Novel underwater vehicle propulsion driving system

Abstract

The utility model discloses a novel underwater vehicle propulsion driving system, which is characterized in that the surface of an underwater vehicle is respectively provided with an upper side water spraying area, a lower side water spraying area, two side water spraying areas and a tail water spraying area, and each water spraying area is respectively provided with nozzles at intervals; wherein the water spraying direction of the nozzles in the upper side face water spraying area and the lower side face water spraying area is perpendicular to the advancing direction, the water spraying direction of the nozzles in the two side face water spraying areas is inclined backwards, and the water spraying direction of the nozzles in the tail water spraying area is opposite to the advancing direction. The nozzle in each water spraying area is communicated with a water outlet of a temporary water storage tank through a water spraying pipe and a water flow adjusting valve, and a water inlet of the temporary water storage tank is communicated with the head water inlet through the centrifugal water pump. The centrifugal pump is used for sucking water from the head of the underwater vehicle, high-pressure water is sprayed out of the periphery of the shell of the underwater vehicle through the water pump, and the underwater vehicle rapidly advances, steers, floats upwards and dives through thrust generated by water spraying.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to underwater navigation technology, and in particular to a novel underwater vehicle propulsion drive system. Background Technology

[0002] Underwater vehicle propulsion technology is one of the core technologies for underwater robots, submarines, and unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs / AUVs), and its performance directly affects the vehicle's speed, endurance, stealth, maneuverability, and operational capabilities. The following is a classification and description of existing underwater propulsion technologies:

[0003] 1. Traditional propulsion technology;

[0004] (1) Propeller propulsion: thrust is generated by rotating the propeller through an electric motor or hydraulic system.

[0005] Advantages: Mature technology, high efficiency (especially in high-speed conditions), and low cost.

[0006] Disadvantages: Significant cavitation noise (prone to cavitation effect at high speeds), poor maneuverability at low speeds.

[0007] Applications: Most submarines, AUVs (such as the REMUS series), and ROVs (work-class underwater robots).

[0008] (2) Pump-jet propulsion: The rotor (propeller) and stator (guide vane) are wrapped by a duct to generate water flow at the tail end of the vehicle, forming directional thrust; reducing turbulence and cavitation.

[0009] Advantages: Low noise, good high-speed performance, suitable for high-power scenarios.

[0010] Disadvantages: Complex structure and heavy weight.

[0011] Applications: Modern military submarines (such as Virginia-class nuclear submarines), and some high-end AUVs.

[0012] (3) Ducted propulsion: A ring-shaped duct is added around the propeller to increase thrust concentration.

[0013] Advantages: Good thrust directionality, suitable for precise control.

[0014] Disadvantage: Slightly less efficient than open propellers.

[0015] Applications: ROVs, underwater drones (such as BlueROV2).

[0016] 2. New propulsion technologies:

[0017] (1) Magnetohydrodynamic (MHD): Seawater, as a conductive medium, generates Lorentz force under the action of magnetic and electric fields to propel the water flow.

[0018] Advantages: No moving mechanical parts, excellent quietness.

[0019] Disadvantages: High energy consumption and low efficiency (currently only verified in the laboratory).

[0020] Application: Experimental submarines (such as the Japanese "Yamato 1").

[0021] (2) Bionic propulsion: mimicking the swaying (such as tail fin, pectoral fin) or wave motion of fish or aquatic organisms.

[0022] Advantages: High mobility, low noise, suitable for complex environments.

[0023] Disadvantages: lower speed and more complex structure.

[0024] Applications: Bionic robots (such as MIT's "robotic fish" and Festo's AquaRay).

[0025] (3) Supercavitation propulsion: By generating cavitation bubbles that envelop the vehicle, water resistance is greatly reduced.

[0026] Advantages: Extremely high speed (theoretically up to 200 knots or more).

[0027] Disadvantages: High energy consumption and difficult to control.

[0028] Applications: High-speed torpedoes (such as the Russian "Shkval" torpedo).

[0029] (4) Rim-Driven Thruster: The motor stator is integrated in the guide tube, and the rotor directly drives the outer edge of the propeller.

[0030] Advantages: Compact structure and low noise.

[0031] Disadvantages: Heat dissipation and sealing present significant challenges.

[0032] Applications: Small AUVs, underwater observation equipment. Utility Model Content

[0033] The technical problem to be solved by this utility model is to overcome the shortcomings of existing drive technology and provide a new type of underwater vehicle propulsion drive system that is reasonably designed, has high speed and good safety.

[0034] The technical solution of this utility model is:

[0035] A novel underwater vehicle propulsion system includes a centrifugal water pump and nozzles. The underwater vehicle surface is provided with an upper side water spray area, a lower side water spray area, two side water spray areas, and a tail water spray area. The upper and lower side water spray areas each have vertical nozzles spaced apart, with the spray direction of the vertical nozzles perpendicular to the forward direction. The two side water spray areas each have inclined nozzles spaced apart, with the spray direction of the inclined nozzles being obliquely rearward. The tail water spray area has horizontal nozzles spaced apart, with the spray direction of the horizontal nozzles opposite to the forward direction. The nozzles in each water spray area are connected to the outlet of a temporary water tank via a water spray pipe and a water flow regulating valve. The inlet of the temporary water tank is connected to the bow water inlet via the centrifugal water pump.

[0036] Furthermore, the bow water inlet is located at the bow of the underwater vehicle, and a filter is installed at the bow water inlet to prevent debris from entering.

[0037] Furthermore: the spray direction of all nozzles is fixed, or the spray direction of all nozzles can be adjusted to change the angle of the spray direction. In this case, the nozzles are equipped with an angle adjustment mechanism.

[0038] Furthermore, the centrifugal water pump is at least one; when two centrifugal water pumps are used, their rotation directions are opposite, which can ensure the stability and dynamic balance of water pressure.

[0039] Furthermore, at least two spray zones are provided in each of the upper side spray zone, the lower side spray zone, and the two side spray zones. The nozzles in each spray zone are connected to the outlet of the temporary water tank through a spray pipe and a water flow regulating valve to achieve precise spray control.

[0040] The beneficial effects of this utility model are:

[0041] 1. This utility model uses a common high-efficiency centrifugal pump to draw water in from the head of the vehicle. The pump then sprays high-pressure water around the vehicle's hull (including the tail). The thrust generated by the water spray enables the underwater vehicle to move forward, turn, rise, and dive rapidly.

[0042] 2. The water inlet of this utility model is located at the front end of the underwater vehicle. Due to the pump suction, negative pressure is generated in the direction of the vehicle's movement, which significantly reduces the resistance to forward movement. Thus, the speed of the underwater vehicle can be significantly increased while ensuring a certain power consumption.

[0043] 3. This utility model has densely distributed obliquely rearward water jets on the left and right sides of the underwater vehicle. The water jets not only have the force to propel the underwater vehicle forward, but also form water flow zones on both sides, thereby reducing the suction force of water on both sides of the underwater vehicle and thus reducing forward resistance; enabling the underwater vehicle to achieve unprecedented forward speed.

[0044] 4. At least one set of centrifugal water pumps of this utility model shall be used. Installing two sets of centrifugal water pumps with opposite rotation directions will be more reliable, which can not only ensure the stability of water pressure, but also offset the influence of pump blade rotation on the navigation direction control system.

[0045] 5. This utility model has a reasonable design, high speed and good safety. By adjusting the water flow in each area through a proportional regulating valve, the vehicle can achieve turning, forward movement, descent and surfacing. It is easy to promote and implement, has high technical feasibility and good economic benefits. Attached Figure Description

[0046] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the propulsion system for a novel underwater vehicle.

[0047] Figure 2 for Figure 1 The image shows a top view of a novel underwater vehicle propulsion system.

[0048] Figure 3 for Figure 1 The diagram shows a schematic of a novel underwater vehicle propulsion system. Detailed Implementation

[0049] Example 1: See Figure 1 -- Figure 3 In the diagram, 1-front left side spray area, 2-front right side spray area, 3-upper left side spray area, 4-upper right side spray area, 5-lower left side spray area, 6-lower right side spray area, 7-rear left side spray area, 8-rear right side spray area, 9-tail spray area, 10-head water inlet, 11-nozzle, 12-filter, 13-centrifugal water pump, 14-temporary water tank, 15-water flow regulating valve, 16-spray pipe.

[0050] In this embodiment, Figure 1 This is a structural diagram of an underwater vehicle placed horizontally. Based on this diagram, the arrows in the diagram indicate the direction of navigation. Therefore, the left end is the bow of the underwater vehicle, the right end is the tail of the underwater vehicle, and the two sides of the underwater vehicle are the front side and the rear side, respectively.

[0051] A novel underwater vehicle propulsion system includes a centrifugal water pump 13 and nozzles 11. The underwater vehicle surface is provided with an upper side water spray area, a lower side water spray area, two side water spray areas, and a tail water spray area 9. Vertical nozzles are spaced apart in both the upper and lower side water spray areas, with the spray direction of the vertical nozzles perpendicular to the forward direction. Inclined nozzles are spaced apart in both side water spray areas, with the spray direction of the inclined nozzles being obliquely backward. Horizontal nozzles are spaced apart in the tail water spray area 9, with the spray direction of the horizontal nozzles opposite to the forward direction. Each nozzle 11 in each water spray area is connected to the outlet of a temporary water tank 14 via a water spray pipe 16 and a water flow regulating valve 15. The inlet of the temporary water tank 14 is connected to the bow inlet 10 via the centrifugal water pump 13.

[0052] Preferred embodiment: The bow water inlet 10 is located at the bow of the underwater vehicle, and a filter 12 is installed at the bow water inlet 10 to prevent debris from entering and improve operational safety. The water spray direction of all nozzles 11 is fixed.

[0053] Preferred option: There is one or two centrifugal water pumps 13. When two centrifugal water pumps 13 are used, their rotation directions are opposite, which can ensure the stability and dynamic balance of water pressure.

[0054] Preferred solution: At least two spray zones are set in the upper side spray zone, the lower side spray zone and the two side spray zones respectively. The nozzles 11 in each spray zone are connected to the outlet of the temporary water tank 14 through the spray pipe 16 and the water flow regulating valve 15 respectively to achieve precise spray control.

[0055] Each water spray area in the diagram is divided into two spray zones: front left spray zone 1, front right spray zone 2, upper left spray zone 3, upper right spray zone 4, lower left spray zone 5, lower right spray zone 6, rear left spray zone 7, and rear right spray zone 8. Of course, depending on the size of the underwater vehicle, three, four, five, or six spray zones can also be set, etc., which will not be listed one by one.

[0056] A novel propulsion method for underwater vehicles includes the following steps:

[0057] (1) Start the centrifugal water pump 13 and inject water into the temporary water tank 14 through the head water inlet 10. The temporary water tank 14 is located in the inner cavity of the underwater vehicle (not shown in the figure, the specific location depends on the specific structure and shape of the underwater vehicle).

[0058] (2) When the underwater vehicle needs to dive, the nozzle 11 of the upper side spray water upward. Under the action of the reaction force, the underwater vehicle moves downward and achieves diving.

[0059] (3) When the vehicle descends to the set depth, the water spraying area on the upper side stops spraying water, while the nozzles 11 of the two side water spraying areas and the tail water spraying area spray water to propel the underwater vehicle forward.

[0060] (4) When turning is required, the water flow regulating valve 15 is adjusted to increase the water flow in one side spray zone and decrease the water flow in the other side spray zone to achieve turning.

[0061] (5) When the dive ends and it is time to surface, the nozzles 11 in the lower side water spray area spray water downwards. Under the action of the reaction force, the underwater vehicle moves upwards and surfaces, completing one dive. During the dive, in order to ensure the diving depth of the vehicle, the water spray area on the lower side needs to continuously control the water spray flow according to the altitude signal to stabilize the diving depth of the vehicle.

[0062] Preferred solution: When the underwater vehicle is navigating underwater, it encounters a sea cliff in the ocean and experiences a drop in depth. The nozzles 11 in the lower side water spray area are activated to spray water downwards rapidly, instantly generating an upward thrust that causes the underwater vehicle to immediately float up and escape the drop in depth.

[0063] Preferred solution: By adjusting the water flow regulating valve 15, the speed of the underwater vehicle's diving, forward movement, turning, and surfacing can be changed in a coordinated manner.

[0064] Both the centrifugal water pump 13 and the water flow regulating valve 15 are connected to the controller, enabling both manual and automatic control operations, which is very flexible.

[0065] Example 2: This example is basically the same as Example 1, and the similarities will not be repeated. The difference is that the water spray direction of all nozzles can be adjusted to change the angle of the water spray direction. At this time, the nozzle is equipped with an angle adjustment mechanism. The angle adjustment mechanism is existing technology and can be used in various ways, such as using a universal joint structure, which can rotate in multiple directions. These will not be described in detail here.

[0066] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of the present utility model and is not intended to limit the present utility model in any way. Any simple modifications made based on the technical essence of the present utility model shall still fall within the scope of the technical solution of the present utility model.

Claims

1. A novel underwater vehicle propulsion drive system comprising a centrifugal water pump and a nozzle, characterized in that: The surface of the underwater vehicle is provided with an upper side water spray area, a lower side water spray area, two side water spray areas, and a tail water spray area. The upper and lower side water spray areas are each provided with vertical nozzles that are either pointing upwards or downwards at intervals, and the water spray direction of the vertical nozzles is perpendicular to the direction of travel. The two side water spray areas are each provided with inclined nozzles at intervals, and the water spray direction of the inclined nozzles is to spray obliquely backwards. The tail water spray area is provided with horizontal nozzles at intervals, and the water spray direction of the horizontal nozzles is opposite to the direction of travel. The nozzles in each water spray area are connected to the outlet of a temporary water tank through a water spray pipe and a water flow regulating valve. The inlet of the temporary water tank is connected to the bow water inlet through a centrifugal water pump.

2. A novel underwater vehicle propulsion drive system as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that: The bow water inlet is located at the bow of the underwater vehicle, and a filter is installed at the bow water inlet to prevent debris from entering.

3. A novel underwater vehicle propulsion drive system as claimed in claim 1, wherein: The spray direction of all nozzles is fixed, or the spray direction of all nozzles can be adjusted to change the angle of the spray direction. In this case, the nozzles are equipped with an angle adjustment mechanism.

4. A novel underwater vehicle propulsion drive system as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that: The centrifugal water pump is at least one. When two centrifugal water pumps are used, their rotation directions are opposite, which can ensure the stability and dynamic balance of water pressure.

5. A novel underwater vehicle propulsion drive system as claimed in claim 1, wherein: Each of the upper side spray area, the lower side spray area, and the two side spray areas is provided with at least two spray zones. The nozzles in each spray zone are connected to the outlet of the temporary water tank through a spray pipe and a water flow regulating valve to achieve precise spray control.

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