UNDERWATER VEHICLE EQUIPPED WITH ELECTROCHEMICAL MEANS OF ELECTRICAL POWER GENERATION

• US 20150149004A1
• Filed: 05/04/2012
• Published: 05/28/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DCNS
• Original Assignee: DCNS
• Inventors: Cipolla, Thierry, Lebrun, Christophe
• Granted Patent: US 9,933,240 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/21
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 19/00 Marine torpedoes, e.g. launched by surface vessels or submarines having additional propulsion means for movement through air F42B17/00; Sea mines having self-propulsion means F42B12/00 takes precedence; launching means F41F; locating by use of radio or other waves G01S; automatic control of course G05D1/00; firing directors or calculators G06G
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 19/12 Propulsion specially adapted for torpedoes having additional propulsion means for movement through air F42B17/00; marine propulsion in general B63H
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 19/36 adapted to be used for exercise purposes, e.g. indicating position or course

Abstract

The invention concerns an underwater vehicle equipped with electrochemical means of electrical power generation, characterised in that it comprises a data processing unit (2) with inputs connected to sensors (4) of a parameter selected from amongst temperature, pressure, and hydrogen concentration, water in the area of the vehicle, and the electrochemical means of the engine, and with outputs connected to means (5) of transmitting signals to transmit signals authorising (or not authorising) an operator to approach the vehicle, depending on whether the sensed value of the parameter of the electrochemical means is in a predetermined range around the value of the parameter corresponding to water in the area of the underwater vehicle.

Claims

1. Underwater vehicle equipped with electrochemical means of electrical power generation, comprising a data processing unit connected in input to sensors of a parameter selected from a group comprising temperature, pressure, and hydrogen concentration, in water in the area of the vehicle, and the electrochemical means of the engine, and connected in output to means of transmitting signals to transmit signals authorising or not authorising an operator to approach the vehicle, depending on whether the sensed value of the parameter of the electrochemical means is in a predetermined range around the value of the parameter corresponding to water in the area of the underwater vehicle.

2. Underwater vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the data processing unit is connected to an electrical power supply independent of the rest of the underwater vehicle.

3. Underwater vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the power supply comprises means of storing energy.

4. Underwater vehicle according to claim 3, wherein the means of stocking energy comprise a battery.

5. Underwater vehicle according to claim 3, wherein the means of stocking energy comprise a fuel cell.

6. Underwater vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the means of transmitting signals authorising or not authorising approaching the vehicle comprise means of transmitting audio and/or visual and/or radioelectric signals.

7. Underwater vehicle according to claim 6, wherein the signal transmission means comprise at least one electroacoustic transducer.

8. Underwater vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the data processing unit comprises means of testing for proper functioning to initiate the transmission of malfunction signals in the event of malfunction of the unit.

9. Underwater vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the electrochemical means have an input and an output, and wherein the sensors include sensors at the input and output of the electrochemical means.