Submarine satellite antenna radome with high water pressure resistance

Abstract

Disclosed is a satellite antenna radome for submarines capable of withstanding a predetermined water pressure or more while increasing radio wave transmittance.SOLUTION: According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a submarine satellite antenna radome including a dome-shaped cap having an opened inside, a cylindrical cap bracket installed to be screw-fixed to the cap and having opened upper and lower sides to communicate with the inside of the cap, and a cylindrical body made of a molybdenum-added stainless alloy, installed to be screw-fixed to the cap bracket, and having only an opened upper side.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

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[0001] The present invention relates to a satellite antenna radome for a submarine.

Background Art

[0002] Generally, a radome is a compound word of radar and dome. A radar is a device that fixes or rotates (referred to as scanning) an antenna having a parabolic surface, emits and captures high-frequency directional radio waves into space, and detects aircraft, obstacles, or other objects.

[0003] Such a radome consists of a cap, a cap bracket, and a body to protect from external environments such as weather conditions like wind, rain, salt, moisture, and physical impacts. Usually, it is entirely made of a plastic material, and much research has been conducted to enhance durability, confidentiality, and sealing force.

[0004] In the case of a radome used for a conventional satellite antenna, the water pressure resistance is about 45 bar. When a submarine dives to a maximum operating depth of 700 m, which is the actual maximum operating depth of a submarine, the hull cannot withstand the pressure and will break. When the thickness for withstanding water pressure increases, the radio wave transmittance decreases. That is, a radome for a submarine must achieve water pressure resistance proportional to the thickness and transmittance inversely proportional to the thickness.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0005]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0006] Therefore, the present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and provides a satellite antenna radome for a submarine that can withstand a water pressure of 70 bar or more while increasing the radio wave transmittance.

[0007] Other objectives of the present invention will become clearer through the preferred embodiments described below. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] In one aspect of the present invention, a satellite antenna radome for a submarine is provided, comprising: a dome-shaped cap with an open interior; a cylindrical cap bracket installed to be fixed to the cap by screws, with openings at the top and bottom and communicating with the interior of the cap; and a cylindrical body made of a molybdenum-added stainless steel alloy, installed to be fixed to the cap bracket by screws, with only the top surface open.

[0009] Here, the cap is made of FRP, The aforementioned cap bracket may be made of stainless steel alloy.

[0010] Furthermore, the cap can be formed to be thicker than the body.

[0011] Furthermore, quartz material can be laminated on the exterior or interior of the body to a thickness of 0.01 to 0.1 mm.

[0012] Also, The quartz material can be laminated in a strip-like pattern spaced at regular intervals, laminated both internally and externally, and laminated so that they do not overlap with each other at predetermined intervals, and can be secondary laminated so that only the external surface has a mesh-like structure.

[0013] Here, the quartz material can be triple-layered to have a honeycomb structure inside.

[0014] Other aspects, features, and advantages beyond those mentioned above will become clear from the following drawings, claims, and detailed description of the invention. [Effects of the Invention]

[0015] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a satellite antenna radome for submarines that can withstand a water pressure of 70 bar or more while increasing radio wave transmittance. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0016] [Figure 1] This is an overall diagram showing a satellite antenna radome for a submarine according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] This is an illustrative diagram showing the appearance of a radome in which quartz is stacked in the form of a band, according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] This is an illustrative diagram showing the appearance of a radome in which quartz is stacked in the form of a band, according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] This is an illustrative diagram showing the appearance of a radome in which quartz is stacked in the form of a mesh, according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0017] Since the present invention can be transformed in various ways and has numerous embodiments, specific embodiments are illustrated in the drawings and described in detail in the detailed description. However, this should not be understood as limiting the present invention to the embodiments specified, but rather as including all transformations, equivalents, or substitutes that fall within the spirit and technical scope of the present invention.

[0018] When it is mentioned that one component was "linked" or "connected" to another component, it should be understood that while it may be directly linked or connected to the other component, other components may also exist in between. On the other hand, when it is mentioned that one component was "directly linked" or "directly connected" to another component, it should be understood that no other components exist in between.

[0019] Terms such as "first" and "second" can be used to describe various components, but the components should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used for the purpose of distinguishing one component from another. For example, terms such as "first critical value" and "second critical value" to be described later can be pre-specified as critical values that are substantially different from each other or partly the same, but there may be room for confusion when expressed by the same word "critical value", so for the convenience of distinction, terms such as "first" and "second" will be noted together.

[0020] The terms used in this specification are only used for the purpose of explaining specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the present invention. Singular expressions shall include plural forms unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. In this specification, the terms "comprising" or "having" are used to specify the existence of the features, numerical values, steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof described in the specification, and it should be understood that they do not preclude in advance the existence or addition of one or more other features, numerical values, steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof. [[ID=X]] In addition, the components of the embodiments described with reference to each drawing are not limitedly applicable only to those embodiments, and within the scope where the technical idea of the present invention is maintained, they can be embodied to be included in other embodiments, and even if separate explanations are omitted, it is natural that multiple embodiments can be embodied again as one integrated embodiment. Furthermore, when explaining with reference to the accompanying drawings, regardless of the reference signs in the drawings, the same or related reference signs will be assigned to the same components and duplicate explanations thereof will be omitted. When it is determined that specific explanations regarding known technologies related to the present invention may unnecessarily obscure the key points of the present invention in the explanation of the present invention, the detailed explanations thereof will be omitted.

[0021] FIG. 1 is an overall view showing a satellite antenna radome for a submarine according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0022] Referring to Figure 1, the submarine satellite antenna radome includes a cap 10, a cap bracket 20, and a hull 30.

[0023] First, to briefly explain the satellite antenna system, it tracks satellites through signal confirmation and stabilization functions, and the antenna control unit transmits navigation and satellite inertial information installed on the ship to the satellite antenna. Users can receive emergency situations, rescue requests and broadcasts via a modem, or use it for communications such as telephone or the internet.

[0024] A satellite antenna system includes a radome, antenna, pedestal control unit (PCU), inertial measurement unit (IMU), multi-RF unit (MRU), and pedestal. The radome can be divided into an upper radome and a lower radome; the upper radome protects the equipment from elements of the marine environment, and the lower radome protects the equipment from elements of the marine environment and is fixed to the pedestal and hull. The antenna is mainly a dish-shaped parabolic antenna and is a structure that collects or transmits satellite signals; the PCU (Pedestal Control Unit) is a device that searches for and tracks the antenna; the IMU (Inertial Measurement Unit) verifies inertial information; the MRU (Multi-RF Unit) is a device that processes analog and digital satellite received signals; and the pedestal is a mechanical structure that supports the antenna and allows each axis to move in the desired direction.

[0025] In short, the radome is a device that protects the antenna equipment from corrosion and electronic equipment failure due to the marine environment, water, wind, and salt. It is divided into upper and lower parts (cap 10 and body 30) for antenna mounting and maintenance. Cap 10 needs to be manufactured to optimize signal loss for antenna transmission to satellites.

[0026] Cap 10 has a dome shape with an open interior, is made of FRP (fiber-reinforced plastic), and has an insert on its inner surface. In other words, Cap 10 is made of FRP, which gives it excellent radar reflected radio wave capture capabilities and increases its effective range. FRP (fiber-reinforced plastic) is a material that boasts high durability and excellent processability, is lightweight yet strong, corrosion resistant, and has a long lifespan.

[0027] The cap bracket 20 is cylindrical in shape with openings at the top and bottom, communicating with the inside of the cap. It has a threaded portion that corresponds to the insert of the cap 10 and is installed to be fixed to the cap by screws. For example, the cap bracket 20 is preferably made of a metal material (e.g., stainless steel alloy) to increase its durability against seabed water pressure. On the other hand, the cap bracket corresponding to the cap has a structure in which a cap bracket O-ring or the like is further installed with the threaded portion in between to create a sealed structure.

[0028] At this time, it is desirable that the threaded portion 21 of the cap bracket 20, which is screw-type connected to the cap 10, be a structure that is sealed with silicon. The inner circumferential surface of the cap bracket 20 has a structure that forms a threaded wire (not shown) and is screw-type connected to the body 30.

[0029] The fuselage 30 is made of metal for greater durability and has a cylindrical shape with only the top surface open. It has an internal space that can accommodate the cap bracket 20 and the cap 10, and this space is connected to the inside of the cap bracket 20 and the cap 10. For example, the fuselage 30 is made of a stainless steel alloy (STS-316) with added molybdenum, and the cap bracket 20 can also be made of the same alloy. For example, since the cap 10 is made of FRP material, it can be made thicker than the fuselage 30 to enhance its durability.

[0030] The fuselage 30 has a threaded wire (not shown) at one end of its outer surface, which is screw-connected to the threaded wire (not shown) of the cap bracket 20. Similarly, it is desirable that the fuselage 30 corresponding to the cap bracket 20 be further fitted with fuselage O-rings to ensure airtightness.

[0031] Such radomes are designed to protect against impact, water, and dust, and their design takes into account water pressure resistance, waterproofing, and airtightness, considering the special operating environment such as submarines. After 3D modeling, structural analysis tools (ANSYS) are used for verification to confirm maximum stress and maximum displacement, analyze the structural stability, and confirm the vibration natural frequency to ensure seismic resistance and resonance avoidance design. It is desirable that they be manufactured with iterative performance improvements until they meet U.S. military standards, minimizing the risk of equipment damage.

[0032] Figures 2 and 3 are illustrative diagrams showing the external appearance of a radome body in which quartz is stacked in a strip-like pattern according to one embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 4 is an illustrative diagram showing the external appearance of a radome body in which quartz is stacked in a mesh-like pattern according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0033] Referring to Figures 2 and 3, the exterior of the fuselage 30 is laminated with Quartz 200 material.

[0034] Quartz 200, or quartz glass, is commonly used in semiconductors and is widely used in components such as focus rings and masks, as well as in quartzware that protects and transports semiconductor wafers during various processes such as etching, deposition, and ion implantation. In other words, quartz material is highly resistant to chemicals and corrosion, and when laminated in the radome body 30, it can exhibit high durability (water pressure resistance of 70 bar or more) with a relatively thin thickness.

[0035] Quartz 200 can be layered to a thickness of 0.1 to 1 mm, or 45 / -45 pattern layering, 0 / 90 pattern layering, etc. can be applied. Of course, it is not limited to this. Also, Quartz 200 can be layered over the entire exterior of the body 30, and according to another example, as shown in the drawing, Quartz 200 can be layered in a strip pattern at regular intervals.

[0036] Furthermore, as shown in the diagram, Quartz 300 is also stacked internally, and the internal and external Quartz 200 and 300 are stacked at predetermined intervals from each other without overlapping, thereby minimizing the reduction in radar reflected wave capture capability. In other words, because the internally and externally stacked Quartz 200 and 300 do not overlap and are separated at predetermined intervals, there are areas where Quartz 200 and 300 are not stacked, which reduces the reduction in radar reflected wave capture capability.

[0037] Furthermore, referring to Figure 4, which shows another example, the quartz 400 can be secondary-laminated so that it has a mesh structure only on the outside. To prevent damage from strong external forces, the quartz 200 is laminated in vertical and horizontal strips only on the outside.

[0038] According to another embodiment of the present invention, quartz can be tertiarily stacked to have a honeycomb shape internally. The honeycomb shape is more resistant to strong external pressure and, unlike longitudinal and transverse strips, can distribute stress within the structure, thereby preventing the radome from breaking inward.

[0039] While preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, a person with ordinary skill in the art will understand that the present invention can be modified and altered in various ways, provided that it does not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0040] 10 Caption 20 Cap Brackets 30 Torso 200, 300, 400 Quartz

Claims

[Claim 1] A satellite antenna radome for a submarine, A dome-shaped cap made of FRP with an open interior, A cylindrical cap bracket made of stainless steel alloy, installed to be fixed to the cap by screws, with openings at the top and bottom to communicate with the inside of the cap, It is a stainless steel alloy with molybdenum added, and includes a cylindrical body with an open top surface, which is installed to be fixed to the cap bracket in a screw manner, The aforementioned cap is formed to be thicker than the body, On the exterior or interior of the aforementioned body, a layer of quartz material is laminated to a thickness of 0.01 to 0.1 mm. The aforementioned quartz material is Layered in a pattern of strips spaced at regular intervals, They are fully stacked both internally and externally, stacked with predetermined spacing between them so that they do not overlap. The layers are secondary and stacked so that only the outer layer has a mesh structure. A submarine satellite antenna radome, constructed with three layers of stacking to form a honeycomb-like structure internally.

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