Submarine Cable Guidance via Buoyant Float and Hydrodynamic Spacing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing underwater communication systems for submarines face issues with cable damage due to the submarine's movement, requiring heavy and bulky protective hoses that occupy significant space and weight, while maintaining a secure connection.
Innovation Solution
An underwater connection unit with a linkage element, underwater float, and connecting element that uses buoyancy and hydrodynamic elements to maintain a safe distance from the submarine, allowing a shorter and lighter cable connection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a robust hose is used to route the cable from the gun barrel around the submarine, then the cable is protected from damage, but the hose becomes heavy and occupies considerable space
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the cable protection function into two segments: a short robust connecting element near the gun barrel and a long flexible cable in the water. This segmentation allows the heavy protective structure to be minimized to only where absolutely necessary (at the submarine) while the majority of the cable length can be lightweight and flexible.
Solution Approach 2:
The underwater float acts as an intermediary object between the submarine and the cable. It maintains spacing between the cable and the submarine's propulsors through buoyancy and hydrodynamic forces, thereby protecting the cable without requiring a heavy protective hose along the entire cable length.
2Reliability
If a robust hose is used to route the cable from the gun barrel around the submarine, then the cable is protected from damage, but the hose occupies considerable space
Solution Approach 1:
The cable protection function is segmented into a short protective connecting element at the submarine and a long unprotected but safe cable in the water. This reduces the space occupation from the entire cable length to just the minimal connecting element near the gun barrel.
Solution Approach 2:
The underwater float serves as a mediator that maintains safe spacing between the cable and the submarine's mechanical structures. This intermediary approach protects the cable without requiring the hose to occupy large space along its entire length.
3Device complexity
If the cable remains relatively static in the water, then the connection is simple, but there is a high risk of damaging the cable with the propulsor or other mechanical structures
Solution Approach 1:
The underwater float is introduced as an intermediary that actively maintains spacing between the static cable and the moving submarine. This simple yet effective mediator ensures cable safety without complicating the connection system, as the float passively uses buoyancy and hydrodynamic forces to do its work.
Solution Approach 2:
The underwater float is self-regulating, using its own buoyancy and hydrodynamic properties to automatically maintain safe spacing between the cable and the submarine's propulsors. This self-service mechanism protects the cable without requiring complex active control 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 ensures a secure and space-saving communication link by maintaining a safe distance from the submarine, reducing the risk of cable damage and minimizing weight and size of the system.
Implementation Method 1
The underwater float has buoyancy (positive buoyancy) or gravity (negative buoyancy). When the submarine is at rest, the underwater float moves away from the submarine by rising due to buoyancy or sinking due to gravity.
Implementation Method 2
A hydrodynamic element can be a static functional surface that is subjected to the flow of water during the forward movement of the submarine. This flow exerts a force on the underwater float, moving it in the desired direction, and thus always has a constant effect if the flow is constant.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The present invention relates to an underwater connection unit, wherein the underwater connection unit together with an underwater running body 40 can be inserted into a gun barrel 50, wherein the underwater connection unit has a fixed connecting element 10, an underwater float 30 and a connecting element 20 arranged between the connecting element 10 and the underwater float 30, wherein the connecting element 10 is fixedly connected to the gun barrel 50, wherein the connecting element 20 forms a force-fit connection between the connecting element 10 and the underwater float 30, wherein the underwater float 30 has a buoyant or a negative buoyant effect, and wherein the underwater float 30 has at least one hydrodynamic element.