Multiplex-thruster systems for delivering thrusting flow

• US 8,490,569 B2
• Filed: 12/23/2011
• Issued: 07/23/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: University of Southern California
• Original Assignee: University of Southern California
• Inventors: Shen, Wei-Min
• Primary Examiner(s): Olson, Lars A
• Application Number:
  US13/336,968
• Publication Number:
  US 20120118218A1
• Time in Patent Office: 578 Days
• Field of Search: 114/151, 114/312, 114/330, 114/331, 114/337, 440/40
• US Class Current: 114/337
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 3/00 Arrangement or mounting of steam or gaseous-pressure propulsion units B60K7/00 takes precedence; arrangement or mounting of plural diverse prime-movers for mutual or common propulsion B60K6/00; gaseous-pressure transmission arrangements B60K17/10
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 2231/30 Magnetic materials
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 2241/14 spherical
• CPC Class Codes: B63G 2008/002 unmanned
• CPC Class Codes: B63G 2008/004 autonomously operating
• 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 8/16 by direct use of propellers or jets
• CPC Class Codes: B63G 8/24 Automatic depth adjustment; Safety equipment for increasing buoyancy, e.g. detachable ballast, floating bodies
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 11/107 Direction control of propulsive fluid B63H11/101 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 11/12 the propulsive medium being steam or other gas
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 25/46 Steering or dynamic anchoring by jets or by rudders carrying jets steering or dynamic anchoring by deflecting or directing main propulsion jets B63H11/00

Abstract

Designs and techniques for fluid thrusters and vehicles that are powered by propelling fluids with fluid thrusters. Multiplex-thruster (MT) systems are disclosed that include a single thruster and a flow multiplexer with multiple channels to deliver thrusting flow in various directions.

Claims

1. A multiplex-thruster (MT) for delivering thrusting flow, comprising:

a thruster having a first end and a second end and configured to propel a fluid to flow in a first direction from the first end to the second end or in a second direction from the second end to the first end; and

a first connector assembly comprising a first plurality of connectors in fluid communication with the first end of the thruster and a second connector assembly comprising a second plurality of connectors in fluid communication with the second end of the thruster, each connector of the first plurality of connectors and the second plurality of connectors being configured to allow fluid flow through the connector when the connector is in an open state and to block fluid flow through the connector when the connector is in a closed state;

wherein the MT is configured to thrust fluid flow from one or more of the first plurality of connectors of the first connector assembly to one or more of the second plurality of connectors of the second connector assembly or vice versa by restricting the fluid flow through selected connectors of the first plurality of connectors and the second plurality of connectors; and

wherein the MT is a self-contained module that is configured to attach and provide fluid communication between one or more thrusting channels of a plurality of thrusting channels of multiple different types of vessels and one or more of the first plurality of connectors of the first connector assembly, and between one or more other thrusting channels of the plurality of thrusting channels and one or more of the second plurality of connectors of the second connector assembly.

2. The MT of claim 1, wherein one or more of the connectors comprise an adjustable valve to control an amount of fluid flow through said one or more connectors.

3. The MT of claim 2, wherein the adjustable valve is an electronic valve.

4. The MT of claim 2, wherein the adjustable valve is a mechanical valve.

5. The MT of claim 1, comprising first fluid conducting conduits that are respectively connected to the first plurality of connectors of the first connector assembly and second fluid conducting conduits that are respectively connected to the second plurality of connectors of the second connector assembly, the first and second fluid conducting conduits support fluid ports for receiving input fluid or output fluid in different directions with respect to one another.

6. The MT of claim 1, wherein the MT is further configured to restrict the fluid flow by:

setting the one or more of the first plurality of connectors and the one or more of the second plurality of connectors at an open state and all other connectors at a closed state; and

controlling the thruster to propel fluid flow in either the first direction or the second direction.

7. The MT of claim 1, wherein the first connector assembly is mounted to the first end of the thruster and the second connector assembly is mounted to the second end of the thruster.

8. The MT of claim 1, wherein the thruster is configured to propel the fluid to flow in the first direction and in the second direction.

9. A system, comprising:

a multiplex-thruster comprising a single thruster and one or more connector assemblies, each connector assembly comprising a plurality of fluid valves, said thruster configured to thrust fluid flow from one or more fluid valves to different one or more fluid valves, wherein the multiplex-thruster is a self-contained module;

a plurality of thrusting channels respectively connected to the fluid valves to direct fluid flow through one or more thrusting channels to different one or more thrusting channels to provide desired propelling to the system, wherein the one or more connector assemblies are individually configurable to provide fluid communication between the one or more connector assemblies and the plurality of thrusting channels of multiple different types of vessels; and

a thruster controller configured to control the thruster and the fluid valves to thrust fluid flow from one or more thrusting channels to different one or more thrusting channels to actuate the system to move.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein said system is a surface vehicle.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein said system is an underwater vehicle.

12. The system of claim 11, further comprising at least one pressure sensor to measure and maintain the system at a predetermined depth from water surface.

13. The system of claim 11, further comprising at least one altimeter to measure and maintain the system at a predetermined distance to water bottom.

14. The system of claim 11, further comprising an electromagnet configured to allow the system to stay mutually buoyant when the electromagnet is activated to hold a predetermined weight and to float the system up to water surface when the electromagnet is deactivated to drop the predetermined weight.

15. A method for delivering thrusting fluid flow through a multiplex thruster (MT), comprising:

receiving a fluid at a thruster having a first end and a second end and configured to propel the fluid to flow in a first direction from the first end to the second end or in a second direction from the second end to the first end; and

delivering the fluid through a first connector assembly comprising a first plurality of connectors in fluid communication with the first end of the thruster and a second connector assembly comprising a second plurality of connectors in fluid communication with the second end of the thruster, each connector of the first plurality of connectors and the second plurality of connectors being configured allow fluid flow through the connector when the connector is in an open state and to block fluid flow through the connector when the connector is in a closed state;

wherein the MT is configured to thrust fluid flow from one or more of the first plurality of connectors of the first connector assembly to one or more of the second plurality of connectors of the second connector assembly or vice versa by restricting the fluid flow through selected connectors of the first plurality of connectors and the second plurality of connectors; and

wherein the MT is a self-contained module that is configured to attach and provide fluid communication between one or more thrusting channels of a plurality of thrusting channels of multiple different types of vessels and one or more of the first plurality of connectors of the first connector assembly and between one or more other thrusting channels of the plurality of thrusting channels and one or more of the second plurality of connectors of the second connector assembly.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein restricting the fluid flow comprises controlling an amount of fluid flow through said one or more connectors with adjustable valves included with one or more of the connectors.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein restricting the fluid flow further comprises controlling the amount of fluid flow with an electronic valve.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein restricting the fluid flow further comprises controlling the amount of fluid flow with a mechanical valve.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein delivering the fluid further comprises thrusting fluid through first fluid conducting conduits that are respectively connected to the first plurality of connectors of the first connector assembly and second fluid conducting conduits that are respectively connected to the second plurality of connectors of the second connector assembly, the first and second fluid conducting conduits support fluid ports for receiving input fluid or output fluid in different directions with respect to one another.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the restricting the fluid flow comprises:

setting the one or more of the first plurality of connectors and the one or more of the second plurality of connectors at an open state and all other connectors at a closed state; and

controlling the thruster to propel fluid flow in either the first direction or the second direction.