Removable Munition Loader for Underwater Vehicle Launch System

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing underwater vehicle designs face difficulties in loading and unloading ammunition chains due to the need to slide them between the thick and thin hulls along a circular trajectory, making the process complex and labor-intensive.

Innovation Solution

The design incorporates a vertical access opening and removable closure mechanism for the launch system, allowing for simultaneous insertion or extraction of multiple underwater vehicle chargers through a rectangular parallelepipedal orifice, facilitated by a power supply device and guide means, enabling easy handling and interchange of chargers at the quay or factory.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If ammunition chains are loaded or unloaded by sliding them between the thick hull and thin hull along a circular path, then the launch system can be accessed, but the loading and unloading process becomes complex and labor-intensive

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of loading and unloadingVSAvoidcomplexity of loading and unloading process
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The launch system is segmented into removable chargers that can be independently extracted and inserted through the orifice, separating the loading function from the complex circular path requirement and simplifying the operation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The access path is changed from a circular two-dimensional path along the hull periphery to a direct three-dimensional path through the orifice, eliminating the circular sliding motion and simplifying the loading/unloading operation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Quantity of substance

If multiple underwater vehicles are carried in chains along the outer periphery, then the launch system can accommodate multiple vehicles, but the loading and unloading operation becomes difficult to implement

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenumber of underwater vehiclesVSAvoidease of loading and unloading
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple underwater vehicles are merged into a single charger unit that handles multiple vehicles simultaneously, allowing all vehicles in the chain to be loaded or unloaded together through the orifice rather than individually through complex operations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The charger is designed as a universal removable unit that can accommodate multiple underwater vehicles of the same type, providing a multi-functional loading mechanism that handles various quantities and types of munitions through the same orifice access point

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP2736800B2Underwater vehicle comprising at least one loader of at least two munitions, the loader being removable and extractible through an opening in a thin hole of this vehicle
Publication Date: 2018.10.10 NAVAL GRP
  • EP2736800B2 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2736800B2 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2736800B2 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

This underwater vehicle (10) comprises a thick interior hull (12), a thin exterior hole (14) surrounding the thick hole (12), the thin hole (14) comprising an orifice (20) and means (22) of shutting off the orifice (20), and a system (16) for launching underwater vehicles (18), the launch system (16) being positioned between the thick hole (12) and the thin hole (14). The orifice (20) is situated facing the launch system (16) and forms an opening providing access to the launch system (16). The launch system (16) comprises at least one loader (26) of at least two underwater vehicles (18) and means (28) of accepting the or each loader (26) removably, the loader (26) being removable and able to be inserted into the receiving means (28) or extracted from the receiving means (28) through the access opening (20). The receiving means (28) comprise means of guiding the or each loader (26) in a vertical direction (Z), the or each loader (26) being able to be inserted or extracted in the vertical direction (Z) through the access opening (20), the vertical direction (Z) being perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (X).