An underwater unmanned deployment device for constant tension deployment of optical fiber cables

Abstract

This invention belongs to the field of underwater unmanned deployment technology, specifically relating to an underwater unmanned deployment device for constant tension deployment of optical fiber cables. The invention employs segmented storage and connection of long-distance optical fiber cables. Adjacent groups of optical fiber cables are connected via repeaters, which act as welding points for multiple fiber segments and sink to the bottom of the water as the cable is deployed, ensuring uninterrupted signal transmission. The invention utilizes a constant-speed deployment device. During the cable deployment process, the tension fluctuation is controlled within ±2% by adjusting the motor output speed based on the tension detected by a tension sensor. The invention incorporates multiple hollow designs in its structure, ensuring both strength and overall lightweight design. The entire device is compact, lightweight, and easy to operate, improving the convenience and flexibility of underwater optical fiber cable deployment.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of underwater unmanned deployment technology, specifically relating to an underwater unmanned deployment device for deploying optical cables under constant tension. Background Technology

[0002] With the continuous development of underwater communication technology, optical fiber cables, as an important carrier of underwater information transmission, are crucial to the construction of underwater communication networks due to their deployment efficiency and stability. Traditional optical cable deployment methods often rely on manual operation or equipment mounted on large vessels, which is not only inefficient and costly but also faces numerous challenges from the complex marine environment. During underwater optical cable deployment, the deployment speed, tension, and attitude stability of the cable are often difficult to control precisely due to the influence of various factors such as water flow, buoyancy, and attitude. This may lead to damage to the cable during deployment or affect communication quality due to unstable attitude after deployment. Therefore, how to achieve efficient, stable, and reliable constant tension deployment of optical fiber cables has become an urgent problem to be solved in the field of underwater communication technology.

[0003] In recent years, with the rapid development of underwater unmanned vehicle (AUV) technology, the application of AUVs in underwater optical cable laying has gradually gained attention. AUVs possess advantages such as autonomous navigation, high flexibility, and adaptability to complex marine environments, which can significantly reduce the difficulty and cost of optical cable laying. However, applying AUVs to optical cable laying still requires solving a series of technical challenges, such as constant tension laying of optical cables and the coupled control of buoyancy and attitude. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to provide an underwater unmanned deployment device for laying optical cables under constant tension.

[0005] An underwater unmanned deployment device for constant tension deployment of optical fiber cables includes a coil assembly and a constant speed deployment device. The coil assembly includes an optical fiber coil and a buoyancy material shell. The optical fiber coil includes an inner ring and an outer ring, which are connected by end plates at the front and rear ends. The optical fiber is wound around the inner ring and located in the space between the inner and outer rings. Cable exit holes are opened on the surface of the inner ring, and the front and rear ends of the optical fiber extend from the cable exit holes. Multiple sets of optical fiber coils are stacked and arranged, and the outer rings of each optical fiber coil are connected by cover plates to form a series assembly. The series assembly is arranged inside the buoyancy material shell, and the optical fibers in adjacent sets of optical fiber coils are connected by repeaters. The repeaters are arranged in the cable delivery channel formed by the stacked inner rings of multiple sets of optical fiber coils in the series assembly.

[0006] When laying optical cables, the optical cable is first pulled out from the cable outlet at the front end of the optical cable coil at the front end of the series assembly. The optical cable is then pulled out from the cable laying channel and laid through a constant speed laying device. When all the optical cables in a certain optical cable coil are pulled out, the repeater connected to the tail end of the optical cable is also pulled out from the cable laying channel of the series assembly and sinks to the bottom of the water along with the optical cable. At the same time, the repeater brings out the head end of the optical cable in the next group of optical cable coils, realizing the continuous laying of optical cables.

[0007] Furthermore, the constant-speed deployment device includes a deployment device frame, an auxiliary guide rail, and a tension sensor; the front end of the deployment device frame is connected to the buoyancy material shell via a connecting bracket; an inlet fixed pulley assembly is provided at the front of the deployment device frame; multiple sets of drive wheel assemblies are arranged in the middle and rear of the deployment device frame; a floating pulley assembly is provided above each set of drive wheel assemblies; the floating pulley assembly can float up and down around the installation point; the floating pulley assembly and the drive wheel assembly form a limiting channel for the deployment of the optical fiber; the drive wheel assembly is equipped with a motor assembly; the tension sensor is used to measure the tension on the optical fiber.

[0008] Furthermore, the repeater is spherical in shape, with cable inlets and outlets at the front and rear ends, respectively, and has a cable groove inside. The optical cables in the two adjacent sets of optical cable bundles enter the cable groove from the cable inlet and outlet of the repeater and are then wound and connected to ensure the continuity of the optical cables. An auxiliary wiring is provided to connect the optical cables in front of and behind the repeater from the outside of the repeater.

[0009] Furthermore, during the laying of the optical fiber, the optical fiber enters from the entrance fixed pulley assembly and passes through each set of optical fiber laying limit channels in sequence along the auxiliary guide rail. The repeater falls to the outside of the auxiliary guide rail due to gravity. The auxiliary wiring above the repeater passes normally along the auxiliary guide rail and drives the repeater to move. After all the auxiliary wiring has passed, the optical fiber connected behind the repeater continues to pass normally through the optical fiber laying limit channel.

[0010] Furthermore, the auxiliary guide rail has an overall undulating and bending configuration, including multiple sets of peaks and troughs, with each set of peaks located at the position of the drive wheel assembly.

[0011] Furthermore, the motor assembly includes a motor, a reducer, and an encoder; during the laying of the optical cable, the speed of the motor output is adjusted in real time by the reducer and encoder according to the tension detected by the tension sensor, so that the tension fluctuation of the optical cable during underwater laying is controlled within ±2%.

[0012] Furthermore, the connecting bracket connecting the deployment device frame and the buoyancy material shell includes an upper triangular bracket and a side bracket. The upper triangular bracket is used to connect the top of the deployment device frame and the buoyancy material shell, and the side bracket is used to connect the deployment device frame and the side of the buoyancy material shell.

[0013] Furthermore, the upper triangular bracket, the lateral bracket, and the placement device frame all adopt a hollow design to reduce the structural weight while ensuring structural strength.

[0014] Furthermore, the underwater unmanned deployment device for constant tension deployment of optical fiber cables is mounted entirely below the AUV. The coil device assembly is installed on the upper part of the buoyancy material shell, and the upper part of the deployment device frame is installed through an L-shaped angle aluminum bracket.

[0015] The beneficial effects of this invention are as follows:

[0016] This invention employs a structural design that stacks multiple sets of optical fiber coils into a series assembly. Adjacent sets of optical fiber coils are connected by repeaters, optimizing the storage and carrying of the optical fiber and significantly improving the efficiency of winding and laying. This invention uses segmented storage and connection of long-distance optical fiber cables, with repeaters acting as welding points for multiple fiber segments. These repeaters sink to the bottom of the water as the optical fiber is laid, ensuring uninterrupted signal transmission. The invention utilizes a constant-speed laying device. During the laying process, the tension is controlled within ±2% by adjusting the motor output speed based on the tension detected by a tension sensor. The structure incorporates multiple hollow designs, ensuring both strength and lightweight design. The entire device is compact, lightweight, and easy to operate, improving the convenience and flexibility of underwater optical fiber laying. Attached Figure Description

[0017] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of an underwater unmanned deployment device for constant tension deployment of optical fiber cables.

[0018] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the constant speed deployment device.

[0019] Figure 3 This is a structural schematic diagram of a series assembly.

[0020] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the repeater. Detailed Implementation

[0021] The present invention will now be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0022] This invention provides an underwater unmanned deployment device for constant tension deployment of optical fiber cables, such as... Figure 1 As shown, the assembly includes a coil device assembly 1 and a constant-speed deployment device 5, which are connected by an upper triangular bracket 3 and a lateral bracket 6. The upper triangular bracket 3 connects the top of the deployment device frame 45 to the buoyancy material shell 2, and the lateral bracket 6 connects the sides of the deployment device frame 45 to the buoyancy material shell 2. The upper triangular bracket 3, lateral bracket 6, and deployment device frame 45 all adopt a hollow design to reduce structural weight while ensuring structural strength. The coil device assembly 1 includes an optical fiber coil 62 and a buoyancy material shell 2. The upper triangular bracket 3 is based on topology optimization principles. By removing excess material while ensuring structural strength, it achieves optimal material utilization. The triangular bracket itself has excellent stability, and the hollow design further disperses stress concentration, improving the overall structural rigidity and load-bearing capacity. The reduction in material usage directly lowers manufacturing costs. Simultaneously, the optimized structure is easier to process and assemble, further improving economic efficiency. The upper triangular bracket 3 and lateral bracket 6 use aluminum for the connectors and adopt a hollow design to ensure strength while maintaining overall lightweight.

[0023] like Figure 2 As shown, the constant speed deployment device 5 includes a deployment device frame 45, an auxiliary guide rail 46, and a tension sensor. The front end of the deployment device frame 45 is connected to the buoyancy material shell 2 via a connecting bracket. An inlet fixed pulley assembly 44 is provided at the front of the deployment device frame 45. Multiple sets of drive wheel assemblies 43 are arranged in the middle and rear of the deployment device frame 45. A floating pulley assembly 42 is provided above each set of drive wheel assemblies 43. The floating pulley assembly 42 can float up and down around the installation point. The floating pulley assembly 42 and the drive wheel assembly 43 form a limiting channel for the deployment of the optical fiber. The drive wheel assembly 43 is equipped with a motor assembly 41. The tension sensor is used to measure the tension on the optical fiber. The auxiliary guide rail 46 has an undulating and bending structure, including multiple sets of crests and troughs. Each set of crests is located at the position of the drive wheel assembly 43. The motor assembly 41 includes a motor, a reducer, and an encoder. During the laying of the optical cable, the speed of the motor output is adjusted in real time by the reducer and encoder according to the tension detected by the tension sensor, so that the tension fluctuation of the optical cable during underwater laying is controlled within ±2%.

[0024] The deployment device frame 45 can be made of 1 cm thick aluminum plate, and its hollow design ensures lightweight construction. The floating pulley assembly 42 ensures the optical cable is firmly pressed against the drive wheel assembly 43, guaranteeing the stability of the deployment power. The motor is fixed to the rear end of the deployment device frame 45 via a motor mounting bracket. The auxiliary guide rail 46 primarily protects the pulleys; its cable-assisted guide rail buffer mechanism reduces impact on the optical cable during deployment and retraction, improving system stability.

[0025] like Figure 3As shown, the series assembly is composed of multiple sets of optical fiber coils 62 stacked together, connected by cover plates 51. Each optical fiber coil 62 has a hollow ring structure, including an inner ring and an outer ring. The inner and outer rings are connected by front and rear end plates. The optical fiber is wound around the inner ring and located in the space between the inner and outer rings. Cable exit holes are opened on the surface of the inner ring, through which both the front and rear ends of the optical fiber extend. The series assembly is arranged inside the buoyancy material shell 2. The optical fibers in adjacent sets of optical fiber coils 62 are connected by repeaters 63, which are located in the cable delivery channel of the series assembly.

[0026] like Figure 4 As shown, the repeater 63 is spherical in shape, with cable inlets and outlets 33 at its front and rear ends, respectively, and an internal cable groove 34. Optical cables from adjacent sets of optical cable coils 62 enter the cable groove 34 from the cable inlets and outlets 33 of the repeater 63 and are then wound and connected, ensuring the continuity of the optical cable. An auxiliary connection is provided to connect the optical cables in front of and behind the repeater 63 from the outside and above. The spherical repeater 63 is installed inside the cable laying channel. The repeater's internal cable groove 34 is used for coiling the optical cable. The coiled optical cable is fixed by an internal pressure plate 32, ensuring that the optical cable will not scatter or twist during the laying process. This design not only ensures the quality of the optical cable laying but also allows the repeater to be smoothly carried out during the laying process, thus achieving continuous optical cable deployment.

[0027] During the deployment of the optical fiber cable, the underwater unmanned deployment device for constant tension deployment is mounted entirely beneath the AUV. The cable coil assembly 1 is installed on the upper end of the buoyancy material shell 2, and the upper end of the deployment device frame 45 is installed via an L-shaped angle aluminum bracket 4. First, the optical fiber cable is pulled out from the cable outlet hole at the front of the optical fiber cable coil 62 at the very front of the series assembly. The optical fiber cable is pulled out from the deployment channel and deployed via the constant speed deployment device 5. The optical fiber cable enters from the inlet fixed pulley assembly 44 and passes sequentially through each group of optical fiber cable deployment limiting channels along the auxiliary guide rail 46. When all the optical fiber cable in a certain optical fiber cable coil 62 has been pulled out, the repeater 63 connected to the tail end of the optical fiber cable is also pulled out from the deployment channel of the series assembly 62. As the repeater 63 descends to the outside of the auxiliary guide rail 46 due to gravity, the auxiliary wiring above the repeater 63 passes normally along the auxiliary guide rail 46, driving the repeater 63 to move. After all the auxiliary wiring has passed, the repeater 63 sinks to the bottom of the water along with the optical cable. At the same time, the repeater 63 brings out the first end of the optical cable in the next set of optical cable bundles 62. The optical cable connected behind the repeater 63 continues to pass normally through the optical cable laying limit channel, realizing the continuous laying of the optical cable.

[0028] Typically, underwater long-distance fiber optic cable deployment involves laying multiple fiber optic segments separately, followed by welding them together on the seabed using an underwater robot. This not only increases operational costs but also disrupts normal signal communication. This invention addresses this by segmenting and connecting long-distance optical fiber cables, with repeaters acting as signal base stations. This reduces signal attenuation over long distances and, through a unique spherical structure, allows the optical fiber to be threaded through slots within the repeater, eliminating the need for welding. The repeaters, installed inside the cable-laying channel, act as welding points for multiple fiber segments, ensuring uninterrupted signal transmission and effectively enhancing signal propagation. As the first section of cable is laid and the second section begins laying, the repeaters sink to the seabed along with the deployed optical fiber, ensuring normal signal communication. During long-distance underwater deployment of optical fiber cables, the required number of cable segments can be determined based on the deployment distance to form a series assembly.

[0029] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the invention. Various modifications and variations can be made to the present invention by those skilled in the art. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. An underwater unmanned deployment device for constant tension deployment of optical fiber cables, characterized in that: The device includes a coil assembly (1) and a constant speed laying device (5); the coil assembly (1) includes a sensing optical cable coil (62) and a buoyancy material shell (2); the sensing optical cable coil (62) includes an inner ring and an outer ring, which are connected by end plates at the front and rear ends. The sensing optical cable is wound on the inner ring and located in the space between the inner and outer rings. Cable exit holes are opened on the surface of the inner ring, and the front and rear ends of the sensing optical cable exit from the cable exit holes. The optical fiber extends out of the hole; multiple sets of optical fiber coils (62) are stacked and arranged, and the outer rings of each optical fiber coil (62) are connected by a cover plate (51) to form a series assembly; the series assembly is arranged inside the buoyancy material shell (2), and the optical fiber in adjacent sets of optical fiber coils (62) is connected by a repeater (63); the repeater (63) is arranged in the cable laying channel formed by the stacked inner rings of multiple sets of optical fiber coils (62) in the series assembly; When laying the optical fiber, the optical fiber is first pulled out from the cable outlet at the front end of the optical fiber coil (62) at the front end of the series assembly. The optical fiber is pulled out from the cable laying channel and laid through the constant speed laying device (5). When all the optical fiber in a certain optical fiber coil (62) is pulled out, the repeater (63) connected to the tail end of the optical fiber is also pulled out from the cable laying channel of the series assembly and sinks to the bottom of the water as the optical fiber is laid. At the same time, the repeater (63) brings out the head end of the optical fiber in the next group of optical fiber coils (62), realizing the continuous laying of the optical fiber.

2. The underwater unmanned deployment device for constant tension deployment of optical fiber cables according to claim 1, characterized in that: The constant speed deployment device (5) includes a deployment device frame (45), an auxiliary guide rail (46), and a tension sensor. The front end of the deployment device frame (45) is connected to the buoyancy material shell (2) through a connecting bracket. An inlet fixed pulley assembly (44) is provided at the front of the deployment device frame (45). Multiple sets of active wheel assemblies (43) are arranged in the middle and rear of the deployment device frame (45). A floating pulley assembly (42) is provided above each set of active wheel assemblies (43). The floating pulley assembly (42) can float up and down around the installation point. The floating pulley assembly (42) and the active wheel assembly (43) form a limiting channel for the deployment of the optical cable. The active wheel assembly (43) is equipped with a motor assembly (41). The tension sensor is used to measure the tension on the optical cable.

3. The underwater unmanned deployment device for constant tension deployment of optical fiber cables according to claim 2, characterized in that: The repeater (63) is spherical in shape, with cable inlet and cable outlet (33) at the front and rear ends respectively, and a cable groove (34) inside. The optical cables in the two adjacent sets of optical cable bundles (62) enter the cable groove (34) from the cable inlet and cable outlet (33) of the repeater (63) respectively and are wound and connected to ensure the continuity of the optical cables. An auxiliary wiring is set to connect the optical cables in front of and behind the repeater (63) from the outside of the repeater (63).

4. The underwater unmanned deployment device for constant tension deployment of optical fiber cables according to claim 3, characterized in that: When laying the optical fiber, the optical fiber enters from the entrance fixed pulley assembly (44) and passes through each set of optical fiber laying limit channels in sequence along the auxiliary guide rail (46). The repeater (63) falls to the outside of the auxiliary guide rail (46) due to gravity. The auxiliary wiring above the repeater (63) passes normally along the auxiliary guide rail (46) and drives the repeater (63) to move. After all the auxiliary wiring passes through, the optical fiber connected behind the repeater (63) continues to pass through the optical fiber laying limit channel normally.

5. An underwater unmanned deployment device for constant tension deployment of optical fiber cables according to claim 2, characterized in that: The auxiliary guide rail (46) has an overall undulating and bent configuration, including multiple sets of peaks and troughs, with each set of peaks located at the position of the drive wheel assembly (43).

6. An underwater unmanned deployment device for constant tension deployment of optical fiber cables according to claim 2, characterized in that: The motor assembly (41) includes a motor, a reducer and an encoder; during the laying of the optical cable, the speed of the motor output is adjusted in real time by the reducer and encoder according to the tension detected by the tension sensor, so that the tension fluctuation of the optical cable during the underwater laying process is controlled within ±2%.

7. An underwater unmanned deployment device for constant tension deployment of optical fiber cables according to claim 2, characterized in that: The connecting brackets for the deployment device frame (45) and the buoyancy material shell (2) include an upper triangular bracket (3) and a side bracket (6). The upper triangular bracket (3) is used to connect the top of the deployment device frame (45) and the buoyancy material shell (2), and the side bracket (6) is used to connect the side of the deployment device frame (45) and the buoyancy material shell (2).

8. An underwater unmanned deployment device for constant tension deployment of optical fiber cables according to claim 7, characterized in that: The upper triangular bracket (3), the lateral bracket (6), and the placement device frame (45) all adopt a hollow design to reduce the structural weight while ensuring structural strength.

9. An underwater unmanned deployment device for constant tension deployment of optical fiber cables according to claim 8, characterized in that: The underwater unmanned deployment device for constant tension deployment of optical fiber is mounted under the AUV. The coil device assembly (1) is installed on the upper end of the buoyancy material shell (2), and the upper end of the deployment device frame (45) is installed through the L-shaped angle aluminum bracket (4).

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