An underwater unmanned vehicle modular side array sonar assembly

Abstract

The present invention discloses a modular side array sonar assembly for an underwater unmanned vehicle, which includes a side array frame, bow ribs, hydrophones, hydrophone mounting plates, tape, a skeleton skin, a watertight junction box and locking blocks; the bow ribs are fixed at both ends of the side array frame, and the hydrophone mounting plates are fixed in the middle of the side array frame to form a U-shaped groove for assembling the hydrophones. The side array frame, bow ribs and hydrophone mounting plates together constitute a side array skeleton; the hydrophones are fixed side by side on the hydrophone mounting plates; the tape is fixed on the side array frame and is arranged between the hydrophones and between the hydrophones and the bow ribs; the watertight junction box is fixed on the inner side of the side array skeleton; the skeleton skin is fixed on the outer surface of the side array skeleton to match the shape of the underwater unmanned vehicle, forming a module unit; the module units are fixedly connected through the locking blocks. The present invention can arrange the side array sonar to the maximum extent and maximize its gain.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of underwater unmanned equipment, and particularly relates to a modular side array sonar assembly for an underwater unmanned vehicle. Background Art

[0002] At present, as an important underwater unmanned combat platform, the underwater unmanned vehicle (UUV) has played an important role in the fields of intelligence reconnaissance and surveillance, underwater environmental monitoring, underwater explosive detection, and underwater search and rescue in recent years, and has become a new type of equipment that countries focus on developing. Among them, as an effective underwater detection means, various types of sonar, such as active and passive sonar, have been gradually installed on UUVs to achieve underwater target detection and positioning. Currently, UUVs are developing towards larger calibers and larger sizes, but compared with submarines and ships, the available payload space is particularly compact. As a passive receiving sonar, the side array sonar is generally installed on the hull of the UUV. In addition to receiving the underwater acoustic signals of the target sound pressure field, it also receives environmental noises such as the vibration noise of the vehicle itself, flow noise, and turbulent layer interference noise generated by the movement of the vehicle itself.

[0003] The detection performance of the side array sonar is positively correlated with its length dimension. Limited by the limited effective space in the mission section of the UUV, how to make full use of the space dimension of the UUV to install and arrange the side array sonar to maximize its effectiveness and improve the reconnaissance and detection ability of the UUV platform requires standing at the overall height of the platform, fully exploring the potential of the platform, optimizing the design of the platform structure, integrating existing mature sonar products, and coordinating the installation and arrangement interface between the platform and the side array sonar. Summary of the Invention

[0004] In view of this, the present invention provides a modular side array sonar assembly for an underwater unmanned vehicle, which can arrange the side array sonar to the maximum extent and maximize its gain.

[0005] The technical solution adopted by the present invention is as follows:

[0006] A modular side array sonar assembly for an underwater unmanned vehicle, comprising a side array frame, bow ribs, hydrophones, hydrophone mounting plates, tape, frame skin, watertight junction boxes, and locking blocks;

[0007] The bow-shaped ribs are fixed at both ends of the side array frame, and the hydrophone mounting plate is fixed in the middle of the side array frame, forming a U-shaped groove for assembling the hydrophones. The side array frame, bow-shaped ribs, and hydrophone mounting plate together constitute the side array skeleton; the hydrophones are fixed side by side on the hydrophone mounting plate; the tape is fixed on the side array frame and is arranged between the hydrophones and between the hydrophones and the bow-shaped ribs; the watertight junction box is fixed inside the side array skeleton; the skeleton skin is fixed on the outer surface of the side array skeleton to match the shape of the underwater unmanned vehicle, forming a module unit; the module units are fixedly connected by locking blocks.

[0008] Further, the tape is divided into side tapes and middle tapes. The side tapes are fixed between the hydrophones and the bow-shaped ribs; the middle tapes are fixed between the hydrophones.

[0009] Further, the side array skeleton is made of corrosion-resistant aluminum material.

[0010] Further, the modular side array sonar assembly further includes sacrificial anode blocks, which are fixed on the opposite end faces of the two side bow-shaped ribs in the same module unit.

[0011] Further, the hydrophone mounting plate includes two L-shaped plates, which are flush with the two corners at the outer groove of the bow-shaped ribs respectively.

[0012] Beneficial effects:

[0013] 1. The present invention adopts a modular design, integrating the hydrophones (wet ends) and watertight boxes (dry ends) of the side array sonar onto standard units, adapting the number of standard units according to the length of the mission segment of the UUV, realizing rapid debugging, maintenance, and replacement of the side array sonar. Arrange the side array sonar (dry ends, wet ends, etc.) to the maximum extent, maximize its gain, meet the requirements of the side array sonar for installability, reliability, and maintainability, and enhance the ability of the UUV to detect at a farther distance and with higher detection accuracy.

[0014] 2. The present invention also includes sacrificial anodes, which can play a role in delaying the corrosion of the aluminum alloy skeleton of the side array frame by seawater. Description of the drawings

[0015] Figure 1 This is the front view of the present invention.

[0016] Figure 2 is Figure 1 A-A direction cross-sectional view.

[0017] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the inner side of the module unit.

[0018] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the fixed connection between the skeleton skin and the side array skeleton.

[0019] Figure 5 is Figure 4 the left view.

[0020] Wherein, 1 - side cassette tape, 2 - side array frame, 3 - middle cassette tape, 4 - bow rib, 5 - locking block, 6 - skeleton skin, 7 - connecting seat, 8 - hydrophone mounting plate, 9 - hydrophone, 10 - sacrificial anode block, 11 - watertight junction box. Specific embodiments

[0021] The following combines the accompanying drawings and gives embodiments to describe the present invention in detail.

[0022] The present invention provides a modular side array sonar assembly for an underwater unmanned vehicle, including a side array frame, a bow rib, a hydrophone, a hydrophone mounting plate, a cassette tape, a skeleton skin, a sacrificial anode block, a watertight junction box and a locking block, which constitute a module unit. The side array frame, the bow rib and the hydrophone mounting plate jointly constitute the side array skeleton. The side array skeleton is welded from a high specific strength anti-rust aluminum material, and a special tooling is designed to ensure the welding accuracy of the skeleton, and a tempering treatment is carried out to eliminate the welding stress. The side array skeleton is designed with interfaces for installing side array hydrophones, cassette tapes, watertight junction boxes, skeleton skins, connecting seats and sacrificial anode blocks. The U-shaped groove on the outer surface of the side array skeleton is used for assembling the hydrophone, and the lower half of the inner surface is used for assembling the watertight junction box for collecting the signals of the hydrophone. This structure is modularly designed and can be assembled according to the length of the UUV mission segment to achieve intensification, modularization and combination of the side array sonar assembly. Specifically:

[0023] The side array frame is a component of the main structure of the UUV mission segment, which conforms to the outer shape of the UUV main body and at the same time needs to reserve various installation interfaces. It can be assembled with the main frame of the mission segment as a whole and can also provide installation and layout interfaces for the side array sonar to realize the engineering application of the side array sonar on the UUV.

[0024] As Figure 5 shown, the middle part of the bow rib is recessed inward. It is the main load-bearing rib of the side array skeleton, fixed at both ends of the side array frame, welded with the side array frame as a whole, and connected to the main frame of the mission segment through a connecting seat.

[0025] The hydrophone mounting plate includes two L-shaped plates, forming a U-shaped groove for assembling the hydrophone, which are flush with the two corners at the outer groove of the bow rib respectively. This structure selects standard anti-rust aluminum profiles, belongs to a part of the side array skeleton, is welded with the side array frame as a whole, and uses a tooling to open installation holes for side array sonar hydrophones on its installation surface to ensure the accuracy of the installation hole positions.

[0026] The cassette tapes are divided into side cassette tapes and middle cassette tapes, both of which are fixed on the side array framework by screws and are smoothly transitioned with the outer surface framework skin. The middle cassette tape is fixed between two adjacent hydrophones to fill the gap between the two hydrophones for rectification purposes and reduce the flow noise near the hydrophone module. The side cassette tape is fixed between the hydrophone and the bow rib, on one side of the outermost hydrophone, to fill the gap between the hydrophone and the bow rib for rectification purposes.

[0027] As Figure 4 shown, the framework skin is assembled on the outer surface of the side array framework, with the same curvature as the bow rib, and is used to shape the side array framework to reduce the fluid resistance and flow noise during the UUV navigation.

[0028] As Figure 2 shown, the connecting seat is fixed on both side edges of the side array framework and is used to connect the side array framework and the main framework of the mission section to achieve the rapid assembly and disassembly of the side array framework.

[0029] The sacrificial anode block is made of magnesium alloy material. An anode block with a suitable specification is processed and connected to the side array framework by screws, which plays a role in delaying the corrosion of the aluminum alloy framework of the side array framework by seawater. As Figure 3 shown, the sacrificial anode block is fixed on the opposite end faces of the two bow ribs in the same module unit.

[0030] The locking block is used to connect the bow ribs between two side array frameworks, eliminate the gap between the two frameworks, and play a role in increasing the overall strength and stiffness of the side array framework.

[0031] As Figure 1 shown, the side array framework is assembled and connected to the main framework of the mission section through the connecting seat. The side array frameworks are tightened by the locking blocks. The bow rib is the main load-bearing rib of the side array framework, and the hydrophone mounting plate serves as the mounting plane for the hydrophone. Both are welded to the side array framework as a whole. The middle cassette tape, side cassette tape, and sacrificial anode block are all fastened to the side array framework by screws.

[0032] The specific working process is as follows: The side array framework serves as the installation carrier for the side array sonar (dry end and wet end) and is a module unit. Different numbers of module units are configured according to the length of the UUV mission section, and the extra length can be designed with an adapter framework to match. The module unit can be structurally assembled onto the UUV mission section and can be connected in series front and back in terms of sonar data acquisition. The structural form is simplified, adaptable to various UUV platforms, and has strong universality in engineering applications.

[0033] In summary, the above is only the preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not used to limit the protection scope of the present invention. Any modifications, equivalent replacements, improvements, etc. made within the spirit and principle of the present invention shall be included within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. An underwater unmanned vehicle modular side array sonar assembly, characterized in that It includes a side array frame, bow ribs, hydrophones, hydrophone mounting plates, tapes, skeleton skins, watertight junction boxes and locking blocks; The bow ribs are fixed at both ends of the side array frame, and the hydrophone mounting plates are fixed in the middle of the side array frame to form a U-shaped groove for assembling hydrophones. The side array frame, bow ribs and hydrophone mounting plates together constitute the side array skeleton; the hydrophones are fixed side by side on the hydrophone mounting plates; the tapes are fixed on the side array frame and are arranged between the hydrophones and between the hydrophones and the bow ribs; the watertight junction boxes are fixed on the inner side of the side array skeleton; the skeleton skins are fixed on the outer surface of the side array skeleton to match the shape of the underwater unmanned vehicle, forming a module unit; the module units are fixedly connected by locking blocks; The tapes are divided into side tapes and middle tapes. The side tapes are fixed between the hydrophones and the bow ribs; the middle tapes are fixed between the hydrophones; The side array skeleton is made of corrosion-resistant aluminum material. The modular side array sonar assembly further includes sacrificial anode blocks, which are fixed on the opposite end faces of the two side bow ribs in the same module unit.

2. The modular side array sonar assembly of the underwater unmanned vehicle according to claim 1, wherein, The hydrophone mounting plate includes two L-shaped plates, which are flush with the two corners at the outer grooves of the bow ribs respectively.

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