SYSTEM FOR AUTONOMOUS REFUELING OF UNMANNED VESSELS

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/681,393, filed Aug. 9, 2024, under 35 U.S.C. 119, which is incorporated by reference herein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to autonomous refueling systems and methods between unmanned vessels.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Refueling an unmanned surface vessel (USV) at sea is a unique challenge with no current reliable solutions. The primary difficulty is in the development of a system that can overcome the problem of relative motions between vessels and reliably operate in a variety of sea states. Differing masses, lengths, and other factors may mean that the USV and refueling vessel react to waves very differently in various sea states.

The ability to refuel unmanned vessels at sea with either an autonomous tanker, or a manned vessel can greatly enhance the mission capabilities of a USV and decrease risk to personnel by keeping them out of hostile environments.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An aspect of the disclosure involves a system for autonomous refueling of unmanned vessels comprising a refueling boom configured to extend laterally with respect to a longitudinal axis of one of a fuel supply vessel and an unmanned vessel to be fueled during refueling operations; a boom attachment mechanism at the distal end of the boom and configured to engage a fueling attachment mechanism of an other of the fuel supply vessel and the unmanned vessel to be fueled; and a guide mechanism configured to capture the refueling boom and guide the boom attachment mechanism toward the fueling attachment mechanism.

One or more implementations of the above aspect of the disclosure includes one or more of the following: the boom includes a valve configured to open when the attachment mechanism is under tension, allowing fuel to flow; the refueling boom is padded to prevent damage to at least one of the fuel supply vessel and the unmanned vessel to be fueled; a rotation mechanism to move the boom from a stored longitudinal position to a lateral position for refueling; the boom attachment mechanism includes a hook guide mechanism; the guide mechanism includes a wedge with a wide opening and a closed end that directs the refueling boom and the hook guide mechanism towards the closed end of the wedge upon engagement, ensuring alignment of the boom attachment mechanism toward the fueling attachment mechanism; the boom attachment mechanism includes a ball-shaped coupling; the refueling boom, the boom attachment mechanism, and the guide mechanism are configured to allow towing of the fueling vessel by the unmanned vessel to be fueled or the unmanned vessel to be fueled by the fueling vessel; a shock absorption system operably associated with the boom to allow at least one of vertical articulation and longitudinal extension; the refueling boom is configured to extend perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of one of the fueling vessel and the unmanned vessel to be fueled during refueling operations; the boom attachment mechanism includes an integrated nozzle and the fueling attachment mechanism includes a fuel filler neck configured to matingly receive the integrated nozzle; a method of using the autonomous refueling system, comprising extending the refueling boom laterally with respect to a longitudinal axis of one of a fuel supply vessel and an unmanned vessel to be fueled during refueling operations; engaging the fueling attachment mechanism of an other of the fuel supply vessel and the unmanned vessel to be fueled with the boom attachment mechanism; capturing the refueling boom and guiding the boom attachment mechanism toward the fueling attachment mechanism with the guide mechanism; the boom includes a valve configured to open when the attachment mechanism is under tension, allowing fuel to flow, and the method further comprising opening the valve, allowing fuel to flow, with the attachment mechanism is under tension; a rotation mechanism to move the boom from a stored longitudinal position to a lateral position for refueling, and the method further comprising moving the boom from the stored longitudinal position to the lateral position with the rotation mechanism; the boom attachment mechanism includes a hook guide mechanism, the guide mechanism includes a wedge with a wide opening and a closed end that directs the refueling boom and the hook guide mechanism towards the closed end of the wedge upon engagement, and the method further comprising directing the refueling boom and the hook guide mechanism towards the closed end of the wedge upon engagement with the guide mechanism, ensuring alignment of the boom attachment mechanism toward the fueling attachment mechanism; the refueling boom, the boom attachment mechanism, and the guide mechanism are configured to allow towing of the fueling vessel by the unmanned vessel to be fueled or the unmanned vessel to be fueled by the fueling vessel, and the method further comprising allow towing of the fueling vessel by the unmanned vessel to be fueled or the unmanned vessel to be fueled by the fueling vessel with the refueling boom, the boom attachment mechanism, and the guide mechanism; and/or a shock absorption system operably associated with the boom to allow at least one of vertical articulation and longitudinal extension; and the method further comprising absorbing shock in the boom with the shock absorption system in at least one of vertical articulation and longitudinal extension.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a rear perspective view of an embodiment of an unmanned vessel refueling system in operation;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of an embodiment of a refueling boom and attachment mechanism of the unmanned vessel refueling system;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an embodiment of an attachment guide mechanism on the receiving vessel;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the attachment guide mechanism on the receiving vessel;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the refueling boom in a stored position;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a receiving vessel approaching tanker;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a receiving vessel approaching tanker preparing to engage the refueling boom;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a refueling boom captured by the guide mechanism;

FIG. 9 is a front perspective view of the refueling system in operation;

FIG. 10 is a side elevational view of the refueling system in operation;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of an attachment mechanism.

FIG. 12 shows internal components of an embodiment of a refueling boom system.

FIG. 13 shows an embodiment of the refueling boom system that includes a telescoping shock absorption system.

FIG. 14 shows an embodiment of the refueling boom with an additional layer of external padding.

FIG. 15 shows an embodiment of the refueling boom mounted in an alternative location on a tanker.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

With references to FIGS. 1-15, an embodiment of an unmanned vessel refueling system (RS) 50 will be described. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments of the present invention. It will be evident, however, to one skilled in the art that the embodiments of the present invention may be practiced without certain specific details.

The embodiments of the present invention as described herein are to be considered an exemplification of the invention and are not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments illustrated by the figures or description below. The embodiments of the present invention will now be described by referencing the appended figures representing preferred embodiments.

The unmanned vessel refueling system 50 includes a refueling boom 120 mounted on a tanker vessel 110. A wide variety of vessel types may serve as a tanker such as a surface vessel, semi-submersible vessel or submersible, all of which may be either manned or unmanned. A buoy or fuel bladder may also be used in some embodiments. During refueling operations, the boom 120 is positioned lateral, and preferably perpendicular, to the longitudinal axis of the tanker 110, generally in the same plane as the ocean and above the surface of the water. The refueling boom 120 may be rotated from a stored position (FIG. 5), aligned with the longitudinal axis of the tanker, to a perpendicular position (FIGS. 5, 6, 7, 8), by an actuator 240 or some equivalent system such as a stepper or hydraulic motor. In preferred embodiments, the actuator would attach to a torsion spring 250 (FIG. 12) that allows the refueling boom to have additional range of motion such that it can rotate forward when engaged with the receiving vessel.

At the distal end of the refueling boom 120 is a boom attachment mechanism 130 with an integrated nozzle 140 designed to engage with a corresponding fueling attachment mechanism/fuel filler neck 160 on the receiving USV 100. The engagement process is facilitated by an attachment guide mechanism 150 on the receiving USV 100, which forms a wedge shape with a wide opening tapering to a narrow, closed end. As the receiving vessel approaches alongside the tanker 110, the refueling boom 120 is captured by the wide opening of the attachment guide 150. Forward pressure applied by the guide 150 to the refueling boom 120 causes the boom 120 to rotate forward and directs the boom 120 toward the narrow end of the guide 150, placing the attachment mechanism 130 and nozzle 140 into precise alignment with the fuel filler neck 160 of the USV 100.

After the attachment mechanism 130 is engaged, the tanker vessel 110 is effectively placed under tow (FIG. 10) by the receiving USV 100. The receiving USV 100 maintains tension on the refueling boom 120 by throttling forward to ensure the attachment mechanism 130 and nozzle 140 remain securely fixed in the correct position. In preferred embodiments, placing the attachment mechanism 130 under tension activates a valve 190 (FIG. 12) that allows fuel to flow through the boom 120 and into a tank of the receiving vessel 100.

With reference to FIGS. 12-15, the refueling boom 120 in preferred embodiments is designed to be flexible to absorb shocks and is padded/includes pads 280 to prevent damage to the receiving unmanned vessel 100. Preferred embodiments include shock absorption systems that allow the boom to articulate vertically and extend along its longitudinal axis. Vertical articulation may be accomplished by attaching the boom to a gooseneck 220 with a horizontal pin acting as a pivot point. To maintain a generally horizontal neutral position, a gas strut 230 or similar mechanism may provide vertical support. In preferred embodiments, the boom 120 may absorb longitudinal shocks by dividing the boom 120 into a shock housing sleeve 260 and a telescoping arm 270. When the USV attachment guide 150 pulls on the boom attachment mechanism 130, the telescoping arm 270 pulls against a shock absorbing spring 210 housed inside the sleeve 260, allowing the telescoping arm 270 to extend longitudinally. In this embodiment, the fuel hose 180 may partially run externally from the boom 120 to provide additional length that allows the boom 120 to extend under load.

Preferred embodiments will incorporate a check valve 200 into the fuel hose 180 to prevent sea water from entering.

In an alternative embodiment, the roles of the tanker 110 and receiving USV 100 may be reversed, with the tanker 110 acting as the towing vessel. In this configuration, the attachment mechanism 130 and attachment guide 150 directions must be reversed. The attachment guide location would also need to be moved forward toward the bow.

When not engaged in refueling operations, in preferred embodiments, the attachment guide 150 may be retracted.

The refueling system 50 may be adapted to incorporate a variety of connection designs beyond the hook style attachment mechanism. For instance, as shown in FIG. 11, a ball-shaped coupling 170 may be used instead of a hook.

The above figures may depict exemplary configurations for the invention, which is done to aid in understanding the features and functionality that may be included in the invention. The invention is not restricted to the illustrated architectures or configurations, but can be implemented using a variety of alternative architectures and configurations. Additionally, although the invention is described above in terms of various exemplary embodiments and implementations, it should be understood that the various features and functionality described in one or more of the individual embodiments with which they are described, but instead can be applied, alone or in some combination, to one or more of the other embodiments of the invention, whether or not such embodiments are described and whether or not such features are presented as being a part of a described embodiment. Thus the breadth and scope of the present invention, especially in the following claims, should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments.

Terms and phrases used in this document, and variations thereof, unless otherwise expressly stated, should be construed as open ended as opposed to limiting. As examples of the foregoing: the term “including” should be read as mean “including, without limitation” or the like; the term “example” is used to provide exemplary instances of the item in discussion, not an exhaustive or limiting list thereof; and adjectives such as “conventional,” “traditional,” “standard,” “known” and terms of similar meaning should not be construed as limiting the item described to a given time period or to an item available as of a given time, but instead should be read to encompass conventional, traditional, normal, or standard technologies that may be available or known now or at any time in the future. Likewise, a group of items linked with the conjunction “and” should not be read as requiring that each and every one of those items be present in the grouping, but rather should be read as “and/or” unless expressly stated otherwise. Similarly, a group of items linked with the conjunction “or” should not be read as requiring mutual exclusivity among that group, but rather should also be read as “and/or” unless expressly stated otherwise. Furthermore, although item, elements or components of the disclosure may be described or claimed in the singular, the plural is contemplated to be within the scope thereof unless limitation to the singular is explicitly stated. The presence of broadening words and phrases such as “one or more,” “at least,” “but not limited to” or other like phrases in some instances shall not be read to mean that the narrower case is intended or required in instances where such broadening phrases may be absent.