SUBMERSIBLE VEHICLE WITH SWEPT HULL

• US 20110232558A1
• Filed: 04/28/2011
• Published: 09/29/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: GO Science, Ltd. (Thalassa Holdings Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: GO Science, Ltd. (Thalassa Holdings Ltd.)
• Inventors: Gosling, Harry George Dennis
• Application Number:
  US13/096,765
• Publication Number:
  US 20110232558A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 114/331
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 1/04 with single hull
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 2241/12 annular or toroidal
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 35/04 Cable-laying vessels
• CPC Class Codes: B63G 2008/002 unmanned
• CPC Class Codes: B63G 8/001 Underwater vessels adapted for special purposes, e.g. unmanned underwater vessels; Equipment specially adapted therefor, e.g. docking stations self-propelled or direction controlled diving chambers with mechanical link to a base B63C11/42
• CPC Class Codes: B63G 8/08 Propulsion schnorkels B63G8/36; nuclear propulsion B63H21/18; submerged exhausting apparatus F01N13/12
• CPC Class Codes: B63G 8/22 Adjustment of buoyancy by water ballasting; Emptying equipment for ballast tanks conduits for emptying or ballasting on vessels in general B63B13/00; stabilising vessels using ballast tanks B63B43/06
• CPC Class Codes: B63G 8/24 Automatic depth adjustment; Safety equipment for increasing buoyancy, e.g. detachable ballast, floating bodies
• CPC Class Codes: B63G 8/26 Trimming equipment
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 1/32 Flaps, pistons, or the like, reciprocating in propulsive direction
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 1/36 swinging sideways, e.g. fishtail type
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 2001/005 using Magnus effect
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 5/14 characterised by being mounted in non-rotating ducts or rings, e.g. adjustable for steering purpose shrouding ring attached to blades B63H1/16; jet propulsion B63H11/00

Abstract

A submersible vehicle having an outer hull which defines a hull axis and appears substantially annular when viewed along the hull axis, the interior of the annulus defining a duct which is open at both ends so that when the vehicle is submerged in a liquid, the liquid floods the duct. At least part of the outer hull is swept with respect to the hull axis. A buoyancy control system may be provided. Various methods of deploying and using the vehicle are described.

Claims

1. A submersible vehicle having an outer hull which defines a hull axis and appears substantially annular when viewed along the hull axis, the interior of the annulus defining a duct which is open at both ends so that when the vehicle is submerged in a liquid, the liquid floods the duct, the vehicle further comprising a buoyancy control system.

2. A vehicle according to claim 1 wherein the buoyancy control system comprises a buoyancy engine housed within the outer hull.

3. A vehicle according to claim 2 wherein the buoyancy engine is located within a ring that sits within the outer hull.

4. A vehicle according to claim 3 wherein the buoyancy control system can dynamically adjust the centre of buoyancy of the vehicle by adjustment of its buoyancy engine along the ring that sits within the outer hull.

5. A vehicle according to claim 2 wherein the buoyancy engine can be made positively or negatively buoyant.

6. A vehicle according to claim 2 wherein the buoyancy engine is located within a toroidal pressure vessel within the outer hull.

7. A vehicle according to claim 1 wherein the buoyancy control system is located within a toroidal pressure vessel within the outer hull.

8. A vehicle according to claim 1 further comprising a first chamber which is located within a toroidal pressure vessel within the outer hull and can be filled or replenished with warm water when near the surface;

a second chamber which is located within a toroidal pressure vessel within the outer hull and can be filled or replenished with cold water when deep; and

an array of thermo-electric semiconductor (TES) peltier effect devices between the first and second chambers.

9. A vehicle according to claim 1 wherein the buoyancy control system can dynamically adjust the centre of buoyancy of the vehicle.

10. A vehicle according to claim 1 further comprising one or more ballast elements located within a toroidal section of the outer hull.

11. A vehicle according to claim 10 wherein the (or each) ballast element is positively buoyant.

12. A vehicle according to claim 10 wherein the (or each) ballast element can be moved around the toroidal section of the outer hull.

13. A vehicle according to claim 1 wherein the buoyancy control system has rotational symmetry about the hull axis.

14. A vehicle according to claim 1 wherein the buoyancy control system comprises a temperature sensitive phase change material, and the temperature of the phase change material can be controlled to change the density of the vehicle.

15. A vehicle according to claim 14 further comprising a toroidal pressure vessel housed inside the outer hull, wherein the phase change material is integrated within the toroidal pressure vessel.

16. A vehicle according to claim 1 wherein the vehicle has a center of gravity located in the duct and a center of buoyancy located in the duct.

17. A vehicle according to claim 1 wherein the vehicle can modify its centre of gravity location by adjustment of mass along a ring that sits within the outer hull.

18. A method of operating a submersible vehicle having an outer hull which defines a hull axis and appears substantially annular when viewed along the hull axis, the interior of the annulus defining a duct which is open at both ends, the vehicle further comprising a buoyancy control system comprising a buoyancy engine housed within the outer hull, the method comprising:

submerging the vehicle in a liquid whereby the liquid floods the duct, and deriving a motive force for the vehicle from the buoyancy engine.

19. A method of controlling a submersible vehicle having an outer hull which defines a hull axis and appears substantially annular when viewed along the hull axis, the interior of the annulus defining a duct which is open at both ends, the vehicle further comprising a buoyancy control system, the method comprising:

submerging the vehicle in a liquid whereby the liquid floods the duct; and

dynamically adjusting the centre of buoyancy of the vehicle by operation of the buoyancy control system.