Modular Bulkhead Sealing for Submersible Vehicle Compartment Isolation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional submersible vehicles face challenges with water intrusion due to external pressure, leading to flooding of internal compartments and lack of effective sealing mechanisms to isolate leaks, which can compromise sensitive equipment and vehicle buoyancy.
Innovation Solution
A modular compartment bulkhead assembly is introduced, comprising external and internal seal bodies that form piston seals between modular compartments, using elastic seal rings to create redundant waterproof seals both internally and externally, preventing water intrusion and maintaining compartment isolation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate internal waterproof containers are used to address external seal reliability issues, then equipment protection is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The vehicle body is divided into multiple modular compartments separated by bulkheads with independent sealing systems. Each compartment can be independently sealed and pressurized, allowing equipment to be distributed across multiple protected spaces rather than requiring a single complex waterproof container.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing system uses nested seal rings (external seal ring and internal seal ring) within the bulkhead assembly, where one seal is contained within another. This nested configuration provides redundant sealing without requiring separate external containers, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining reliability.
2Device complexity
If conventional sealing mechanisms are used, then device simplicity is maintained, but the ability to isolate leaks and prevent water intrusion is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The bulkhead assembly incorporates localized sealing features including external seal rings at the interface between body segments and internal seal rings within the bulkhead. This distributed local sealing approach provides multiple barriers against water intrusion without requiring a complete redesign of the entire sealing system.
Solution Approach 2:
The bulkhead design includes pre-positioned seal rings and sealing surfaces that are prepared in advance during manufacturing. The internal and external seal rings are installed in grooves and channels before final assembly, ensuring proper sealing alignment and providing redundant protection against leaks before they can compromise the vehicle.
3Adaptability or versatility
If modular compartment design is implemented, then adaptability and maintenance ease are improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The vehicle is constructed from modular body segments that can be independently manufactured and then assembled. Each segment includes standardized interfaces with internal and external seal rings, allowing different compartment configurations to be created by assembling different combinations of standardized modules, thereby improving adaptability without proportionally increasing manufacturing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The bulkhead assembly design with its standardized internal and external seal ring configurations can be used across multiple different compartment types and vehicle configurations. This universal sealing interface allows the same basic module design to serve multiple functions and be adapted to various mission requirements without requiring custom manufacturing for each configuration.
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 modular compartment bulkhead assembly effectively prevents water intrusion between compartments, even in the event of an external breach, ensuring the integrity of sensitive equipment and maintaining vehicle buoyancy, allowing for flexible compartment configuration and easy maintenance.
Implementation Method 1
an external seal ring and an internal seal ring. Each of the seal rings may be compressed between grooves and sealing surfaces to form sealing interfaces
Data Source
AI summary
A modular compartment bulkhead assembly is provided that includes a first external body, a bulkhead, and a second external body. The first external body segment may include a first end portion. The first end portion may be coupled to an external seal body and the external seal body may include a first internal channel. The bulkhead may include an internal seal body. The internal seal body may be configured to be inserted into the first internal channel of the external seal body to form an internal seal between the bulkhead and the first external body segment. The second external body segment may include a second end portion. The second end portion may include a second internal channel, and the external seal body may be configured to be inserted into the second internal channel to form an external seal between the external seal body and the second external body segment.