Double-floating-body deep-sea in-situ underwater subsurface buoy device and working method thereof

Abstract

The invention discloses a double-floating-body deep sea in-situ underwater subsurface buoy device and a working method thereof, and the device comprises a subsurface buoy floating body located at the upper end of the device; supporting structures are arranged at the lower ends of the subsurface buoy floating bodies; a driving device and a transmission device are arranged on the supporting structure, and the driving device is used for providing power for the transmission device; the anchor chain and chain storage device is arranged below the supporting structure and provides a storage space for the movable end of the anchor chain; the transmission device is matched with the anchor chain and drives the anchor chain to move so as to control ascending and descending of the subsurface buoy floating body. And the bottom-sitting floating body is positioned at the bottom of the device and is connected with the subsurface buoy floating body through an anchor chain. The upper floating body and the lower floating body are adopted, the upper floating body provides tension enabling the anchor chain to keep vertical action, and the lower floating body is used for limiting the lowest descending position of the device. Therefore, the anchor chain stroke can be shortened, and the anchor chain movement precision and repeated positioning precision are enhanced. According to the device, the shorter anchor chain is adopted, so that the movement stability of the device is improved; the device can realize stable water outlet and is convenient to maintain.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention belongs to the technical field of ocean monitoring, and particularly relates to a dual-float deep-sea in-situ underwater mooring device and its working method. Background Art

[0002] The development of ocean monitoring technology is inseparable from advanced ocean testing equipment and sites. In an ocean test site, it is necessary to provide a test platform and conditions for the testing and evaluation of various types of ocean equipment. Among them, some ocean equipment such as CTD, acoustic environment measurement equipment, and stereo profile detection equipment have measurement and evaluation requirements at different depths, and the ocean test site needs to provide test conditions with controllable depths.

[0003] The Chinese patent with the patent number CN 102079490 A relates to an underwater winch. It includes a driving device, a cable arranging device, a cable, a Hall counter, a pressure compensator, a mounting seat, a left side plate, and a right side plate. The driving device is placed in a sealed cylinder and horizontally installed on the left side plate and the right side plate. The transmission gear set of the driving device is sealed by a gearbox cover and the left side plate, and the transmission gear set drives a bidirectional lead screw and a cable winding cylinder respectively. A guide rod is installed directly above the cable winding cylinder, and a cable guide seat is sleeved on the bidirectional lead screw and the guide rod. Although the above structure can achieve precise and controllable underwater lifting movement, after long-term underwater work, it is easy to have poor cable arranging effect due to the corrosion of the steel cable by seawater, and even the cable may be stuck, resulting in the inability to drive the cable winding cylinder. In addition, the installation and construction of the device require a stable installation platform on the water surface, with high construction difficulty, large structural volume, high energy consumption, and high subsequent maintenance costs.

[0004] The Chinese patent with the patent number CN 102030088 A relates to a piston-type underwater lifting platform buoyancy adjustment mechanism. It includes a thrust spring, a piston, an elastic rubber film, a connecting piece, a cylinder body, a push rod, a screw rod, a screw rod driving mechanism, and a positioning guide rail. The movement position of the piston is controlled by the screw rod. Different positions of the piston have different extrusion degrees on the elastic rubber film, so that the displacement of the device is different, thus forming different buoyancy magnitudes. Essentially, it realizes underwater lifting movement by adjusting the buoyancy in an underwater mooring buoy. On the basis of meeting portability, it also has the characteristics of unmanned operation, good concealment, and strong mobility. However, it still has the following deficiencies. On the one hand, since underwater lifting movement is achieved by buoyancy adjustment, the depth adjustment accuracy is limited. On the other hand, due to the uneven change of underwater density, and the density change span is positively correlated with the preset lifting depth range of the device, buoyancy adjustment not only requires continuously changing the buoyancy of the device to achieve stopping, but also the volume will change due to the change of the application depth.

[0005] The Chinese patent with the patent number CN 119330248 A relates to a deep-sea anchor chain winch device. The overall lifting of the platform is achieved through the movement of the anchor chain winch, where the anchor chain passes through the center position of the device and is connected to the bottom-mounted anchor block. It can achieve relatively precise position control and consume less energy. However, due to the underwater water flow fluctuations, a horizontal component force is often applied to the device, which will affect the verticality of the anchor chain, resulting in a deflection angle between the anchor chain and the set vertical direction. When the anchor chain is relatively long, a small deflection angle will cause a large position deviation. And due to the uncontrollable factors of the water flow direction, different component force directions will seriously affect the position of the device, causing large errors.

[0006] In summary, it is particularly important to design an underwater test platform that can provide precise and controllable depth adjustment, and take into account the recovery and maintenance of test equipment to reduce labor costs and construction safety. Summary of the Invention

[0007] The object of the present invention is to propose a double-float deep-sea in-situ underwater mooring buoy device and its working method, aiming to provide a marine monitoring platform and its working method in the field of marine monitoring technology that can achieve precise and controllable underwater lifting movement, and take into account the recovery and maintenance of test equipment. It respectively meets the needs of marine monitoring equipment for precise depth adjustment and the flexible deployment of equipment when the equipment is in the preliminary design stage, and satisfies the timely recovery and maintenance of test equipment, saving costs.

[0008] To achieve the above invention object, the present invention adopts the following technical solutions:

[0009] A double-float deep-sea in-situ underwater mooring buoy device includes a mooring buoy float, a support structure, a driving device, a transmission device, an anchor chain and a chain storage device, and a bottom-mounted float.

[0010] The mooring buoy float is located at the upper end of the device. The center position of the upper surface of the mooring buoy float is hollowed out, and an acoustic communication machine or other test equipment can be installed through threaded connection. The acoustic transceiver part of the acoustic communication machine is exposed on the upper surface of the mooring buoy float.

[0011] The support structure includes support columns, support plates, a support platform and a support shaft. There are two support columns, which are symmetrically distributed along the center of the lower surface of the mooring buoy float, and the support columns are connected to the mooring buoy float through threaded connection; the support platform is also a symmetric structure, and its central axis coincides with the central connection line of the two support columns, and the two parts are connected through threaded connection; there are two support plates, which are arranged in parallel, and the symmetry plane of the two support plates coincides with the central axis of the above support platform. Three pairs of bearings are respectively installed at corresponding positions on the two support plates. The support shaft includes a front-stage support shaft, a rear-stage support shaft and a guide shaft, which are respectively matched with the inner rings of the three pairs of bearings through buckles.

[0012] The driving device includes a motor and a battery compartment. The motor is installed on the support platform by means of threads; the battery compartment is installed on the lower surface of the support platform for supplying power to the motor.

[0013] The transmission device includes a pinion gear, a large gear, a V-belt pulley, an anchor sprocket and a guide wheel. The pinion gear is installed on the output shaft of the motor by key connection; the large gear is installed on the front-stage support shaft by flat key and snap connection, and the large and small gears mesh to transmit torque; there are two V-belt pulleys, which are respectively installed on the front and rear-stage support shafts, and the two V-belt pulleys transmit torque through a V-belt; the anchor sprocket is installed on the rear-stage support shaft; the guide wheel is installed on the guide support shaft.

[0014] The anchor chain and the chain storage device include an anchor chain, a chain storage compartment, a chain outlet bellmouth, a chain inlet bellmouth and an anchor chain conduit. The anchor chain is engaged with the socket teeth of the anchor sprocket; the chain storage compartment is located below the guide wheel and installed on the lower surface of the support platform; the chain outlet bellmouth is located below the anchor sprocket; there are two openings on the support platform, one of which is opposite to the chain inlet bellmouth, and the other is opposite to the chain outlet bellmouth and the anchor chain conduit; the chain inlet bellmouth is located below the guide wheel and fixed to the top of the chain storage compartment; the anchor chain conduit is installed on the support platform above the chain outlet bellmouth for physically treating the biological attachment on the surface of the anchor chain, and at the same time improving the torsional resistance of the part of the anchor chain entering the buoy interior, and the central axis of the anchor chain conduit is tangent to the pitch circle of the anchor sprocket. The anchor chain passes through the chain outlet bellmouth, the anchor chain conduit, the anchor sprocket, the guide wheel, and the chain inlet bellmouth in sequence, and finally its movable end is located in the chain storage compartment.

[0015] The bottom-sitting floating body includes a bottom-sitting anchor block, a bottom-sitting anchor chain and a main floating body. The geometric centroid of the main floating body coincides with the central axis of the anchor chain conduit; the bottom-sitting anchor blocks are evenly distributed around the main floating body at intervals of 120°; the bottom-sitting anchor chain connects the main floating body and the bottom-sitting anchor block; the other end of the anchor chain is connected with an anchor chain pendant, and the upper end of the anchor chain pendant has a disc with a diameter larger than the diameter of the central opening of the main floating body, so that the upward movement displacement of the anchor chain is restricted by the main floating body.

[0016] Preferably, the acoustic communication machine adopts a transceiver integrated machine, which has an acoustic communication function for controlling the motor and communicating with the shore end.

[0017] Preferably, both the submersible buoy and the main floating body adopt low-density solid floating materials.

[0018] Preferably, the pinion gear and the large gear can be helical gears. The helix direction of the pinion gear is right-handed, the helix angle is 25°, the module is 2, and the number of teeth is 64. The selected helix direction of the large gear is left-handed, the helix angle is 25°, the module is 2, and the number of teeth is 32.

[0019] Preferably, the motor is a DC brushless motor equipped with a planetary gear reduction box.

[0020] Preferably, the wildcat sprocket is used, and the anchor chain is designed as a short-link anchor chain with a nominal diameter of 5 mm according to German standard 766. The anchor chain hangs vertically, and the extension line of the vertical drop passes through the centroid of the device. The central plane of the guide wheel groove coincides with the central plane of the wildcat sprocket groove, so that the anchor chain is only subjected to the tension along the chain on the transmission link, maintaining the stability of the anchor chain movement.

[0021] Preferably, the bottom of the chain outlet bell mouth should be lower than the chain storage tank to prevent the anchor chain from touching the bottom of the chain storage tank due to ocean waves during the up and down movement.

[0022] Preferably, a counterweight should be installed on the support platform to ensure that the device always remains balanced during operation, and the anchor chain always passes vertically through the surface of the support platform.

[0023] The present invention also provides a working method for a double-float deep-sea in-situ underwater mooring buoy device, which mainly includes three working modes: a silent state, a rising / falling state, and a recovery state.

[0024] In the silent state, the anchor chain is retracted into the chain storage tank, making the length of the external anchor chain shorter. The mooring buoy floats at the maximum depth position and has the minimum external noise, being in a state that is not easily detected. On the one hand, it is beneficial to protect the equipment from being salvaged by fishermen in the offshore area, preventing the loss of the equipment. On the other hand, it does not occupy the sea surface space resources, increasing the space utilization rate.

[0025] In the rising / falling state, the wildcat sprocket retracts the anchor chain into the chain storage tank by forward rotation to make the mooring buoy float descend vertically. Conversely, the wildcat sprocket reversely rotates to release the anchor chain outside the device to make the mooring buoy float ascend vertically. While ensuring the movement stability of the mooring buoy float, the position of the lifting and lowering movement can be accurately controlled.

[0026] In the recovery state, the anchor chain in the chain storage tank is released until the mooring buoy float rises above the water surface, facilitating the maintenance and recovery of the internal equipment, acoustic communication machine, and testing equipment of the device. After the maintenance is completed, it is reinstalled inside or on the surface of the device. Therefore, after the device is launched into the water and reaches the designated depth, the underwater environment of the equipment before and after maintenance can remain unchanged, achieving a high repeat positioning accuracy.

[0027] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the present invention are:

[0028] (1) For a deep-sea anchor chain winch device disclosed in CN 119330248 A, the deeper the depth, the longer the required anchor chain, and the greater the deviation of the device position, which is more uncontrollable. While the present invention adopts upper and lower double floats. The upper float (i.e., the mooring buoy float) provides the tension to keep the anchor chain vertical, and the lower float (i.e., the main float) is used to define the lowest descent position of the device. Thus, the anchor chain stroke can be shortened, enhancing the movement accuracy and repeat positioning accuracy of the anchor chain;

[0029] (2) The underwater mooring buoy device of the present invention uses a shorter anchor chain, reducing the mass change of the device during the entire movement stroke and the volume of the anchor chain compartment required for the device, and improving the stability of the device movement.

[0030] (3) A double-float deep-sea in-situ underwater mooring buoy device provided by the present invention can be used as a deep-sea marine equipment carrier platform. When the deep-sea equipment carried on the device of the present invention needs maintenance or repair, the device only needs to float above the water surface, which is convenient for equipment maintenance.

[0031] (4) The device of the present invention is equipped with an anchor chain conduit, realizing the physical treatment of biological attachment on the anchor chain. Description of the Drawings

[0032] Figure 1 is the front view of the overall device.

[0033] Figure 2 is the second side view of the overall device.

[0034] Figure 3 is the partial detail view of the transmission device.

[0035] Figure 4 is the partial second side view of the transmission device.

[0036] Figure 5 is the second side view of the anchor chain conduit.

[0037] Figure 6 is the front view of the anchor chain conduit.

[0038] In the figure, the acoustic communication machine 1, the mooring buoy float 2, the support column 3, the support plate 4, the inlet cabin bell mouth 5, the chain storage cabin 6, the main float 7, the bottom-mounted anchor chain 8, the anchor chain pendant 9, the bottom-mounted anchor block 10, the buckle 11, the anchor chain 12, the outlet chain bell mouth 13, the anchor chain wheel 14, the battery cabin 15, the support platform 16, the motor 17, the small gear 18, the front-stage support shaft 19, the large gear 20, the guide wheel 21, the guide support shaft 22, the anchor chain conduit 23, the rear-stage support shaft 24, the V-belt 25, and the V-belt pulley 26. Detailed Embodiment

[0039] As Figure 1 and 2 shown is a double-float deep-sea in-situ underwater mooring buoy device provided by an embodiment of the present invention.

[0040] The double-float deep-sea in-situ underwater mooring buoy device includes a mooring buoy float 2, a support structure, a driving device, a transmission device, an anchor chain and chain storage device, and a bottom-mounted float.

[0041] The submersible buoy 2 is located at the upper end of the device. The center position of the upper surface of the submersible buoy 2 is hollowed out, and an acoustic communication machine 1 or other testing equipment is installed through threaded connection. The acoustic transceiver part of the acoustic communication machine 1 is exposed on the upper surface of the submersible buoy 2.

[0042] The support structure includes support columns 3, support plates 4, a support platform 16, and support shafts. The support columns 3 are symmetrically distributed in pairs along the center of the lower surface of the submersible buoy 2, and the support columns 3 are connected to the submersible buoy 2 through threaded connection; the central axis of the support platform 16 coincides with the central connection line of the two support columns 3, and the two parts are connected through threaded connection; the symmetry plane of the support plate 4 coincides with the central axis of the support platform 16, and three pairs of bearings are respectively installed at the corresponding positions of the support plate 4. One end of the bearing is fixed through the side surface of the support plate 4, and the other end is fixed through a buckle on the support shaft; the support shaft includes a front-stage support shaft 19, a rear-stage support shaft 24, and a guide shaft 22, all of which are installed on the support plate 4 and cooperate with the inner ring of the bearing through a buckle.

[0043] The driving device includes a motor 17 and a battery compartment 15. The motor 17 is installed on the support platform 16 through threaded connection; the battery compartment is installed on the lower surface of the support platform 16.

[0044] As Figure 3 and 4 Figs. and are schematic diagrams of the transmission device. The transmission device includes a small bevel gear 18, a large bevel gear 20, V-belt pulleys 26, an anchor chain wheel 14, and a guide wheel 21. The small bevel gear 18 is installed on the output shaft of the motor through key connection; the large bevel gear 20 is installed on the front-stage support shaft 19 through a flat key and a buckle connection, and the large and small bevel gears mesh to transmit torque; the V-belt pulleys 26 are respectively installed on the front and rear-stage support shafts in pairs, and the torque is transmitted between the front and rear-stage V-belt pulleys 26 through a V-belt 25; the anchor chain wheel 14 and the rear-stage V-belt pulley 26 are installed on the rear-stage support shaft 24; the guide wheel 21 is installed on the guide support shaft 22.

[0045] The anchor chain and the chain storage device include an anchor chain 12, a chain storage compartment 6, a chain outlet bell mouth 13, a chain inlet bell mouth 5, and an anchor chain conduit 23. The anchor chain 12 is in socket tooth fit with the anchor chain wheel 14; the chain storage compartment 6 is located below the guide wheel 21 and is installed on the lower surface of the support platform 16; the chain outlet bell mouth 13 is located below the anchor chain wheel 14; the chain inlet bell mouth 5 is located below the guide wheel 21; the central axis of the anchor chain conduit 23 is tangent to the pitch circle of the anchor chain wheel 14 and is installed on the support platform 16 above the chain outlet bell mouth 13.

[0046] As Figure 5 and 6Schematic diagram of the anchor chain conduit 23. The specific structure of the anchor chain conduit 23 is as follows: The anchor chain conduit 23 is a cylinder with an orthogonal cross-slot opened inside. Four inclined planes are evenly distributed on the edges of the orthogonal cross-slot (for convenience, the inclined planes can be provided only near both ends of the cylinder). The included angle between the four inclined planes and the orthogonal cross-slot is 45° (after the four inclined planes rotate 45° around the center of the cylinder, they completely coincide with the orthogonal cross-slot). Through the inclined planes, the anchor chain can smoothly slide into the orthogonal cross-slot under the action of relative pulling force (the anchor chain may rotate under the action of water flow, and the setting of the inclined planes can make the anchor chain more easily enter the anchor chain conduit).

[0047] The bottom-mounted floating body includes a bottom-mounted anchor block 10, a bottom-mounted anchor chain 8, and a main floating body 7. The tail end of the above-mentioned anchor chain 12 is connected to an anchor chain pendant 9. The upper end of the anchor chain pendant 9 has a disc with a diameter larger than the diameter of the central opening of the main floating body 7, so that the upward movement displacement of the anchor chain 12 is restricted by the main floating body 7. The bottom-mounted anchor blocks 10 are evenly distributed around the main floating body 7 at an interval of 120°. The bottom-mounted anchor chain 8 is used to connect the main floating body 7 and the bottom-mounted anchor block 10. One end of the bottom-mounted anchor chain 8 is fixedly connected to the bottom-mounted anchor block 10, and the other end is connected to the main floating body 7 through a buckle 11.

[0048] A working method of a double-floating-body deep-sea in-situ underwater mooring buoy device includes three working modes: a silent state, a rising / falling state, and a recovery state;

[0049] In the silent state, the anchor chain 12 is retracted into the chain storage compartment 6, making the length of the external anchor chain shorter. The mooring buoy 2 is located at the maximum depth position and has the minimum external noise, being in a state not easily detectable.

[0050] In the rising / falling state, the anchor chain 12 is released / retracted to the outside / inside of the chain storage compartment 6 through the anchor chain wheel 14, so that the mooring buoy 2 rises / falls vertically.

[0051] In the recovery state, the anchor chain 11 in the chain storage compartment 6 is released until the mooring buoy 2 rises above the water surface, facilitating the maintenance and recovery of the internal equipment, acoustic communication machine, and testing equipment of the device.

Claims

1. A dual-float deep-sea in-situ underwater mooring buoy device, characterized in that: It includes a subsurface buoy, a support structure, a driving device, a transmission device, an anchor chain and a chain storage device, and a bottom-mounted buoy; The subsurface buoy is located at the upper end of the device, and an acoustic communication machine or other testing equipment is installed on the subsurface buoy; the support structure is provided at the lower end of the subsurface buoy; the driving device and the transmission device are provided on the support structure, and the driving device is used to provide power for the transmission device; one end of the transmission device is connected to the driving device, and the other end is connected to the support structure, and is used to control the rising and falling of the subsurface buoy; the anchor chain and the chain storage device are arranged below the support structure and provide a storage space for the movable end of the anchor chain; the transmission device cooperates with the anchor chain to control the rising and falling of the subsurface buoy by driving the movement of the anchor chain; the bottom-mounted buoy is located at the bottom of the device and is connected to the subsurface buoy through the anchor chain.

2. The dual-float deep-sea in-situ underwater mooring buoy device according to claim 1, wherein: The support structure includes support columns, support plates, a support platform and a support shaft; the support columns are provided on the lower surface of the subsurface buoy and are used to connect the subsurface buoy and the support platform, the support platform is located below the support platform, and their centers of gravity coincide; two parallel support plates are provided on the support platform, and the two support plates are symmetrically arranged with respect to the center of gravity of the support platform; three pairs of bearings are provided on the two support plates; the support shaft includes a front-stage support shaft, a rear-stage support shaft and a guide shaft, which are respectively matched with the inner rings of the three pairs of bearings.

3. The dual-float deep-sea in-situ underwater mooring buoy device according to claim 2, characterized in that: The driving device includes a motor and a battery compartment; the motor is provided on the upper surface of the support platform; the battery compartment is installed on the lower surface of the support platform and is used to supply power to the motor; The transmission device includes a small gear, a large gear, V-belt pulleys, an anchor sprocket and a guide wheel; the small gear is installed on the output shaft of the motor; the large gear is installed on the front-stage support shaft, and the large gear meshes with the small gear to transmit torque; there are two V-belt pulleys in total, which are respectively installed on the front-stage support shaft and the rear-stage support shaft, and torque is transmitted between the two V-belt pulleys through a V-belt; the anchor sprocket is installed on the rear-stage support shaft; the guide wheel is installed on the guide support shaft.

4. The dual-float deep-sea in-situ underwater mooring buoy device according to claim 3, characterized in that: The anchor chain and the chain storage device include an anchor chain, a chain storage compartment, a chain outlet bell mouth, a chain inlet bell mouth and an anchor chain conduit; two openings are provided on the support platform, one of which is opposite to the chain inlet bell mouth, and the other is opposite to the chain outlet bell mouth and the anchor chain conduit; the anchor chain is engaged with the socket teeth of the anchor sprocket; the chain storage compartment is located below the guide wheel and is installed on the lower surface of the support platform; the chain outlet bell mouth is located below the anchor sprocket; The chain inlet bell mouth is located below the guide wheel and is fixed to the top of the chain storage compartment; the anchor chain conduit is installed on the support platform above the chain outlet bell mouth and is used to physically treat the biological attachment on the surface of the anchor chain, and at the same time improve the anti-torsion ability of the part of the anchor chain entering the buoy interior, and the central axis of the anchor chain conduit is tangent to the pitch circle of the anchor sprocket; the anchor chain passes through the chain outlet bell mouth, the anchor chain conduit, the anchor sprocket, the guide wheel, and the chain inlet bell mouth in sequence, and finally its movable end is located in the chain storage compartment. The anchor chain is only subjected to the tensile force along the chain during movement, maintaining the stability of the anchor chain movement.

5. The dual-float deep-sea in-situ underwater mooring buoy device according to claim 4, characterized in that: The structure of the anchor chain conduit is specifically a cylinder with an orthogonal cross groove opened inside. Four inclined planes are evenly distributed on the groove edges of the orthogonal cross groove. The included angle between the four inclined planes and the orthogonal cross groove is 45°. Through the inclined planes, the anchor chain can slide into the orthogonal cross groove under the action of relative pulling force.

6. The dual-float deep-sea in-situ underwater mooring buoy device according to claim 4, wherein: The bottom - sitting floating body includes bottom - sitting anchor blocks, bottom - sitting anchor chains and a main floating body. There are three bottom - sitting anchor blocks in total, which are evenly distributed around the main floating body at intervals of 120°. The bottom - sitting anchor chains are used to connect the main floating body and the bottom - sitting anchor blocks. The geometric centroid of the main floating body coincides with the central axis of the anchor chain conduit. The other end of the anchor chain is connected with an anchor chain pendant. The upper end of the anchor chain pendant has a disc with a diameter larger than the diameter of the central opening of the main floating body, so that the upward movement displacement of the anchor chain is restricted by the main floating body.

7. The working method of the double-float deep-sea in-situ underwater mooring buoy device according to any one of claims 1-6, characterized in that: It includes three working modes: silent state, rising / falling state and recovery state. In the silent state, the anchor chain is retracted into the chain storage cabin, making the length of the external anchor chain shorter. The sub - surface buoy is located at the maximum depth position and has the minimum external noise, being in a state that is not easily detected. In the rising / falling state, the anchor chain is released / retracted by the anchor chain wheel to the outside / inside of the chain storage cabin, so that the sub - surface buoy rises / falls vertically. In the recovery state, the anchor chain in the chain storage cabin is released until the sub - surface buoy rises above the water surface.

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