Submarine

• US 9,540,084 B2
• Filed: 06/06/2012
• Issued: 01/10/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems GmbH (Thyssenkrupp AG)
• Original Assignee: Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems GmbH (Thyssenkrupp AG)
• Inventors: Brandt, Hendrik, Fischer, Jens
• Primary Examiner(s): Polay, Andrew
• Application Number:
  US14/124,327
• Publication Number:
  US 20140116318A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,679 Days
• Field of Search: 114/312, 114/313, 114/321, 114/322, 114/336, 210/747.6
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 35/32 for collecting pollution from open water
• 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: E02B 15/046 Collection of oil using vessels, i.e. boats, barges
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 20/204 Keeping clear the surface of open water from oil spills

Abstract

A submarine is designed for combating oil when submerged. The submarine includes a snout (14, 36) which is conduit-connected to a conduit leading into the submarine. The snout (14, 36) is part of an oil suction device and/or part of a device for bringing out an oil decomposition substance. The snout (14) may be designed in a rigid manner and be pivotable from a position between a pressure hull (6) of the submarine and an outer hull (10) forming an upper deck (12) of the submarine, into a position outside the outer hull (10). The snout (36) may also be designed in a flexible manner, wherein the snout (36) is fastened in a section adjacent to a free end, on an ROV (40).

Claims

1. A submarine comprising:

a snout which is conduit-connected to a conduit leading into the submarine and a pump, the snout, the pump and the conduit forming an oil suction device sucking away oil into the submarine;

a pressure hull defining an interior space;

an outer hull forming an upper deck of the submarine; and

an oil tank for receiving sucked away oil, the oil tank being in the interior space for submerged travel with the submarine,

wherein the snout is designed in a rigid manner and is pivotable from a position between the pressure hull of the submarine and the outer hull forming the upper deck of the submarine, into a position outside the outer hull.

2. A submarine according to claim 1, further comprising an oil locating device.

3. A submarine according to claim 1, further comprising an oil/water separating device.

4. A submarine according to claim 1, further comprising a decomposition substance stored on the submarine and a device supplying oil decomposition substance comprising the pump, wherein the snout is connectable to the pump, wherein the snout is connectable to the pump for directing the decomposition substance toward oil for combating oil when submerged.

5. A submarine comprising:

a hull comprising a pressure hull defining an interior space and an outer hull forming an upper deck;

a plurality of oil tanks connected to the hull and supported by the hull for submerged travel therewith;

a filling device comprising a pump connected to the hull and supported by the hull for submerged travel therewith and a filling nozzle;

a fluid conduit and snout, the fluid conduit extending into the hull and fluidically connecting the snout to at least one of the oil tanks via the filling nozzle, the fluid conduit being supported by the hull for submerged travel therewith and the snout being supported by the hull for submerged travel therewith, the pump being operatively connected to the fluid conduit for pumping oil; and

a lock for bringing the oil tanks out of the submarine and into an outer environment of the submarine.

6. A submarine according to claim 5, wherein the snout comprises a rigid snout part that is mounted to pivot from a position between the pressure hull and the upper deck into a position outside the outer hull.

7. A submarine according to claim 5, further comprising a remotely operated vehicle, wherein the snout includes a flexible conduit part fastened to the ROV.

8. A submarine according to claim 5, further comprising an oil locating device connected to the hull.

9. A submarine according to claim 5 further comprising an oil/water separating device.

10. A submarine comprising:

a hull comprising a pressure hull defining an interior space and an outer hull forming an upper deck;

an oil suction pump within the pressure hull and connected to the hull and supported by the hull for submerged travel therewith;

an oil storage device connected to the hull and supported by the hull for submerged travel therewith;

a fluid conduit and snout, the fluid conduit extending into the pressure hull and fluidically connecting the snout to the oil storage device, the fluid conduit being supported by the hull for submerged travel therewith and the snout being supported by the hull for submerged travel therewith, the snout, fluid conduit and the pump forming parts of at least one oil suction device;

a plurality of oil tanks within an interior of the pressure hull and supported by the hull for submerged travel therewith;

a filling device comprising a filling nozzle connected to the oil storage device, the filling nozzle being connectable to at least one of the oil tanks to fill the at least one of the oil tanks with oil from the oil storage device; and

a lock for bringing the oil tanks out of the submarine and into an outer environment of the submarine.

11. A submarine according to claim 10, wherein the oil storage device comprises an oil water separating device within the pressure hull and connected to the hull and supported by the hull for submerged travel therewith and an intermediate storage device within the pressure hull and connected to the hull and supported by the hull for submerged travel therewith.

12. A submarine according to claim 10, wherein the snout comprises a rigid snout part that is mounted to pivot from a position between the pressure hull and the upper deck into a position outside the outer hull.