Underwater Transport Container with Dynamic Buoyancy for Combat Divers

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Solution Overview

Problem

Combat swimmers face the challenge of transporting equipment undetected while submerged, as existing solutions require frequent removal and transport to the water surface, increasing detection probability.

Innovation Solution

An underwater transport container with a cylindrical shape for storage in a weapon barrel, featuring buoyancy compensation and surface buoyancy elements that adjust to ambient conditions, allowing safe submersion and surface deployment without exposing the cargo until needed.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If cargo is transported in existing containers, then equipment can be delivered to the scene, but the container must be regularly removed and transported to the water surface, increasing detection probability

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection probabilityVSAvoidcargo removal and transport operation
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The container employs dynamic buoyancy control through inflatable buoyancy elements that can be inflated or deflated to change the container's buoyancy state. This allows the container to remain submerged during transport by deflating buoyancy elements, and surface for cargo removal by inflating them, eliminating the need for manual retrieval operations that increase detection risk

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The container's buoyancy parameter is changed by controlling the inflation state of buoyancy elements. During transport, buoyancy elements are deflated to maintain negative buoyancy for submerged carriage. At the destination, buoyancy elements are inflated to provide positive buoyancy, enabling the container to surface automatically for undetected cargo retrieval

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Object-affected harmful factors

If buoyancy elements are added to enable submerged transport, then detection probability decreases, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection probabilityVSAvoidbuoyancy control system
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The buoyancy control function is extracted from complex mechanical retrieval systems and implemented through simple inflatable elements. The buoyancy elements are separate, modular components that can be independently controlled, simplifying the overall system while achieving the desired submerged transport capability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The container uses pneumatic inflation systems to control buoyancy elements. Gas storage devices and distribution systems provide simple, reliable buoyancy control without complex mechanical mechanisms, reducing device complexity while enabling effective submerged transport and surface deployment

Inventive Principle:
Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

3Length of moving object

If the container is designed for weapon barrel storage, then the diameter is constrained to be small, but the storage volume is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontainer diameterVSAvoidstorage compartment volume
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of moving objectVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The container utilizes dynamic buoyancy expansion. During weapon barrel storage and transport, the container maintains a compact cylindrical shape with constrained diameter. Upon deployment, buoyancy elements are inflated to expand the container's effective volume and provide surface buoyancy, maximizing storage utility without compromising weapon barrel compatibility

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The buoyancy elements are nested within the container structure during the compressed state for weapon barrel storage. When deployed, these nested elements expand outward to provide the necessary buoyancy volume, effectively packing the buoyancy system within the constrained diameter while achieving full functional volume when needed

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

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

Enables combat swimmers to transport equipment undetected and maintain stability at varying depths and conditions, ensuring secure and undetected deployment of cargo at the desired location.

Implementation Method 1

The first buoyancy compensation element and the second buoyancy compensation element are suitable for adapting the buoyancy to the ambient conditions

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectBuoyancy compensation: Archimedes' Principle (Buoyancy)

Implementation Method 2

The first surface buoyancy element and the second surface buoyancy element are switchable between a compacted state inside the underwater transport container and a buoyancy-generating state

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectBuoyancy generation: Archimedes' Principle (Buoyancy)

Data Source

PatentEP3631343B1Underwater transport container for combat divers
Publication Date: 2021.08.11 THYSSENKRUPP MARINE SYST GMBH
  • EP3631343B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3631343B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3631343B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The invention relates to an underwater transport container (10). The underwater transport container (10) has a front section (20), a central section (30), and a rear section (40), and the underwater transport container (10) has a cylindrical base shape for storing in a gun barrel (160). The central section (30) has at least one stowing region (90), the front section (20) has at least one first buoyancy compensation element (50), and the rear section (40) has at least one second buoyancy compensation element (60), wherein the first buoyancy compensation element (50) and the second buoyancy compensation element (60) are arranged in the interior of the underwater transport container (10). The front section (20) has at least one first surface buoyancy element (70), and the rear section (40) has at least one second surface buoyancy element (80). The first buoyancy compensation element (50) and the second buoyancy compensation element (60) are suitable for adapting the buoyancy to the ambient conditions. The first surface buoyancy element (70) and the second surface buoyancy element (80) can be switched between a compact state in the interior of the underwater transport container (10) and a buoyancy-generating state.