Rotary Disk Hull Cleaning With Concave Centrifugal Pumping

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cleaning devices for large submerged surfaces, such as ships' hulls, are inefficient, power-consuming, and cause significant mechanical wear, while also risking the dislodgment of toxic hull paints.

Innovation Solution

A cleaning device with a rotatable disk member and a dual-stage pumping system, featuring a concave design and centrifugal pumping action, reduces mechanical wear and power consumption by maintaining a minimal distance from the surface and using a dual-stage pumping system to enhance liquid discharge efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If high pressure water spraying is used to clean hull surfaces, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but mechanical wear on hull paint increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning effectivenessVSAvoidmechanical wear on hull paint

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces traditional mechanical brush contact with a water jet system that uses fluid dynamics instead of direct mechanical contact. The water jets are directed at the hull surface to remove fouling without the abrasive mechanical action of brushes, thus maintaining cleaning effectiveness while reducing damage to the hull paint coating.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention employs hydraulic principles by using high-pressure water jets to perform the cleaning function. The system utilizes water as the primary cleaning medium delivered through pressurized nozzles, leveraging fluid pressure and flow dynamics to dislodge and remove marine growth and fouling from the hull surface without mechanical contact.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

2Area of stationary object

If conventional cleaning devices are used on large submerged surfaces, then cleaning coverage is achieved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning coverage areaVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The cleaning system is divided into multiple independent water jet nozzles distributed across the cleaning device. Each nozzle operates independently at lower power requirements, and collectively they cover large surface areas. This segmentation allows the system to achieve broad cleaning coverage without requiring a single high-power mechanism, thus reducing overall power consumption while maintaining effective cleaning of large hull surfaces.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Loss of energy

If frequent hull cleaning is performed to reduce friction resistance, then fuel consumption is reduced, but mechanical wear and operational costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefuel consumptionVSAvoidmechanical wear

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

By replacing mechanical brushing with water jet technology, the system enables more frequent and gentler cleaning cycles. The water jets can be applied repeatedly without causing significant mechanical wear to the hull paint, allowing optimal cleaning frequency to be maintained for fuel efficiency while avoiding the cumulative damage associated with traditional mechanical cleaning methods.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical 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

The device operates at high rotational velocities with reduced mechanical wear and power consumption, effectively cleaning large areas with minimal disruption to hull paints, enhancing cleaning efficiency and reducing fuel consumption.

Implementation Method 1

a disk member (180) rotatable around a rotational axis r... one or more nozzles (186a) for discharging cleaning liquids under pressure against a surface to be cleaned

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressurized liquid discharge: Pressure Gradient

Implementation Method 2

a rotary motor (163) providing rotational power to the spindle (167)

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRotational motion:

Implementation Method 3

a concave second side (180b) facing towards the surface to be cleaned... a suction cavity (170) provided between the inner wall (162i) and the first side (180a)... liquids flowing into the suction cavity from the concave second side

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCentrifugal pumping action: Centrifugal Force

Data Source

PatentUS20250214117A1A Surface-Cleaning Device and Vehicle

Publication Date: 2025.07.03 TROSVIK OCEANTECH AS

AI summary

The invention concerns a cleaning device for cleaning a surface submerged in water, a cleaning system comprising a plurality of the cleaning devices, an underwater vehicle comprising the cleaning system and a method using the underwater vehicle.The cleaning device comprises a disk member rotatable around a rotational axis r, a disk housing covering the disk member, a spindle rotatably coupled to the disk member and a rotary motor providing rotational power to the spindle. The disk member comprises a first side facing away from the surface to be cleaned during cleaning operation and a concave second side facing towards the surface to be cleaned during cleaning operation.