Circumferential Ring Propulsors for Underwater Vehicle Maneuvering
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing underwater vehicles face challenges with propeller-based systems, including cavitation, turbulence, hull penetration, susceptibility to damage, and difficulty in maneuvering in a hovering mode, which limits their operational efficiency and stealth capabilities, especially in covert operations.
Innovation Solution
A circumferential ring propulsor system with counter-rotating propulsors and control vanes operating within shrouds, allowing for independent control of water flow and propulsion direction, eliminating the need for protruding rudders and diving planes, and protecting the propulsor blades from damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If traditional propellers are used for propulsion, then forward motion is achieved, but cavitation and turbulence occur reducing efficiency and creating noise
Solution Approach 1:
The propulsor is divided into multiple blade elements arranged circumferentially around the hull, with each blade element independently contributing to thrust generation. This segmentation allows for optimized blade geometry and distribution to reduce cavitation and turbulence while maintaining propulsion efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from traditional axial propellers to circumferential ring propulsors that operate in a different spatial dimension around the hull. This dimensional change eliminates the need for a central shaft and allows water to be accelerated tangentially, reducing cavitation and turbulence effects.
2Ease of operation
If protruding rudders and diving planes are used for maneuvering, then control is achieved, but forward speed must be maintained making hovering difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The circumferential ring propulsors serve multiple functions: they provide both propulsion and maneuvering control. By differentially controlling the speed and direction of individual propulsors, the system can achieve turning, hovering, and positioning without requiring forward motion, eliminating the need for separate rudders and diving planes.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses dynamically controllable propulsors that can independently adjust their rotation speed and direction. This dynamic control allows real-time adjustment of thrust vectors to achieve precise maneuvering and hovering capabilities, replacing static control surfaces.
3Power
If propeller shafts penetrate the pressure hull, then propulsion is transmitted, but engineering weakness and vulnerability are created
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the propulsor blades from the traditional shaft-mounted configuration and positions them circumferentially around the hull exterior. The drive shafts are contained entirely within the pressure hull, eliminating hull penetrations and the associated engineering weaknesses and vulnerabilities to hydrostatic pressure and damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The pressure hull acts as an intermediary that contains all mechanical drive components internally, while the circumferential propulsors operate externally. This separation allows power transmission without direct shaft penetration, using the hull structure itself as the interface between internal drives and external propulsors.
4Productivity
If traditional propellers are exposed, then propulsion efficiency is maintained, but susceptibility to physical damage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The propulsor blades are enclosed within a shroud that forms a protective shell. This shroud protects the blades from physical damage while allowing water flow through the circumferential gap between the shroud and hull, maintaining propulsion efficiency while significantly increasing resistance to damage from debris and contact with the seabed.
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
Enables efficient forward and reverse motion, improved maneuverability in three-dimensional spaces, reduced noise and turbulence, enhanced speed and range, and increased volumetric efficiency by housing mechanical systems externally, allowing for more payload space and flexible distribution.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of annular circumferential ring propulsors capable of rotating in opposite directions... The two propulsor assemblies counter-rotate in order to neutralize torque from the propulsors on the underwater vehicle
Implementation Method 2
control vanes mounted within the annular gap... redirect the water stream at right angles to the cross sectional radius of the underwater vessel with control vanes mounted within the annular gap
Implementation Method 3
each of the circumferential ring propulsors are covered by its own shroud... Propellers are highly susceptible to physical damage. Even a slight ding creates noise
Data Source
AI summary
A propulsor and control system for an underwater vehicle having annular fore and aft circumferential shrouds surrounding the hull. The fore and aft circumferential shrouds form respective fore and aft circumferential shroud gaps between the fore and aft circumferential shrouds and the hull. Fore and aft propulsor blades are situated substantially or completely within the fore and aft circumferential shroud gaps; the blades counter-rotate in one preferred embodiment. The fore or aft circumferential ring propulsors can have front control vanes located in front of the respective propulsors blade sets, and back control vanes located behind the respective propulsors to control the direction of the flow of water in order to maneuver the underwater vehicle.