U.S. patent application number 09/760762 was filed with the patent office on 2002-07-18 for modularized unmanned marine surface vehicle.
This patent application is currently assigned to Strong Engineering Consulting Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Ku, Bih-Yuan.
Application Number | 20020092458 09/760762 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 25060111 |
Filed Date | 2002-07-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020092458 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ku, Bih-Yuan |
July 18, 2002 |
MODULARIZED UNMANNED MARINE SURFACE VEHICLE
Abstract
A modularized unmanned marine surface vehicle contains control
section and propulsion section. The control section is composed of
bow section, control cabin, probing module, communication module
and conjunction module. The propulsion section contains an energy
cabin and a power plant cabin. The conjunction module can be
combined with the energy cabin as a complete unmanned marine
surface vehicle. The probing module can be the option of combining
with probing instruments and equipment. The probing module's
possible tasks include obtaining information on the depth of water,
water quality assessment, temperature analysis and even underwater
photography. The propulsion section can be battery-powered,
gasoline-powered or diesel-powered. The propulsion section can be
equipped with a propeller, a water jet or a turbine jet propeller
of high power or low power as the power source assembly. By the
modularized design, the length of the vehicle can be shrunk, for
easy carry and loading. In addition, by the modularized design,
after assembling, the vehicle can be longer to enhance the
stability while sailing. By the different combinations of the
control section and the propulsion section, the combined vehicle
can be an unmanned marine surface vehicle fitting for varies of
probing purposes, functions, sailing circumstances, or different
sailing speeds.
Inventors: |
Ku, Bih-Yuan; (Taipei,
TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Dougherty & Troxell
ONE SKYLINE PLACE
SUITE 1404
5205 LEESBURG PIKE
FALLS CHURCH
VA
22041
US
|
Assignee: |
Strong Engineering Consulting Co.,
Ltd.
|
Family ID: |
25060111 |
Appl. No.: |
09/760762 |
Filed: |
January 17, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
114/312 ;
114/337 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B63B 3/08 20130101; B63B
2211/02 20130101; B63B 2035/006 20130101; B63B 35/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
114/312 ;
114/337 |
International
Class: |
B63G 008/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An unmanned marine surface vehicle, comprising: a propulsion
section which is made up of an energy cabin and a power plant
cabin; a control section which is installed with a bow section,
control cabin and a conjoining module; said conjoining module which
could be joined with said propulsion section to form a single
integrated vehicle.
2. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said conjoining module
has one cover panel connecting at the top of the energy cabin.
3. The vehicle according to claim 2, wherein both sides of the
cover panel extend with wing panels connecting to both sides of the
energy cabin.
4. The vehicle according to claim 3, wherein there is an opening on
the upper surface of the energy cabin and in which there are many
screw holes fitted around the edges; said cover panel fitted with
holes that correspond to the screw holes, so that bolts can be used
to lock the cover panel on the top of the energy cabin.
5. The vehicle according to claim 4, wherein there is a gasket
connected to the surface of the cover panel and the energy cabin
for being fully waterproofed; and said gasket has holes for the
screw bolts, for securing the connection.
6. The vehicle according to claim 5, wherein the wing panel will be
of a three sided triangular shape.
7. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the control section is
connected to a probing module, a control module and a communication
module.
8. The vehicle according to claim 7, wherein the control section is
connected to the GPS antenna/receiver and that it is connected with
the upper section of the control cabin; the communication module
contains a modem and a remote antenna, which are connected.
9. The vehicle according to claim 7, wherein the probing module is
used as an instrument to probe water depth, a water quality
measuring instrument, a temperature taking apparatus or as an
underwater camera; each of the above instruments is water proof and
highly durable.
10. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the energy cabin is
loaded with a battery set and/or gasoline or diesel fuel tank.
11. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein and the power plant
cabin is equipped with a propeller, a water jet or a turbine jet
propeller of high power or low power as the power source assembly.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The above mentioned invention relates to an unmanned marine
surface vehicle, with the capability of offering various optional
measurement modules and a variety of power source assemblies.
[0003] 2. Description of Related Art
[0004] While probing the depths, measuring water temperature, and
assessing water quality in shallow waters, it is necessary to use a
compact remote-controlled unmanned marine surface vehicle. Vehicles
of this type are typically designed as a fixed structure: That is,
a single vehicle that has a single set of measurement instruments
and a single type of propulsion assembly. It has not in the past
been easy to change the measurement module to meet the variety of
purposes. Similarly, there has been no way to change the propulsion
assembly for the different uses. As an example, during downstream
sailing using lower level power sources will allow sustaining
longer sailing duration. When propelling upstream you can use
higher level of power source assembly attain more force. Typically
the hull of the average unmanned marine surface vehicle is fixed,
thus making it less versatile. During propulsion, a long and slim
body has better efficiency of motion, yet lacks the convenience for
quick and easy loading into or onto a compact car for transport.
Conversely, a vehicle designed with a shorter body is useful for
carrying and loading, yet lacks stability while sailing. Thus, to
improve upon the above dilemmas in carrying and loading, while
retaining the qualities of an ideal marine surface vehicle, the
inventor has come up with the following changes, through search and
trial and error testing.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide an marine
surface vehicle which allows users to choose different control
tools to suit the required uses and, at the same time, to have the
option of choosing the desired propulsion section to obtain optimal
combination of mobility and practicality.
[0006] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
modularized unmanned marine surface vehicle, which can keep the
actual size and weight optimal for both carrying and loading.
[0007] The other object of this present invention is to provide a
modularized unmanned marine surface vehicle, which can keep the
total cost minimal. The proposed outlines of the invention include
the added benefit of being able to have several possible
assemblies, or options. So while the uses can be numerous, the
overall cost is kept reasonable.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] The other design features, specifications and
implementations of the invention can be more fully understood by
referring to the following descriptions and accompanying drawings.
They are as follows:
[0009] FIG. 1 is an overview of entire vehicle;
[0010] FIG. 2 is a partial assembly view of vehicle;
[0011] FIG. 3 is a side view of vehicle Detailed description of
Main Body of Vehicle.
[0012] Referring to FIG. 1, 2 and 3, the marine surface vehicle
with its customized options is composed of a control section 10 and
a propulsion section 20. The control section 10 is composed of a
bow section 11 and control cabin 12 with a conjunction module 13.
The upper portion of the control cabin 12 is equipped with a GPS
(Global Positioning System) antenna/receiver 14 and a front cabin
cover 15 that acts as a cover for the cabin. The conjunction module
13 is composed of the cover panel 131 and triangle wing panels 132.
The triangle wing panels 132 are extended downward from the both
sides of the cover panel 131 which is extended from the control
cabin 12. There are several available screw holes 133, on the edges
and on the top of the cover panel 131 equipped with a modem 16
connecting with a modem antenna 161. The propulsion section 20 is
equipped with an energy cabin 21 and a power plant cabin 22. The
energy cabin 21 has an opening 211 and there are numbers of short
bars 212 and screw holes 213 on the edges of the opening. The
opening space of the power plant cabin 22 is equipped with a rear
cabin cover 221. The power source assembly 23 which can house a
propeller or water jet is located in the power plant cabin 22 and
its tail, trails out of the rear of the power plant cabin 22 to aid
in the propulsion. The energy cabin 21 can be loaded with a battery
set and/or gasoline or diesel fuel tank. The power plant cabin 22
can be equipped with a propeller, a water jet or a turbine jet
propeller of high power or low power as the power source assembly.
The rear of the power plant cabin 22 is equipped with a
remote-control antenna 24. A control module and a probing module
are located in the previously mentioned control cabin 12. The
control module is connected with a communication module, which is
composed of the GPS antenna/receiver 14, the modem 16, and the
remote-control antenna 24 to control and adjust the direction via
the information obtained through the probing module. The probing
module's possible tasks include obtaining information on the depth
of water, water quality assessment, temperature measurement,
current analysis, and even underwater photography. The probing
instrument could be located and maneuvered from either the control
section 10 or the outside of the propulsion section 20 to complete
the desired task. The gasket holes 31 correspond to the short bar
212 and screw holes 213 located on the energy cabin 21. The gasket
30 is laid on the top of the energy cabin 21 which is used as the
cover panel 131 of the conjunction module 13. Both of the wing
panels 132 wrap around the energy cabin 21. Through a number of
bolts 134, the cover panel 131 can be fitted on top of the power
plant cabin 22. By using a gasket 30, the cover panel 131 and the
energy cabin 21 could be fully waterproofed. The bow section 11 can
be made by polyurethane foaming material. The empty area within the
control section 10 and the propulsion section 20 can be filled up
with polyurethane foaming material to maintain, or adjust the level
of buoyancy of the vehicle. The lower part on the both sides of the
control section 10 could be equipped with fins to improve vehicle
stability while sailing. The control section 10 and the propulsion
section 20 in the proposed marine surface vehicle are capable of
being broken down into two separate parts to shorten its length,
thus making it convenient for carrying and loading. There can be a
range of various kinds of probing modules to install in the control
section, and as well there are different kinds of power source
assemblies to install depending on the purposes and conditions.
Accordingly the design allows for three kinds of control sections,
and three options for power selection. The results are therefore
nine possible combinations to achieve many desired functions of the
vehicle. Nine vehicles in one, with the owner to choose the
specific purpose for each mission. Modifications or variations may
be easily made without departing from the spirit or technical base
of this invention, which have been described in the above
sections.
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