Combined mast and fairwater for underwater vehicle

Abstract

The application provides a combined mast fairing and underwater vehicle. The combined mast fairing comprises a bearing section, a connecting assembly and a stealth section connected in sequence. The bearing section comprises a streamlined base body and a guide rail inside the streamlined base body. The connecting assembly comprises an inner connecting sleeve and an outer connecting sleeve. The outer connecting sleeve is embedded inside the stealth section and connected to the stealth section through fasteners. The streamlined base body is sleeved outside the inner connecting sleeve. The inner connecting sleeve is provided with an annular boss on the side facing the streamlined base body. The outer connecting sleeve is provided with an annular groove matched with the annular boss on the side away from the stealth section. The annular groove of the outer connecting sleeve is sleeved on the annular boss. The fasteners pass through the openings of the stealth section, the outer connecting sleeve and the annular boss to fasten and connect the three. The stealth cover is formed by radar stealth function composite materials. The combined mast fairing has the requirements of structural bearing and radar stealth performance.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of underwater vehicle technology, and more particularly to a combined mast fairing and an underwater vehicle. Background Technology

[0002] When manned submersibles, UUVs, and other underwater vehicles need to perform communication or navigation tasks, they require equipment such as radar masts or electro-optical masts to extend above the water. A fairing is typically installed on the outside of the radar mast or electro-optical mast. This serves two purposes: firstly, it provides support and guidance for mast raising and lowering; secondly, since the mast needs to operate while the underwater vehicle is in motion, the streamlined shape of the fairing reduces drag. When the mast is operational, part of the fairing is exposed above the water. When the underwater vehicle is performing stealth missions, this exposed fairing becomes a target for radar detection. Therefore, the design of the fairing must simultaneously consider structural load-bearing capacity and radar stealth performance.

[0003] Existing mast fairings are primarily designed from a structural load-bearing perspective. Their shape meets hydrodynamic performance requirements, and their structural design satisfies mast support and guidance requirements, with little consideration for radar stealth design. They mainly reduce the RCS (radar cross-section) by coating the fairing surface with radar-absorbing paint. This approach has the following shortcomings, making it difficult to further improve the radar stealth performance of the fairing:

[0004] Firstly, since the fairing serves as a support structure for the mast's lifting and lowering, guide rails are installed in the vertical direction inside it to guide the mast's lifting and lowering. This requires the fairing to be a vertical structure, and the outer surface cannot be designed with a large angle of inclination. Moreover, a vertical shape is not conducive to radar wave stealth.

[0005] Secondly, radar absorbing coatings have drawbacks such as a narrow absorption frequency band and poor resistance to marine environments. Radar stealth composite materials, due to the inclusion of radar absorbing structures within the material, have lower mechanical properties compared to metal materials and structural composite materials. If used for integral molding of mast fairings, this would increase the size and weight of the fairing. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The main objective of this invention is to provide a combined mast fairing and underwater vehicle that balances structural load-bearing capacity and radar stealth performance requirements.

[0007] To achieve the above objectives, this invention proposes a combined mast fairing, comprising a load-bearing section, a connecting assembly, and a stealth section connected in sequence, wherein...

[0008] The supporting section includes a streamlined base and a guide rail located inside the streamlined base. The connecting assembly includes an inner connecting sleeve and an outer connecting sleeve. The outer connecting sleeve is embedded inside the stealth section and connected to it by fasteners. The streamlined base is fitted outside the inner connecting sleeve. The inner connecting sleeve has an annular boss on the side facing the streamlined base. The outer connecting sleeve has an annular groove that matches the annular boss on the side facing away from the stealth section. The annular groove of the outer connecting sleeve fits onto the annular boss. Fasteners pass through the openings in the stealth section, the outer connecting sleeve, and the annular boss to securely connect the three. The stealth hood is made of radar stealth functional composite material.

[0009] Preferably, the outer openings on the bearing section and the stealth section for fasteners to pass through are filled with radar-absorbing putty. The radar stealth functional composite material includes a reflective layer and a functional layer formed on the outside of the reflective layer. The reflective layer is formed by carbon fiber epoxy resin prepreg. The functional layer is formed by cross-composite of multi-layer quartz fiber epoxy resin prepreg and radar-absorbing metamaterial film. The streamlined matrix is ​​formed by composite molding of epoxy resin and glass fiber.

[0010] Preferably, the stealth cover is a hollow cover with reinforcing ribs installed in the middle of the inner wall of the cover, and a through hole for fasteners to pass through is opened at one end of the cover near the connecting component.

[0011] Preferably, a top cover is installed on the inner sidewall of the end of the stealth shield away from the connecting assembly, and the top cover has an opening to serve as a channel for the mast's lifting and lowering movement.

[0012] Preferably, the cover includes a first cover and a second cover that are coaxial and integrally formed, with a top cover located on top of the first cover; the cross section of the first cover gradually decreases in the direction away from the top cover, and the cross section of the second cover gradually increases in the direction away from the top cover, so as to form a structure inwardly inclined in the middle of the outer wall of the cover.

[0013] Preferably, the angle between the side surface of the first cover and its bottom surface is 3° to 4°, and the angle between the side surface of the second cover and its bottom surface is 3° to 4°.

[0014] Preferably, the combined mast fairing further includes an adjusting washer located at the mounting gap between the annular groove and the annular boss.

[0015] Preferably, the adjusting washer and the concealed section are made of the same material.

[0016] Preferably, the annular boss has multiple protrusions extending outward, and the annular groove has multiple slots that fit the protrusions. The protrusions and slots cooperate to snap the annular protrusions and the annular groove together.

[0017] The present invention also proposes an underwater vehicle, including the above-mentioned combined mast fairing, and further including an optoelectronic mast, which is mounted on the combined mast fairing.

[0018] The combined mast fairing proposed in this invention has the following beneficial effects:

[0019] 1. The fairing adopts a two-section structure with a load-bearing section and a stealth section. The stealth section that is exposed above the water surface during operation is designed for radar stealth. Through the large-angle inward tilt design in the middle and the application of composite materials with radar stealth function, the RCS of the fairing is greatly reduced.

[0020] 2. The stealth section and the load-bearing section are connected by embedded connecting components, which maintains the smoothness of the outer surface of the fairing, without protruding structures such as flanges, and has good connection strength, while not affecting the hydrodynamic performance of the fairing.

[0021] 3. This combined mast fairing has the advantages of simple structure, easy implementation and good stealth. Attached Figure Description

[0022] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the external structure of the combined mast fairing of the present invention;

[0023] Figure 2 This is an exploded structural diagram of the combined mast fairing of the present invention;

[0024] Figure 3 This is a top view of the load-bearing section in the combined mast fairing of the present invention.

[0025] Figure 4 This is a cross-sectional structural schematic diagram of the stealth section in the combined mast fairing of the present invention;

[0026] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the inner connecting sleeve in the combined mast fairing of the present invention;

[0027] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the combined mast fairing of the present invention after it is equipped with a photoelectric mast.

[0028] In the diagram, 1 is the load-bearing section, 2 is the stealth section, 3 is the connecting component, 4 is the streamlined base, 5 is the guide rail, 6 is the stealth cover, 7 is the top cover, 8 is the reinforcing rib, 9 is the inner connecting sleeve, 10 is the adjusting washer, 11 is the outer connecting sleeve, and 12 is the photoelectric mast.

[0029] The realization of the objective, functional features and advantages of the present invention will be further explained in conjunction with the embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings. Detailed Implementation

[0030] It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative of the invention and are not intended to limit the invention.

[0031] It should be noted that in the description of this invention, the terms "lateral," "longitudinal," "upper," "lower," "front," "rear," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "top," "bottom," "inner," and "outer," etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are used solely for the convenience of describing the invention and for simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on the invention. Furthermore, the terms "first," "second," etc., are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0032] This invention proposes a combined mast fairing.

[0033] Reference Figures 1 to 5 In this preferred embodiment, a combined mast fairing includes a load-bearing section 1, a connecting assembly 3, and a stealth section 2 connected in sequence, wherein...

[0034] The supporting section 1 includes a streamlined base 4 and a guide rail 5 located inside the streamlined base 4. The connecting component 3 includes an inner connecting sleeve 9 and an outer connecting sleeve 11. The outer connecting sleeve 11 is embedded inside the stealth section 2 and connected to it by fasteners. The streamlined base 4 is fitted outside the inner connecting sleeve 9. The inner connecting sleeve 9 has an annular boss on the side facing the streamlined base 4. The outer connecting sleeve 11 has an annular groove that matches the annular boss on the side facing away from the stealth section 2. The annular groove of the outer connecting sleeve 11 fits onto the annular boss. Fasteners pass through the openings on the stealth section 2, the outer connecting sleeve 11, and the annular boss to securely connect the three. The stealth section 2 is made of radar stealth functional composite material. The outer openings on the supporting section 1 and the stealth section 2 for the fasteners to pass through are filled with radar absorbing putty.

[0035] The inner connecting sleeve 9 includes a lower annular flange and an upper annular boss. Both the annular flange and the annular boss are provided with threaded holes. The annular flange is used to be accommodated inside the bearing section 1. The inner ring side of the outer connecting sleeve 11 is fitted onto the outer ring side of the annular boss, and the outer ring side of the outer connecting sleeve 11 is fitted into the bearing section 1.

[0036] The load-bearing section 1 is vertically oriented. The streamlined matrix 4 is a structural composite material made of high-strength glass fiber and epoxy resin, exhibiting excellent mechanical properties. Guide rails 5, made of metal, are installed inside the streamlined matrix 4. The load-bearing section 1 has high overall structural strength and bears the load transmitted from the mast to the guide rails 5 during operation.

[0037] Specifically, in this embodiment, the radar stealth functional composite material includes a reflective layer and a functional layer formed on the outside of the reflective layer. The reflective layer is formed using carbon fiber epoxy resin prepreg, and the functional layer is formed by cross-composite of multilayer quartz fiber epoxy resin prepreg and microwave absorbing metamaterial film.

[0038] This embodiment presents a specific structure for the stealth section 2: the stealth section 2 includes a hollow stealth cover 6 and a reinforcing rib 8 installed in the middle of the inner wall of the stealth cover 6. The stealth cover 6 has a through hole near the connecting assembly 3 for fasteners to pass through. By providing the reinforcing rib 8, the structural stability of the stealth cover 6 is improved.

[0039] Furthermore, referring to Figure 1 and Figure 4 A top cover 7 is installed on the inner side wall of the end of the stealth cover 6 away from the connecting component 3. The top cover 7 has an opening to serve as a channel for the mast to lift and lower. Through the structure of the top cover 7 and the reinforcing rib 8, it is ensured that the stealth section 2 can withstand the resistance of the current when it is not exposed to the water surface, and can also withstand the force of wave impact when it is exposed to the water surface.

[0040] Reference Figure 4 The cover includes a first cover and a second cover that are coaxial and integrally formed, with the top cover 7 located on top of the first cover; the cross section of the first cover gradually decreases in the direction away from the top cover 7, and the cross section of the second cover gradually increases in the direction away from the top cover 7, so as to form a structure inwardly inclined in the middle of the outer wall of the cover.

[0041] The inward-sloping structure of the outer wall of the shroud enhances its stealth capabilities. The threaded holes on the shroud surface for connection with the reinforcing ribs 8 and the top cover 7 are filled with radar-absorbing putty after fastener installation to prevent exposed metal from reducing radar stealth performance.

[0042] The angle between the side surface and the bottom surface of the first cover is 3° to 4°, and the angle between the side surface and the bottom surface of the second cover is 3° to 4°.

[0043] This angle control ensures that when the stealth hood 6 is working above the water surface, it absorbs, attenuates, and deflects incident radar waves. In other words, it comprehensively applies shape stealth (inward tilt angle control) and material stealth measures (using radar stealth composite materials), thus giving the stealth hood 6 an extremely low RCS.

[0044] Furthermore, this combined mast fairing also includes an adjusting washer 10 located at the mounting gap between the annular groove and the annular boss. The adjusting washer 10 and the stealth section 2 are made of the same material.

[0045] After the inner connecting sleeve 9 and the outer connecting sleeve 11 are repaired and trial-assembled, the thickness of the adjusting washer 10 is determined according to the gap between the bearing section 1 and the concealed section 2, so that there is no gap between the bearing section 1 and the concealed section 2.

[0046] Reference Figure 5 The connecting surfaces of the inner connecting sleeve 9 and the outer connecting sleeve 11 are three-dimensional inclined surfaces (a structure of annular boss and annular groove). To reduce the difficulty of machining and assembling the connecting surfaces, the annular boss has multiple protrusions extending outward (multiple protrusions arranged circumferentially, with threaded holes on the protrusions). The annular groove has multiple slots that fit the protrusions. The protrusions and slots engage to snap the annular protrusions and the annular groove together. Through the snap connection between the two, a tight fit between the inner connecting sleeve 9 and the outer connecting sleeve 11 is ensured in one direction, and the coaxiality of the load-bearing section 1 and the concealed section 2 in the height direction is ensured in the other direction. Finally, the load-bearing section 1 and the concealed section 2 are connected by fasteners. The connecting assembly 3 tightly connects the load-bearing section 1 and the concealed section 2 into a whole, which has high structural strength.

[0047] The installation process for this combined mast fairing is as follows:

[0048] First, the optoelectronic mast 12 is installed inside the load-bearing section 1, followed by the assembly of the stealth section 2 and the connecting component 3. This eliminates the need for a large opening in the top cover 7 to accommodate the lower structure of the optoelectronic mast 12. After connection, the countersunk holes on the surfaces of the load-bearing section 1 and the stealth section 2 for screw mounting are filled and smoothed with radar-absorbing putty. This results in a smooth, streamlined appearance for the combined mast fairing, without any protruding structures or exposed metal, which benefits both the fairing's hydrodynamic performance and its radar stealth capabilities.

[0049] A slider is installed at the lower part of the optoelectronic mast 12, which forms a sliding engagement with the guide rail 5. The optoelectronic mast 12 can be raised and lowered along the guide rail 5, and the load of the optoelectronic mast 12 is transferred to the bearing section 1 through the guide rail 5. When the optoelectronic mast 12 is not in operation, it is lowered and retracted into the mast fairing. When in operation, it is raised, with part of it protruding from the top cover 7 of the mast fairing. In order to ensure the observation distance of the optoelectronic mast 12, it needs to extend a certain height above the water surface. Therefore, the stealth section 2 of the mast fairing is also exposed above the water surface. Through its shape design and the application of radar stealth materials, the stealth section 2 has an extremely low RCS and is difficult to detect.

[0050] The combined mast fairing proposed in this invention has the following beneficial effects:

[0051] 1. The fairing adopts a two-section structure consisting of a load-bearing section 1 and a stealth section 2. The stealth section 2, which is exposed above the water surface during operation, is designed for radar stealth. Through a large-angle inward tilt design and the application of radar stealth composite materials, the RCS of the fairing is greatly reduced.

[0052] 2. The stealth section 2 and the load-bearing section 1 are connected by an embedded connecting component 3, which maintains the smoothness of the outer surface of the fairing, without protruding structures such as flanges, and has good connection strength, while not affecting the hydrodynamic performance of the fairing.

[0053] 3. This combined mast fairing has the advantages of simple structure, easy implementation and good stealth.

[0054] The present invention also proposes an underwater vehicle.

[0055] Reference Figure 6 In this preferred embodiment, an underwater vehicle includes a combined mast fairing and an optoelectronic mast 12, which is mounted on the combined mast fairing. The specific structure and beneficial effects of the combined mast fairing are described in the above embodiment and will not be repeated here. The slider of the optoelectronic mast 12 is fitted with the guide rail 5 of the supporting section 1 of the combined mast fairing.

[0056] The above are merely preferred embodiments of the present invention and do not limit the patent scope of the present invention. Any equivalent structural transformations made based on the description and drawings of the present invention, or direct or indirect applications in other related technical fields, are similarly included within the patent protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A combined mast fairing, characterized in that, It includes a carrier segment, a connecting component, and a stealth segment connected in sequence, wherein, The supporting section includes a streamlined substrate and a guide rail located inside the streamlined substrate. The connecting assembly includes an inner connecting sleeve and an outer connecting sleeve. The outer connecting sleeve is embedded inside the stealth section and connected to it by fasteners. The streamlined substrate is fitted outside the inner connecting sleeve. The inner connecting sleeve has an annular boss on the side facing the streamlined substrate, and the outer connecting sleeve has an annular groove adapted to the annular boss on the side facing away from the stealth section. The annular groove of the outer connecting sleeve fits onto the annular boss. Fasteners pass through the openings in the stealth section, the outer connecting sleeve, and the annular boss to securely connect the three. The stealth section is formed using a radar stealth functional composite material. The outer openings on the supporting section and the stealth section for the fasteners to pass through are filled with radar absorbing putty. The radar stealth functional composite material includes a reflective layer and a functional layer formed outside the reflective layer. The reflective layer is formed using carbon fiber epoxy resin prepreg, and the functional layer is formed by cross-composite of multiple layers of quartz fiber epoxy resin prepreg and radar absorbing metamaterial film. The streamlined substrate is formed using epoxy resin and glass fiber composite.

2. The combined mast fairing as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The stealth section includes a hollow stealth cover and a reinforcing rib installed in the middle of the inner wall of the stealth cover. The cover has a through hole near the connecting component for fasteners to pass through.

3. The combined mast fairing as described in claim 2, characterized in that, A top cover is installed on the inner side wall of the end of the stealth cover away from the connecting component, and the top cover has an opening to serve as a channel for the mast to rise and fall.

4. The combined mast fairing as described in claim 3, characterized in that, The cover includes a first cover and a second cover that are coaxial and integrally formed, with a top cover located on top of the first cover; the cross section of the first cover gradually decreases in the direction away from the top cover, and the cross section of the second cover gradually increases in the direction away from the top cover, so as to form a structure inwardly inclined in the middle of the outer wall of the cover.

5. The combined mast fairing as described in claim 4, characterized in that, The angle between the side surface and the bottom surface of the first cover is 3° to 4°, and the angle between the side surface and the bottom surface of the second cover is 3° to 4°.

6. The combined mast fairing as described in claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes adjusting washers located at the mounting gaps of the annular groove and the annular boss.

7. The combined mast fairing as described in claim 6, characterized in that, The adjusting washer and the concealed section are made of the same material.

8. The combined mast fairing as described in any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that, The annular boss has multiple protrusions extending outward, and the annular groove has multiple slots that fit the protrusions. The protrusions and slots cooperate to snap the annular protrusions and the annular groove together.

9. An underwater vehicle, characterized in that, The system includes the combined mast fairing as described in any one of claims 1 to 8, and further includes an optoelectronic mast that is mounted on the combined mast fairing.

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