Drop-Weight Buoyancy System for Pump-Free Underwater Gliders
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing underwater gliders rely on noisy and energy-consuming hydraulic pumps for buoyancy control, limiting their operational efficiency and longevity.
Innovation Solution
A pump-less buoyancy system using prepackaged weights and buoyant compartments to adjust buoyancy and center of gravity, employing weight release and buoyancy changes without hydraulic pumps, allowing for efficient vertical movement and forward propulsion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If hydraulic pumps are used for buoyancy control, then buoyancy adjustment capability is achieved, but noise level and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the hydraulic pump system entirely from the underwater glider, extracting the noisy and energy-consuming component while replacing it with a passive buoyancy control mechanism using prepackaged weights and buoyant compartments that adjust buoyancy through weight release rather than active pumping
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the active mechanical hydraulic pump system with a passive mechanical system based on gravity and buoyancy forces, where prepackaged weights are released to change the glider's overall density and buoyancy state without requiring any powered mechanical components
2Ease of operation
If hydraulic pumps are used for buoyancy control, then buoyancy adjustment capability is achieved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the hydraulic pump system entirely from the underwater glider, extracting the noisy and energy-consuming component while replacing it with a passive buoyancy control mechanism using prepackaged weights and buoyant compartments that adjust buoyancy through weight release rather than active pumping
Solution Approach 2:
The buoyancy control system operates autonomously using passive physical principles - gravity pulls the released weights downward while buoyant compartments provide upward force, eliminating the need for external energy input to control buoyancy transitions
3Object-generated harmful factors
If prepackaged weights are released to adjust buoyancy, then noise level decreases, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The buoyancy control system is segmented into discrete prepackaged weight units and separate buoyant compartments, allowing independent control of weight release and buoyancy adjustment through modular components rather than a monolithic hydraulic system
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
Enhances operational duration and speed by reducing noise and energy consumption, enabling longer missions and increased stealth capabilities.
Implementation Method 1
The drop weight system is used to reduce the vehicle's weight to alter its density. As a result, the vehicle can ascend in the water
Implementation Method 2
The change in the vehicle's total volume alters its buoyancy, making it move upward or sink as required
Implementation Method 3
It utilizes the flow of fluid, in this case water, over a set of wings to generate lift and thrust
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2E
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
A pump-less buoyancy engine for an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) includes a buoyancy reduction structure (302) without a hydraulic pump for reducing the buoyancy of the AUV to cause the AUV to descend in the water; and a weight dropping structure for dropping prepackaged weights out of the AUV to cause the AUV to ascend in the water, where the AUV moves forward when descending and ascending.