Mechanism Design And The Performance Research Of Variable Vector Propeller Of Submarine

Submarine is one of the most important facilities in ocean exploitation and research. With the development of submarine it requires lighter, smaller fittings, and meanwhile must satisfy the maneuverability demand. By using this type of propeller, it certainly seems to be able to reduce propellers and consequently to contribute to the compactness and the light weight of ROV, etc. It will be applied widely in ocean engineering area.A variable vector propeller, called the "Varivec Propeller", is under development as a new propulsion system for the undersea robot. The Varivec Propeller is a kind of specific propeller that is capable of continuously generating any degree of thrust in any three dimensional direction by varying blades' pitches cyclically in the process of rotation and responds easily to the slightest change in the robot.There are two emphases in the paper, namely, mechanism design and theoretic calculation.In the first part, firstly, the main dimensions of oar blade and propeller boss and other parameter of Varivec Propeller are selected. Then, a suit of viable mechanism to control the work state of Varivec Propeller is designed, which is different from the mechanism designed by the Japanese. It's principle is similar with the cycloid propeller.In the second part, firstly, the mathematical model for predicting hydrodynamic characteristics of Varivec Propeller under steady or unsteady condition are present, based on the general propeller lifting-surface theory, potential flow theory and Green theorem. Then, theoretical calculation methods for predicting hydrodynamic characteristics of Varivec Propeller designed above paragraphs are present, based on the finite basic solution method, the unsteady vortex lattice method and Hess-Smith method.Varivec Propeller designed in the paper is prepared for the model machining and succedent experiment.