초록 ▼

A charging system for an unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) is disposed within a submerged docking station. The charging system includes a battery, one or more generators, and a charge controller. The battery supplies electrical power to an electrical distribution bus in the docking station. The char

A charging system for an unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) is disposed within a submerged docking station. The charging system includes a battery, one or more generators, and a charge controller. The battery supplies electrical power to an electrical distribution bus in the docking station. The charge controller monitors the charge state of the battery and, when needed, activates one or more of the generators to recharge the battery. The charge controller also activates one or more of the generators when a UUV is docked in the docking station for recharging of its power plant.

대표청구항 ▼

We claim: 1. A charging system for an unmanned underwater vehicle, comprising: an electrical port adapted to electrically couple to an unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV); a fluid-powered turbine adapted to receive a flow of fluid and configured, upon receipt thereof, to rotate; a generator coupled t

We claim: 1. A charging system for an unmanned underwater vehicle, comprising: an electrical port adapted to electrically couple to an unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV); a fluid-powered turbine adapted to receive a flow of fluid and configured, upon receipt thereof, to rotate; a generator coupled to the turbine and configured, upon rotation thereof, to generate electrical power; a battery; and a controller adapted to receive a UUV docking signal that indicates at least that the electrical port is electrically coupled to the UUV and one or more signals representative of at least a state of charge of the battery, the controller operable, in response to the UUV docking signal, to selectively electrically couple the generator to the electrical port, and further operable, in response to the one or more signals representative of at least a state of charge of the battery, to selectively electrically couple the generator to the battery, to thereby recharge the battery to a predetermined state of charge. 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is further responsive to the UUV docking signal to selectively activate and deactivate the generator, whereby the generator generates electrical power and does not generate electrical power, respectively. 3. The system of claim 1, wherein the fluid-powered turbine comprises a Gorlov turbine. 4. The system of claim 1, further comprising: a data transfer module adapted to receive data from the UUV and transfer the received data to data receptor. 5. The system of claim 4, wherein the data transfer module is electrically coupled to receive power from either, or both, the battery or generator. 6. The system of claim 1, further comprising: a UUV docking control module adapted to receive a signal representative of the docking status of the UUV and operable, in response thereto, to supply the UUV docking signal. 7. The system of claim 6, wherein the UUV docking control module is electrically coupled to receive power from either, or both, the battery or the generator. 8. The system of claim 1, further comprising: a secondary generator configured to at least selectively generate electrical power. 9. The system of claim 8, wherein: the secondary generator is further configured to selectively generate electrical power; and wherein the controller is further adapted to receive one or more signals representative of a power delivery capability of the turbine and is further operable, in response thereto, to selectively activate the secondary generator and selectively electrically couple the secondary generator to the battery. 10. The system of claim 8, wherein the controller is further adapted to receive one or more signals representative of a power delivery capability of the turbine and is further operable, in response thereto, to selectively electrically couple the secondary generator to the battery. 11. The charging system of claim 8, wherein the controller is further operable, in response to the UUV docking signal, to supply one or more switch command signals, and wherein the system further comprises: a switch coupled between the electrical port and the secondary generator and moveable between an open position, in which the secondary generator is not electrically coupled to the electrical port, and a closed position, in which the secondary generator is electrically coupled to the electrical port, wherein the switch is further coupled to receive the switch command signals and is operable, in response thereto, to selectively move between the open and closed positions. 12. The charging system of claim 1, wherein the controller is further coupled to receive a signal that indicates a type of rechargeable power source that is on-board the UUV and is further operable, in response thereto, to control a recharge operation of the rechargeable power source based at least in part on the power source type. 13. A docking station for an unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) , comprising: a housing; a UUV docking port disposed within the housing and configured to dock a UUV therein; an electrical port disposed at least partially within the UUV docking port, the electrical port adapted to electrically couple to a docked UUV, a fluid-powered turbine adapted to receive a flow of fluid and configured, upon receipt thereof, to rotate; a generator coupled to the turbine and configured, upon rotation thereof, to generate electrical power; and a controller adapted to receive a UUV docking signal that indicates at least that the electrical port is electrically coupled to the UUV and operable, in response thereto, to selectively electrically couple the generator to the electrical port and to selectively activate and deactivate the generator, whereby the generator generates electrical power and does not generate electrical power, respectively. 14. The UUV docking station of claim 13, further comprising: a sensor adapted to sense at least when a UUV is properly docked in the UUV docking port, and configured to supply a sensor signal representative thereof; a UUV docking controller coupled to receive the signal from the sensor and operable, in response thereto, to supply the UUV docking signal to the controller. 15. The UUV docking station of claim 13, further comprising: a sensor adapted to sense at least when a UUV is properly docked in the UUV docking port, and configured to supply a sensor signal representative thereof to the controller, wherein the sensor signal is the UUV docking signal. 16. The system of claim 13, further comprising: a battery, wherein the controller is further adapted to receive one or more signals representative of at least a state of charge of the battery and is further operable, in response thereto, to selectively electrically couple the generator to the battery, to thereby recharge the battery to a predetermined state of charge. 17. The system of claim 16, further comprising: a UUV docking control module adapted to receive a signal representative of the docking status of the UUV and operable, in response thereto, to supply the UUV docking signal. 18. The system of claim 17, wherein the UUV docking control module is electrically coupled to receive power from either, or both, the battery or the generator. 19. The system of claim 16, further comprising: a secondary generator configured to at least selectively generate electrical power. 20. The system of claim 19, wherein: the secondary generator is further configured to selectively generate electrical power; and wherein the controller is further adapted to receive one or more signals representative of a power delivery capability of the turbine and is further operable, in response thereto, to selectively activate the secondary generator and selectively electrically couple the secondary generator to the battery. 21. The system of claim 19, wherein the controller is further adapted to receive one or more signals representative of a power delivery capability of the turbine and is further operable, in response thereto, to selectively electrically couple the secondary generator to the battery. 22. The charging system of claim 19, wherein the controller is further operable, in response to the UUV docking signal, to supply one or more switch command signals, and wherein the system further comprises: a switch coupled between the electrical port and the secondary generator and moveable between an open position, in which the secondary generator is not electrically coupled to the electrical port, and a closed position, in which the secondary generator is electrically coupled to the electrical port, wherein the switch is further coupled to receive the switch command signals and is operable, in response thereto, to selectively move between the open and closed positions. 23. The system of claim 13, wherein the fluid-powered turbine comprises a Gorlov turbine. 24. The system of claim 13, further comprising: a data transfer module adapted to receive data from the UUV and transfer the received data to data receptor. 25. The system of claim 24, wherein the data transfer module is electrically coupled to receive power from either, or both, the battery or generator. 26. The charging system of claim 13, wherein the controller is further coupled to receive a signal that indicates a type of rechargeable power source that is on-board the UUV and is further operable, in response thereto, to control a recharge operation of the rechargeable power source based at least in part on the power source type. 27. A method of charging a power source in an unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV), comprising the steps of: electrically coupling an electrical port to at least a portion of the UUV power source; activating an electrical generator; electrically coupling the electrical generator to the electrical port, to thereby charge the UUV power source using at least the electrical generator; determining a state of charge of a battery; and based at least in part on the determined state of charge, selectively activating the electrical generator and selectively electrically coupling the electrical generator to the battery, to thereby recharge the battery to a predetermined state of charge. 28. The method of claim 27, further comprising: determining a docking status of the UUV. 29. The method of claim 27, further comprising: transferring data from the UUV while charging the UUV power source. 30. The method of claim 27, wherein the UUV power source is one of a plurality of types of power sources, and wherein the method further comprises: determining the type of rechargeable power source; and charging the UUV power source based at least in part on its type. 31. A docking station for an unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) , comprising: a housing; a UUV docking port disposed within the housing and configured to dock a UUV therein; an electrical port disposed at least partially within the UUV docking port, the electrical port adapted to electrically couple to a docked UUV; a fluid-powered turbine adapted to receive a flow of fluid and configured, upon receipt thereof, to rotate; a generator coupled to the turbine and configured, upon rotation thereof, to generate electrical power; a sensor adapted to sense at least when a UUV is properly docked in the UUV docking port, and configured to supply a sensor signal representative thereof; a UUV docking controller coupled to receive the signal from the sensor and operable, in response thereto, to supply a UUV docking signal that indicates at least that the electrical port is electrically coupled to the UUV; and a controller coupled to receive the UUV docking signal and operable, in response thereto, to selectively electrically couple the generator to the electrical port. 32. A docking station for an unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) , comprising: a housing; a UUV docking port disposed within the housing and configured to dock a UUV therein; an electrical port disposed at least partially within the UUV docking port, the electrical port adapted to electrically couple to a docked UUV; a fluid-powered turbine adapted to receive a flow of fluid and configured, upon receipt thereof, to rotate; a generator coupled to the turbine and configured, upon rotation thereof, to generate electrical power; a sensor adapted to sense at least when a UUV is properly docked in the UUV docking port, and configured to supply a UUV docking signal representative thereof; and a controller coupled to receive the UUV docking signal and operable, in response thereto, to selectively electrically couple the generator to the electrical port.