Underwater equipment depth setting device and working method

Abstract

According to the technical scheme, the depth setting device is characterized by comprising a lower anchor system, and the lower anchor system has negative buoyancy in seawater; the underwater equipment has positive buoyancy in seawater, and the underwater equipment is connected with the lower anchor system through a mooring rope; the control system is used for controlling the unwinding speed of the mooring rope between the underwater equipment and the lower anchor system; the control system comprises a control cabin; a winch; a hydraulic motor; two oil inlets and outlets of the hydraulic motor are communicated with the oil tank through two connecting pipelines; the depth sensor is arranged at the underwater equipment and is used for measuring the water depth of the underwater equipment; and an electromagnetic proportional flow valve; through the arrangement of the electromagnetic proportional valve, the cable laying speed can be adjusted according to the depth of the underwater equipment, and then the lowering of the fixed speed of the lower anchor system is controlled, and the water depth of the underwater equipment is controlled to be kept stable.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the technical field of underwater exploration, and more specifically, to an underwater equipment depth-determining device and its operating method. Background Technology

[0002] The existing method for deploying underwater equipment at a fixed depth typically involves winding a cable around a rotating vehicle, measuring the water depth at the deployment site, and then determining the maximum deployment depth based on the required deployment depth and the equipment's pressure resistance. This process makes deployment difficult, and due to factors such as ocean currents, the deployment depth accuracy is insufficient. Consequently, the pressure resistance design of underwater equipment needs to take full account of margins, which limits the use of many sensors and other electrical components due to pressure resistance factors.

[0003] In addition, because the impact on the ropes when underwater equipment is deployed is not effectively buffered, the cables are designed to be thicker in order to ensure deployment safety, resulting in a large winch size, which brings great inconvenience to cable winding, deployment and retrieval. Summary of the Invention

[0004] To address the shortcomings of existing technologies, the present invention aims to provide an underwater equipment depth-fixing device and its operating method. By setting an electromagnetic proportional valve, the device can adjust the cable-laying speed according to the depth of the underwater equipment, thereby controlling the decrease in the lower anchoring speed and maintaining a stable water depth for the underwater equipment.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides the following technical solution: an underwater equipment depth-determining device, comprising a lower anchor system, wherein the lower anchor system has negative buoyancy in seawater;

[0006] The underwater equipment has positive buoyancy in seawater and is connected to the lower anchorage by cables.

[0007] And a control system, which controls the speed at which the cable is unwound between the underwater equipment and the lower anchor system;

[0008] The control system includes a control cabin, which is installed on the lower mooring or underwater equipment.

[0009] A winch is a cable with one end wound around the cable car and the other end connected to the lower anchor or underwater equipment.

[0010] A hydraulic motor is connected to a winch drive, and the winch and the hydraulic motor can drive each other. The hydraulic motor is provided with two oil inlet and outlet ports.

[0011] The hydraulic motor has two oil inlet and outlet ports connected to the oil tank via two connecting pipes.

[0012] A depth sensor, which is installed at the underwater equipment to measure the water depth in which the underwater equipment is located;

[0013] And an electromagnetic proportional flow valve, which is installed on one of the connecting pipes and is electrically connected to a depth sensor to control the amount of oil flowing in the connecting pipe based on the depth information measured by the depth sensor.

[0014] The present invention is further configured to include a brake for braking the winch;

[0015] The brake is connected to the oil tank via a brake line and a pressure relief line, respectively.

[0016] The brake line is equipped with a shuttle valve and two solenoid ball valves connected in parallel on the brake line near the oil tank side of the shuttle valve.

[0017] The present invention is further configured such that a filter is provided on the brake pipeline.

[0018] The present invention is further configured to include a first check valve, wherein the connecting pipeline equipped with the electromagnetic proportional flow valve is configured as the first connecting pipeline, the brake pipeline is connected to the oil tank through the first connecting pipeline, and a check valve is provided at one end of the brake pipeline near the first connecting pipeline, the check valve only allowing hydraulic oil to enter the brake pipeline from the first connecting pipeline.

[0019] The present invention is further configured such that: a pressure reducing valve is also provided on the first connecting pipeline, and the pressure reducing valve is located on the side of the electromagnetic proportional flow valve away from the oil tank.

[0020] The invention is further configured to include a cooling plate, which is disposed between the pressure reducing valve and the electromagnetic proportional flow valve and extends outside the control cabin to directly contact the seawater in order to cool the hydraulic oil flowing through it.

[0021] The present invention is further configured to include a receiving pipeline, wherein the two ends of the receiving pipeline are respectively connected to the two ends of the pressure reducing valve and the electromagnetic proportional flow valve on the first connecting pipeline that are far apart from each other;

[0022] And a second check valve, which is installed on the take-up pipeline and only allows hydraulic oil in the take-up pipeline to flow from the end closer to the oil tank to the end farther away from the oil tank.

[0023] The present invention is further configured such that: the underwater device includes a fixing member, the fixing member being a cylinder with a vertical axis;

[0024] And a central shaft, which vertically passes through a fixing member and the fixing member is rotatably connected to the outside of the central shaft, the central shaft being connected to a cable or a control system.

[0025] The present invention is further configured such that: a plurality of clearance grooves are provided outside the fixing member and arranged around the axis of the fixing member; drainage fan blades are provided in the clearance grooves; the plurality of drainage fan blades drain water in the same direction surrounding the fixing member; and a connecting groove for water supply is provided between two adjacent clearance grooves and surrounding the axis of the fixing member.

[0026] The invention is further configured such that: a guide plate is provided at the outer end of the relief groove away from the drainage fan blade, and the guide plate is used to guide the water pushed by the drainage fan blade into the connecting groove.

[0027] In summary, the present invention has the following advantages over the prior art: by setting an electromagnetic proportional valve, the present invention can adjust the cable laying speed according to the depth of the underwater equipment, thereby controlling the decrease of the lower anchoring speed and keeping the water depth of the underwater equipment stable. Attached Figure Description

[0028] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the control system for an embodiment;

[0029] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the underwater equipment used in an embodiment.

[0030] Figure 3 for Figure 2 Enlarged schematic diagram of part A.

[0031] In the diagram: 1. Hydraulic motor; 2. Brake; 3. Shuttle valve; 41. Fixing component; 411. Clearance groove; 412. Connecting groove; 42. Central shaft; 43. Detection device; 44. Drainage fan blade; 45. Guide plate; 5. Solenoid ball valve; 6. Accumulator; 7. Filter; 8. High-pressure shut-off valve; 9. First check valve; 10. Pressure compensator; 11. Pressure reducing valve; 12. Cooling coil; 13. Solenoid proportional flow valve; 14. Second check valve. Detailed Implementation

[0032] To enable those skilled in the art to better understand the technical solutions of the present invention, the technical solutions of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Based on the embodiments in this application, other similar embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort should all fall within the scope of protection of this application. Furthermore, directional terms mentioned in the following embodiments, such as "up," "down," "left," and "right," are only for reference to the directions in the accompanying drawings; therefore, the directional terms used are for illustrative purposes and not for limiting the invention.

[0033] The present invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings and preferred embodiments.

[0034] Example 1: A depth-determining device for underwater equipment, see attached document. Figure 1 - Appendix Figure 3 The system includes a lower anchorage, underwater equipment, and a control system. The lower anchorage has negative buoyancy in seawater; the underwater equipment has positive buoyancy in seawater and is connected to the lower anchorage by a cable. The control system controls the speed at which the cable is unwound between the underwater equipment and the lower anchorage. The control system includes a control cabin, a winch, a hydraulic motor, an oil tank, a depth sensor, and an electromagnetic proportional flow valve. The control cabin is located on the lower anchorage or underwater equipment. One end of the cable is wound around a cable car, and the other end is connected to the lower anchorage or underwater equipment. The hydraulic motor is driven by the winch, and the winch and the hydraulic motor can drive each other. The hydraulic motor has two oil inlets and outlets. The two oil inlets and outlets of the hydraulic motor are connected to the oil tank through two connecting pipes. The depth sensor is located at the underwater equipment to measure the water depth where the underwater equipment is located. The electromagnetic proportional flow valve is located on one of the connecting pipes and is electrically connected to the depth sensor to control the amount of oil flowing in the connecting pipe based on the depth information measured by the depth sensor.

[0035] The lower anchor system is designed with a negative buoyancy greater than the positive buoyancy of the underwater equipment. The lower anchor system and the underwater equipment are deployed together into the water. When the underwater equipment reaches the preset depth, the lower anchor system separates from it. Driven by the lower anchor system, the winch cable begins to unwind, which in turn drives the hydraulic motor. This causes hydraulic oil to flow between the hydraulic motor and the oil tank. When the underwater equipment's depth exceeds the preset depth, the electromagnetic proportional flow valve receives information from the depth sensor and controls the flow rate to increase proportionally, accelerating the cable unwinding speed. This reduces the tension in the lower anchor system on the underwater equipment, allowing it to rise to the preset depth. Conversely, when the underwater equipment's depth falls below the preset depth, the electromagnetic proportional flow valve controls the flow rate to decrease, slowing the cable unwinding speed. This increases the tension in the lower anchor system on the underwater equipment, causing it to sink to the preset depth.

[0036] Specifically, this embodiment also includes a brake, which is used to brake the winch; the brake is connected to the oil tank through a brake line and a pressure relief line respectively; the brake line is equipped with a shuttle valve and two electromagnetic ball valves connected in parallel on the brake line near the oil tank side of the shuttle valve.

[0037] Specifically, a filter is installed in the brake line.

[0038] Specifically, it also includes a first check valve, and the connecting pipeline equipped with the electromagnetic proportional flow valve is set as the first connecting pipeline. The brake pipeline is connected to the oil tank through the first connecting pipeline. A check valve is set at one end of the brake pipeline near the first connecting pipeline. The check valve only allows hydraulic oil to enter the brake pipeline from the first connecting pipeline.

[0039] The braking line is equipped with a high-pressure shut-off valve and an accumulator. Before the equipment is deployed, hydraulic oil is pumped into the accumulator through the high-pressure shut-off valve. A pressure compensator is connected to the outside of the oil tank.

[0040] Specifically, a pressure reducing valve is also installed on the first connecting pipeline, and the pressure reducing valve is located on the side of the electromagnetic proportional flow valve away from the oil tank.

[0041] Specifically, it also includes a cooling plate, which is located between the pressure reducing valve and the electromagnetic proportional flow valve and extends outside the control cabin to directly contact the seawater in order to cool the hydraulic oil flowing through it.

[0042] Specifically, it also includes a take-up pipeline and a second check valve. The two ends of the take-up pipeline are respectively connected to the two ends of the pressure reducing valve and the electromagnetic proportional flow valve on the first connecting pipeline that are far apart from each other. The second check valve is installed on the take-up pipeline and only allows the hydraulic oil in the take-up pipeline to flow from the end closer to the oil tank to the end farther away from the oil tank.

[0043] When it is necessary to retrieve the cable, hydraulic oil enters the hydraulic motor through the first connecting pipe and the second check valve, causing the hydraulic motor to drive the winch to retrieve the cable.

[0044] Specifically, the underwater equipment includes a fixing component and a central shaft. The fixing component is a cylinder with a vertical axis. The central shaft passes vertically through the fixing component and the fixing component is rotatably connected to the outside of the central shaft. The central shaft is connected to a cable or a control system.

[0045] Specifically, the fastener has several clearance grooves arranged around its axis. Drainage fan blades are installed within each clearance groove, and these blades drain water in the same direction surrounding the fastener. A connecting groove, circumferentially surrounding the fastener's axis, is provided between adjacent clearance grooves for water supply. A detection device is installed between adjacent clearance grooves.

[0046] Specifically, a guide plate is provided at the outer end of the relief groove away from the drainage fan blades. The guide plate is used to guide the water pushed by the drainage fan blades into the connecting groove.

[0047] By setting up the drainage fan blades, the fixing component can be driven to rotate around the central axis, thereby adjusting the detection direction of the detection equipment outside the fixing component.

[0048] Example 2: A method for operating an underwater equipment depth-determining device involves deploying a lower anchor system and the underwater equipment together into the water. When the underwater equipment reaches a preset depth, the lower anchor system separates from the equipment. Driven by the lower anchor system, the cable on the winch begins to unwind, thereby driving the hydraulic motor to rotate. This, in turn, causes hydraulic oil to flow between the hydraulic motor and the oil tank. When the depth of the underwater equipment exceeds the preset depth, the electromagnetic proportional flow valve receives information from the depth sensor and controls the flow rate to increase according to the excess ratio, accelerating the cable unwinding speed and reducing the tension of the lower anchor system on the underwater equipment, allowing the underwater equipment to rise to the preset depth. When the depth of the underwater equipment is below the preset depth, the electromagnetic proportional flow valve controls the flow rate to decrease, slowing down the cable unwinding speed and increasing the tension of the lower anchor system on the underwater equipment, allowing the underwater equipment to sink to the preset depth.

[0049] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The scope of protection of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. All technical solutions falling within the scope of the present invention's concept are within the scope of protection of the present invention. It should be noted that for those skilled in the art, any improvements and modifications made without departing from the principles of the present invention should also be considered within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A depth-determining device for underwater equipment, characterized in that: Includes a lower mooring system, which has negative buoyancy in seawater; The underwater equipment has positive buoyancy in seawater and is connected to the lower anchorage by cables. And a control system, which controls the speed at which the cable is unwound between the underwater equipment and the lower anchor system; The control system includes a control cabin, which is installed on the lower mooring or underwater equipment. A winch is a cable with one end wound around the cable car and the other end connected to the lower anchor or underwater equipment. A hydraulic motor is connected to a winch drive, and the winch and the hydraulic motor can drive each other. The hydraulic motor is provided with two oil inlet and outlet ports. The hydraulic motor has two oil inlet and outlet ports connected to the oil tank via two connecting pipes. A depth sensor, which is installed at the underwater equipment to measure the water depth in which the underwater equipment is located; And an electromagnetic proportional flow valve, which is installed on one of the connecting pipes and is electrically connected to a depth sensor to control the amount of oil flowing in the connecting pipe based on the depth information measured by the depth sensor.

2. The underwater equipment depth-determining device according to claim 1, characterized in that: It also includes a brake, which is used to brake the winch; The brake is connected to the oil tank via a brake line and a pressure relief line, respectively. The brake line is equipped with a shuttle valve and two solenoid ball valves connected in parallel on the brake line near the oil tank side of the shuttle valve.

3. The underwater equipment depth-determining device according to claim 2, characterized in that: A filter is installed on the brake line.

4. The underwater equipment depth-determining device according to claim 3, characterized in that: It also includes a first check valve, and the connecting pipeline equipped with the electromagnetic proportional flow valve is set as the first connecting pipeline. The brake pipeline is connected to the oil tank through the first connecting pipeline. A check valve is set at one end of the brake pipeline near the first connecting pipeline. The check valve only allows hydraulic oil to enter the brake pipeline from the first connecting pipeline.

5. The underwater equipment depth-determining device according to claim 4, characterized in that: A pressure reducing valve is also installed on the first connecting pipeline, and the pressure reducing valve is located on the side of the electromagnetic proportional flow valve away from the oil tank.

6. The underwater equipment depth-determining device according to claim 5, characterized in that: It also includes a cooling plate, which is located between the pressure reducing valve and the electromagnetic proportional flow valve and extends outside the control cabin to directly contact the seawater in order to cool the hydraulic oil flowing through it.

7. The underwater equipment depth-determining device according to claim 6, characterized in that: It also includes a receiving pipeline, the two ends of which are respectively connected to the two ends of the first connecting pipeline where the pressure reducing valve and the electromagnetic proportional flow valve are far apart from each other; And a second check valve, which is installed on the take-up pipeline and only allows hydraulic oil in the take-up pipeline to flow from the end closer to the oil tank to the end farther away from the oil tank.

8. The underwater equipment depth-determining device according to claim 7, characterized in that: The underwater equipment includes a fixing component, which is configured as a cylinder with a vertical axis; And a central shaft, which vertically passes through a fixing member and the fixing member is rotatably connected to the outside of the central shaft, the central shaft being connected to a cable or a control system.

9. The underwater equipment depth-determining device according to claim 8, characterized in that: The fastener is provided with several clearance grooves arranged around the axis of the fastener. Drainage fan blades are provided in the clearance grooves. The several drainage fan blades drain water in the same direction around the fastener. A connecting groove for water supply is provided between two adjacent clearance grooves around the axis of the fastener.

10. The underwater equipment depth-determining device according to claim 9, characterized in that: A guide plate is provided at the outer end of the relief groove away from the drainage fan blades. The guide plate is used to guide the water pushed by the drainage fan blades into the connecting groove.

Images