A negative buoyancy heavy tethered submersible range extender system

Abstract

A range extension system for a heavy-duty cable-controlled submersible (WSDS) with negative buoyancy includes an air storage system and a winch installed on the WSDS. The air storage system includes an air tank with a piston installed inside. Air pipes are installed at both ends of the air tank; a first-stage electric valve is installed on one end of the air pipe, and a second-stage electric valve is installed on the other end. The air pipe with the first electric valve is connected to an air bladder via a connecting pipe. A negative buoyancy umbilical cable runs through the interior of the air bladder. A limiter is installed on the negative buoyancy umbilical cable at the top of the air bladder. The limiter has a hollow structure and passes through the negative buoyancy umbilical cable, allowing it to slide along the cable. A wire rope on the winch is connected to the limiter. When the WSDS operates in deep water, by counteracting the negative buoyancy on its umbilical cable, the system significantly increases the WSDS's maneuverability and maneuverability energy, thereby improving its operational efficiency.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of deep-sea heavy-duty cable-controlled submersible technology, and in particular to a negative buoyancy heavy-duty cable-controlled submersible range extension system. Background Technology

[0002] In deep-sea development, numerous pieces of equipment have been developed, enabling long-duration, heavy-load deep-sea operations based on surface vessels. The primary vehicle for demonstrating this capability is the cable-controlled submersible (CWD), supported by surface vessels, with heavy-duty CWD being the most concentrated embodiment of this capability. Heavy-duty CWDs have evolved into several different forms to suit various operational tasks, such as neutral-buoyancy CWDs for precision operations and negative-buoyancy CWDs for salvaging large underwater objects and deploying seabed facilities.

[0003] The two types of robots described above differ significantly in their maneuverability due to their different mission objectives. Neutral buoyancy cable-controlled submersibles (CLLs) are suspended in the water, and their power supply umbilical cable, being weightless, can be designed to operate in a near-zero buoyancy state, resulting in superior maneuverability and underwater attitude control. In contrast, negative buoyancy cable-controlled submersibles, due to the greater weight of underwater objects they deploy or retrieve, require the submersible and its power supply umbilical cable to bear substantial weight. To ensure their load-bearing capacity, they must be designed in a negative buoyancy state to guarantee their strength. The negative buoyancy of the CLL and umbilical cable limits the submersible's maneuverability, especially in deep-water operations, where the umbilical cable, often thousands of meters long, severely restricts the submersible's maneuver radius, significantly impacting its operational efficiency. Summary of the Invention

[0004] In response to the shortcomings of the existing production technology, the applicant provides a negative buoyancy heavy-duty cable-controlled submarine extension system, which can effectively reduce the impact of negative buoyancy umbilical cable on the cable-controlled submarine and significantly increase the underwater maneuverability of the cable-controlled submarine. At the same time, the system is simple to use, highly reliable, and has strong engineering application prospects.

[0005] The technical solution adopted in this invention is as follows:

[0006] A negative buoyancy heavy-duty cable-controlled submersible range extension system includes an air storage system and a winch installed on the heavy-duty cable-controlled submersible. The air storage system includes an air tank with a piston installed inside. Air pipes are installed at both ends of the air tank. A first electric valve is installed on one end of the air pipe, and a second electric valve is installed on the other end. The air pipe with the first electric valve is connected to an air bladder via a connecting pipe. A negative buoyancy umbilical cable runs through the inside of the air bladder. A limiter is installed on the negative buoyancy umbilical cable at the top of the air bladder. The limiter has a hollow structure and passes through the negative buoyancy umbilical cable. The limiter can slide along the negative buoyancy umbilical cable. At the same time, a steel wire rope on the winch is connected to the limiter.

[0007] Its further technical solution lies in:

[0008] The gas storage system and winch are arranged at intervals.

[0009] Both the gas storage system and the winch are secured to the heavy-duty cable-controlled submersible with fasteners.

[0010] The airbag is ring-shaped.

[0011] The airbag is installed on the outside of the negative buoyancy umbilical cable and wraps around the negative buoyancy umbilical cable.

[0012] The inner wall of the airbag is bonded to the negative buoyancy umbilical cable by vulcanization.

[0013] The gas storage tank stores air at normal or high pressure.

[0014] The piston contacts the inner wall of the gas tank through a sealing ring, forming a sealed cavity.

[0015] The limit switch is horn-shaped.

[0016] The beneficial effects of this invention are as follows:

[0017] This invention features a compact and rational structure, and is easy to operate. Through the coordinated operation of components such as the negative buoyancy cable, limiter, airbag, winch, and air storage system, and implemented according to the operating method, the cable-controlled submersible (CWD) can significantly increase its maneuverability and maneuvering energy by counteracting the negative buoyancy on its umbilical cable during deep-sea operations, thereby improving its operational efficiency. The system and its implementation method are simple and easy to operate, the system is mature and reliable, and it can significantly improve the operating maneuverability and maneuverability of heavy-duty negative buoyancy CWDs at a relatively low cost, thus possessing broad development prospects.

[0018] This invention is mainly used in the navigation control and construction operations of deep-sea heavy cable-controlled submersibles. Attached Figure Description

[0019] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the present invention.

[0020] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the gas storage system of the present invention.

[0021] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the present invention when installed on a typical negative buoyancy heavy cable-controlled submersible.

[0022] The components include: 1. Limiter; 2. Negative buoyancy umbilical cable; 3. Airbag; 4. Air storage system; 5. Winch; 6. Heavy cable-controlled submersible.

[0023] 401, Electric valve No. 1; 402, Gas tank; 403, Piston; 404, Electric valve No. 2. Detailed Implementation

[0024] The specific embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0025] like Figures 1-3 As shown, the negative buoyancy heavy-duty cable-controlled submersible range extension system of this embodiment includes an air storage system 4 and a winch 5 installed on the heavy-duty cable-controlled submersible 6. The air storage system 4 includes an air tank 402, a piston 403 installed inside the air tank 402, and air pipes respectively provided at both ends of the air tank 402. A first electric valve 401 is installed on one end of the air pipe, and a second electric valve 404 is installed on the other end of the air pipe. The air pipe with the first electric valve 401 is connected to the airbag 3 through a connecting pipe. A negative buoyancy umbilical cable 2 passes through the inside of the airbag 3. A limiter 1 is installed on the negative buoyancy umbilical cable 2 at the top of the airbag 3. The limiter 1 has a hollow structure and passes through the negative buoyancy umbilical cable 2. The limiter 1 can slide along the negative buoyancy umbilical cable 2. At the same time, the wire rope on the winch 5 is connected to the limiter 1.

[0026] The gas storage system 4 and the winch 5 are arranged at intervals.

[0027] Both the gas storage system 4 and the winch 5 are fixed to the heavy-duty cable-controlled submersible 6 by fasteners.

[0028] Airbag 3 is ring-shaped.

[0029] The airbag 3 is installed on the outside of the negative buoyancy umbilical cable 2 and wraps around the negative buoyancy umbilical cable 2.

[0030] The inner wall of the airbag 3 is bonded to the negative buoyancy umbilical cable 2 by vulcanization.

[0031] The gas storage tank 402 stores air at normal or high pressure.

[0032] The piston 403 contacts the inner wall of the gas tank 402 through a sealing ring, forming a sealed cavity.

[0033] Limiter 1 is horn-shaped.

[0034] The specific structure and function of the negative buoyancy heavy-duty cable-controlled submersible range extension system described in this invention are as follows:

[0035] It mainly includes a gas storage system 4, a winch 5, an airbag 3, a limiter 1, and corresponding accessories.

[0036] The gas storage system 4 and the winch 5 are installed on the heavy-duty cable-controlled submersible 6 and connected by bolts.

[0037] Among them, the airbag 3 is installed on the outside of the negative buoyancy umbilical cable 2. The airbag 3 is ring-shaped and can wrap the negative buoyancy umbilical cable 2 in the inner wall of the airbag 3. The inner wall of the airbag 3 and the negative buoyancy umbilical cable 2 are bonded together by vulcanization.

[0038] The gas storage system 4 is connected to the air bag 3 via a gas pipe, and the gas pipe and the air bag 3 are bonded together by vulcanization.

[0039] Among them, the limiter 1 is installed at the top of the connection between the airbag 3 and the negative buoyancy umbilical cable 2. The limiter 1 is hollow and passes through the negative buoyancy umbilical cable 2. It can slide along the negative buoyancy umbilical cable 2. When used in conjunction with the winch 5, it can limit the airbag 3.

[0040] The limit switch 1 is connected to the winch 5 via a wire rope, and the other end of the wire rope is fixed to the drum of the winch 5.

[0041] like Figure 2 As shown, the gas storage system 4 mainly includes a first electric valve 401, a gas storage tank 402, a piston 403, and a second electric valve 404.

[0042] Among them, the No. 1 electric valve 401 is installed on one side of the gas pipe of the gas storage system 4; the gas storage tank 402 stores normal pressure or high pressure air; the piston 403 is installed in the gas storage tank 402 and contacts the inner wall of the gas storage tank 402 through a sealing ring to form a sealed cavity; the No. 2 electric valve 404 is installed on the other side of the seawater pipe of the gas storage system 4.

[0043] In actual work process:

[0044] like Figure 1 As shown, after the range extender system is installed and deployed onto the heavy-duty cable-stayed submersible 6, the air storage system 4 is filled with air. The heavy-duty cable-stayed submersible 6 is then deployed to the operating depth by a surface vessel.

[0045] Once the operating depth is reached, the second electric valve 404 of the gas storage system 4 is opened. After opening, high-pressure seawater pushes piston 403 through the seawater pipe. Piston 403 moves to the left, compressing the air in the gas storage tank 402.

[0046] At this time, the No. 1 electric valve 401 is opened, and the high-pressure air in the air tank 402 flows along the air pipe into the air bag 3, causing the air bag 3 to expand. While the air bag 3 is expanding, it can squeeze the limiter 1 to slide upward along the negative buoyancy umbilical cable 2. At this time, the winch 5 is not opened and is in a passive cable release state. The limiter 1 can drive the winch 5 to release the cable.

[0047] After the airbag 3 is fully inflated, the first electric valve 401 is closed. The airbag 3 can generate a certain positive buoyancy to offset the weight of the negative buoyancy umbilical cable 2. At this time, the negative buoyancy umbilical cable 2 wrapped by the airbag 3 has zero buoyancy. At this time, the restraining force of the negative buoyancy umbilical cable 2 on the heavy cable-controlled submarine 6 is eliminated, and the heavy cable-controlled submarine 6 can obtain the range extension effect. Its maneuvering radius and maneuverability will be greatly improved.

[0048] After the operation is completed, the first electric valve 401 is opened, and the heavy-duty cable-controlled submersible 6 is recovered by the surface vessel. As the heavy-duty cable-controlled submersible 6 continues to decrease in underwater depth, the pressure of the seawater on the piston 403 also decreases. At this time, the gas in the airbag 3 will flow into the air tank 402. When recovered to near the surface, the winch 5 is activated to retrieve the submersible. By sliding the limiter 1 downwards, the gas in the airbag 3 can be completely squeezed into the air tank 402. At this time, the winch 5 stops retrieving, and the limiter 1 is in the lower limit position. At the same time, the first electric valve 401 and the second electric valve 404 are closed, and the system returns to the initial state.

[0049] The above description is an explanation of the present invention and not a limitation thereof. The scope of the present invention is defined by the claims. Within the scope of protection of the present invention, any form of modification may be made.

Claims

1. A range extension system for a negative buoyancy heavy-duty cable-controlled submersible, characterized in that: The system includes an air storage system (4) and a winch (5) installed on a heavy-duty cable-controlled submersible (6). The air storage system (4) includes an air tank (402), a piston (403) installed inside the air tank (402), and air pipes installed at both ends of the air tank (402). A first electric valve (401) is installed on one end of the air pipe, and a second electric valve (404) is installed on the other end of the air pipe. The air pipe with the first electric valve (401) is connected to the airbag (3) through a connecting pipe. A negative buoyancy umbilical cable (2) runs through the inside of the airbag (3). A limiter (1) is installed on the negative buoyancy umbilical cable (2) at the top of the airbag (3). The limiter (1) has a hollow structure and passes through the negative buoyancy umbilical cable (2). The limiter (1) can slide along the negative buoyancy umbilical cable (2). At the same time, the wire rope on the winch (5) is connected to the limiter (1).

2. The range extension system for a negative buoyancy heavy-duty cable-controlled submersible as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The gas storage system (4) and the winch (5) are arranged at intervals.

3. The range extension system for a negative buoyancy heavy-duty cable-controlled submersible as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The gas storage system (4) and the winch (5) are both fixed to the heavy-duty cable-controlled submersible (6) by fasteners.

4. The range extension system for a negative buoyancy heavy-duty cable-controlled submersible as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The airbag (3) is ring-shaped.

5. The range extension system for a negative buoyancy heavy-duty cable-controlled submersible as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The airbag (3) is installed on the outside of the negative buoyancy umbilical cable (2) and wraps around the negative buoyancy umbilical cable (2).

6. The range extension system for a negative buoyancy heavy-duty cable-controlled submersible as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The inner wall of the airbag (3) is bonded to the negative buoyancy umbilical cable (2) by vulcanization.

7. The range extension system for a negative buoyancy heavy-duty cable-controlled submersible as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The gas storage tank (402) stores atmospheric or high-pressure air.

8. The range extension system for a negative buoyancy heavy-duty cable-controlled submersible as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The piston (403) contacts the inner wall of the gas storage tank (402) through a sealing ring to form a sealed cavity.

9. The range extension system for a negative buoyancy heavy-duty cable-controlled submersible as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The limiter (1) is horn-shaped.

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