Unmanned underwater vehicle turbine powered charging system and method
AssigneeHoneywell International Inc.
InventorsPaul T. Wingett, Sharon K. Brault, Calvin C. Potter
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
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.
Claims32
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.