Winch special for deep-sea test pool lifting and floating bottom

Abstract

This invention discloses a special winch for raising and lowering the floating bottom of a deep-sea experimental pool, belonging to the technical field of deep-sea experimental equipment. It includes a variable frequency motor with brakes as the core power source, whose output speed is controlled by frequency conversion; an open gear connected to the output shaft of the variable frequency motor with brakes; a winch drum connected to the large gear of the open gear, with a steel wire rope wound around the outer circumference of the winch drum; and an absolute rotary encoder located at the end of the rotating shaft for real-time detection of the number of rotations of the winch drum. The variable frequency motor with brakes, combined with the incremental rotary encoder, enables precise speed control through frequency conversion and provides real-time speed feedback, laying the data foundation for the synchronization of multiple winches. The single-drum, double-groove steel wire rope direct-pull design minimizes the number of underwater mechanisms, significantly reducing the risk of failures caused by water corrosion and sediment deposition, significantly improving equipment reliability and simplifying maintenance procedures.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of deep-sea experimental equipment technology, specifically to a special winch for raising and lowering the floating bottom of a deep-sea experimental pool. Background Technology

[0002] In fields such as deep-sea equipment research and development and marine engineering technology verification, deep-sea test pools are key infrastructure for conducting model tests and performance tests. Among them, the lifting and lowering floating bottom, as the core functional component of the pool, directly affects the accuracy and reliability of test data due to its lifting accuracy, operational stability, and levelness control.

[0003] The operation of a floating buoy requires a drive mechanism to achieve lifting and lowering movements and attitude adjustments. Currently, the industry mostly uses winches as the core drive equipment, connecting the floating buoy to the winch drum via steel wire ropes. The raising and lowering of the buoy is controlled by the winding and unwinding of the steel wire ropes. However, existing winches used for raising and lowering floating buoys have many problems in practical applications:

[0004] Firstly, traditional winch systems often use a design with a moving pulley block and a fixed end of the wire rope, resulting in a large number of wire rope connection nodes and clamps underwater. This makes them susceptible to the effects of the pool environment (such as water corrosion and sediment deposition), increasing the risk of equipment failure and maintenance difficulty, and making it difficult to meet the requirements for long-term stable operation.

[0005] Secondly, due to the large height of the deep-sea test pool, traditional winches are prone to slack and tangled ropes during the wire rope winding and unwinding process. This not only affects the transmission efficiency but may also cause safety hazards due to wire rope wear and derailment, thus reducing the service life of the equipment.

[0006] Third, raising and lowering the floating bottom usually requires the coordinated operation of multiple winches. Existing technologies mostly rely on simple mechanical transmission or conventional speed regulation methods, which makes it difficult to achieve speed synchronization and displacement synchronization of multiple winches. This can easily lead to uneven force during the raising and lowering of the floating bottom, causing problems such as tilting and shaking. In severe cases, it may damage the floating bottom structure or affect the test process.

[0007] Fourth, traditional winches lack reliable real-time monitoring methods for wire rope stress, making it impossible to accurately obtain data on the tension of the floating bottom on the wire rope and hindering targeted load protection. When an abnormal overload or underload occurs at a certain pull point, timely warnings and protective measures cannot be taken, posing a risk of equipment overload damage.

[0008] Fifth, the levelness of the floating bottom directly affects the stability of the test benchmark. However, the existing winch system is not precise enough in adjusting the levelness of the floating bottom during static or dynamic processes, making it difficult to meet the stringent requirements of high-precision deep-sea tests for the flatness of the floating bottom surface. Summary of the Invention

[0009] The purpose of this invention is to provide a special winch for raising and lowering the floating bottom of a deep-sea experimental pool. It has fewer underwater mechanisms, higher reliability, fewer maintenance requirements, and can accurately control the raising and lowering speed and levelness of the floating bottom.

[0010] To achieve the above objectives, the technical solution of this application is: a special winch for raising and lowering the floating bottom of a deep-sea experimental pool, comprising:

[0011] A variable frequency motor with brakes serves as the core power source, and its output speed is controlled through variable frequency speed regulation.

[0012] An open gear is connected to the output shaft of a variable frequency motor with brakes;

[0013] The winch drum is connected to the large gear of the open gear system, and the wire rope is wound around the outer circumference of the winch drum.

[0014] An absolute rotary encoder, located at the end of a rotating shaft, is used to detect the number of rotations of a winch drum in real time.

[0015] As a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the variable frequency motor with brake is equipped with an incremental rotary encoder, which provides real-time feedback of motor speed information, providing basic data support for the speed synchronization control of multiple winches.

[0016] As a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the outer periphery of the winch drum is provided with symmetrical opposite spiral grooves to provide an orderly winding space for the wire rope.

[0017] As a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the variable frequency motor with brake is connected to the planetary reducer. The power output by the motor is first reduced by the planetary reducer, and then further reduced by the open gear before being transmitted to the winch drum.

[0018] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the rotating shaft of the winch drum is mounted on the winch support via bearings.

[0019] As a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the winch bracket is supported by column legs, the two rear column legs are hinge shaft mechanisms, the entire winch can rotate around the center of the hinge shaft, and the two front column legs are fixed on the corresponding front base.

[0020] As a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a column-type pressure load sensor is arranged between the front base and the column leg to monitor and display the tension of the wire rope in real time. When any sensor detects that the load exceeds the limit or the lightness limit, an audible and visual alarm is triggered and the machine stops.

[0021] As a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the wire rope is drawn vertically downward from the winch drum, and after being turned by a double guide pulley group, it is connected to a balance pulley below the floating bottom, and the double guide pulley group is fixed to the bottom of the pool; the underwater section of the wire rope adopts a whole jointless structure, and both ends are directly fixed to the winch drum.

[0022] As a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the variable frequency motor, absolute value rotary encoder and column pressure load sensor on each lifting and floating bottom winch are electrically connected to the PLC controller. Through the precise control of the motor speed and the real-time analysis of the sensor feedback data by the PLC controller, the speed synchronization control of multiple winches and the dynamic adjustment of the floating bottom level can be realized.

[0023] As a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the special winch for raising and lowering the floating bottom is arranged on the side of the pool and erected on the wire rope well.

[0024] By adopting the above technical solution, the present invention can achieve the following technical effects:

[0025] 1. The design combines a rear pivot hinge shaft rotation with a front pivot column-type pressure load sensor, unlike traditional winches fixed to the ground. This allows the winch to rotate flexibly around the rear pivot. Combined with the force characteristics of the wire rope extending vertically downwards, this ensures that the front pivot is stably pressed on the sensor, enabling direct detection and accurate feedback of the wire rope tension, providing reliable data support for load protection and attitude control.

[0026] 2. The symmetrical and opposite spiral grooves on the outer circumference of the winch drum provide an orderly winding space for the wire rope, avoiding mutual interference during the winding process. Combined with the vertical downward rope output method and the double guide pulley group for steering, it effectively prevents the wire rope from becoming slack or tangled. The underwater section adopts a one-piece jointless structure with both ends directly fixed to the drum, eliminating the need for underwater clamps, reducing underwater failure points, reducing the maintenance difficulty caused by water corrosion and sediment deposition, and improving long-term operational stability.

[0027] 3. The four-column support mode, combined with the precise monitoring capabilities of the load sensor, and the real-time feedback of the variable frequency speed control technology and rotary encoder, enables synchronous speed and displacement control of multiple winches, significantly improving control accuracy compared to traditional solutions. By adjusting the tension and running speed of each winch in real time, it ensures a smooth and undisturbed floating bottom lifting process, accurately meeting the stringent requirements of deep-sea experiments for the flatness of the floating bottom surface, and providing core assurance for the accuracy of experimental data. Attached Figure Description

[0028] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0029] Figure 1 Side view of a winch used for raising and lowering the floating bottom of a deep-sea experimental pool;

[0030] Figure 2 Main view of a winch used for raising and lowering the floating bottom in a deep-sea test pool;

[0031] The numbers in the diagram are explained as follows: 1. Open gear; 2. Variable frequency motor with brake; 3. Planetary reducer; 4. Hinge mechanism; 5. Column-type pressure load sensor; 6. Wire rope; 7. Winch support; 8. Absolute rotary encoder. Detailed Implementation

[0032] It should be noted that, unless otherwise specified, the embodiments and features described in the present invention can be combined with each other. The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments.

[0033] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention clearer, the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. The following description of at least one exemplary embodiment is merely illustrative and is in no way intended to limit the present invention or its application or use. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0034] It should be noted that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit the scope of exemplary embodiments according to the invention. As used herein, the singular form is intended to include the plural form as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Furthermore, it should be understood that when the terms "comprising" and / or "including" are used in this specification, they indicate the presence of features, steps, operations, devices, components, and / or combinations thereof.

[0035] Unless otherwise specifically stated, the relative arrangement, numerical expressions, and values ​​of the components and steps set forth in these embodiments do not limit the scope of the invention. It should also be understood that, for ease of description, the dimensions of the various parts shown in the drawings are not drawn to actual scale. Techniques, methods, and devices known to those skilled in the art may not be discussed in detail, but where appropriate, such techniques, methods, and devices should be considered part of the specification. In all examples shown and discussed herein, any specific values ​​should be interpreted as merely exemplary and not as limitations. Therefore, other examples of exemplary embodiments may have different values. It should be noted that similar reference numerals and letters in the following figures denote similar items; therefore, once an item is defined in one figure, it need not be further discussed in subsequent figures.

[0036] In the description of this invention, it should be understood that the orientation or positional relationship indicated by directional terms such as "front, back, up, down, left, right", "horizontal, vertical, horizontal" and "top, bottom" is generally based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, and is only for the convenience of describing this invention and simplifying the description. Unless otherwise stated, these directional terms do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation on the scope of protection of this invention. The directional terms "inner" and "outer" refer to the inner and outer contours relative to the outline of each component itself.

[0037] For ease of description, spatial relative terms such as "above," "on top of," "on the upper surface of," "above," etc., are used herein to describe the spatial positional relationship of a device or feature as shown in the figures to other devices or features. It should be understood that spatial relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations in use or operation beyond the orientation of the device as described in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures were inverted, a device described as "above" or "on top of" other devices or structures would subsequently be positioned as "below" or "under" other devices or structures. Thus, the exemplary term "above" can include both "above" and "below." The device may also be positioned in other different ways (rotated 90 degrees or in other orientations), and the spatial relative descriptions used herein will be interpreted accordingly.

[0038] It should be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," and "linking" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to fixed connections, detachable connections, or integral connections; they can refer to mechanical connections or electrical connections; they can refer to direct connections or indirect connections through an intermediate medium; they can refer to the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this application based on the specific circumstances.

[0039] This specialized winch for raising and lowering the floating bottom in deep-sea experimental pools is primarily used for the lifting, driving, and attitude control of the floating bottom. It is strategically positioned along the pool's edge and mounted on a wire rope hoistway. Its rational layout adapts to the unique working conditions of deep-sea experimental pools, facilitating installation, maintenance, and integration with the pool system. Multiple winches work in concert to achieve stable raising and lowering of the floating bottom and leveling adjustment. The floating bottom rises using its own buoyancy and descends via the winch's wire rope pull. The lifting speed is precisely controlled by the winch's wire rope retraction and release. In a static state, the levelness of the floating bottom can be controlled by adjusting the wire rope tension of multiple winches individually, meeting the stringent requirements for surface flatness in deep-sea experiments.

[0040] Please see Figure 1-2 This embodiment provides a special winch for raising and lowering the floating bottom of a deep-sea experimental pool, including...

[0041] The variable frequency motor with brake, serving as the core power source, is equipped with an incremental rotary encoder. It enables precise control of the output speed through variable frequency speed regulation, and its built-in braking function can quickly lock the power output in emergencies or during shutdown. The incremental rotary encoder provides real-time feedback of motor speed information, offering fundamental data support for the synchronized speed control of multiple winches.

[0042] The reduction mechanism employs a two-stage reduction scheme of "planetary reducer + open gear". A variable frequency motor with brake is connected to the planetary reducer, and the output end of the planetary reducer is connected to the pinion of the open gear. The large gear of the open gear is fixedly connected to the winch drum. The power transmission path is: variable frequency motor output power → planetary reducer first-stage reduction → open gear second-stage reduction → winch drum low-speed rotation. This reduction structure efficiently converts the high speed of the motor into the low-speed, high-torque required by the drum, ensuring stable and reliable power transmission.

[0043] The winch drum's rotating shaft is mounted on the winch support via bearings. Symmetrical, counter-directional helical grooves are formed on the outer circumference of the drum to provide an orderly winding space for the wire rope and prevent mutual interference during the winding process.

[0044] The wire rope is drawn vertically downwards from the winch drum, deflected by a double-guide pulley system fixed to the bottom of the pool, and then connected to a balance pulley below the floating bottom. The double-guide pulley system, through its optimized deflection design, ensures even force distribution on the wire rope. Combined with the effective height of the deep-sea test pool (at least 10m), the wire rope's own weight ensures reliable winding onto the drum, effectively preventing slack and tangling. Preferably, the underwater section of the wire rope uses a single, jointless structure, with both ends directly fixed to the double drums, eliminating the need for additional underwater wire rope clamps. By eliminating the traditional moving pulley system and the fixed end of the wire rope below the floating bottom, the underwater mechanisms are minimized, reducing the risk of failure due to water corrosion and sediment deposition, and improving the long-term operational reliability of the equipment.

[0045] The winch support adopts a four-column support configuration. The two rear columns are hinged, allowing the entire winch to rotate flexibly around the hinge center. The two front columns rest on their respective front bases, with column-type pressure load sensors positioned between the front bases and the front columns. Because the winch's center of gravity is located between the front and rear columns, and the wire rope extends vertically downwards, it ensures the winch will not tip backwards. The front columns stably press against the column-type pressure load sensors, providing a precise structural foundation for tension detection. Preferably, each winch is equipped with two column-type pressure sensors, which display the wire rope tension at each pulling point in real time on the control panel, enabling load monitoring and protection of the winch wire rope. When any sensor detects an overload or underload, the system immediately triggers an audible and visual alarm and stops all winch motors to prevent overload damage. Zeroing the load sensors accurately reflects the actual tension of the floating bottom on the wire rope.

[0046] In this embodiment, an absolute rotary encoder is installed at the end of the rotating shaft of each winch drum to detect the drum rotation angle in real time. The wire rope winding and unwinding length is directly obtained by converting the angle with the drum circumference, so as to realize the accurate detection and control of the floating bottom lifting stroke and provide key position feedback data for adjusting the floating bottom level and synchronizing the displacement of multiple winches.

[0047] Each specialized winch for raising and lowering the floating bottom has a variable frequency motor, an absolute rotary encoder, and a column-type pressure load sensor electrically connected to a PLC controller. The PLC controller achieves synchronized speed and displacement control of multiple winches by precisely controlling the motor speed and analyzing the sensor feedback data in real time, combined with the speed feedback from the incremental rotary encoder. At the same time, by adjusting the tension of the wire ropes of each winch, the levelness of the floating bottom is dynamically adjusted to ensure a smooth and undulating process during the raising and lowering of the floating bottom, meeting the high-precision requirements of the floating bottom attitude for deep-sea experiments.

[0048] The working process of the special winch for raising and lowering the floating bottom of the deep-sea test pool is as follows:

[0049] When the floating bottom is raised or lowered, the PLC controller controls the variable frequency motors of multiple winches to run synchronously according to the set raising or lowering speed. The motor power drives the drum to rotate after being reduced by planetary reducers and open gears, realizing the raising and lowering of the wire rope. The floating bottom completes the raising and lowering under the action of the wire rope tension or its own buoyancy.

[0050] During the process, the incremental rotary encoder provides real-time feedback on the motor speed, while the absolute rotary encoder detects the drum travel. Based on this data, the PLC controller adjusts multiple winches to maintain speed and displacement synchronization. The column-type pressure load sensor monitors the wire rope tension at each tension point in real time, and triggers an alarm and shuts down the machine immediately when an abnormal load is detected.

[0051] When statically adjusting the level of the floating bottom, the PLC controller controls the wire rope winding and unwinding length of each winch, and combines the tension data fed back by the load sensor to precisely adjust the height of each point on the floating bottom until the flatness requirements of the floating bottom surface are met.

[0052] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of this application, and are not intended to limit them. Although this application has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can still be made to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or equivalent substitutions can be made to some of the technical features. Such modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application.

Claims

1. A special winch for raising and lowering the floating bottom of a deep-sea experimental pool, characterized in that: include: A variable frequency motor with brakes serves as the core power source, and its output speed is controlled through variable frequency speed regulation. An open gear is connected to the output shaft of a variable frequency motor with brakes; The winch drum is connected to the large gear of the open gear system, and the wire rope is wound around the outer circumference of the winch drum. An absolute rotary encoder, located at the end of a rotating shaft, is used to detect the number of rotations of a winch drum in real time. The rotating shaft of the winch drum is mounted on the winch support via bearings; The winch bracket is supported by column legs, with the two rear column legs forming a hinge mechanism. The entire winch can rotate around the center of the hinge axis, while the two front column legs are fixed to the corresponding front base. A column-type pressure load sensor is arranged between the front base and the column leg to monitor and display the tension of the wire rope in real time. When any sensor detects that the load exceeds the limit or the lightness limit, an audible and visual alarm will be triggered and the machine will stop.

2. The special winch for raising and lowering the floating bottom of the deep-sea experimental pool according to claim 1, characterized in that, The variable frequency motor with brake is equipped with an incremental rotary encoder, which provides real-time feedback of motor speed information, providing basic data support for the speed synchronization control of multiple winches.

3. The special winch for raising and lowering the floating bottom of the deep-sea experimental pool according to claim 1, characterized in that, The winch drum has symmetrical, opposite-directional spiral grooves on its outer periphery, providing an orderly winding space for the wire rope.

4. The special winch for raising and lowering the floating bottom of the deep-sea experimental pool according to claim 1, characterized in that, The variable frequency motor with brake is connected to the planetary reducer. Its output power is first reduced by the planetary reducer, and then further reduced by the open gear before being transmitted to the winch drum.

5. The special winch for raising and lowering the floating bottom of the deep-sea experimental pool according to claim 1, characterized in that, The wire rope is drawn vertically downward from the winch drum, and after being turned by a double guide pulley group, it is connected to the balance pulley below the floating bottom. The double guide pulley group is fixed to the bottom of the pool. The underwater section of the wire rope adopts a single jointless structure, with both ends directly fixed to the winch drum.

6. The special winch for raising and lowering the floating bottom of the deep-sea experimental pool according to claim 1, characterized in that, Each of the variable frequency motors, absolute rotary encoders, and column-type pressure load sensors on the special winches for raising and lowering the floating bottom is electrically connected to a PLC controller. Through the PLC controller's regulation of motor speed and real-time analysis of sensor feedback data, the speed synchronization control of multiple winches and the dynamic adjustment of the floating bottom level can be achieved.

7. The special winch for raising and lowering the floating bottom of the deep-sea experimental pool according to claim 1, characterized in that, The special winch for raising and lowering the floating bottom is arranged on the side of the pool and erected on the wire rope well.

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