle and is connected for example by submergible hose / cable means, at the output of a source of electrical energy supply thereof. means of reception, which will be described in more detail later.

The complementary means 16 of the underwater vehicle 2 are formed on one of the flanks thereof.

These complementary means 16 then comprise, next to the coupling means of the cradle means 6 and in particular of the transmitting coil 30, a corresponding receiver coil designated by the general reference 32.

The or each transmitting or receiving coil 32 of these means is made of Litz wires.

The receiver coil is embedded in a protective resin jacket, bearing the reference 33 in this figure 8.

This protective envelope 33 is fixed for example by gluing on the hull of the underwater vehicle 2.

This receiver coil is associated with a composite support structure comprising at least one ferrite block or plate 33a, interposed between an insulating plate 33b and an aluminum plate 33c.

The receiver coil 32 being associated with the insulating plate 33b.

The protective envelope 33 also incorporates at least one converter 34 which will be described in more detail later.

Submergible hose / cable means designated by the reference 33d, connect this receiver coil to the rest of the drone circuits and in particular to the electrical energy storage means thereof.

FIG. 9 represents an electrical diagram of the functional system and the connection of the Litz wire coils, designated by references 30 and 32, to the rest of the circuits.

Means or power source 38 of the system are connected to a voltage / frequency converter designated by reference numeral 39, which amplifies and adapts the frequency at the alternating frequency and voltage required for resonant high frequency operation.

The transmitting coil 30 is connected to this converter 39 by submersible hose 31 d containing for example two Litz son cables.

The voltage / frequency converter designated by the reference 34, integrated in the receiving envelope, transforms the AC voltage and frequency received by the coil 32 and supplies DC voltage to the electrical energy storage means 40 of the drone.

The receiver coil 32 is connected to the integrated converter 34, which is connected with the rest of the drone and in particular the electrical energy storage means

40 of it to feed them.

This connection to the rest of the circuits consists of a submersible power supply cable comprising for example two power conductors and two communication conductors.

The two voltage / frequency converters 34 and 39 are associated with control and communication means, designated by the general reference 41, for example to control their operation and to collect information from the underwater vehicle 2.

It is conceivable that such a structure has a number of advantages over the structures of the state of the art.

Indeed, the submerged system according to the invention makes it possible to store an underwater vehicle, between two missions, in a bath of preserving fluid by protecting it from any contact with the seawater and therefore the effects of corrosion.

The system according to the invention also makes it possible to provide an enclosure for protecting the machine against natural or unnatural external aggressions such as, for example, falling light objects.

Basic operations, for example, for maintaining a UAV in operational condition may also be implemented, such as, for example, the exchange of information or the recharging of the electrical energy storage means of the underwater vehicle 2.

This machine can then be kept for a longer or shorter time safely in the bell until his next mission.

To launch this new mission, simply trigger the emptying of the bell 4, open the door 5 thereof and release the underwater vehicle 2, so that it can carry out a new mission until he returns to the protective bell.

Of course other embodiments can still be envisaged.

Claims

1 .- Electromagnetic induction non-contact electrical energy transmission system for feeding a drone-type underwater vehicle (2) and reloading means (40) for storing electrical energy therefrom when it is received in means (6) of reception of this machine, characterized in that it comprises at least one inductive transmitter coil (30) associated with the means of reception of the machine and a receiver coil (32 ) associated with the machine, placed next to the transmitting coil when the machine is received in the reception means and the coils being associated with composite support structures and in that the transmitting and receiving coils are connected to the remaining circuits of the means of reception and the machine by means forming flexible / submergible cable (31 d, 33d).

2.- electrical energy transmission system according to claim 1, characterized in that the inductive transmitter coil (30) is connected to the output of a voltage / frequency converter (39) connected to a power supply source electric (38).

3.- electrical energy transmission system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the receiver coil (32) is connected to a frequency / voltage converter (34) for supplying the rest of the machine and in particular the means for storing electrical energy (40) therefrom.

4.- electrical energy transmission system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the or each transmitting or receiving coil (30, 32) is son Litz.

5.- electrical energy transmission system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the or each transmitting or receiving coil is associated with a composite support structure comprising at least one ferrite plate (31a, 33a). ) interposed between an insulating plate (31b, 33b) and an aluminum plate (31c, 33c), the coil being associated with the insulating plate.

6. - Electrical power transmission system according to claim 4, characterized in that the transmitting or receiving coil is housed in a resin envelope (31, 33).

7. - Electrical power transmission system according to claims 3 and 4 or 5, characterized in that the envelope (33) receiving the receiver coil (32) also includes the frequency / voltage converter (34).