Underwater vehicle with pressure vessel

Description

[0001] The invention relates to an underwater vehicle comprising a pressure vessel having an interior and an exterior region, wherein an electronic via electronically connects electronic components in the exterior region to electronic components in the interior region. An underwater vehicle according to the prior art is disclosed, for example, in document EP2546925.

[0002] An electromagnetic pulse (EMP) is a short-term, broadband electromagnetic radiation emitted during a single, high-energy transient. A highly excited system decays to its ground state by emitting an electromagnetic pulse. This can be caused by electrostatic charging processes during thunderstorms or nuclear weapon explosions. The interaction of low-frequency electromagnetic radiation with free charge carriers in metals and semiconductors induces strong, briefly fluctuating currents. In unshielded or inadequately shielded electrical or electronic devices, these fluctuations could lead to malfunctions, total failure, or even the destruction of individual electronic components.

[0003] Particularly in submarines, sensors or actuators located offboard are connected to electronic devices inside the submarine. A typical example of this is an active sonar, which has external microphones and an internal (evaluation) computer that evaluates the acquired signals. To protect such sonars from electromagnetic pulses, the electronics located within a submarine's pressure hull are protected by so-called suppressor diodes.

[0004] This means that every electronic component inside the submarine itself must be protected against the electromagnetic pulse, since the electromagnetic pulse can generally penetrate into the interior of the submarine via any vias.

[0005] The object of the invention is to improve the state of the art.

[0006] The object is achieved by an underwater vehicle with a pressure vessel which has an interior and an exterior region, wherein an electronic via electronically connects an electronic component in the exterior region to electronic components in the interior region, wherein an overvoltage protection device is assigned to the via in the exterior region, so that in the event of an overvoltage, an overvoltage remains outside the pressure vessel.

[0007] This eliminates the need to protect each individual device inside the submarine against surges (caused by the electromagnetic pulse). This significantly reduces the number of components required, as the "entry points" for the EMP are already protected.

[0008] Existing underwater vehicles can also be easily retrofitted with such a system. This can be achieved, for example, by installing the surge protection via a connector on the outside of the vehicle as part of the through-hole connection.

[0009] The following terminology should be explained: An "underwater vehicle" is in particular a submarine or an AUV (Autonomous Underwater Vehicle) or an ROV (Remotely Operated Vehicle).

[0010] In the event of a dive, the "pressure vessel" provides a protected space, protected from water ingress, in which electronics can be located and used. In a submarine, this is particularly the area occupied by the relevant personnel during diving. Thus, electronic components and / or personnel spaces are located in the "interior" of the pressure vessel.

[0011] The "outer area" of the pressure vessel is the area of ​​the underwater vehicle that can, in principle, come into contact with water while submerged. Hydrophones of an active or passive sonar are located in this outer area.

[0012] The "electronic through-hole plating" is, in particular, a cable-based or wire-based connection between the hydrophones located outside and the electronic evaluation units located inside. The electronic through-hole plating can comprise individual segments with connectors and the like, allowing, for example, retrofitting of underwater vehicles by replacing a connector and inserting a connector with appropriate surge protection devices.

[0013] "Electronic components" are all electrical or electronic components that can be operated or interrogated by current and / or voltage. In particular, such electronic components can also include semiconductor components such as transistors or computer chips, and the like.

[0014] The "surge protection device" is an electronic circuit that limits the maximum voltage that can occur in an electronic system to a certain maximum voltage.

[0015] In a further embodiment, a waterproof container with a container housing is arranged in the outdoor area, in which the surge protection device is located in a waterproof manner.

[0016] This advantageously prevents the surge protection device from coming into contact with the usually conductive ambient water, which would result in the surge protection device no longer being able to function. Thus, this embodiment essentially provides an additional "(significantly smaller) pressure vessel" in which a surge protection device can be installed.

[0017] In order to replace a surge protection device that has been destroyed, for example, after a surge event, the waterproof container can, in one embodiment, have a closure that allows easy access to the surge protection device. This can be achieved, for example, by means of a twist-lock closure with an O-ring arranged at the transitions to seal against the surrounding water.

[0018] Because the surge protection device is often connected to the electronic ground, the container itself can have an electronic ground contact. This can be achieved, for example, by the container itself being completely or at least partially made of electrically conductive material that is electrically connected to the electronic ground of the underwater vehicle.

[0019] In another embodiment, the surge protection device electronically connects the via to electronic ground via the waterproof container. This allows the surge protection device to be installed on existing vias and thus on the cables that implement them (even in the case of retrofitting).

[0020] To ensure that the surge protection device itself establishes an effective ground contact, the waterproof container and / or the surge protection device can have a contact pin which, in the event of the container being closed, implements an electronic ground connection between the surge protection device and the waterproof container.

[0021] In a further embodiment, the surge protection device comprises a suppressor diode, in particular a transient absorption Zener diode. Particularly when such diodes are connected between a via and ground, surges can be limited to specific maximum voltage values. Thus, effective EMP protection can be ensured.

[0022] To enable the surge protection device to be quickly replaced with another one in the event of a fault, an adapter can be installed between the electronic via below the surge protection device to mechanically accommodate and electronically contact the surge protection device. The adapter can also be used for other electronic circuits or contain additional electronic circuits.

[0023] In order to offer potential customers different functionalities based on a purchase or licensing model, the surge protection device can incorporate a copy protection unit, particularly a copy protection plug. This can, of course, also be provided as a separate component, for example, located within the adapter. For example, a sonar can be delivered that can operate both actively and passively, with the components important for active sonar being enabled at a later date using the copy protection.

[0024] To perform a leak test on the waterproof container, particularly after replacing or testing the surge protection device, the waterproof container can have a container chamber and an outer container area, with a fluid connection connecting the container chamber to the outer container area. If pressure (e.g., using compressed air) is then applied to the container chamber via the fluid connection, the leakage of the waterproof container can be tested using leak rates.

[0025] In one embodiment, the container chamber can have an additional, separate test chamber, so that a remaining container chamber is provided in addition to the test chamber, and the fluid connection connects the test chamber to the container exterior. In particular, the test chamber volume is significantly smaller than the remaining container chamber. The ratio of the test chamber to the remaining container chamber is in particular less than 1:5 and particularly preferably less than 1:10. The better the ratio, the faster a leak test can be performed. In addition, the leak tightness between the test chamber and the remaining container chamber can also be tested.

[0026] To test the tightness of both the closure and the remaining container chamber, an additional, separate test chamber can be arranged between the closure and the remaining container chamber. This way, one O-ring can seal the closure and another O-ring can seal the remaining container chamber.

[0027] In another embodiment, the fluid connection has a valve. This allows the fluid connection to be sealed and a test to be carried out. Either a one-way valve or a switchable valve can be provided.

[0028] To enable effective replacement of the surge protection device during a submarine deployment, the container can be located in an upper area of ​​the underwater vehicle, allowing the surge protection device to be replaced and / or accessed without contact with water in the event of a submarine surface. Thus, a brief surface dive is sufficient to quickly replace the relevant components. Visiting a shipyard or similar facility is not necessary.

[0029] The invention will be explained below with reference to exemplary embodiments. Figure 1 is a schematic sectional view through a container plug, in which an EMP protection circuit is arranged pluggably on a circuit board in an adapter, in a closed container state, Figure 2 is a schematic, perspective, three-dimensional sectional view of the container plug from Figure 1 and Figure 3 a highly schematic representation of a partially submerged submarine with a container plug according to Figure 1

[0030] A connector housing 101 has a cover 103 in its upper region. Threads (not shown) are arranged between the connector housing 101 and the cover 103, so that the cover can be reversibly attached to the connector housing 101 by turning. O-rings 105 are also arranged to prevent water from penetrating the connector housing interior.

[0031] Inside the connector housing 101, there is a circuit board receptacle 107, which has several contact pins 109, to which a signal cable 119 is soldered. Also inside the connector housing 101 is a circuit board 111 with TVS diodes 115 and pin contacts. The circuit board 111 was pressed into the circuit board receptacle 107 by means of the pin contacts 113, thus creating an electronic connection.

[0032] Furthermore, the cover 103 has a contact pin 117, which, in the closed state, forms an electronic ground line with the circuit board receptacle 107.

[0033] The signal cable 119 connects hydrophones (not shown) and thus the hydrophone side 123 with the inboard contact 121 which is led into the interior of the submarine 331 and there into a sonar system (not shown).

[0034] The TVS diodes 115 are connected in parallel to the signal cable 119. Thus, the TVS diodes 115 connect the signal cable 119 to electronic ground via the contact pin 117 and the cover 103 of the connector housing 101.

[0035] If an EMP event occurs, the entire electronic circuit acts as an antenna, inducing high voltages. If the voltage threshold set by the TVS diodes 115 is exceeded, the TVS diodes 115 will conduct, and the overvoltage will be conducted to ground, preventing it from reaching the interior of the submarine and causing damage.

[0036] After this EMP event has occurred and the TVS diodes 115 may have been destroyed as a result, the circuit board 111 should be replaced.

[0037] To do this, the submarine 331 surfaces to the water surface 341, so that the tower 333 protrudes from the water. The connector housing 101 is arranged on the tower 333 of the submarine 331. When surfaced, a person opens the exit (not shown) to the tower and has manual access to the connector housing 101. The person then unscrews the cover 103 from the connector housing 101.

[0038] The defective circuit board 111 is then removed from the circuit board holder 107. A new, functional circuit board 111 with functional TVS diodes 115 is pushed into the same position in the circuit board holder 107. The O-rings 105 are then checked and replaced with new O-rings if necessary. The cover 103 is then tightly screwed back on so that the contact pin 117 is again conductively connected to the circuit board 111.

[0039] Alternatively, a different circuit is used. In another alternative, circuit board 111 contains electronics that improve the existing sonar system (not shown). Furthermore, a dongle can be inserted into circuit board receptacle 107. List of reference symbols

[0040] 101Connector housing 103Cover 105O-ring 107Board holder 109Contact pins 111Board 113Pin contacts 115TVS diode 117Contact bolts 119Signal cable 121Inboard contact 123Hydrophone 331Submarine 333Tower 341Water surface

Claims

1. Underwater vehicle with a pressure vessel, which has an inner area and an outer area, wherein an electronic through-connection electronically connects electronic components in the outer area with electronic components in the inner area, characterised in that in the outer area a surge protection device is associated with the through-connection, wherein the surge protection device is an electronic circuit, which limits the maximum voltage level in the electronic system to a specific maximum voltage, so that in the event of overvoltage, an overvoltage remains outside the pressure container.

2. Underwater vehicle according to claim 1, characterised in that a watertight container with a container housing is arranged in the outer area, in which the overvoltage protection device is located in a watertight manner.

3. Underwater vehicle according to claim 2, characterised in that the watertight container has a closure so that the surge protection device can be replaced.

4. Underwater vehicle according to one of claims 2 or 3, characterised in that the watertight container, in particular with its container housing, is electronically connected to ground.

5. Underwater vehicle according to claim 4, characterised in that the surge protection device is electronically switched to electronic ground by means of the watertight container via the through-contact.

6. Underwater vehicle according to claim 4, characterised in that the watertight container and / or the surge protection device has a contact pin which, when the container is closed, implements an electronic ground connection between the surge protection device and the watertight container.

7. Underwater vehicle according to one of the previous claims, characterised in that the surge protection device has a suppressor diode, in particular a transient absorption zener diode.

8. Underwater vehicle according to one of the previous claims, characterised in that an adapter for the mechanical accommodation and electronic contacting of the surge protection device is arranged between the electronic through-contact and the surge protection device.

9. Underwater vehicle according to one of the previous claims, characterised in that the surge protection device has a copy protection unit, in particular a copy protection plug.

10. Underwater vehicle according to one of the claims 2 to 9, characterised in that the watertight container has a container chamber and a container outer area, wherein a fluid connection connects the container chamber to the container outer area.

11. Underwater vehicle according to claim 10, characterised in that the container chamber has an additional, separate test chamber, so that an unoccupied container chamber is provided in addition to the test chamber, and the fluid connection connects the test chamber to the container outer region.

12. Underwater vehicle according to claim 11, characterised in that the additional, separate test chamber is arranged between the closure and the remaining container chamber.

13. Underwater vehicle according to one of claims 10 to 12, characterised in that the fluid connection has a valve.

14. Underwater vehicle according to one of the claims 2 to 13, characterised in that the container is arranged in an upper region of the underwater vehicle, so that in the event of surfacing, the surge protection device can be replaced and / or accessed without being wetted by water.