Layered water quality sampling device and sampling method

Abstract

The invention belongs to the technical field of water quality sampling, and particularly relates to a stratified water quality sampling device and a sampling method. The device comprises a main shell, a control and power supply cabin is arranged at the bottom of the main shell, a plurality of independent sampling units and depth sensors are arranged on the upper portion of the main shell, the sampling units are evenly arranged in the circumferential direction of the main shell, each sampling unit comprises a sampling bottle, a rotary bottle cap and a waterproof steering engine, and a main controller and a power supply unit are arranged in the control and power supply cabin; and the main controller controls the waterproof steering engine to open and close the rotary bottle cap at the top of the sampling bottle according to depth information of the depth sensor. According to the invention, through the main controller, the independent sampling unit and the depth sensor, high-precision depth perception, bidirectional wireless communication, multichannel independent servo driving and sealing, central intelligent control and power supply are highly integrated in a pressure-resistant cabin body, so that a complete and wirelessly remotely-controlled'perception-decision-execution 'closed-loop system is formed; and the crossing from passive mechanical triggering to active intelligent control is realized.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of water quality sampling technology, and specifically relates to a stratified water quality sampling device and sampling method. Background Technology

[0002] Stratified water sampling is a crucial step in water environment monitoring, hydrological surveys, and scientific research. It aims to obtain physical, chemical, and biological samples from water bodies at different depths to analyze their vertical structural characteristics. Currently, common stratified sampling devices are mainly based on the following technical principles: The first type is the impact-triggered stratified water sampler. It typically works by releasing a weight that slides freely down a suspension cable, using the impact force to instantly close the sampling valve. While this type of device has a relatively simple structure, it usually only collects water samples from a specific depth per descent, resulting in low efficiency. Its sampling depth heavily relies on the operator's experience and mechanical luck, and in practice, it is easily affected by external factors such as wind, waves, and water flow, leading to low depth control accuracy and poor reliability, making it difficult to meet the requirements of high-precision scientific sampling.

[0003] The second type is the mechanically timed multi-bottle water sampler. This device integrates a mechanical clock or delay mechanism, which sequentially triggers the closure of multiple sampling bottles according to preset time intervals during descent. Although multiple samples can be obtained at once, the triggering is based on time rather than actual depth. Because the descent speed of the device is not uniform due to factors such as water flow and attitude, there is often a significant deviation between the actual sampling depth and the preset target depth, resulting in low reliability of the sampling data. In addition, the sampling units of this type of device are usually arranged around a central axis and have a common inlet chamber or flow channel. During collection or retrieval, water samples from different depths are very likely to mix, i.e., "sample cross-contamination," causing serious cross-contamination and severely affecting the accuracy of vertical profile data.

[0004] The third type is the reel-type or through-flow continuous water sampler. This uses a long flexible hose connected to a water pump, collecting water samples at different depths of residence, or allowing water to continuously flow through a common pipeline into different containers. While this method can achieve continuous or quasi-continuous sampling, the common pipeline is difficult to clean thoroughly, and residual water samples will inevitably contaminate subsequent samples. Similarly, the independence and purity of each water sample layer cannot be guaranteed. For certain trace analyses or monitoring of sensitive indicators, such contamination is unacceptable.

[0005] In summary, existing stratified sampling technologies generally suffer from drawbacks such as low accuracy in controlling sampling depth, high risk of cross-contamination between samples, insufficient intelligence and flexibility in operation (unable to intervene based on real-time hydrological information), low system integration, and unreliable reliance on cable connections (problems include cable entanglement, wear of conductive slip rings, and sealing failures of underwater connectors). Therefore, there is an urgent need for a stratified water quality sampling device that can achieve high precision, pollution-free operation, intelligence, and high reliability. Summary of the Invention

[0006] To address the aforementioned problems, the present invention aims to provide a stratified water quality sampling device and sampling method. This device integrates high-precision depth sensing, two-way wireless communication, multi-channel independent servo drive and sealing, central intelligent control and power supply into a pressure-resistant chamber through a main controller, independent sampling units and depth sensors, forming a complete, wirelessly remotely controlled "perception-decision-execution" closed-loop system. This achieves a leap from passive mechanical triggering to active intelligent control, enabling stratified sampling with extremely high fidelity.

[0007] The technical solution of the present invention is as follows: a stratified water quality sampling device, comprising a main shell, the main shell being hollow inside, a control and power supply compartment being provided at the bottom of the hollow, a plurality of independent sampling units and a depth sensor being provided on the upper part of the main shell, the sampling units being evenly arranged along the circumference of the main shell, each of the independent sampling units comprising a sampling bottle, a rotating bottle cap and a waterproof servo motor, the control and power supply compartment being provided with a main controller and a power supply unit, the depth sensor and the waterproof servo motor being respectively connected to the main controller, the main controller controlling the waterproof servo motor to open and close the rotating bottle cap on the top of the sampling bottle according to the depth information of the depth sensor.

[0008] Furthermore, the sampling bottle has an annular groove at the top of the bottle opening, within which a sealing ring is installed. The inner end face of the rotating bottle cap has an annular protrusion. When the rotating bottle cap is rotated to the closed position, the annular protrusion is vertically pressed into and squeezes the sealing ring to form an end face seal. The sealing ring is made of food-grade silicone rubber or fluororubber, has a rectangular cross-section, and is pre-compressed and installed in the annular groove at the bottle opening. The sampling bottle is made of transparent polycarbonate or borosilicate glass and has graduations on the bottle body.

[0009] Furthermore, an annular buoyancy ring is fitted on the upper outer side of the main housing, and a cable connector is provided at the middle position of the top of the outer side of the main housing.

[0010] Furthermore, a counterweight is provided at the bottom outer side of the main housing.

[0011] Furthermore, the control and power supply compartment is also equipped with a wireless module, which operates based on the LoRa or Bluetooth 5.0 communication protocol and operates at a frequency of 433MHz or 2.4GHz. An antenna is also provided on the top of the outer side of the main shell, with a gain of 2dBi, which is responsible for transmitting and receiving electromagnetic waves.

[0012] Furthermore, the depth sensor is a silicon piezoresistive pressure transmitter with a range of 0-100 meters and an accuracy higher than 0.1%FS.

[0013] Furthermore, the sampling bottle is pre-filled with a fixative ampoule. When the rotating cap is closed, the fixative ampoule is punctured by a built-in mechanical needle, allowing the fixative to mix with the incoming water sample.

[0014] A stratified water quality sampling method, using a stratified water quality sampling device as described above, includes the following steps: S1: Device self-test and initialization: After the device is powered on, the main controller drives the waterproof servo motors of each independent sampling unit to perform small-angle reciprocating motion and detects their feedback signals to complete the system self-test; S2: Depth data acquisition: The main controller continuously reads the signals from the depth sensor and processes them to obtain the device's real-time depth data; S3: Sampling judgment and execution based on real-time depth feedback: The main controller compares the real-time depth data with the preset depth sequence. When the deviation between the real-time depth and any preset depth value enters the preset tolerance range, it sends a control command to the waterproof servo motor of the corresponding independent sampling unit to drive it to rotate the bottle cap to perform the opening action. After the preset water filling delay, it drives it to perform the closing action to complete the collection of water samples at that depth. S4: Sampling Status Confirmation and Recording: After each closing action, the main controller confirms whether the bottle cap is closed properly through the feedback signal of the waterproof servo and records the status information of the completed sampling.

[0015] The technical advantages of this invention are as follows: 1. This invention integrates high-precision depth sensing, bidirectional wireless communication, multi-channel independent servo drive and sealing, central intelligent control, and power supply into a pressure-resistant chamber through a main controller, independent sampling units, and depth sensors. This forms a complete, wirelessly remotely controlled "perception-decision-execution" closed-loop system, achieving a leap from passive mechanical triggering to active intelligent control, enabling highly accurate stratified sampling. 2. This invention equips each sampling bottle with a dedicated waterproof servo motor and sealing cap, forming a physically isolated sampling unit. The sealing adopts a structure where the servo motor-driven rotating cap presses against a rectangular cross-section sealing ring, ensuring precise action and reliable sealing. This completely eliminates any possibility of cross-contamination between water samples of different depths from a physical source, resulting in more accurate sampling.

[0016] The following will provide further explanation in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Attached Figure Description

[0017] Figure 1 This is a three-dimensional structural schematic diagram of a stratified water quality sampling device according to the present invention.

[0018] Figure 2 This is a top view schematic diagram of a stratified water quality sampling device according to the present invention.

[0019] Figure 3 This is a cross-sectional structural schematic diagram of a stratified water quality sampling device according to the present invention.

[0020] Figure 4 This is a three-dimensional structural schematic diagram of the sampling unit of the present invention.

[0021] Reference numerals: 1-Main hull; 2-Annular buoyancy ring; 3-Counterweight; 4-Control and power supply compartment; 5-Sampling unit; 6-Depth sensor; 7-Antenna; 8-Power supply unit; 9-Main controller; 10-Wireless module; 11-Cable connector; 51-Sampling bottle; 52-Sealing ring; 53-Rotating bottle cap; 54-Waterproof servo motor. Detailed Implementation Example 1

[0022] like Figures 1-4 As shown, a stratified water quality sampling device includes a main shell 1, which is hollow inside. A control and power supply compartment 4 is provided at the bottom of the hollow shell. Multiple independent sampling units 5 and depth sensors 6 are provided on the upper part of the main shell 1. The sampling units 5 are evenly arranged around the circumference of the main shell 1. Each independent sampling unit 5 includes a sampling bottle 51, a rotating cap 53, and a waterproof servo motor 54. The control and power supply compartment 4 is provided with a main controller 9 and a power supply unit 8. The depth sensors 6 and the waterproof servo motor 54 are respectively connected to the main controller 9. The main controller 9 controls the waterproof servo motor 54 to open and close the rotating cap 53 on the top of the sampling bottle 51 according to the depth information of the depth sensor 6.

[0023] In practical use, this invention acquires the depth information of the device collected by the depth sensor 6 in real time through the main controller 9. The core of the main controller 9 is a 32-bit low-power microprocessor, such as the ARM Cortex-M series, which is responsible for acquiring sensor signals, running control algorithms, driving servo motors, and managing communication. When the device sinks or floats to the preset sampling depth, the main controller 9 sends a command to the waterproof servo motor 54 of the corresponding sampling unit 5 to drive the rotating bottle cap 53 to open, allowing water samples to enter the sampling bottle 51. After a set filling time, the bottle cap is closed again, completing one layered sampling. This process realizes active triggering sampling based on depth feedback, avoiding the depth deviation problem caused by traditional time-triggered or impact-triggered methods, resulting in high sampling accuracy and high reliability. Example 2

[0024] Based on Example 1, in this embodiment, preferably, the upper opening of the sampling bottle 51 is provided with an annular groove, in which a sealing ring 52 is provided. The inner end face of the rotating bottle cap 53 is provided with an annular boss. When the rotating bottle cap 53 is rotated to the closed position, the annular boss is vertically pressed into and squeezes the sealing ring 52 to form an end face seal. The sealing ring 52 is made of food-grade silicone rubber or fluororubber, has a rectangular cross-section, and is pre-compressed and installed in the annular groove at the opening of the sampling bottle 51. The sampling bottle 51 is made of transparent polycarbonate or borosilicate glass, and has graduations on the bottle body.

[0025] In practical use, this invention utilizes the annular protrusion of the rotating cap 53 to vertically press into the sampling bottle mouth sealing ring 52 when closed, forming a tight end-face seal structure. This sealing method effectively resists water pressure in deep-water environments, preventing water sample leakage or infiltration of external water. The sampling bottle 51 is made of transparent material and has graduations, facilitating on-site observation of the water sample volume. The overall structure is reliable in sealing and highly visible, making it suitable for water quality monitoring scenarios where sample integrity is critical. Example 3

[0026] Based on Embodiment 1, in this embodiment, preferably, an annular buoyancy ring 2 is fitted on the upper outer side of the main housing 1, and a cable connector 11 is provided at the middle position of the top of the outer side of the main housing 1.

[0027] In practical use, the present invention provides sufficient buoyancy through the annular buoyancy ring 2, enabling the device to maintain a stable posture in the water and avoiding sampling depth errors caused by tilting. The cable connector 11 is used to connect the lifting cable, facilitating the deployment and retrieval of the device. This design improves the overall stability and operability of the device, making it suitable for ship operations or long-term monitoring at fixed locations. Example 4

[0028] Based on Embodiment 1, in this embodiment, preferably, a counterweight 3 is provided at the bottom of the outer side of the main housing 1.

[0029] In practical use, the present invention adjusts the center of gravity of the device by adjusting the counterweight 3 at the bottom, so that it maintains a vertical sinking posture in the water, reducing the swaying and posture deviation caused by water flow, thereby improving the measurement accuracy of the depth sensor and the consistency of the sampling position. Example 5

[0030] Based on Embodiment 1, in this embodiment, preferably, the control and power supply compartment 4 is further provided with a wireless module 10. The wireless module 10 operates based on the LoRa or Bluetooth 5.0 communication protocol and operates at a frequency of 433MHz or 2.4GHz. The top of the outer side of the main housing 1 is also provided with an antenna 7. The antenna 7 has a gain of 2dBi and is responsible for transmitting and receiving electromagnetic waves.

[0031] In practical use, this invention achieves two-way wireless communication with a surface control terminal, such as a shipboard computer or handheld device, through the wireless module 10 and antenna 7. Operators can remotely set the sampling depth sequence, initiate sampling tasks, and receive real-time feedback on device status and sampling completion. This design enables intelligent remote control operation, eliminating the constraints of traditional wired connections and improving operational flexibility and reliability. Example 6

[0032] Based on Example 1, in this example, preferably, the depth sensor 6 is a silicon piezoresistive pressure transmitter with a range of 0-100 meters and an accuracy higher than 0.1%FS.

[0033] In practical use, this invention employs a high-precision silicon piezoresistive depth sensor 6, with an accuracy better than 0.1%FS, capable of providing real-time and accurate feedback of the device depth within a range of 0-100 meters. The main controller 9 performs sampling and judgment based on this high-precision signal, ensuring a high degree of consistency between the sampling depth and the preset value, thus meeting the accuracy requirements for scientific research-grade water quality sampling. Example 7

[0034] Based on Example 1, in this embodiment, preferably, the sampling bottle 51 is pre-filled with a fixative ampoule, and when the rotating cap 53 is closed, the fixative ampoule is punctured by a built-in mechanical needle, so that the fixative mixes with the incoming water sample.

[0035] In practical use, this invention pre-places a fixative ampoule inside the sampling bottle 51. When the cap 53 is closed by rotating it, the built-in mechanical needle automatically punctures the ampoule, allowing the fixative to quickly mix with the incoming water sample. This design enables simultaneous sampling and fixation, avoiding chemical changes that may occur during sample preservation, and is particularly suitable for monitoring projects requiring on-site fixation. Example 8

[0036] A stratified water quality sampling method, using a stratified water quality sampling device as described above, includes the following steps: S1: Device self-test and initialization: After the device is powered on, the main controller 9 drives the waterproof servo motors 54 of each independent sampling unit 5 to perform small-angle reciprocating motion, such as ±10°, and detects their feedback signals to complete the system self-test; S2: Depth data acquisition: The main controller 9 continuously reads the signal from the depth sensor 6, and after processing, obtains the real-time depth data of the device; S3: Sampling judgment and execution based on real-time depth feedback: The main controller 9 compares the real-time depth data with the preset depth sequence. When the deviation between the real-time depth and any preset depth value enters the preset tolerance range, it sends a control command to the waterproof servo motor 54 of the corresponding independent sampling unit 5 to drive it to rotate the bottle cap to perform the opening action. After the preset water filling delay, it drives it to perform the closing action to complete the collection of water samples at that depth. The preset tolerance range is 0.1-0.3 meters. S4: Sampling status confirmation and recording: After each closing action, the main controller 9 confirms whether the bottle cap is closed properly through the feedback signal of the waterproof servo motor 54, and records the status information of the sampling completion.

[0037] This invention implements the aforementioned stratified water quality sampling method, ensuring the normal status of each unit through self-check initialization; achieving precise triggering through real-time depth monitoring and intelligent comparison; and guaranteeing data integrity and traceability through post-sampling status confirmation and recording. This method forms a complete "perception-decision-execution-feedback" intelligent sampling process, significantly improving the automation level and data reliability of stratified sampling.

[0038] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention, but the scope of protection of the present invention is not limited thereto. Any changes or substitutions that can be easily conceived by those skilled in the art within the scope of the technology disclosed in the present invention should be included within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A stratified water quality sampling device, characterized in that: The system includes a main housing (1), which is hollow inside. A control and power supply compartment (4) is provided at the bottom of the hollow housing. Multiple independent sampling units (5) and depth sensors (6) are provided on the upper part of the main housing (1). The sampling units (5) are evenly arranged around the main housing (1). Each independent sampling unit (5) includes a sampling bottle (51), a rotating bottle cap (53), and a waterproof servo motor (54). The control and power supply compartment (4) is equipped with a main controller (9) and a power supply unit (8). The depth sensor (6) and the waterproof servo motor (54) are respectively connected to the main controller (9). The main controller (9) controls the waterproof servo motor (54) to open and close the rotating bottle cap (53) on the top of the sampling bottle (51) according to the depth information of the depth sensor (6).

2. The stratified water quality sampling device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The sampling bottle (51) has an annular groove at the top of the bottle opening, and a sealing ring (52) is provided inside it. The inner end face of the rotating bottle cap (53) has an annular boss. When the rotating bottle cap (53) is rotated to the closed position, the annular boss is pressed vertically into and squeezes the sealing ring (52) to form an end face seal. The sealing ring (52) is made of food-grade silicone rubber or fluororubber, and its cross-section is rectangular. It is pre-compressed and installed in the annular groove at the bottle opening of the sampling bottle (51). The sampling bottle (51) is made of transparent polycarbonate or borosilicate glass and has graduations on the bottle body.

3. The stratified water quality sampling device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The upper outer side of the main shell (1) is fitted with an annular buoyancy ring (2), and the middle position of the top of the outer side of the main shell (1) is provided with a cable connector (11).

4. The stratified water quality sampling device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The main shell (1) has a counterweight (3) at the bottom of its outer side.

5. The stratified water quality sampling device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The control and power supply compartment (4) is also equipped with a wireless module (10). The wireless module (10) operates based on the LoRa or Bluetooth 5.0 communication protocol and operates at a frequency of 433MHz or 2.4GHz. The top of the outer side of the main shell (1) is also equipped with an antenna (7). The antenna (7) has a gain of 2dBi and is responsible for transmitting and receiving electromagnetic waves.

6. The stratified water quality sampling device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The depth sensor (6) is a silicon piezoresistive pressure transmitter with a range of 0-100 meters and an accuracy higher than 0.1%FS.

7. The stratified water quality sampling device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The sampling bottle (51) contains a fixative ampoule. When the rotating cap (53) is closed, the fixative ampoule is punctured by a built-in mechanical needle, so that the fixative mixes with the incoming water sample.

8. A stratified water quality sampling method, using the stratified water quality sampling device as described in claim 1, characterized in that: Includes the following steps: S1: Device self-test and initialization: After the device is powered on, the main controller (9) drives the waterproof servo motor (54) of each independent sampling unit (5) to perform small-angle reciprocating motion and detects its feedback signal to complete the system self-test; S2: Depth data acquisition: The main controller (9) continuously reads the signal from the depth sensor (6), and after processing, obtains the real-time depth data of the device; S3: Sampling judgment and execution based on real-time depth feedback: The main controller (9) compares the real-time depth data with the preset depth sequence. When the deviation between the real-time depth and any preset depth value enters the preset tolerance range, it sends a control command to the waterproof servo motor (54) of the corresponding independent sampling unit (5) to drive it to rotate the bottle cap to perform the opening action. After the preset water filling delay, it drives it to perform the closing action to complete the collection of the water sample at that depth. S4: Sampling status confirmation and recording: After each closing action is performed by the waterproof servo motor (54), the main controller (9) confirms whether the bottle cap is closed in place through the feedback signal of the waterproof servo motor (54) and records the status information of the sampling completion.

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