Deployable Support Columns for Deep-Sea Submersible Bottom Sitting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current deep-sea submersibles lack the capability for direct bottom sitting on the seabed, leading to collisions and inability to perform long-duration precise operations in uneven terrain, due to structural complexity and susceptibility to malfunctions in existing track, wheel, or leg-based mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A bottom touching assisting device with a mounting box body, sliding support columns, threaded sleeves, ring gears, and a rotary drive component that allows for smooth vertical movement and stable placement on the seabed, preventing direct contact and enabling stable parking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If track, wheel, or leg-based bottom touching mechanisms are installed on the submersible to enable ground crawling and precise positioning, then the submersible can perform long-duration precise operations on the seabed, but the device complexity increases and the system becomes prone to malfunctions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the bottom touching function from the main submersible body by using detachable support columns that can be deployed only when needed. The support columns are stored within the submersible body and can be extended outward to contact the seabed, allowing the submersible to achieve stable bottom sitting without permanently attaching complex track, wheel, or leg mechanisms to the main structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The support columns are designed with adjustable length and deployable characteristics, allowing them to dynamically adapt to different seabed conditions. The columns can be extended or retracted based on the operational requirements and terrain variations, providing flexible bottom touching capability without the rigidity of fixed track or wheel systems.
2Device complexity
If conventional submersibles rely on propellers and buoyancy for hovering and positioning, then the structure remains simple, but the submersible cannot perform stable bottom sitting operations and tends to collide with the seabed
Solution Approach 1:
The support columns act as intermediary elements between the submersible body and the seabed. Instead of the submersible body directly contacting the seabed (which causes collision damage), the support columns serve as mediators that absorb the impact and provide stable positioning. These intermediaries allow the submersible to maintain a safe distance from the seabed while still achieving reliable bottom sitting.
Solution Approach 2:
The support columns are designed with cushioning characteristics to absorb the impact when the submersible contacts the seabed. By deploying these columns before actual bottom sitting occurs, the system预先 prepares a protective mechanism that prevents direct collision between the submersible body and the seabed, thereby protecting the vehicle from damage.
3Productivity
If the submersible is forced to sit on the seabed without proper bottom touching mechanisms, then the operation can proceed, but the submersible collides with the seabed leading to damage
Solution Approach 1:
The support columns are deployed in advance before the submersible makes contact with the seabed. This preliminary deployment ensures that the cushioning and positioning mechanisms are already in place to prevent collision damage, allowing the submersible to safely proceed with bottom sitting operations without risking structural damage.
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 device ensures stable placement and reduces the risk of collision damage by allowing the submersible to adjust to uneven seabed surfaces, enabling long-duration precise operations without direct contact, enhancing operational stability and safety.
Implementation Method 1
the support column is sleeved with a threaded sleeve in a threaded connection manner
Implementation Method 2
the first gear meshes with the first ring gear
Implementation Method 3
a bottom of the friction wheel is in contact with a top of the first gear
Implementation Method 4
the second gear meshes with the second ring gear
Implementation Method 5
the worm penetrates through the mounting box body and is rotatably connected with the mounting box body through a second bearing
Data Source
AI summary
A bottom touching assisting device suitable for deep-sea submersibles and an implementation method thereof are provided. Four support columns are arranged within a mounting box body at a bottom of a deep-sea submersible, the support columns and the mounting box body are connected in a sliding manner through sliders, and the support column is sleeved with a threaded sleeve in a threaded connection manner. In conjunction with a drive component and a pressing mechanism, smooth vertical movement of the support column is achieved when the threaded sleeve rotates. This allows a bottom end of the support column to extend from the mounting box body.