Underwater saturated diving shuttle cabin system
By designing an underwater saturation diving shuttle system, and utilizing a wheelset mechanism and buoys in conjunction with pulleys, the problem of traditional diving bells being unable to enter deep-water tunnels was solved, enabling the diving bells to move and be positioned within deep-water tunnels, thus supporting underwater operations.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2025-12-16
- Publication Date
- 2026-03-13
AI Technical Summary
Traditional saturation diving bells cannot be directly lowered into deep-water tunnels, making underwater operations in deep-water tunnels difficult.
Design an underwater saturation diving shuttle system that uses a wheelset mechanism and a buoy in conjunction with pulleys to move and position the diving bell in a deep-water tunnel via steel rails, ensuring the umbilical cable remains suspended and providing a stable air supply.
It enables the diving bell to move and be positioned flexibly in deep-water tunnels, avoids wear and tear on the umbilical cable, ensures stable air supply, and supports underwater tunnel inspection and maintenance operations.
Smart Images
Figure CN121650839A_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This invention relates to the field of saturation diving technology, and more specifically, to an underwater saturation diving shuttle system. Background Technology
[0002] Saturation diving, as an important underwater operation method in modern marine engineering, has been widely used in subsea pipeline inspection and maintenance, underwater facility installation, marine engineering, and salvage services. For underwater projects in water depths exceeding 120 meters, saturation diving technology is generally required. The traditional saturation diving operation involves a saturation diver being pressurized in a pressurized chamber on the deck of a mother ship or offshore platform before entering a saturation diving bell. A lowering system then lowers the bell into the water, positioning it at the target depth. The saturation diver then exits the bell to perform the operational task.
[0003] However, for defect detection and maintenance work in deep-water tunnels, traditional saturation diving bells cannot be directly hoisted into place due to the characteristics of deep-water tunnels. Therefore, a novel underwater saturation diving shuttle system needs to be designed to enable the movement and placement of saturation diving bells inside deep-water tunnels. Summary of the Invention
[0004] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide an underwater saturation diving shuttle system, which enables the movement of a saturation diving bell inside a deep-water tunnel.
[0005] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, the technical solution adopted by the present invention is: an underwater saturation diving shuttle system, including a diving bell, a wheelset mechanism, an umbilical cable, a buoy, pulleys, a retrieval wire rope, and a rail. The rail is pre-laid at the bottom of a deep-water tunnel. The wheelset mechanism is located below the diving bell and can roll along the rail, driving the diving bell to move back and forth within the deep-water tunnel. The pulley is suspended below the buoy. One end of the umbilical cable is connected to an air distribution and supply system on the water surface, and the other end passes through the pulley connected to the buoy and then connects to the diving bell. The two ends of the retrieval wire rope are respectively connected to the pulleys and the diving bell. The retrieval wire rope can be tightened or loosened to realize the retrieval and release of the buoy and pulleys. The diving bell is driven to move along the rail by the wheelset mechanism, and the buoy, with the help of buoyancy, keeps the umbilical cable suspended, completing the movement and positioning of the diving bell within the deep-water tunnel, allowing saturation divers to carry out underwater tunnel inspection or maintenance work.
[0006] An underwater saturation diving shuttle system includes a diving bell, a wheelset mechanism, an umbilical cable, a buoy, pulleys, and a retrieval cable. The wheelset mechanism is located below the diving bell, with tracked wheels on both sides of its bottom. The rotation of the tracked wheels drives the diving bell to move back and forth within a deep-water tunnel. The pulleys are suspended below the buoys. One end of the umbilical cable is connected to an air distribution and supply system on the water surface, and the other end passes through the pulleys connected to the buoys before connecting to the diving bell. The two ends of the retrieval cable are connected to the pulleys and the diving bell, respectively. The retrieval cable can be tightened or loosened to retrieve and release the buoys and pulleys. The tracks on the wheelset mechanism drive the diving bell to move, and the buoys, with their buoyancy, keep the umbilical cable suspended, completing the movement and positioning of the diving bell within the deep-water tunnel, allowing saturation divers to conduct underwater tunnel inspection or maintenance work.
[0007] Preferably, the buoy is connected to the pulley and has a preset buoyancy. When the umbilical cable in the tunnel is too long and there is a risk of it touching the bottom, the buoy and pulley are released by loosening the retrieval wire rope. The buoy can use its own buoyancy to lift the umbilical cable upward, so that the entire umbilical cable is in a suspended state, avoiding the umbilical cable from contacting the bottom of the water and causing scratches and wear.
[0008] Preferably, the rail adopts a segmented structure, and each segment of the rail can be laid at the bottom of the deep water tunnel. The total length of the laid rail can be adjusted according to the length requirements of the deep water tunnel to adapt to different deep water tunnel operation scenarios.
[0009] Preferably, the wheelset mechanism includes drive wheels, wheel-side motors, and a chassis frame. Four drive wheels are arranged at the bottom of the chassis frame, and each drive wheel is equipped with a wheel-side motor. Each drive wheel is independently controlled and driven. The wheelset mechanism is connected to the umbilical cable for power supply and transmission of control information.
[0010] Preferably, the wheelset mechanism includes drive wheels, wheel-side motors, tracks, and chassis frames. Four drive wheels are arranged at the bottom of the chassis frames. Each drive wheel is equipped with a wheel-side motor. Two drive wheels on the same side form a group. Tracks are fitted around the drive wheels. Each drive wheel is independently controlled and driven. The wheelset mechanism is connected to the umbilical cable for power supply and control information transmission.
[0011] Preferably, the buoy is pre-buoyed and floats underwater, with the buoy's floating height being higher than the top of the diving bell.
[0012] A method for using an underwater saturation diving shuttle system includes the following steps: (1) Lay steel rails at the bottom of the deep-water tunnel in advance; (2) The shuttle cabin was lowered to the vicinity of the tunnel entrance; (3) Start the wheelset mechanism to make the diving bell drive into the tunnel along the rails; (4) As the diving bell moves along the rails into the depths of the tunnel, the umbilical cable is released in real time to match the rhythm of the diving bell's movement, ensuring that the umbilical cable can always provide a stable air supply to the saturated divers inside the diving bell, and with the cooperation of the float and pulley, it always remains suspended and does not touch the bottom. The umbilical cable's suspension state is adjusted by releasing the float and pulley. (5) The wheelset mechanism carries the diving bell forward until it reaches the designed working position; (6) Upon arrival at the work location, the saturation diver exits the bell to perform the task; (7) During the process of the saturation diver completing the task and the wheelset mechanism driving the diving bell away from the tunnel along the rail, the buoy and pulley can be retrieved by tightening in real time. The buoy and pulley retrieval operation is completed when it is confirmed that there is no risk of the umbilical cable touching the bottom. (8) After the wheelset mechanism carries the diving bell out of the deep-water tunnel entrance, the saturated diving launch system will sequentially retrieve the diving bell and rails to the mother ship or offshore platform deck.
[0013] The method of using a tracked underwater saturation diving shuttle system includes the following steps: (1) The shuttle cabin was lowered to the vicinity of the tunnel entrance; (2) Start the track wheels of the wheelset mechanism to make the diving bell drive into the tunnel along the predetermined route; (3) As the diving bell moves along the predetermined route into the depth of the tunnel, the umbilical cable is released in real time to match the rhythm of the diving bell's movement, ensuring that the umbilical cable can always provide a stable air supply to the saturated divers inside the diving bell, and with the cooperation of the float and pulley, it always remains suspended and does not touch the bottom. The umbilical cable's suspension state is adjusted by releasing the float and pulley. (4) The wheelset mechanism carries the diving bell forward until it reaches the designed working position; (5) After arriving at the work location, the saturation diver exits the bell to perform the task; (6) When the saturation diver completes the task and the wheelset mechanism drives the diving bell away from the tunnel along the original route, the buoy and pulley can be retrieved by tightening in real time. The buoy and pulley retrieval operation is completed when it is confirmed that there is no risk of the umbilical cable touching the bottom. (7) After the wheelset mechanism carries the diving bell out of the deep-water tunnel entrance, the saturated diving launch system will retrieve the diving bell to the mother ship or offshore platform deck in sequence.
[0014] By adopting the technical solution of the present invention, the following beneficial effects can be obtained: The underwater saturation diving shuttle system of this invention improves upon the traditional saturation diving bell based on the characteristics of deep-water tunnels, and creatively designs an underwater saturation diving shuttle system. The diving bell is fixed to a wheelset mechanism, which can carry the diving bell back and forth on rails. The umbilical cable is connected to the air distribution and supply system on the water surface via pulleys under the buoy. The buoyancy of the buoy ensures that the entire umbilical cable remains suspended and is not scraped by the seabed. Attached Figure Description
[0015] The following is a brief explanation of the contents depicted in the accompanying drawings and the markings therein: Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the shuttle cabin system; The markings in the above diagrams are: 1. Diving bell; 2. Wheelset mechanism; 3. Umbilical cable; 4. Buoy; 5. Pulley; 6. Retrieval wire rope; 7. Rail. Detailed Implementation
[0016] The following description, with reference to the accompanying drawings, further details the specific implementation of the present invention, including the shape and structure of each component, the relative positions and connections between the parts, the functions and working principles of each part. Example 1
[0017] like Figure 1 As shown, this underwater saturation diving shuttle system includes a diving bell 1, a wheelset mechanism 2, an umbilical cable 3, a buoy 4, a pulley 5, a retrieval wire rope 6, and a rail 7. The rail 7 is pre-laid at the bottom of the deep-water tunnel. The wheelset mechanism 2 is located below the diving bell 1, and the diving bell 1 is fixed to the wheelset mechanism 2. The wheelset mechanism 2 can roll along the rail 7, driving the diving bell 1 to move back and forth inside the deep-water tunnel. The pulley 5 is suspended below the buoy 4. One end of the umbilical cable 3 is connected to the air distribution and supply system on the water surface. The other end passes through the pulley 5 connected to the buoy 4 and then into the diving bell 1. The two ends of the retrieval wire rope 6 are connected to the pulley 5 and the diving bell 1 respectively. The retrieval wire rope 6 can be tightened or loosened to realize the retrieval and release of the buoy 4 and the pulley 5. The diving bell 1 is moved along the rail 7 by the wheelset mechanism 2. With the help of the buoy 4, the umbilical cable 3 is kept suspended by buoyancy, thus completing the movement and positioning of the diving bell 1 in the deep water tunnel, so that saturation divers can carry out underwater tunnel inspection or maintenance operations.
[0018] The pulley 5 is suspended below the buoy 4. The buoy 4 has a preset buoyancy. When the umbilical cable in the tunnel is too long and there is a risk of it touching the bottom, the retrieval wire rope 6 is released to release the buoy 4 and the pulley 5. The buoy 4 can use its own buoyancy to lift the umbilical cable 3 upward, so that the entire umbilical cable 3 is in a suspended state, avoiding the umbilical cable 3 from contacting the bottom of the water and causing scratches and wear.
[0019] The rail 7 adopts a segmented structure. Each section of rail 7 can be laid at the bottom of the deep water tunnel, and the total length of the laid rail 7 can be adjusted according to the length requirements of the deep water tunnel to adapt to different deep water tunnel operation scenarios.
[0020] The wheelset mechanism 2 includes a drive wheel, a wheel-side motor, and a chassis frame. Four drive wheels are set at the bottom of the chassis frame. Each drive wheel is equipped with a wheel-side motor. Each drive wheel is independently controlled and driven. The wheelset mechanism is connected to the umbilical cable for power supply and transmission of control information.
[0021] Buoy 4 is set to float underwater with a preset buoyancy, and its floating height is higher than the top of the diving bell. The preset buoyancy is determined based on the water density underwater.
[0022] The method of using this underwater saturation diving shuttle system includes the following steps: (1) Lay steel rails 7 at the bottom of the deep water tunnel in advance; (2) The shuttle cabin was lowered to the vicinity of the tunnel entrance; (3) Start the wheelset mechanism 2 to make the diving bell drive into the tunnel along the rail; (4) As the diving bell 1 moves along the rail 7 into the depth of the tunnel, the umbilical cable 3 is released in real time to match the rhythm of the diving bell 1, ensuring that the umbilical cable 3 can always provide a stable air supply to the saturated divers inside the diving bell 1, and with the cooperation of the float 4 and the pulley 5, it always remains suspended and does not touch the bottom, and the suspension state of the umbilical cable 3 is adjusted by releasing the float 4 and the pulley 5. (5) The wheelset mechanism 2 carries the diving bell 1 forward until it reaches the designed working position; (6) Upon arrival at the work location, the saturation diver exits the bell to perform the task; (7) During the process of the saturated diver completing the task and the wheelset mechanism 2 driving the diving bell 1 away from the tunnel along the rail 7, the buoy 4 and pulley 5 can be retrieved by real-time tightening. And when it is confirmed that the umbilical cable 3 has no risk of touching the bottom, the buoy 4 and pulley 5 retrieval operation is completed. (8) After the wheelset mechanism 2 carries the diving bell 1 out of the deep-water tunnel entrance, the saturated diving launch system sequentially retrieves the diving bell 1 and the rail 7 to the mother ship or offshore platform deck.
[0023] The umbilical cable 3 passes through the pulley device connected to the float 4. Since the float 4 has a certain buoyancy (the buoyancy is preset according to the density of the underwater water), the umbilical cable 3 is lifted up a certain distance, so that the entire umbilical cable 3 is in a suspended state and does not contact the bottom of the water, thus avoiding scratches and wear on the surface of the umbilical cable 3 during the deployment and retrieval process.
[0024] The pulley 5 and the diving bell 1 are connected by a recovery steel cable 6. When the saturation diver returns to the diving bell 1 after completing the task, the shuttle car leaves the tunnel along the rails, and at the same time, the float 4 and pulley 5 are recovered by tightening the recovery steel cable 6.
[0025] This invention enables the diving bell 1 to move through deep water environments. The cabin is equipped with a wheelset mechanism 2, and each drive wheel of the wheelset mechanism 2 is equipped with a wheel-side motor, which allows for flexible movement and convenient and precise control. The wheelset mechanism 2 travels along the rails 7 into the tunnel, moves through the interior, and is positioned at the designed location, which facilitates saturation divers to carry out underwater tunnel inspection or maintenance work. Example 2
[0026] The tracked underwater saturation diving shuttle system includes a diving bell 1, a wheelset mechanism 2, an umbilical cable 3, a buoy 4, pulleys 5, and a retrieval cable 6. The wheelset mechanism 2 is located below the diving bell, with tracked wheels on both sides of its bottom. The rotation of the tracked wheels drives the diving bell 1 to move back and forth within the deep-water tunnel. The pulleys 5 are suspended below the buoy 4. One end of the umbilical cable 3 is connected to the air supply system on the water surface, and the other end passes through the pulley 5 connected to the buoy 4 before connecting to the diving bell 1. The two ends of the retrieval cable 6 are connected to the pulleys 5 and the diving bell 1, respectively. The retrieval cable 6 can be tightened or loosened to retrieve and release the buoy 4 and pulleys 5. The diving bell is moved by the tracked wheels on the wheelset mechanism 2, and the buoy, with the help of buoyancy, keeps the umbilical cable 3 suspended, completing the movement and positioning of the diving bell 1 within the deep-water tunnel, allowing saturation divers to carry out underwater tunnel inspection or maintenance work.
[0027] In this embodiment, the wheelset mechanism 2 includes a drive wheel, a wheel-side motor, a track, and a chassis frame. Four drive wheels are arranged at the bottom of the chassis frame. Each drive wheel is equipped with a wheel-side motor. Two drive wheels on the same side form a group. The drive wheels are covered with a track. Each drive wheel is independently controlled and driven. The wheelset mechanism is connected to the umbilical cable for power supply and transmission of control information.
[0028] The method of using a tracked underwater saturation diving shuttle system includes the following steps: (1) The shuttle cabin was lowered to the vicinity of the tunnel entrance; (2) Start the track wheels of the wheelset mechanism to make the diving bell 1 drive into the tunnel along the predetermined route; (3) As the diving bell 1 moves along the predetermined route into the depth of the tunnel, the umbilical cable 3 is released in real time to match the rhythm of the diving bell 1, ensuring that the umbilical cable 3 can always provide a stable air supply to the saturated divers inside the diving bell 1, and with the cooperation of the float 4 and the pulley 5, it always remains suspended and does not touch the bottom, and the umbilical cable suspension state is adjusted by releasing the float 4 and the pulley 5. (4) The wheelset mechanism carries the diving bell 1 forward until it reaches the designed working position; (5) After arriving at the work location, the saturation diver exits the bell to perform the task; (6) The buoy 4 and pulley 5 can be retrieved by tightening the steel wire rope 6 in real time during the process of the saturation diver completing the task and the wheelset mechanism 2 driving the diving bell away from the tunnel along the original route. The buoy 4 and pulley 5 can be retrieved when the umbilical cable 3 is confirmed to have no risk of touching the bottom. (7) After the wheelset mechanism 2 carries the diving bell 1 out of the deep-water tunnel entrance, the saturated diving launch system will sequentially retrieve the diving bell 1 to the mother ship or the deck of the offshore platform.
[0029] The beneficial effects of this embodiment are the same as above. The wheelset mechanism in this embodiment is driven by tracked wheels, which does not require the laying of steel rails. Compared with the laying of steel rails in Embodiment 1, it reduces the workload of laying steel rails underwater and is more flexible in movement. The tracked shuttle cabin is suitable for situations with lighter loads, while the rail-type shuttle cabin is suitable for situations with heavier loads.
[0030] The present invention has been described above by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the specific implementation of the present invention is not limited to the above-described manner. Any non-substantial improvements made using the inventive concept and technical solution of the present invention, or the direct application of the inventive concept and technical solution of the present invention to other occasions without modification, are all within the protection scope of the present invention.
Claims
1. An underwater saturation diving shuttle system, characterized in that: The system includes a diving bell, wheelset mechanism, umbilical cable, buoy, pulleys, retrieval cable, and rails. The rails are pre-laid at the bottom of the deep-water tunnel. The wheelset mechanism is located below the diving bell and can roll along the rails, driving the diving bell to move back and forth within the deep-water tunnel. The pulleys are suspended below the buoy. One end of the umbilical cable is connected to the air supply system on the water surface, and the other end passes through the pulley connected to the buoy before connecting to the diving bell. The two ends of the retrieval cable are connected to the pulleys and the diving bell, respectively. The retrieval cable can be tightened or loosened to retrieve and release the buoy and pulleys. The diving bell moves along the rails via the wheelset mechanism, and the buoy, with its buoyancy, keeps the umbilical cable suspended, completing the movement and positioning of the diving bell within the deep-water tunnel, allowing saturation divers to conduct underwater tunnel inspection or maintenance work.
2. An underwater saturation diving shuttle system, characterized in that: The system includes a diving bell, wheelset mechanism, umbilical cable, buoy, pulleys, and retrieval cable. The wheelset mechanism is located below the diving bell, with tracked wheels on both sides of its bottom. The rotation of the tracked wheels drives the diving bell to move back and forth within the deep-water tunnel. The pulleys are suspended below the buoy. One end of the umbilical cable is connected to the air supply system on the water surface, and the other end passes through the pulley connected to the buoy before connecting to the diving bell. The two ends of the retrieval cable are connected to the pulleys and the diving bell, respectively. The retrieval cable can be tightened or loosened to retrieve and release the buoy and pulleys. The tracks on the wheelset mechanism drive the diving bell to move, and the buoy, with its buoyancy, keeps the umbilical cable suspended, completing the movement and positioning of the diving bell within the deep-water tunnel, allowing saturation divers to conduct underwater tunnel inspection or maintenance work.
3. The underwater saturation diving shuttle system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The buoy is connected to the pulley and has a preset buoyancy. When the umbilical cable in the tunnel is too long and there is a risk of it touching the bottom, the buoy and pulley are released by loosening the retrieval wire rope. The buoy can use its own buoyancy to lift the umbilical cable upward, so that the entire umbilical cable is in a suspended state, avoiding the umbilical cable from contacting the bottom of the water and causing scratches and wear.
4. The underwater saturation diving shuttle system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The rails adopt a segmented structure, and each segment can be laid at the bottom of the deep-water tunnel. The total length of the laid rails can be adjusted according to the length requirements of the deep-water tunnel to adapt to different deep-water tunnel operation scenarios.
5. The underwater saturation diving shuttle system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The wheelset mechanism includes drive wheels, wheel-side motors, and a chassis frame. Four drive wheels are set at the bottom of the chassis frame, and each drive wheel is equipped with a wheel-side motor. Each drive wheel is independently controlled and driven. The wheelset mechanism is connected to the umbilical cable for power supply and transmission of control information.
6. The underwater saturation diving shuttle system according to claim 2, characterized in that: The wheelset mechanism includes drive wheels, wheel-side motors, tracks, and chassis frames. Four drive wheels are set at the bottom of the chassis frames. Each drive wheel is equipped with a wheel-side motor. Two drive wheels on the same side form a group. Tracks are fitted over the drive wheels. Each drive wheel is independently controlled and driven. The wheelset mechanism is connected to the umbilical cable for power supply and control information transmission.
7. The underwater saturation diving shuttle system according to claim 3, characterized in that: The buoy is pre-buoyed and floats underwater, with its floating height exceeding the height of the top of the diving bell.