A device for sampling and transferring macrobenthos organisms at full depth of sea

Abstract

The present application relates to the field of marine equipment, and aims to provide a full-ocean-depth macrobenthos living sampling and temperature-keeping pressure-transferring device.The device comprises a capture main body structure, an active temperature-keeping structure, a pressure compensator and an electronic cabin; the temperature-keeping box of the active temperature-keeping system is sealingly sleeved outside the main sampling cylinder, and the cavity between the two is filled with heat exchange fluid medium; the thermoelectric refrigeration module is located on one side of the temperature-keeping box, and the upper and lower surfaces thereof are respectively provided with radiating fins; the inner cavity of the radiating fins is filled with heat exchange fluid medium, and is communicated with the skin capsule through a pipeline.The temperature-keeping material-water layer-sample cabin structure form of the active temperature-keeping system not only forms a water jacket type double-layer passive temperature-keeping structure, and the heat releasing bottom surfaces of the cold and hot ends of the refrigeration element of the thermoelectric refrigeration module and the sealing ring on the temperature-keeping cylinder form a seal.The space between the cold and hot end heat releasing units is filled with insulating oil, and is connected to the pressure compensator through a hose to realize internal and external pressure balance, and the design of the pressure-resistant structure is avoided.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of marine equipment, and more specifically, based on the need for obtaining live deep-sea macroorganisms, this invention relates to a whole-ocean-depth macroorganism live sampling and heat preservation and pressure preservation transfer device. Background Technology

[0002] The deep-sea environment, especially the trenches and abysses, is a crucial area for research on biodiversity, ecology, and biological evolution. Studies of abyssal evolutionary systems rely heavily on macrobial samples from the deep sea. However, due to the typically low temperatures of 2-3°C and pressures reaching tens of megapascals, macroorganisms in the deep sea have adapted. Traditional methods of recovering macroorganisms to the surface often result in their death due to the increased temperature and decreased pressure. Furthermore, their DNA is damaged, rendering them unusable for research.

[0003] Because deep-sea macroorganism sampling research projects require significant funding, the number of researchers who can participate is limited. Therefore, there is relatively little publicly available literature on the insulation and pressure maintenance of samplers in existing deep-sea exploration technologies. Current research has proposed using active pressure-maintaining macroorganism live samplers, but these are still accompanied by passive insulation methods, lacking active insulation techniques.

[0004] Therefore, it is necessary to propose new solutions to address the aforementioned problems. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to overcome the shortcomings of the prior art and provide a full-ocean-depth macro-organism live sampling and heat preservation and pressure-preserving transfer device.

[0006] To solve the technical problem, the solution of the present invention is:

[0007] A full-ocean-depth macroorganism live sampling and heat-insulating, pressure-maintaining transfer device is provided, comprising a capture main structure, an active heat-insulating structure, a pressure-compensating structure, and an electronic chamber; wherein,

[0008] The capture structure includes a sampling deep-sea motor, a transmission structure, a main sampling cylinder, and a sampling inner cylinder arranged sequentially. The transmission structure has a guide rail cylinder, inside which a lead screw connected to the output shaft of the sampling deep-sea motor is arranged coaxially. The main sampling cylinder is a cylindrical structure, with its closed end fixedly connected to the guide rail cylinder. The sampling inner cylinder is a cylindrical structure closed at both ends, movably nested inside the open end of the main sampling cylinder. An axially rotatable sleeve is provided at the inner end of the sampling inner cylinder, with the end of the sleeve passing through the main sampling cylinder and extending into the guide rail cylinder. The sleeve has threads inside, and the lead screw is installed therein. An axially movable piston is provided inside the sampling inner cylinder, and a counting module is provided at the outer end of the sampling inner cylinder opposite to the piston. On the side wall of the sampling inner cylinder, there is a pressure balance through-hole connecting to the main sampling cylinder and a macrobiota through-hole for macrobiota entry and exit. On the side wall of the main sampling cylinder, there are pressure sensors and temperature sensors for monitoring internal parameters.

[0009] The active insulation system includes an insulation box, a thermoelectric cooling module, heat sinks, and a bladder; wherein, the insulation box is sealed and fitted outside the main sampling cylinder, and the cavity between the two is filled with a heat exchange fluid medium; the thermoelectric cooling module is located on one side of the insulation box, and heat sinks are respectively installed on its upper and lower surfaces; the internal cavity of the heat sink is filled with a heat exchange fluid medium and is connected to the bladder through a pipeline;

[0010] The pressure compensation structure includes an active pressure compensator and a passive pressure compensator. The active pressure compensator includes a booster deep-water motor, a low-pressure injector, and a differential pressure amplifier. The low-pressure injector includes a low-pressure piston rod and a low-pressure piston cylinder. The output shaft of the booster deep-water motor drives the low-pressure piston rod to move axially along the low-pressure piston cylinder via a gear structure. The piston inside the differential pressure amplifier is composed of two cylinders with different radial dimensions. The cavity on the larger diameter side of the piston is the low-pressure chamber, and the cavity on the smaller diameter side is the high-pressure chamber. The low-pressure chamber is connected to the output end of the low-pressure piston cylinder via a pipeline, and this pipeline is equipped with two one-way valves, one for introducing seawater from the outside and the other for connecting the low-pressure piston cylinder to the differential pressure amplifier. The high-pressure chamber is connected to the main sampling cylinder via a pipeline. The passive pressure compensator is an accumulator structure with a built-in piston inside the cylinder. One end of the accumulator is connected to the main sampling cylinder, and the other end is equipped with an air inlet and a ball valve.

[0011] The electronic compartment contains a data acquisition board and a control board. The data acquisition board is connected to each sensor via watertight connectors and cables; the control board is connected to the sampling deep-sea motor and the booster deep-sea motor via watertight connectors and cables.

[0012] As a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a dissolved oxygen sensor and two high-pressure injection ports are provided on the side wall of the main sampling cylinder, the latter being used to connect to a gas-liquid booster pump and an overflow valve, respectively.

[0013] As a preferred embodiment of the present invention, three circumferential sealing rings are provided on the outer side of the sampling inner cylinder, dividing the cylinder into two independent sealing areas. The pressure balance through hole and the macro-biological through hole are respectively located in the two different sealing areas.

[0014] As a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the counting module is a camera with target recognition function. The camera is embedded in the outer end of the sampling inner cylinder and is protected by sapphire glass on both sides.

[0015] As a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the insulation box is made of polypropylene insulation board; the thermoelectric cooling module is a TEC semiconductor chip; the bladder is a hollow bladder made of rubber and connected to the inner cavity of the heat sink through a PU tube; the heat exchange fluid medium between the insulation box and the main sampling cylinder is water, and the heat exchange fluid medium between the heat sink cavity and the bladder is oil.

[0016] As a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the low-pressure piston cylinder includes a cylinder body, a front end cover and a rear end cover. The low-pressure piston rod passes through the front end cover and is coaxially arranged in the cylinder body, and its end forms a radial sealing fit with the cylinder body. The low-pressure piston rod is a lead screw with an axial limiting cross section, and a limiting through hole matching the cross section shape of the lead screw is provided on the front end cover.

[0017] As a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the differential pressure amplifier includes a cylinder, a front end cover, a rear end cover, and a piston; the front end cover and the rear end cover are installed at both ends of the cylinder, and the rear end cover has a through piston cavity in the axial direction; the piston has a T-shaped axial cross section, consisting of two cylinders with different diameters, and the larger diameter cylinder is located in the cavity between the front and rear end covers, while the smaller diameter cylinder extends into the piston cavity of the rear end cover; both the low-pressure cavity and the high-pressure cavity are filled with seawater, and the two cylinders of the piston form a radial sealing fit with their respective cavities.

[0018] As a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it further includes an alternating mesh bag and a transfer structure; the mesh bag has a flared opening and a flange face that mates with the open end of the main sampling cylinder; the transfer structure is a single-end closed cylindrical structure, with an observation window at the closed end and a flange face at the open end that mates with the open end of the main sampling cylinder, and a transfer channel for docking with the culture system is provided on its middle side wall; two high-pressure injection ports are provided on the side wall of the transfer structure, which are respectively used to connect to a gas-liquid booster pump and an overflow valve.

[0019] As a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the culture system includes a body structure in the shape of a metal spherical shell, which is connected to a pressure control structure; the body structure is connected to the transfer channel via a ball valve, and a sealing ring and a clamp are used at the connection point for installation.

[0020] This invention further provides a method for live sampling and heat-insulating, pressure-controlled transfer of macroorganisms at full ocean depth using the aforementioned device, comprising:

[0021] The capture main structure, active insulation structure, pressure compensation structure, and electronic chamber are fixedly installed on the frame of the deep-sea biological sampling device. Each electrical device draws power from the watertight battery compartment on the frame. The piston position of the sampling inner cylinder is adjusted and a bait bag is placed. Then, the net is installed.

[0022] The deep-sea biological sampling device is lowered to the designated sampling area, the sampling deep-sea motor is started, and the inner sampling cylinder is extended out of the main sampling cylinder by rotating the lead screw. The entry of macroorganisms is observed using the counting module. When appropriate, the sampling deep-sea motor is started again to retract the inner sampling cylinder into the main sampling cylinder and achieve sealing.

[0023] During the deep-sea recovery process, the pressure data in the main sampling tube is monitored. When the passive pressure compensator cannot maintain the initial pressure of the sampling area, the booster deep-sea motor is activated in time to provide stable pressure maintenance for the main sampling tube. The temperature data in the main sampling tube is monitored, and the thermoelectric cooling module is activated in time according to the initial temperature of the sampling area.

[0024] The deep-sea biological sampling device was retrieved to the mother ship, and the transfer structure was installed after the net bag was removed. The transfer channel was connected to the ball valve of the culture system located in the cryogenic container, and the installation was achieved by using a sealing ring and clamp at the connection point.

[0025] Connect the high-pressure injection ports on the main sampling cylinder and the transfer structure to the gas-liquid booster pump in sequence, and adjust the pressure of the main sampling cylinder and the transfer structure to be consistent; then open the ball valve of the culture system, start the sampling deep water motor to drive the sampling inner cylinder to move outward, so that the macro-biological channel is connected to the transfer channel;

[0026] Water is injected into the main sampling cylinder by a gas-liquid booster pump, creating a pressure difference on both sides of the piston in the inner sampling cylinder. This causes the piston to move, driving the macroorganisms through the ball valve and into the culture system.

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

[0028] 1. This invention innovatively proposes an integrated high-fidelity sampling technology that combines deep-sea macro-organism trapping with heat preservation and pressure maintenance. It creates a near-deep-sea environment to reduce the range of temperature and pressure variations. By optimizing the design of the sampling system, it completes the development and application of deep-sea high-fidelity sampling equipment, enabling the acquisition and counting of live macro-organisms. At the same time, the system has a pressure-maintaining transfer interface function.

[0029] 2. The active insulation system proposed in this invention, with its insulation material-water layer-sample chamber structure, not only forms a water-jacketed double-layer passive insulation structure, but also utilizes a pressure-adaptive encapsulation for the thermoelectric cooling module. This seal is achieved by connecting the bottom surface of the radiator at the hot and cold ends of the cooling element to the sealing ring on the insulation cylinder. Insulating oil is used to fill the space between the radiators at the hot and cold ends, and a hose connects to a pressure compensator, achieving internal and external pressure balance and avoiding the need for a pressure-resistant structure design.

[0030] 3. The active liquid pressure compensation system proposed in this invention introduces a novel differential pressure amplifier structure. By utilizing the pressure difference resulting from the area difference of the amplifier piston, the pressure required for the active compensation piston to push inward is reduced.

[0031] 4. The active macrobial pressure-maintaining and temperature-controlled driving method proposed in this invention adopts a piston driving mechanism based on high-pressure water to realize the transfer of macrobial organisms from the main sampling cylinder to the culture system, thereby improving the transfer efficiency of macrobial organisms. Attached Figure Description

[0032] Figure 1 A diagram showing the overall structure of the full-ocean-depth macrobial live sampling and heat preservation and pressure-maintaining transfer device in sampling mode;

[0033] Figure 2 This is a top view of the device when it is in sampling mode;

[0034] Figure 3 To capture a sectional view of the main structure;

[0035] Figure 4 To capture the overall external view of the main structure;

[0036] Figure 5 This is a cross-sectional view of an active insulation system.

[0037] Figure 6 This is an overall structural diagram of the pressure compensation structure;

[0038] Figure 7 This is a structural diagram of an active pressure compensator;

[0039] Figure 8 A diagram showing the structural fit between the transfer structure and the capture body;

[0040] Figure 9 A structural diagram showing the sealing method of the docking part between the transfer structure and the capture main structure;

[0041] Figure 10 A diagram to capture the combination of the main structure, transfer structure, and culture system.

[0042] The attached figures are labeled as follows: Net bag 1; Active insulation structure 2; Thermoelectric cooling module 2-1; Blade 2-2; Heat sink 2-3; Insulation box 2-4; Pressure compensation structure 3; Booster deep-water motor 3-1; Low-pressure injector 3-2; Low-pressure piston rod 3-2-1; Low-pressure piston cylinder front end cover 3-2-1-1; Low-pressure piston cylinder rear end cover 3-2-1-2; Low-pressure piston cylinder body 3-2-1-3; Low-pressure piston cylinder 3-2-2; Differential pressure amplifier 3-3; Amplifier front end cover 3-3 -1; Amplifier piston 3-3-2; Amplifier rear end cover 3-3-3; Amplifier cylinder 3-3-4; Passive pressure compensator 3-4; Electronic chamber 4; Capture main structure 5; Sampling deep-water motor 5-1; Transmission structure 5-2; Main sampling cylinder 5-3; Sampling inner cylinder 5-4; Piston 5-5; Dissolved oxygen sensor 5-6; Counting module 5-7; Transfer structure 6; Sealing ring groove 6-1; Sealing ring 6-2; 7 Culture system; 7-1 Large diameter ball valve; 7-2 Culture system body. Detailed Implementation

[0043] The technical solution of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be noted that the description of these embodiments is for the purpose of helping to understand the present invention, but does not constitute a limitation thereof.

[0044] Part 1 Overview of the Implementation Scheme of the Invention

[0045] 1. Full-ocean-depth and macro-organism live sampling and heat preservation and pressure transfer device

[0046] The present invention proposes a full-ocean-depth macroorganism live sampling and heat-insulating, pressure-maintaining transfer device, comprising a capture main structure, an active heat-insulating structure, a pressure compensation structure, and an electron chamber, as well as a replaceable net and transfer structure. Among these,

[0047] (1) The main capture structure includes a sampling deep-water motor, a transmission structure, a main sampling cylinder, and a sampling inner cylinder arranged in sequence; the transmission structure has a guide rail cylinder, and a lead screw connected to the output shaft of the sampling deep-water motor is arranged coaxially inside it; the main sampling cylinder is a cylindrical structure, and its closed end is fixedly connected to the guide rail cylinder; the sampling inner cylinder is a cylindrical structure with both ends closed, and is movably nested inside the main sampling cylinder; an axially rotatable sleeve is provided at the inner end of the sampling inner cylinder, and the end of the sleeve passes through the main sampling cylinder and extends into the guide rail cylinder, and a thread is provided inside the sleeve and the lead screw is installed therein; an axially movable piston is provided inside the sampling inner cylinder, and a counting module is provided at the outer end of the sampling inner cylinder opposite to the piston; a pressure balance through hole communicating with the main sampling cylinder and a macro-organism through hole for macro-organism entry and exit are provided on the side wall of the sampling inner cylinder; a pressure sensor and a temperature sensor for monitoring the internal parameters are provided on the side wall of the main sampling cylinder;

[0048] A dissolved oxygen sensor and two high-pressure injection ports are installed on the side wall of the main sampling cylinder. The former can monitor the dissolved oxygen content inside the main sampling cylinder in real time, while the latter are used to connect to the gas-liquid booster pump and the overflow valve, respectively. Three circumferential sealing rings are provided on the outer side of the inner sampling cylinder, dividing the cylinder into two independent sealing areas. The pressure balance through-hole and macro-biological through-hole are respectively located in the two different sealing areas.

[0049] The counting module is a camera with target recognition capabilities. The camera is embedded in the outer end of the sampling inner cylinder and protected by sapphire glass on both sides. The counting module can visually determine the number of macroorganisms entering the sampling inner cylinder. During sampling, when a certain number of macroorganisms are reached, the sampling inner cylinder is retracted to close the passage, preventing insufficient oxygen capacity due to excessive sampling.

[0050] (2) An active heat preservation system, including an insulation box, a thermoelectric cooling module, heat sinks and a bladder; wherein, the insulation box is sealed and fitted outside the main sampling cylinder, and the cavity between the two is filled with a heat exchange fluid medium; the thermoelectric cooling module is located on one side of the insulation box, and heat sinks are respectively installed on its upper and lower surfaces; the internal cavity of the heat sink is filled with a heat exchange fluid medium and is connected to the bladder through a pipeline;

[0051] The insulated chamber is made of polypropylene insulation board; the thermoelectric cooling module uses a TEC semiconductor chip, which generates a temperature difference between the cold and hot sides when powered on; the bladder is a hollow rubber bladder connected to the heat sink cavity via PU tubing to maintain pressure balance inside and outside the heat sink. Water is the heat exchange fluid between the insulated chamber and the main sampling cylinder, while oil is the heat exchange fluid between the heat sink cavity and the bladder. The electrical connection of the thermoelectric cooling module is achieved through a watertight connector.

[0052] (3) Pressure compensation structure, including active pressure compensator and passive pressure compensator; wherein, active pressure compensator includes booster deep-water motor, low-pressure injector and differential pressure amplifier, low-pressure injector includes low-pressure piston rod and low-pressure piston cylinder, the output shaft of booster deep-water motor drives low-pressure piston rod to move axially along low-pressure piston cylinder through gear structure; the piston inside differential pressure amplifier is composed of two cylinders with different radial dimensions; the cavity on the side of the piston with a large diameter is low-pressure cavity, and the cavity on the side of the piston with a small diameter is high-pressure cavity; the high-pressure cavity is connected to the main sampling cylinder through pipeline; the low-pressure cavity is connected to the output end of low-pressure piston cylinder through pipeline, and the pipeline is equipped with two one-way valves, one direction is set to introduce seawater from the outside, and the other direction is set to lead from low-pressure piston cylinder to differential pressure amplifier; through the continuous reciprocating motion of low-pressure injector, outside seawater can be continuously introduced and guided to the front end cover of differential pressure amplifier.

[0053] The low-pressure piston cylinder includes a cylinder body, a front end cover, and a rear end cover. The low-pressure piston rod passes through the front end cover and is coaxially arranged in the cylinder body, with its end forming a radial sealing fit with the cylinder body. The low-pressure piston rod is a lead screw with an axial limiting cross section, and a limiting through hole matching the cross section shape of the lead screw is provided on the front end cover.

[0054] The differential pressure amplifier includes a cylinder, a front cover, a rear cover, and a piston. The front and rear covers are mounted at both ends of the cylinder, and the rear cover has an axially extending piston chamber. The piston has a T-shaped axial cross-section, consisting of two cylinders with different diameters. The larger diameter cylinder is located in the cavity between the front and rear covers, while the smaller diameter cylinder extends into the piston chamber of the rear cover. Both the low-pressure and high-pressure chambers are filled with seawater, and the two cylinders of the piston form radial seals with their respective cavities. Because the pressure on both sides is the same but the cross-sectional areas of the cylinders are different, the pressures on both sides are different. By increasing the radial dimension ratio, the pressure at the output end can be much greater than the pressure at the input end, achieving differential pressure amplification.

[0055] The passive pressure compensator is an accumulator structure with a built-in piston inside the cylinder. One end is connected to the main sampling cylinder, and the other end is equipped with an inflation port and a ball valve. Before sampling, pre-compressed nitrogen is injected into the pressure compensator through the inflation port, and then the ball valve is closed. After sampling, due to the difference in gas-liquid compressibility, when the pressure inside the sampling cylinder decreases, the nitrogen in the passive pressure compensator expands, rapidly increasing the pressure inside the sampling cylinder.

[0056] (4) Electronic cabin, which is equipped with a data acquisition board and a control board. The data acquisition board is connected to each sensor through a watertight connector and a cable; the control board is connected to the sampling deep water motor and the booster deep water motor through a watertight connector and a cable.

[0057] (5) The net bag has a flange face that is fitted to the open end of the main sampling tube, and a flared mouth for guiding deep-sea macroorganisms and preventing backflow.

[0058] The transfer structure is a single-end closed cylindrical structure with an observation window at the closed end and a flange at the open end for installation with the main sampling cylinder. A transfer channel for docking with the culture system is located on its central side wall. Two high-pressure injection ports are located on the side wall of the transfer structure, for connection to a gas-liquid booster pump and an overflow valve, respectively. The culture system comprises a metal spherical shell-shaped main body structure connected to a pressure control structure. This main body structure docks with the transfer channel via a ball valve, with a sealing ring and clamp used for installation at the docking point. The transfer structure is placed on the mother ship and used for docking after sample recovery. The culture system is housed in a cryogenic container on the mother ship, thus maintaining a constant temperature and pressure within the culture system over a long period. The culture system can be equipped with a device for periodically feeding nutrient solutions to sustain the survival of deep-sea macroorganisms long-term.

[0059] 2. Methods for live sampling and heat-insulating and pressure-controlled transfer of deep-sea and macroorganisms.

[0060] (1) The capture main structure, active heat preservation structure, pressure compensation structure and electronic chamber are fixedly installed on the frame of the deep-sea biological sampling device, and each electrical device draws power from the watertight battery compartment on the frame; adjust the piston position of the sampling inner cylinder and place the bait bag, and then install the net bag;

[0061] (2) Lower the deep-sea biological sampling device to the predetermined sampling area, start the sampling deep-water motor, and rotate the lead screw to make the sampling inner cylinder extend out of the main sampling cylinder. Use the counting module to observe the entry of macroorganisms; start the sampling deep-water motor in time to retract the sampling inner cylinder into the main sampling cylinder and achieve sealing.

[0062] (3) During the recovery process from the deep sea, monitor the pressure data in the main sampling tube. When the passive pressure compensator cannot maintain the initial pressure of the sampling area, start the booster deep-sea motor in time to provide stable pressure maintenance for the main sampling tube. Monitor the temperature data in the main sampling tube and activate the thermoelectric cooling module in time according to the initial temperature of the sampling area.

[0063] (4) Retrieve the deep-sea biological sampling device back to the mother ship, remove the net bag and install the transfer structure; connect the transfer channel to the ball valve of the culture system located in the cryogenic container, and use a sealing ring and clamp at the docking point to achieve installation;

[0064] (5) Connect the high-pressure injection ports on the main sampling cylinder and the transfer structure to the gas-liquid booster pump in sequence, and adjust the pressure of the main sampling cylinder and the transfer structure to be consistent; then open the ball valve of the culture system, start the sampling deep water motor to drive the sampling inner cylinder to move outward, so that the macro-biological channel is connected to the transfer channel;

[0065] (6) Water is injected into the main sampling cylinder by a gas-liquid booster pump to create a pressure difference on both sides of the piston in the sampling inner cylinder, thereby pushing the piston to move and drive the macroorganisms through the ball valve into the culture system.

[0066] Part Two: A Specific Implementation Case

[0067] like Figure 1 , 2 As shown, the full-ocean-depth macroorganism live sampling and temperature- and pressure-controlled transfer device includes a net bag 1, an active temperature-controlled structure 2, a pressure-compensating structure 3, an electronic chamber 4, a capture main structure 5, a transfer structure 6, and a culture system 7. The net bag 1 is used for guiding and preventing macroorganisms from returning; the active temperature-controlled structure 2 is used to maintain a constant in-situ temperature; the pressure-compensating structure 3 is used to maintain a constant in-situ pressure on the capture main structure 5; the electronic chamber 4 is the control center of the entire sampling device; the capture main structure 5 is used for capturing macroorganisms; the transfer structure 6 is used to transfer macroorganisms isobarically to the culture system 7; and the culture system body 7-2 is used for long-term macroorganism culture.

[0068] like Figure 3 , 4 As shown, the capture main structure 5 includes a sampling deep-water motor 5-1, a transmission structure 5-2, a main sampling cylinder 5-3, a sampling inner cylinder 5-4, a piston 5-5, a dissolved oxygen sensor 5-6, and a counting module 5-7. The main sampling cylinder 5-3 is a cylindrical body with one end cap fixedly connected to the guide rail of the transmission structure 5-2, and the other end is open. The side wall of the main sampling cylinder 5-3 is connected to two high-pressure injection ports, a pressure sensor, and a temperature sensor. The sampling inner cylinder 5-4 is also a cylindrical body, forming a radial seal with the main sampling cylinder; it has three sealing rings on its side, and a cylindrical through-hole in the middle of the two sealing rings on the right side serves as the inlet and outlet for macroorganisms, i.e., the macroorganism channel. There is a radial through-hole to the right of the leftmost sealing ring, connecting the inside and outside of the sampling inner cylinder 5-4. The piston 5-5 is located inside the sampling inner cylinder 5-4. The dissolved oxygen sensor 5-6 is fixed to the side wall of the main sampling cylinder 5-3 and communicates with its interior, allowing for real-time monitoring of the dissolved oxygen content inside the main sampling cylinder 5-3. The counting module 5-7 is a camera with target recognition capabilities, embedded in the outer end cap of the sampling inner cylinder 5-4 and protected by sapphire glass at both ends. The counting module 5-7 can visually determine the number of macroorganisms entering the sampling inner cylinder 5-4. During sampling, once a certain number of macroorganisms are collected, the sampling inner cylinder 5-4 is retracted to prevent insufficient oxygen capacity due to excessive sampling.

[0069] like Figure 5 As shown, the active insulation system includes a thermoelectric cooling module 2-1, a bladder 2-2, heat sinks 2-3, and an insulation box 2-4. The thermoelectric cooling module 2-1 uses a commercially available TEC semiconductor chip, which generates a temperature difference between the cold and hot surfaces when energized. Heat sinks 2-3 are installed on both the upper and lower surfaces of the thermoelectric cooling module 2-1. The insulation box 2-4 is made of polypropylene insulation material and is fitted over the main sampling cylinder 5-3. Water is filled between the insulation box 2-4 and the main sampling cylinder 5-3 as the heat exchange medium. The internal cavity of the heat sink 2-3 is filled with oil and communicates with the bladder 2-2 to achieve internal and external pressure balance. Watertight connectors are installed on the heat sink 2-3 for connection to the terminals of the thermoelectric cooling module 2-1. The bladder 2-2 is a rubber bladder connected to the heat sink 2-3 via a PU tube.

[0070] like Figure 6 , Figure 7As shown, the pressure compensation structure includes an active pressure compensator and a passive pressure compensator 3-4. The passive pressure compensator 3-4 is an accumulator structure, a cylindrical body with a built-in piston. One end is connected to the main sampling cylinder 5-3, and the other end is an air inlet connected to a ball valve. Before sampling, pre-compressed nitrogen is charged into the pressure compensator through the air inlet, and then the ball valve is closed. After sampling, due to the difference in gas-liquid compressibility, when the pressure in the sampling cylinder decreases, the nitrogen in the passive pressure compensator 3-4 expands, rapidly increasing the pressure in the sampling cylinder. The active pressure compensator includes a booster deep-water motor 3-1, a low-pressure injector 3-2, and a differential pressure amplifier 3-3. The low-pressure injector 3-2 includes a low-pressure piston rod 3-2-1 and a low-pressure piston cylinder 3-2-2. The main body of the low-pressure piston rod 3-2-1 is a lead screw with two limiting surfaces, and its end is cylindrical, forming a radial sealing fit with the low-pressure piston cylinder 3-2-2. At the end of the low-pressure piston cylinder 3-2-2, a corresponding limiting groove is formed on the front end cover 3-2-1-1 of the low-pressure piston cylinder, which can restrict the rotation of the lead screw, allowing the lead screw to move only in a straight line. The differential pressure amplifier 3-3 is also a piston cylinder structure, including the amplifier front end cover 3-3-1, the amplifier piston 3-3-2, the amplifier rear end cover 3-3-3, and the amplifier cylinder body 3-3-4. The amplifier cylinder body 3-3-4 is a cylindrical shell. The amplifier front end cover 3-3-1 is connected to the outlet of the low-pressure injector 3-2, and the amplifier rear end cover 3-3-3 is connected to the main sampling cylinder 5-3. The amplifier piston 3-3-2 consists of two cylindrical sections with different diameters (which can be machined as a single piece). The smaller diameter end forms a radial sealing fit with the inner through hole of the amplifier rear end cover 3-3-3, and the larger diameter end forms a radial sealing fit with the amplifier cylinder body 3-3-4. Because both sides experience the same pressure but have different areas, the pressures on both sides are different, with the pressure at the input end of the amplifier front cover 3-3-1 being much less than the pressure at the output end. For example, one side of the amplifier piston 3-3-2 is a cylinder with a diameter of 100mm and a height of 15mm, and the other side is a cylinder with a diameter of 15mm and a height of 80mm. The amplifier front cover 3-3-1 is 20mm high and has a 5mm threaded through hole in the center. The amplifier rear cover 3-3-3 is 90mm high and has a cylindrical groove with a diameter of 15mm and a depth of 80mm in the center. The pipeline between the outlet of the low-pressure injector 3-2 and the differential pressure amplifier 3-3 has two one-way valves: one valve directs external seawater to the low-pressure injector 3-2, and the other valve directs the low-pressure injector 3-2 to the amplifier front cover 3-3-1. In this way, the continuous reciprocating motion of the low-pressure injector 3-2 can continuously supply external seawater to the front cover of the differential pressure amplifier 3-3.

[0071] like Figure 8 , Figure 9 , Figure 10As shown, the transfer structure 6 is a single-end open cylindrical structure with a transfer channel and a high-pressure water interface on its side, and an observation window at the closed end. The open end of the transfer structure 6 is connected to the main sampling cylinder 5-3 via a flange, and the transfer channel on the side is used to connect to the culture system 7. The two high-pressure injection ports of the transfer structure 6 are connected to a gas-liquid booster pump and an overflow valve, respectively. The culture system 7 is located on the research vessel and is used for long-term in-situ temperature and pressure culture of deep-sea macroorganisms. The culture system 7 includes the culture system body and a large-diameter ball valve 7-1. The culture system body is a pressure-resistant titanium alloy spherical shell with a through hole connected to the large-diameter ball valve 7-1. The culture system 7 has a pressure control mechanism, and since it is placed inside a cryogenic container, the temperature and pressure inside the culture system 7 can be maintained constant over a long period. The culture system 7 has a mechanism for periodically feeding nutrient solution, which can sustain the survival of deep-sea macroorganisms for extended periods.

[0072] Example of how to use the device:

[0073] (1) Assemble the net 1, active insulation structure 2, pressure compensation structure 3, electronic cabin 4, and capture main structure 5, and mount them on the frame (lander) of the deep-sea biological sampling device. Extend the sampling inner cylinder 5-4 in the capture main structure 5, place its piston close to the closed end, and then place the bait bag. The amplifier piston 3-3-2 is attached to the amplifier front end cover 3-3-1, and the two high-pressure injection ports of the main sampling cylinder 5-3 are connected to the ball valve, and the ball valve is closed.

[0074] (2) After the lander touches down in the deep-sea sampling area, it extends the sampling inner cylinder 5-4 to trap macroorganisms, while the counting module 5-7 counts the macroorganisms. When the number reaches 10, the sampling inner cylinder 5-4 is retracted. Then the lander is recovered. The recovery process takes 40 minutes. During the recovery, the pressure and temperature sensors on the main sampling cylinder 5-3 will monitor the pressure and temperature changes inside the sampling inner cylinder 5-4 in real time. When the detected pressure is 2 MPa lower than the original pressure, the booster deep-sea motor 3-1 will drive the low-pressure piston rod 3-2-1 to reciprocate, thereby continuously injecting seawater into the differential pressure amplifier 3-3, thus injecting seawater into the sampling inner cylinder 5-4 and increasing the pressure inside the sampling inner cylinder 5-4. When the detected temperature is 15% higher than the original temperature, the thermoelectric cooling module 2-1 is powered on, transferring the temperature of the heat sink 2-3 below to the outside seawater. When the temperature is approximately 15% lower than the original temperature, the thermoelectric cooling module 2-1 is powered off. When the device is recovered to the deck, it will capture the main structure 5, along with the active insulation structure 2, the pressure compensation structure 3, and the electronics compartment 4, and transfer them together into a cryogenic container.

[0075] (3) Remove the active insulation structure 2, connect the open end of the capture main structure 5 to the transfer structure 6, and connect the transfer structure 6 to the culture system 7. Lock the interfaces together with clamps and seal them with O-rings and sealing rings 6-2.

[0076] (4) Use a gas-liquid booster pump to inject liquid into the high-pressure injection port of the transfer mechanism 6, and adjust the pressure inside the transfer mechanism 6 to 100MPa by adjusting the overflow valve. Connect the ball valve of one high-pressure injection port of the main sampling cylinder 5-3 to the gas-liquid booster pump, and connect the ball valve of the other high-pressure injection port to the pressure gauge overflow valve. Adjust the overflow pressure of the overflow valve of the main sampling cylinder 5-3 to 100MPa, and use the gas-liquid booster pump to replenish the pressure.

[0077] (5) Open the large-diameter ball valve 7-1 of the culture system 7. The sampling deep-water motor 5-1 drives the transmission structure 5-2 to extend the sampling inner cylinder 5-4 into the main sampling cylinder 5-3 until the animal passage is connected to the large-diameter ball valve 7-1. Then, increase the overflow pressure of the overflow valve of the main sampling cylinder 5-3 so that the pressure on the left side of the piston 5-5 is greater than that on the right side, thereby moving it to the right to drive the macroorganisms to swim towards the main body of the culture system 7. After the transfer is completed, close the large-diameter ball valve 7-1 and disassemble the main sampling cylinder 5-3.

[0078] The specific embodiments of the present invention have been described above. It should be understood that the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described above, and those skilled in the art can make various modifications or variations within the scope of the claims, which do not affect the essence of the present invention.

Claims

1. A device for live sampling and heat-insulating and pressure-controlled transfer of macroorganisms at full ocean depth, characterized in that, This includes the capture main structure, active thermal insulation structure, pressure compensation structure, and electronics compartment; among which, The capture structure includes a sampling deep-sea motor, a transmission structure, a main sampling cylinder, and a sampling inner cylinder arranged sequentially. The transmission structure has a guide rail cylinder, inside which a lead screw connected to the output shaft of the sampling deep-sea motor is arranged coaxially. The main sampling cylinder is a cylindrical structure, with its closed end fixedly connected to the guide rail cylinder. The sampling inner cylinder is a cylindrical structure closed at both ends, movably nested inside the open end of the main sampling cylinder. An axially rotatable sleeve is provided at the inner end of the sampling inner cylinder, with the end of the sleeve passing through the main sampling cylinder and extending into the guide rail cylinder. The sleeve has threads inside, and the lead screw is installed therein. An axially movable piston is provided inside the sampling inner cylinder, and a counting module is provided at the outer end of the sampling inner cylinder opposite to the piston. On the side wall of the sampling inner cylinder, there is a pressure balance through-hole connecting to the main sampling cylinder and a macrobiota through-hole for macrobiota entry and exit. On the side wall of the main sampling cylinder, there are pressure sensors and temperature sensors for monitoring internal parameters. The active insulation system includes an insulation box, a thermoelectric cooling module, heat sinks, and a bladder; wherein, the insulation box is sealed and fitted outside the main sampling cylinder, and the cavity between the two is filled with a heat exchange fluid medium; the thermoelectric cooling module is located on one side of the insulation box, and heat sinks are respectively installed on its upper and lower surfaces; the internal cavity of the heat sink is filled with a heat exchange fluid medium and is connected to the bladder through a pipeline; The pressure compensation structure includes an active pressure compensator and a passive pressure compensator. The active pressure compensator includes a booster deep-water motor, a low-pressure injector, and a differential pressure amplifier. The low-pressure injector includes a low-pressure piston rod and a low-pressure piston cylinder. The output shaft of the booster deep-water motor drives the low-pressure piston rod to move axially along the low-pressure piston cylinder via a gear structure. The piston inside the differential pressure amplifier is composed of two cylinders with different radial dimensions. The cavity on the larger diameter side of the piston is the low-pressure chamber, and the cavity on the smaller diameter side is the high-pressure chamber. The low-pressure chamber is connected to the output end of the low-pressure piston cylinder via a pipeline, and this pipeline is equipped with two one-way valves, one for introducing seawater from the outside and the other for connecting the low-pressure piston cylinder to the differential pressure amplifier. The high-pressure chamber is connected to the main sampling cylinder via a pipeline. The passive pressure compensator is an accumulator structure with a built-in piston inside the cylinder. One end of the accumulator is connected to the main sampling cylinder, and the other end is equipped with an air inlet and a ball valve. The electronic compartment contains a data acquisition board and a control board. The data acquisition board is connected to each sensor via watertight connectors and cables; the control board is connected to the sampling deep-sea motor and the booster deep-sea motor via watertight connectors and cables.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that, A dissolved oxygen sensor and two high-pressure injection ports are provided on the side wall of the main sampling cylinder. The latter are used to connect to the gas-liquid booster pump and the overflow valve, respectively.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that, Three circumferential sealing rings are provided on the outer side of the sampling inner cylinder, dividing the cylinder into two independent sealing areas. The pressure balance through hole and macro-biological through hole are respectively located in the two different sealing areas.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that, The counting module is a camera with target recognition function. The camera is embedded in the outer end of the sampling inner cylinder and is protected by sapphire glass on both sides.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that, The insulation box is made of polypropylene insulation board; the thermoelectric cooling module is a TEC semiconductor chip; the bladder is a hollow rubber bladder and is connected to the inner cavity of the heat sink through a PU tube; the heat exchange fluid medium between the insulation box and the main sampling cylinder is water, and the heat exchange fluid medium between the heat sink cavity and the bladder is oil.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that, The low-pressure piston cylinder includes a cylinder body, a front end cover, and a rear end cover. The low-pressure piston rod passes through the front end cover and is coaxially arranged in the cylinder body, with its end forming a radial sealing fit with the cylinder body. The low-pressure piston rod is a lead screw with an axial limiting cross section, and a limiting through hole matching the cross section shape of the lead screw is provided on the front end cover.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that, The differential pressure amplifier includes a cylinder, a front cover, a rear cover, and a piston. The front cover and the rear cover are installed at both ends of the cylinder, and the rear cover has a through piston cavity in the axial direction. The piston has a T-shaped axial cross section and is composed of two cylinders with different diameters. The larger diameter cylinder is located in the cavity between the front and rear covers, and the smaller diameter cylinder extends into the piston cavity of the rear cover. Both the low-pressure cavity and the high-pressure cavity are filled with seawater, and the two cylinders of the piston form a radial sealing fit with their respective cavities.

8. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that, It also includes an alternating mesh bag and a transfer structure; the mesh bag has a flared opening and a flange face that mates with the open end of the main sampling cylinder; the transfer structure is a single-end closed cylindrical structure with an observation window at the closed end and a flange face at the open end that mates with the open end of the main sampling cylinder, and a transfer channel for docking with the culture system is provided on its middle side wall; two high-pressure injection ports are provided on the side wall of the transfer structure, which are used to connect to the gas-liquid booster pump and the overflow valve, respectively.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8, characterized in that, The culture system includes a metal spherical shell-shaped body structure and is connected to a pressure control structure; the body structure is connected to the transfer channel via a ball valve, and a sealing ring and a clamp are used at the connection point for installation.

10. A method for live sampling and heat-insulating, pressure-controlled transfer of macroorganisms at full ocean depth using the device described in claim 1, characterized in that, include: The capture main structure, active insulation structure, pressure compensation structure, and electronic chamber are fixedly installed on the frame of the deep-sea biological sampling device. Each electrical device draws power from the watertight battery compartment on the frame. The piston position of the sampling inner cylinder is adjusted and a bait bag is placed. Then, the net is installed. The deep-sea biological sampling device is lowered to the designated sampling area, the sampling deep-sea motor is started, and the inner sampling cylinder is extended out of the main sampling cylinder by rotating the lead screw. The entry of macroorganisms is observed using the counting module. When appropriate, the sampling deep-sea motor is started again to retract the inner sampling cylinder into the main sampling cylinder and achieve sealing. During the deep-sea recovery process, the pressure data in the main sampling tube is monitored. When the passive pressure compensator cannot maintain the initial pressure of the sampling area, the booster deep-sea motor is activated in time to provide stable pressure maintenance for the main sampling tube. Monitor the temperature data in the main sampling cylinder and activate the thermoelectric cooling module in a timely manner according to the initial temperature of the sampling area; The deep-sea biological sampling device was retrieved to the mother ship, and the transfer structure was installed after the net bag was removed. The transfer channel was connected to the ball valve of the culture system located in the cryogenic container, and the installation was achieved by using a sealing ring and clamp at the connection point. Connect the high-pressure injection ports on the main sampling cylinder and the transfer structure to the gas-liquid booster pump in sequence, and adjust the pressure of the main sampling cylinder and the transfer structure to be consistent; then open the ball valve of the culture system, start the sampling deep water motor to drive the sampling inner cylinder to move outward, so that the macro-biological channel is connected to the transfer channel; Water is injected into the main sampling cylinder by a gas-liquid booster pump, creating a pressure difference on both sides of the piston in the inner sampling cylinder. This causes the piston to move, driving the macroorganisms through the ball valve and into the culture system.

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