Submersible Vessels
A submarine has a pressure hull 20 which includes a number of adjoining transparent viewing sections 21 and 22 in the shape of truncated spheres. The sections 21 and 22 are clamped to a body section 23, 24 by a cage 40 and tension rods 44 which pass slidably through a thrust ring 38 interposed between the transparent sections. Access to a passenger compartment within the pressure hull is obtained via a hatch 32 in a mid section 23. The pressure hull is housed in an external hull designed for surface cruising. Ballast tanks are formed between pressure hull and the external hull, and the tie rods pass through low pressure seals to pivotal anchorage points within the ballast tanks.
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This invention relates to submersible vessels such as (without prejudice to the generality) submarines.
BACKGROUNDIt has long been known that hollow submersible bodies of spherical shape are capable of withstanding approximately twice the external pressure of a substantially cylindrical body of comparable diameter and wall thickness. Submersible vessels having pressure hulls formed from a number of interconnected sections in the form of truncated spheres are already known, as disclosed for example in GB 279 483, GB 2 223 716 A and U.S. Pat. No. 5,477,798.
In submersible vessels, windows or viewports may also be formed with a part-spherical shape for strength. A common material used in the manufacture of such viewports is acrylic plastics, since this has a refractive index close to that of seawater and therefore minimises visual distortion. However, the viewport mounting must be capable of maintaining an effective seal over a wide range of external pressures and operating temperatures.
In a known form of mounting for part-spherical viewports, a radial face of the viewport surrounding a circular opening is seated against a part-conical surface with provision of suitable seals. The viewport is held in position by a clamping ring which holds a peripheral edge of the viewport against the part-conical seat. Such arrangements may be used to effectively secure viewports of substantial size.
In general, increasing the angle of the opening reduces the range of hydrostatic pressures which the mounting can handle. On the other hand, reducing the angle of the opening restricts the internal space. In pressure hulls which include a viewing area formed from a number of adjoining part-spherical transparent sections this would place a restriction on the size of the internal compartment.
The present invention seeks to provide a new and inventive form of submersible vessel having a number of adjacent part-spherical transparent sections in which the size of the internal compartment is maximised whilst maintaining an effective seal throughout a wide range of external pressures.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention provides a submersible vessel having a pressure hull which includes:
-
- a body section,
- a substantially transparent part-spherical end section having a single opening, and
- at least one substantially transparent part-spherical intermediate section having a pair of openings and being disposed between the end section and the body section such that the said sections provide a common internal compartment;
- characterised by
- a cage partially surrounding the end section;
- and
- a plurality of tension elements connecting the cage to the body section, disposed externally of the intermediate section or sections.
The cage preferably comprises a tension ring and a plurality of anchoring members projecting from the tension ring and each connected with a respective tension element.
In a preferred arrangement a thrust member is interposed between adjacent transparent sections, and the tension elements pass slidably through the thrust member. The thrust member may thus locate the tension elements whilst balancing the sealing pressures on opposite sides of the thrust member.
The following description and the accompanying drawings referred to therein are included by way of non-limiting example in order to illustrate how the invention may be put into practice. In the drawings:
The external hull 10 contains an internal pressure hull 20, shown in
A space is formed between the body section 23, 24 of the pressure hull and the external hull 10, containing one or more enclosed ballast tanks which are part-flooded to control the diving depth. The transparent sections 21 and 22 of the pressure hull are disposed behind the bow window 18 so that the external environment is clearly visible to people in the passenger compartment. The intervening space between the sections 21, 22 and the window 18 may be flooded to reduce pressure forces on the window 18 during dives.
Returning to
The cage 40 and tension rods 44 clamp the transparent sections 21 and 22 to the mid section 23. Eight tension rods are provided in the present embodiment. However four of the rods are disposed at the upper region of the transparent sections 21 and 22 and four are disposed at the lower region. The rods 44 do not therefore impede the side view from the passenger compartment but the balanced arrangement enables the cage 40 to apply even clamping pressure to the transparent sections. It will also be noted that a base platform 48 projects forwardly from the mid section 23 below the transparent sections 21 and 22, which supports the transparent sections during assembly and maintenance of the pressure hull.
The thrust ring 38 is provided with outwardly-projecting flanges 49 through which the tension rods 44 are slidably inserted to ensure accurate circumferential and radial location of the rods.
During a dive the hydrostatic pressures on the external faces of the transparent sections are resisted by the cage 40 and tension rods 44 so that the radial faces 50 are held against the part-conical seats 51. Since the thrust ring 38 is slidably located on the tension rods 44 the compression forces are equally divided between the three seats 51. As the external pressure increases the faces 50 may eventually slide radially inwards on the seats 51 but as long as the O-rings remain compressed an effective pressure seal is maintained.
In larger vessels which are intended to accommodate a larger number of passengers the pressure hull may include two or more intermediate sections 22 with a similar thrust ring 38 interposed between each adjacent pair of sections.
With the arrangement described the size of the passenger compartment is maximised whilst maintaining effective seals over a wider range of external hydrostatic pressures. The high pressures to which the seals may be subjected during a dive remain substantially balanced throughout the intended operating range.
It will be appreciated that the features disclosed herein may be present in any feasible combination. Whilst the above description lays emphasis on those areas which, in combination, are believed to be new, protection is claimed for any inventive combination of the features disclosed herein.
Claims
1. A submersible vessel having a pressure hull which includes:
- a body section (23, 24),
- a substantially transparent part-spherical end section (21) having a single opening, and
- at least one substantially transparent part-spherical intermediate section (22) having a pair of openings and being disposed between the end section (21) and the body section (23, 24), the transparent sections forming part of a common passenger compartment (30);
- characterised by a cage (40) partially surrounding the end section (21), and
- a plurality of tension elements (44) connecting the cage to the body section (23, 24), disposed externally of the intermediate section or sections (22).
2. A submersible vessel according to claim 1 in which the cage (40) comprises a tension ring (41) and a plurality of anchoring elements (42) projecting from the tension ring for connection with a respective tension element (44).
3. A submersible vessel according to claim 2 in which the tension elements (44) are pivotally connected with the anchoring elements (42).
4. A submersible vessel according to claim 1 in which a thrust member (38) is interposed between the end section (21) and the adjacent intermediate section (22).
5. A submersible vessel according to claim 4 in which the tension elements (44) pass slidably through the thrust member (38).
6. A submersible vessel according to claim 1 in which the tension elements (44) are anchored to the body section (23, 24).
7. A submersible vessel according to claim 6 in which the tension elements (44) are anchored to the body section (23, 24) by pivotal connections.
8. A submersible vessel according to claim 1 in which the body section (23, 24) of the pressure hull is provided with external ballast tanks.
9. A submersible vessel according to claim 8 in which the tension elements (44) extend sealably (47) into the ballast tanks.
10. A submersible vessel according to claim 1 in which the tension elements (44) are arranged in two groups disposed at top and bottom regions of the transparent sections (21, 22).
11. A submersible vessel according to claim 10 in which both groups have the same number of tension elements (44).
Type: Application
Filed: May 26, 2009
Publication Date: Sep 17, 2009
Applicant: ALICIA SUBMARINES, LLC (Sonoita, AZ)
Inventor: Paul P. Moorhouse (Plymouth)
Application Number: 12/472,308
International Classification: B63G 8/00 (20060101); B63G 8/22 (20060101);