Underwater thrust test system for rim propulsion device

Abstract

The application discloses a kind of wheel rim propulsion device underwater thrust test system, including water supply pipeline, drain pipeline, water tank and force measuring device;Plane motion support rod is equipped in water tank, wheel rim propulsion device is suspended below the plane motion support rod, and can move horizontally along it, water supply pipeline is connected with one side of water tank, drain pipeline is connected with the other side of water tank;The force measuring device uses spring distance measuring device or displacement test device connected with water tank;Ball valve and first stop valve are sequentially provided on water supply pipeline, second stop valve is provided on drain pipeline, branch is branched out between ball valve and first stop valve and connected with drain pipeline, third stop valve is provided on the branch, water outlet pipeline connected with the above branch is further provided on the bottom of water tank, fourth stop valve is provided on the water outlet pipeline.The device structure design is reasonable, and the technical problems of large space required by existing wheel rim propulsion device test system and inconvenient test can be effectively solved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of underwater vehicle equipment and relates to an underwater thrust testing system for a rim propulsion device. Background Technology

[0002] Friction propulsion systems, also known as shaftless propulsion systems, are used for underwater power propulsion of surface or underwater vehicles. Unlike traditional propeller propulsion systems, they do not use a shaft to transmit torque, resulting in a more compact structure, reduced vibration and noise during operation, and improved propulsion efficiency. Currently, research on friction propulsion systems primarily utilizes computational fluid dynamics simulations to obtain the hydrodynamic performance of the propulsion system, thereby optimizing its structure. After optimization, the system is simulated again, and the hydrodynamic performance is compared with the original to examine the optimization results. Through continuous improvement, the performance of the propulsion system is optimized. However, simulations require experimental verification to ensure accuracy; therefore, underwater thrust performance tests on friction propulsion systems are essential.

[0003] In existing underwater thrust testing systems for rim propulsion devices, the device must be placed in a large pool or the open sea for testing. The testing platform requires a large hoisting platform and measuring equipment, posing significant space requirements, making testing inconvenient and costly, and unsuitable for small-scale environments, thus hindering the testing of rim propulsion devices. For example, reference 1 (Kong Bin, Xiong Lizhong, Chen Lin, Song Lei, Sun Jianglong. Design and Research of Model Test Device for Rim Propeller [J]. Ship Science and Technology, 2017, 039(012): 163-166.) designed a test device for a rim propulsion device, which was conducted in a pool 175m long, 6m wide, and 4m deep. The hub of the rim propulsion device was 400mm long, with an inner diameter of 180mm and an outer diameter of 330mm. In this test setup, the trailer beam consists of two long channel steels with a horizontal spacing of 600mm on the inner sides and a height of 178mm. The bottom of the channel steel is 1210mm above the water surface. The test platform for the propulsion device is 1100mm vertically from the beam. It can be seen that even for relatively small test setups, the required hoisting platform and water tank are still quite large, making it unsuitable for small spaces. Summary of the Invention

[0004] In order to overcome the shortcomings of the prior art, the present invention aims to provide an underwater thrust testing system for a rim propulsion device, so as to solve the technical problems of the existing rim propulsion device test system requiring large space and inconvenient testing.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention employs the following technical solution:

[0006] The present invention discloses an underwater thrust testing system for a wheel rim propulsion device, comprising a water supply pipeline, a drainage pipeline, a water tank, and a force measuring device;

[0007] A translational support rod is provided in the water tank, and the wheel rim propulsion device is suspended below the translational support rod and can move horizontally along it. The water supply pipeline is connected to one side of the water tank, and the drainage pipeline is connected to the other side of the water tank. The force measuring device adopts a spring distance measuring device or a drainage volume measuring device connected to the water tank.

[0008] A ball valve and a first shut-off valve are installed sequentially on the water supply pipeline, and a second shut-off valve is installed on the drainage pipeline. A branch line connecting the ball valve and the first shut-off valve is branched off between the ball valve and the first shut-off valve and is connected to the drainage pipeline. A third shut-off valve is installed on this branch line. A water outlet pipeline connected to the above branch line is also installed at the bottom of the water tank, and a fourth shut-off valve is installed on this water outlet pipeline.

[0009] Preferably, the force measuring device is a displacement testing device, including a second water tank. One outlet of the water tank is connected to a drainage pipe, and the other outlet is connected to the second water tank through a connecting pipe. A fifth shut-off valve is installed on the connecting pipe. A branch line is also branched between the ball valve and the first shut-off valve and connected to the above-mentioned connecting pipe. A sixth shut-off valve is installed on this branch line. The bottom of the second water tank is also provided with a water outlet pipe connected to the drainage pipe, and a seventh shut-off valve is installed on the water outlet pipe.

[0010] More preferably, a water level difference is maintained between the second water tank and the other water tank.

[0011] More preferably, the water in the second water tank is drained, or the height of the second water tank is lower than the height of the water tank.

[0012] Preferably, the force measuring device is a compression spring ranging device, including a compression spring, one end of which is fixed to the inner wall of one side of the water tank, and the other end is fixed to the outer wall of the wheel flange propulsion device.

[0013] More preferably, the number of compression springs is four, which are installed around the outer casing of the wheel rim propulsion device.

[0014] Preferably, a connecting hose is fixed on the outer wall of the wheel flange propulsion device near the drainage pipe, and the other end of the connecting hose is fixed on the inner wall of the water tank.

[0015] Preferably, the translational support rod 13 consists of two steel rods arranged side by side, each steel rod is fitted with a sleeve, and two lifting rings are welded below each sleeve; two lifting rings are provided on each side of the top of the wheel rim propulsion device, which can be connected to the lifting rings below the sleeve by bolts.

[0016] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following beneficial effects:

[0017] This invention discloses an underwater thrust testing system for a rim propulsion device. It consists of several shut-off valves for water supply and drainage, and a water tank to store water sufficient for the rim propulsion device's operation. The rim propulsion device is suspended in the water tank by a translational support rod, allowing it to move horizontally. Therefore, a large hoisting platform is not required to operate the propulsion device. Two force-measuring devices are cleverly designed. Under the operation of these two testing devices, the rim propulsion device is in a fixed state for drainage and under the constraint of the force-measuring devices, resulting in a limited range of motion. The volume of the water tank is determined by the size and performance of the rim propulsion device. During drainage, the water tank volume is the volume covering the rim propulsion device plus the amount of water discharged by the propulsion device during the measurement time. During force measurement, sufficient space must be left behind the rim propulsion device to prevent the ejected fluid from affecting the propulsion device itself. Therefore, the size of the water tank is flexible, providing a solution for testing in small spaces. This device has a compact structure, low testing cost, simple facilities, and requires little testing space.

[0018] Furthermore, the rim propulsion device employs two simple and reliable force measuring devices, offering low testing costs, minimal space constraints, and ease of implementation. One is a displacement testing device, requiring only an additional second water tank for storing the rim propulsion device's discharge, along with connecting hoses and a drain shut-off valve. The outlet fluid from the rim propulsion device, submerged in the water tank, enters the second water tank within a specified time. The underwater thrust of the rim propulsion device is calculated using the amount of fluid entering the second water tank during this specified time and the required parameters. The other is a spring distance measuring device, which simply requires mounting a spring balance (compression spring) underwater on the rim propulsion device. After the rim propulsion device operates submerged in the water tank for a specified time, the underwater thrust of the rim propulsion device is calculated using the measured spring compression distance and the required parameters. Both force measuring devices require only a few additional structural components to the existing operating system to achieve the testing of the underwater thrust of the rim propulsion device.

[0019] Furthermore, the height of the second water tank needs to be either emptied or lower than the height of the first water tank; that is, a certain displacement pressure difference must be formed between the second and first water tanks. If the height of the second water tank exceeds that of the first water tank, the water level will gradually rise during the drainage process. The pressure difference caused by the water level difference will create significant resistance at the outlet of the propulsion device, affecting the measurement results.

[0020] Furthermore, four compression springs are installed around the outer casing of the wheel rim propulsion device to ensure that the propulsion device is subjected to uniform force. Attached Figure Description

[0021] Figure 1 Schematic diagram of rim propulsion device test system Figure 1 .

[0022] Figure 2Schematic diagram of rim propulsion device test system Figure 2 .

[0023] Figure 3 Schematic diagram of rim propulsion device test system Figure 3 ;

[0024] Figure 4 Schematic diagram of the suspension assembly of the wheel flange propulsion device and the translational support rod.

[0025] Figure 1 In the middle: 1-ball valve; 2-first shut-off valve; 3-sixth shut-off valve; 4-third shut-off valve; 5-water tank; 6-fifth shut-off valve; 7-fourth shut-off valve; 8-second shut-off valve; 9-second water tank; 10-seventh shut-off valve; 11-connecting hose; 12-wheel rim propulsion device; 13-translational support rod; 14-sleeve. Detailed Implementation

[0026] To enable those skilled in the art to better understand the present invention, the technical solutions of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings of the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort should fall within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0027] It should be noted that the terms "first," "second," etc., in the specification, claims, and accompanying drawings of this invention are used to distinguish similar objects and are not necessarily used to describe a specific order or sequence. It should be understood that such data can be interchanged where appropriate so that the embodiments of the invention described herein can be implemented in orders other than those illustrated or described herein. Furthermore, the terms "comprising" and "having," and any variations thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion; for example, a process, method, system, product, or apparatus that comprises a series of steps or units is not necessarily limited to those steps or units explicitly listed, but may include other steps or units not explicitly listed or inherent to such processes, methods, products, or apparatus.

[0028] The present invention will now be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings:

[0029] Example 1

[0030] See Figure 1 This embodiment discloses an underwater thrust testing system for a wheel rim propulsion device, including a water supply pipeline, a drainage pipeline, a water tank, and a force measuring device;

[0031] The rim propulsion device 12 is suspended in the water tank 5 by a translational support rod 13. A connecting hose 11 is fixed on the outer wall of the rim propulsion device 12 near the drain pipe. The other end of the connecting hose 11 is fixed on the inner wall of the water tank 5. The water supply pipe is connected to one side of the water tank 5, and the drain pipe is connected to the other side of the water tank 5. A ball valve and a first shut-off valve 2 are sequentially provided on the water supply pipe, and a second shut-off valve 8 is provided on the drain pipe. A branch line connecting the ball valve 1 and the first shut-off valve 2 is branched off between the ball valve 1 and the first shut-off valve 2. A third shut-off valve 4 is provided on this branch line. A water outlet pipe connected to the above branch line is also provided at the bottom of the water tank 5. A fourth shut-off valve 7 is provided on this water outlet pipe.

[0032] The force measuring device is a drainage volume testing device connected to the water tank 5, including a second water tank 9. One outlet of the water tank 5 is connected to a drainage pipe, and the other outlet is connected to the second water tank 9 through a connecting pipe. A fifth shut-off valve 6 is installed on the connecting pipe. A branch line is also branched between the ball valve 1 and the first shut-off valve 2 and connected to the above-mentioned connecting pipe. A sixth shut-off valve 3 is installed on this branch line. The bottom of the second water tank 9 is also provided with a water outlet pipe connected to the drainage pipe. A seventh shut-off valve 10 is installed on this water outlet pipe.

[0033] Preferably, the second water tank 9 is set at a lower height than the water tank 5 in order to ensure the water level difference between the two.

[0034] See Figure 4 Four lifting rings are distributed on the upper part of the outer shell of the wheel rim propulsion device 12, two on each side. The translational support rod 13 consists of two steel rods, with both ends of the steel rods fixed to the wall of the water tank 5. The translational support rod 13 is connected to the wheel rim propulsion device 12 through two sleeves 14. Two lifting rings are welded to the lower part of the sleeves 14 and connected to the lifting rings on the wheel rim propulsion device 12 by bolts.

[0035] When the device in Embodiment 1 is used for thrust testing:

[0036] After closing the third shut-off valve 4 and the second shut-off valve 8, water is supplied to the water tank 5 via the first shut-off valve 2 after passing through the ball valve 1, and then discharged through the fourth shut-off valve 7. The first shut-off valve 2 and the fourth shut-off valve 7 are then closed. After passing through the ball valve 1 and the sixth shut-off valve 3, water is supplied to the second water tank 9 for cleaning, and then discharged through the seventh shut-off valve 10. The sixth shut-off valve 3 is then closed. The first shut-off valve 2 is opened, and water enters the water tank 5, ensuring the required water volume for the rim propulsion device 12 to operate within the specified cleaning time. The fifth shut-off valve 6 is opened, and the rim propulsion device 12 is started. The outlet drainage of the rim propulsion device 12 enters the second water tank 5 via the fifth shut-off valve 6. The water in tank 9 is drained through the seventh shut-off valve 10 for cleaning. After the specified cleaning time, the rim propulsion device 12 is shut off. After the second water tank 9 is emptied, the seventh shut-off valve 10 is closed. Water is supplied to tank 5 through ball valve 1 to ensure the required water volume for the rim propulsion device 12 to operate within the specified test time. The rim propulsion device 12 is started and, after the specified test operation time, the fifth shut-off valve 6 is closed, while the second shut-off valve 8 is opened. The rim propulsion device 12 is then shut off, and the fourth shut-off valve 7 is opened. The volume of water in the second water tank 9 is measured, and the seventh shut-off valve 10 is opened. After emptying tanks 5 and 9, ball valve 1 and all shut-off valves are closed. The underwater thrust F of the rim propulsion device 12 is calculated from the parameters required for the calculation of the rim propulsion device 12, the specified test operation time t, and the volume V of water in the second water tank 9.

[0037] The displacement Q of the rim propulsion device per unit time is calculated by the following formula:

[0038] Q = V / t (1)

[0039] The thrust F of the rim propulsion device can be expressed by equation (2):

[0040] F=ρQ(v2-v1) (2)

[0041] According to Bernoulli's principle, the thrust F is calculated using the following formula:

[0042]

[0043] In the formula: ρ is the density of water, kg / m³ 3 g is the acceleration due to gravity, in m / s². 2 v1 is the inlet velocity of the propulsion device, m / s; v2 is the fluid outlet velocity of the propulsion device, m / s; H is the head that the propulsion device can provide, m; A1 is the inlet cross-sectional area of ​​the propulsion device, m². 2 .

[0044] Example 2

[0045] See Figure 2 This embodiment discloses an underwater thrust testing system for a wheel rim propulsion device, including a water supply pipeline, a drainage pipeline, a water tank, and a force measuring device;

[0046] Unlike Embodiment 1, the force measuring device in this embodiment adopts a spring distance measuring device, including a compression spring 14. One end of the compression spring 14 is fixed on the inner wall of one side of the water tank 5, and the other end is fixed on the outer wall of the wheel rim propulsion device 12.

[0047] Furthermore, the number of compression springs is four, which are installed around the outer casing of the wheel rim propulsion device 12.

[0048] When the device in Embodiment 2 is used for thrust testing:

[0049] Close the third shut-off valve 4. Water is supplied to the water tank 5 via the ball valve 1, then via the first shut-off valve 2 for fluid cleaning, and discharged via the fourth shut-off valve 7. Close the first shut-off valve 2 and the fourth shut-off valve 7. Water is supplied to the water tank 5 via the ball valve 1 and the first shut-off valve 2 to provide the required amount of water for the rim propulsion device 12 to operate within the specified cleaning time. Open the second shut-off valve 8 to start the rim propulsion device 12. The outlet of the rim propulsion device 12 drains through the connecting hose 11 and then through the second shut-off valve 8. After the specified cleaning time, the rim propulsion device 12 is closed. Remove the connecting hose and fix one end of four identical compression springs to the inner wall of the water tank, and install the other end around the perimeter of the propulsion device housing to form a spring ranging device 14. Water is supplied to the water tank 5 via ball valve 1 and first shut-off valve 2, providing the required water volume for the rim propulsion device 12 to operate within the specified test run time. The rim propulsion device 12 is then activated, moving horizontally along the translational support rod 13, compressing the spring distance measuring device 14. After the specified test run time, the spring compression amount x of the spring distance measuring device 14 or the movement distance y of the rim propulsion device on the translational support rod is measured. The rim propulsion device 12 is then shut off. The fourth shut-off valve 7 is opened to empty the water tank 5, and ball valve 1 and all shut-off valves are closed. The underwater thrust F of the rim propulsion device 12 is calculated from the measured spring compression amount x of the spring distance measuring device 14 and the elastic coefficient k or the movement distance y of the rim propulsion device on the translational support rod.

[0050]

[0051] F = 4ky (5)

[0052] Example 3

[0053] See Figure 3This embodiment is similar to Embodiment 2, and the force measuring device also uses a spring distance measuring device. The difference from Embodiment 2 is that the water tank 5 does not have a connecting hose 11. Furthermore, the water tank 5 does not have a separate drainage pipe; instead, drainage is directly provided by the drainage pipe at the bottom of the water tank. This configuration simplifies the system, effectively reduces costs, and is suitable for conducting single or limited-number tests. It is also suitable for applications where the rim propulsion device has a small drainage capacity and requires a small water tank size.

[0054] When the device in Embodiment 3 is used for thrust testing:

[0055] Close the third shut-off valve 4, open the fourth shut-off valve 7, and supply water to the water tank 5 via the ball valve 1 and the first shut-off valve 2 to provide the required amount of water for the rim propulsion device 12 to operate within the specified cleaning time. Start the rim propulsion device 12, and after operating for the specified cleaning time, close the rim propulsion device 12, empty the water tank 5, and close the fourth shut-off valve 7. Supply water to the water tank 5 via the ball valve 1 and the first shut-off valve 2 to provide the required amount of water for the rim propulsion device 12 to operate within the specified test operation time. Start the rim propulsion device 12, and the rim propulsion device 12 moves horizontally along the translational support rod 13, compressing the spring distance measuring device 14. After operating for the specified test operation time, measure the spring compression of the spring distance measuring device 14, and close the rim propulsion device 12. Open the fourth shut-off valve 7, empty the water tank 5, and close the ball valve 1 and all shut-off valves. Calculate the underwater thrust F of the rim propulsion device 12 according to formula (4) based on the measured spring compression x and elastic coefficient k of the spring distance measuring device 14.

[0056] The following specific experimental examples illustrate the effectiveness of the device of the present invention in testing underwater thrust. For small rim propulsion devices, a 66.5 kgf spring ranging device was used in the test, which can meet the needs of most propulsion devices. The basic parameters of the rim propulsion device are shown in Table 1:

[0057] Table 1 Basic Parameters of the Wheel Friction Propulsion Device

[0058]

[0059] Table 1 shows the performance parameters of a small rim propulsion device. When testing this device, a water tank measuring 2.5m long, 1.5m wide, and 1.5m high will be used. The spring ranging device consists of four compression springs (YA2.5×25×120GB / T2089), and their parameters are shown in Table 2.

[0060] Table 2

[0061]

[0062] When the device of Example 1 was used in the test, after the rim propulsion device had been running for 20 seconds, the water level in the second water tank 9 was measured, and the water volume in the tank was found to be 1.8 m³. 3 The flow rate was calculated to be 0.09 m³ using equation (1). 3 / s. Based on the parameters of the propulsion device itself, the inlet cross-sectional area A1 is calculated to be 0.0346m². 2 The thrust of the propulsion device is calculated to be 30.5 kgf using equation (3).

[0063] When the devices of Examples 2 and 3 were used for testing, the rim propulsion device was in contact with the spring distance measuring device, and the compressed spring was in a free state. When the rim propulsion device was running stably, the length of each spring in the spring distance measuring device was measured to be 83.0 mm. The compression of each spring was calculated to be 37.0 mm based on the free height of the spring. The thrust of the propulsion device was calculated to be 30.2 kgf according to equation (4).

[0064] The above content is only for illustrating the technical concept of the present invention and should not be construed as limiting the scope of protection of the present invention. Any modifications made to the technical solution based on the technical concept proposed in this invention shall fall within the scope of protection of the claims of this invention.

Claims

1. An underwater thrust testing system for a rim propulsion device, characterized in that, This includes water supply pipes, drainage pipes, water tanks, and force measuring devices; A translational support rod (13) is provided in the water tank. The wheel rim propulsion device (12) is suspended below the translational support rod (13) and can move horizontally along it. The water supply pipeline is connected to one side of the water tank (5), and the drainage pipeline is connected to the other side of the water tank (5). The force measuring device adopts a spring distance measuring device or a drainage volume testing device connected to the water tank (5). The translational support rod (13) is composed of two steel rods arranged side by side. Each steel rod is fitted with a sleeve (14), and two lifting rings are welded below each sleeve (14). Two lifting rings are provided on each side of the top of the wheel rim propulsion device (12), which can be connected to the lifting rings below the sleeve (14) by bolts. A ball valve (1) and a first shut-off valve (2) are installed in sequence on the water supply pipeline, and a second shut-off valve (8) is installed on the drainage pipeline. A branch line is branched between the ball valve (1) and the first shut-off valve (2) and connected to the drainage pipeline. A third shut-off valve (4) is installed on this branch line. A water outlet pipeline connected to the above branch line is also installed at the bottom of the water tank (5). A fourth shut-off valve (7) is installed on this water outlet pipeline. The force measuring device adopts a displacement testing device, including a second water tank (9). One outlet of the water tank (5) is connected to the drainage pipe, and the other outlet is connected to the second water tank (9) through a connecting pipe. A fifth shut-off valve (6) is installed on the connecting pipe. A branch is also branched between the ball valve (1) and the first shut-off valve (2) and connected to the above connecting pipe. A sixth shut-off valve (3) is installed on the branch. The bottom of the second water tank (9) is also provided with an outlet pipe connected to the drainage pipe. A seventh shut-off valve (10) is installed on the outlet pipe. A water level difference is maintained between the second water tank (9) and the water tank (5).

2. The underwater thrust testing system for a rim propulsion device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The water in the second water tank (9) is drained, or the height of the second water tank (9) is lower than the height of the water tank (5).

3. The underwater thrust testing system for a rim propulsion device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The wheel flange propulsion device (12) has a connecting hose (11) fixed on the outer wall near the drainage pipe, and the other end of the connecting hose (11) is fixed on the inner wall of the water tank (5).

4. An underwater thrust testing system for a rim propulsion device, characterized in that, This includes water supply pipes, drainage pipes, water tanks, and force measuring devices; A translational support rod (13) is provided in the water tank. The wheel rim propulsion device (12) is suspended below the translational support rod (13) and can move horizontally along it. The water supply pipeline is connected to one side of the water tank (5), and the drainage pipeline is connected to the other side of the water tank (5). The force measuring device adopts a spring distance measuring device or a drainage volume testing device connected to the water tank (5). The translational support rod (13) is composed of two steel rods arranged side by side. Each steel rod is fitted with a sleeve (14), and two lifting rings are welded below each sleeve (14). Two lifting rings are provided on each side of the top of the wheel rim propulsion device (12), which can be connected to the lifting rings below the sleeve (14) by bolts. A ball valve (1) and a first shut-off valve (2) are installed in sequence on the water supply pipeline, and a second shut-off valve (8) is installed on the drainage pipeline. A branch line is branched between the ball valve (1) and the first shut-off valve (2) and connected to the drainage pipeline. A third shut-off valve (4) is installed on this branch line. A water outlet pipeline connected to the above branch line is also installed at the bottom of the water tank (5). A fourth shut-off valve (7) is installed on this water outlet pipeline. The force measuring device adopts a compression spring distance measuring device, which includes a compression spring. One end of the compression spring is fixed on the inner wall of one side of the water tank (5), and the other end is fixed on the outer wall of the wheel flange propulsion device (12).

5. The underwater thrust testing system for a rim propulsion device according to claim 4, characterized in that, The number of compression springs is four, which are installed around the outer shell of the wheel rim propulsion device (12).

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