Controlling buoyancy of an underwater vehicle using a dual-internal-reservoir configuration to enhance efficiency of inflating and deflating an external chamber
원문보기
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
B63G-008/22
G05D-001/02
B63B-021/22
출원번호
US-0018644
(2016-02-08)
등록번호
US-9550554
(2017-01-24)
발명자
/ 주소
Dufour, James Edward
Newville, Brian Kenneth
출원인 / 주소
MRV Systems, LLC
대리인 / 주소
Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
0인용 특허 :
4
초록▼
An underwater vehicle may include a buoyancy control system configured to use a dual-internal-reservoir configuration to enhance efficiency of changing buoyancy of the underwater vehicle. The buoyancy control system may utilize an incompressible fluid (e.g., oil or water) that is transferred between
An underwater vehicle may include a buoyancy control system configured to use a dual-internal-reservoir configuration to enhance efficiency of changing buoyancy of the underwater vehicle. The buoyancy control system may utilize an incompressible fluid (e.g., oil or water) that is transferred between a first internal reservoir and an external chamber to affect buoyancy of the underwater vehicle. In exemplary implementations, a compressible fluid (e.g., air) may be used to inflate or deflate a second internal reservoir. The second internal reservoir may be disposed within the buoyancy control system so that it can act on the first internal reservoir by applying a compressive force or a tensive force on the first internal reservoir, depending on the pressure differences between the two reservoirs.
대표청구항▼
1. Buoyancy control system for an underwater vehicle, configured to change buoyancy of the underwater vehicle, the system comprising: a first reservoir, a volume of the first reservoir being alterable;a first pump configured to transfer a first medium between the first reservoir and an external cham
1. Buoyancy control system for an underwater vehicle, configured to change buoyancy of the underwater vehicle, the system comprising: a first reservoir, a volume of the first reservoir being alterable;a first pump configured to transfer a first medium between the first reservoir and an external chamber, the external chamber being configured and arranged such that a change in volume of the external chamber causes a change in buoyancy of the underwater vehicle;a second reservoir, a volume of the second reservoir being alterable; anda second pump configured to transfer a second medium in and out of the second reservoir;wherein the first reservoir and the second reservoir are disposed such that the second reservoir applies one or both of a compressive force and a tensive force to the first reservoir responsive to a difference between a fluid pressure of the second medium within the second reservoir and a fluid pressure of the first medium within the first reservoir. 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the compressive force applied to the first reservoir by the second reservoir causes the first medium to be transferred from the first reservoir to the external chamber. 3. The system of claim 1, wherein the compressive force applied to the first reservoir by the second reservoir assists the first pump in transferring the first medium from the first reservoir to the external chamber. 4. The system of claim 1, wherein a total combined volume of the first reservoir and the external chamber is conserved. 5. The system of claim 4, wherein the first medium occupies the total combined volume of the first reservoir and the external chamber. 6. The system of claim 1, wherein the first reservoir and the second reservoir form a singular element with the first reservoir and the second reservoir being separated by a membrane. 7. The system of claim 1, wherein the first reservoir and the second reservoir are separated by a plunger such that a positive change in volume of the first reservoir causes a negative change in volume of the second reservoir, and a negative change in volume of the first reservoir causes a positive change in volume of the second reservoir. 8. The system of claim 1, wherein the first reservoir and the second reservoir are configured such that a positive change in volume of the first reservoir causes a negative change in volume of the second reservoir, and a negative change in volume of the first reservoir causes a positive change in volume of the second reservoir. 9. The system of claim 1, wherein the first reservoir collapses responsive to the second reservoir expanding, and the first reservoir expands responsive to the second reservoir collapsing. 10. The system of claim 1, wherein the first medium is more viscous than the second medium. 11. The system of claim 1, wherein the first medium is less compressible than the second medium. 12. The system of claim 1, further comprising a bypass conduit with a bypass valve configured to circumvent the first pump so that the first reservoir is in direct fluid communication with the external chamber via the bypass conduit when the bypass valve is open. 13. The system of claim 1, further comprising a sensor configured to provide a flow signal conveying information associated with a flow of the first medium between the first reservoir and the external chamber. 14. An underwater vehicle comprising: buoyancy control system comprising: a first reservoir having an alterable volume, a first medium being transferrable between the first reservoir and an external chamber, the external chamber being configured and arranged such that a change in volume of the external chamber causes a change in total water displacement of the underwater vehicle, the change in total water displacement resulting in a corresponding change in buoyancy of the underwater vehicle;a second reservoir having an alterable volume, a second medium being transferable into and out of the second reservoir, wherein the first reservoir and the second reservoir are disposed such that the second reservoir applies a compressive force to the first reservoir responsive to a fluid pressure of the second medium within the second reservoir exceeding a fluid pressure of the first medium within the first reservoir; anda sensor configured to provide a flow signal conveying information associated with a flow of the first medium between the first reservoir and the external chamber; andone or more processors configured to execute computer program instructions, the computer program instructions comprising: a buoyancy control component configured to control the transfer of the second medium into and out of the second reservoir based on the flow signal. 15. The underwater vehicle of claim 14, wherein the first reservoir and the second reservoir are mechanically coupled such that the second reservoir applies a tensive force to the first reservoir responsive to the fluid pressure of the first medium within the first reservoir exceeding the fluid pressure of the second medium within the second reservoir. 16. A processor-implemented method for controlling buoyancy of an underwater vehicle, the method being performed by one or more processors configured to execute computer program instructions, the method comprising: receiving a flow signal conveying information associated with a flow of a first medium between a first reservoir and an external chamber, the first reservoir having an alterable volume, the external chamber being configured and arranged such that a change in volume of the external chamber causes a change in buoyancy of the underwater vehicle;in order to increase the buoyancy of the underwater vehicle: controlling, using one or more processors, a transfer of a second medium into a second reservoir based on the flow signal, the second reservoir having an alterable volume, wherein the first reservoir and the second reservoir are disposed such that the second reservoir applies one or both of a compressive force and a tensive force to the first reservoir responsive to a difference between a fluid pressure of the second medium within the second reservoir and a fluid pressure of the first medium within the first reservoir; andin order to decrease the buoyancy of the underwater vehicle: controlling, using one or more processors, a transfer of the second medium out of the second reservoir based on the flow signal, wherein the first reservoir and the second reservoir are mechanically coupled such that the second reservoir applies one or both of a compressive force and a tensive force to the first reservoir responsive to a second difference between the fluid pressure of the first medium within the first reservoir and the fluid pressure of the second medium within the second reservoir. 17. The method of claim 16, wherein the compressive force applied to the first reservoir by the second reservoir causes the first medium to be transferred from the first reservoir to the external chamber. 18. The method of claim 16, wherein the compressive force applied to the first reservoir by the second reservoir assists a first pump in transferring the first medium from the first reservoir to the external chamber. 19. The method of claim 16, wherein the tensive force applied to the first reservoir by the second reservoir causes the first medium to be transferred from external chamber to the first reservoir. 20. The method of claim 16, wherein the tensive force applied to the first reservoir by the second reservoir assists a first pump in transferring the first medium from the external chamber to the first reservoir.
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