Patent Publication Number: US-8978572-B2

Title: Submarine

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a Section 371 of International Application No. PCT/EP2012/065824, filed Aug. 13, 2012, which was published in the German language on Mar. 14, 2013, under International Publication No. WO 2013/034401 A1 and the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to a submarine. 
     Submarines having a drive which is independent of external air can operate in Arctic waters over a longer period of time below a closed ice sheet. However, with submerged travel below a closed ice sheet, those emergency situations which render it necessary for the crew to leave the submarine have been found to be fatal. In such a situation, the ice sheet or ice layer prevents these persons from getting to above the ice sheet. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Against this background, it is the object of the invention to provide a submarine, which renders it possible for the occupants to exit out of the submarine to above the ice sheet, given submerged travel below a closed ice sheet. 
     This object is achieved by a submarine having a drilling device which is directed upwards and which is arranged in a pressure hull of the submarine. The drilling device comprises a drill which is extendable out of an opening of the pressure hull arranged on the upper deck side, wherein a drilling head of the drill forms a closure body which closes the opening of the pressure hull. Advantageous further developments of this submarine are to be deduced from the dependent claims, the subsequent description as well as the drawing. Hereby, according to the invention, the features specified in the dependent claims in each case per se but also in a suitable combination can further form the solution according to the invention. 
     The basic concept of the invention is to equip the submarine with a drilling device which is directed upwards. With such a drilling device, with submerged travel below a closed ice sheet, it is possible to drill a hole into this from below and particularly advantageously an exit hole for the crew of the submarine. The occupants can leave the submarine through this exit hole, for example in the case of an emergency, and get on top of the ice sheet. For this, the drilling device is positioned on or in the submarine, such that a drill arranged outside the submarine body can be applied on the lower side of the ice sheet and drill through this, when the submarine is located directly below the ice sheet. For creating an exit hole in an ice sheet, the drill is usefully dimensioned such that it can create a drill hole whose cross section or diameter renders it possible for a person to climb through here. Preferably, the drill comprises a drilling head whose diameter corresponds at least to the diameter of an exit opening arranged on the submarine on the upper deck side, or is larger. The drilling head can be similar to the drilling heads used in tunnel advancing machines, and at an essentially plane face side, apart from a centering tip arranged in its center, can comprise a multitude of cutters. Apart from this, drilling heads having a conical tip and which comprise several cutters running from the center of the drilling head to its outer periphery can also be provided. 
     The drilling device can be arranged completely outside a pressure hull of the submarine. Preferably, the drilling device however is arranged in the pressure hull of the submarine and the drill of the drilling device is advantageously extendable out of an opening of the submarine which is on the upper deck side. For this, the drilling device is usefully arranged directly below such an opening of the pressure hull or movable into such a position directly below the opening of the pressure hull. The drill of the drilling device is advantageously directed such that it can be extended, which is to say moved outwards, normally to the opening plane out of the opening. 
     When the drilling device is not in use, the opening formed on the pressure hull is to be closed in a pressure-tight manner. For this, a cover which closes the opening in a pressure-tight manner and which can be pivoted open outwards before the application of the drilling device can be articulated for example on the edge of the opening in the usual manner. However, a design with which the drilling head of the drill forms a closure body closing the opening of the pressure hull is particularly advantageous. Accordingly, the drilling head of the drill is preferably positioned in a manner such that it closes the opening formed on the pressure hull, in a pressure-tight manner when the drilling device is not used. In this context, a design is advantageous, with which the drilling head has a greater diameter compared to a shank of the drill, at whose end the drilling head is arranged, and thus on the drill forms an annular shoulder projecting radially with respect to the shank. The drill can lay with this shoulder on the outer side of the pressure hull on the edge of the opening formed there and thus close the opening in a pressure-tight manner. 
     Preferably, the shank of the drill is arranged in a hollow shaft driven in a rotationally movable manner by a rotatory drive and is coupled for movement with the hollow shaft. Accordingly, a hollow shaft, into which the shank of the drill engages, is preferably arranged in the pressure hull below an opening formed on the pressure hull on the upper deck side. The hollow shaft can directly form the drive shaft of a drive motor or, as is preferably envisaged, can be actively connected via a gear to the drive shaft of a drive motor which is arranged next to the hollow shaft and with which it is preferably the case of an electric motor. The shank of the drill in the hollow shaft is connected to the hollow shaft with a positive fit, at least in the rotation direction of this hollow shaft. 
     The drill can be directly coupled in movement to a rotary drive of the drilling device via its shank. In this case however, it is necessary to displace the drill together with the rotary drive in the direction of the ice sheet to be drilled through, for producing a linear advance movement of the drill. Ideally however, the rotary drive of the drill is arranged in a stationary manner in the pressure hull of the submarine and an advance movement of the drill is possible independently of the rotary drive. For this, the drill is advantageously displaceable in the hollow shaft in its longitudinal direction. This means that the shank of the drill is led in the hollow shaft in a linearly movable manner. Simultaneously however, a rotational movement coupling to the hollow shaft is necessary. For this, at least one slot (groove) which runs parallel to a longitudinal axis of the drill and into which at least one projection formed on the inner side of the hollow shaft or a sliding nut arranged there in a stationary manner engages, can for example be formed on the outer periphery of the shank. Preferably however, two slots which are aligned in the longitudinal direction of the drill and into which in each case a sliding nut arranged on the inner periphery of the hollow shaft in a manner corresponding to the slots of the shank engages, are formed on the outer periphery of the shank in a manner diametrically spaced from one another, for the purpose of a secure torque transmission. With this design, the length of the slot or slots which are formed on the shank determines the possible advance path of the drill. 
     The drill can be subjected to pressure by a pressure medium preferably at a side facing away from the drilling head, for producing an advance movement of the drill out of the pressure hull of the submarine. For this, a telescopic pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder can engage on the end of the shank of the drill facing away from the drilling head. Advantageously however, the drill and the hollow shaft themselves form such a pressure cylinder which can be subjected to a pressure medium. In this case, the hollow shaft usefully forms a part of a pressure chamber of the pressure cylinder. This pressure chamber can preferably be filled with seawater as a pressure medium. This seawater can be pumped from the outer environment of the submarine into the pressure chamber via a conduit leading from the outer environment of the submarine into the pressure chamber. 
     On drilling an exit hole through an ice sheet, the submarine usually bears with its upper side directly on the lower side of the ice sheet. Advantageously, with the submarine according to the invention, deformation bodies are arranged on its outer side on the upper deck side, in order to prevent damage to the submarine on moving the submarine into this position. These deformation bodies form a crumple zone or resilient buffer between the submarine and the ice sheet. Elastic bags filled with seawater and deformable tubular structures can for example be applied as deformation bodies. Moreover, the use of commercially available fenders as deformation bodies is also possible. 
     Movements of the submarine relative to the exit hole should be prevented during the drilling of an exit hole through the ice sheet and during the exit out of the submarine through this exit hole. For this purpose, with the submarine according to the invention, advantageously anchoring devices which can be extended out of the submarine on the upper deck side and are envisaged for anchoring the submarine on the ice sheet are provided. The anchoring devices are arranged on the submarine in a manner spaced from one another in the longitudinal direction of the submarine, preferably on two sides of the opening of the pressure hull, through which the drill is extended, the sides facing diametrically away from one another. They can advantageously each comprise a multitude of tips which on extending the anchoring devices penetrate into the ice sheet and thus fix the submarine on the ice sheet with a positive fit. The anchoring devices are preferably designed in a hydraulically displaceable manner, in order to be able to press the anchoring devices with an as large as possible pressing pressure onto the lower side of the ice sheet. 
     After an exit hole has been drilled into the ice sheet with the drilling device, and the drill has been brought into the submarine again, the submarine is to be moved into such a position, in which it is located directly below the drilled exit hole with an exit opening of the submarine. For this, the submarine can usefully comprise an auxiliary drive, for example in the form of at least one inline thruster. A cover otherwise closing the exit opening is opened when the submarine is located in the position, in which the exit opening of the submarine is below the drilled exit hole. With the submarine according to the invention, further advantageously, an inflatable pressure hose forming an exit channel can be provided on the outside of the exit opening, in order in this situation, to prevent seawater from flowing into the submarine via the exit opening which is now open. This pressure hose before its deployment is firstly folded together in a space-saving manner and is inflated before the opening of the cover of the exit opening, by which it expands in the direction of its middle axis, until, departing from the edge of the exit opening, it extends through the ice sheet until above the ice sheet. In this condition, the pressure hose seals the exit opening with respect to the seawater located on the outer side of the pressure hose. 
     A design of the submarine according to the invention, with which the drill forms an exit lock out of the submarine, is particularly advantageous. The use of the drill as an exit lock is advantageous, inasmuch as the submarine no longer needs to be moved after drilling through the ice sheet for creating an exit hole, since the exit lock for leaving the submarine is already located directly below the exit hole formed in the ice sheet. With the formation of an exit lock, the shank of the drill is designed in a hollow manner and can be closed in a pressure tight manner at its two ends, in each case with a removable closure. Advantageously, the pressure chamber located below the shank can advantageously serve as an access to the shank. For this, this usefully has an access opening which can be closed in a pressure-tight manner with a closure. The inner diameter of the shank of the drill is typically dimensioned such that a person can get into the cavity formed in the shank. Advantageously a climbing aid, for example a preferably telescopic ladder can be arranged in the shank, in order to get to the upper end of the shank of the drill. In an advantageous further development of the design, with which the drill forms an exit lock out of the submarine, the drilling head of the drill advantageously forms an outer cover as an exit lock. Accordingly, the drilling head can be removed from the shank. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention is hereinafter explained in more detail by way of two embodiment examples represented in the drawings. In the drawings are shown: 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic greatly simplified basic sketch, in a sectional view, of a section of a submarine having a drilling device according to a first embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a representation according to  FIG. 1 , having an extended drill of the drilling device; and 
         FIG. 3  is a schematically greatly simplified basic sketch, in a sectional view, of a section of a second submarine having a drilling device according to a second embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The submarine represented in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , as well as the submarine represented in  FIG. 3 , is located in a submerged position below an ice sheet  2 . Both submarines comprise a pressure hull  4 . Deformation bodies  8  are arranged on an upper side of the pressure hull  4  of the submarines, which in each case also forms an upper deck of the submarine concerned. The submarines bear with these deformation bodies  8  on the lower side of the ice sheet  2 , wherein the deformation bodies  8  form a deformable crumple zone between the ice sheet  2  and the submarines. 
     With both submarines, in each case an opening  10  is formed on the upper side of the pressure hull  4 , which is to say on the upper deck side. With the submarine represented in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a drilling device  12 , and with the submarine represented in  FIG. 3  a drilling device  12 ′, is arranged essentially directly below this opening  10 , within the pressure hull  4 . 
     The drilling device  12  of the submarine according to the  FIGS. 1 and 2  comprises a drill  14 , whereas the drilling device  12 ′ of the submarine according to  FIG. 3  comprises a drill  14 ′. As is to be deduced from  FIGS. 1 and 3 , the length of the drills  14  and  14 ′ is selected such that, in each case in a storage position in the pressure hull  4  of the submarine concerned, they extend in a manner aligned normally to the longitudinal extension of the submarine from a keel  16  to its upper deck  6 . 
     The drill  14  as well as the drill  14 ′ in each case comprises a shank  18  and  18 ′, respectively, which is arranged in a hollow shaft  20 . This hollow shaft  20  with the drilling device  12  of the submarine according to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , as well as with the drilling device  12 ′ of the submarine according to  FIG. 3 , is envisaged as a drive shaft for the drill  14  and  14 ′ respectively. 
     With both represented submarines, the hollow shaft  20  is rotatably mounted about a longitudinal axis A within the pressure hull  4  on a support structure  22  normal to the longitudinal extension of the respective submarine by way of two roller bearings  24  and  26 , wherein the roller bearing  24  is designed as a fixed bearing and the roller bearing  26  as a loose bearing. The hollow shafts  20  of both submarines are driven in each case by an electric motor  28 . A toothed ring  30  which is engages with a toothed wheel  34  arranged on a drive shaft  32  of the electric motor  28  is arranged on the outer periphery of the hollow shaft  20 , for movement coupling of the hollow shaft  20  to the electric motor  28 . 
     The shank  18  of the drill  14  of the drilling device  12  of the submarine according to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , as also the shank  18 ′ of the drill  14 ′ of the drilling device  12 ′ of the submarine according to  FIG. 3 , is each connected to the hollow shaft  20  in a rotationally movable manner and is simultaneously linearly displaceable in the direction of the longitudinal axis A. For this, the shanks  18  and  18 ′ at their outer periphery each comprise two slots  36 , which run parallel to the longitudinal axis A and which are arranged on two sides of the shank  18  and  18 ′ respectively, the sides facing diametrically away from one another. A slot nut  38  engages into both slots  36  in each case. The slot nuts  38  are fastened on the inner side of the hollow shafts  20  and create such a positive-fit between the hollow shaft  20  and the shank  18  and  18 ′ arranged thereon, that the shank  18 ,  18 ′ on the one hand is connected to the hollow shaft  20  in a rotationally movable manner, but on the other hand can be displaced relative to the shaft  20 . Three guide bushings  40 , on which the shank  18  and  18 ′ bears in a guided manner are fastened on the inner side of the hollow shaft  20  in its longitudinal direction in a manner spaced from one another, for the rotationally movable as well as linearly displaceable guiding of the shank  18  and  18 ′ in the hollow shaft  20 . 
     Firstly, only the drilling device  12  of the submarine represented in  FIGS. 1 and 2  is hereinafter explained in more detail. 
     With the drill  14  of the drilling device  12 , a drilling head  42  is arranged at the end of the shank  18  which is on the upper deck side. The drilling head  42  is formed by a plane disk  44  on whose face side away from the shank  18  a plurality of cutters  46  are arranged next to one another. Moreover, a centering tip  48  is arranged centrally on the face side of the disk  44  facing away from the shank  18 . 
     The drilling head  42  of the drill  14  forms a closure body for closure of the opening  10  ( FIG. 1 ) which is formed on the pressure hull  4 . Accordingly, the outer diameter of the drilling head  42  corresponds to the inner diameter of the opening  10 . The outer diameter of the drilling head  42  is larger than the outer diameter of the shank  18  of the drill  14 . In this manner, the drilling head  42  forms an annular shoulder which projects radially outwards with respect to the shank  18 . The drilling head  42  with this shoulder, in a storage position of the drill  14  in the pressure hull  4  of the submarine, lies on a bracket bushing  50 , which projects radially inward on the inner periphery of the opening  14 . In this manner, the drill  14  is axially mounted in the pressure hull  4  in its storage position. 
     A hole  52  can be drilled into the ice sheet  2  which is located above the submarine, with the drill  14 , and this hole permits an exit out of the submarine to the upper side of the ice sheet  2  ( FIG. 2 ) for the crew of the submarine. Hereby, the drill  14  with the submarine represented in  FIGS. 1 and 2  forms an exit lock out of the submarine. For this, the shank  18  is designed in a hollow manner and a preferably telescopic ladder  54  is arranged in the cavity of the shank  18 , via which ladder the occupants of the submarine can get to the drilling head  42 , which is removably fastened on the shank  18  and which, after a hole  52  has been drilled into the ice sheet  2  by the drill  14 , is moved into a position permitting an exit through the drilled hole  52 . 
     During the drilling procedure, the end of the shank  18  facing away from the drilling head  42  and which otherwise forms an access into the inside of the shank  18 , is closed by a cover  56  which is pivotably articulated on the end of the shank  18 . The shank  18  and thus the drill  14  are subjected to pressure by a pressure medium at this cover  56 , in order to produce an axial advance of the drill  14  during the drilling procedure. For this, a pressure chamber  58  (not represented true to scale in the drawing) connects to the end of the hollow shaft  20  facing away from the keel  16  of the submarine. Seawater is pumped via a conduit  60  leading from the keel  16  of the submarine into the pressure chamber  58  by way of a pump  60 , for producing an advance movement of the drill  14 . 
     By way of this, the cover  56  is impinged with pressure and the drill  14  is moved in the direction of the ice sheet  2 . The opening  10  which is formed on the pressure hull  4  is then no longer closed in a pressure-tight manner by the drilling head  42  of the drill  14 . In this situation, the hollow shaft  20  is sealed with respect to the shank  8  of the drill  14  by way of a seal  64 , and sealed off with respect to the support structure  22  by way of a seal  66 . 
     The drilling of a hole  52  in an ice sheet  2  and a subsequent exit out of the submarine to above the ice sheet is effected as follows with the submarine according to  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
     First, the submarine is maneuvered to directly below the ice sheet  2 . This can be effected with an auxiliary drive arranged on the keel  16  of the submarine, here in the form of inline thrusters  68 . As soon as the submarine with the deformation bodies  8  bears on the lower side of the ice sheet  2 , it is anchored on the ice sheet  2 . For this, the submarine comprises anchoring devices  70 , which are arranged in indentations  42  formed on the pressure hull  4  on the upper deck side. The anchoring devices  70  comprise an anchoring body  74  which, on its side which points away from the pressure hull  4 , is provided with a multitude of tips  76 . The anchoring bodies  74  of the anchoring devices  70  are mounted in each case on a hydraulic cylinder  78 . The hydraulic cylinders  78  which are preferably connected to a central hydraulic system of the submarine are extended, by which the tips  76  formed on the anchoring bodies  74  press into the lower side of the ice sheet  2 , in order to anchor the submarine on the ice sheet  2 . The submarine is now anchored on the ice sheet  2 . 
     Subsequently, the drilling procedure begins, with which the drill  14  is set into a rotational movement via the hollow shaft  20  driven by the electric motor  28 , and experiences an axial advance in the direction of the ice sheet  2  due to the filling of the pressure chamber  58 . The ice chips, which arise with the drilling procedure and which fall into the opening  10  formed on the pressure hull  4 , are blown into the outer environment of the submarine by way of pressurized air nozzles  80 , which project into the opening  10 , laterally next to the drill  14 . 
     As soon as the drill  14  has completely penetrated the ice sheet  2 , the drill  14  is retracted back again into the pressure hull  4  of the submarine. This is effected by way of pumping the pressure chamber  58  empty. When the pressure chamber  58  is emptied, a closure  82 , which is provided on the pressure chamber  58  and otherwise closes the pressure chamber  58  in a pressure tight manner, is opened. An opening is released due to the opening of the closure  82 , through which opening a person can climb into the pressure chamber  58  and can open the cover  56  closing the lower end of the shank  18 . The drilling head  42  can have already automatically been released from the shank  18  beforehand or it can be opened manually by the person who is located in the pressure chamber  58  and who in the shank  18  climbs up to the drilling head  42  via the ladder  54 . An access to the upper side of the ice sheet  2 , via which the occupants of the submarine can leave the submarine, now exists from the pressure hull  4  of the submarine. 
     With the submarine represented in  FIG. 3 , the drill  14 ′ does not form an exit lock out of the submarine. Although the shank  18 ′ of the drill  14 ′ is designed in a hollow manner for weight reasons, the end of the shank  18 ′ which faces the keel  16  of the submarine is however closed in a fixed manner. 
     With the submarine represented in  FIG. 3 , a drilling head  42 ′ of the drill  14 ′, which is arranged on the end of the shank  18 ′, the end facing away from the keel  16  of the submarine, also forms a closure body for closing the opening  10  which is formed on the pressure hull  4  at the upper deck side. This drilling head  42 ′ also has an outer diameter which corresponds to the inner diameter of the opening  10  and is greater than the outer diameter of the shank  18 ′. The drilling head  42 ′ with a radially outwardly projecting shoulder designed in such a manner also lies on a bracket bushing  50 , which projects radially inward on the inner periphery of the opening  10 . 
     The drilling head  42 ′ is designed in a cone-shaped manner, wherein it tapers in a pointed manner from a large outer diameter, which corresponds to the inner diameter of the opening  10 , in the direction away from the shank  18 ′. Four cutters  84 , which project in the axial direction of the drill  14 ′ and whose shape corresponds essentially to the shape of the main cutters of a common spiral drill, are formed on the side of the drilling head  42 ′ facing away from the shank  18 ′ 
     As with the submarine according to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , with the submarine according to  FIG. 3 , a pressure chamber  58 ′ (not represented true to scale in the drawing) also connects to the end of the hollow shaft  20  which faces the keel  16  of the submarine, the hollow shaft being sealed with respect to the shank  8  of the drill  14  by way of a seal  64  and with respect to the support structure  22  by way of a seal  66 . Seawater is pumped by way of a pump  60  via a conduit  62 ′ leading from the keel  16  of the submarine to the pressure chamber  58  into the pressure chamber  58 ′, for producing an advance movement of the drill  14 ′. 
     The drilling of a hole  52  in an ice sheet  2  and a subsequent exit out of the submarine to above the ice sheet is effected with the submarine according to  FIG. 3  as follows: 
     After it has been maneuvered by way of the inline thrusters  68  up to directly below the ice sheet  2 , the submarine is anchored on the ice sheet  2  with anchoring devices  70 , whose design and arrangement corresponds to that of the submarine according to  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
     The drilling procedure is effected thereafter, with which the drill  14 ′ is set into a rotational movement via the hollow shaft  20  driven by the electric motor  28  and is pressed against the ice sheet  2  by way of filling the pressure chamber  58 ′. The ice chips which arise with the drilling procedure are led away to the outside in the intermediate spaces between the cutters  84  of the drilling head  42 ′, where they are blown into the outer environment of the submarine by way of pressurized air nozzles  80  projecting into the opening  10 , laterally next to the drill  14 . 
     As soon as the drill  14 ′ has completely penetrated through the ice sheet  2 , the drill  14 ′ is retracted again into the pressure hull  4  of the submarine, wherein the drilling head  42 ′ closes the opening  10  of the pressure hull  4  in a pressure-tight manner. The refraction of the drill  14 ′ is effected as the retraction of the drill  14  in the submarine represented in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
     Subsequently, the anchoring bodies  74  of the anchoring devices  70  are retracted so that the submarine can move freely again. The submarine is then maneuvered with the help of the inline thruster  68 , such that an exit opening  86  arranged on the pressure hull  4  on the upper deck side is located directly below an exit hole, which is drilled by the drill  14 ′ into the ice sheet  2 . 
     The exit opening  86 , which is closed by a cover  88  in a pressure-tight manner, is arranged in a recess  90 . The recess  90  has a larger diameter than the cover  88  closing the exit opening  86 . An inflatable pressure hose  92  is mounted in a folded manner on an annular shoulder of the recess  90 , which is formed around the cover in such a manner. This pressure hose is now inflated, by which it expands in the longitudinal direction through the hole drilled into the ice sheet  2 , and projects at the upper side of the ice sheet  2 . The cover  88  is now opened, wherein the pressure hose  92  prevents seawater from being able to get into the submarine via the exit opening  86 . The occupants of the submarine can now exit this to the upper side of the ice sheet  2 .