Underwater equipment protection device

Abstract

This application discloses an underwater equipment protection device, comprising: an underwater equipment body including an equipment operating surface or electrical connection terminal; a protective cover including a receiving space having an internal shape adapted to the shape and size of the equipment operating surface or electrical connection terminal; a super absorbent resin layer attached to the inner wall of the receiving space; and a self-locking structure disposed between the protective cover and the underwater equipment body. When the protective cover is mounted on the underwater equipment body, the protective cover at least completely covers the equipment operating surface or electrical connection terminal. The super absorbent resin layer expands in volume after absorbing water, thereby completely filling the gap between the protective cover and the underwater equipment body, thereby isolating at least the portion of the underwater equipment body including the equipment operating surface or electrical connection terminal from marine organisms. This application has a simple structure and provides excellent protection.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the technical field of underwater equipment, and in particular to a protective device for underwater equipment. Background Art

[0002] Marine biofouling on underwater facilities can directly impact equipment performance and maintenance operations, and can also affect the normal operation of underwater devices, buoys, docks, nearshore facilities, and offshore platforms. In particular, fields such as ocean observation and underwater mining, which have seen rapid growth in recent years, utilize a large number of underwater equipment and facilities. Marine biofouling on the working surfaces and joints of these underwater equipment and facilities during maintenance can directly impact the ability to complete underwater maintenance operations. Therefore, addressing the issue of marine biofouling on underwater facilities and equipment has always been a crucial issue in the operation and maintenance of marine equipment.

[0003] Currently, the primary method for preventing marine organisms from attaching to deep-sea equipment is to coat the surface with antifouling paint and copper ion materials. While antifouling paint is effective in the early stages of application, its effectiveness gradually diminishes due to its aging properties, eventually losing its effectiveness completely. The equipment then needs to be replaced for recoating. Furthermore, antifouling paint often loses its effectiveness on working surfaces and joints of underwater facilities due to bumps and wear. Furthermore, due to its toxicity, protective paint poses a significant risk to the marine environment and is therefore not suitable for large-scale use.

[0004] Copper alloy materials are effective in preventing marine organisms, but they still cannot prevent the attachment of slime-producing bacteria and biofilms, and cannot completely eliminate the attachment and growth of marine organisms. It is not enough to use only copper alloy materials to protect the maintenance work surfaces and connection parts of underwater facilities. Summary of the Invention

[0005] In view of this, the technical problem to be solved by the present application is to provide an underwater equipment protection device to solve the problem of equipment safety caused by erosion of underwater equipment by marine organisms in the prior art.

[0006] To solve the above problems, the present application provides, in one aspect, an underwater equipment protection device, comprising:

[0007] An underwater equipment body includes an equipment operating surface or an electrical connection end; a protective cover includes a accommodating space having an internal shape adapted to the shape and size of the equipment operating surface or the electrical connection end; a super absorbent resin layer is attached to the inner wall of the accommodating space; a self-locking structure is also provided between the protective cover and the underwater equipment body; when the protective cover is mounted on the underwater equipment body, the protective cover at least completely covers the equipment operating surface or the electrical connection end, and the super absorbent resin layer expands in volume after absorbing water, thereby completely filling the gap between the protective cover and the underwater equipment body, thereby isolating at least the portion of the underwater equipment body including the equipment operating surface or the electrical connection end from marine organisms.

[0008] Generally, when performing maintenance work on underwater facilities, it is necessary to use a special underwater marine life protection device to protect the working surface and connection parts of the underwater equipment. In addition, maintenance work on underwater equipment and facilities is generally completed by underwater robots or divers, so the design of the protection device must be simple and effective. This application has designed a simple protective cover that is not only easy to install and remove, but also has a self-locking mechanism that allows it to be stably connected to the underwater equipment body. The highly absorbent resin layer that expands when exposed to water leaves no gap between the protective cover and the underwater equipment body, leaving no place for marine organisms to drill into, thereby achieving a perfect protection effect. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] Figure 1a The figure shows a schematic diagram of a protective cover provided by one embodiment of the present application before being combined with a corresponding underwater equipment body;

[0010] Figure 1b Shown Figure 1a A schematic diagram of the protective cover of the embodiment shown is combined with the underwater equipment body;

[0011] Figure 2a for Figure 1a A schematic diagram of a partial structure of the embodiment shown in one state;

[0012] Figure 2b for Figure 1a A schematic diagram of a partial structure of the embodiment shown in another state;

[0013] Figure 3a FIG2 is a schematic diagram of a protective cover provided by another embodiment of the present application before being combined with a corresponding underwater equipment body;

[0014] Figure 3b Shown Figure 3a The schematic diagram of the protective cover provided in the embodiment shown is combined with the corresponding underwater equipment body. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0015] In order to make the technical problems, technical solutions and beneficial effects to be solved by this application clearer and more understandable, this application is further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are only used to explain this application and are not intended to limit this application.

[0016] Words related to directions in this application, such as up, down, top, bottom, inside, outside, high, and low, are based on the position of the underwater equipment in normal use.

[0017] In one aspect, the present application provides an underwater equipment protection device, comprising:

[0018] An underwater equipment body includes an equipment operating surface or an electrical connection end; a protective cover includes a accommodating space having an internal shape adapted to the shape and size of the equipment operating surface or the electrical connection end; a super absorbent resin layer is attached to the inner wall of the accommodating space; a self-locking structure is also provided between the protective cover and the underwater equipment body; when the protective cover is mounted on the underwater equipment body, the protective cover at least completely covers the equipment operating surface or the electrical connection end, and the super absorbent resin layer expands in volume after absorbing water, thereby completely filling the gap between the protective cover and the underwater equipment body, thereby isolating at least the portion of the underwater equipment body including the equipment operating surface or the electrical connection end from marine organisms.

[0019] In at least one embodiment: the super absorbent resin layer includes: an adhesive layer, located on a side close to the inner wall of the protective cover, used to stick the super absorbent resin layer to the inner wall of the protective cover; a hydrophilic polymer resin layer, located on the adhesive layer, which swells when exposed to water; and a protective layer, arranged on the hydrophilic polymer resin layer, used to protect the hydrophilic polymer resin layer from damage or contamination before the protective cover is put into use.

[0020] In at least one embodiment, a handle is further provided on the protective cover for operating the protective cover to couple or separate it with the underwater equipment body.

[0021] In at least one embodiment: the self-locking structure includes a card slot and a spring pin, which are respectively arranged on the side wall of the outer shell or protective cover of the underwater equipment body; the card slot has a guide end surface, and when the end of the spring pin contacts the guide end surface, the spring pin is in a compressed state; when the end of the spring pin slides over the guide end surface under the action of external force, the end of the spring pin is engaged in the card slot, and the spring pin is in a natural state, so that the underwater equipment body and the protective cover are self-locking.

[0022] In at least one embodiment, the latching slot is a recessed portion on the latching hook.

[0023] In at least one embodiment: the equipment working surface or the electrical connection end includes a concave portion; the protective cover also includes a plug body, the outer periphery of the plug body is covered with a super absorbent resin layer, the shape and size of the plug body are nested with the concave portion, and the super absorbent resin layer fills the gap between the plug body and the concave portion after absorbing water.

[0024] In at least one embodiment, the underwater equipment is a seabed detection equipment.

[0025] In at least one embodiment, the underwater equipment is a seabed mining equipment.

[0026] The specific implementation of the present application will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0027] like Figure 1a-1b, which is a structural schematic diagram of one of the protective covers in the present application before and after being combined with the corresponding underwater equipment body, wherein the underwater equipment body 20 includes a generally cylindrical outer periphery and a concave portion 22, and the underwater equipment body 20 includes an equipment operating surface or an electrical connection end, the electrical connection end is used to implement electrical connection with other equipment, and the operating surface is used to implement operations.

[0028] The protective cover 10 is arranged on the outside of the underwater equipment body 20. The protective cover 10 includes a accommodating space 2. The shape and size of the accommodating space 2 are adapted to the shape of the underwater equipment body 20 or the equipment working surface or electrical connection end of the underwater equipment body 20, so that the protective cover 10 can completely cover the underwater equipment body 20 or the equipment working surface or electrical connection end of the underwater equipment body 20. A plug body 6 is also provided in the inner center of the protective cover 10. The plug body 6 is adapted to the size and shape of the concave part 22 of the underwater equipment body 20. The inner wall of the accommodating space 2 and the outer wall of the plug body 6 are both attached with a super absorbent resin layer 3. The super absorbent resin layer 3 includes: an adhesive layer, located on the side close to the inner wall of the protective cover 10, used to stick the super absorbent resin layer to the inner wall of the protective cover; a hydrophilic polymer resin layer, located on the adhesive layer, which swells when exposed to water; a protective layer, provided on the hydrophilic polymer resin layer, used to protect the hydrophilic polymer resin layer from damage or contamination before the protective cover is put into use. Figure 1b As shown, when the protective cover 10 is mounted on the underwater equipment body 20, the protective cover 10 completely covers the equipment working surface or the electrical connection end, and the plug body 6 is also nested in the concave part 22 of the underwater equipment body 20. The highly absorbent resin layer arranged on the inner wall of the protective cover 10 and the outer wall of the plug body 6 expands in volume after absorbing water, thereby completely filling the gap between the protective cover 10 and the underwater equipment body 20, so that the part of the underwater equipment body covered by the protective cover 10 is protected from the attachment of marine organisms.

[0029] In order to facilitate the installation and fixation of the protective cover 10, a self-locking structure is further provided between the protective cover 10 and the underwater equipment body 20. The self-locking structure includes a card slot 21 and a spring pin 4. The card slot 21 is provided on the outer shell of the underwater equipment body 20 and can be a part of the hook. The spring pin 4 is provided on the side wall of the protective cover 10 and moves toward the outside of the protective cover 10 when compressed. When the pressure disappears, it returns to its original state under the action of the spring. The card slot 21 has a guide end surface, which makes it easy for the spring pin to cross the card slot 21 and enter or exit the card slot 21. Specifically, Figure 2a-2b As shown in the partial schematic diagram, when the end of the spring pin 4 contacts the guide end surface of the slot 21, as shown in FIG. Figure 2a As shown, the spring pin 4 is in a compressed state; when the end of the spring pin 4 slides over the guide end surface under the action of external force, the end of the spring pin 4 is clamped in the card slot 21, as shown Figure 2b As shown, the spring pin 4 is in a natural state, so that the underwater equipment body 20 and the protective cover 10 are self-locking.

[0030] In order to facilitate the installation and removal of the protective cover 10, a handle 5 is further provided on the protective cover 10. By operating the handle 5, the protective cover 10 can be conveniently combined with or separated from the underwater equipment body 20.

[0031] like Figure 3a-3b , which are schematic diagrams of another embodiment of a protective cover before and after being combined with a corresponding underwater device body. In this embodiment, the underwater device body 20 has a generally cylindrical outer periphery but lacks a concave portion. Therefore, the protective cover 10 only comprises the accommodating space 2 and the self-locking structure, without a plug body. The inner wall of the protective cover is provided with a superabsorbent resin layer, similar to that of the embodiment shown in 1a, and will not be further described here.

[0032] The above description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings does not limit the scope of the present invention. Those skilled in the art may implement the present invention in various variations without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. For example, features of one embodiment may be applied to another embodiment to obtain yet another embodiment. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, and improvements made within the technical concept of the present invention shall be within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A submarine operation equipment, characterized in that include: A subsea operating equipment body, comprising an equipment operating surface or an electrical connection end, wherein the subsea operating equipment body is a subsea detection device or a subsea mining device; The protective cover includes a receiving space having an internal shape adapted to the shape and size of the working surface or electrical connection end of the equipment; a super absorbent resin layer is attached to the inner wall of the receiving space; the super absorbent resin layer includes: an adhesive layer, located on a side close to the inner wall of the protective cover, for adhering the super absorbent resin layer to the inner wall of the protective cover; a hydrophilic polymer resin layer, located on the adhesive layer and swells when exposed to water; a protective layer, disposed on the hydrophilic polymer resin layer, for protecting the hydrophilic polymer resin layer from damage or contamination before the protective cover is put into use; A self-locking structure is further provided between the protective cover and the main body of the submarine operation equipment. The self-locking structure includes a card slot and a spring pin, which are respectively provided on the outer shell of the main body of the submarine operation equipment or the side wall of the protective cover; the card slot has a guiding end surface; When the protective cover is sleeved on the seabed operating equipment body and the end of the spring pin contacts the guide end surface, the spring pin is in a compressed state; when the end of the spring pin slides over the guide end surface under the action of external force, the end of the spring pin is engaged in the card slot, and the spring pin is in a natural state, so that the seabed operating equipment body and the protective cover are self-locked and the protective cover at least completely covers the equipment working surface or electrical connection end. The volume of the hydrophilic polymer resin layer expands after absorbing water, thereby completely filling the gap between the protective cover and the seabed operating equipment body, thereby isolating at least the part of the seabed operating equipment body including the equipment working surface or the electrical connection end from marine organisms.

2. The submarine operation equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that: The protective cover is also provided with a handle for operating the protective cover to combine with or separate from the seabed operating equipment body.

3. The submarine operation equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that: The clamping slot is a recessed portion on the clamping hook.

4. The submarine operation equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that: The equipment working surface or electrical connection end includes a concave portion; The protective cover also includes a plug body, the outer periphery of which is covered with a super absorbent resin layer. The shape and size of the plug body are nested with the concave part, and the super absorbent resin layer fills the gap between the plug body and the concave part after absorbing water.

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