Buoyancy adjusting cabin with elastic manger board

Abstract

The invention relates to the technical field of underwater unmanned autonomous vehicles, in particular to a buoyancy adjusting cabin with an elastic manger board. According to the invention, end covers are arranged at two ends of a pressure-resistant cabin body; a water injection and drainage opening is formed in the middle lower part of the pressure-resistant cabin body and is externally connected with a motor pump set hose; the liquid level meter is installed on the pressure-resistant cabin body and used for measuring the actual water level in the buoyancy adjusting cabin. The flow guide ring ribs are arranged on the inner side of the pressure-resistant cabin body and distributed in the length direction of the pressure-resistant cabin body. According to the buoyancy adjusting cabin with the elastic manger board, the requirements for rapid water injection and drainage, accurate liquid level measurement and stable wave suppression of the buoyancy adjusting cabin are met through a prototype test, and the buoyancy adjusting cabin has the advantages of being simple in structure, light in weight, convenient to maintain and the like.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of underwater unmanned autonomous vehicle technology, and more specifically, to a buoyancy regulating cabin with an elastic wave deflector. Background Technology

[0002] In the field of deep-sea equipment technology, the buoyancy adjustment system, as a crucial functional module of underwater vehicles, directly impacts their motion stability and energy efficiency. Currently, mainstream buoyancy compensation devices generally employ ballast tank injection and depletion mechanisms. However, in the design of miniaturized vehicles, constrained by the large length-to-diameter ratio of the hull structure, ballast tanks must be arranged laterally. This spatial adaptation strategy directly results in a non-ideal, elongated shape for the tanks. When these elongated buoyancy tanks are partially filled, the acceleration generated during underwater vehicle maneuvers causes significant sloshing of the water within the tanks. This fluid oscillation generates additional torque through center-of-mass shift, directly interfering with the vehicle's pitch angle (typically ±8° deviation), and in severe cases, leading to control system instability.

[0003] Therefore, while meeting the buoyancy adjustment requirements of small underwater vehicles, it is urgent to design anti-sloshing tanks with internal damping structures to reduce the impact of ballast water sloshing on their navigation attitude, and to achieve fluid kinetic energy dissipation under non-full liquid conditions through flow guiding and wave suppression devices. Summary of the Invention

[0004] This invention aims to at least partially solve one of the technical problems in related technologies. Therefore, the objective of this invention is to provide a buoyancy regulating chamber with an elastic wave deflector, which can solve the problem of excessive impact on the attitude of the aircraft under non-full liquid conditions.

[0005] To achieve the above and other related objectives, the present invention provides a buoyancy regulating chamber with an elastic wave-damping plate, comprising: The pressure chamber has end caps at both ends; The water inlet / outlet is installed in the lower part of the pressure-resistant chamber, and the water inlet / outlet is connected to the motor pump set hose. A level gauge, which is installed on the pressure tank, is used to measure the actual water level in the buoyancy regulating tank; The flow guide ring is disposed on the inner side of the pressure tank and distributed along the length of the pressure tank.

[0006] In one embodiment of the present invention, it further includes: An elastic wave baffle is installed on the inner side of the flow guide ring rib, and two elastic wave baffles are installed on each flow guide ring rib.

[0007] In one embodiment of the present invention, it further includes: Reinforcing rings are installed on the outside of the pressure-resistant chamber.

[0008] In one embodiment of the present invention, the pressure-resistant chamber is made of aluminum alloy or titanium alloy.

[0009] In one embodiment of the present invention, the end cap adopts an arc-shaped structure.

[0010] In one embodiment of the present invention, three level gauges are provided, and the three level gauges are respectively located at the front, middle and rear of the pressure tank.

[0011] In one embodiment of the present invention, the flow guide ring ribs are located at 1 / 3 and 2 / 3 of the length of the pressure tank, respectively.

[0012] In one embodiment of the present invention, 12 flow guide holes are provided on the flow guide ring rib.

[0013] In one embodiment of the present invention, the elastic wave-breaking plate is made of a polymer elastomer.

[0014] In one embodiment of the present invention, the elastic wave-breaking plate is made of hydrogenated nitrile rubber and polyurethane gradient material.

[0015] As described above, the buoyancy regulating chamber with an elastic wave-damping plate of the present invention has the following beneficial effects: The present invention provides a buoyancy regulating chamber with an elastic wave deflector. Through prototype testing, it meets the requirements of rapid water injection and drainage, accurate liquid level measurement, and stable wave suppression in buoyancy regulating chambers, and also has the advantages of simple structure, light weight, and convenient maintenance.

[0016] The present invention provides a buoyancy regulating chamber with elastic wave deflectors, which divides a slender pressure tank into multiple effective compartments, reducing the liquid volume in each compartment. The kinetic energy of the smaller liquid volume is more easily dissipated, and the physical separation restricts the flow path of the liquid in the chamber, reducing the energy accumulation of longitudinal flow.

[0017] The present invention provides a buoyancy regulating chamber with an elastic wave deflector. The elastic wave deflector is made of a highly elastic material (such as rubber or composite material), which deforms when impacted by liquid, converting kinetic energy into elastic potential energy. Furthermore, the high damping material can calm the swaying more quickly and reduce the duration of liquid movement.

[0018] The present invention provides a buoyancy regulating chamber with an elastic wave deflector. The flexible edge of the elastic wave deflector can guide the liquid to form small-scale eddies rather than large-scale fluctuations, thereby reducing the concentrated impact on the chamber walls. Attached Figure Description

[0019] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a buoyancy regulating chamber with an elastic wave-blocking plate according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a buoyancy regulating chamber with an elastic wave baffle, according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0020] Among them: 1-end cap, 2-pressure resistant tank, 3-flow guide ring rib, 4-injection and drainage port, 5-level gauge, 6-elastic baffle, 7-reinforcing ring rib. Detailed Implementation

[0021] The following specific examples illustrate the implementation of the present invention. Those skilled in the art can easily understand other advantages and effects of the present invention from the content disclosed in this specification. The present invention can also be implemented or applied through other different specific embodiments, and various details in this specification can also be modified or changed based on different viewpoints and applications without departing from the spirit of the present invention. It should be noted that, unless otherwise specified, the following embodiments and features described therein can be combined with each other.

[0022] It should be noted that the illustrations provided in the following embodiments are only schematic representations of the basic concept of the present invention. Therefore, the illustrations only show the components related to the present invention and are not drawn according to the actual number, shape and size of the components in the actual implementation. In the actual implementation, the form, quantity and proportion of each component can be arbitrarily changed, and the layout of the components may also be more complex.

[0023] Terms such as "first" or "second" may be used to describe various components, but these components are not limited by the terms described above. The terms described above are used to distinguish one component from another; for example, without departing from the scope of the concept according to this disclosure, a first component may be referred to as a second component, and similarly, a second component may be referred to as a first component.

[0024] Furthermore, "connected / linked" indicates that one component is directly electrically connected to another component or indirectly electrically connected through another component. Unless otherwise explicitly stated in the sentence, the singular form may include the plural form. Additionally, the terms "comprising / including" or "containing / including" as used in this specification indicate the presence or addition of one or more components, steps, operations, and elements. Specific structural or functional descriptions of examples of embodiments of the concepts disclosed in this specification are merely illustrative to describe examples of embodiments of the concepts, and examples of embodiments of the concepts can be implemented in various forms, but these descriptions are not limited to the examples of embodiments described in this specification.

[0025] Based on the concept, various modifications and changes can be applied to examples of embodiments, such that examples of embodiments will be illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described in the specification. However, examples of embodiments based on the concept are not limited to specific embodiments, but include all changes, equivalents, or substitutions included within the spirit and scope of this disclosure.

[0026] It should be understood that when describing an element as "connected" or "linked" to another element, the element may be directly connected or linked to the other element, or it may be connected or linked to the other element via a third element. Conversely, it should be understood that when an element is described as "directly connected to" or "directly linked to" another element, no other element is placed between them. Other expressions describing relationships between components (i.e., "between" and "directly between" or "adjacent to" and "directly adjacent to") need to be interpreted in the same way.

[0027] The terminology used in this specification is for the purpose of describing specific examples of implementations only and is not intended to limit this disclosure. The singular form may include the plural form unless there is an explicit contrary meaning in the context. It should be understood in this specification that the terms "comprising" or "having" indicate the presence of the features, quantities, steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof described in the specification, but do not preclude the possibility of the presence or addition of one or more other features, quantities, steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof.

[0028] Unless otherwise defined, all terms used herein (including technical or scientific terms) shall have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. If a term is not clearly defined in a common dictionary in this specification, it shall be interpreted as having the same meaning as in the context of the relevant art, and not as an ideal or overly formal meaning.

[0029] Descriptions of known components and processing techniques may be omitted to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the embodiments of this disclosure.

[0030] Throughout this specification, the same reference numerals refer to the same elements. Therefore, even if a reference numeral is not mentioned or described with reference to one drawing, it may be mentioned or described with reference to another drawing. Furthermore, even if a reference numeral is not shown in one drawing, it may be mentioned or described with reference to another drawing.

[0031] Additionally, the logic level of a signal may be different from or opposite to the logic level described. For example, a signal described as having a logic "high" level may optionally have a logic "low" level, and a signal described as having a logic "low" level may optionally have a logic "high" level.

[0032] The embodiments of this disclosure will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, those skilled in the art will understand that many technical details have been provided in the embodiments of this disclosure to facilitate a better understanding of the disclosure. However, the technical solutions claimed in this disclosure can be implemented even without these technical details and various variations and modifications based on the following embodiments.

[0033] Please see Figure 1 , Figure 2 , Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a buoyancy regulating chamber with an elastic wave-blocking plate according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a buoyancy regulating chamber with an elastic wave baffle according to another embodiment of the present invention. The present invention provides a buoyancy regulating chamber with an elastic wave baffle, comprising: end caps 1 at both ends of a pressure tank 2; an inlet / outlet 4 installed in the lower part of the pressure tank 2, the inlet / outlet 4 being externally connected to a motor pump hose; a level gauge 5 installed on the pressure tank 2 for measuring the actual water level inside the buoyancy regulating chamber; and flow guide ring ribs 3 disposed inside the pressure tank 2 and distributed along the length of the pressure tank 2.

[0034] Specifically, the buoyancy regulating chamber with elastic wave-blocking plates of the present invention further includes: elastic wave-blocking plates 6 installed on the inner side of the flow-guiding ring ribs 3, and two elastic wave-blocking plates 6 are installed on each flow-guiding ring rib 3.

[0035] Specifically, the buoyancy regulating chamber with elastic wave deflector of the present invention further includes: reinforcing ring ribs 7 installed on the outside of the pressure-resistant chamber 2.

[0036] Specifically, the pressure-resistant chamber 2 is made of aluminum alloy or titanium alloy. The end cap 1 has an arc-shaped structure. Three level gauges 5 are provided, located at the front, middle, and rear of the pressure-resistant chamber 2, respectively. The flow-guiding ring ribs 3 are located at 1 / 3 and 2 / 3 of the length of the pressure-resistant chamber 2, respectively. The flow-guiding ring ribs 3 are provided with 12 flow-guiding holes.

[0037] In one embodiment of the present invention, the thickness of the pressure tank 2 is determined according to the operating water depth of the underwater vehicle. Generally, aluminum alloy or titanium alloy can be used as the processing material for the pressure tank. In order to save internal space and increase the adjustable buoyancy range, reinforcing ribs 7 are arranged on the outside of the tank. The end cap 1 adopts an arc-shaped structure, which makes the stress distribution more uniform when subjected to external pressure, thereby avoiding local deformation or cracking. The water inlet / outlet 4 is located in the lower part of the regulating tank and is connected to the external motor pump hose. When the pump is working, it can drain or inject water into the tank. Since the buoyancy regulating tank has a large length-to-diameter ratio, a single level gauge 5 cannot accurately measure the actual water level in the buoyancy regulating tank. Therefore, three level gauges 5 are used, located at the front, middle and rear of the buoyancy regulating tank respectively, to make the buoyancy regulating tank level detection more accurate.

[0038] Specifically, the elastic wave-breaking plate 6 is made of a polymer elastomer. The elastic wave-breaking plate 6 is made of hydrogenated nitrile rubber and a polyurethane gradient material.

[0039] In one embodiment of the present invention, the flow guide rings 3 are located at 1 / 3 and 2 / 3 of the length of the floatation tank, respectively, dividing the floatation tank into three parts: front, middle, and rear. The flow guide rings 3 are provided with 12 flow guide holes, allowing water to flow freely in each section and ensuring accurate level detection by the level gauge 5. Each flow guide ring 3 is equipped with two elastic wave deflectors, typically made of high-molecular elastomers such as hydrogenated nitrile rubber or polyurethane gradient materials. These high-molecular elastomers maintain elasticity in operating conditions from -40℃ to 150℃, with a fatigue life of 10^4 to 10^5, meeting the requirements of most underwater operating conditions. Their elastic strain range is 50%-300%, and their water flow impact energy absorption rate is greater than 82%, converting the kinetic energy of the water into the elastic potential energy of the material, achieving sway kinetic energy attenuation and wave suppression.

[0040] This invention is adapted to the buoyancy adjustment requirements of underwater vehicles. Through prototype testing, it meets the requirements of rapid filling and emptying of the buoyancy adjustment chamber, accurate measurement of liquid level, and stable wave suppression. It also has the advantages of simple structure, light weight, and convenient maintenance.

[0041] In one embodiment of the present invention, a buoyancy regulating tank with an elastic wave baffle includes: an end cap 1, a pressure-resistant tank body 2, a flow guide ring 3, an inlet / outlet 4, a level gauge 5, an elastic wave baffle 6, and reinforcing ring 7. Both the end cap 1 and the pressure-resistant tank body 2 are made of titanium alloy. The end cap 1 and the pressure-resistant tank body 2 are typically sealed using double O-rings and fixed with screws. The reinforcing ring 7 is respectively located at the level gauge 5 and the inlet / outlet where openings are required. The level gauge 5 is threaded to the pressure-resistant tank body 2, and the O-ring end face is sealed. The flow guide ring 3 is located inside the pressure-resistant tank body 2, serving both as a flow guide and providing a mounting point for the elastic wave baffle 6. The elastic wave baffle 6 is connected to the titanium alloy flow guide ring using an adhesive bonding process, typically epoxy adhesive. To maximize the suppression of liquid sloshing within the tank, the elastic wave baffle 6 should cover 80% of the cylindrical cross-section.

[0042] The level gauges 5 of this invention are placed at equal intervals inside the pressure tank 2. A combination of multiple level gauges 5 and elastic wave deflectors 6 is used to address the issue of level fluctuations within the tank during operation. The average level measured by these level gauges 5 is then calculated as the actual level of the tank. During operation, the level gauges 5 monitor the water volume in the tank. The main principle is to directly read the water level from the level gauges 5 and then calculate the water volume using a water level and tank volume curve. Furthermore, because the tank is completely sealed, the internal water pressure gradually increases, and the internal water quality deteriorates over time. Additionally, the tank experiences frequent turbulence during navigation. Therefore, considering the characteristics of fouling resistance and pressure resistance, a compatible fouling-resistant level gauge 5 is selected to measure the water level when the tank is stationary, and the measurement accuracy is calculated based on its key parameters.

[0043] The elastic wave deflector 6 of this invention effectively suppresses liquid tank sloshing primarily through multiple physical mechanisms. The specific principles are as follows: 1. Dividing the slender pressure tank into multiple effective compartments reduces the liquid volume in each compartment. The kinetic energy of smaller liquid volumes is more easily dissipated, and the physical separation restricts the liquid's flow path within the tank, reducing the energy accumulation in longitudinal flow. 2. The elastic wave deflector uses highly elastic materials (such as rubber or composite materials) that deform upon liquid impact, converting kinetic energy into elastic potential energy. The high-damping material also helps to quickly calm sloshing, reducing the persistence of liquid movement. 3. The flexible edges of the elastic wave deflector guide the liquid to form small-scale eddies rather than large-scale fluctuations, reducing concentrated impact on the tank walls. The elastic wave deflector comprehensively reduces the hazards of liquid tank sloshing through multi-dimensional strategies such as structural separation, energy absorption, and fluid guidance, combining engineering practicality with the ingenious application of physical principles. Its design needs to balance the number of wave deflectors with the effective volume of the liquid tank to ensure that the anti-sloshing effect does not significantly reduce the storage capacity, and it needs to optimize the material and structural parameters according to the specific working conditions to achieve the best protection effect.

[0044] In summary, the buoyancy regulating tank with elastic wave deflectors of this invention meets the requirements for rapid filling and emptying of buoyancy regulating tanks, accurate liquid level measurement, and stable wave suppression through prototype testing. It also boasts advantages such as simple structure, light weight, and convenient maintenance. This invention divides the slender pressure tank body into multiple effective compartments, reducing the liquid volume in each compartment. The kinetic energy of smaller liquid volumes is more easily dissipated, and the physical separation restricts the flow path of the liquid within the tank, reducing the energy accumulation of longitudinal flow.

[0045] The above embodiments are merely illustrative of the principles and effects of the present invention and are not intended to limit the invention. Any person skilled in the art can modify or alter the above embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, all equivalent modifications or alterations made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and technical concept disclosed in the present invention should still be covered by the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. A buoyancy regulating chamber with an elastic wave-damping plate, characterized in that, include: The pressure chamber (2) has end caps (1) at both ends. The water inlet (4) is installed in the lower part of the pressure-resistant chamber (2), and the water inlet (4) is connected to the motor pump set hose. A level gauge (5) is installed on the pressure tank (2) to measure the actual water level in the buoyancy regulating tank; The flow guide ring (3) is located inside the pressure tank (2) and is distributed along the length of the pressure tank (2).

2. The buoyancy regulating chamber with elastic wave-damping plate according to claim 1, characterized in that, Also includes: An elastic wave deflector (6) is installed on the inner side of the flow guide ring (3), and two elastic wave deflectors (6) are installed on each flow guide ring (3).

3. The buoyancy regulating chamber with elastic wave-damping plate according to claim 2, characterized in that, Also includes: A reinforcing ring (7) is installed on the outside of the pressure-resistant chamber (2).

4. The buoyancy regulating chamber with elastic wave-damping plate according to claim 1, characterized in that: The pressure-resistant chamber (2) is made of aluminum alloy or titanium alloy.

5. The buoyancy regulating chamber with elastic wave-damping plate according to claim 1, characterized in that: The end cap (1) adopts an arc-shaped structure.

6. The buoyancy regulating chamber with elastic wave-damping plate according to claim 1, characterized in that: Three level gauges (5) are provided, and the three level gauges (5) are respectively located at the front, middle and rear of the pressure tank (2).

7. The buoyancy regulating chamber with elastic wave-damping plate according to claim 1, characterized in that: The flow guide ring (3) is located at 1 / 3 and 2 / 3 of the length of the pressure tank (2), respectively.

8. The buoyancy regulating chamber with elastic wave-damping plate according to claim 1, characterized in that: The flow guide ring (3) is provided with 12 flow guide holes.

9. The buoyancy regulating chamber with elastic wave-damping plate according to claim 2, characterized in that: The elastic wave deflector (6) is made of a polymer elastomer.

10. The buoyancy regulating chamber with elastic wave-damping plate according to claim 2, characterized in that: The elastic wave shield (6) is made of hydrogenated nitrile rubber and polyurethane gradient material.

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