Underwater Vehicle Module Connector With Independent Bulkhead Seals
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing underwater vehicle modular designs face challenges in field-swappable modules due to exposure of internal components during assembly and disassembly, requiring re-verification of vehicle seals with each module addition, making field swapping impractical.
Innovation Solution
A module connector system that seals each module individually before connection, featuring a first and second mating ring with bulkheads and electrical connectors, allowing for mechanical and electrical coupling while maintaining independent module sealing, and optionally flooding the space between bulkheads for sensors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If modules are connected using a quick connect bulkhead that forms a single sealed hull, then the connection is simple and straightforward, but the internal cavity of each module is exposed to the external environment during assembly and disassembly, reducing the feasibility of creating field swappable modules
Solution Approach 1:
The connector is divided into separate sealing components: a first seal member that seals the first module's opening and a second seal member that seals the second module's opening. Each seal member is independently attached to its respective module, allowing each module to maintain its own sealed environment while being connected to another module.
Solution Approach 2:
The seal members act as intermediary elements between the modules and the external environment. These seal members are positioned at the openings of the modules and create a barrier that prevents environmental exposure during connection and disassembly operations.
2Device complexity
If a single sealed hull design is used, then the vehicle structure is simple, but any addition of new modules requires re-verification of all vehicle seals, making field swapping impractical
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing system is segmented into independent seal members for each module, rather than relying on a single integrated seal for the entire vehicle. This allows individual modules to be sealed independently, so that adding or removing modules does not affect the sealing integrity of other modules.
Solution Approach 2:
The seal members are pre-attached to the module openings before connection. This preliminary sealing action ensures that each module is already sealed before it is connected to other modules, eliminating the need for re-verification of seals when modules are added or removed.
3Reliability
If modules are individually sealed before connection, then field swappable modules become feasible, but the connector design becomes more complex with multiple seal members and coupling mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The connector combines multiple functions into integrated components: the coupling mechanisms are integrated with the seal members, and the electrical connectors are positioned within the sealed cavities. This merging reduces the number of separate components and simplifies the overall connector design while maintaining individual module sealing.
Solution Approach 2:
The connector design provides multi-functionality: it simultaneously achieves mechanical coupling, electrical connection, and environmental sealing. The seal members serve both as sealing barriers and as structural components of the connector assembly, reducing overall complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
An underwater vehicle module connector includes a first mating ring connected to a first module and including a first bulkhead sealing the first module, a first electrical connector extending outward from the first bulkhead, and a first coupling mechanism. A second mating ring is connectable to a second module and includes a second bulkhead sealing the second module, a second electrical connector extending outward from the second bulkhead, and a second coupling mechanism. The first and second couplers are configured to releasably couple the first mating ring to the second mating ring and mate the first electrical connector with the second electrical connector.