External UUV cable separating device

Abstract

The invention relates to the technical field of underwater vehicles, in particular to an external UUV cable separating device which is arranged in a mounting groove in the bottom of a UUV cabin and comprises a female head, a male head assembly, a push plate assembly and a driving assembly, and the female head is horizontally arranged on the groove wall of the mounting groove; the male head assembly is used for being connected with a female head in an inserted mode and comprises a male head, and the male head is provided with a clamping part and a limiting part. The push plate assembly is arranged at the output end of the driving assembly, and the driving assembly is used for driving the push plate assembly to push the male head assembly to be separated from the female head or driving the push plate assembly to clamp the clamping part of the male head assembly between the push plate assembly and the groove wall. According to the invention, the separation and connection of the cable are realized, and the recycling of the UUV is realized.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of underwater vehicles, and particularly to an external UUV cable separation device. Background Art

[0002] In deep-sea research projects, experimental equipment is sunk to the seabed, and the UUV is connected to the experimental equipment and the mooring system through a cable capable of withstanding tension. Figure 7 As shown in the schematic diagram of the UUV lurking in the water, when recovering the equipment, the mooring system needs to be discarded, and the UUV floats to the water surface for recovery.

[0003] In the existing method, for equipment staying underwater for a long time, during recovery, a set of acoustic release devices are used for release. However, the acoustic release devices need to receive the transmitted acoustic wave signals from the sea surface. After the acoustic release devices receive the signals, the closed rings will be separated, so that the mooring rope is separated from the acoustic release devices. For the experimental equipment for underwater detection, it needs to communicate with the UUV, that is, the experimental equipment and the UUV need to be plugged in through the male and female connectors of the cable. Therefore, when recovering the UUV, since the existing acoustic release devices rely on the buoyancy of the equipment and the gravity of the mooring system to separate them, when the gravity and buoyancy are not sufficient to separate the male and female connectors of the UUV and the mooring system, that is, the existing acoustic release devices cannot be used for cable separation.

[0004] Therefore, an external UUV cable separation device is needed to solve the above problems. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The present invention provides an external UUV cable separation device to solve the problem that the release method of the existing acoustic release devices cannot separate the male connector of the cable of the experimental equipment with underwater detection and the female connector of the cable on the UUV.

[0006] The external UUV cable separation device of the present invention adopts the following technical solutions, including: The separation device is arranged in the installation groove at the bottom of the UUV cabin body, and the separation device includes: A female connector, horizontally arranged on the groove wall of the installation groove; A male connector assembly for plugging with the female connector, which includes a male connector, and a clamping part and a limiting part are arranged on the male connector; A push plate assembly and a driving assembly, the push plate assembly is arranged at the output end of the driving assembly, and the driving assembly is used to drive the push plate assembly to push the male connector assembly and the female connector to separate, or drive the push plate assembly to clamp the clamping part of the male connector assembly between the push plate assembly and the groove wall.

[0007] Preferably, the driving assembly and the female connector are arranged on two opposite groove walls of the installation groove along the length direction of the installation groove.

[0008] Preferably, the driving assembly includes: The linear drive component is arranged horizontally, with a fixed end fixed on the groove wall away from the female head, an output end facing the female head, and the output end connected to the push plate component.

[0009] Preferably, the push plate assembly comprises: A connecting plate, which is vertically arranged at the output end of the linear drive assembly; An arc-shaped push plate is arranged parallel to the connecting plate and is connected to the connecting plate through a connecting rod; Wherein, the opening of the arc-shaped push plate faces vertically downward.

[0010] Preferably, the linear drive assembly adopts one of an electric push rod, a hydraulic rod, and a pneumatic rod.

[0011] Preferably, the limiting portion comprises: a limiting baffle, which is two long strips, and the two long strips are arranged on the outer periphery of the male head.

[0012] Preferably, the clamping part comprises: two support rods, one end of which is fixed to the limit baffle and the other end of which is hinged to the clamping rod.

[0013] Preferably, the female connector is installed in a mounting hole provided on the slot wall, and the other end thereof is used for plugging with the male connector.

[0014] Preferably, the end of the male connector facing away from the plug end is used to connect the anchor system and experimental equipment on the anchor system through a cable.

[0015] The beneficial effects of the present invention are: The present invention provides a limiting portion and a clamping portion on the male head, and provides a driving assembly and a push plate assembly. The driving assembly drives the push plate assembly to push the male head assembly and the female head to separate, or drives the push plate assembly to clamp the clamping portion of the male head assembly between the push plate assembly and the groove wall, thereby realizing the connection, clamping and separation of the underwater anchored cable. That is, the present invention is aimed at UUVs or other equipment lurking in the water for a long time, and can complete the two functions of cable connection, clamping and separation by relying on a single driving assembly and a simple mechanical structure. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] In order to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present invention or the technical solutions in the prior art, the drawings required for use in the embodiments or the description of the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without paying creative work.

[0017] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of an embodiment of an external UUV cable separation device of the present invention; Figure 2Schematic diagram of the installation of an external UUV cable separation device of the present invention in the installation groove of the UUV; Figure 3 Schematic diagram of the state of an external UUV cable separation device of the present invention when connecting the cable; Figure 4 Schematic diagram of the state of an external UUV cable separation device of the present invention when separating the male head and the female head; Figure 5 Schematic diagram of the structure of the male head assembly in the embodiment of the present invention; Figure 6 Schematic diagram of the structure of the drive assembly and the push plate assembly in the embodiment of the present invention; Figure 7 Schematic diagram of the UUV lurking in the water.

[0018] In the figure: 1, push rod; 2, cable; 3, push rod flange; 4, male head; 5, groove wall; 6, female head; 31, connecting plate; 32, connecting rod; 33, arc-shaped push plate; 41, male head; 42, limiting part; 43, clamping rod; 7, underwater vehicle; 8, mooring system. Detailed implementation manners

[0019] Next, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present invention, rather than all the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative efforts shall fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

[0020] In an embodiment of an external UUV cable separation device of the present invention, since the mooring system of the existing UUV only plays an anchoring role, and the rope connecting the mooring system and the UUV only plays a role in connecting the UUV and the mooring system. For experimental equipment that needs to conduct underwater detection, it needs to communicate with the UUV, that is, the experimental equipment and the UUV need to be plugged in through the male head and the female head of the cable. Therefore, when recovering the UUV, since the existing acoustic release relies on the buoyancy of the equipment and the gravity of the mooring system to separate them, when the gravity and buoyancy are not sufficient to separate the male and female heads of the UUV and the mooring system, that is, the existing acoustic release cannot be used for cable separation. Therefore, this embodiment provides an external UUV cable separation device, as Figure 2 shown, the separation device is arranged in the installation groove at the bottom of the cabin of the UUV (underwater vehicle 7), as Figure 1 shown, the separation device includes: a female head 6, a male head assembly 4, a push plate assembly 3 and a drive assembly. Among them, the female head 6 is horizontally arranged on the groove wall 5 of the installation groove; the male head assembly 4 is used for plugging with the female head 6, as Figure 4As shown, the male component 4 includes a male head 41, on which a clamping portion 42 and a limiting portion 43 are provided; the push plate component is arranged at the output end of the driving component, and the driving component is used to drive the push plate component 3 to push the male head component 4 and the female head 6 to separate, or drive the push plate component 3 to clamp the clamping portion 42 of the male head component 4 between the push plate component 3 and the groove wall 5.

[0021] For example, Figure 1 As shown, in a specific embodiment, the driving assembly and the female head 6 are arranged on two opposite groove walls 5 of the installation groove along the length direction of the installation groove.

[0022] For example, Figure 1 As shown, in a specific embodiment, the drive assembly includes: a horizontally arranged linear drive assembly 1, the fixed end of the linear drive assembly 1 is fixed on the groove wall 5 away from the female head 6, the output end of the linear drive assembly 1 faces the female head 6, the output end of the linear drive assembly 1 is connected to the push plate assembly 3, the linear drive assembly 1 adopts one of an electric push rod, a hydraulic rod, and a pneumatic rod. In this embodiment, an electric push rod is adopted, which has a simple structure and a small size.

[0023] For example, Figure 6 As shown, in a specific embodiment, the push plate assembly 3 includes: a connecting plate 31, a connecting rod 32 and an arc-shaped push plate 33, wherein the connecting plate 31 is vertically arranged at the output end of the linear drive assembly 1; the arc-shaped push plate 33 is arranged parallel to the connecting plate 31, and the arc-shaped push plate 33 is connected to the connecting plate 31 through the connecting rod 32; wherein, the opening of the arc-shaped push plate 33 is vertically downward, and it should be noted that the purpose of setting the arc-shaped push plate 33 in this embodiment is to ensure that there is a notch on the push plate, and by designing this notch, the male head assembly 4 can be prevented from being affected by the push plate when it is detached from its own gravity.

[0024] For example, Figure 5 As shown, the limiting part 42 includes: a limiting baffle, which is two long strips, and the two long strips are arranged on the outer periphery of the male head 41; the clamping part includes: two support rods, one end of the support rod is fixed to the limiting baffle, and the other end of the support rod is hinged with a clamping rod 43.

[0025] Exemplarily, the female connector 6 is installed in a mounting hole provided on the slot wall 5 , and the other end of the female connector 6 is used for plugging with the male connector 41 .

[0026] Exemplarily, the end of the male connector 41 facing away from the plug-in end is used to connect the anchor system 8 and the experimental equipment on the anchor system 8 through the cable 2 .

[0027] How it works When the underwater vehicle 7 needs to perform underwater operations, first control the linear drive assembly 1 to drive the push plate assembly 3 to approach the groove wall 5 of the installation groove of the connecting female head 6 until the female head 6 can be inserted into the male head 41 of the male head assembly 4. Then the linear drive assembly 1 stops working. At this time, manually adjust the rotation angle of the clamping rod 43 on the support rod to ensure that the clamping rod 43 is located between the arc-shaped push plate 33 of the push plate assembly 3 and the groove wall 5 of the installation female head 6. At this time, as Figure 3 shown, control the linear drive assembly 1 to continue working until the arc-shaped push plate 33 of the push plate assembly 3 and the groove wall 5 of the installation female head 6 clamp the clamping rod 43. At this time, the clamping is completed. Then connect the cable 2 on the male head 41 with the mooring system 8 and the experimental equipment on the mooring system 8. At this time, the anchoring can be completed and the underwater experiment at the set depth can be carried out.

[0028] According to the set detection time, that is, when the underwater vehicle 7 needs to float, the internal controller of the underwater vehicle 7 controls the linear drive assembly 1 to drive the push plate assembly 3 to move away from the connecting female head 6, that is, the linear drive assembly 1 contracts, driving the push plate assembly 3 to release the clamping of the clamping rod 43 until the arc-shaped push plate 33 of the push plate assembly 3 touches the limit baffle on the male head assembly 4. At this time, as Figure 4 shown, the arc-shaped push plate 33 of the push plate assembly 3 continues to move, driving the limit baffle to move away from the connecting female head 6 until the insertion end of the female head 6 and the male head 41 of the male head assembly 4 are separated, and the male head assembly 41 disengages under its own gravity, thus realizing the separation of the male head 41 and the female head 6. At this time, the underwater vehicle 7 can float.

[0029] The above are only the preferred embodiments of the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention. Any modifications, equivalent replacements, improvements, etc. made within the spirit and principle of the present invention shall be included in the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. An external UUV cable separation device, characterized in that: The separation device is arranged in the installation groove at the bottom of the UUV cabin, and the separation device comprises: A female connector is horizontally arranged on the groove wall of the installation groove; A male connector assembly is used for plugging with a female connector, and includes a male connector, and a clamping portion and a limiting portion are provided on the male connector; The push plate assembly and the drive assembly, the push plate assembly is arranged at the output end of the drive assembly, and the drive assembly is used to drive the push plate assembly to push the male head assembly and the female head to separate, or drive the push plate assembly to clamp the clamping part of the male head assembly between the push plate assembly and the groove wall.

2. The external UUV cable separation device according to claim 1 is characterized in that: The driving assembly and the female head are arranged on two opposite groove walls of the installation groove along the length direction of the installation groove.

3. The external UUV cable separation device according to claim 1 is characterized in that: The drive components include: The linear drive component is arranged horizontally, with a fixed end fixed on the groove wall away from the female head, an output end facing the female head, and the output end connected to the push plate component.

4. The external UUV cable separation device according to claim 3 is characterized in that: The push plate assembly includes: A connecting plate, which is vertically arranged at the output end of the linear drive assembly; An arc-shaped push plate is arranged parallel to the connecting plate and is connected to the connecting plate through a connecting rod; Wherein, the opening of the arc-shaped push plate faces vertically downward.

5. The external UUV cable separation device according to claim 1 is characterized in that: The linear drive assembly adopts one of an electric push rod, a hydraulic rod, and a pneumatic rod.

6. The external UUV cable separation device according to claim 1 is characterized in that: The limiting part includes: The limit baffle is two long strips, and the two long strips are arranged on the outer periphery of the male head.

7. The external UUV cable separation device according to claim 6 is characterized in that: The clamping part includes: One end of the two support rods is fixed to the limit baffle, and the other end is hinged with a clamping rod.

8. The external UUV cable separation device according to claim 1 is characterized in that: The female connector is installed in a mounting hole arranged on the groove wall, and the other end thereof is used for plugging with the male connector.

9. The external UUV cable separation device according to claim 8, characterized in that: The end of the male connector facing away from the plug-in end is used to connect the anchor and the experimental equipment on the anchor through a cable.

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