Submarine Inline Thruster Linear Deployment Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing submarine designs with auxiliary inline thrusters have a complex structural design and occupy large spaces, leading to undesirable flow noise due to large openings when the thruster is deployed, which is problematic for military submarines.
Innovation Solution
The submarine features an inline thruster that can be moved linearly and rotated using electrically actuated drives, allowing it to be aligned and positioned outside the outer skin with a smaller opening, reducing space requirements and minimizing flow noise by using a combination of linear and rotary electric drives for precise positioning and power supply through a slip ring system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the auxiliary drive is located between the pressure hull and outer skin in a storage position, then the space requirement is reduced, but the opening through which the inline thruster is moved becomes relatively large forming a gap on the outer skin
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic positioning system where the inline thruster can move between a retracted position (stored in the space between pressure hull and outer skin) and an extended operational position. The linear drive mechanism allows the thruster to extend through a minimized opening in the outer skin only when needed, keeping the opening closed otherwise to eliminate flow noise gaps.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the auxiliary drive system into separable components: the inline thruster unit that can be independently extended and retracted, and the fixed housing structure between pressure hull and outer skin. This segmentation allows the thruster to occupy minimal space when retracted while enabling controlled extension through a small opening.
2Ease of operation
If the inline thruster is moved from storage position to operating position through a large opening, then the thruster can be deployed, but the gap formed on the outer skin leads to undesirable flow noise
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses a dynamic extension mechanism where the inline thruster can be linearly extended through a minimized opening in the outer skin. The opening is designed to be as small as possible while still allowing thruster deployment, and remains closed otherwise to prevent flow noise. The linear drive enables smooth transition between retracted and extended states.
3Ease of operation
If a pivoting mechanism is used to move the inline thruster from storage to working position, then the thruster can be deployed, but the design becomes relatively complex and occupies more space
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional pivoting mechanism with a linear drive system. Instead of rotating the entire thruster assembly on a pivot, the inline thruster is moved linearly along a guided path from the storage position to the operational position. This substitution simplifies the mechanical structure, reduces space requirements, and eliminates the complexity of pivot joints and rotational mounting.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the pivoting function from the thruster mounting mechanism and replaces it with a linear extension system. The inline thruster is taken out of the fixed pivoting arrangement and instead mounted on a linear drive mechanism that extends it through a minimized opening in the outer skin, simplifying the overall structure.
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
A submarine has an inline thruster (10) as a propulsion device. The inline thruster (10) can be moved from a storage position in a space between a pressure hull (2) of the submarine and an outer skin (4) surrounding the pressure hull (2) by means of a linear drive arranged outside the pressure hull (2) into a linear end position outside the outer skin (4). In the end position, the inline thruster can be rotated in a plane normal to its linear direction of travel by means of a rotary drive.