ROV Sluice Device with Telescopic Cable Guide
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems face challenges in efficiently managing and retrieving umbilical cables for remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) at great depths, including entanglement, wear, and the need for constant tension, especially when returning to a submarine, which is not addressed in torpedo tube control systems designed for disposable torpedoes.
Innovation Solution
A sluice device with a telescopic cable guide apparatus and a constant tension cable winch is integrated into a modified torpedo tube, equipped with a pulley arrangement and emergency cable cutter, allowing for easy launch, operation, and retrieval of ROVs, along with a transport container to house necessary equipment for operation and control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the ROV is operated from a surface vessel with a long umbilical cable, then the ROV can be controlled from the surface, but the cable becomes entangled and wears against parts of the sluice device and submarine at great depths
Solution Approach 1:
A cable management device is introduced as an intermediary component between the ROV and the submarine. This device includes a cable guide apparatus with a pulley arrangement and a cable winch that actively manages the umbilical cable during ROV deployment and retrieval, preventing the cable from becoming entangled or wearing against the sluice device and submarine structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The cable management system employs dynamic components including a telescopic cable guide apparatus that can extend and retract, and a cable winch that actively winds and pays out the umbilical cable. These dynamic elements allow the system to adapt to the ROV's movement and maintain proper cable tension, preventing entanglement and wear throughout the operation cycle.
2Ease of operation
If the cable guide apparatus is extended to guide the cable externally, then the cable can be guided away from the submarine, but the distal sluice gate cannot be closed
Solution Approach 1:
The cable guide apparatus is designed as a telescopic structure that can dynamically change its configuration. During ROV deployment, the cable guide extends externally to properly guide the umbilical cable away from the submarine. When the ROV is retrieved, the cable guide retracts into a folded position that allows the distal sluice gate to close completely, thus resolving the contradiction between external cable guidance and gate closure capability.
3Reliability
If a cable winch is added to maintain constant cable tension, then the cable remains taut and prevents entanglement, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cable management device integrates multiple functions into a single unified system. The cable winch not only maintains constant cable tension to prevent entanglement, but also works in conjunction with the telescopic cable guide apparatus to manage cable deployment and retrieval. This multi-functional integration achieves reliable cable tension control while minimizing the overall increase in device complexity compared to separate systems.
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 solution enables reliable cable management, preventing entanglement and wear, maintaining constant tension, and facilitating easy installation and operation of ROVs from submarines, addressing the practical issues of cable handling and weather independence.
Implementation Method 1
a pulley arrangement arranged at its distal end
Implementation Method 2
The cable guide apparatus is able to telescopically fold between an extended position and a folded position within the sluice device
Implementation Method 3
a constant tension cable winch to keep a constant tension in the tether cable, for preventing the cable from getting tangled
Data Source
AI summary
A sluice device suitable for a remotely cable operated vehicle. A water tight compartment has a first and a second sluice gate. The sluice device includes a system for enabling launching, operating, and retrieving of the remotely cable operated vehicle. An insert for converting an existing torpedo tube to a sluice device, and a torpedo shaped transport container for an insert.