A fish finder calibration towline unmanned release

Abstract

This invention provides an unmanned release device for calibrating a fish finder's traction line, comprising a release body, which includes an unmanned surface vessel (USV) carrier, a limiting traction line, a wireless control terminal, and a communication system. The wireless control terminal and communication system are used to remotely control the operation of the USV carrier's propulsion compartment and traction line release compartment. The USV carrier includes an "M"-shaped hull, anti-collision wheels, and a capture rack. The "M"-shaped hull is the main body of the USV carrier. The anti-collision wheels are composed of several rubber rollers and fixed supports, and are evenly installed around the "M"-shaped hull. The capture rack is composed of "U"-shaped frames and is distributed and installed at the bow and stern of the "M"-shaped hull. The "M"-shaped hull consists of a propulsion compartment and a traction line release compartment, which are modularly separated. The propulsion compartment is installed at the bow, and the traction line release compartment is installed at the stern. A propulsion compartment propeller operating area and a propeller lifting area are provided between the propulsion compartment and the traction line release compartment.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of acoustic equipment calibration technology, and in particular to auxiliary equipment for calibrating fish finders, an acoustic device used in fisheries. Background Technology

[0002] Shipborne scientific fish finders play a crucial role in assessing the distribution and habitat of marine organisms, as well as in fisheries production, through real-time echo integration and target intensity detection of highly gregarious marine life. To improve detection accuracy, a standard sphere calibration using a three-line suspension method is typically employed before missions. Considering the calibration environment, ship conditions, and calibration requirements, especially in extreme environments such as polar regions, a common approach is to first lay a tow line and then replace it with a calibration suspension line that meets the calibration requirements. However, in actual calibration operations, laying the tow line is challenging and inefficient due to the influence of the marine environment and ship conditions. In marine scientific expeditions, auxiliary equipment such as research vessel inflatable boats and ROVs can be used for tow line deployment. There are cases where ROVs have been used to deploy tow lines from the bottom of the vessel to the other side. Practical experience shows that ROV tow line deployment requires high resistance to currents and maneuverability, and is easily affected by its cables or protective ropes. Even with the assistance of equipment such as inflatable boats and ROVs, research vessels are still hampered by sea conditions, personnel and equipment safety, etc., resulting in inefficient towline deployment despite improved efficiency, as there is no specialized towline deployment equipment. Some small research vessels or fishing boats lack the necessary equipment, such as inflatable boats and ROVs, significantly hindering fish finder calibration. The towline must be manually moved from the bow or stern to the transducer's center within the ship's cross-section. While this traditional method is less dependent on external factors, it easily threatens critical equipment such as the stern propeller and bow instruments. Deploying at the stern involves a long deployment distance, requiring maneuvering around numerous equipment and compartments, demanding a large number of personnel, being time-consuming, and relatively dangerous. Deploying at the bow is impossible while the vessel is moored due to the influence of the anchor chain. Laying the towline while the vessel is not stopped, even at low speed, poses a significant safety risk to personnel. However, if the vessel is stopped but not anchored, the risk to the vessel and its crew also increases (calibration areas are generally shallow). Therefore, to adapt to different calibration environment and vessel conditions, and to quickly, efficiently, and safely lay the towline within the vessel's cross-section at the transducer center before starting fish finder calibration, specialized towline laying equipment is required. Under the conditions of the calibration environment and vessel, the unmanned, lightweight, and maneuverable nature of the laying equipment is particularly important. Summary of the Invention

[0003] To address the problems existing in the prior art, the present invention aims to provide an unmanned release device for fish finder calibration traction lines, which enables rapid and efficient unmanned deployment of fish finder calibration traction lines by controlling an unmanned vehicle through a wireless control terminal.

[0004] The technical solution of the present invention is: a fish finder calibration traction line unmanned release device, comprising a release device body, characterized in that the release device body comprises an unmanned surface vessel, a limiting traction line, a wireless control terminal and a communication system, wherein the wireless control terminal and the communication system are used to remotely control the operation of the unmanned surface vessel's propulsion compartment and the traction line release compartment;

[0005] The unmanned surface vessel (USV) includes an "M"-shaped hull, anti-collision wheels, and a capture frame. The "M"-shaped hull is the main body of the USV. The anti-collision wheels are composed of several rubber rollers and fixed brackets. The anti-collision wheels are evenly installed around the "M"-shaped hull. The capture frame is composed of "U"-shaped frames and is distributed and installed at the bow and stern of the "M"-shaped hull.

[0006] The "M"-shaped hull consists of a propulsion compartment and a traction line release compartment. The propulsion compartment and the traction line release compartment are modularly separated. The propulsion compartment is installed at the bow, and the traction line release compartment is installed at the stern. Between the propulsion compartment and the traction line release compartment, there is a propulsion compartment propeller operating area and a propeller lifting area.

[0007] The unmanned surface vessel (USV) is used to install equipment such as the propulsion module, tow line release module, anti-collision wheels, and capture rack. The limiting tow line is an accessory to the release device; it quickly sinks into the water after detaching from the release module. The wireless control terminal and communication system are used to remotely control the operation of the USV's propulsion module and tow line release module. Deploying the limiting tow line from the USV greatly expands the operational space for fish finder calibration and allows for deployment while the vessel is anchored, bypassing the anchor chain to reduce the risk to the vessel's safety. The "M"-shaped hull enhances both convenience and wave resistance and seaworthiness. The anti-collision wheels prevent collisions with other vessels or capsizing in rough sea conditions or due to improper operation. The "U"-shaped frame design fully considers the convenience of deploying and recovering the USV. The modular, separate design of the propulsion module and tow line release module avoids interference and entanglement between the propeller and the limiting tow line during deployment.

[0008] Further preferably, the propulsion compartment consists of a liftable propeller, a motor, a control system, and a battery module. The liftable propeller is installed at the tail of the propulsion compartment, and the battery module is an independent sealed compartment structure.

[0009] The retractable propeller is designed to adapt to different sea conditions during deployment. Considering the different water environments and sea conditions that affect the seaworthiness of the unmanned surface vessel and to reduce wear on the propeller, the battery module adopts an independent sealed compartment to enhance battery life and safety.

[0010] Further preferably, the traction line release compartment comprises a detachable roller, a wraparound shaft disc, a cross-clip cable tie, a rotating seat, and a motor controller. The detachable roller consists of a cylindrical shaft and quick-release fasteners. One end of the cylindrical shaft is equipped with a gear, which is perpendicularly connected to the motor controller. The other end of the cylindrical shaft is equipped with a bearing, which is fastened to the rotating seat with screws. The motor controller and the rotating seat are symmetrically mounted on both sides of the traction line release compartment. The wraparound shaft disc is mounted on the detachable roller using quick-release fasteners. The cross-clip cable tie is mounted parallel to the detachable roller at the rear of the traction line release compartment.

[0011] The motor controller is used to control the rotation and braking of the detachable rollers and the operation of the cross-clamp cable tie, and can also adjust the roller spacing. The cross-clamp cable tie is used to control the traction line.

[0012] Further preferably, the ring-shaped bearing disc consists of a hollow disc, a bearing disc fastening clip, a bearing disc spring, a bearing disc threaded hole, and a fastening ring. The bearing disc spacing can be adjusted by adjusting each component according to actual on-site requirements.

[0013] In a further preferred embodiment, the cross-clip cable tie consists of a wire ring, cross-clip straps, a rotating knob, and a motor controller. The tail of the traction line release compartment is provided with a hollow groove. The wire ring is installed in the center of the hollow groove. The rotating knob is symmetrically installed on both sides of the wire ring and connected to the motor controller. Several rectangular openings are designed above the wire ring. Circular holes are designed at both ends of the cross-clip straps. The cross-clip straps extend out from the rectangular openings and are connected to the rotating shaft disc by screws.

[0014] The motor controller controls the rotating knob to drive the cassette to move bidirectionally and crosswise, thereby controlling the aperture to meet the constraints of the traction line with different diameter limits.

[0015] In a further preferred embodiment, the guide ring is composed of a wide hollow strip and a narrow strip, and the rotating knob is composed of a rotating shaft and a retaining strip. The rotating shaft has several threaded holes for connecting the cross retaining strip and the rotating shaft.

[0016] Further preferably, the limiting traction line consists of a sinker limiter and a submersible rope. The sinker limiter is an openable sinker limiter or a closed sinker limiter. The sinker limiter includes several clamping column-shaped components, an embedded ring, a spring, a telescopic switch, an embedded groove, a threaded hole, and a fastening clip. The sinker limiter is fixed at the position defined by the submersible rope.

[0017] During the deployment of the traction line, a closed-type sinker limiter can be selected to pass through the beginning of the traction line, with the embedded ring in front. Pulling the traction rope increases the sinking force of the closed-type sinker limiter. After the closed-type sinker limiter collides with the open-type sinker limiter, the embedded ring triggers a telescopic switch to enter the embedded slot and lock, enabling the traction line to sink rapidly. The combination design of the sinker limiter and the sinking rope fully considers the limiting position of the sinker on the sinking rope under different vessel and marine environments, and enables the traction line to sink rapidly during deployment to achieve risk control of the vessel's bottom equipment.

[0018] Further preferably, the wireless control terminal consists of a hull propulsion module and a traction cable release module. The hull propulsion module consists of a speed control terminal, a heading control terminal, and a propeller lifting control terminal. The traction cable release module consists of a roller control terminal and a cross-clip cable tie control terminal. The communication system adopts RF point-to-point bidirectional communication for communication and data transmission between the unmanned surface vessel and the wireless control terminal.

[0019] The fish finder calibration tow line unmanned release device, controlled by a wireless terminal, enables rapid and efficient tow line deployment before fish finder calibration, achieving unmanned deployment. The design of anti-collision wheels and capture racks enhances safety and efficiency. The unmanned vehicle has a simple structure and strong maneuverability. The propulsion compartment and tow line release compartment adopt a modular, separate design, minimizing interference and entanglement between the propeller and the tow line, thus enhancing the safety and controllability of the deployment operation. The tow line release compartment and the tow line limiting device feature a combination of detachable rollers, a ring-shaped axle disc, a sliding rail cable tie, a sinker limiter, and a sinking rope. This allows for remote control of the tow line during deployment and ensures rapid sinking of the tow line into the ship's cross-section at the center of the transducer.

[0020] Beneficial technical effects of the present invention:

[0021] 1. The fish finder calibration traction line unmanned release device can realize the rapid and efficient unmanned remote deployment of the fish finder calibration traction line through the shore-based control terminal;

[0022] 2. The fish finder calibration traction line unmanned release device takes into account the convenience of actual operation and lightweight design. It has a simple structure, is easy to implement, and is highly operable on site, making it especially suitable for extreme marine environments such as polar regions and low latitudes.

[0023] 3. The fish finder calibration traction line unmanned release device has good seaworthiness and can pass through hard-to-reach areas such as anchor chains;

[0024] 4. The fish finder calibration traction line unmanned release device enables remote control of the traction line release cabin;

[0025] 5. The modular design and separate installation of the propulsion compartment and traction line release compartment can avoid mutual interference between the propeller and the traction line;

[0026] 6. The cross-clip cable tie design enables control over the aperture to meet the constraints of traction cables with different diameters. Attached Figure Description

[0027] Appendix Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the unmanned vehicle of the present invention;

[0028] Appendix Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the traction line release compartment structure of the present invention;

[0029] Appendix Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the encircling shaft disk structure of the present invention;

[0030] Appendix Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the cross-tape cable tie structure of the present invention;

[0031] Appendix Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the hammer limiter structure of the present invention;

[0032] The reference numerals and components involved in the accompanying drawings are shown below:

[0033] 1 is the propulsion compartment; 2 is the propeller lifting area; 3 is the traction line release compartment; 4 is the limit traction line; 5 is the capture frame; 6 is the anti-collision wheel; 31 is the detachable roller; 32 is the ring-shaped shaft disc; 33 is the rotating seat; 34 is the cross-clamp cable tie; 35 is the motor controller; 321 is the hollow disc; 322 is the shaft disc fastening clip; 323 is the shaft disc spring; 324 is the shaft disc threaded hole; 325 is the fastening ring; 341 is the rotating knob; 342 is the narrow strip; 343 is the rectangular opening; 344 is the wide hollow strip; 345 is the wire ring; 41 is the embedded ring; 42 is the clamping cylindrical component; 43 is the spring; 44 is the telescopic switch; 45 is the embedded groove; 46 is the threaded hole; 47 is the fastening clip. Detailed Implementation

[0034] The present invention will now be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0035] Reference Figures 1-5As shown, a fish finder calibration tow line unmanned release device includes a release body, which comprises an unmanned surface vessel (USV) carrier, a limiting tow line 4, a wireless control terminal, and a communication system. The wireless control terminal and communication system are used to remotely control the operation of the USV carrier's propulsion compartment and tow line release compartment. The USV carrier includes an "M"-shaped hull, anti-collision wheels 6, and a capture rack 5. The "M"-shaped hull is the main body of the USV carrier. The anti-collision wheels are composed of several rubber rollers and fixed brackets, and are evenly installed around the "M"-shaped hull. The capture rack is composed of "U"-shaped frames and is distributed and installed at the bow and stern of the "M"-shaped hull. The "M"-shaped hull consists of a propulsion compartment 1 and a tow line release compartment 3. The propulsion compartment and the tow line release compartment are modularly separated. The propulsion compartment is installed at the bow, and the tow line release compartment is installed at the stern. A propulsion compartment propeller operating area and a propeller lifting area 2 are provided between the propulsion compartment and the tow line release compartment.

[0036] The unmanned surface vessel (USV) is used to install equipment such as the propulsion module, towline release module, anti-collision wheels, and capture rack. The limiting towline is an accessory to the release device; it quickly sinks into the water after detaching from the release module. A wireless control terminal and communication system are used to remotely control the operation of the USV's propulsion module and towline release module. Deploying the limiting towline from the USV greatly expands the operational space for fish finder calibration and allows for deployment while the vessel is anchored, bypassing the anchor chain to reduce the risk to the vessel's safety. The "M"-shaped hull enhances both convenience and wave resistance and seaworthiness. The anti-collision wheels prevent collisions with other vessels or capsizing in rough seas or due to improper operation. The "U"-shaped frame design prioritizes ease of deployment and retrieval of the USV. The modular, separate design of the propulsion module and towline release module avoids interference and entanglement between the propeller and the limiting towline during deployment.

[0037] Further optimization reveals that the propulsion compartment comprises a retractable propeller, a motor, a control system, and a battery module. The retractable propeller is mounted at the stern of the propulsion compartment, while the battery module is an independent, sealed compartment. The retractable propeller is designed to adapt to different sea conditions during deployment. Considering the varying sea environments and conditions that affect the seaworthiness of the unmanned surface vessel (USV) and to reduce propeller wear, the battery module employs an independent, sealed compartment to enhance battery endurance and safety.

[0038] In a further preferred embodiment, the traction line release compartment comprises a detachable roller 31, a wrap-around shaft disc 32, a cross-belt cable tie 34, a rotating seat 33, and a motor controller 35. The detachable roller consists of a cylindrical shaft and quick-release fasteners. One end of the cylindrical shaft is equipped with a gear, which is perpendicularly connected to the motor controller. The other end of the cylindrical shaft is equipped with a bearing, which is fastened to the rotating seat with screws. The motor controller and the rotating seat are symmetrically installed on both sides of the traction line release compartment. The wrap-around shaft disc is installed on the detachable roller using quick-release fasteners. The cross-belt cable tie is installed parallel to the detachable roller at the rear of the traction line release compartment.

[0039] The motor controller is used to control the rotation and braking of the detachable rollers and the operation of the cross-clamp cable tie, and can also adjust the roller spacing. The cross-clamp cable tie is used to control the traction line.

[0040] Further optimization reveals that the ring-shaped bearing disc comprises a hollow disc 321, a bearing disc fastening clip 322, a bearing disc spring 323, a bearing disc threaded hole 324, and a fastening ring 325. The bearing disc spacing can be adjusted by adjusting each component according to actual on-site requirements.

[0041] Further optimized, the cross-tape cable tie consists of a wire ring 345, a cross-tape, a rotating button 341, and a motor controller. The tail of the traction line release compartment is provided with a hollow groove, the wire ring is installed in the center of the hollow groove, the rotating button is symmetrically installed on both sides of the wire ring and connected to the motor controller, and several rectangular openings 343 are designed above the wire ring. The two ends of the cross-tape are designed with circular holes. The cross-tape extends out from the rectangular openings and is connected to the rotating shaft disc by screws.

[0042] The motor controller controls the rotating knob to drive the cassette to move bidirectionally and crosswise, thereby controlling the aperture to meet the constraints of the traction line with different diameter limits.

[0043] Further preferred, the guide ring consists of a wide perforated strip 344 and a narrow strip 342, and the rotating knob consists of a rotating shaft and a retaining strip. The rotating shaft has several threaded holes for connecting the cross retaining strip and the rotating shaft.

[0044] Further optimization, the limiting traction line consists of a sinker limiter and a submersible rope. The sinker limiter is either an openable sinker limiter or a closed sinker limiter. The sinker limiter includes several clamping column-shaped components 42, an embedded ring 41, a spring 43, a telescopic switch 44, an embedded groove 45, a threaded hole 46, and a fastening clip 47. The sinker limiter is fixed at the position defined by the submersible rope.

[0045] During the deployment of the traction line, a closed-type sinker limiter can be selected to pass through the beginning of the traction line, with the embedded ring in front. Pulling the traction rope increases the sinking force of the closed-type sinker limiter. After the closed-type sinker limiter collides with the open-type sinker limiter, the embedded ring triggers a telescopic switch to enter the embedded slot and lock, enabling the traction line to sink rapidly. The combination design of the sinker limiter and the sinking rope fully considers the limiting position of the sinker on the sinking rope under different vessel and marine environments, and enables the traction line to sink rapidly during deployment to achieve risk control of the vessel's bottom equipment.

[0046] Further optimization reveals that the wireless control terminal consists of a hull propulsion module and a traction cable release module. The hull propulsion module comprises a speed control terminal, a heading control terminal, and a propeller lifting control terminal. The traction cable release module comprises a roller control terminal and a cross-clip cable tie control terminal. The communication system employs RF point-to-point bidirectional communication for communication and data transmission between the unmanned surface vessel and the wireless control terminal.

[0047] The fish finder calibration tow line unmanned release device, controlled by a wireless terminal, enables rapid and efficient tow line deployment before fish finder calibration, achieving unmanned deployment. The design of anti-collision wheels and capture racks enhances safety and efficiency. The unmanned vehicle has a simple structure and strong maneuverability. The propulsion compartment and tow line release compartment adopt a modular, separate design, minimizing interference and entanglement between the propeller and the tow line, thus enhancing the safety and controllability of the deployment operation. The tow line release compartment and the tow line limiting device feature a combination of detachable rollers, a ring-shaped axle disc, a sliding rail cable tie, a sinker limiter, and a sinking rope. This allows for remote control of the tow line during deployment and ensures rapid sinking of the tow line into the ship's cross-section at the center of the transducer.

[0048] Beneficial technical effects of the present invention:

[0049] 1. The fish finder calibration traction line unmanned release device can realize the rapid and efficient unmanned remote deployment of the fish finder calibration traction line through the shore-based control terminal;

[0050] 2. The fish finder calibration traction line unmanned release device takes into account the convenience of actual operation and lightweight design. It has a simple structure, is easy to implement, and is highly operable on site, making it especially suitable for extreme marine environments such as polar regions and low latitudes.

[0051] 3. The fish finder calibration traction line unmanned release device has good seaworthiness and can pass through hard-to-reach areas such as anchor chains;

[0052] 4. The fish finder calibration traction line unmanned release device enables remote control of the traction line release cabin;

[0053] 5. The modular design and separate installation of the propulsion compartment and traction line release compartment can avoid mutual interference between the propeller and the traction line;

[0054] 6. The cross-clip cable tie design enables control over the aperture to meet the constraints of traction cables with different diameters.

[0055] The above are merely preferred embodiments of the present invention. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make various improvements and modifications without departing from the principle of the present invention, and these improvements and modifications should also be considered within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A fish finder calibration traction line unmanned release device, comprising a release device body, characterized in that, The main body of the release device includes an unmanned surface vessel (USV), a limiting traction line, a wireless control terminal, and a communication system. The wireless control terminal and communication system are used to remotely control the operation of the USV's propulsion compartment and the traction line release compartment. The unmanned surface vessel (USV) includes an "M"-shaped hull, anti-collision wheels, and a capture frame. The "M"-shaped hull is the main body of the USV. The anti-collision wheels are composed of several rubber rollers and fixed brackets. The anti-collision wheels are evenly installed around the "M"-shaped hull. The capture frame is composed of "U"-shaped frames and is distributed and installed at the bow and stern of the "M"-shaped hull. The "M"-shaped hull consists of a propulsion compartment and a traction line release compartment. The propulsion compartment and the traction line release compartment are modularly separated. The propulsion compartment is installed at the bow, and the traction line release compartment is installed at the stern. A propulsion compartment propeller operating area and a propeller lifting area are provided between the propulsion compartment and the traction line release compartment. The traction line release compartment consists of a detachable roller, a wraparound shaft disc, a cross-clip cable tie, a rotating base, and a motor controller. The detachable roller consists of a cylindrical shaft and quick-release fasteners. One end of the cylindrical shaft is equipped with a gear, which is perpendicularly connected to the motor controller. The other end of the cylindrical shaft is equipped with a bearing, which is fastened to the rotating base with screws. The motor controller and the rotating base are symmetrically installed on both sides of the traction line release compartment. The wraparound shaft disc is installed on the detachable roller using quick-release fasteners. The cross-clip cable tie is installed parallel to the detachable roller at the rear of the traction line release compartment.

2. The fish finder calibration traction line unmanned release device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The propulsion compartment consists of a liftable propeller, a motor, a control system, and a battery module. The liftable propeller is installed at the tail of the propulsion compartment, and the battery module is an independent sealed compartment structure.

3. The fish finder calibration traction line unmanned release device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The ring-shaped shaft disc consists of a hollow disc, a shaft disc fastening clip, a shaft disc spring, a shaft disc threaded hole, and a fastening ring. The distance between the shaft discs can be adjusted by adjusting each component according to the actual needs on site.

4. The fish finder calibration traction line unmanned release device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The cross-clip cable tie consists of a wire ring, cross-clips, a rotating knob, and a motor controller. The tail of the traction line release compartment has a hollowed-out groove. The wire ring is installed in the center of the hollowed-out groove. The rotating knob is symmetrically installed on both sides of the wire ring and connected to the motor controller. Several rectangular openings are designed above the wire ring. The two ends of the cross-clips are designed with circular holes. The cross-clips extend out from the rectangular openings and are connected to the rotating shaft disc by screws.

5. The fish finder calibration traction line unmanned release device according to claim 4, characterized in that, The guide ring consists of a wide hollow strip and a narrow strip, and the rotating knob consists of a rotating shaft and a retaining strip. The rotating shaft has several threaded holes for connecting the cross retaining strip and the rotating shaft.

6. The fish finder calibration traction line unmanned release device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The limiting traction line consists of a sinker limiter and a submersible rope. The sinker limiter is either an openable sinker limiter or a closed sinker limiter. The sinker limiter includes several clamping column-shaped components, an embedded ring, a spring, a telescopic switch, an embedded groove, a threaded hole, and a fastening clip. The sinker limiter is fixed at the position defined by the submersible rope.

7. The fish finder calibration traction line unmanned release device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The wireless control terminal consists of a hull propulsion module and a traction cable release module. The hull propulsion module consists of a speed control terminal, a heading control terminal, and a propeller lifting control terminal. The traction cable release module consists of a roller control terminal and a cross-clip cable tie control terminal. The communication system uses RF point-to-point bidirectional communication for communication and data transmission between the unmanned surface vessel and the wireless control terminal.

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