Buoyancy system for an underwater device and associated methods for operating the same
a technology of underwater equipment and buoyancy system, which is applied in underwater equipment, special-purpose vessels, lighting and heating apparatus, etc., can solve the problem of heavy nose of underwater glider, and achieve the effect of improving heat transfer and a large surface area
Inactive Publication Date: 2010-11-25
LOCKHEED MARTIN CORP
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Benefits of technology
The present invention provides an improved buoyancy system for controlling the buoyancy of an underwater device. The system includes a chamber with a plurality of bladders containing a clathrate mixture that can change from a liquid state to a solid state. When the chamber is submerged in frigid water, the bladders expand, increasing the buoyancy by reducing the amount of water within the chamber. When the chamber ascends in warm water, the bladders contract, decreasing the buoyancy by allowing more water to circulate within the chamber. The bladders are designed to maintain a minimum pressure on the clathrate mixture, preventing vaporization, and the clathrate mixture is a thermally conductive material that allows efficient heat transfer. The bladders may be spherically shaped to improve heat transfer, and a water permeable enclosure prevents the bladders from escaping the chamber. The buoyancy system can be used in various underwater devices such as gliders or sonar buoys. The method involves submerging the device in water and controlling the buoyancy by expanding or contracting the bladders based on the surrounding water temperature.
Problems solved by technology
This makes the underwater glider's nose heavy.
Method used
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[0023]The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout.
[0024]Referring initially to FIG. 1, an underwater device 10 comprises a housing 12, and a buoyancy system 20 carried by the housing. The underwater device 10 is illustrated as an autonomous underwater glider that may be used to collect subsurface data in an observation region. The underwater glider is neutrally buoyant, and travels through the water in a saw-tooth-sampling pattern 22 by using the buoyancy system 20 to change its buoyancy. Although the und...
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A buoyancy system includes a chamber having a volume associated therewith, and bladders within the volume of the chamber. Each bladder contains a clathrate mixture in a liquid state. The chamber includes an opening to allow surrounding water to circulate within the volume and contact the bladders. As the chamber is submerged in the surrounding water, the bladders expand based on the clathrate mixture changing from the liquid state to a solid state. This changes buoyancy by allowing less water to circulate within the volume of the chamber.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001]The present invention relates to the field of underwater devices, and more particularly, to a buoyancy system for controlling buoyancy of an underwater device.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002]An underwater glider is a type of underwater device that collects subsurface data in an observation region. The underwater glider is typically a torpedo shaped, winged device that moves through the water in a saw-tooth sampling pattern by changing its buoyancy. The underwater glider is neutrally buoyant, and typically includes a buoyancy system in its nose section.[0003]The buoyancy system may be based on a displacement piston. To diver the displacement piston moves water into nose section of the underwater device. This makes the underwater glider's nose heavy. To ascend, water is pushed out of the nose section by the displacement piston. This makes the underwater glider's nose lighter.[0004]Even in view of the advances made in buoyancy systems, there is still a ne...
Claims
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IPC IPC(8): B63G8/14B63G8/18B63G8/22
CPCB63B22/18B63G8/14F28D20/023B63G2008/004B63G8/24
Inventor HERBEK, MATTHEWDIETZEN, ROBERTPOWELL, BRADENBLANCHETTE, KENNETHDAY, SEANGRIES, MATTHEWRAPP, JOHNASCARI, MATTHEWFINI, MARIA
Owner LOCKHEED MARTIN CORP