RU2223887C1 - Underwater vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: underwater shipbuilding; designing underwater vehicles. SUBSTANCE: proposed underwater vehicle has functional modules of compartments and their service lines. Each functional module is enclosed in autonomous case possessing individual buoyancy. All functional modules are interconnected by means of connecting compartment. All cases of all functional modules and connecting compartments form single outer surface of underwater vehicle. EFFECT: unification of functional modules; enhanced maintainability. 1 dwg

Description

 The invention relates to the field of shipbuilding, for example underwater.

 An analysis of the main characteristics of modern high-speed underwater vehicles shows that in a significant number of cases the rationale for creating new types of vehicles was the change in their individual elements - for example, improving power plants, or new types of cargo. For similar reasons, many of the devices during operation were subjected to modifications and upgrades, which required time and money for the necessary processing of the project and production processes.

 Given the long life cycle of the apparatus, it becomes necessary already at the design stage to take into account the possibility of changing external conditions, including not only design and technical, but also production, operational, as well as socio-political circumstances. At the same time, changes can have a different effect on various typical units of the device.

 The division of the hulls of ships and vessels into compartments is well known [1], and in some cases, composite structures of blocks are described. For example, the materials [2] describe the hull of a submarine for offshore hydrocarbon development. The vertical and horizontal blocks of the vessel are divided according to the functional principle. The blocks are connected into a single underwater vehicle by structural transition elements.

 It is proposed to carry out the hull from separate robust hold compartments in a cargo submarine [3]. Loading in compartments of standard containers is provided. The blocks of the cargo compartments are unified by the dimensions of the loaded containers.

 The proposed solutions cannot be solved the urgent tasks of quick replacement, repair or modernization of individual units, as well as the operational transfer of entire functioning units from one underwater vehicle to another. This is impossible primarily because in the above proposals of the composite structure of the buildings, interblock connections are purely mechanical, constructive and do not contain unified communications to ensure all types of interconnection of the blocks with each other. Housing blocks are not separately equipped with equipment, which means they do not become functionally complete modules. In addition, typical blocks for different vessels are not unified at the points of articulation with the transition compartments.

 As a prototype, a submarine for the development of raw materials was considered [2], where the modular structure and functional specialization of the modules are most clearly expressed. The use of this invention ensures that one vessel performs the entire cycle of work on the exploitation of oil and gas deposits on the shelf. The vertical and horizontal blocks of the vessel are interconnected by a set of beams of circular and vertical directions, as well as knits installed in the area where the blocks adjoin the entire area of the transverse bulkheads of horizontal blocks supported on the beams of the internal set of blocks. Nevertheless, this design does not provide for the unification of typical modules for different vessels, and interblock connections do not require multiple disassembly with subsequent assembly to ensure the replacement of individual blocks.

The objectives of the invention are:
- unification of functional modules of compartments for underwater vehicles for various purposes, for which the modules are made in the form of universal autonomous structurally completed units with unified communications and are interconnected by detachable adapter compartments with communications;
- improvement of maintainability and ability to modifications due to the operational replacement of universal functional modules of compartments and their recombination.

 The problem is solved in that in the underwater vehicle containing the functional modules of the compartments and the communication between them, each of the functional modules of the compartments is enclosed in an autonomous enclosure and has individual buoyancy, all the functional modules of the compartments are interconnected by detachable adapter compartments with communications, while all the cases of all functional modules of compartments and transition compartments with communications form a single external surface of the underwater vehicle.

The drawing schematically shows the design of the underwater vehicle, where:
1 - functional module of the cargo compartments;
2 - transition compartment with communications;
3 - functional module inhabited compartments (command, household);
4 - fence sliding devices (cabin);
5 - functional module of energy compartments;
6 - functional module aggregate compartments;
7 - propulsion device.

 The proposed underwater vehicle consists of several functional modules of the compartments, for example, cargo (1), habitable (3), energy (5), aggregate (6), each of which is enclosed in an individual autonomous building.

 Functional modules of compartments (1), (3), (5), (6) are interconnected by transition compartments with communications (2) in such a way that the set of external surfaces of functional modules of compartments and transition compartments with communications (2) forms a single external surface apparatus. At the same time, transitional compartments with communications (2) comprise all the communications necessary for joint operation between the functional modules of the compartments, including mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, information electrical and power electrical, optical, internal transitions.

 Unification of the connections of the transition compartments with the communications (2) of the proposed underwater vehicle allows the autonomous production of individual functional modules of the compartments (1), (3), (5), (6), as well as their quick change during operation. For example, when parking in the port, the module of the cargo compartments (1) is separated for unloading or loading, and its place is occupied by another. In another case, when servicing in the base, the unit to be repaired, for example, the module of modular compartments (6), can be replaced. A faulty module is put up for repair, and its place is occupied by another one, performing the same functions and having unified communications. In the third case, a modernized, for example, module of energy compartments (5) can be prepared in advance to replace the obsolete previous model.

 The solution of these problems is ensured by an integrated approach to the creation of universal functional modules of compartments and unified in composition of the connections of the transition compartments with communications (2). The solution to the problems is achieved by imparting to the functional modules of the compartments the whole complex of properties of autonomous floating means: general ship mechanical systems, communications, traffic control and navigation. Thus, the use of unified transitional compartments with communications (2) and the unification of typical functional modules of compartments for different devices creates the conditions for solving the problem of recombining pre-prepared functional modules of compartments and replacing them quickly when changing various circumstances.

 The use of this principle in shipbuilding, especially in relation to underwater vehicles, opens up unique opportunities for using specialized production areas (workshops, factories) not only in the manufacture of functional modules of compartments (1), (3), (5), (6), but also for their maintenance in the base (floating base). This can significantly accelerate the production and maintenance processes, as well as increase the efficiency of equipment operation due to the operational recombination of underwater vehicles, as well as accelerating their modification and modernization.

Sources of information
1. B. F. Dronov. Submarine Architecture Development Trends, Typhoon Magazine, 2, 2002.

 2. Patent RU 2086457, 6 V 63 V 3/13, 25/00.

 3. Patent RU 02115583, 6 V 63 V 3/13, 63 G 8/00.

Claims (1)

An underwater vehicle containing functional modules of the compartments and communication between them, characterized in that each of the functional modules of the compartments is enclosed in an autonomous housing and has individual buoyancy, all functional modules of the compartments are interconnected by transition compartments with communications, while all the cases of all functional modules of the compartments and transitional compartments with communications form a single external surface of the underwater vehicle.