Underwater ultrasonic wireless power transmission device and method

Abstract

The present invention discloses an underwater ultrasonic wireless power transmission device and method. The transmission device includes: an ultrasonic transmitting assembly, which includes a first cavity and a transmitting transducer, the first cavity having a top opening and a bearing portion disposed therein, the bearing portion dividing the first cavity into an upper cavity and a lower cavity that are interconnected, the transmitting transducer being placed on the bearing portion with its transmitting surface facing the top opening, and the first cavity containing liquid metal; a transducer receiving assembly, which includes a second cavity and a receiving transducer, the second cavity having a bottom opening and a built-in receiving transducer, the receiving surface of the receiving transducer facing the bottom opening; a driving assembly, which is used to drive the liquid metal to move when the liquid metal is in a liquid state; during wireless power transmission, the first cavity and the second cavity are docked, and the driving assembly drives the liquid metal in a liquid state to move to cover the transmitting transducer and at least the receiving surface of the receiving transducer. The present invention can improve the efficiency of power transmission and enhance the flexibility of device layout.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of underwater equipment power supply, and in particular to an underwater ultrasonic wireless power transmission device and method. Background Art

[0002] Ultrasonic radio transmission is a new type of medium- and short-distance power transmission method. This transmission method has the advantages of strong directionality, easy energy concentration, and no electromagnetic interference. It has relatively weak attenuation during propagation in liquid and solid media. Therefore, ultrasonic radio transmission is mostly used in liquid and solid media.

[0003] The transmission medium used in existing underwater ultrasonic wireless power transmission is a single fixed medium, such as natural seawater, a metal plate fixed between a transmitting transducer and a receiving transducer, etc.

[0004] During ultrasonic radio transmission, transducers commonly used underwater mostly use piezoelectric ceramics as energy conversion devices. The energy transmitting and receiving ends are metal. The energy is transmitted through the process of "transmitting end piezoelectric ceramic -> metal -> seawater -> metal -> receiving end piezoelectric ceramic". There is still a certain gap in the impedance matching between seawater and metal. Large energy loss will be generated at the energy exchange interface between the transducer and water, resulting in efficiency generally within 40%, which is difficult to improve, restricting the efficiency of underwater ultrasonic radio power transmission.

[0005] When using metal transmission media, it is necessary to ensure that the transducer and the metal are tightly fitted. Therefore, the transducer cannot leave the metal medium. This is not suitable for remote wireless power supply scenarios of marine underwater equipment and its application is inflexible. Summary of the Invention

[0006] One of the purposes of an embodiment of the present invention is to provide an underwater ultrasonic wireless power transmission device. During wireless power transmission, liquefied liquid metal is used as a transmission medium to match the impedance between the transducer and improve the efficiency of power transmission. The first cavity and the second cavity can be separated to enable the flexible use of the transmission device.

[0007] In order to achieve the above-mentioned purpose, the present invention adopts the following technical solutions:

[0008] The present application relates to an underwater ultrasonic wireless power transmission device, which is characterized by comprising:

[0009] An ultrasonic transmitting assembly, comprising a first cavity and a transmitting transducer, wherein the first cavity has a top opening and a supporting portion is disposed therein, the supporting portion dividing the first cavity into an upper cavity and a lower cavity that are interconnected, the transmitting transducer being disposed on the supporting portion with its transmitting surface facing the top opening, and the first cavity containing liquid metal;

[0010] A transducer receiving assembly, comprising a second cavity and a receiving transducer, wherein the second cavity has a bottom opening and houses the receiving transducer, and a receiving surface of the receiving transducer faces the bottom opening;

[0011] a driving assembly, configured to drive the liquid metal to move when the liquid metal is in a liquid state;

[0012] During wireless power transmission, the first cavity and the second cavity are connected to form a space communicating with the underwater environment, and the driving assembly drives the liquid metal to move to cover the transmitting transducer and at least the receiving surface of the receiving transducer;

[0013] When the first cavity and the second cavity are connected, the receiving surface and the emitting surface are opposite to each other with a gap therebetween.

[0014] In the present application, the transmitting transducer is arranged at a middle position of the carrying portion, and the carrying portion is provided with at least one through portion surrounding the transmitting transducer for connecting the upper cavity and the lower cavity.

[0015] In the present application, the upper surface of the carrying portion is inclined downward from the portion thereof connected to the inner side wall of the first cavity to the through portion.

[0016] In this application, the drive assembly includes:

[0017] A hydraulic motor for providing hydraulic energy;

[0018] a hydraulic cylinder that receives the hydraulic energy;

[0019] A piston is capable of extending or retracting the hydraulic cylinder, and the piston extends into the lower cavity, and is used to push the liquid metal in the lower cavity into the upper cavity or to return the liquid metal to the lower cavity.

[0020] In this application, the underwater ultrasonic wireless power transmission device also includes:

[0021] A heating component is used to heat the liquid metal in a solid state into a liquid state.

[0022] In the present application, the heating component is a high-frequency induction heating coil, and is arranged on the surface of the supporting portion facing the lower cavity.

[0023] In this application, the underwater ultrasonic wireless power transmission device also includes:

[0024] at least one first temperature sensor, configured to detect the temperature of the medium in the upper cavity;

[0025] At least one second temperature sensor is used to detect the temperature of the medium in the lower cavity.

[0026] Compared with the existing technology, the underwater ultrasonic wireless power transmission method provided by this application has the following advantages and beneficial effects:

[0027] (1) During ultrasonic wireless power transmission, the first cavity and the second cavity are docked so that the top opening and the bottom opening are opposite to each other and form a space connected to the underwater environment, and the transmitting surface and the receiving surface are opposite to each other with a gap therebetween. The driving component drives the liquid metal to move so that the liquid metal covers the transmitting transducer, at least the receiving surface and the gap between the transmitting surface and the receiving surface, so that during ultrasonic wireless power transmission, the liquid metal is used as the transmission medium, thereby improving the impedance matching between the transmitting transducer, the receiving transducer and the transmission medium, reducing the energy loss at the energy exchange interface between the transducer and the transmission medium, and thus improving the power transmission efficiency;

[0028] (2) In a conventional underwater environment when ultrasonic wireless power transmission is not performed, the first cavity and the second cavity are separated, and the liquid metal is in the first cavity, so that the transmission device can be used flexibly and conveniently in an underwater environment.

[0029] The present application also relates to an underwater ultrasonic wireless power transmission method, which is implemented using the underwater ultrasonic wireless power transmission device as described above, and is characterized by comprising the following steps:

[0030] docking the first cavity and the second cavity;

[0031] When the liquid metal is in a liquid state, the driving assembly works to push the liquid metal to move and cover the transmitting transducer and at least the receiving surface of the receiving transducer;

[0032] Controlling the start of ultrasonic wireless power transmission process;

[0033] During the ultrasonic wireless energy transmission process, the liquid metal is kept in liquid state.

[0034] In this application, after the power transmission process is completed, the following steps are also performed:

[0035] Controlling and ending the ultrasonic wireless energy transmission process;

[0036] When the liquid metal is in liquid state, the driving assembly works to push the liquid metal to move and flow back into the lower cavity.

[0037] In the present application, the underwater ultrasonic wireless power transmission method further includes the following steps before starting the ultrasonic wireless power transmission process:

[0038] It is detected whether the water temperature of the seawater in the upper cavity and the temperature of the liquid metal in the lower cavity are both greater than the melting point of the liquid metal.

[0039] Other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent after reading the detailed description of the present invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0040] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention, the following is a brief introduction to the drawings required for use in the embodiments. Obviously, the drawings described below are some embodiments of the present invention. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without paying any creative work.

[0041] Figure 1 The structure of an embodiment of the underwater ultrasonic wireless power transmission device proposed by the present invention is Figure 1 , at this time, the transmission device is in the non-electric energy transmission process;

[0042] Figure 2 The structure of an embodiment of the underwater ultrasonic wireless power transmission device proposed by the present invention is Figure 2 , at this time, the transmission device is in the process of waiting for power transmission;

[0043] Figure 3 The structure of an embodiment of the underwater ultrasonic wireless power transmission device proposed by the present invention is Figure 2 , at this time, the transmission device is in the process of power transmission;

[0044] Figure 4 This is a flow chart of an embodiment of the underwater ultrasonic wireless power transmission method proposed by the present invention;

[0045] Figure 5 This is a flow chart of ending wireless power transmission in an embodiment of the underwater ultrasonic wireless power transmission method proposed by the present invention.

[0046] Reference numerals:

[0047] 100 - receiving transducer assembly; 110 - second cavity; 120 - receiving transducer; 130 - overflow port; 140 - boss;

[0048] 200 - ultrasonic transmitting assembly; 210 - first cavity; 211 - lower cavity; 212 - upper cavity; 220 - transmitting transducer; 230 - liquid metal; 240 - bearing portion; 241 - through portion; 250 - heating component; 260 - first temperature sensor; 260' - second temperature sensor; 270 - driving assembly; 271 - hydraulic motor; 272 - hydraulic cylinder; 273 - piston; 280 - control box. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0049] The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below in conjunction with the drawings in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the present invention, rather than all the embodiments.

[0050] Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without making creative work are within the scope of protection of the present invention. In the description of the present invention, it should be noted that, unless otherwise clearly stipulated and limited, the terms "install", "connect", and "connect" should be understood in a broad sense. For example, it can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection. For ordinary technicians in this field, the specific meanings of the above terms in the present invention can be understood according to specific circumstances. In the description of the above embodiments, specific features, structures, materials or characteristics can be combined in an appropriate manner in any one or more embodiments or examples.

[0051] The terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the quantity of the technical features being referred to. Thus, a feature specified as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of such features. In the description of the present invention, unless otherwise specified, "plurality" means two or more.

[0052] In order to improve the efficiency of underwater ultrasonic wireless power transmission, the present application relates to an underwater ultrasonic wireless power transmission device (hereinafter referred to as the transmission device) to achieve better matching of the impedance between the transmission medium and the transducer, thereby improving the power transmission efficiency.

[0053] Since the average annual surface water temperature of the three major oceans (except the Arctic Ocean) is about 17.4°C, the water temperature generally decreases with increasing depth. The temperature can be as low as 1°C to 2°C at depths deeper than 3,000 meters. The temperature of seawater, which accounts for 75% of the total volume of the ocean, is between 0°C and 6°C.

[0054] This application is based on the temperature statistical characteristics of seawater and utilizes the property that liquid metal can be converted between liquid and solid states within the normal temperature range of 10°C to 20°C. In the process of underwater ultrasonic wireless power transmission, liquid liquid metal is used to replace seawater as the transmission medium to improve the impedance matching at the energy transmission interface, thereby improving the power transmission efficiency.

[0055] In the present application, a liquid metal with a melting point of about 20°C is selected, for example, a gallium-indium alloy or a gallium-zinc alloy with a melting point of about 25°C.

[0056] See also Figures 1 to 3 , which shows the structure of the transmission device.

[0057] The transmission device includes an ultrasonic transmitting component 200 , a transducer receiving component 100 , a driving component 270 and a control box 280 .

[0058] The ultrasonic transmitting assembly 200 includes a first cavity 210 and a transmitting transducer 220 , wherein the transmitting transducer 220 is used to convert high-frequency alternating current into ultrasonic mechanical energy.

[0059] As is well known, the ultrasonic transmitting assembly 200 further includes a rectifier circuit (not shown), an inverter circuit (not shown), and a matching circuit (not shown).

[0060] The rectifier circuit is used to convert AC mains power into stable DC power; the inverter circuit is used to convert DC power into AC power; and the matching circuit is used to convert AC power into high-frequency AC power that matches the transmitting transducer.

[0061] In this application, the focus is on the transmitting transducer 220 and the first cavity 210 where it is located.

[0062] The first cavity 210 has an open top and a supporting portion 240 therein. The first cavity 210 may be a cylindrical structure or a rectangular parallelepiped structure, which is not limited herein.

[0063] The supporting portion 240 may be configured as a supporting plate, which divides the first cavity 210 into an upper cavity 212 and a lower cavity 211 that are connected to each other.

[0064] At least one through portion 241 may be provided on the carrying portion 240 to achieve communication between the upper cavity 212 and the lower cavity 211 .

[0065] The through portion 241 can be a plurality of through holes spaced apart on the carrier portion 240 , or a through annular groove can be provided on the carrier portion 240 , as long as the upper cavity 212 and the lower cavity 211 are connected.

[0066] The transmitting transducer 220 is disposed on the supporting portion 240 , and its transmitting surface is open toward the top.

[0067] In the present application, the transmitting transducer 220 is arranged at the center of the carrying portion 240, and the through portion 241 is opened around the transmitting transducer 220, so that the liquid metal 230 in the first cavity 210 can move through the through portion 241 when it is in liquid state.

[0068] See also Figure 1 In the non-electrical energy transmission state, the liquid metal 230 is stored in the lower cavity 211 .

[0069] When power transmission is required, see Figure 2The driving assembly 270 drives the liquid metal 230 in liquid form to pass through the through portion 241 and move from the lower cavity 211 to the upper cavity 212 .

[0070] In this application, see Figures 1 to 3 The driving assembly 270 includes a hydraulic motor 271 , a hydraulic cylinder 272 and a piston 273 , wherein the piston 273 is located in the lower cavity 211 .

[0071] The hydraulic motor 271 provides hydraulic power, and the hydraulic cylinder 272 receives the hydraulic power and converts it into a linear up and down motion of the piston 273. When the liquid metal 230 is in liquid state, the hydraulic motor 271 and the hydraulic cylinder 272 drive the piston 273 to extend and push the liquid metal 230 in the lower cavity 211 through the through portion 241 into the upper cavity 212 (see Figure 1 Change to Figure 2 ), or by driving the piston 273 to retract and return the liquid metal 230 from the upper cavity 212 to the lower cavity 211 (see Figure 2 / Figure 3 Change to Figure 1 ).

[0072] The hydraulic motor 271 is connected to a control box 280 to control the execution of the hydraulic motor 271 , wherein the control box 280 is disposed outside the first cavity 210 .

[0073] The wiring of the transmitting transducer 220 is connected to the control box 280 through a watertight connector (not shown) reserved on the carrying portion 240 and a watertight connector (not shown) reserved on the side wall of the first cavity 210 .

[0074] See also Figures 1 to 3 The transducer receiving component 100 includes a second cavity 110 and a receiving transducer 120, wherein the receiving transducer 120 is used to convert ultrasonic mechanical energy into high-frequency electrical energy for output.

[0075] As is known, the energy transducing and receiving assembly 100 further includes a rectifier circuit (not shown), a voltage stabilizing circuit (not shown), and a charging circuit (not shown).

[0076] The rectifier current is used to convert the converted high-frequency electrical energy into direct current; the voltage stabilizing circuit is used to rectify and stabilize the direct current into a current matching the underwater measuring device; the charging circuit is used to charge the underwater measuring device.

[0077] In this application, the focus is on the receiving transducer 120 and the second cavity 110 where it is located.

[0078] The wiring of the receiving transducer 120 is connected to the electrical load through a wiring plug connector reserved on the second cavity 110 .

[0079] The second cavity 110 has a bottom opening. The receiving transducer 120 is placed in the second cavity 110 with its receiving surface facing the bottom opening.

[0080] The structure of the second cavity 110 is adapted to the structure of the first cavity 210 , so that the first cavity 210 and the second cavity 110 can be docked at the top opening and the bottom opening thereof.

[0081] When the first cavity 210 and the second cavity 110 are docked, a space communicating with the underwater environment is formed, and the transmitting surface of the transmitting transducer 220 and the receiving surface of the receiving transducer 120 are opposite to each other with a certain gap, see Figure 3 .

[0082] In order to facilitate the discharge of seawater, an overflow port 130 is provided on the side wall of the second cavity 110. Figures 1 to 3 .

[0083] See also Figure 3 When the first cavity 210 and the second cavity 110 are docked, the formed closed space is connected to the underwater environment through the overflow port 130.

[0084] See also Figures 1 to 3 A boss 140 is provided at a middle position in the second cavity 110 , and the receiving transducer 120 is provided on the boss 140 .

[0085] If the water temperature of the underwater environment is higher than the melting point of the liquid metal 230 , the liquid metal 230 will remain in liquid state.

[0086] See also Figure 1 ,In the non-electrical energy transmission state, the liquid gold ,230 is placed in the lower cavity 211.

[0087] In the power transmission state, see Figure 3 The first cavity 210 and the second cavity 110 are connected, and the driving component 270 drives the liquid metal 230 into the upper cavity 212 and then into the second cavity 110, so that the liquid metal 230 covers the transmitting transducer 220, the gap between the transmitting transducer 220 and the receiving transducer 120, and at least the receiving surface of the receiving transducer 120 (see Figure 3 ), so that during the power transmission process, the liquid metal 230 is used as a transmission medium to improve the impedance matching between it and the transmitting transducer 220 and the receiving transducer 120, thereby improving the power transmission efficiency.

[0088] See also Figures 1 to 3In the present application, the upper surface of the supporting portion 240 is inclined downward from the portion where it is connected to the inner wall of the first cavity 210 to the through portion 241, so as to allow the liquid metal 230 to flow toward the middle, thereby facilitating the recovery of the liquid metal 230 into the lower cavity 211 when the ultrasonic wireless power transmission is completed.

[0089] When the power transmission is completed, the driving assembly 270 drives the liquid metal 230 to be recovered into the lower cavity 211 , after which the first cavity 210 can be separated from the second cavity 110 .

[0090] If the water temperature of the underwater environment is not enough to reach the melting point of the liquid metal 230, then in this application, see Figures 1 to 3 The transmission device further includes a heating component 250 for heating the liquid metal 230 in a solid state.

[0091] The heating component 250 is disposed in the lower cavity 211 , specifically on the lower surface of the supporting portion 240 .

[0092] The heating component 250 uses a heating coil, which is a ring-shaped high-frequency induction heating coil and is electrically connected to the control box 280 .

[0093] In the present application, the eddy current effect of a high-frequency induction heating coil is used to heat liquid metal over a large area. This heating method has a fast heating speed, a simple heating structure, and is easy to install and use.

[0094] In an alternative embodiment, the heating component 250 may also be replaced by an electric heating tube or an electric heating plate.

[0095] In order to keep the liquid metal 230 in a liquid state during power transmission, at least one first temperature sensor (one of the first temperature sensors 260 is shown) and at least one second temperature sensor (one of the second temperature sensors 260 ′ is shown) are provided in the present application.

[0096] Each first temperature sensor 260 is used to detect whether the current state of the liquid metal 230 is solid or liquid.

[0097] In this application, see Figures 1 to 3 The at least one first temperature sensor 230 is disposed on the side wall of the lower cavity 211 , and its probe extends into the interior of the lower cavity 211 .

[0098] Each second temperature sensor 260 ′ is used to detect the temperature of the medium in the upper cavity 212 .

[0099] In the present application, the second temperature sensor 260 ′ is disposed on the side wall of the upper cavity 212 , and its probe extends into the interior of the upper cavity 212 .

[0100] See also Figure 1In the non-electrical energy transmission state, the liquid metal 230 is in solid form due to the low temperature of the seawater and is stored in the lower cavity 211. The seawater will enter the upper cavity 212 through the top opening. At this time, the first temperature sensor 260 is used to detect the temperature of the liquid metal 230, and the second temperature sensor 260' is used to detect the temperature of the seawater.

[0101] In the present application, the ultrasonic transmitting assembly 100 and the control box 280, each first temperature sensor 260 and each second temperature sensor 260' can be completely encapsulated in the shell (not shown) of the underwater power supply equipment, without contact with the underwater environment, and only retaining the top opening for docking with the receiving transducer assembly 200.

[0102] See also Figures 1 to 4 , describing the process of power transmission by the device.

[0103] S41: The first cavity 210 and the second cavity 110 are connected.

[0104] See also Figure 3 When transmitting electric energy, the first cavity 210 and the second cavity 110 need to be docked so that the transmitting surface of the transmitting transducer 220 and the receiving surface of the receiving transducer 120 are opposite to each other with a gap therebetween.

[0105] At this time, the first cavity 210 and the second cavity 110 enclose a space, and the space is connected to the underwater environment only through the overflow port 130 on the second cavity 110 for the inflow / outflow of seawater.

[0106] S42 : When the liquid metal 230 is in liquid state, the driving assembly 270 operates to push the liquid metal 230 to move and cover the transmitting transducer 220 and at least the receiving surface of the receiving transducer 120 .

[0107] As described above, when the water temperature of the underwater environment is greater than the melting point of the liquid metal 230 , the liquid metal 230 continues to remain in a liquid state.

[0108] In a conventional marine underwater environment, most environmental conditions can basically ensure that the liquid metal 230 exists in a solid form without flowing or shaking. There will be no outflow loss due to the posture swaying or overturning of the underwater power supply equipment, and the motion posture control of the underwater power supply equipment will not be affected.

[0109] That is, in a conventional ocean underwater environment, when the water temperature of the underwater environment is not high enough to reach the melting point of the liquid metal 230, before starting the ultrasonic wireless power transmission process, it is necessary to cooperate with each first temperature sensor 260, each second temperature sensor 260' and the heating component 250 to keep the liquid metal 230 in a liquid state during the power transmission process, so that when the power transmission process starts, the driving component 270 can push the liquid metal 230 (see Figure 2 ).

[0110] Specifically, before the ultrasonic wireless power transmission process begins, the liquid metal 230 is stored in the lower cavity 211 (see Figure 1 ), and the upper cavity 212 and the second cavity 110 contain seawater. Therefore, it is necessary to first detect the temperature of the seawater to determine whether the liquid metal 230 flowing out of the lower cavity 211 needs to be heated.

[0111] As described above, the second temperature sensor 260 ′ is used to detect the temperature of the seawater.

[0112] Afterwards, the temperature of the liquid metal 230 is detected to determine whether the current state of the liquid metal 230 is liquid.

[0113] As described above, the first temperature sensor 260 is used to detect the temperature of the liquid metal 230 .

[0114] Based on the melting point of the liquid metal 230 and the temperature feedback from the first temperature sensor 260 and the second temperature sensor 260', it is determined whether the liquid metal 230 is below the melting point. If so, the liquid metal 230 is in a solid state and cannot be pushed. If not, the liquid metal 230 is in a liquid state and can be pushed.

[0115] If the water temperature fed back by the second temperature sensor 260 ′ is greater than the melting point of the liquid metal 230 , it indicates that there is no need to use the heating component 250 for supplementary heating, and if the temperature of the liquid metal 230 fed back by the first temperature sensor 260 is greater than the melting point of the liquid metal 230 , it indicates that the liquid metal 230 is currently in liquid state.

[0116] After the liquid metal 230 is in liquid state, the driving assembly 270 is controlled to operate, so that the piston 273 extends and pushes the liquid metal 230 through the through portion 241, from the lower cavity 211 into the upper cavity 212, and then into the second cavity 110, so that the liquid metal 230 covers the transmitting transducer 220, the gap between the transmitting transducer 220 and the receiving transducer 120, and at least the receiving surface of the receiving transducer 120 (see Figure 3 ).

[0117] If the water temperature fed back by the second temperature sensor 260' is lower than the melting point of the liquid metal 230, and / or the temperature of the liquid metal 230 fed back by the first temperature sensor 260 is lower than the melting point of the liquid metal 230, it is necessary to control the heating component 150 to heat the liquid metal 230 and keep the liquid metal 230 liquefied until the temperature fed back by either the first temperature sensor 260 or the second temperature sensor 260' is higher than the melting point of the liquid metal 230, at which time the heating component 250 is stopped.

[0118] In the present application, the detection temperature points of the first temperature sensor 260 and the second temperature sensor 260 ′ should be slightly higher than the melting point of the liquid metal 230 so as to have sufficient feedback control time and heat transfer time.

[0119] When the temperature measured by any temperature sensor is lower than the detection temperature point, the control box 280 controls the heating component 250 to operate and heat the liquid metal 130 until the temperature measured by any temperature sensor is higher than the detection temperature point, and then stops heating.

[0120] It should be noted that during the ultrasonic wireless power transmission process, the temperature of the liquid metal 230 is monitored in real time to keep the liquid metal 230 in a liquid state to prevent the liquid metal 230 from solidifying after heat dissipation due to the low seawater temperature. The transmitting transducer 220 and the receiving transducer 120 are fixedly connected together. Once the docking activity occurs due to unstable posture, the transducer will be damaged.

[0121] The above process continues until the ultrasonic wireless energy transmission process is completed.

[0122] S43: The control starts the ultrasonic wireless power transmission process.

[0123] As described in S42 above, after the liquid metal 230 is pushed by the driving assembly 270 to cover the transmitting transducer 220 and at least the receiving surface of the receiving transducer 120, the control box 280 controls the driving of the transmitting transducer 220 to start the ultrasonic wireless power transmission process.

[0124] During ultrasonic wireless power transmission, the liquid metal 230 is used as a transmission medium to improve impedance matching between the liquid metal 230 and the transmitting transducer 220 and the receiving transducer 120, thereby improving power transmission efficiency.

[0125] Refer to Figure 5, which shows a flow chart of the transmission device after completing the power transmission process.

[0126] S51: Control to end the ultrasonic wireless power transmission process.

[0127] After the ultrasonic wireless power transmission process is completed, the control box 280 stops supplying power to the transmitting transducer 220, ending the ultrasonic wireless power transmission process.

[0128] S52 : When the liquid metal 230 is in liquid state, the driving assembly 270 works to push the liquid metal 230 to move and flow back into the lower cavity 211 .

[0129] As described above, when the water temperature of the underwater environment is greater than the melting point of the liquid metal 230 , the liquid metal 230 continues to remain in a liquid state.

[0130] As described above, in a conventional ocean underwater environment, when the water temperature of the underwater environment is not high enough to reach the melting point of the liquid metal 230, before starting to recover the liquid metal 230, it is necessary to cooperate with each first temperature sensor 260, each second temperature sensor 260' and the heating component 250 to keep the liquid metal 230 in a liquid state, so that when the power transmission process ends, the driving component 270 can push the liquid metal 230 back into the lower cavity 211.

[0131] Specifically, the temperatures fed back by the first temperature sensors 260 and the second temperature sensors 260' are received and compared with the melting point of the liquid metal 230 in real time. If it is determined that the temperatures fed back by any sensor are higher than the melting point, it indicates that the liquid metal 230 is currently in liquid state and can be recycled. Otherwise, the liquid metal 230 is in solid state and cannot be recycled.

[0132] If the liquid metal 230 is in liquid state, the control box 280 controls the driving assembly 270 to operate, so that the piston 273 retracts and the liquid metal 230 passes through the through portion 214 and is recovered into the lower cavity 211. Figure 3 -> Figure 2 -> Figure 1 process of change.

[0133] If the liquid metal 230 is solid, the heating component 250 needs to be controlled to heat the liquid metal 230 and keep the liquid metal 230 liquefied until the temperature feedback from either the first temperature sensor 260 or the second temperature sensor 260 ′ is greater than the melting point of the liquid metal 230 .

[0134] At this time, the liquid metal 230 can be recovered. Afterwards, the control box 280 controls the driving assembly 270 to operate, so that the piston 273 retracts and the liquid metal 230 passes through the through portion 241 and is recovered into the lower cavity 211 .

[0135] It should be noted that when the piston 273 retracts to the lowest position, there may still be some residual liquid metal 230 retained in the upper cavity 212. At this time, the heating component 250 is kept heated for several minutes, and the posture can be appropriately adjusted through the platform where the underwater power supply equipment is located to make the liquid metal 230 flow, ensuring that as much liquid metal 230 as possible flows back into the lower cavity 211, and then the heating component 250 is stopped.

[0136] In the embodiment of the present application, the melting point of the liquid metal 230 is selected to be higher than the average temperature of seawater, ensuring that in most conventional marine underwater environments, the liquid metal 230 is stored in the lower cavity in a solid state. In this way, when the first cavity 210 and the second cavity 110 are arranged separately, the liquid metal 230 exists in a solid form without flowing or shaking, and will not cause outflow loss due to the posture swaying or overturning of the underwater power supply equipment, and will not affect the motion posture control of the underwater power supply equipment.

[0137] During ultrasonic wireless power transmission, the liquid metal 230 is heated from solid to liquid, replacing water as the transmission medium, improving the impedance matching between it and the transmitting transducer 220 and the receiving transducer 120, and improving the power transmission efficiency.

[0138] In the present application, the ultrasonic transmitting component 200 and the transducer receiving component 100 can be modularly designed and can be integrated into underwater power supply equipment and underwater power-consuming equipment respectively; they can also be used as external plug-ins for the corresponding equipment, connected through reserved wiring interfaces, cables, and connectors, as auxiliary power supply modules; and when no electric energy is transmitted, the liquid metal 230 is stored in a solid state in the lower cavity 211, and the ultrasonic transmitting component 200 and the transducer receiving component 100 can be arranged separately, thereby improving the layout flexibility of the transmission device.

[0139] The above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention, rather than to limit the same. Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the aforementioned embodiments, it is still possible for a person skilled in the art to modify the technical solutions described in the aforementioned embodiments, or to replace some of the technical features therein with equivalents. However, these modifications or replacements do not deviate the essence of the corresponding technical solutions from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions claimed to be protected by the present invention.

Claims

1. An underwater ultrasonic wireless power transmission device, characterized in that: include: An ultrasonic transmitting assembly includes a first cavity and a transmitting transducer. The first cavity has a top opening and a supporting portion disposed therein. The supporting portion divides the first cavity into an upper cavity and a lower cavity that are interconnected. The transmitting transducer is placed on the supporting portion with its transmitting surface facing the top opening. During non-wireless power transmission, liquid metal is stored in a solid form in the lower cavity. A transducer receiving assembly, comprising a second cavity and a receiving transducer, wherein the second cavity has a bottom opening and houses the receiving transducer, and a receiving surface of the receiving transducer faces the bottom opening; a driving assembly, configured to drive the liquid metal to move when the liquid metal is in a liquid state; During non-wireless power transmission, the first cavity and the second cavity are separated; During wireless power transmission, the first cavity and the second cavity are docked, and the second cavity and the lower cavity enclose a space that is in communication with the underwater environment. The driving assembly drives the liquid metal that has changed from solid to liquid to move from the lower cavity into the space to cover the transmitting transducer and at least the receiving surface of the receiving transducer. When the first cavity and the second cavity are docked, the receiving surface and the emitting surface are opposite to each other with a gap therebetween.

2. The underwater ultrasonic wireless power transmission device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The transmitting transducer is arranged at a middle position of the carrying portion, and the carrying portion is provided with at least one through portion surrounding the transmitting transducer for connecting the upper cavity and the lower cavity.

3. The underwater ultrasonic wireless power transmission device according to claim 2, characterized in that: The upper surface of the carrying portion is inclined downward from a portion thereof connected to the inner side wall of the first cavity to the through portion.

4. The underwater ultrasonic wireless power transmission device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The drive assembly includes: A hydraulic motor for providing hydraulic energy; a hydraulic cylinder that receives the hydraulic energy; A piston is capable of extending or retracting the hydraulic cylinder, and the piston extends into the lower cavity, and is used to push the liquid metal in the lower cavity into the upper cavity or to return the liquid metal to the lower cavity.

5. The underwater ultrasonic wireless power transmission device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The underwater ultrasonic wireless power transmission device further comprises: A heating component is used to heat the liquid metal in a solid state into a liquid state.

6. The underwater ultrasonic wireless power transmission device according to claim 5, characterized in that: The heating component is a high-frequency induction heating coil and is arranged on a surface of the carrying portion facing the lower cavity.

7. The underwater ultrasonic wireless power transmission device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The underwater ultrasonic wireless power transmission device further comprises: at least one first temperature sensor, configured to detect the temperature of the medium in the upper cavity; At least one second temperature sensor is used to detect the temperature of the medium in the lower cavity.

8. An underwater ultrasonic wireless power transmission method, which is implemented using the underwater ultrasonic wireless power transmission device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that: The steps include: docking the first cavity and the second cavity; When the liquid metal is in a liquid state, the driving assembly works to push the liquid metal to move and cover the transmitting transducer and at least the receiving surface of the receiving transducer; Controlling the start of ultrasonic wireless power transmission process; During the ultrasonic wireless energy transmission process, the liquid metal is kept in liquid state.

9. The underwater ultrasonic wireless power transmission method according to claim 8, characterized in that: After the power transfer process is complete, perform the following steps: Controlling and ending the ultrasonic wireless energy transmission process; When the liquid metal is in liquid state, the driving assembly works to push the liquid metal to move and flow back into the lower cavity.

10. The underwater ultrasonic wireless power transmission method according to claim 8, characterized in that: Before starting the ultrasonic wireless power transmission process, the following steps are also included: It is detected whether the water temperature of the seawater in the upper cavity and the temperature of the liquid metal in the lower cavity are both greater than the melting point of the liquid metal.

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