Orbital Maneuver Apparatus for Sea and Air Vehicles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing orbital change methods for air and sea vehicles rely on mechanical actuation, which requires significant power from the main engines, making them inefficient and unsatisfactory for achieving effective and efficient orbital changes.
Innovation Solution
An orbital maneuver apparatus that utilizes high-pressure fluid ejected through a nozzle assembly to change the orbit of air or sea vehicles, eliminating the need for traditional mechanical parts and reducing the power burden on the main engines.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If traditional mechanical actuation methods are used for orbital change, then the vehicle can change its moving direction, but the power consumption increases and the engine requirements become more stringent
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical actuation systems (rudders, ailerons, elevators) with a fluid jet propulsion system. High-pressure fluid is ejected through nozzles to generate thrust forces that change the vehicle's orbit, eliminating the need for mechanical surface deflections and reducing the power burden on main engines.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses high-pressure fluid (pneumatic or hydraulic system) stored in accumulators to power the orbital maneuvering. The fluid is directed through controllable nozzles to produce thrust, providing an efficient alternative to mechanical actuation for orbital changes.
2Ease of operation
If traditional mechanical parts are used for orbital change, then the vehicle can perform maneuvering, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates complex mechanical linkage systems, hinges, and control surfaces by replacing them with a straightforward fluid jet propulsion system. The maneuvering is achieved by controlling the direction and timing of fluid ejection, significantly simplifying the mechanical architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts and removes the traditional mechanical orbital change mechanisms (rudders, ailerons, elevators) from the vehicle system, retaining only the essential fluid storage and ejection components, thereby reducing overall device complexity.
3Power
If main engines provide power for both propulsion and orbital change, then the vehicle can perform both functions, but the engine size and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the power functions by separating main propulsion (handled by main engines) from orbital maneuvering (handled by dedicated high-pressure fluid accumulators and nozzles). This allows the main engines to be optimized for propulsion only, reducing their size and weight requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the energy storage parameter from continuous engine power output to stored high-pressure fluid energy. This allows orbital maneuvering to be performed independently of main engine power, enabling engine downsizing while maintaining both propulsion and maneuvering capabilities.
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 apparatus enables efficient and effective orbital changes by using high-pressure fluid to alter the vehicle's trajectory, thereby reducing the power requirements and mechanical complexity associated with traditional methods.
Implementation Method 1
utilizes high-pressure fluid to be ejected by a nozzle assembly so as to perform orbital change to the air vehicle or the sea vehicle
Data Source
AI summary
An orbital maneuver apparatus includes a fluid supply arrangement, a main body, an actuation head, and a nozzle assembly. The main body includes an outer housing, an inner housing mounted in the outer housing such that the inner housing is arranged to rotate about a longitudinal direction of the main body, wherein the fluid supply tube extends in the inner housing of the main body and is stationary with respect to the outer housing. The actuation head is connected to the inner housing of the main body to rotate along with the inner housing. The nozzle assembly includes a first nozzle head and a second nozzle head which are in fluid communication with the fluid supply arrangement, and are both movably supported in the actuation cavity and are arranged to rotate correspondingly with the actuation head, and to further rotate about a transverse direction of the main body.