Accurate positioning device for shallow water underwater equipment

Abstract

The invention discloses an accurate positioning device for shallow water underwater equipment. The accurate positioning device comprises a buoy, a communication cable, a buoyancy assembly, a winch assembly, a spring assembly and an electric slip ring. A GPS communication module is arranged in the buoy and connected with the winch assembly through a communication cable, and the communication cable is coiled in the winch assembly and connected with an electric slip ring arranged on one side of the winch assembly. The spring assembly is arranged on the other side of the winch assembly; the buoyancy assembly is arranged on the winch assembly, so that the buoy floats to the water surface under the action of buoyancy, and the communication cable is subjected to self-adaptive cable winding and unwinding adjustment along with the water depth under the action of the spring assembly and is in a straightened state. According to the invention, the communication cable can be adjusted to be retracted and released in a self-adaptive manner along with the water depth, the communication cable is always kept in a straightened state, and the positioning precision of underwater equipment is greatly improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to the technical field of marine engineering, and in particular to a precise positioning device for shallow water underwater equipment. Background Art

[0002] With the continuous exploration of the ocean by human beings, more and more long-term underwater pre-positioned equipment is being used, such as ocean bottom detection devices, ocean bottom detection nodes, etc. When long-term underwater pre-positioned equipment is deployed in shallow waters, it is often necessary to accurately position the underwater equipment with GPS or Beidou, and to transmit the underwater equipment location information and collected data to land in real time. In the face of complex marine environments, in order to obtain accurate underwater equipment positioning information at all times, shallow underwater equipment positioning generally uses hydroacoustic beacons, surface-tethered GPS or Beidou communication buoys.

[0003] Hydroacoustic beacons are often used to accurately locate underwater equipment in deep waters. The hydroacoustic environment in shallow coastal waters is complex and has many interferences. The communication reliability of hydroacoustic beacons is poor. In addition, hydroacoustic beacons require complex deck communication equipment, and the surface platform must always be near the underwater equipment to communicate with the underwater acoustic beacon. The communication positioning system is complex and expensive, and the communication quality is poor in shallow waters. Therefore, the hydroacoustic beacon accurate positioning method is not suitable for accurate positioning of underwater equipment in shallow coastal waters.

[0004] There are two ways to moor GPS or Beidou communication buoys on the water. One is fixed-length mooring, that is, according to the water depth of the water area where the underwater pre-placed equipment is deployed, sufficient length of communication cable is reserved considering the influence of tides, so that the float of the communication and positioning equipment floats on the water surface. This method reserves a longer moored communication cable and cannot accurately locate the underwater equipment under the influence of ocean currents. In addition, when encountering severe weather or large waves, the buoy carrying the communication equipment is very likely to be buried in the water, affecting the real-time transmission of underwater equipment data and positioning information. The second is to collect water depth data in real time and use a combination of electromechanical methods to actively adjust the length of the moored communication cable, so that the length of the moored communication cable is slightly greater than the water depth, so that the communication buoy floats on the water surface to ensure the accurate positioning of the underwater equipment. This method has complex system configuration, requires real-time water depth data collection, complex control methods, low working reliability, and requires regular maintenance.

[0005] It can be seen that the above methods are limited by the complexity of the positioning equipment, the cost or the large environmental impact, and the existing methods cannot effectively and accurately locate the long-term underwater pre-placed equipment in shallow waters. Summary of the invention

[0006] In view of this, the present invention provides a precise positioning device for shallow water underwater equipment, which can make the communication cable adaptively retract and release the cable according to the water depth, and the communication cable always remains in a straightened state, thereby greatly improving the positioning accuracy of the underwater equipment.

[0007] The technical solution adopted by the present invention is as follows:

[0008] A precise positioning device for shallow underwater equipment, comprising a buoy, a communication cable, a buoyancy assembly, a winch assembly, a clockwork assembly and an electric slip ring;

[0009] The buoy has a built-in GPS communication module, which is connected to the winch assembly via a communication cable. The communication cable is wound in the winch assembly and connected to an electric slip ring arranged on one side of the winch assembly. The spring assembly is arranged on the other side of the winch assembly. The buoyancy assembly is arranged on the winch assembly, so that the buoy floats to the water surface under the action of buoyancy. Under the action of the spring assembly, the communication cable is adaptively adjusted to the water depth and is in a straightened state.

[0010] Furthermore, the buoyancy assembly includes a buoyancy block and a counterweight block, and the buoyancy block and the counterweight block are distributed in two opposite directions of the winch assembly.

[0011] Further, the winch assembly includes a winch, a winch base, a mounting seat and a winch rotating frame;

[0012] The winch rotating frame is U-shaped, rotatably installed at both ends of the winch, and can rotate around the central axis of the winch; the winch is installed on the winch base, the winch base is hinged to the mounting seat through the mounting seat rotating shaft, the mounting seat rotating shaft is perpendicular to the central axis of the winch, and the winch base can rotate around the mounting seat rotating shaft; the mounting seat is fixed on the underwater equipment.

[0013] Further, the clockwork assembly includes a spiral spring, a spring box, a spring shaft and a bearing;

[0014] The spring box is fixed on the outside of the capstan, and the spring shaft is installed in the middle of the spring box through a bearing and passes through the spring box and is coaxially fixed with the central axis of the capstan; the spiral spring is placed in the spring box, wound outside the spring shaft, and the central spring leaf of the spiral spring is connected to the spring shaft; the spring box is a watertight structure.

[0015] Furthermore, the spring box includes a box body and a box cover, the open end of the box cover is provided with an outward-turned edge, the open end of the box cover faces outward, the open end of the box body abuts against the outward-turned edge of the box cover, and a sealing ring is provided between the inner wall surface of the box body and the outer peripheral surface of the box cover; the middle part of the box cover protrudes toward the open end, the spring shaft is rotatably connected to the protruding part of the box cover, and a rotating seal is sleeved outside the spring shaft, and the rotating seal is in contact with the inner wall surface of the protruding part of the box cover.

[0016] Furthermore, the precise positioning device also includes a watertight connector, which is connected to the underwater equipment circuit for power supply and data transmission of the buoy.

[0017] Beneficial effects:

[0018] 1. The buoyancy of the buoy and the torsional force of the spring assembly of the present invention are balanced, so that the communication cable can be adaptively retracted and released according to the water depth, and the communication cable is always in a straightened state. The cable length always remains basically consistent with the water depth, so that the buoy can accurately locate the underwater equipment, ensuring the accurate positioning and communication of the underwater equipment around the clock. The device does not require electric drive and control, and the device composition is simple and easy to implement. Secondly, the present invention is a mechanical adaptive cable length adjustment device with high reliability and no control means.

[0019] 2. The present invention forms a universal joint by connecting the winch base with the mounting base through the mounting base rotating shaft and the winch rotating frame with the winch, and arranges buoyancy blocks and counterweight blocks in two opposite directions of the winch assembly, so that when the device is underwater, the buoyancy center of the winch and the part with the communication cable is facing the water surface. The above measures ensure that the communication equipment to be positioned is not affected by the deployment posture of the underwater equipment. No matter what posture the bottom is in underwater, the device always keeps the cable outlet direction of the communication cable facing the water surface to avoid bending and wear of the communication cable.

[0020] 3. The open end of the box cover of the spring box of the present invention is provided with an outward-turned edge, and the middle part of the box cover protrudes toward the open end. This structural design can achieve a better sealing effect. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

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

[0022] Figure 2 for Figure 1 A-axis cross-sectional view of the structure.

[0023] Figure 3 for Figure 1 Sectional view of the structure along axis B.

[0024] Among them, 1-buoy, 2-buoyancy block, 3-mounting seat, 4-watertight connector, 5-counterweight block, 6-electric slip ring, 7-communication cable, 8-capstan rotating frame, 9-capstan, 10-box cover, 11-spring box, 12-bearing, 13-spring shaft, 14-volute spring, 15-rotating seal, 16-sealing ring, 17-capstan base, 18-mounting seat rotating shaft. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0025] The present invention is described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments.

[0026] The present invention provides a precise positioning device for shallow water underwater equipment, such as Figure 1 As shown, it includes a buoy 1, a communication cable 7, a buoyancy assembly, a winch assembly, a spring assembly and an electric slip ring 6.

[0027] The buoy 1 has a built-in GPS communication module, which is connected to the winch assembly through a communication cable 7. The communication cable 7 is wound in the winch assembly and connected to the electric slip ring 6 set on one side of the winch assembly; the spring assembly is set on the other side of the winch assembly; the buoyancy assembly is set on the winch assembly, so that the buoy 1 floats to the water surface under the action of the buoyancy, and the communication cable 7 is adjusted to be self-adaptive with the water depth under the action of the spring assembly, and is in a straightened state. In this way, the device is not affected by swells and tides, and the communication cable 7 is automatically retracted and released, achieving the purpose of accurate positioning and real-time communication of underwater targets.

[0028] Specifically, Figure 2 , 3 As shown, the winch assembly includes a winch 9, a winch base 17, a mounting seat 3 and a winch rotating frame 8; the winch rotating frame 8 is U-shaped, rotatably mounted on both ends of the winch 9, and can rotate around the central axis of the winch 9; the winch 9 is mounted on the winch base 17, the winch base 17 is hinged to the mounting seat 3 through the mounting seat rotating shaft 18, the mounting seat rotating shaft 18 is perpendicular to the central axis of the winch 9, and the winch base 17 can rotate around the mounting seat rotating shaft 18; the mounting seat 3 is fixed to the underwater equipment that needs to communicate or position.

[0029] The buoyancy assembly includes a buoyancy block 2 and a counterweight block 5, and the buoyancy block 2 and the counterweight block 5 are distributed in two opposite directions of the winch assembly.

[0030] In this embodiment, the buoyancy block 2 is arranged on the top of the winch rotating frame 8, and the counterweight block 5 is arranged on the bottom of the winch base 17. The communication cable 7 passes through the middle hole of the buoyancy block 2 and the winch rotating frame 8, and is wound on the winch 9. The communication cable 7 passes through the hollow part of the winch 9 through the reserved hole of the winch 9 and is connected to the electric slip ring 6.

[0031] The installation and fixed connection between the winch 9, the winch rotating frame 8, the mounting seat shaft 18, the winch base 17 and the mounting seat 3 forms a universal joint. Combined with the layout of the buoyancy component, when the device is underwater, the buoyancy center of the winch 9 and the part with the communication cable 7 is facing the water surface. No matter what posture the underwater equipment is in, the device always keeps the cable outlet direction of the communication cable 7 facing the water surface to avoid the problem of bending of the communication cable 7.

[0032] like Figure 2As shown, the clockwork assembly includes a spiral spring 14, a spring box 11, a spring shaft 13 and a bearing 12; the spring box 11 is fixed on the outside of the capstan 9, and the spring shaft 13 is installed in the middle of the spring box 11 through the bearing 12 and passes through the spring box 11 and is coaxially fixed with the central axis of the capstan 9 through screws, so as to drive the capstan 9 to rotate; the spiral spring 14 is placed in the spring box 11, wound around the spring shaft 13, and the central spring leaf of the spiral spring 14 is connected to the spring shaft 13; specifically, the bearing 12 is placed in the bearing mounting countersunk hole inside the outer end surface of the spring box 11, the tail of the spring shaft 13 is fixed in the bearing hole of the bearing 12, and the spring leaf at the center of the spiral spring 14 is fixed in the open groove of the spring shaft 13, so that the spiral spring 14 and the spring shaft 13 can transmit torque, and the position of the open groove is close to the tail of the spring shaft 13, and the spring shaft 13 can position the center of the spiral spring 14.

[0033] The spring box 11 is a watertight structure. In this embodiment, the spring box 11 includes a box body and a box cover 10. The open end of the box cover 10 is provided with an outward-turned edge, the open end of the box cover 10 faces outward, the open end of the box body abuts against the outward-turned edge of the box cover 10, and a sealing ring 16 is provided between the inner wall surface of the box body and the outer peripheral surface of the box cover 10; the middle part of the box cover 10 protrudes toward the open end, the spring shaft 13 is rotatably connected with the protruding part of the box cover 10, and the spring shaft 13 is covered with a rotating seal 15, and the rotating seal 15 contacts the inner wall surface of the protruding part of the box cover 10.

[0034] The buoy 1 of the device can be powered independently, or it can be connected to the circuit of the underwater equipment by using a watertight connector 4 for power supply and data transmission of the buoy 1.

[0035] The working principle is as follows: the mounting seat 3 of the device is fixed to the underwater pre-set equipment to be positioned and communicated, and the device is put into the water and sinks to the bottom together with the underwater equipment. No matter what posture the underwater equipment is seated on the bottom, the device always ensures that the direction of the communication cable 7 is facing the water surface under the action of the buoyancy block 2 and the counterweight block 5. The GPS buoy 1 floats to the water surface under the action of buoyancy. In this process, the communication cable 7 is released to a certain length to pull the winch 9 to rotate, and drives the spring shaft 13 to rotate accordingly. The spring shaft 13 also drives the volute spring 14 to form a torsion, so that the GPS buoy 1 drives the communication cable 7 to be driven out of the cable by the communication cable 7. The GPS buoy 1 floats on the water surface for communication and positioning. The length of the released communication cable 7 changes with the water depth as the surge and tides act. However, under the relative tension of the volute spring 14 and the buoyancy of the GPS buoy 1, it can always ensure that the cable length of the released communication cable 7 is basically consistent with the water depth. In this way, the cable length of the communication cable 7 can be adaptively adjusted with the water depth, and the underwater equipment can be accurately positioned.

[0036] In summary, the above are only preferred embodiments of the present invention and are not intended to limit the protection scope of the present invention. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc. made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included in the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A precise positioning device for shallow underwater equipment, characterized in that: Including buoys, communication cables, buoyancy components, winch components, spring components and electric slip rings; The buoy has a built-in GPS communication module, which is connected to the winch assembly via a communication cable. The communication cable is wound in the winch assembly and connected to an electric slip ring arranged on one side of the winch assembly. The spring assembly is arranged on the other side of the winch assembly. The buoyancy assembly is arranged on the winch assembly, so that the buoy floats to the water surface under the action of buoyancy. Under the action of the spring assembly, the communication cable is adaptively adjusted to the water depth and is in a straightened state.

2. The precise positioning device for shallow underwater equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that: The buoyancy assembly comprises a buoyancy block and a counterweight block, and the buoyancy block and the counterweight block are distributed in two opposite directions of the winch assembly.

3. The precise positioning device for shallow underwater equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that: The winch assembly includes a winch, a winch base, a mounting seat and a winch rotating frame; The winch rotating frame is U-shaped, rotatably installed at both ends of the winch, and can rotate around the central axis of the winch; the winch is installed on the winch base, the winch base is hinged to the mounting seat through the mounting seat rotating shaft, the mounting seat rotating shaft is perpendicular to the central axis of the winch, and the winch base can rotate around the mounting seat rotating shaft; the mounting seat is fixed on the underwater equipment.

4. The precise positioning device for shallow underwater equipment according to claim 3, characterized in that: The spring assembly includes a scroll spring, a spring box, a spring shaft and a bearing; The spring box is fixed on the outside of the capstan, and the spring shaft is installed in the middle of the spring box through a bearing and passes through the spring box and is coaxially fixed with the central axis of the capstan; the spiral spring is placed in the spring box, wound outside the spring shaft, and the central spring leaf of the spiral spring is connected to the spring shaft; the spring box is a watertight structure.

5. The precise positioning device for shallow underwater equipment according to claim 4, characterized in that: The spring box includes a box body and a box cover, the open end of the box cover is provided with an outward-turned edge, the open end of the box cover faces outward, the open end of the box body abuts against the outward-turned edge of the box cover, and a sealing ring is provided between the inner wall surface of the box body and the outer peripheral surface of the box cover; the middle part of the box cover protrudes toward the open end, the spring shaft is rotatably connected to the protruding part of the box cover, and a rotating seal is sleeved outside the spring shaft, and the rotating seal contacts the inner wall surface of the protruding part of the box cover.

6. The precise positioning device for shallow underwater equipment according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that: The precise positioning device also includes a watertight connector, which is connected to the underwater equipment circuit and is used for buoy power supply and data transmission.

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