A model submarine has an inherent “fail safe”feature, so that the submarine (if submerged) will rise to its periscope depth in the event the submarine encounters a stationary object, or in the event a power failure occurs. Power is supplied by a single submersible motor-pump unit within a free-flood
A model submarine has an inherent “fail safe”feature, so that the submarine (if submerged) will rise to its periscope depth in the event the submarine encounters a stationary object, or in the event a power failure occurs. Power is supplied by a single submersible motor-pump unit within a free-flooding hull. The motor-pump unit supplies a pressurized water discharge for, first, forward propulsion of the submarine via the discharge nozzle of an ejector pump; and second, for hydraulic control of the diving and steering maneuvers. The ejector pump has a venturi for aspirating fluid out of the ballast tank. An automatic depth control feature assures that the submarine will level off to a desired predetermined depth when a diving command signal is given; and the desired predetermined depth is adjustable. The model submarine simulates its real-life counterpart, may be enjoyed by the sophisticated hobbyist as well as by the novice, and may be manufactured easily and economically (either fully assembled or in the kit form) for widespread marketing and distribution.
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A model submarine comprising a hull provided with a sail and a periscope, the hull having a plurality of apertures formed therein, such that ambient water may enter through the apertures, and such that the interior of the hull is free-flooding, a sealed battery within the hull, a single submersible
A model submarine comprising a hull provided with a sail and a periscope, the hull having a plurality of apertures formed therein, such that ambient water may enter through the apertures, and such that the interior of the hull is free-flooding, a sealed battery within the hull, a single submersible motor-pump unit within the hull and adapted to be energized by the battery, the motor pump-unit having an intake means in communication with the interior of the hull and further having a pressurized discharge means; whereby the motor-pump unit, when energized, continually draws ambient water out of the free-flooding hull, and whereby the ambient water is replenished in the hull through the apertures therein, an ejector pump carried by the hull, the ejector pump having an inlet port connected to the pressurized discharge means of the motor-pump unit and further having a discharge nozzle communicating with the ambient water externally of the hull, such that the continuous discharge of the ambient water out of the hull through the discharge nozzle of the ejector pump facilitates the forward propulsion of the submarine in the water, a ballast tank within the hull, conduit means communicating the ballast tank with the ejector pump and including a vacuum port, whereby when the ejector pump discharges pressurized water through its discharge nozzle and out of the hull, a suction is created in the vacuum port, thereby causing the ejector pump to aspirate fluid out of the ballast tank, a selectively-operable flood control valve means including a first diaphragm actuator for communicating the ballast tank with the interior of the free-flooding hull upon a given command; wherein when the flood control valve means is actuated, water flows into the ballast tank at a faster rate than the rate at which water is aspirated out of the ballast tank by the ejector pump, such that the ballast tank becomes completely filled with ambient water, buoyancy means within the free-flooding hull and adapted to trim the submarine to a slightly positive buoyancy when the ballast tank is fully flooded, such that the submarine is still slightly buoyant and is adapted to partially submerge to a periscope depth just under the surface with only its periscope above the water, articulatable diving planes carried by the submarine externally thereof and adapted to have a neutral position defined by a substantially zero angle of attack, selectively-operable diving actuating means including a second diaphragm actuator communicating with the pressurized discharge of the motor-pump unit for articulating the diving planes to a negative angle of attack to cause the submarine to dive below periscope depth upon another given command, means responsive to ambient water pressure for sensing the depth to which the submarine has submerged, thereby providing a force which increases at greater depths for countering the second diaphragm actuator and causing the diving planes to again assume a substantially neutral position when the desired depth has been obtained, such that the submarine will substantially level off and maintain its submerged depth until a new command is given to the articulatable diving planes, a rudder on the hull, selectively-operable steering control means including a third diaphragm actuator in communication with the pressurized discharge of the motor-pump unit for controlling the rudder upon a further command; each of the first, second and third diaphragm actuators having respective sides; the respective selectively-operable flood control valve means, diving initiating means, and steering control means being adapted to admit pressurized water from the discharge means of the motor-pump unit to one side or the other of the first, second and third diaphragm actuators, respectively, for selectively controlling the submerging, diving and steering of the submarine, respectively; and a receiver means on the submarine for receiving the command signals from a remote transmitter for selectively controlling the flood control valve means, diving initiating means, and steering means, respectively; whereby the submersible motor-pump unit, supplying the pressurized water, constitutes the sole power source for forward propulsion of the submarine, for taking on and discharging water ballast for surfacing, and for diving and steering, respectively; and whereby if the submarine engages an obstruction, or if the motor-pump unit fails, or if the battery becomes discharged while the submarine is fully submerged within the water, the submarine is adapted to automatically rise within the water to its periscope depth, thereby providing a fail-safe feature and enabling the submarine to be retrieved conveniently.
Heinen, Gregory W.; Sastre Cördova, Marcos M., Systems and methods supporting periodic exchange of power supplies in underwater vehicles or other devices.
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