Floating type offshore automatic charging system and method

Abstract

The invention discloses a floating type offshore automatic charging system and method. The floating type offshore automatic charging system comprises an information launching tower, an overwater platform, a pile body, a charging cable, an underwater charging port, an underwater appendage, a main cable and an anchor chain. The overwater platform floats on the water surface, the signal launching tower is installed on the top of the overwater platform, the main cable is connected with the interior of the pile body, the charging cables are distributed around the pile body, the tail ends of the charging cables are connected with the main cable in the pile body, the underwater charging ports are installed at the front ends of the charging cables, and automatic docking management is achieved through the charging piles and underwater unmanned equipment. Before charging, the pile and the charging equipment perform remote information interaction, thereby greatly shortening the distance time for the unmanned equipment to find the charging pile, preventing the unmanned equipment from being unable to return to a target location due to the fact that the electric energy is used up in the finding way, greatly improving the charging convenience of the unmanned equipment, and improving the cruising ability of the unmanned equipment; and the underwater charging port can be accurately butted with unmanned equipment no matter in a good sea condition or a severe sea condition.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention belongs to the technical field of offshore charging and relates to a floating offshore automatic charging system and method. Background Art

[0002] In the development of the ocean, marine survey activities are becoming more and more frequent. Underwater unmanned equipment that has been working in the ocean for a long time has limited power storage capacity, so it is either recycled regularly for energy replenishment or relies on the mother ship to provide energy. However, the marine environment is complex, and underwater unmanned equipment often runs out of power in advance during the recovery process and cannot return to the target location on its own, resulting in the loss of equipment. When underwater unmanned equipment uses umbilical cables to obtain power from the mother ship, the range of movement of the equipment is limited due to the limited length of the umbilical cable. In addition, the longer the umbilical cable, not only the greater the power loss, but also the greater the risk of being cut. Secondly, some automatic charging ports at sea fluctuate greatly under complex sea conditions, making it impossible for the docking device to dock with the charging port accurately. Summary of the invention

[0003] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a floating offshore automatic charging system and method, which automatically docks and manages the charging piles and underwater unmanned equipment to avoid the unmanned equipment running out of power while finding a way and being unable to return to the target location, greatly improving the charging convenience of the unmanned equipment, improving the endurance of the unmanned equipment, and ensuring accurate charging docking.

[0004] In order to solve the above technical problems, the technical solution adopted by the present invention is: a floating offshore automatic charging system, which includes an information transmission tower, an above-water platform, a pile body, a charging cable, an underwater charging port, an underwater appendage, a main cable and an anchor chain. The above-water platform floats on the water surface, the signal transmission tower is installed on the top of the above-water platform, the pile body is connected to the bottom of the above-water platform, the underwater appendage is installed at the bottom of the pile body, the main cable is connected to the inside of the pile body, the charging cable is distributed around the pile body, the tail end of the charging cable is connected to the main cable inside the pile body, the underwater charging port is installed at the front end of the charging cable, and the anchor chain is installed at the bottom of the underwater appendage; the air bag of the underwater charging port is connected to the inflatable device in the above-water platform.

[0005] The signal transmission tower consists of a control box and an antenna.

[0006] The underwater charging port is provided with three inflatable bags arranged within a range of 90°; the inflatable bags are connected to the inflatable equipment in the water platform, and the stability of the underwater charging port is ensured by inflation and deflation of the inflatable equipment.

[0007] The pile body is a cylindrical sealed cavity, in which a main electric control system, a battery and a rectifier are installed. The main electric control system is connected to the battery, the battery is connected to the charging cable through the rectifier, and the main cable is connected to the battery.

[0008] A supporting rib is installed on the outside of the pile body, and the above-water platform and the underwater appendage are fixedly connected via the supporting rib.

[0009] The interior of the underwater appendage is divided into a plurality of independent compartments.

[0010] The charging cable is externally connected to a buoyancy component.

[0011] The buoyancy assembly comprises a floating body and a gravity block, wherein the gravity block is connected to the bottom of the floating body.

[0012] A warning light is provided at one end of the charging interface.

[0013] A solar panel is arranged on the top of the above-water platform, and the solar panel is connected to the storage battery.

[0014] The underwater charging port docking method of the floating offshore automatic charging system as described above comprises the following steps: S1, when the sea conditions are good, after receiving the charging request, the information transmission tower compares it with its own configuration, and the underwater unmanned equipment releases its own charging cable port to connect with the underwater charging port; S2. In case of severe sea conditions, after receiving a charging request, the information transmission tower compares it with its own configuration, and the inflation device in the water platform is started to inflate or deflate the air bag on the underwater charging port. After the underwater charging port remains in a stable state, the underwater unmanned equipment releases its own charging cable port to dock with the underwater charging port.

[0015] The main beneficial effects of the present invention are: The basic information of the charging pile is fed back to the underwater unmanned equipment through the information transmission tower. The underwater unmanned equipment calculates the remaining power of the device, the distance required to reach the charging pile, evaluates which charging pile is better, and formulates a navigation route.

[0016] After the underwater unmanned device reaches the designated charging pile, it releases its own charging cable port and connects with the underwater charging port for charging. After the charging is completed, the underwater unmanned device's own charging cable port is disconnected from the underwater charging port, and the underwater unmanned device leaves on its own.

[0017] Efficient management is achieved through automatic docking management of charging piles and underwater unmanned equipment.

[0018] Before charging, the charging pile and the charging device exchange information over a long distance, and after positioning is completed, docking is performed. This greatly shortens the distance and time for unmanned equipment to find charging piles, and prevents unmanned equipment from running out of power during the search and being unable to return to the target location, greatly improving the charging convenience of unmanned equipment and improving the endurance of unmanned equipment.

[0019] During the charging process, the inflatable bag on the underwater charging port is inflated or deflated through the inflatable equipment in the water platform, so that it can dock with the underwater unmanned equipment in a stable condition and the docking is precise. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] The present invention will be further described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and embodiments.

[0021] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of the structure of the present invention.

[0022] Figure 2 It is a schematic structural diagram of the underwater charging port of the present invention.

[0023] Figure 3 for Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the internal structure.

[0024] Figure 4 It is a schematic diagram of the partial structure of the charging cable of the present invention.

[0025] In the figure: 1 information transmission tower, 2 water platform, 3 pile body, 4 charging cable, 5 underwater charging port, 51 inflatable bag, 6 underwater appendage, 7 anchor chain, 8 control box, 9 antenna, 10 main electronic control system, 11 battery, 12 rectifier, 13 supporting rib plate, 14 cabin, 15 float, 16 gravity block, 17 warning light, 18 solar panel. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] like Figure 1~Figure 4 In the invention, a floating marine automatic charging system is composed of a signal transmission tower 1, an above-water platform 2, a pile body 3, a charging cable 4, an underwater charging port 5, an underwater appendage 6, a main cable and an anchor chain 7. The above-water platform 2 floats on the water surface, the signal transmission tower is installed on the top of the above-water platform 2, the pile body 3 is connected to the bottom of the above-water platform 2, the underwater appendage 6 is installed at the bottom of the pile body 3, the main cable is connected to the inside of the pile body 3, the charging cable 4 is distributed around the pile body 3, the tail end of the charging cable 4 is connected to the main cable inside the pile body 3, the underwater charging port 5 is installed at the front end of the charging cable 4, the anchor chain 7 is installed at the bottom of the underwater appendage 6, and the entire charging pile is moored by the anchor chain 7.

[0027] The underwater charging pile can provide a variety of charging voltages, including 380V, 220V, 110V, 24V, ±15V, and is distributed in different underwater charging ports 5. When the underwater unmanned device needs to be charged, it continuously transmits a signal to search for the charging pile. The information transmission tower 1 feeds back the basic information of the pile, such as coordinates, available charging voltage, remaining power, etc., to the underwater unmanned device. After the underwater unmanned device receives the information returned by the charging pile, it calculates the remaining power of the device, the distance required to reach the charging pile, evaluates which charging pile is better, and formulates a navigation route, and sends a charging request to the corresponding charging pile. After the underwater unmanned device arrives at the target charging pile, it sends information to check the information with the pile position. After confirming that it is correct, it sends a charging request, such as voltage. After receiving the charging request, the information transmission tower 1 compares it with its own configuration, and the underwater unmanned device releases its own charging cable port to dock with the underwater charging port 5, and charging begins. When charging is completed, the underwater unmanned device sends a charging end request, the information transmission tower 1 controls the charging pile to interrupt the power output of the charging cable 4, the underwater unmanned device's own charging cable port is disconnected from the underwater charging port 5, and the underwater unmanned device leaves on its own. The main cable can be docked with a wave energy device or other offshore power generation equipment to charge the internal battery 11 of the charging pile, or it can be docked with the dock charging equipment when the entire pile returns to the port. Automatic docking management through the charging pile and underwater unmanned equipment. Before charging, the pile and the charging equipment exchange information over a long distance, and dock after positioning is completed. It greatly shortens the distance and time for unmanned equipment to find the charging pile, avoids the unmanned equipment running out of power while searching and being unable to return to the target location, greatly improves the charging convenience of unmanned equipment, and improves the endurance of unmanned equipment.

[0028] The signal transmission tower is composed of a control box 8 and an antenna 9. The control box 8 is connected to the antenna 9 and the charging cable 4. The control box 8 sends the basic information of the pile, such as coordinates, charging voltage, remaining power, etc., to the underwater unmanned equipment through the antenna 9. After the unmanned equipment arrives and completes the docking, the charging cable 4 is controlled to charge the unmanned equipment.

[0029] The pile body 3 is a cylindrical sealed cavity, and the pile body 3 is equipped with electrical equipment such as a main electric control system 10, a battery 11 and a rectifier 12. The main electric control system 10 is connected to the battery 11, and the battery 11 is connected to the charging cable 4 through the rectifier 12. The main cable is connected to the battery 11. The main electric control system 10 can use commercially available host computers and other control equipment. The main cable charges the battery 11, and the battery 11 supplies power to the charging cable 4. The main electric control system 10 is controlled by the control box 8 and the antenna 9.

[0030] A supporting rib 13 is installed on the outside of the pile body 3, and the water platform 2 and the underwater appendage 6 are fixedly connected by the supporting rib 13. The supporting rib 13 is an arc-shaped structure and is distributed in a cross shape around the pile body 3 for reinforcing and fixing the water platform 2 and the underwater appendage 6.

[0031] Embodiment 1, See also Figure 3 to Figure 4 The difference between this embodiment and the first embodiment is that the interior of the underwater appendage 6 is divided into a plurality of independent chambers 14, the underwater floating body 15 plays a balancing role for the device, and the plurality of independent chambers 14 inside provide buoyancy for the device.

[0032] The charging cable 4 is externally connected to a buoyancy component, which can balance the gravity of the charging cable 4 and the underwater charging port 5 so that both of them float in the water.

[0033] The buoyancy assembly includes a float 15 and a gravity block 16. The gravity block 16 is connected to the bottom of the float 15. The float 15 provides buoyancy for the charging cable 4. By increasing or decreasing the number of gravity blocks 16, the buoyancy provided by the float 15 to the charging cable 4 can be changed.

[0034] A warning light 17 is provided at one end of the charging interface. After receiving the charging request, the information transmission tower 1 compares it with its own configuration and turns on the warning light 17 of the charging interface suitable for the unmanned equipment. After the underwater unmanned equipment searches for the light signal, it releases its own charging cable 4 and connects it to the underwater charging port 5 with the light to complete the charging.

[0035] A solar panel 18 is provided on the top of the above-water platform 2 . The solar panel 18 is connected to the storage battery 11 . The solar panel 18 charges the storage battery 11 .

[0036] Embodiment 2, The underwater charging port docking method of the above floating marine automatic charging system includes the following steps: S1, when the sea conditions are good, after receiving the charging request, the information transmission tower compares it with its own configuration, and the underwater unmanned equipment releases its own charging cable port to connect with the underwater charging port; S2, in the case of severe sea conditions, after receiving a charging request, the information transmission tower compares it with its own configuration, and the inflation device in the water platform is started to inflate or deflate the inflatable bag 51 on the underwater charging port. After the underwater charging port remains in a stable state, the underwater unmanned equipment releases its own charging cable port to dock with the underwater charging port.

[0037] During the underwater charging process of the above method, the underwater charging port can achieve accurate docking with the unmanned equipment regardless of good or bad sea conditions.

[0038] The above-mentioned embodiments are only preferred technical solutions of the present invention and should not be regarded as limitations of the present invention. The embodiments and features in the embodiments of the present application can be arbitrarily combined with each other without conflict. The protection scope of the present invention shall be the technical solutions recorded in the claims, including the equivalent replacement solutions of the technical features in the technical solutions recorded in the claims. That is, equivalent replacement improvements within this scope are also within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A floating marine automatic charging system, characterized by: It includes an information transmission tower, an above-water platform, a pile body, a charging cable, an underwater charging port, an underwater appendage, a main cable and an anchor chain; the above-water platform floats on the water surface, the signal transmission tower is installed on the top of the above-water platform, the pile body is connected to the bottom of the above-water platform, the underwater appendage is installed at the bottom of the pile body, the main cable is connected to the inside of the pile body, the charging cable is distributed around the pile body, the tail end of the charging cable is connected to the main cable inside the pile body, the underwater charging port is installed at the front end of the charging cable, and the anchor chain is installed at the bottom of the underwater appendage; the air bag of the underwater charging port is connected to the inflatable device in the above-water platform.

2. The floating marine automatic charging system according to claim 1 is characterized in that: The signal transmission tower is composed of a control box and an antenna; the pile body is a cylindrical sealed cavity, in which a main electric control system, a battery and a rectifier are installed. The main electric control system is connected to the battery, the battery is connected to the charging cable through the rectifier, and the main cable is connected to the battery.

3. The floating offshore automatic charging system according to claim 1 is characterized in that: The underwater charging port is provided with three inflatable bags arranged within a range of 90°; the inflatable bags are connected to the inflatable equipment in the water platform, and the stability of the underwater charging port is ensured by inflation and deflation of the inflatable equipment.

4. The floating marine automatic charging system according to claim 1 is characterized in that: A supporting rib plate is installed on the outside of the pile body, and the above-water platform and the underwater appendage are fixedly connected through the supporting rib plate.

5. The floating marine automatic charging system according to claim 3 is characterized in that: The interior of the underwater appendage is divided into a plurality of independent compartments.

6. The floating marine automatic charging system according to claim 5 is characterized in that: The charging cable is externally connected to a buoyancy component.

7. The floating marine automatic charging system according to claim 1 is characterized in that: The buoyancy assembly comprises a floating body and a gravity block, and the gravity block is connected to the bottom of the floating body.

8. The floating marine automatic charging system according to claim 1 is characterized in that: A warning light is provided at one end of the charging interface.

9. The floating marine automatic charging system according to claim 1 is characterized in that: A solar panel is arranged on the top of the above-water platform, and the solar panel is connected with the storage battery.

10. The underwater charging port docking method of the floating offshore automatic charging system according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that: The steps include: S1, when the sea conditions are good, after receiving the charging request, the information transmission tower compares it with its own configuration, and the underwater unmanned equipment releases its own charging cable port to connect with the underwater charging port; S2. In case of severe sea conditions, after receiving a charging request, the information transmission tower compares it with its own configuration, and the inflation device in the water platform is started to inflate or deflate the air bag on the underwater charging port. After the underwater charging port remains in a stable state, the underwater unmanned equipment releases its own charging cable port to dock with the underwater charging port.

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