Automatic aligning structure of cable-free buoy

Abstract

According to the automatic aligning structure of the cable-free buoy, when waves enable the buoy to incline or shake, the floating ring makes direct contact with the water surface and fluctuates, so that the floating ring displaces relative to the body. The displacement is transmitted through the connecting assembly to press the pressing switch in the movable groove. Once the switch is pressed down, a signal triggering action is completed once. After the switch is triggered, the balance weight adjusting assembly on the floating ring can be driven or released, the balance weight assembly is concentrated towards one side on the annular track of the floating ring under the action of gravity or magnetic force and the like, and the gravity center of the whole buoy moves towards the side along with the deviation of the balance weight in the ring. The new center-of-gravity position is changed to generate a restoring moment to counteract inclination caused by waves. Through automatic aligning torque generated by real-time gravity center adjustment, the inclination angle can be rapidly reduced even under the condition of sudden attack of big waves or strong lateral waves, and overturning and water inflow in the cabin are avoided.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of buoys, and more particularly to an automatic righting structure for a cableless buoy. Background Technology

[0002] A buoy is a marker or measuring device that floats on the water surface and is widely used in various aquatic environments such as oceans, rivers, and lakes. In addition to basic navigation guidance and warning functions, modern buoys also have the ability to monitor and collect data on a variety of marine environmental parameters in real time. The main measurement items include seawater temperature, salinity, ocean current speed and direction, wave height and period, and water level changes, providing important data support for marine scientific research, marine engineering construction, marine weather forecasting, environmental monitoring, and resource assessment.

[0003] In the existing technology, buoys are generally divided into two main categories according to whether they have mooring devices: moored buoys and unmoored buoys. Buoys with mooring buoys are typically made of high-strength polyethylene, fiberglass, or aluminum alloy, and are commonly cylindrical, spherical, or columnar in shape. The bottom of the buoy is connected to an anchor or weight on the seabed via an anchor chain (or mooring line), and the top or sides are equipped with measuring sensors, solar panels, and wireless communication antennas.

[0004] The specifications of the anchor chain and the mooring device need to be matched and designed according to the water depth, tidal strength and weight of the buoy to ensure that the buoy remains relatively fixed during the measurement period and avoids large-scale drift.

[0005] Due to the restraint of the mooring device, the buoy can work stably in the designated water area for a long time, ensuring the spatial consistency of the measuring points.

[0006] A stable location is conducive to long-term data accumulation and trend analysis, providing a reliable time series for scientific research and engineering evaluation.

[0007] Anchor chains and mooring lines are susceptible to erosion from seabed sediment, marine organisms, and corrosion, requiring regular diving inspections and replacements.

[0008] Mooring schemes such as anchor chain length and anchor weight limit the depth and terrain conditions in which buoys can be deployed; anchoring efficiency decreases when the water is restricted or the bottom is soft.

[0009] The structure of a cableless buoy is similar to that of a buoy with a mooring, but it has no anchor chain or mooring line at the bottom and is only equipped with a thin rope attachment point or satellite positioning device for positioning or recovery.

[0010] Its movement relies on ocean currents, wind, and waves to drive its drift, and it is not constrained by any fixed device.

[0011] Cableless buoys do not require anchoring and can be quickly deployed in open sea areas, which is beneficial for large-scale ocean circulation surveys and drift model verification.

[0012] However, when a large wave hits the side of the buoy, it can generate a horizontal impact force of up to several tons in a short period of time. If this torque exceeds the restoring torque (right tilting torque) generated by the buoy's own weight and the line connecting its center of gravity and center of buoyancy, the buoy will tilt continuously until it capsizes.

[0013] In extreme weather conditions, storm surges accompanying typhoons or hurricanes can cause water levels to rise by several meters instantly, exceeding the designed draft range. This causes all the seals that were originally above the water surface to be submerged underwater, completely losing the protective function of the breathing valve and rain cover.

[0014] Secondly, during the drifting process, if the buoy is overturned by strong waves or enters too deep into the waves, the waterproof sealing ring of the cabin will be subjected to a sudden increase in water pressure, which can easily lead to fatigue or damage of the seals in the long run, eventually causing short circuits in the internal circuits and corrosion of components. Summary of the Invention

[0015] In view of this, it is necessary to provide an automatic homing structure for cableless buoys to solve the above problems.

[0016] Embodiments of this application provide an automatic self-centering structure for a cableless buoy, the automatic self-centering structure for the cableless buoy comprising: The buoy body has movable grooves on its outer peripheral wall; The counterweight structure includes a floating ring, a connecting component, and a counterweight adjustment component. One end of the connecting component extends into the movable groove, and the other end is fixedly connected to the inner ring of the floating ring. The counterweight adjustment component is disposed on the floating ring. A push-button switch is located within the movable slot; The floating ring moves with the waves, causing the connecting component to press the push switch, thereby changing the position of the counterweight adjustment component and altering the center of gravity of the automatic self-aligning structure of the cableless buoy.

[0017] In at least one embodiment of this application, the floating ring has a sealed annular groove, which surrounds the buoy body; The counterweight adjustment component includes: A counterweight ball is disposed within the annular groove; A magnetic induction element is disposed on the floating ring and is capable of coupling with the counterweight ball; The connecting component presses the push switch to generate a magnetic force in the magnetic induction element, which then couples with the counterweight ball to adjust the center of gravity position of the automatic return structure of the cableless buoy.

[0018] In at least one embodiment of this application, there are at least four connecting components, three of which are arranged at equal angles around the buoy body, and the other connecting component is arranged between two adjacent connecting components to form an asymmetrical arrangement.

[0019] In at least one embodiment of this application, there are multiple magnetic sensing elements, and each magnetic sensing element corresponds to one of the connecting components.

[0020] In at least one embodiment of this application, the connection component includes: A fixing rod, one end of which is fixed to the inner circumferential surface of the floating ring; The telescopic rod has a connecting groove at one end, and the end of the fixed rod away from the floating ring is received in the connecting groove. The ball head is located at the end of the telescopic rod away from the fixed rod.

[0021] In at least one embodiment of this application, the connection component further includes: An elastic element is disposed in the connecting groove, with one end abutting against the inner wall of the connecting groove and the other end abutting against the fixing rod.

[0022] In at least one embodiment of this application, the buoy body includes: The top cover assembly includes a first cover body, a first drive assembly, and a sail blade. The first drive assembly is mounted on the first cover body and is drive-connected to the sail blade.

[0023] In at least one embodiment of this application, the first driving component includes: The first drive motor is fixed to the first cover. The drive gear set is rotatably connected to the first cover and rotatably connected to the output end of the first drive motor and the sail blade.

[0024] In at least one embodiment of this application, the buoy body further includes: The lower cover assembly includes a second cover body and a second drive assembly. The second cover body covers the first cover body. The second drive assembly includes a second drive motor, a drive housing, and a drive blade. The second cover body is provided with a fixed shaft, which extends into the drive housing and is rotatably connected to the drive housing. The fixed shaft is provided with multiple pawls at equal angles. The second drive motor is located inside the drive housing, and the output end of the second drive motor is provided with a drive gear. One end of the drive blade is located inside the drive housing, and the other end extends outside the drive housing. One end of the drive blade is provided with a transmission gear, and the drive gear can mesh with the transmission gear or the pawls. The second drive motor rotates along the first direction to drive the drive housing to rotate along the fixed axis, and the second drive motor rotates along the second direction to drive the drive blade to rotate, thereby driving the automatic return structure of the cableless buoy to move.

[0025] In at least one embodiment of this application, the second cover is recessed inward on the side near the first cover to form an accommodating cavity, and the automatic homing structure of the cableless buoy further includes: The sensor assembly is installed within the accommodating cavity.

[0026] The automatic homing structure of the cableless buoy implemented in this embodiment will have at least the following beneficial effects: The automatic self-centering structure of the cableless buoy described above, when the buoy tilts or shakes due to waves, causes the floating ring to displace relative to the main body due to direct contact with the water surface fluctuations. This displacement is transmitted through the connecting component, pressing a push-button switch within the movable slot. Once the switch is pressed, a signal triggering action is completed.

[0027] After the switch is triggered, the counterweight adjustment component on the floating ring can be driven or released. The counterweight component is concentrated to one side on the circular track of the floating ring under the action of gravity or magnetic force. As the counterweight shifts within the ring, the center of gravity of the entire buoy moves to that side.

[0028] The shift in the center of gravity generates a restoring torque that counteracts the tilt caused by the waves. Under the influence of this torque, the buoy gradually returns to its vertical equilibrium position. Once upright, the float ring resets, the push-button switch is released, and the buoy returns to a uniformly distributed state, ready for the next response.

[0029] The automatic self-aligning torque generated by real-time center of gravity adjustment can quickly reduce the tilt angle even under sudden large waves or strong lateral waves, thus preventing capsizing and water ingress into the cabin.

[0030] Utilizing the energy of the waves themselves, without the need for external sensors or complex control, it quickly triggers the center of gravity to shift and return to the center of gravity, significantly reducing the risk of capsizing. Attached Figure Description

[0031] Figure 1 A 3D view of the automatic self-centering structure of a cableless buoy; Figure 2 Another perspective 3D view of the automatic centering structure of a cable-free buoy; Figure 3 An exploded view of the automatic centering structure of a cableless buoy; Figure 4 A cross-sectional view of the automatic self-centering structure of a cableless buoy; Figure 5 for Figure 4 Enlarged view of section C; Figure 6 Another angle reference diagram of the automatic self-centering structure of a cableless buoy; Figure 7 This is a reference diagram showing the usage status of the automatic self-centering structure for a cableless buoy.

[0032] Explanation of main component symbols 100. Automatic centering structure for cableless buoys; 110. Buoy body; 110a. Movable slot; 111. First cover; 112. Sail blade; 113. First drive motor; 114. Drive gear set; 115. Second cover; 116. Second drive motor; 117. Drive housing; 118. Drive blade; 110b. Receiving cavity; 119. Fixed shaft; 1191. Pawl; 1161. Drive gear; 1181. Transmission gear; A. First direction; B. Second direction; 120. Counterweight structure; 121. Floating ring; 121a. Annular groove; 122. Connecting assembly; 1221. Fixed rod; 1222. Telescopic rod; 1223. Ball head; 1224. Elastic element; 123. Counterweight adjustment assembly; 1231. Counterweight ball; 1232. Magnetic induction element; 130. Press the switch; 140. Sensor assembly. Detailed Implementation

[0033] The embodiments of this application will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of this application, and not all embodiments.

[0034] It should be noted that when a component is considered to be "connected" to another component, it can be directly connected to the other component or may also have an intervening component. When a component is considered to be "placed" on another component, it can be directly placed on the other component or may also have an intervening component. The terms "top," "bottom," "upper," "lower," "left," "right," "front," "back," and similar expressions used in this article are for illustrative purposes only.

[0035] The following detailed description of some embodiments of this application is provided in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Unless otherwise specified, the following embodiments and features can be combined with each other.

[0036] Embodiments of this application provide an automatic centering structure 100 for a cableless buoy, the automatic centering structure 100 for the cableless buoy comprising: The buoy body 110 has a movable groove 110a on its outer peripheral wall; The counterweight structure 120 includes a floating ring 121, a connecting component 122, and a counterweight adjustment component 123. One end of the connecting component 122 extends into the movable groove 110a, and the other end is fixedly connected to the inner ring of the floating ring 121. The counterweight adjustment component 123 is disposed on the floating ring 121. The push switch 130 is located in the movable slot 110a; The floating ring 121 moves with the waves, causing the connecting component 122 to press the push switch 130, thereby changing the position of the counterweight adjustment component 123 and altering the overall center of gravity of the automatic return structure 100 of the cableless buoy.

[0037] Please refer to Figures 1-7 In this embodiment, a plurality of movable grooves 110a are opened on the outer peripheral wall of the buoy body 110, and a push switch 130 is fixed in the movable groove 110a. The floating ring 121 is attached to the buoy body 110 and is a floating ring 121 that can slide freely with the waves.

[0038] The floating ring 121 is connected to the push switch 130 in the movable groove 110a through several connecting components 122; one end of the connecting component 122 is fixed to the inner ring of the floating ring 121, and the other end extends into the movable groove 110a and acts on the switch.

[0039] The floating ring 121 itself carries a movable counterweight adjustment component 123 for adjusting the overall center of gravity.

[0040] When waves cause the buoy to tilt or sway, the floating ring 121 displaces relative to the main body due to direct contact with the water surface fluctuations. This displacement is transmitted through the connecting assembly 122, pressing the push switch 130 within the movable slot 110a. Once the switch is pressed, a signal triggering action is completed.

[0041] After the switch is triggered, the counterweight adjustment component 123 on the floating ring 121 can be driven or released. The counterweight component is concentrated to one side on the circular track of the floating ring 121 under the action of gravity or magnetic force. As the counterweight shifts within the ring, the center of gravity of the entire buoy moves to that side.

[0042] The new center of gravity shifts, generating a restoring torque that counteracts the tilt caused by the waves. Under the action of this torque, the buoy gradually returns to its vertical equilibrium position. After returning to its upright position, the floating ring 121 resets, the push switch 130 is released, and the buoy returns to a uniformly distributed state, ready for the next response.

[0043] The automatic self-aligning torque generated by real-time center of gravity adjustment can quickly reduce the tilt angle even under sudden large waves or strong lateral waves, thus preventing capsizing and water ingress into the cabin.

[0044] Utilizing the energy of the waves themselves, without the need for external sensors or complex control, it quickly triggers the center of gravity to shift and return to the center of gravity, significantly reducing the risk of capsizing.

[0045] Sensors on buoys for temperature, salinity, current velocity, and wave height need to maintain a specific calibration orientation to acquire accurate data. This structure can maintain a near-vertical state even under wave interference, reducing measurement errors and data deviations.

[0046] It should be noted that the active groove 110a is roughly a rectangular groove, the buoy body 110 is roughly a frustum-shaped structure, the floating ring 121 is roughly a circular ring, and the push switch 130 is roughly a cylindrical push switch 130 with a silicone button at one end.

[0047] It should be further explained that a spring can be installed on one side of the counterweight ball 1231, and a fixing rope can be fixed to one side of the spring. When the magnetic force is applied, the counterweight ball 1231 moves, causing the overall center of gravity of the automatic return structure 100 of the cableless buoy to change. When the magnetic force disappears, the spring drives the fixing rope, causing the counterweight ball 1231 to return to its original position. After returning to its original position, the floating ring 121 resets, the push switch 130 is released, and the buoy returns to a uniformly distributed state, ready for the next response.

[0048] In at least one embodiment of this application, the floating ring 121 is provided with a sealed annular groove 121a, the annular groove 121a being arranged around the buoy body 110; The counterweight adjustment assembly 123 includes: A counterweight ball 1231 is disposed within the annular groove 121a; A magnetic induction element 1232 is disposed on the floating ring 121 and can be coupled to the counterweight ball 1231; The connecting component 122 presses the push switch 130 to cause the magnetic induction element 1232 to generate magnetic force and couple with the counterweight ball 1231 to adjust the center of gravity position of the automatic return structure 100 of the cableless buoy.

[0049] Please refer to Figures 1-7 In this embodiment, a sealed annular groove 121a is formed between the floating ring 121 and the buoy body 110. This groove is isolated from the outside seawater and is dry inside, which allows the counterweight ball 1231 to roll freely without being stirred up by the water flow.

[0050] Within the annular groove 121a, several metal spheres of equal mass (counterweight spheres 1231) are evenly distributed and do not interfere with each other. At this time, the center of gravity of the buoy coincides with the geometric center, and the system is in a state of static equilibrium.

[0051] Multiple electromagnetic coils (magnetic induction elements 1232) are equidistantly installed on the outer side of the floating ring 121 along the annular groove 121a. They are normally in a de-energized state and do not affect the counterweight ball 1231.

[0052] When ocean waves or lateral swells act on the buoy, the entire device tilts or shifts laterally.

[0053] The floating ring 121 deflects more sensitively relative to the main body due to direct contact with the water surface fluctuations, and pushes the push switch 130, which is pressed against the annular groove 121a through the connecting assembly 122 (telescopic rod 1222 and ball head 1223) in the tilt direction.

[0054] When the displacement reaches the design threshold, the connecting component 122 presses the push switch 130 to the closed position, completing a mechanical-to-electrical signal conversion.

[0055] When the closed push-button switch 130 is activated, the electromagnetic coil in the corresponding direction is energized, and the coil instantly generates a magnetic field. Although the wall of the annular groove 121a is a sealed structure, it is designed with thin walls or magnetically conductive materials, allowing the magnetic field to penetrate into the groove. After sensing the magnetic force, the metal ball inside the groove rolls and gathers towards the location of the electromagnetic coil.

[0056] As more counterweight balls 1231 converge along the channel, the entire counterweight system forms a counterweight structure 120 on the force-bearing side, quantitatively changing the mass distribution on that side.

[0057] The originally evenly distributed center of gravity shifted rapidly toward the side affected by the wave due to the bias of the counterweight spheres 1231.

[0058] The new center of gravity no longer coincides with the center of buoyancy (at the geometric center line of the buoy), generating a torque opposite to the direction of tilt.

[0059] This torque drives the buoy to rotate gradually, eliminating the tilt angle and returning the buoy to a vertical position.

[0060] As the return-to-center action is completed, the floating ring 121 returns to the neutral position, the connecting component 122 releases the push switch 130, and the switch is de-energized.

[0061] After the corresponding electromagnetic coil loses its magnetic force, the counterweight ball 1231, under its own weight, slowly rolls away with the help of the slight inclination angle in the groove, and returns to the uniform distribution state of the annular groove 121a.

[0062] The system immediately returns to its initial equilibrium state, ready to respond to the next wave of stimuli.

[0063] Through multi-point mechanical triggering and segmented electromagnetic attraction, a portion of the counterweight spheres 1231 within the annular groove 121a can be precisely attracted in any tilting direction. The center of gravity offset can be subdivided down to the mass of a single sphere, adapting to different wave conditions ranging from slight to severe.

[0064] The rapid aggregation and resetting of the counterweight clusters enable the buoy to maintain a near-vertical state under all-directional wave interference, significantly reducing tilting errors and directly ensuring the accuracy and continuity of data from sensors such as temperature, salinity, flow velocity, and wave height.

[0065] Combining the free-drifting characteristics of anchorless drifting buoys, this structure has significantly improved self-righting capability, avoiding the maintenance burden of anchor chains and maintaining a stable attitude in complex sea conditions such as ocean currents and typhoons.

[0066] It should be noted that the counterweight ball 1231 is roughly spherical, and the magnetic induction element 1232 is a magnetic induction line.

[0067] In another embodiment, when the push switch 130 is above the connecting component 122, when one of the push switches 130 is triggered, the corresponding magnetic induction element 1232 generates a magnetic force to attract the counterweight ball 1231 to move, so that the counterweight ball 1231 moves in the annular groove 121a to the position where the push switch 130 is triggered.

[0068] When the push switch 130 is below the connecting assembly 122, when one of the push switches 130 is triggered, the other magnetic induction elements 1232 generate magnetic force to attract the counterweight ball 1231 to move, so that the counterweight ball 1231 moves in the annular groove 121a to the direction of the resultant force of the magnetic field.

[0069] In at least one embodiment of this application, there are at least four connecting components 122, three of which are arranged at equal angles with respect to the buoy body 110, and the other connecting component 122 is arranged between two adjacent connecting components 122 to form an asymmetrical arrangement.

[0070] Please refer to Figures 1-7 In this embodiment, a total of four connecting components 122 (telescopic rod 1222 + elastic element 1224 + ball head 1223) are provided, numbered 1–4.

[0071] Components 1, 2, and 3 are positioned at 0°, 120°, and 240° respectively, with the buoy axis as the center, forming three equiangular main sensing directions.

[0072] Component 4 is placed at a 60° position between Component 1 and Component 2, breaking the trisection symmetry and forming an additional intermediate sensing point.

[0073] All push switches 130 (one for each connecting component 122) are off, the magnetic induction element 1232 is de-energized, and the counterweight balls 1231 in the annular groove 121a are evenly distributed; at this time, the center of gravity of the buoy coincides with the center of buoyancy, and the system is in static equilibrium.

[0074] Suppose a wave acts from the direction φ (counterclockwise with 0° as the reference), causing the buoy to tilt with a vector θ≈φ.

[0075] The floating ring 121 moves up and down and sideways following the waves; through the telescopic rod 1222 and the ball head 1223, the connecting component 122 closest to φ (which may be one of the main direction 1, 2, 3 or the middle 4) touches its corresponding push switch 130 first.

[0076] Since component 4 is located at 60°, it fills the dead angle at 60° in the 0°–120° sector. For any φ∈[0°, 360°) interval, at least one component has a projected length |cos(φ–angle_i)|≥cos30°≈0.866, which makes it triggerable when the tilt exceeds the threshold (e.g., 5°).

[0077] The triggered connection component 122 presses down the corresponding push switch 130, causing the switch to close, thereby energizing the electromagnetic coil (magnetic induction element 1232) corresponding to the component.

[0078] The electromagnetic coil generates a magnetic field that penetrates the wall of the annular groove 121a and exerts an attractive force F_mag on the counterweight ball 1231.

[0079] Several metal counterweight balls 1231 located in the sector (within ±30°) and within the radius of the magnetic field roll and gather along the annular groove toward the electromagnetic coil.

[0080] The mass m of N1 counterweight balls 1231 is gathered on one side of the φ direction, causing the overall center of gravity of the buoy to shift from the origin O to O′. The offset vector ΔCM≈(N1·m·R_shell) / M_total·ê_φ, where R_shell is the radius of the annular groove 121a and M_total is the total mass of the buoy.

[0081] Under the combined action of Earth's gravity g and buoyancy F_b, since CM does not coincide with the center of buoyancy, a torque τ is generated: τ = ΔCM × Fb ≈ ΔCM × Fb × sinα, where × is the multiplication sign. The direction is opposite to the direction of the wave's tilt, pulling the buoy back to vertical.

[0082] Under the influence of τ, the buoy rolls around the central axis, and the tilt angle α reaches 0; the floating ring 121 then returns to the neutral position.

[0083] When the connecting component 122 is disconnected from the push switch 130, the switch is turned off, the electromagnetic coil is de-energized, and the magnetic field eventually disappears.

[0084] When there is no magnetic field attraction, the counterweight ball 1231 rolls back to a uniform distribution with the help of the slight tilt angle of the annular groove 121a and its own weight.

[0085] The system returns to its initial equilibrium and is ready to respond to the next wave excitation.

[0086] The asymmetrical layout allows for rapid capture of tilt in any wave direction, and precise calculations ensure that the restoring torque is balanced with the current tilt torque, preventing over- or under-restoration. A single action can restore the tilt angle from 5°–10° to <1°, improving attitude recovery rate and stability.

[0087] By utilizing local controllable magnetic force for precise attraction, the mass and half-width of the counterweight ball 1231 can be automatically adjusted according to the energization time of the magnetic induction element 1232, and the corresponding center of gravity offset can be adjusted as needed to meet the normalization requirements of waves of different intensities.

[0088] In at least one embodiment of this application, there are multiple magnetic sensing elements 1232, and each magnetic sensing element 1232 corresponds to one connection component 122.

[0089] Please refer to Figures 1-7 In this embodiment, before the system is shipped from the factory or deployed at sea, it is equipped with N connecting components 122 (usually N=4), and each connecting component 122 corresponds to a push switch 130.

[0090] On the inner side of the floating ring 121, near each connecting component 122, a magnetic induction element 1232 (electromagnetic coil or magnetic reed unit) is fixedly installed.

[0091] The counterweight balls 1231 are evenly distributed in the annular groove 121a, and no magnetic induction element 1232 is energized.

[0092] The wave acts from a certain direction, causing the floating ring 121 to shift and deflect relative to the buoy body. The floating ring 121 deflects relative to the buoy body under the influence of the wave. The connecting component 122 closest to the direction of shift pushes its corresponding push switch 130 to close, while the switches of other components remain open.

[0093] Only the corresponding magnetic induction element 1232 connected to the pressed switch is energized to generate a local magnetic field, while the magnetic induction elements 1232 of other channels remain de-energized, ensuring unidirectional and single-channel magnetic field action.

[0094] The energized magnetic induction element 1232 exerts an attractive force on the counterweight balls 1231 of adjacent sectors in the annular groove 121a, driving them to roll along the groove towards the channel position. The gradient attraction distribution causes the balls close to the magnetic induction element 1232 to gather more quickly, forming a mass concentration area.

[0095] The aggregation of the 1231 counterweight balls in this direction causes the center of gravity to move in the same direction, generating a righting torque that is opposite to the wave tilt. Under the action of this torque, the buoy quickly returns to the right position, and the tilt angle is restored to near zero.

[0096] After the buoy returns to center, the corresponding push switch 130 springs back and disconnects, the magnetic induction element 1232 is de-energized, the magnetic field disappears, and the counterweight balls 1231 disperse again to a uniform distribution under their own weight and the slight tilt angle of the annular groove.

[0097] The system returns to its initial state and is ready to respond to the next wave trigger.

[0098] The single-channel pulse energization only occurs when the system is actually triggered, which ensures high sensitivity (millisecond-level response) and avoids the counterweight ball 1231 from mis-aggregating or shaking due to the simultaneous action of multiple magnetic fields.

[0099] Each magnetic induction element 1232 operates independently. If any channel fails, the other channels are not affected and can still complete attitude correction, thus improving system reliability.

[0100] Independent channel control enables fine adjustment of the size of the counterweight ball 1231 (the power-on time can be set independently), thereby accurately matching the required return torque under different wave conditions, ensuring that the return is not overshooted or delayed.

[0101] In at least one embodiment of this application, the connection component 122 includes: The fixing rod 1221 is fixed at one end to the inner circumferential surface of the floating ring 121; The telescopic rod 1222 has a connecting groove at one end, and the end of the fixed rod 1221 away from the floating ring 121 is received in the connecting groove; The ball head 1223 is located at the end of the telescopic rod 1222 away from the fixed rod 1221.

[0102] Please refer to Figures 1-7 In this embodiment, the initial static state is: One end of the fixed rod 1221 is securely riveted or bolted to the inner circumferential surface of the floating ring 121 to ensure synchronous movement with the floating ring 121.

[0103] The telescopic rod 1222 is overlaid on the fixed rod 1221, and a transverse connecting groove is provided at one end. The end of the fixed rod 1221 away from the floating ring 121 is precisely embedded in the connecting groove, and can slide freely in the groove in the radial and axial directions.

[0104] Ball head 1223 is installed at the other end of telescopic rod 1222, with the spherical end maintaining a small gap with the movable groove 110a of buoy body 110 and push switch 130. At this time, telescopic rod 1222 is in the stationary extended position, and ball head 1223 does not contact the switch.

[0105] When the waves cause the buoy to tilt or roll to one side, the floating ring 121 moves longitudinally with the waves.

[0106] The fixed rod 1221 moves together with the floating ring 121, while the telescopic rod 1222 remains relatively stationary or moves slowly initially due to obstruction from external components such as the housing of the push switch 130.

[0107] The longitudinal displacement causes the ball head 1223 at the other end of the telescopic rod 1222 to hit the push switch 130 in the movable groove 110a, pressing down the switch cap and completing the closure (in the initial state, under the action of buoyancy, the floating ring 121 generates buoyancy to prevent the ball head 1223 from hitting the push switch 130).

[0108] Ball head 1223 smoothly and centrally transmits external force to the switch, avoiding damage from direct hard impact.

[0109] After the switch is closed, the corresponding magnetic induction element 1232 is energized and begins to attract the counterweight ball 1231 in the annular groove 121a, thus initiating the center of gravity adjustment and return process.

[0110] When the wave energy dissipates and the buoy returns to its normal position, the floating ring 121 moves back; the fixed rod 1221 then slides out of the connecting groove in the opposite direction, and the telescopic rod 1222 returns to its initial position under the thrust of the built-in elastic element 1224.

[0111] Under buoyancy, the ball head 1223 disengages from the push switch 130, the switch resets and the power is cut off; the system returns to a static equilibrium state, ready to receive the next gravity adjustment.

[0112] By setting the travel of the connecting slot, the system is only triggered when the wave displacement exceeds a predetermined threshold, thus avoiding malfunctions caused by minor fluctuations and improving system stability.

[0113] The ball head 1223 makes contact with the spherical surface of the switch cap, which can adapt to impacts from multiple angles and evenly transmit external force to the switch, reducing switch damage and extending service life.

[0114] It should be noted that the fixed rod 1221 is roughly a "T"-shaped round rod, the telescopic rod 1222 is roughly a "T"-shaped round rod, and the connecting groove is roughly a "T"-shaped groove.

[0115] The ball head 1223 is roughly spherical.

[0116] In at least one embodiment of this application, the connection component 122 further includes: The elastic element 1224 is disposed in the connecting groove, with one end abutting against the inner wall of the connecting groove and the other end abutting against the fixing rod 1221.

[0117] Please refer to Figures 1-7 In this embodiment, the waves on the sea surface hit the buoy, causing the floating ring 121 to slide along the buoy's axial (up and down) and radial (lateral) directions.

[0118] There is no rigid fastening between the floating ring 121 and the buoy body 110, so the floating ring 121 transmits wave energy almost directly to the connecting component 122.

[0119] The fixed rod 1221 is firmly connected to the floating ring 121 and moves together with the floating ring 121; the telescopic rod 1222 is coupled to the fixed rod 1221 at one end through a spring, and the other end has not yet touched the push switch 130, so it initially follows with a lag or slightly slips out.

[0120] As the thrust continues, the fixed rod 1221 pushes the telescopic rod 1222 under the resistance of the spring, resulting in controllable extension and retraction within the connecting groove.

[0121] At the same time, when the wave is tilted to one side, it causes the entire buoy to tilt at an angle, and the fixing rod 1221 on one side gets closer to the body, so that the fixing rod 1221 on the tilting side is in contact with or lightly touches the push switch 130 in the movable groove 110a.

[0122] The fixing rod 1221 on this side abuts against the switch and presses down the switch cap, closing the switch and momentarily energizing the magnetic induction element 1232 (magnetic induction coil) of the corresponding channel.

[0123] The magnetic induction elements 1232 in other channels remain de-energized to ensure that only the portion triggered by the wave is activated.

[0124] The activated electromagnetic component generates a directional magnetic field around the coil, which penetrates the wall of the annular groove 121a.

[0125] The counterweight balls 1231 in the annular groove 121a roll and gather toward the side where the magnetic field is concentrated, forming a counterweight cluster.

[0126] After the center of gravity shifts to that side, a torque is generated between the center of buoyancy and the new center of gravity, in the opposite direction to the tilt caused by the waves.

[0127] This torque drives the buoy to rotate automatically around the horizontal axis, gradually reducing the tilt angle until the buoy returns to a vertical position.

[0128] As the buoy returns to its upright position, the floating ring 121 and the fixed rod 1221 move in opposite directions, the push switch 130 is depressurized and reset, and the magnetic induction element 1232 is de-energized.

[0129] After being compressed, the spring automatically extends, pulling the telescopic rod 1222 back to its original extended position, and the ball head 1223 is once again suspended above the switch.

[0130] The counterweight balls 1231, without magnetic constraint, slowly disperse back to a uniform state by their own weight and the slightly tilted channel.

[0131] The system returns to its initial distribution, ready to be triggered by the next wave.

[0132] By directly driving the structure's expansion, contraction, and tilt using waves, the need for motors or hydraulic systems is eliminated, achieving primary triggering with zero external energy consumption.

[0133] The spring provides hysteresis and reset functions for the connecting component 122. During small fluctuations, the spring is compressed and the switch is not triggered. Only when the wave intensity is sufficient and the direction is clear will the switch be pressed down, thus improving the system's anti-interference capability.

[0134] Rapid self-correction is achieved through a closed loop of magnetic attraction, center of gravity shift, and torque return; during the reset phase, the spring automatically restores the original position, ensuring cyclic operation without manual intervention.

[0135] It should be noted that the elastic element 1224 is a spring.

[0136] In at least one embodiment of this application, the buoy body 110 includes: The top cover assembly includes a first cover body 111, a first drive assembly, and a sail 112. The first drive assembly is mounted on the first cover body 111 and is connected to the sail 112 in a transmission manner.

[0137] Please refer to Figures 1-7 In this embodiment, the first cover 111 serves as the upper closed cover of the buoy body 110, which not only supports the installation of the drive assembly and the sail 112, but also provides sealing protection for the internal electrical and mechanical components.

[0138] The first drive assembly typically consists of a low-power DC motor (or brushless motor), a reduction gear set, and an output shaft, which is fixedly installed inside the first cover 111 and draws out the torque through a sealed bearing.

[0139] Sail blade 112 is an aerodynamic blade that can rotate around the output shaft of the drive assembly. The outer side of the blade is sealed to the cover through a waterproof bushing.

[0140] When the wind speed exceeds the activation threshold (e.g., 2–3 m / s), the sail 112 begins to rotate passively under the influence of external wind. At this time, the first drive assembly can function as both a generator and an active drive: In the power generation mode, the rotating sail 112 drives the output shaft to rotate in reverse, and the motor generates power in reverse to supply power to the system's battery or capacitor. In servo mode, when it is necessary to adjust the angle of the sail 112 or force a turn, the motor drives the sail 112 in the forward direction to precisely control the direction of the blade at a specific speed.

[0141] The rotation of the sail 112 generates a horizontal torque on the upper part of the buoy, causing the buoy to automatically align with the prevailing wind or adjust its position according to control commands.

[0142] This automatic alignment with the wind direction, combined with the lower counterweight return mechanism, keeps the buoy's orientation consistent with the instrument's calibration direction in complex sea conditions.

[0143] When the waves tilt laterally, the sail 112 finely adjusts its attitude through the first drive component, so that the windward side faces a specific direction, thereby changing the impact direction of the waves on the floating ring 121. In conjunction with the lower magnetic counterweight mechanism, it improves the return-to-center efficiency.

[0144] In special sea conditions (such as typhoon warnings), the 112 sail can also be locked to reduce additional torque interference caused by strong winds.

[0145] In power generation mode, the first drive component converts wind energy into electrical energy, which, together with the battery or supercapacitor on the buoy, provides a continuous power supply for the sensors, communication modules, and magnetic components.

[0146] By controlling the load characteristics of the motor and the blade speed, the balance between power generation and return torque can be intelligently adjusted to ensure sufficient output even at low wind speeds.

[0147] The sail 112 can be freely oriented around the first drive assembly and rotates automatically or actively with the help of wind power, so that the buoy body always faces the prevailing wind direction, reducing the disturbance of attitude by lateral wind load and wave impact, which is conducive to the more efficient operation of the righting structure.

[0148] By actively controlling the angle of the sail blade 112 by the motor, the wind direction can be quickly locked or swept at different operation stages (such as sampling, communication, and positioning), ensuring that the upper sensors (GPS antenna, wireless communication antenna, meteorological sensor, etc.) always maintain the best orientation, thereby improving the accuracy and reliability of the data.

[0149] When the sail blade 112 is linked with the lower magnetic counterweight mechanism, it can generate superimposed torque under the combined action of waves and wind, which significantly accelerates the buoy's self-righting speed and reduces overshoot during the righting process, allowing the buoy to regain stability more quickly.

[0150] It should be noted that the first cover 111 is roughly in the shape of a dome, and the sail 112 is roughly in the shape of a sail.

[0151] In at least one embodiment of this application, the first driving component includes: The first drive motor 113 is fixed on the first cover 111; The drive gear 1161 group 114 is rotatably connected to the first cover 111 and rotatably connected to the output end of the first drive motor 113 and the sail 112.

[0152] In at least one embodiment of this application, the buoy body 110 further includes: The lower cover assembly includes a second cover body 115 and a second drive assembly. The second cover body 115 covers the first cover body 111. The second drive assembly includes a second drive motor 116, a drive housing 117, and a drive blade 118. The second cover body 115 is provided with a fixed shaft 119, which extends into the drive housing 117 and is rotatably connected to the drive housing 117. The fixed shaft 119 is provided with a plurality of pawls 1191 at equal angles. The second drive motor 116 is located inside the drive housing 117. The output end of the second drive motor 116 is provided with a drive gear 1161. One end of the drive blade 118 is located inside the drive housing 117, and the other end extends outside the drive housing 117. One end of the drive blade 118 is provided with a transmission gear 1181. The drive gear 1161 can mesh with the transmission gear 1181 or the pawls 1191. The second drive motor 116 rotates along the first direction A to drive the drive housing 117 to rotate along the fixed shaft 119. The second drive motor 116 rotates along the second direction B to drive the drive blade 118 to rotate, thereby driving the automatic return structure 100 of the cableless buoy to move.

[0153] Please refer to Figures 1-7 In this embodiment, after the buoy is deployed, the external wind force acts on the exposed sail blade 112 of the upper cover assembly, causing the sail blade 112 to rotate passively.

[0154] When the wind speed is in the starting range (e.g., above 2–3 m / s), the sail 112 drives its transmission gear 1181 to mesh with the drive gear 1161 group 114, rotates the output shaft, and drives the first drive motor 113 (in the power generation mode, it is equivalent to the motor reversing to generate electricity) to deliver electrical energy to the control unit.

[0155] The control system can start the first drive motor 113 in the forward direction as needed (such as aligning with the main wind direction, reducing crosswind disturbance, and optimizing power generation efficiency).

[0156] The motor output end meshes with the shaft of the sail 112 through the drive gear 1161 group 114, precisely rotating the sail 112 to the target angle, realizing servo control—actively adjusting the windward or yaw angle of the sail 112.

[0157] The second cover 115 and the first cover 111 are fastened together to form the lower compartment.

[0158] The second drive motor 116 inside the cabin is connected to the drive housing 117 via a fixed shaft 119 inside the housing; the pawls 1191 distributed at equal angles on the fixed shaft 119 act as a one-way ratchet mechanism.

[0159] The motor output end is equipped with a drive gear 1161, which can mesh with a pawl 1191 to drive the entire drive housing 117 to rotate around a fixed shaft 119; or mesh with a transmission gear 1181 at the root of the drive blade 118 to directly drive the blade 118 to rotate and generate underwater thrust.

[0160] The controller instructs the second drive motor 116 to operate in the first direction A (forward rotation), and the drive gear 1161 engages with the pawl 1191. The locked tooth engagement drives the drive housing 117 to rotate a full circle or a small angle, so that the blade group can adjust the default attitude of the lower propulsion system or convert the blade group to the most favorable direction under the combined action of waves and wind, in order to cooperate with subsequent propulsion or self-alignment.

[0161] When the controller needs to initiate underwater propulsion (such as assisting in righting, shifting to a fixed position, or navigation), it reverses the motor (second direction B), causing the drive gear 1161 to disengage from the pawl 1191 and engage with the propeller drive gear 1181, directly rotating and driving the propeller 118.

[0162] Once started, the propellers generate forward or backward thrust in the water, which acts on the buoy body to help it quickly escape from large waves or maintain its drifting course.

[0163] The upper cover sail 112 uses wind energy for passive power generation and active azimuth adjustment, while the lower cover propeller uses electricity for underwater propulsion or attitude fine-tuning. The two complement each other to achieve all-weather, autonomous energy harvesting and utilization.

[0164] In the second drive assembly, a single motor can perform both housing positioning and blade drive functions by rotating forward and backward, eliminating the need for an additional commutator or clutch mechanism, thus reducing mechanical complexity and failure rate, and saving volume and weight.

[0165] By utilizing the rotation of the shell in the first direction A, the orientation of the lower thruster can be precisely preset. When the wave triggers the center of gravity adjustment, the propeller blade 118 is immediately driven in the opposite direction to output thrust, which accelerates the buoy's return to center or resists drift, shortens the return time, and enhances the stationary capability.

[0166] The electricity generated by the upper cover assembly can be stored in batteries and supplied to the lower cover assembly; the lower cover assembly then uses the electricity for higher-power underwater propulsion. This closed-loop wind-electricity-propulsion system enables the buoy to drift autonomously for extended periods and control its attitude.

[0167] The drive motor, gear set, pawl 1191 and propeller blades are all concentrated inside the upper and lower covers, which can be inspected and maintained on the deck or deck by opening the covers; the modular design facilitates replacement or upgrades and improves the efficiency of offshore maintenance.

[0168] It should be noted that the first drive motor 113 is a motor, the drive gear 1161 group 114 is composed of multiple meshing spur gears, the second cover 115 is roughly cylindrical and has one side recessed inward, the second drive motor 116 is a bidirectional motor to support forward and reverse rotation, the drive housing 117 is roughly an "L" shaped housing, the blades are roughly multiple blades, and the fixed shaft 119 is roughly a round shaft.

[0169] In at least one embodiment of this application, the second cover 115 is recessed inward on the side near the first cover 111 to form an accommodating cavity 110b, and the automatic homing structure 100 of the cableless buoy further includes: The sensor assembly 140 is installed within the accommodating cavity 110b.

[0170] Please refer to Figures 1-7 In this embodiment, an inwardly recessed receiving cavity 110b is provided on the mating side of the second cover 115 of the buoy lower cover assembly and the upper cover assembly, which neither affects the installation of the upper drive assembly nor interferes with the operation of the lower propulsion blade.

[0171] The sensor assembly 140 (including attitude sensor, accelerometer, gyroscope, environmental sensor module such as water pressure / turbidity / temperature) is fixedly installed in the accommodating cavity 110b, isolated from the outside world by a sealing cover, and tightly coupled with the mechanical return structure of the buoy body.

[0172] When the buoy drifts on the sea surface, it will produce various pitch, roll and rotation motions under the action of waves and wind; the inertial measurement unit (IMU) in the housing cavity 110b continuously collects triaxial acceleration and angular velocity to accurately measure the current attitude angle.

[0173] At the same time, environmental sensors (such as water temperature, salinity, turbidity, or air pressure sensors) also monitor the surrounding sea conditions in real time, providing multi-dimensional information for subsequent calibration and data reporting.

[0174] The sensor assembly 140 transmits the acquired attitude and environmental data to the buoy's central control unit (MCU) via an internal bus or radio frequency.

[0175] The control unit uses a preset algorithm: Attitude over-limit judgment: If the IMU detects that the tilt angle exceeds the safety threshold (e.g., 10°), the lower automatic return mechanism (magnetic counterweight or second drive blade 118) will be triggered immediately. Environmental linkage adjustment: If data such as water temperature and turbidity indicate drastic changes in sea conditions, the sail angle of 112 can be adjusted or the thruster locked in time to coordinate with the return to center.

[0176] After magnetic attraction or propeller propulsion is initiated, the sensor continuously monitors attitude changes and feeds them back to the control unit to correct the magnitude and direction of the return torque or propulsion thrust in real time.

[0177] When the sensor detects that the attitude has returned to the set balance range (e.g., tilt <1°), the control unit commands the accelerator to stop the accelerator movement and puts the buoy back into the "standby" monitoring state.

[0178] Sensor assembly 140 records the duration, maximum tilt angle, peak acceleration, and environmental parameters of the entire righting process, and periodically reports them to the shore via satellite / wireless link for sea state analysis and system performance evaluation.

[0179] By using the IMU attitude sensor in the accommodating cavity 110b, which is closely attached to the return mechanism, the tilt and vibration of the buoy can be captured in milliseconds, enabling real-time closed-loop control of the return mechanism, effectively shortening the return time and reducing the risk of capsizing.

[0180] Integrating environmental sensors within a module allows for the combined use of sea state (temperature, turbidity, pressure, etc.) and attitude data for intelligent decision-making. For example, it can automatically lock the thrusters or adjust the attitude of the sail blades 112 under extreme weather conditions, thereby enhancing the overall system's adaptability.

[0181] The sensor assembly 140 is placed in the lower cover cavity 110b, which does not occupy the upper cabin space and is close to the core structure of the return, simplifying wiring and waterproof sealing; during maintenance, only the second cover 115 needs to be opened for quick inspection or replacement, reducing the difficulty of operation.

[0182] The above description is merely an embodiment of this application. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make improvements without departing from the inventive concept of this application, but these improvements all fall within the protection scope of this application.

Claims

1. An automatic homing structure for a cableless buoy, characterized in that, The automatic righting structure of the cableless buoy includes: The buoy body has movable grooves on its outer peripheral wall; The counterweight structure includes a floating ring, a connecting component, and a counterweight adjustment component. One end of the connecting component extends into the movable groove, and the other end is fixedly connected to the inner ring of the floating ring. The counterweight adjustment component is disposed on the floating ring. A push-button switch is located within the movable slot; The floating ring moves with the waves, causing the connecting component to press the push switch, thereby changing the position of the counterweight adjustment component and altering the center of gravity of the automatic self-aligning structure of the cableless buoy.

2. The automatic homing structure for a cableless buoy according to claim 1, characterized in that, The floating ring has a sealed annular groove, which surrounds the buoy body; The counterweight adjustment component includes: A counterweight ball is disposed within the annular groove; A magnetic induction element is disposed on the floating ring and is capable of coupling with the counterweight ball; The connecting component presses the push switch to generate a magnetic force in the magnetic induction element, which then couples with the counterweight ball to adjust the center of gravity position of the automatic return structure of the cableless buoy.

3. The automatic homing structure for a cableless buoy according to claim 2, characterized in that, The number of connecting components is at least four, of which three connecting components are arranged at equal angles with the buoy body as the center, and the other connecting component is arranged between two adjacent connecting components to form an asymmetrical arrangement.

4. The automatic homing structure for a cableless buoy according to claim 3, characterized in that, There are multiple magnetic sensing elements, and each magnetic sensing element corresponds to one of the connecting components.

5. The automatic homing structure for a cableless buoy according to claim 2, characterized in that, The connection component includes: A fixing rod, one end of which is fixed to the inner circumferential surface of the floating ring; The telescopic rod has a connecting groove at one end, and the end of the fixed rod away from the floating ring is received in the connecting groove. The ball head is located at the end of the telescopic rod away from the fixed rod.

6. The automatic homing structure for a cableless buoy according to claim 5, characterized in that, The connection component also includes: An elastic element is disposed in the connecting groove, with one end abutting against the inner wall of the connecting groove and the other end abutting against the fixing rod.

7. The automatic homing structure for a cableless buoy according to claim 1, characterized in that, The buoy body includes: The top cover assembly includes a first cover body, a first drive assembly, and a sail blade. The first drive assembly is mounted on the first cover body and is drive-connected to the sail blade.

8. The automatic homing structure for a cableless buoy according to claim 7, characterized in that, The first driving component includes: The first drive motor is fixed to the first cover. The drive gear set is rotatably connected to the first cover and rotatably connected to the output end of the first drive motor and the sail blade.

9. The automatic homing structure for a cable-free buoy according to claim 8, characterized in that, The buoy body also includes: The lower cover assembly includes a second cover body and a second drive assembly. The second cover body covers the first cover body. The second drive assembly includes a second drive motor, a drive housing, and a drive blade. The second cover body is provided with a fixed shaft, which extends into the drive housing and is rotatably connected to the drive housing. The fixed shaft is provided with multiple pawls at equal angles. The second drive motor is located inside the drive housing, and the output end of the second drive motor is provided with a drive gear. One end of the drive blade is located inside the drive housing, and the other end extends outside the drive housing. One end of the drive blade is provided with a transmission gear, and the drive gear can mesh with the transmission gear or the pawls. The second drive motor rotates along the first direction to drive the drive housing to rotate along the fixed axis, and the second drive motor rotates along the second direction to drive the drive blade to rotate, thereby driving the automatic return structure of the cableless buoy to move.

10. The automatic homing structure for a cableless buoy according to claim 9, characterized in that, The second cover is recessed inward on the side near the first cover to form an accommodating cavity, and the automatic homing structure of the cableless buoy also includes: The sensor assembly is installed within the accommodating cavity.

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