Sacrificial Confining Structure Mitigates Submersible Implosion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing aquatic submersible vessels are prone to implosion due to external pressure, leading to violent structural reconfiguration and damage, with prior art solutions like energy-absorbing foams and external coatings being ineffective and costly, occupying valuable space, and resulting in heavier structures that collapse more violently.
Innovation Solution
A sacrificial confining structure that surrounds the vulnerable areas, providing resistance to fluid flow and coupling with the internal structure to slow down the implosion process through deformable materials and strategic perforations, mitigating pressure spikes by converting collapse energy into other forms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If energy-absorbing foam fillers are used, then some protection against implosion is provided, but valuable interior space is occupied and effectiveness is limited to 20-30%
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a sacrificial outer shell that is designed to collapse in a controlled manner during implosion events. This disposable outer structure absorbs the majority of the implosion energy through its controlled collapse, protecting the inner payload without requiring permanent space-consuming protective materials. The outer shell is replaced after each mission, while the inner payload remains intact.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a nested structure with an outer sacrificial shell surrounding an inner protected payload. The outer shell is configured to collapse preferentially, creating a protective effect for the inner structure. This nested arrangement allows the payload to be protected without occupying additional interior space, as the protective function is provided by the outer collapsing shell rather than internal materials.
2Strength
If internal bracing or coatings are added, then structural strength is improved, but the structure becomes heavier and more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The outer sacrificial shell is designed as a lightweight, disposable structure that provides protection through controlled collapse rather than through permanent structural reinforcement. This eliminates the need for heavy internal bracing or strengthening materials, as the protection mechanism relies on the dynamic collapse behavior of the outer shell rather than static structural reinforcement.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the protective function from the inner payload structure and places it in a separate outer sacrificial shell. This separation allows the inner payload to remain lightweight and simple, while the outer shell independently provides the protective function through its collapse mechanism, avoiding the need to add weight to the critical inner structure.
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional structures are used, then manufacturing is simpler, but they collapse violently and cause cascading damage
Solution Approach 1:
The outer sacrificial shell is pre-configured with specific geometric features and structural characteristics that guide its collapse behavior. These preliminary design features ensure that when the shell collapses under external pressure, it does so in a controlled manner that dissipates energy gradually rather than violently. The shell's geometry and material properties are predetermined to achieve controlled collapse, protecting surrounding structures from damaging pressure spikes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the harmful violent collapse of conventional structures into a beneficial controlled collapse mechanism. The outer sacrificial shell is designed to utilize the external pressure that would cause violent collapse and transform it into a controlled energy dissipation process. The collapse itself becomes the protective mechanism, absorbing and dissipating energy in a controlled manner rather than creating harmful pressure spikes.
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 effectively reduces the damaging effects of implosion by up to 90%, minimizing shockwaves and preventing cascading damage, allowing submersibles to withstand increased pressures without structural failure.
Implementation Method 1
This flow resistance can cause the confining structure to couple its stiffness with the inner protected structure during the moments of collapse
Implementation Method 2
the confining structures can be deformable so as to consume energy through plastic deformation
Implementation Method 3
the confining structure to couple its stiffness with the inner protected structure during the moments of collapse
Implementation Method 4
providing physical impedance to any outgoing pressure waves
Data Source
AI summary
Structures designed to mitigate implosion pressure spikes through the use of an external sacrificial confining structure. Such improved structures can, in some embodiments, completely surround the existing structures that are at a high risk of imploding. The improved structures can slow the rate at which the surrounding fluid media volume is consumed by providing resistance to flow into the enclosure.