Submarine Connecting Element for Cable Tension Stabilization
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Underwater vehicles connected to a surface vessel by a cable experience instability due to the tensile force exerted by the cable, which affects their attitude and stability, especially as the weight of the vehicle increases, requiring complex stabilization mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
An underwater vehicle design featuring a connecting element that can pivot around a mobile axis of rotation, allowing the tensile force from the cable to be distributed radially through the center of inertia, minimizing destabilization and eliminating the need for sophisticated stabilization systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the cable is attached to one longitudinal end of the underwater vehicle, then the connection is simple, but the tensile force destabilizes the vehicle and requires complex stabilization mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The connecting element is made movable relative to the vehicle body through a rotation joint, allowing the attachment point to dynamically adjust its position. This dynamic connection enables the tensile force axis to pivot and change its orthogonal projection on the plane passing through the center of inertia, automatically adapting to stabilize the vehicle without complex active control systems
Solution Approach 2:
The solution moves the problem from a fixed 2D attachment point to a 3D movable connection that can rotate. By adding the rotational degree of freedom, the connecting element can change the orientation of the tensile force application point in three-dimensional space, allowing the force axis to pivot and its projection to move across different positions on the plane through the center of inertia
2Device complexity
If the cable attachment point is fixed, then the structure is simple, but stabilization mechanisms must be powerful and complex to counteract the destabilizing tensile force
Solution Approach 1:
The connecting element with rotation joint serves itself by automatically adjusting its orientation in response to the tensile force from the cable. The movable connection self-regulates the position of the force application point without requiring external power or complex control systems, eliminating the need for powerful active stabilization mechanisms
3Device complexity
If the tensile force axis is fixed relative to the vehicle body, then the connection is simple, but the vehicle attitude varies and requires complex control
Solution Approach 1:
The connecting element transitions from a fixed attachment to a dynamic connection with rotation capability. This allows the axis of the tensile force to pivot and the orthogonal projection on the plane through the center of inertia to move, automatically maintaining favorable vehicle attitude without complex control operations
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 configuration ensures the underwater vehicle remains stable and balanced, enabling high-speed sonar imaging and autonomous operation without the need for complex stabilization systems, allowing it to function as both a towed fish and an autonomous underwater vehicle.
Implementation Method 1
the connecting element is connected to the body of the underwater vehicle by a connection with at least one degree of freedom in rotation about an axis of rotation (y; yo) so that the tensile force (F) exerted by the cable on the underwater vehicle is able to pivot about the axis of rotation (y;yo)
Data Source
Figure 1a~1b
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
Submarine device (E) comprising a submarine vehicle (1), the submarine vehicle (1) comprising a body (10) of the submarine vehicle (1), the submarine device (E) comprising a connection element (4) connected to the body (10) of the submarine vehicle (1) and being able to cooperate with a cable to react a traction force (F) exerted by the cable (3) on the submarine vehicle (1), the connection element being connected to the body of the vehicle and being configured such that the axis of the traction force (F) is able to move with respect to the body (10) of the vehicle and is able to have different orthogonal projections in a plane P that is fixed with respect to the body (10) passing through the center of mass (G) of the submarine vehicle (1).