Buoy with Moveable Mass for Stable Towing and Floating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tethered communications buoys for submarines face issues with low data rates, stability, and wake/plume generation during surface and underwater operations, with existing designs often featuring complex and large external moving parts or requiring specific speeds for stability.
Innovation Solution
A buoy with a moveable mass that can be shifted between positions to adjust the center of mass relative to the center of buoyancy, allowing for stable floating and towing configurations, along with a waisted region to protect antennas from water wash, and optional expandable ballast for buoyancy control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the buoy is designed with a stable floating configuration (center of mass offset from center of buoyancy), then stability at surface is improved, but towing performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The buoy incorporates a moveable mass that can be repositioned between a first position (offset from center of buoyancy) for stable floating and a second position (aligned with center of buoyancy) for optimal towing performance. This dynamic reconfiguration allows the buoy to adapt its mass distribution based on operational mode, resolving the contradiction between floating stability and towing efficiency.
2Reliability
If the buoy travels at high speed through water, then communication reliability is improved, but wake and plume generation increases detection risk
Solution Approach 1:
The buoy system changes the physical parameter of mass distribution by repositioning the moveable mass during towing operations. This parameter change optimizes hydrodynamic characteristics to reduce wake and plume generation while maintaining communication reliability, thereby reducing detection risk.
3Ease of operation
If the buoy is designed for streamlined towing, then towing efficiency is improved, but floating stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts mass distribution by moving the moveable mass to different positions. During towing, the mass is positioned to optimize streamlined performance and towing efficiency. During floating operations, the mass is repositioned to create the necessary offset from the center of buoyancy for stable floating, thus resolving the contradiction between towing efficiency and floating stability.
4Device complexity
If the buoy maintains a fixed mass distribution, then structural simplicity is improved, but adaptability to different operational modes deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The buoy incorporates a moveable mass mechanism that allows dynamic reconfiguration of mass distribution. This dynamic element enables the simple buoy structure to adapt to different operational modes (floating vs. towing) by repositioning the mass, thus achieving operational versatility without significantly complicating the overall structure.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The buoy achieves improved stability and reduced wake/plume during towing, maintaining communication reliability and path accuracy while minimizing detection risk, with enhanced protection for electronic equipment from water interference.
Implementation Method 1
the centre of mass of the buoy is offset from the centre of buoyancy of the buoy
Implementation Method 2
the buoy may be released from the submarine so that it rises to the surface under its own buoyancy
Data Source
Figure 1a~1b
Figure 2a~2b
Figure 3a~3b
AI summary
A buoy (1) has a main body (5), and a moveable mass (2) positioned inside the main body. The buoy (1) may be tethered to a submarine vessel and used as a communications buoy. The buoy (1) may be configured for floating in a generally upright orientation at the water surface (7) in a position ready for communication, when the mass (2) is in a first position (Figure 1a) in which the centre of mass is offset from the centre of buoyancy to improve stability in the water. The buoy (1) may be configured for being towed underwater at speed, when the mass (2) is in a second position (Figure 1b), in which the centre of mass is closer to the centre of buoyancy, to improve towing stability in the water, thereby allowing the buoy (1) to be towed with its long axis substantially aligned with the direction of motion, thereby reducing wake/plume in the water.