Neutrally Buoyant External Payload Mounting for Submarines
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing submarine systems face challenges in managing buoyancy changes due to the addition or removal of payloads, requiring complex adjustments to compensate for mass and buoyancy fluctuations.
Innovation Solution
A neutrally buoyant payload unit is externally mounted on the submarine hull using a releasable mounting system, allowing for easy attachment and detachment, and maintaining neutral buoyancy regardless of payload presence or absence.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If the payload mass is reduced, then the payload buoyancy increases, but the submarine buoyancy system requires complex adjustments to compensate
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the buoyancy management into separate components: the payload unit has its own buoyancy compensation chamber that is independently filled with water, separating the buoyancy function from the submarine's main buoyancy system. This segmentation allows the payload to be independently buoyancy-adjusted without affecting or requiring adjustment of the submarine's buoyancy system.
Solution Approach 2:
Water acts as an intermediary substance that is transferred between the payload's buoyancy compensation chamber and the surrounding environment. By using water as the buoyancy compensation medium, the system achieves neutral buoyancy for the payload without requiring complex mechanical adjustment mechanisms in the submarine's buoyancy system.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the payload is suddenly removed from the submarine, then the submarine requires compensation for mass change, but the buoyancy system cannot adequately compensate
Solution Approach 1:
The buoyancy compensation function is segmented and assigned to the payload unit itself through its dedicated buoyancy compensation chamber. This independent chamber allows the payload to maintain neutral buoyancy on its own, eliminating the dependency on the submarine's buoyancy system for compensation when the payload is attached or removed.
Solution Approach 2:
The payload unit performs its own buoyancy compensation through the water-filled chamber integrated into its structure. The payload system serves itself by using water displacement to maintain neutral buoyancy, rather than requiring the submarine's buoyancy system to compensate for payload mass changes.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the payload is carried external to the hull, then the submarine can carry additional equipment, but the mass and buoyancy management becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The external payload unit is segmented as an independent buoyancy system with its own water-filled compensation chamber. This segmentation allows the payload to be carried externally without adding complexity to the submarine's buoyancy management, as the payload handles its own buoyancy independently.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the buoyancy parameter management approach by allowing the payload to be neutrally buoyant through water-filled chambers rather than relying on the submarine's buoyancy system. This parameter change enables flexible external payload carriage without complicating the submarine's mass and buoyancy management.
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 system ensures consistent buoyancy, enabling flexible configuration and maintenance of the submarine without requiring additional buoyancy compensation, facilitating quick equipment changes and operational adaptability.
Implementation Method 1
The payload unit 202, 204 is configured to be neutrally buoyant
Data Source
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Figure 5
AI summary
A watercraft system (10). The watercraft system (10) comprises a submarine or a submersible configured to be submerged in water. The submarine or submersible have an external hull (12) which defines a hull outer surface (20). There is provided a releasable mounting system (100) for carrying a payload unit (202, 204) external to the hull outer surface (20). The releasable mounting system (100) is operable to release the payload unit (202, 204) from the hull (12). The watercraft system (10) further comprises a payload unit (202, 204) which is neutrally buoyant.