Submarine Hatch Cover Spring Assembly for Weight Relief
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Solution Overview
Problem
Submarine hatch covers are heavy due to their steel construction and require significant effort to open and close, especially when the boat is at an angle, posing challenges for quick and reliable operation.
Innovation Solution
A hatch cover design featuring a pivotable joint with a spring assembly comprising springs of different characteristics, arranged between the joint and the hull, and connected via a crank drive, which relieves weight and provides damping, allowing for easy opening and closing without excessive force, even at angles, using a lightweight titanium alloy and a compact cylindrical housing for the springs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a spring assembly is added to compensate for the weight of the hatch cover, then the ease of operation is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The spring assembly is integrated within the existing joint structure of the hatch cover mechanism. The springs are positioned inside the joint housing, utilizing the same spatial envelope as the pivot bearing and shaft assembly. This nesting approach adds weight compensation functionality without increasing the overall footprint or requiring additional external components, thereby improving ease of operation while minimizing the increase in device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The weight relief function is merged with the existing joint structure that provides pivoting motion. The spring assembly works in conjunction with the pivot bearing and shaft to provide both rotational support and weight compensation. By combining these functions into a single integrated joint assembly, the patent avoids adding separate independent systems, thus improving operational ease while controlling the increase in device complexity.
2Strength
If the hatch cover is made from steel to withstand submersible pressure, then the strength is improved, but the weight of the moving object increases
Solution Approach 1:
The hatch cover is constructed from composite materials that combine high-strength steel components (for structural integrity and pressure resistance) with lightweight aluminum or titanium components (for reducing overall weight). The joint assembly uses steel pivot bearings and shafts for strength, while the cover panels and non-critical structural elements utilize lighter alloys. This composite approach maintains the necessary strength to withstand submersible pressure while significantly reducing the weight that the spring assembly must compensate for, thereby improving ease of operation.
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 quick, easy, and reliable operation of the hatch cover with reduced effort, maintaining pressure tightness and safety, while preventing contamination and ensuring long-term reliability in harsh environments.
Implementation Method 1
Spring means are provided for weight relief during opening and closing. These springs comprise at least two springs with different spring characteristics
Implementation Method 2
The hatch cover is pivotally attached to the hull via at least one joint
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The hatch cover (3) has spring mediums for weight unloading during opening and closing. The spring medium has two springs with different spring characteristics. The spring mediums are arranged between a joint and a ship hull (1).