Submarine Ejection Tube with Dual-Flow Cylinder
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ejection methods for military submarines are noisy, revealing the submarine's position, as they involve loud pressure fluid releases during the ejection of weapons or decoys from ejection tubes.
Innovation Solution
A submarine ejection system with a working cylinder having two lines of different cross-sections, where a lower volume flow of pressure fluid is introduced initially to gradually accelerate the ejection body, and a higher volume flow is introduced later to achieve the final speed, reducing noise. This system uses compressed air and incorporates a gas spring for controlled piston movement and a controllable throttle valve for precise speed regulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If a high volume flow of pressure fluid is introduced directly into the ejection chamber to quickly eject the ejection body, then the ejection speed is improved, but the noise level increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The ejection process is segmented into two distinct phases: an initial phase with low volume flow to accelerate the ejection body gradually, and a final phase with high volume flow to achieve the desired final speed. This segmentation allows the system to achieve high ejection speed while minimizing noise during the majority of the ejection process.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary acceleration of the ejection body using a low volume flow of pressure fluid before introducing the high volume flow. This preliminary action builds up the kinetic energy of the ejection body in a quiet manner, so that when the high volume flow is introduced, the noise is minimized because the body is already in motion.
2Speed
If a single line with large cross-section is used to introduce pressure fluid, then the ejection body can be accelerated quickly, but the noise is generated during the entire ejection process
Solution Approach 1:
The single line is segmented into two lines with different cross-sections: a first line with larger cross-section for the final phase and a second line with smaller cross-section for the initial phase. This segmentation allows controlled introduction of pressure fluid at different flow rates at different times, reducing noise duration.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically switches between the first and second lines based on the ejection phase. During the initial phase, the second line is used; during the final phase, the first line is used. This dynamic switching allows the system to optimize both acceleration rate and noise reduction throughout the ejection process.
3Force
If a piston-cylinder unit is used to press water into the ejection tube, then the ejection body can be pushed out, but the loud noise reveals the submarine's position
Solution Approach 1:
The noisy piston-cylinder unit is extracted from the ejection tube and replaced by a working cylinder that operates independently. The working cylinder uses a controlled pressure fluid introduction system with two lines of different cross-sections, eliminating the need for a noisy external piston-cylinder unit while maintaining the ejection force.
Solution Approach 2:
An intermediary pressure fluid system with controlled flow rates is introduced between the pressure source and the ejection body. This intermediary system uses the two-line configuration to control the timing and magnitude of pressure fluid introduction, reducing noise while maintaining sufficient ejection force.
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
Significantly reduces noise during the ejection process by minimizing initial pressure fluid volume flow and utilizing a gas spring for controlled braking, allowing for precise speed adjustment and reduced stress on sealing components.
Implementation Method 1
a gas spring for controlled piston movement and a controllable throttle valve for precise speed regulation
Implementation Method 2
a first line, which has a larger line cross-section than the other, second line, is closed by the shut-off means arranged in the first line and the pressure fluid required for ejecting the ejection body via the second line with a smaller line cross-section
Implementation Method 3
a controllable throttle valve for precise speed regulation
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a submarine comprising at least one ejection tube (2) for ejecting an ejection element (6) from the submarine and comprising an ejecting device which has a working cylinder (18) that is movement-coupled to the ejection element (6). Two lines (28, 30) which can be closed by blocking means and which have different cross-sections open at a working cylinder (18) chamber (24) which is to be supplied with pressure in order to eject the ejection element (6), the cylinder chamber (24) being fluidically connectable to a pressurized gas source via said lines. The two lines (28, 30) are collectively connected to a compressed air distributor (32) of a compressed air on-board system (34) of the submarine. A second cylinder chamber (26) of the working cylinder (18) forms a gas spring. The ejecting device has a transport slide (10) which is movably guided in the ejection tube (2) and which is movement-coupled to a piston (20) of the working cylinder (18) via a traction cable (12) that forms a speed increaser.