DEVICE FOR MOTION OF SUBMERSIBLE VEHICLE IN DEPTH BY USE OF THERMAL ENERGY OF SURROUNDING MEDIUM Russian patent published in 1999 - IPC

FIELD: development of ocean; submersible vehicles-buoys having varying buoyancy. SUBSTANCE: device uses difference in temperatures of surface and deep layers of water as source of energy for change of buoyancy of submersible vehicle. operation of device is based on use of pressure of saturated vapor of liquid which increases with temperature rise; above mentioned liquid has boiling point equal to temperature of upper layers of ocean. Boiling liquid is placed in hermetic bellows which extends at rise of temperature and pressure and becomes contracted at reduction of temperature and pressure setting in motion two pistons secured in one axis. First piston is included in pump which forces portion of oil intermediate reservoir into gas-and-hydraulic accumulator every at extension of bellows. Second piston kept at pressure at all times is used for compressing bellows at reduction of temperature in deep water and returning it to initial position. Pressure of oil on gas-and-hydraulic accumulator exceeds pressure of water at limiting depth of submergence and at opening of controllable valve and oil under action of pressure differential flows from gas-and-hydraulic accumulator into bellows located on the outside of pressure hull of submersible vehicle, thus increasing its buoyancy. When second controllable valve opens, oil returns from outer bellows to intermediate reservoir, thus decreasing its buoyancy. During heating on sea surface for the next time, this portion of oil is again pumped into gas-and-hydraulic accumulator, thus completing the cycle. EFFECT: enhanced reliability and efficiency of submersible vehicle. 1 dwg