Spherical Inductive Connector for Underwater ROV Power Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing inductive energy transmission connectors face challenges in underwater operations, particularly for ROVs, as they have limited energy transmission capacity and are difficult to connect due to water currents and precision requirements.
Innovation Solution
The connector design features a female part with peripheral channels and a spherical cavity, along with a male part having a spherical portion and pressure barrier, allowing for precise alignment and increased energy transmission area, and includes antennas for radio communication and sealing membranes to maintain pressure and cleanliness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If the area between primary and secondary sides is increased to transmit more energy, then energy transmission capacity is improved, but the connector diameter increases
Solution Approach 1:
The connector employs a spherical cavity design where the primary side is positioned on the inner surface of the spherical cavity and the secondary side is on the spherical portion that fits into it. This spherical geometry allows for optimized coil arrangement and magnetic field distribution, enabling increased energy transmission capacity within a compact diameter by utilizing the three-dimensional space efficiently rather than expanding the connector's overall diameter.
2Loss of energy
If precision alignment is required for connection, then energy transmission efficiency is improved, but connection difficulty increases due to water currents and ROV maneuverability
Solution Approach 1:
The spherical cavity and spherical portion design provides inherent alignment guidance. When the male connector with spherical portion is inserted into the female connector with spherical cavity, the spherical geometry naturally guides the primary and secondary sides into proper alignment, reducing the precision requirements for manual or ROV-operated connection while maintaining efficient energy transmission.
Solution Approach 2:
The connector design includes self-aligning features where the spherical geometry and peripheral channels work together to automatically guide the connectors into proper alignment during insertion. The peripheral channels may also facilitate water flow to help clean and guide the connection interface, reducing the need for precise manual alignment by the ROV operator.
3Reliability
If peripheral channels are added for self-cleaning, then operational reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The peripheral channels are designed to utilize water flow to carry away debris and contaminants from the connection interface during insertion and removal operations. By incorporating these channels into the spherical cavity structure, the design leverages the natural water environment to provide self-cleaning functionality, improving operational reliability in underwater conditions without requiring active cleaning mechanisms.
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
This design enhances energy transmission capacity and facilitates easier connection in underwater environments by maintaining a constant distance between coils and providing self-cleaning and pressure-resistant features, enabling greater power transfer and improved operational precision.
Implementation Method 1
A primary coil (24, 34) is provided in the female part (2) and in the male part (3). The primary coil is arranged to cooperate with the secondary coil for inductive transmission of electrical energy
Implementation Method 2
a power source connected to a resonant circuit is frequency-regulated
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
A connector (1) for the inductive transmission of electrical energy, the connector (1) including a female part (2) and a male part (3); the female part (2) and the male part (3) each being provided with an electrical circuit (24, 34), the electrical circuit (24, 34) forming either a primary side or a secondary side of a transformer; the female part (2) including a spherical cavity (27) and a surface layer (21) and the male part (3) including a spherical portion (37) and a surface layer (31); the spherical cavity (27) being complementary to the spherical portion (37), and the electrical circuit (24) of the female part (2) being formed with a concave side (240) on the side facing the surface layer (21) of the female part (2), and the electrical circuit (34) of the male part (3) being positioned in the spherical portion (37) of the male part (3) and the electrical circuit (34) being formed with a convex side (340) on the side facing the surface layer (31) of the male part (34).