JP7012932B2 - Hydrostatic shells, underwater equipment, and submersibles - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a water pressure-resistant shell body, an underwater device, and a diving vessel. Regarding equipment and submarines.

Various underwater vehicles such as remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) and autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) controlled by operators from the water in seafloor surveys of marine resources and seafloor resources, and surveys of underwater remains of submerged vessels. Is used. The underwater equipment is formed by a pressure vessel having a hemispherical dome portion on the front end in a cylindrical shape so as to withstand the water pressure during navigation (see, for example, Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2).

In these underwater equipment, in order to dive deeply, equipment such as control devices, electrical components, video equipment (cameras, etc.) are accommodated, and the resistance of the water pressure-resistant shell that forms a pressure vessel that protects from the outside water pressure. It is necessary to increase the performance of water pressure, but since the wall thickness (plate thickness) of the water pressure resistant shell is formed uniformly, increasing this wall thickness will increase the weight, and underwater equipment to ensure buoyancy. In addition, there is a problem that it becomes difficult to secure the water pressure resistant performance.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2002-145187 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2009-227269

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a hydraulic shell body, an underwater device, and a submersible that can withstand a large water pressure while being lightweight.

The water-resistant shell body of the present invention for achieving the above object has a longitudinal direction, and in a water-resistant shell body to be submerged, a thin portion having a thin wall thickness in the longitudinal direction of the water-resistant shell body. It is configured by alternately arranging thick thick portions, and has an intermediate member formed of a rotating body, and both inner and outer sides of the intermediate member are uneven surfaces. Each of the thick portions is characterized by having a convex portion protruding inward of the intermediate member and a convex portion protruding outward of the intermediate member from the thin wall portion .

According to this configuration, it is experimentally found that the water pressure resistant performance is larger than that of the water pressure resistant shell having the average wall thickness (average plate thickness) when the thin and thick parts are alternately arranged. Since it has been confirmed, it can be made lighter than the pressure-resistant shell of average wall thickness having the same water pressure resistance performance. In addition, it is preferable that this thin-walled portion is formed into a thin-walled portion by cutting.

Further, in the above-mentioned hydraulic pressure-resistant shell body, regarding the longitudinal direction of the hydraulic pressure-resistant shell body, it is said that the thin-walled portion and the thick-walled portion each have two or more, except for the connection portion in the hydraulic pressure-resistant shell body. When there is a connection part such as a flange, this configuration produces the effect of water pressure resistance.

Further, the hydraulic shell body is configured to have an intermediate member formed of a rotating body, the inside of the intermediate member is a continuous surface without unevenness, and the outside of the intermediate member is uneven. If it is composed of an existing surface, the inside is a continuous surface without unevenness, so that various devices can be smoothly accommodated inside the intermediate member. This configuration is suitable when the penstock does not navigate underwater or when the speed is low even when it navigates underwater. The rotating body is usually used because it is easy to manufacture a cylinder, but it may be a truncated cone or other rotating body.

Further, in the above-mentioned penstock-resistant shell body, the intermediate member is formed of a rotating body, the outside of the intermediate member is a continuous surface without unevenness, and the inside of the intermediate member is uneven. If it is composed of existing surfaces, the outer surface is a continuous surface without unevenness, so when this penstock is navigating, the generation of eddy currents on the outer side can be suppressed and resistance during navigation is reduced. It is possible to prevent deterioration of propulsion performance. This configuration is suitable when the penstock is navigating in water at a relatively high speed.

In addition, from the aspect of accommodating the inner device and the surface of resistance of underwater navigation on the outer side, the outer side and the inner side of the intermediate member may be composed of uneven surfaces.

Further, the hydraulic shell body is configured to have an intermediate member formed of a rotating body, and in the intermediate member, the total length of the thin-walled portion is 25% to 90% of the total length of the thick-walled portion. %, More preferably 35% to 80%, the weight can be reduced in a state where the water pressure resistance performance is improved and the weight is well-balanced.

Further, in the above-mentioned penstock-resistant shell body, in the intermediate member, the minimum thickness of the thin-walled portion is configured to be in the range of 40% to 90%, more preferably 45% to 80% of the maximum thickness of the thick-walled portion. If this is done, the water pressure resistance can be improved and the weight can be reduced in a well-balanced state.

The underwater device of the present invention for achieving the above object is provided with the above-mentioned water-resistant shell body. With this configuration, the same effect as the above-mentioned hydraulic shell body can be exhibited.

Further, in the above-mentioned underwater equipment, if the external arrangement member attached to the outside of the intermediate member is attached to the outer surface of the thick portion, the water pressure resistance is maintained even when the external arrangement member is attached. It will be easier.

The submersible of the present invention for achieving the above object is provided with the above-mentioned water-resistant shell body. With this configuration, the same effect as the above-mentioned hydraulic shell body can be exhibited.

According to the water pressure resistant shell body, the underwater equipment, and the submersible of the present invention, it is possible to withstand a large water pressure while being lightweight.

It is a front view schematically showing the structure of the penstock resistant shell body of 1st Embodiment which concerns on this invention. It is a front view schematically showing the structure of the penstock resistant shell body of the 2nd Embodiment which concerns on this invention. It is a front view schematically showing the structure of the penstock resistant shell body of the 3rd Embodiment which concerns on this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows typically the attachment state of the external arrangement member (connector). It is a side view which shows typically the structure of the underwater device of embodiment which concerns on this invention. It is a top view schematically showing the structure of the underwater equipment of FIG. It is a front view schematically showing the structure of the underwater equipment of FIG.

Hereinafter, the penstock, the underwater device, and the submersible according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The underwater device of the embodiment of the present invention and the submersible of the embodiment of the present invention are configured to include the penstock-resistant shell body of the embodiment of the present invention.

In the present invention, an underwater device and a submersible are exemplified as a structure provided with a water pressure resistant shell, but it is not particularly necessary to distinguish between the two, and a submerged body that requires water pressure resistant performance. A submerged body that is unmanned, relatively small, or does not have a propulsion function is used as an underwater device, and conversely, it is manned or relatively large. Or, a submersible body that has a propulsion function is used as a submersible. Further, although the underwater vehicle is described here as an example of the underwater vehicle, the present invention is not limited to the illustrated underwater vehicle.

First, an underwater device provided with a penstock-resistant shell body according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described by taking an underwater vehicle as an example. As shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, the underwater vehicle (underwater device) 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention is an underwater device that navigates underwater such as a sea area, a lake area, or a river, and has three units. The propeller propellers 11, 12, and 13 are arranged and configured toward the longitudinal direction X of the machine body 10. Further, the vertical thruster 14 is provided in the vertical direction Z, in the center of the machine body 10 in the left-right direction Y, and on the rear side of the machine body 10 in the longitudinal direction X. Further, three fins 21 are provided behind the propeller propellers 11, 12, and 13, respectively, at the rear of the machine body 10. A camera 22 is provided in the front portion, and a lower buoyancy body 23 is provided in the lower part of the front side portion of the machine body 10, and an upper buoyancy body 24 is provided in a range of about half of the machine body 10 in the longitudinal direction X.

Then, in the present invention, the body 10 is the hydraulic pressure-resistant shell body (hydraulic pressure-resistant shell structure) 30A of the first embodiment as shown in FIG. 1, or the second body as shown in FIG. It is composed of the water pressure resistant shell body 30B of the embodiment or the water pressure resistant shell body 30C of the third embodiment as shown in FIG.

The hydraulic pressure-resistant shell bodies (hydraulic pressure-resistant shell structures) 30A, 30B, and 30C of the first to third embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 are composed of a front member 31, an intermediate member 32, and a rear member 33. Has been done. When the underwater vehicle 1 descends to a deep depth, the front member 31 and the rear member 33 are usually formed of a hemisphere in which the performance of water pressure resistance can be easily obtained, but the rear member is formed. With respect to 33, since it is necessary to arrange the propeller propulsion units 11, 12, and 13, the configuration may be a combination of a truncated cone and a hemisphere. In the present invention, the shapes of the front member 31 and the rear member 33 are not particularly limited.

On the other hand, the intermediate member 32 has a shape such as a cylinder or a truncated cone, which is easy to obtain water pressure resistant performance and is relatively easy to manufacture, but may be another rotating body. Then, the front member 31 and the rear member 33 are connected to the intermediate member 32 by welding or the like, and the penstocks 30A, 30B, and 30C are formed. The penstock 30A, 30B, and 30C as a whole have an elongated shape in the front-rear direction (X direction), that is, a shape having a longitudinal direction. Further, the penstock resistant shells 30A, 30B, and 30C are configured to have an intermediate member 32 formed of a rotating body.

Then, in the present invention, in the submerged water pressure resistant shell bodies 30A, 30B, 30C, a thin portion having a thin wall thickness (plate thickness) in the longitudinal direction (X direction) of the water pressure resistant shell bodies 30A, 30B, 30C. The 32a and the thick portion 32b having a thick wall thickness are alternately arranged and configured. That is, the thick ring-shaped portion and the thin-walled ring-shaped portion are alternately continuous.

More specifically, when the front member 31 and the intermediate member 32 are connected, or the intermediate member 32 and the rear member 33 are connected by a flange (not shown) or the like, or some intermediate members 32 are connected in the longitudinal direction. In some cases, the members are divided into members and connected by a flange (not shown), but in these cases, the thin-walled portion 32a and the thick-walled portion 32a are connected except for the connecting portion (the portion such as the flange) in the penstock-resistant shell body. It is configured to have two or more portions 32b, respectively. With this configuration, the effect of alternating arrangement of the thin-walled portion 32a and the thick-walled portion 32b is generated.

According to this configuration, it is possible to have a larger water pressure resistance performance than the water pressure resistant shell having an average wall thickness when the thin wall portions 32a and the thick wall portions 32b are alternately arranged. This has been confirmed experimentally. Therefore, the weight can be reduced as compared with the water pressure resistant shell having the same water pressure resistance and the average wall thickness.

In the alternating arrangement of the thin-walled portion 32a and the thick-walled portion 32b, it is preferable that the thin-walled portion 32a is formed by cutting by cutting. The optimum material for the penstocks 30A, 30B, and 30C is an aluminum alloy, which is a metal that can be machined and has a relatively light weight, but other metals, synthetic resins, and the like are the most suitable. It does not exclude FRP and the like.

Further, in the penstock 30A of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1, both the outside and the inside of the intermediate member 32 are composed of uneven surfaces. Compared to the penstocks 30B and 30C of the second and third embodiments, the penstock 30A of the first embodiment has outer and inner surfaces that require cutting. Since it is double-sided, it has poor workability and has little merit, but it may be adopted from the viewpoint of accommodating inner equipment and outer resistance during underwater navigation.

Further, in the penstock 30B of the second embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the inside of the intermediate member 32 is composed of a continuous surface without unevenness, and the outside of the intermediate member 32 is composed of an uneven surface. .. According to this configuration, since the outer surface is an uneven surface, it is easy to form a thin-walled portion 32a by cutting, and the workability is excellent, and the inner surface is a continuous surface without unevenness. Various devices can be smoothly accommodated inside the intermediate member 32. This configuration is suitable when the penstock 30B does not navigate underwater or when the speed is low even when it navigates underwater.

Further, in the penstock 30C of the third embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the outside of the intermediate member 32 is composed of a continuous surface without unevenness, and the inside of the intermediate member 32 is composed of an uneven surface. .. According to this configuration, since the outside is a continuous surface without unevenness, when the penstock 30C is navigating, the generation of eddy current on the outside can be suppressed and the resistance at the time of navigating can be reduced. , It is possible to prevent deterioration of propulsion performance. This configuration is suitable when the underwater vehicle 1 navigates underwater at a relatively high speed.

Further, when the outer surface has an uneven shape as in the water pressure resistant shell bodies 30A and 30B of the first and second embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, it is involved in the water pressure resistant performance. It is also possible to cover the outside of the penstocks 30A and 30B with a cover body (not shown) for reducing the navigation resistance to maintain the navigation performance.

More specifically, in the intermediate members 32 of the penstocks 30A, 30B, and 30C, the total length of the thin portion 32a (ΣLai: i = 1 to I) is the total length of the thick portion 32b (ΣLbj: j =). It is preferably composed of 25% to 90%, more preferably 35% to 80% of 1 to J), and this configuration can improve the water pressure resistance and reduce the weight in a well-balanced state. can.

Further, in the intermediate member 32, the minimum thickness (minimum plate thickness) ta of the thin portion 32a is preferably within the range of 45% to 80% of the maximum thickness (maximum plate thickness) tb of the thick portion 32b. It is preferable to have the thickness of the above, and this configuration can improve the water pressure resistance and reduce the weight in a well-balanced state.

Further, as shown in FIG. 4, when the external arrangement member 40 such as a connector is attached to the outside of the intermediate member 32, it is preferable to attach the external arrangement member 40 to the outer surface 32bf of the thick portion 32b. At the time of this attachment, the outer surface 32bf of the thick portion 32b is machined into a surface shape that matches the attachment surface of the external arrangement member 40 by cutting or the like so that the external arrangement member 40 is brought into close contact with the thick portion 32b. Can be firmly fixed. By making the outer surface 32bf of the thick portion 32b thicker than the thickness of the thick portion 32b and processing it into a flat surface or the like, it is possible to prevent deterioration of the water pressure resistance performance as compared with processing the thin portion 32a. be able to.

Further, when fixing the external arrangement member 40 such as this connector, the harness 42 such as the power line for the propulsion device and various signal lines is attached from the cable 41 connected to the external arrangement member 40 to the penstocks 30A and 30B. Since it is often introduced inside the 30C, it is preferable to use the sealing member 43 as needed, and the sealing member 43 can obtain high sealing performance in the fixed portion.

According to the water pressure resistant shell bodies 30A, 30B, 30C of the first to third embodiments of the above configuration, it is possible to withstand a large water pressure while being lightweight.

The underwater vehicle (underwater equipment) 1 of the embodiment according to the present invention is provided with the above-mentioned hydraulic pressure-resistant shell bodies 30A, 30B, and 30C. Further, the submersible (not shown) according to the embodiment of the present invention is configured to include the hydrostatic shell bodies 30A, 30B, 30C according to the first to third embodiments according to the present invention. .. With these configurations, the same effects as those of the penstocks 30A, 30B, and 30C can be exhibited.

1 Underwater vehicle (underwater equipment)
10 Aircraft 11 1st propeller propeller 12 2nd propeller propeller 13 3rd propeller propeller 14 Vertical thruster 21 Fin 22 Camera 23 Lower buoyancy body 24 Upper buoyancy body 30A, 30B, 30C Water pressure resistant shell structure (water pressure resistant shell structure) )
31 Front member 32 Intermediate member 32a Thin-walled part 32b Thick-walled part 33 Rear member 40 External placement member (connector, etc.)
Lai Thin-walled part length (i = 1 to I)
ΣLai Overall length of thin-walled part (i = 1 to I)
Lbj Length of thick portion 32b (j = 1 to J)
ΣLbj Overall length of thick part (j = 1 to J)
ta Minimum thickness of thin part tb Maximum thickness of thick part

Claims (6)

In a penstock that has a longitudinal direction and is submerged in water
It is configured by alternately arranging thin-walled parts with a thin wall thickness and thick-walled parts with a thick wall thickness in the longitudinal direction of the penstock-resistant shell body, and has an intermediate member formed of a rotating body. At the same time, both the inner and outer sides of the intermediate member are formed of uneven surfaces, and each of the thick portions has a convex portion protruding inward of the intermediate member from the thin portion and an outer side of the intermediate member. A penstock resistant shell body characterized by having a convex portion protruding from the surface . The hydraulic shell body according to claim 1, wherein in the intermediate member, the total length of the thick portion is 25% to 90% of the total length of the thin portion. The hydraulic shell according to claim 1 or 2, wherein in the intermediate member, the minimum thickness of the thin portion is formed in the range of 40% to 90% of the maximum thickness of the thick portion of the intermediate member. body. An underwater device comprising the hydraulic shell body according to any one of claims 1 to 3. The underwater device according to claim 4, wherein the externally arranged member attached to the outside of the penstock is attached to the outer surface of the thick portion. A submersible characterized by being provided with the hydrostatic shell body according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

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