Submarine Waste Lock Shock-Elastic Mounting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Submarines require high shock resistance for waste locks to withstand pressure waves, leading to heavy and costly actuating devices that increase weight, which is undesirable in modern submarines.
Innovation Solution
The outer closure body of the waste lock is shock-elastically mounted to absorb and dampen shock forces via a spring/damper arrangement, allowing it to move briefly and convert energy, while being rigid during normal operation, and is coupled to an actuating device with a linear drive and spring component for controlled movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the actuating device is made heavy and robust to hold the closure body in closed position during shock loads, then shock resistance is improved, but weight and construction costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The actuating device transitions from a static rigid structure to a dynamic system with spring elements that can deform and absorb energy. The spring-mounted closure body can move relative to the actuating device during shock events, converting kinetic energy into elastic potential energy, thereby reducing the peak forces that the actuating device must withstand and the weight required to resist them.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring element is pre-installed in the actuating device to provide cushioning before shock events occur. When shock loads are applied, the spring immediately begins to compress, absorbing energy and reducing the impact forces on the actuating device structure, eliminating the need for overly robust and heavy design.
2Reliability
If the actuating device is designed to be robust to withstand shock loads, then shock resistance is improved, but construction costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The introduction of spring elements transforms the actuating device from a statically robust design to a dynamically adaptive system. The springs provide shock absorption through elastic deformation, allowing the use of lighter and less expensive materials compared to a rigid design that would require high-strength materials and complex reinforcement to withstand peak shock loads.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the mechanical parameters of force and displacement during shock events. The spring element allows the closure body to displace slightly during shock loads, changing the force-displacement relationship and reducing peak forces. This parameter change enables the use of simpler, less expensive components that would be insufficient in a rigid system.
3Reliability
If the outer closure body is rigidly mounted to resist shock forces, then shock resistance is improved, but the ability to absorb shock energy decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The spring element is pre-installed to provide cushioning before shock events. During shock loads, the spring compresses to absorb kinetic energy, converting it into elastic potential energy. This energy absorption mechanism protects the rigid actuating device structure while maintaining shock resistance, as the spring returns to its original position after the shock event.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring element converts the harmful shock energy into beneficial elastic potential energy. During shock events, the kinetic energy that would otherwise damage the rigid structure is captured by the spring and stored as elastic potential energy, which is then released as the spring returns to its equilibrium position, reducing the overall impact on the system.
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 high shock resistance without excessive weight or material costs, protecting components from damage and maintaining a low-signature outer skin design.
Implementation Method 1
the outer closure body, in its closed position, i.e. in its position closing the lock, is shock-elastically mounted outwards in a direction essentially normal to the opening cross-section of the lock to be closed
Implementation Method 2
a shock-elastic bearing of the outer closure body is understood to be a bearing that behaves essentially rigidly under the forces acting on the outer closure body during normal operation, while yielding in the direction of the shock forces when subjected to a shock force
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
A sluice/sewer (2) has inner (10) and outer (12) sealing bodies. The outer sealing body can be moved away partly for opening a pressure hull (4) and placed outwards to be flexible against shocks in its closing position in a direction normal to an opening cross-section of the sluice/sewer waiting to be opened.