Patent Application
20120034070
This is an original patent application and does not claim the benefit of the filing date of a prior-filed nonprovisional application or provisional application.
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(1) Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a propulsor system and control assembly for underwater vehicles such as submarines or small manned or unmanned underwater vehicle.
(2) Description of the Prior Art
The following is a tabulation of some of the prior art that appears relevant:
Underwater vehicles have traditionally been driven by propellers. From torpedoes to submarines, nearly all have used a central shaft with hub mounted blades radiating outward that provide thrust for forward or reverse motion. Maneuvering and control of underwater vehicles is made with a system of rudders and diving planes protruding from the vessel's hull. However, for the rudders and diving planes to function, water must flow across their surfaces; therefore, forward or reverse speed must be maintained in order to maneuver making maneuvering in a hovering mode difficult if not impossible.
Propellers exhibit other problems peculiar to clandestine and/or covert underwater operations:
With advances in technology and the broadening of requirements for underwater vehicles, there is a growing need for systems that can operate over longer distances and at increased speeds. In addition, it is highly desirable that underwater vehicles are able hover and maneuver with no way on (i.e., not going forward or backward). Of particular interest is a means for launching and recovering manned and unmanned underwater vehicles from a host submarine operating underwater. Given the conditions of darkness or turbidity as well as the surge caused by wave action from above, it is critical that smaller underwater vehicles be capable of maneuvering in a hovering or near hovering mode. Particular past prior art is discussed below in order to identify their differences with the present invention:
Propelling Mechanism for Torpedoes is a pair or multiple pairs of counter-rotating, gear driven blades, radiating outward along the center section of the torpedo body. Control of elevation and steerage is managed by horizontal planes and rudders mounted at the rear of the torpedo.
The torpedo is propelled forward only and maneuvering is accomplished only when the torpedo is underway and water is passing over the control surfaces. There are also no shrouds for the propeller blades. The present invention provides both forward and reverse motion as well as total maneuvering control in the absence of forward or reverse way.
Submarine Type Sea Train is a barge-like enclosed vessel designed with minimum freeboard to be towed with a forward motion, end-to-end. It has two counter-rotating sets of blades (four blade sets in total) that radiate outward from the fore and aft sections. Two sets of blades are in the fore section and two sets of blades are in the aft section. No steering control is provided as it is designed to be towed end to end in train-like fashion. There are also no shrouds for the propeller blades. Propulsion is, in many ways, similar to Lucich (above) and lacks the forward, sternway and stationary control exhibited by the present invention.
Submarine Hydrodynamic Control System provides variable pitch blades for twin circumferential propulsors. Haselton lacks a shroud and exhibits a complex mechanical system. Hazelton is fundamentally different from the present invention as water is directed radially, or away from the hull, while maneuvering in a hovering mode, which would explain its lack of a shroud. In the alternative, the present invention redirects the water stream at right angles to the cross sectional radius of the underwater vessel with control vanes mounted within the annular gap.
Functionally, in Haselton, to maneuver the vessel's bow to starboard, the fore circumferential ring propulsor would direct water away from the hull on the port side. In the present invention however, to maneuver the vessel's bow to starboard, control vanes at the top and bottom of the fore circumferential ring propulsor would direct the water stream to port (or substantially to port).
As presented, Haselton is especially vulnerable to fouling from suspended debris in the water as well as naturally occurring ocean plant and animal life due to its lack of shrouds to protect the propeller blades. Furthermore, the propeller blades in Haselton are extremely vulnerable to damage from collision with the bottom or hard surfaces during close quarter maneuvers because there is no protective shroud as in the present invention. In Haselton, there are also no control vanes as in the present invention to control the maneuvering of the underwater vehicle. It is noteworthy that the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division, West Bethesda, Md. 20817 recently examined Haselton more closely: see Benjamin Y.-H. Chen, Stephen K. Neely, Kurt A. Junghans and David P. Bochinski; A Feasibility Study of a Novel Propulsion System for Unmanned Underwater Vehicles (Presented at UDT Europe 2008 symposium, Glasgow, UK, Jun. 10-12, 2008. Benjamin Y.-H. Chen, Stephen K. Neely, Seth D. Schroeder, David P. Bochinski and Tyler W. Sullivan; Analysis and Refinement of a Novel Propulsion System for Unmanned Underwater Vehicles (Presented at UDT Europe 2009 symposium, Cannes, France, Jun. 9-11, 2009)
Propeller System with Electrically Controlled Cyclic and Collective Blade Pitch is essentially the same as Haselton providing variable pitch blades for twin circumferential propulsors. However, where Haselton is mechanically controlled, Wham uses an electromagnetic approach to both drive the propulsor as well as control the pitch of the propulsor blades. Like Haselton, Wham is fundamentally different from the present invention as water is directed radially, or away from the hull, while maneuvering in a hovering mode, which would explain its lack of a shroud. In the alternative, the present invention redirects the water stream at right angles to the radius with control vanes mounted within the annular gap. Wham also lacks control vanes.
Marine Propulsor is a single circumferential, fixed blade propulsor mounted on a torpedo like underwater vehicle. Garis appears to provide forward propulsion only, and vertical plane and steering authority depend on the vehicle's forward speed through the water and are controlled by the rudder and vertical control surfaces at the stern. Garis does not provide any means for controlled maneuvering in place. There is no shroud and no control vanes as in the present invention.
Torque Balanced Postswirl Propulsor Unit and Method for Eliminating Torque on a Submerged Body provides to counter-rotating propulsors at the stern of a torpedo like underwater vehicle. Both are driven by a central drive shaft (not a circumferential hub) and therefore, not similar to the present invention. There are also no shrouds. It has diving planes and a rudder but no control vanes as in the present invention.
Marine Propulsion System for Underwater Vehicles is a fixed blade, shaft mounted propulsor that is electro-magnetically driven. Cho is only designed for forward motion of a torpedo like underwater vehicle. It does not hover or maneuver as in the present invention. Cho also has a central drive shaft for its propeller blades unlike the annular circumferential propulsor of the present invention. Cho also lacks a plurality of counter-rotating circumferential propulsors as exists in the present invention.
Toy Submarine with Counter Rotating Propellers is a child's rubber band powered, free flooding toy with a split body and fixed blades extending from the forward and after sections. There is no vertical plane and steering authority in either an underway or stationary condition. This prior art is not similar to the present invention as there are no shrouds and no annular circumferential ring propulsors.
This invention is for underwater vehicles such as manned submarines or smaller unmanned underwater vehicles. In one of the embodiments, the present invention is directed toward a circumferential ring propulsor and control assembly consisting of a plurality of annular circumferential ring propulsors capable of rotating in opposite directions (but not always rotating in opposite directions such as at maneuvers with no way forward or sternway). In one embodiment, one circumferential ring propulsor is fore of midships and one circumferential ring propulsor is aft of midships, and each of the circumferential ring propulsors are covered by its own shroud. In embodiment, control vanes are placed before and after the propulsor blade sets in order to maneuver the underwater vehicle. The control vanes may be adjusted individually to direct the flow of water in different directions so as to allow for directing and maneuvering of the underwater vehicle.
In one preferred embodiment of the invention, the power source and mechanical elements such as control vane actuators are housed within the underwater vehicles hull.
In one preferred embodiment of the invention, the power source and mechanical elements such as control vane actuators are housed within the shroud and outboard (i.e., in a lateral direction from the hull) of the annular gaps.
The embodiments discussed in this summary section do not represent the only embodiments of this section.
The Circumferential Ring Propulsors and Control Assemblies for Manned and Unmanned Underwater Vehicles is comprised of a two counter-rotating circumferential propulsors and control vanes operating between shrouds and the underwater vehicle's hull.
Propulsor blade sets operate in the annular gaps between shrouds surrounding the hull, forward and aft of midships. The shrouds may, or may not, contain part or all of the power source for the propulsor as well as actuator mechanisms for the control vanes. Shrouds also provide protection against propeller blade damage and fouling, and improve propulsive thrust characteristics. The two propulsor assemblies counter-rotate in order to neutralize torque from the propulsors on the underwater vehicle.
Control Vanes are placed between the propulsor shrouds and the hull to direct the flow of water through the forward and aft propulsors to provide both vertical plane and horizontal steering authority. Because these control vanes use the flow of both the forward and after propulsion assemblies, a greater degree of response is anticipated, as well as forces that can be varied independent of attitude or heading change. It is expected that this will give an improved standard of over-all craft controllability. The system will also eliminate the need for protruding diving planes and rudders, thus reducing the probability of fouling or damage due to bottom contact or collision with objects.
The proposed propulsor blade sets acting in consort with control vanes fore and aft of the propulsor blades provide an opportunity for improved interaction between the propulsor and hull resulting in greater speed, improved range, and quieter operations. Cavitation and turbulence should be greatly reduced. Additionally, operating mechanisms and controls are external to the system's interior, requiring no hull penetrations and leaving the interior space for payload. Because the propulsor blades and control vanes are protected by a shroud, their susceptibility to damage is greatly reduced.
At low speed rotation of the propulsors, a hovering mode can be accomplished by powering the forward and aft propulsors in opposite directions. By activating the control vanes, maneuvers of any kind, within a three dimensional underwater space becomes achievable: sideways, vertical, rotation in place, or maintaining any angular attitude. Thus, controlled maneuvering within a confined space such as the U S Navy's Dry Deck Shelter, a submarine missile tubes or in and around submerged obstructions and structures, becomes possible. This capability opens the way for both manned and unmanned underwater systems to conduct new and highly specialized military or commercial operations.
Of particular importance is the fact that all the propulsion mechanical systems are mounted outside the underwater vehicle's pressure hull. By comparison with existing manned and unmanned underwater vehicles that require much of their internal space to house batteries, motors and control equipment, the external configuration of the present invention frees the interior space for transporting electronics, mission payload, or personnel. Consequently, volumetric efficiency is high, and the distribution of payload to facilitate trim can be considerably more flexible.
Power for the invention may be provided from a broad range of sources depending on the needs and requirements of the user community. Diesel, nuclear, hydrogen, and electric are but a few and may be stored or generated on board the underwater vessel or supplied through a tether.
Reference is made to the accompanying drawings in which are shown illustration embodiments of the invention from which its novel features and advantages will be apparent in the drawings:
Two fundamental designs alternatives are likely, in which (a) all mechanical elements are housed within the shroud and outboard (i.e., in a lateral direction from the hull) of the annular gaps as seen in
The present invention is directed to circumferential ring propulsors and control assemblies for manned or unmanned underwater vehicles. What follows constitutes a description of some of the embodiments of the invention. This detailed description of the drawings is not meant not limit the scope of the claims to the embodiments herein described.
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The fore-propulsor blade set 25 [formed from the collection of fore propulsor blades 7] as shown in
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However, it is also contemplated that the fore-circumferential shroud (4) and the accompanying fore propulsor blade set (25) and the fore control vane sets (27 & 28) could all be situated substantially amidships, while the aft-circumferential shroud (5) and the accompanying aft propulsor blade set (29) and aft control vanes (31 & 32) could all be placed substantially aft of midships.
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At least two placements for the fore drive assembly (15) and the aft drive assembly (24) are contemplated. The first one is where the power sources (33 & 34) and drive assemblies (15 & 24) are located within the underwater vehicle hull, as shown in FIGS. 6,7,8,9. The second embodiments is one where the power sources (33 & 34) and drive assemblies (15 & 24) are located in each of the two shrouds (4 & 5) driving its respective counter-rotating circumferential ring propulsors (2 & 3) as shown in
In one of the preferred embodiments, the adjustable control vanes (11, 13, 20 & 22) direct the flow of water from the propulsor blade sets (25 & 29) substantially at right angles to the cross-sectional radius of the underwater vehicle (1).
The respective drive assemblies (15 & 24), drive the fore and aft counter-rotating circumferential ring propulsors (2 & 3). As described in
The respective fore and aft drive assemblies (15 & 24) consists of the respective fore and aft power sources (33 & 34) and the hub (8 & 18) of each of the respective propulsor blade sets (25 & 29).
