Submerged machine

Abstract

The invention relates to a submerged machine, which can be coupled, for example, to the hull (0) of a watercraft, which comprises a body (1) in contact with the outside, below the waterline, connected to a rod (3) that can move through a chamber (4) to generate work, and wherein the body (1) comprises a second rod (5) connected to a damper (6) with a variable damping coefficient. The damper may be based on a magnetic hydraulic liquid.

Description

[0001] DESCRIPTION

[0002] Submerged machine

[0003] TECHNICAL SECTOR

[0004] The present invention relates to a submerged machine, which can act as a submerged generator, whether onboard or not, or assist in reducing pitching due to waves, consisting of a body in contact with the water, which oscillates due to the movement of the tides, the waves and, where applicable, the vessel itself, generating electricity or other types of work.

[0005] STATE OF THE ART

[0006] Although no invention identical to the one described has been found, we present below the documents found that reflect the state of the art related to it.

[0007] GB801984 is considered the closest prior art document. It comprises a body submerged in water and connected to a stem. This stem moves up and down, producing a pump or generating electricity. This system is effective, but it has a control problem, since waves and other effects on the body can have very different frequencies from each other and from the equipment's natural frequency. Therefore, energy capture is not optimized.

[0008] The applicant is unaware of any generator that can solve all these problems as effectively as the invention.

[0009] BRIEF EXPLANATION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] The invention consists of a machine submerged, at least partially, according to the independent claims and whose variants solve the problems of the state of the art.

[0011] When deployed on board, the machine serves as a generator of the type attached to a vessel's hull or other element in contact with the water, such as a fixed structure. It comprises a body in contact with the exterior, below the waterline. This body is connected to a movable shaft via a chamber for generating work (pumping, electricity generation, etc.). The body also includes a second shaft connected to a damper with a variable damping coefficient, adjustable by the user, typically via a control unit. The damper can be gas-filled or hydraulically filled. When power is supplied to the movable shaft to cause the body to move, it helps to reduce the vessel's motion due to waves.

[0012] Preferably, the damper comprises a magnetic hydraulic fluid, and its hydraulic circuit comprises coils controlled by the control unit.

[0013] In turn, body movement can also reduce hull friction as it moves through the water. In this case, the body closes a blind hole and moves through it, thus forming a lung whose volume varies with the body's movement. The blind hole that forms the lung has an air outlet connected to several nozzles arranged in the hull, and an air inlet from the chamber. The body's movement draws air in through the air inlet and releases it through the outlet into the nozzles, which expel the air through the hull. A valve, which can be closed by the user, connects the blind hole to the chamber if air injection under the hull is not desired. Non-return valves will be provided to prevent the flow of water or air in the opposite direction.

[0014] Other variations can be seen in the rest of the memory.

[0015] DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0016] For a better understanding of the invention, the following figures are included, showing exemplary embodiments.

[0017] Figure 1: Schematic section of an example embodiment of the invention.

[0018] MODES OF REALIZING THE INVENTION

[0019] The following section briefly describes one embodiment of the invention, as an illustrative and non-limiting example. The machine shown in Figure 1 is attached to the hull (0) of a vessel. Whether the vessel is a monohull or not is irrelevant to the invention, provided that the relevant part of the machine is submerged or in contact with the water during operation. As previously stated, when functioning as a generator, it can also be applied to a fixed structure. Thus, it can be applied to a hydrofoil or a hydrofoil, but it would only produce work when the vessel is stationary or moving at low speed.

[0020] The machine itself consists of a body (1) in contact with the water, inserted into a blind hole (2) through which it can move. The body (1) has a stem (3) that passes through the hole (2), through the wall, and into a rear chamber (4). Depending on the type of recovered work, the chamber (4) will have different equipment. Thus, in one embodiment, the stem is a pumping piston. In a second embodiment, the stem (3) is attached to a magnet (41), while the chamber (4) has a coil (42) around it (it is possible for the coil (42) to be attached to the stem (3) and the magnet (41) to be fixed, but this is less preferred). Thus, the movement of the magnet (41) generates an electric current that is recovered by the desired method. For example, it can be rectified and stored in batteries or used directly.

[0021] The body (1) has a second stem (5), which in this case is shown offset. This second stem (5) is connected to a damper (6) with a variable damping coefficient. For this purpose, the damper (6) may use hydraulic fluid with magnetic properties. Coils (7) can be placed in the input and output circuit, through which different current intensities can be passed to vary the damping coefficient of the equipment. A control unit (8) regulates the current intensity to vary the generator's natural frequency and adapt it to the frequency of the waves and other effects on the body (1). The control unit (8) can detect the oscillation speed of the body (1) and adjust the damping when it detects that it is not optimized.

[0022] The orifice (2) has an air outlet (9) connected to several nozzles (10) arranged in front of the helmet (0), such that the air exiting the orifice (2) as the body (1) rises exits through these nozzles (10) and creates an air layer that reduces friction on the helmet (0). The air inlet (11) to the orifice (2) can be from the chamber (4), for example, along the stem (3) or in the common wall. Non-return valves ensure the direction of airflow.

[0023] To affect pitch, the body (1) can be moved by means of the stem (3) or the damping system (6), thereby introducing a vibration to counteract the pitch. A stabilizer (12) connected to the body can be added to increase the pitch-reducing effect.

Claims

CLAIMS 1- Submerged machine, characterized in that it comprises a body (1) in contact with the outside, below the waterline, connected to a rod (3) movable by a chamber (4), for the generation of work, and where the body (1) comprises a second rod (5) connected to a damper (6) of variable damping coefficient, being coupled to the hull (0) of a vessel and where the body (1) closes and is movable by a blind hole (2), forming a lung, with an air outlet (9) connected to several nozzles (10) arranged in the hull (0), and an air inlet (11) from the chamber (4). 2- Submerged machine, according to claim 1, characterized in that the shock absorber (6) comprises a magnetic hydraulic fluid, and its hydraulic circuit comprises coils (7) controlled by a control unit (8). 3- Submerged machine, according to claim 1, characterized in that the stem (3) comprises a magnet (41) and the chamber (4) comprises a winding (42) on its wall.

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